Books

When the Grey Beetles took over Baghdad

by Mona Yahia


On April 30, 2001, Mona Yahia won the Jewish Quarterly Wingate prize for Fiction for her book:
"When the Grey Beetles took over Baghdad".
The Judges comments' included: "Mona Yahia conjures up the scents and atmosphere of Baghdad,
as well as growing fear, with consummate elegance. You can feel your flesh tingle as you read it."

According to the press release, "This remarkable debut novel focuses on the vulnerable Jewish community in 1960s Baghdad, where superstition and social niceties live side by side with public hangings and disappearances. The story is seen through the eyes of a 15 year old girl, born into a Jewish Iraqi family. It is set in the aftermath of the six day war, within the backdrop of the rise of the Ba'ath party and its regime of terror over the Jewish community."

For the full press release, please click here

For photos of Mona at the awards ceremony, click on:
No. 1 winners, runners up (other shortlisted authors) and judges. (Mona-right)
No. 2 Mona (left) and Mark with Rabbi Julia Neuberger, chairman of the judges

To read about the book, go to the publisher's site

To read the review by her friend Joyce Sopher (Dallal), click here
(from the Book Reviews section of the Sephardi Bulletin)

To read the Guardian's review, click here

For more reviews and to order the book, go to Amazon

In the name of all Iraqi Jews from that period - Our heartiest congratulations to Mona!


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