Daily-ist Tuesday: A Map of Home

Randa Jarrar, author of the only slightly fictional coming-of-age novel A Map of Home, will be reading and signing copies of her book tonight at 7 p.m. at Blue Willow Bookshop.

Jarrar, who now lives in Austin, has written a sometimes-hilarious story about a girl born to an Egyptian mother and Palestinian father who must navigate her own adolescence in the midst of fleeing upheaval both in Kuwait and in her own parents' contemptuous marriage. Add to this the fact that Nidali, as the oldest child and the daughter, has certain hopes and expectations forced upon her by her father and you get a first novel full of both rebellion and optimism.

It's easy to jump to conclusions about Jarrar's inspiration when you learn that she herself was born in America, grew up in Kuwait and Egypt, and moved back to the United States as a teen. In a recent interview with the Austin-American Statesman, Jarrar confesses that her father, who believes the character of Nidali's father was inspired by him, has disowned her. But her work speaks for itself. Earlier this year her novel won the 2009 Arab American Book Award.

Randa Jarrar Booksigning
Admission: Free
Date and Time: 7 p.m. tonight
Location: Blue Willow Bookshop, 14532 Memorial Drive

Bonus Book Event
The HIWI Team will be signing copies of their book, HIWI:Ike, at Brazos Bookstore tonight from 5-7 p.m. Houstonist's own Jason Bargas, as well as many other Friends of Houstonist™ contributed to the book.