Category: Adaptation/Modernized Version

“The Calamity of Desire and Other Stories” by Judith Dancoff

May 13, 2024

The eight stories in “The Calamity of Desire and Other Stories” are all inspired by or based on works of art. The author, Judith Dancoff, uses paintings or, for one story Roman glass, as jumping-off points. In each piece, she explores the mysteries behind the paintings or perhaps the unknown life of a model. The stories are rich in detail and are immersed in different time periods, covering topics as diverse as romance, empowerment, and wonder at the strangeness and beauty of the world. Dancoff has a powerful narrative voice, yet she easily adjusts it to meet the needs of each story and reflects the tone of the periods. … More “The Calamity of Desire and Other Stories” by Judith Dancoff

“Nad of Nadide” by Wagih Abu-Rish

March 1, 2024

Fareed, a university student, has decided to transfer to a new school in Turkey after breaking up with his beautiful but abusive girlfriend. Fareed finds his eye drawn immediately to the beautiful girl across the aisle on his plane and is intrigued to find her also enrolled in the same engineering class. They begin trading notes in class, but never speak. Even more fascinating to Fareed is that everyone warns him away from the beautiful Nadide. She is the daughter of a Turkish General and is expected to soon be engaged to one of his closest subordinates. The General expects his daughter to marry a Muslim of at least 3 generations of Turkish descent. Fareed, while Muslim, and the son of two world renowned neurosurgeons, has no chance to win the General’s favor: his father is a Palestinian and his mother is an Irish Catholic. … More “Nad of Nadide” by Wagih Abu-Rish

“The Delany Bennets” by Desiree R. Kannel

February 8, 2024

Fresh and imaginative, with an incredibly realistic storyline, I found myself quickly immersed in Desiree R. Kannel’s contemporary Black adaptation of Jane Austen’s revered classic, Pride and Prejudice. The book—with its captivating beginning—is well-crafted and its ingenious plot is bound to delight fans of the genre. … More “The Delany Bennets” by Desiree R. Kannel