Book Review: ‘The Druze of Belgrade’ by Rabee Jaber

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Updated 22 August 2024
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Book Review: ‘The Druze of Belgrade’ by Rabee Jaber

“The Druze of Belgrade” by Lebanese author Rabee Jaber is a sweeping historical novel that explores the complex and often misunderstood Druze community through the lens of one family’s saga. Set primarily in early 20th century Belgrade, the story follows the Durani clan as they navigate the political and social upheaval of the region, weaving together themes of identity, displacement, and the enduring bonds of family.

At the heart of the novel is Adham Durani, the patriarch, whose life is shaped by the tumultuous events of his time. As a young man, Adham flees his native Mount Lebanon and settles in Belgrade, where he establishes a successful trading business and starts a family. However, his hard-won stability is threatened by the outbreak of the   First World War and the subsequent collapse of the Ottoman Empire, forcing the Durani clan to confront their precarious position as outsiders in a changing world. 

The Druze are a religious minority with roots in the Middle East, and Jaber presents them deftly as they struggle with issues of tradition, allegiance, and assimilation. The Druze people find themselves caught between preserving their distinct cultural identity and assimilating into Serbian society as a whole. The political intrigue of the era, which puts the family in the crosshairs of nationalist movements and the shifting power dynamics in the Balkans, exacerbates this internal strife even more. 

One of the novel’s strengths is its rich, multi-layered characterization. Adham is a complex, flawed protagonist who must confront his own demons and the consequences of his choices. His wife, Fatima, is a strong-willed woman who fiercely protects her family, even as she struggles with the weight of her own secrets. The younger generation of Durani including Adham’s children and grandchildren, are indelibly shaped by the turmoil of their era, leading to poignant and sometimes heartbreaking moments of generational conflict. 

Jaber’s lyrical prose and attention to historical detail immerse the reader in the sights, sounds, and textures of early 20th century Belgrade. The novel’s sweeping scope, spanning decades and continents, is balanced by its intimate portrayal of the Durani family, whose triumphs and tragedies are inextricably tied to the larger forces of history. 

“The Druze of Belgrade” is a rich and compelling exploration of identity, displacement, and the resilience of the human spirit. Jaber’s masterful storytelling and deep empathy for his characters make this novel a must-read for fans of literary fiction and historical epics alike. 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Birds of the Tropical Andes’

Updated 09 July 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Birds of the Tropical Andes’

Authors: Owen Deutsch & Michael J. Parr 

Spanning much of the western part of South America, the Andes are home to some of the world’s most magnificent birds, from exquisite hummingbirds to fabulous flamingos.

This beautifully illustrated large-format book celebrates the splendor and extraordinary diversity of Andean birds and the habitats they depend on.

It draws on the latest findings from the field and sheds light on the lush alpine and forested terrains that make this avifauna so rich and plentiful.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Paper: Paging Through History’

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Updated 08 July 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Paper: Paging Through History’

  • Each papermaker refined their formula to allow ink to glide but not soak, creating sheets that were durable and portable

Author: Mark Kurlansky

“Paper: Paging Through History” by Mark Kurlansky, published in 2016, is a sweeping, detailed chronicle of how paper, arguably one of humanity’s most versatile inventions, traveled from its origins in ancient China across continents and centuries to reshape civilizations.

Kurlansky, an American journalist known for his deep dives into everyday materials, traces how humans moved from parchment and silk to mulberry bark and linen rags. 

Oral narrators once carried knowledge across generations; paper allowed that information to outlive them.

Each papermaker refined their formula to allow ink to glide but not soak, creating sheets that were durable and portable.

The watermark, made from a simple wire design, left a faint imprint that branded the paper. That part was owned by the papermaker, not the paper mill, and customers began choosing paper based on those marks. 

Paper was introduced to Europe by Arabs, who brought refined papermaking techniques to the continent. Europeans initially hesitated to adopt paper widely because oral tradition was the preferred way to share important stories; they felt that writing it down cheapened its value. 

Over time, through trade and cultural contact in regions like Andalusia and along the Silk Road, paper gradually gained acceptance and became widely used.

Kurlansky delves into how the use of paper birthed various industries. It offered people with an entrepreneurial spirit the ability to make a living.

Papermakers changed the art world, too, with the introduction of special papers, such as watercolor paper. 

Paper also shifted the world of journalism: Broadsheets, magazines, pamphlets, almanacs and, of course, books became more widely available at a lower cost. Yesterday’s newspaper would also be reused to line things like bird cages or to wrap food with.

It helped popularize things like playing cards, wrapping paper, wallpaper, paper fans, greeting cards and paper money, and lent itself to important medical, legal and political documents, such as the US Declaration of Independence.

“Paper: Paging Through History” was such a captivating read that I often paused to reflect, and I told everyone around me about the book. One moment that stood out was the 19th-century French campaign in which women were encouraged to donate their old handkerchiefs and linen to papermakers, as it might one day return to them in the form of a love letter.

Today, paper remains a vital medium where thoughts, plans, and dreams are recorded. 

It might seem mundane, but in an increasingly digitized world, its ability to let a narrative stand the test of time is history itself, like this very book.
 

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Life’s Devices’ by Steven Vogel

Updated 08 July 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Life’s Devices’ by Steven Vogel

Life on Earth is subject to the pull of gravity, the properties of air and water, and the behavior of diffusing molecules, yet such physical factors are constraints that drive evolution and offer untold opportunities to creatures of all sizes.

With an illuminating foreword by Rob Dunn, this Princeton Science Library edition of “Life’s Devices” includes examples from every major group of animals and plants along with illustrative problems and suggestions for experiments that require only common household materials.


What We Are Reading Today: Ridding the World of Landmines

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Updated 07 July 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: Ridding the World of Landmines

  • Afghanistan and Angola are two of the countries, among other nations, with a large number of landmines

Authors: Kjell Bjork

This book offers a study on how global treaties can be used to establish successful national programs concerned with mine action programs, focusing on the capacity of world governments to implement the convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines. 

Afghanistan and Angola are two of the countries, among other nations, with a large number of landmines. 

This book sets out to answer the research considering the disparate levels of success among countries committed to implementing the Mine Ban Treaty, according to a review on goodreads.com.

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Laminar Flow Theory’

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Updated 07 July 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Laminar Flow Theory’

  • The Navier-Stokes equations, first derived in the 18th century, serve as an accurate mathematical model with which to describe the flow of a broad class of real fluids

Author: P. A. LAGERSTORM 

Fluid mechanics is one of the greatest accomplishments of classical physics.

The Navier-Stokes equations, first derived in the 18th century, serve as an accurate mathematical model with which to describe the flow of a broad class of real fluids.

Not only is the subject of interest to mathematicians and physicists, but it is also indispensable to mechanical, aeronautical, and chemical engineers, who have to apply the equations to real-world examples, such as the flow of air around an aircraft wing or the motion of liquid droplets in a suspension.