Welcome to episode 2 of the Books & Banter podcast!
Today we learn from special guest, Sara Hamdan, debut author of What Will People Think? (recently shortlisted for Jimmy Fallon’s book club 2025 pick!).
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When reading Sara Hamdan’s work, it’s important to consider the aesthetics of her novel (which are wonderful!) as seriously as you would all great literature. Additionally, Sara and I touch upon the humanitarian crisis happening in Palestine, where Israel’s military is committing a genocide against Palestinian people, as I’m sure you’re well aware.
Perhaps we can all donate to an appropriate place that’s helping people in Palestine right now in the name of Hamdan’s novel, What Will People Think?, and in the name of the main character’s “Teta,” which means grandmother in Arabic, who in the story is displaced from her home in Jaffa, leaving behind her lemon trees. These are scenes which Hamdan has said are inspired by stories from her own grandmother, Teta Rawda, and her childhood in Jaffa and Gaza.
An idea for how we can help:
If you comment below or reply to this email with the word “Teta” after donating humanitarian aid to people in Palestine, I’ll give you 3 months of the Books & Banter newsletter (worth $18) for free! I think this is a good idea, because coming to your inbox is 5 more author interviews, plus reviews and blogs, which you’ll have access to with no paywalls.)
I’ve seen people recommend the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. But please comment any other places you think are good/better.
What Will People Think? By Sara Hamdan
Sara is Palestinian American, raised in Greece, and has called Dubai home for twenty years. She’s a graduate of UC Berkeley and Columbia’s school of journalism. And when she’s not writing, she loves to spend time at the beach with her husband and two kids.
The Books & Banter interview series is for everyone, even if you haven’t read the author’s book yet, because we discuss creative life, influential books, and the world-at-large.
I’ll also be sending you a podcast, audio-only version of this interview, so you can listen easily on your commute, or while doing the dishes, etc.
Let’s give a special thank you to Sara, who was such a gracious guest, not only offering much of her time, but also calling us all the way from Dubai!
And tell me what part of the interview you liked the most!
From this I hope you feel super inspired about life, reading, and creating!! Sara said many wise things I wish to quote for years to come.
Love,
Amani
