A fast-paced, beautifully written book, offering a refreshing perspective on the political situation in Palestine. Through the eyes of Jasmine, we see the horror and sadness of oppression, but also witness love, redemption and the power of human beings to survive and prosper. From a lost, seemingly hopeless situation that could potentially taint Jasmine's future, we see how love and perseverance truly do heal wounds, past and present. We are also introduced to the more human and emotional side of the Palestinian struggle, described from both sides of the political conflict. The reader is challenged to accept that at the end of of it all, we are all human, capable of hate and evil, but we are all also capable of unconditional, pure love, a love that transcends political borders and is far more powerful than any other force in this world. This book ultimately makes the reader see the power of love, the sacrifices a human being will make for love, and the inherent need of all humans to love and be loved. It also has a strong theme of forgiveness and redemption, which is explored through several threads and characters. Although we witness Jasmine face hardship, hopelessness, loss and confusion, we are never inclined to pity her. She is a strong, pragmatic character who rises to every challenge thrown at her. Her character is vividly revealed and beautifully portrayed, without being unrealistic. The geographical imagery is clearly described and incorporates the strong history of various faiths in Jerusalem. Although there is plenty of reference to religion from the point of view of the physical sites and their significance, religion is not a strong theme in this book, and there is no forceful acceptance of any faith. We are reminded again that love in its purest form exists without and boundaries. I enjoyed this book immensely and its themes gave me much food for thought. This is a lovely debut from an author who has strong ancestral ties with the geographical location. However, the reader does not feel like there are sides to be taken as the stereotypical images we all carry, are challenged, and cannot be disregarded
Jasmine Falling certainly put me through the wringer. Within pages I would find myself going from pitying Jasmine to being downright angry with her (she makes a number of decisions I don't agree with). In the end I was overwhelmingly happy for her, because she "found what her heart wanted" (I promise that isn't too much of a spoiler). I had a hard time figuring Josh out; I think I dismissed him for a while, but in the end I think he's probably a good guy.
When I took a step back from the book, I realized I was getting way more involved with the characters than I normally do. I was quoting the book and narrating Jasmine's life to those around me (mostly my mother, ha) which speaks volumes (pun intended) about how well-written the novel is. It's peppered with references to Islam, but the book does it feel "Islamic," nor do the references get in the way of the story. In fact, the references propel the story as Jasmine goes down the path of growth and self-understanding.
This book may be particularly poignant for people who grew up outside of their parents' culture, or who have parents from two different cultures but only lived in one. It certainly made me realize how important it is to acknowledge and celebrate all of the cultures of those who reared me, lest I feel incomplete.
“Sometimes you need to lose yourself to ultimately find your purpose.”
Shereen Malherbe’s debut novel Jasmine Falling is a work of literary fiction, from the perspective of her heroine Jasmine, cleverly intertwined with factual occurrences from her family’s recent past, the history and mystique of Jerusalem, and the country’s ongoing and real internal conflicts.
Jasmine Falling weaves aspects of faith into the novel while moving us purposefully forward in the heroine’s journey, through intriguing plot twists and dynamics with her mysterious guide, her family and the people of the country. The story takes the reader on a journey from Jasmine’s English manor house to a country in seemingly eternal conflict, richly depicted and with settings accurately described.
Jasmine Falling offers us a fresh viewpoint of the people under Occupation bound into a fictional narrative that is both compelling and thoughtful.
Shereen Malherbe is a British/Palestinian author and writer based between Sharjah and the UK. Her new novel, Jasmine Falling is now available to buy worldwide.
What inspired you to write this book?
I visited Palestine and stayed with my family in the West Bank. One day, my husband and I were strolling through the streets and we saw a blacked out tourist bus pull up. Tourists spilled out onto the streets, surrounded by security, snapped photographs of a tree that Jesus was said to have slept under on his journey through Jericho. Palestinian shopkeepers came out to sell drinks & souvenirs to the tourists but the security pushed them away and they piled back onto their bus and drove off. It made me realise that people do not get to see the real Palestine.
It was this and a combination of what I discovered that started my journey to write Jasmine Falling.
Who is the target audience for Jasmine Falling?
The audience is mainly women who like contemporary fiction, but I don't like to just limit my audience to this. For my article writing, I write about how the female Muslim narrative is largely missing in mainstream media and I think we need to see more of it. Jasmine Falling is written to start to bridge that gap and incorporates Western and Islamic values.
What research did you do to write the book?
Authenticity was incredibly important with the book. I wanted to be true to the Palestine I discovered and to capture it, as it was when we experienced it.
I visited regularly and stayed with my family in their homes in the West Bank and Jerusalem. I spoke to them about their experiences and their stories and they helped to shape the book, with a lot of the stories in my book being inspired by their true events.
I also took lots of photographs, we had tours with a member of my family who is a journalist and followed the routes of Palestinians through the Wall and security checkpoints to really try to understand the effect of the Occupation on their daily lives.
In addition, I read books on the Jewish journey from wartime Germany to Palestine. The most in-depth of these was the journey undertaken by I.F Stone.
Did you learn anything from writing the book?
Absolutely! The whole experience was a big life changer for me. It led me to my faith and gave me another perspective on life that I hadn't considered before.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I think that it is up to the readers to interpret my book as everyone sees the world differently. What I wanted to do, was to open up another narrative based on authenticity and different viewpoints to open the Palestinian/Israeli perspective up and introduce it to a new audience.
What was the most difficult part of writing the novel?
The editing process. It is hard to get enough distance from the story as its writer, to then analyse it and make it better. This is where having a good editor can help. I expected to write and edit the book, but understanding that it isn't possible (or at least not recommended) helped.
What advice would you give to other writers?
I think the most important is if you want to write, just write! As Wordsworth said, 'To begin, begin.' Also, I wouldn't suggest chasing trends or trying to second guess what publishers want next. Instead choose something you are passionate about because it is this passion that will ultimately make the difference between finishing or not.
Are there any particular benefits from being a writer in the UAE?
Yes, definitely. The Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) once a year hosts international writers and always gives me something to aspire to. We have the Emirates Lit Fest and the UAE's Reading Year initiative which has just been launched too.
It is exciting to be a writer here at the moment. I would love to feature at the SIBF, as a representative of Sharjah's position as a local and international position for writers as I currently represent both.
What are you working on now?
Jasmine Falling is just the first book exploring this character. I am already working on the second book, where my character goes back to the UK after her Palestinian journey. I am excited about seeing how she has grown up and what choices she will make.
Emirates based writer & blogger Shereen Malherbe has just released her novel Jasmine Falling. Shereen, a British Palestinian writer, tells of her inspiration behind the novel.
“After visiting my father’s home-land in Palestine I was compelled to capture and preserve not just my family’s history but also that of the conflict that exists within the country, which ultimately led me on a 5-year journey with Jasmine Falling. My aim in writing Jasmine Falling was to convey the hope that the Palestinian people exude, through characters that represented positive aspects of both sides in the ongoing conflict that surrounds them. The story is one of loss, love, hope and redemption and is told through the eyes of Jasmine, a Palestinian girl, and... well I can’t give the rest away can I!”
***
When Jasmine’s mother dies inside their English mansion, hope comes in the form of her multi-million-pound inheritance. But with her inheritance threatened, Jasmine is left to contemplate a future she does not know how to live.
Jasmine has only ten days to uncover the circumstances of her father’s decade long disappearance before her fortune is lost forever. Forced to return to his homeland in Palestine, she follows his footsteps through stories long ingrained in the local’s minds. She is helped on her journey by a mysterious stranger who guides her through the trails of the Holy Land, from the heart of Jerusalem to the scattered broken villages, each harbouring its own secrets.
Under the watchful eyes of the ever-encroaching Occupation, Jasmine must piece together her history in the broken land, before it destroys her future.
Jasmine Falling is available NOW as a paperback here or at all major e-book sellers including Amazon, iBooks, & more
***
Besides authoring her novel, being a mother and wife, Shereen is also a writer for Muslimah Media Watch, a forum for critiquing the images of Muslim women in the media and pop culture. If you would like to see other works by Shereen you can find her at www.shereenmalherbe.com or follow her on twitter @malherbegirl
Shereen is available for interviews and appearances. For booking presentations, media appearances, interviews etc. contact shereenmalherbe@gmail.com
