Middle East Voyage of Seattle's Own

Aaina's first evening also included a talk by Seattle writer Maliha Masood, who read from her book "Zaatar Days, Henna Nights". Masood is a a writer of Pakistani origin, raised in Seattle. The book is an account of her recent pre-911 travels through the Middle East. The extracts she read were quite well-written, interesting, and full of texture, although at times seeming laden with self-awareness.

One good reason to read the book is the fact that the author, an American and a Muslim of South Asian origin, brings to life the humanity of the people of the Middle East, something of most dire need for us Americans. Responding to an audience question on whether she felt safe at all in the Middle East, Masood said that she felt much safer there than she did during the preceding months in Europe.

Really strange (and rude) that the audience did not applaud at the end of her reading. The author did her best to tide over the awkwardness, but where were the organizers? And, as usual, technology let us down - never saw the promised slides that were to have accompanied the reading.

See Masood's blog.