Book Review: ‘The Druze of Belgrade’ by Rabee Jaber

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Updated 22 August 2024
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Book Review: ‘The Druze of Belgrade’ by Rabee Jaber

“The Druze of Belgrade” by Lebanese author Rabee Jaber is a sweeping historical novel that explores the complex and often misunderstood Druze community through the lens of one family’s saga. Set primarily in early 20th century Belgrade, the story follows the Durani clan as they navigate the political and social upheaval of the region, weaving together themes of identity, displacement, and the enduring bonds of family.

At the heart of the novel is Adham Durani, the patriarch, whose life is shaped by the tumultuous events of his time. As a young man, Adham flees his native Mount Lebanon and settles in Belgrade, where he establishes a successful trading business and starts a family. However, his hard-won stability is threatened by the outbreak of the   First World War and the subsequent collapse of the Ottoman Empire, forcing the Durani clan to confront their precarious position as outsiders in a changing world. 

The Druze are a religious minority with roots in the Middle East, and Jaber presents them deftly as they struggle with issues of tradition, allegiance, and assimilation. The Druze people find themselves caught between preserving their distinct cultural identity and assimilating into Serbian society as a whole. The political intrigue of the era, which puts the family in the crosshairs of nationalist movements and the shifting power dynamics in the Balkans, exacerbates this internal strife even more. 

One of the novel’s strengths is its rich, multi-layered characterization. Adham is a complex, flawed protagonist who must confront his own demons and the consequences of his choices. His wife, Fatima, is a strong-willed woman who fiercely protects her family, even as she struggles with the weight of her own secrets. The younger generation of Durani including Adham’s children and grandchildren, are indelibly shaped by the turmoil of their era, leading to poignant and sometimes heartbreaking moments of generational conflict. 

Jaber’s lyrical prose and attention to historical detail immerse the reader in the sights, sounds, and textures of early 20th century Belgrade. The novel’s sweeping scope, spanning decades and continents, is balanced by its intimate portrayal of the Durani family, whose triumphs and tragedies are inextricably tied to the larger forces of history. 

“The Druze of Belgrade” is a rich and compelling exploration of identity, displacement, and the resilience of the human spirit. Jaber’s masterful storytelling and deep empathy for his characters make this novel a must-read for fans of literary fiction and historical epics alike. 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘The African Revolution’ by Richard Reid

Updated 17 February 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘The African Revolution’ by Richard Reid

Africa’s long 19th century was a time of revolutionary ferment and cultural innovation for the continent’s states, societies, and economies. Yet the period preceding what became known as “the Scramble for Africa” by European powers in the decades leading up to World War I has long been neglected in favor of a Western narrative of colonial rule.

The African Revolution demonstrates that “the Scramble” and the resulting imperial order were as much the culmination of African revolutionary dynamics as they were of European expansionism.


What We Are Reading Today: The Power to Destroy

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Updated 16 February 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: The Power to Destroy

Author: Michael J. Graetz

The postwar US enjoyed large, widely distributed economic rewards — and most Americans accepted that taxes were a reasonable price to pay for living in a society of shared prosperity.
In 1978 California enacted Proposition 13, a property tax cap that Ronald Reagan hailed as a “second American Revolution,” setting off an antitax, antigovernment wave that has transformed American politics and economic policy.
In The Power to Destroy, Michael Graetz tells the story of the antitax movement and how it holds America hostage — undermining the nation’s ability to meet basic needs and fix critical problems.

 


What We Are Reading Today: Habitats of Africa

Updated 15 February 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: Habitats of Africa

Authors: Ken Behrens, Keith Barnes & Iain Campbell

With breathtaking wildlife and stunningly beautiful locales, Africa is a premier destination for birders, conservationists, ecotourists, and ecologists. 

This compact, easy-to-use guide provides an unparalleled treatment of the continent’s wonderfully diverse habitats. 

Incisive and up-to-date descriptions cover the unique features of each habitat, from geology and climate to soil and hydrology, and require no scientific background. Knowing the surrounding environment is essential to getting the most out of your travel experiences.


What We Are Reading Today: An Untraceable Life

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Updated 14 February 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: An Untraceable Life

Author: Stephen J. Campbell

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) never signed a painting, and none of his supposed self-portraits can be securely ascribed to his hand. He revealed next to nothing about his life in his extensive writings, yet countless pages have been written about him that assign him an identity: genius, entrepreneur, celebrity artist, outsider.
Addressing the ethical stakes involved in studying past lives, Stephen J. Campbell shows how this invented Leonardo has invited speculation from figures ranging from art dealers and curators to scholars, scientists, and biographers, many of whom have filled in the gaps of what can be known of Leonardo’s life with claims to decode secrets, reveal mysteries of a vanished past, or discover lost masterpieces of spectacular value.

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Snakes of Australia’

Updated 13 February 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Snakes of Australia’

Authors: Tie Eipper & Scott Eipper

With more than 1,000 photographs, Snakes of Australia illustrates and describes in detail all 240 of the continent’s species and subspecies—from file snakes, pythons, colubrids, and natricids to elapids, marine elapids, homalopsids, and blind snakes. It features introductions to each family, species descriptions, type locations, distribution maps, and quick-identification keys to each family and genera.

It also covers English and scientific names, appearance, range, ecology, disposition, danger level, and IUCN Red List Category.