Will the Real ‘Carrie Bradshaw of the Middle East’ Please Come Forward?

Last updated on: August 24, 2010 at 12:00 am by Guest Contributor

Will the Real ‘Carrie Bradshaw of the Middle East’ Please Come Forward? 2010-08-24T00:00:56-04:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This post was written by M. Lynx Qualey and originally appeared on her blog Arab Literature (in English).

Last Friday, the Independent reported that poet Joumana Haddad has been called the “Carrie Bradshaw of Beirut.”

Abdel Aal's book; Dar el Shorouk cover.

Yesterday, National Public Radio said that Ghada Abdel-Aal, blogger and author of Ayza Atgowaz (now a Ramadan TV series), is “Carrie Bradshaw in a headscarf.”

I certainly don’t object to analogy: It’s how we humans structure knowledge. And, while Haddad found the characterization of her “rather inaccurate” (perhaps she would prefer “a sexy Adrienne Rich”), Abdul-Aal embraces Sex and the City while telling NPR:

“Some people call my show Sex and the City, but without the sex. It’s just the city,” she says with a hearty laugh.

(I think emphasizing her “hearty laugh” is to underline that she’s a humor writer.)

Abdel-Aal’s blog is now rarely updated, although it’s inspired other blogs and facebook groups and become a cultural phenom. And now it’s a Ramadan TV series! The book is also making its way around the world: It’s already out in Italian, and will come out in English this October from University of Texas Press.

And: While we’re on the subject, why hasn’t Rajaa Alsanea been called the “Carrie Bradshaw of Saudi Arabia”? There is apparently an Arab (American) Carrie Bradshaw, or at least she’s called that by her friends.

Although, of course, what I’d really like to hear is someone being called “the bare-headed Ghada Abdel-Aal.”

Previous Post

August 23, 2010

A Woman Without Hijab is Like a Chair with Three Legs

Next Post

August 25, 2010 “Report from a Pashtun Teen” in the New York Times

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advertisements Art/Theater Books/Magazines Cinema Comics/Cartoons Culture/Society Events Fashion Film Friday Links Merchandise/Commodities MMW Announcements MMW Highlights Music/Radio News Photography Politics Profile Ramadan 2012 Ramadan 2013 Ramadan 2014 Ramadan 2015 Roundtable Satire Social Media Sports Technology/Science Television Uncategorized Video Web

Select a Month November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Jordan" (as in Jordan River) mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

To open To heal To anoint To descend