The reason I picked this country is because I found a book from there which I’m dying to read. But the country itself is fascinating too & I’m sure whatever book we end up choosing will be fantastic.
Can you guess which country we’re reading next from these clues as noted by Let’s Travel More?
This country has incredible historical & cultural significance.
Its largest lake is 236 sq mi (610 sq km) & it’s man-made! It was created in 1968.
Ok, so those were somewhat obscure clues so what about if I mentioned that:
It contains a part of the “Shouting Valley,” a spot where 4 countries meet. It was named as such because people communicate there with their relatives across the valley using megaphones.
One of its cities is known for its alluring steel which maintains a keen edge yet is hard & flexible.
That same city is also one of the world’s oldest.
SO WHAT COUNTRY ARE WE READING?
The city I referenced above is their capital: Damascus & of course, that means we’re adventuring to Syria next! And as an addendum to the above:
The alluring part of Damascus steel is its special patterns as shown here. Weapons made of it played a major role in ancient warfare, but it’s used in the creation of fancy swords & knives for collectors today.
Damascus was founded in the third millennium B.C.!
All these facts are amazing, but of course what really enthralls me is the food there. I’ve eaten Syrian food & adored it so was looking forward to finding a fantastic cookbook by a Syrian author. Surprisingly, the first book which drew me in was this one written by a first generation Syrian-American. It details historically accurate recipes from Syrian Jews who migrated from the ancient city of Aleppo in historic Syria to New York & Latin America in the 20th century. The author “devoted much of her life to preserving & celebrating the rich cuisine, vibrant culture, traditions, & recipes from Syria which had never been written down before—only existing in the minds of older generations.”
The cookbook is gloriously filled with tantalizing photos & the amazing history/customs of Syrian Jews alongside 180 delectable recipes. I think you’ll be as astounded as I was. (It also includes one of my favorite spice blends: za’atar. This seasoning is a delightful blend of dried herbs, toasted sesame seeds, sumac, & salt. The regional variations can be quite different & appear either green or dark red. The Aleppian version favors the green variety. Both versions are craveworthy & always a hit when I serve any dish flavored with them.)
HAVE ANY BOOK SUGGESTIONS?
Just let us know your Syrian suggestions by Sat., Mar. 14 11PM ET. (That’s NYC time! See it converted to your time below.)
We'll use 2 suggestions from book club members, 2 suggestions from Ivor (the moderator), 1 suggestion from Mia (the book club co-admin), & 1 of my suggestions to compile a list of 6 books on which book club members will provide their thoughts. The book judged as best from the list will then be read.
Please note - We're specific in our books, they must:
Largely occur in the location specified unless the world described is an alternate reality
Be written by an author born there who has spent a good portion of their life there
Exist in paperback & ebook available on both Amazon & Kindle at least in the US & hopefully elsewhere