The books that were selected for the first-ever ARAB VOICES list represent the

depth and nuance, the delight and diversity of Egyptian fiction being written and

read in 2020.

The thirty books you’ll find within were selected by an independent,

seven-person jury made up of librarians, critics, booksellers, publishers, translators,

academics, and, most of all: passionate book-lovers.

Each member of the ARAB VOICES jury compiled their own lists, and the whole

group held several lively debates that were, like so many conversations in 2020, held

over Zoom. In the end, we selected the thirty-two books you find within.