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women — with little or no attention to politics. Rasheed El Enani, one of the members of the committee that awarded the Naguib
Mahfouz Medal for Literature in 2017, described the novel by saying, "It is not about the political cause, the resistance, the dream of return. It is rather about ordinary Palestinians whose lives go on meanwhile, unnoticed and unrecorded, in the background, while the high dramas of politics occupy center-stage."
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27:
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Unlike most other Arabic novels with content closely or remotely related to
Palestine, "Velvet" is almost bereft of any political or patriotic themes pertaining to the Palestinian issue; it rather employs the narrative to portray the utterly humane dimensions of common Palestinians — particularly the
449:
There have been no official announcements yet that the novel will be made into a movie, but numerous critics have reiterated the possibility of adapting the book as a film due to the cinematic style that dominates the narrative; and when asked whether she perceived the novel would turn into a movie,
215:
As for the duration
Habayeb spent on writing the novel and conducting the needed research, it was around two and a half years, as she stated in an interview on Al-Ghad TV. Habayeb also said — during the same aforementioned interview — that she purchased huge amounts of fabric, perused the history of
180:
Although "Velvet" is entirely fictional, the setting is inspired by Huzama
Habayeb's own upbringing and familiarity with the Palestinians' status quo within Jordan, as well as the fact that she is a descendant of a refugee family and has friends and acquaintances who live in Baq'a refugee camp, the
424:
Authors and publishers are the ones who usually submit nominations to the AUC to be considered for Naguib
Mahfouz Medal for Literature. However, the award committee itself may select a novel even if it was not nominated by any authors, publishers, or anyone; and that was the case in 2017 — neither
339:
Through "Hawwa" — and a big number of characters shaped with highly artistic techniques — Huzama encapsulates the life in the
Palestinian camp in an extremely rich manner, captures the details, narrates the emotions and sentiments, and writes in a language of utter sensitivity, exposing everything
198:
I am Huzama
Habayeb, the daughter of the Palestinian refugee, Hamed Mohammed Habayeb, who left his Palestinian village when he was a 7-year-old child, holding his mother's hand, inattentive to what the country and its people were destined to, unaware that he had turned into a symbol of the age's
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fabrics and textiles, learned sewing and tailoring, and conducted interviews with seamstresses just to provide the readers with a plausible tailoring-related content. In the last 8 months of the process, Habayeb wrote every day for 12 hours.
155:
of the novel, whose name is Hawwa, meets Qamar and becomes a protégé of hers. In addition to tailoring, Hawwa learns a lot about life from Qamar; and along the way, the love of velvet is passed on by the mentor to the apprentice.
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Why not? As a matter of fact, when I write, I see. I don't think of the words, sentences, characters, or the way I should phrase the words; I rather see the words, sentences, and the characters being created in front of me
229:
Hawwa is the protagonist of the novel. She is a forty-something dreamy woman who is in a tireless pursuit of love that seems to be unattainable. It is worth mentioning that the name "Hawwa" is the Arabic equivalent of
397:" that concentrates on the marginalized common Palestinians in diaspora and avoids the pretentious display of spurious patriotic themes revolving around the political struggle. The novel was also commended for its "
413:
is distinguished by the richness of its language and its empathy with its subject. Together, these produce a finely-textured description of a life lived in hardship but overflowing with sensibility and grace...
315:
Ayah is Hawwa's daughter. She and her mother have some things common: Both have been physically and emotionally abused by their fathers, and both have demonstrated a lack of emotions toward their mothers.
258:
Rab'a is Hawwa's mother. She was forced to marry Musa, who constantly inflicts serious physical and emotional injuries on her. Rab'a is portrayed as a helpless wife who suffers from an emotional drought.
267:
Nayfeh is Hawwa's paternal grandmother. From the outside, she is depicted as a tough, angry, discontented woman; yet from the inside, she is crushed. Nayfeh is the one who orchestrates the
193:(AUC) when she received the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature for "Velvet", Huzama Habayeb tearfully evoked her father's displacement experience at the end of her address.
295:
Ayed is Hawwa's younger brother. He also gets his own share of beating from his ruthless dad, Musa, especially in the mornings when Ayed's bed is found wet due to his
838:
583:
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Lutfi is Hawwa's elder brother. He keeps himself isolated from his family's issues and lives in a world of his own, indifferent to the tribulations surrounding him.
425:
Huzama
Habayeb nor her publisher nominated "Velvet" for the medal; the members of the award committee were the ones who selected the novel directly, which was a "
250:
Musa is Hawwa's father. He is an abusive construction worker who beats his wife, molests his own daughters, and casts fear in the hearts of all family members.
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523:
390:, the president of the American University in Cairo (AUC) — includes a silver medal, cash prize, and a publication of an English translation of the novel.
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151:", is the all-time favorite kind of fabric to Qamar, a widowed lonely tailoress and one of the main female characters in the novel. The female
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Innovative writing that is characterized by genuineness and makes a difference is capable eventually to impose itself and have its say.
185:
newspaper. Her father, along with other paternal relatives, was also among the
Palestinians who were displaced in 1948 and settled in
386:
On 11 December 2017, Huzama
Habayeb's "Velvet" won Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature. The award — which was handed to Habayeb by
1151:
242:
Qamar is a seamstress with both a vague history and her own tragic love story. She is Hawwa's mentor, adviser, and role model.
403:
The author of 'Velvet' has managed to create a parallel world for the reader to perceive the harsh and arid life in the camp.
430:
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208:
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women experiencing tragic love stories under the compelling circumstances and within the ultraconservative community of
378:
190:
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1230:
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Huzama Habayeb receives the 2017 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature at the AUC from Francis J. Ricciardone Jr.
401:" Shereen Abouelnaga, a professor of English literature at the AUC and a member in the award committee, said "
186:
1080:"Palestinian writer Huzama Habayeb wins 2017 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature - Books - Ahram Online"
279:
Nathmi is Hawwa's undesired husband. He is a younger, but equally cruel, version of her abusive father.
387:
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added value to the Palestinian novels, in particular, as well as the Arabic novels in general.
584:"Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature to Huzama Habayeb for 'A New Kind of Palestinian Novel'"
324:
Muneer is Hawwa's lover who becomes the soon-to-be second husband after she divorces Nathmi.
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8:
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Shortly after it was published, the novel was critically acclaimed in a review posted by
307:
Qays is Hawwa's son, who grows up to possess a similar character of his father (Nathmi).
296:
82:
26:
1056:"Naguib Mahfouz, Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature, Arabic literature, translation"
355:
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that happens within the "dimness" of the houses in a way that is almost frightening.
268:
182:
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place where most of the novel's events occur, as she stated in an interview with
113:
472:
204:
173:
125:
40:
1201:"AUC Press Awards Huzama Habayeb the 2017 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature"
1031:"AUC Press Awards Huzama Habayeb the 2017 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature"
816:
767:
1277:
1175:
1128:"Huzama Habayeb Wins Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature Award | Nasher News"
717:"حوار: حزامة حبايب، الكتابة تنقذني من نفسي... فأخلق عالمي الروائي وأنغمس فيه"
1104:"Huzama Habayeb wins 2017 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature - Egypt Today"
133:
636:"Novelist Huzama Habayeb Awarded 2017 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature"
189:
in Jordan. In the acceptance speech she delivered on 11 December 2017 at
152:
1253:"حزامة حبايب : "مخمل" رواية عن متيمات يسرقن الحب في لحظات القهر"
818:يوم جديد | حبايب: لم أسعى لجائزة نجيب محفوظ وكنت اختيار لجنة التحكيم
419:—The judges of Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature, 11 December 2017
366:
newspaper commended Habayeb's writing style and deemed "Velvet" an "
363:
691:
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one of the most prominent novelists in the Arabic narrative scene.
871:"وعادت سندريلا حافية القدمين: قراءة في رواية "مخمل" لحزامة حبايب"
346:
692:"حزامة حبايب الفائزة بجائزة نجيب محفوظ.. كاتبة حافظت على هويتها"
148:
141:
121:
929:""مخمل" حزامة حبايب .. رواية تكسر التابوهات في تناولها للمخيم"
905:""مخمل" حزامة حبايب .. رواية تكسر التابوهات في تناولها للمخيم"
172:
Baq'a refugee camp in Jordan — the place where the events of
742:"Naguib Mahfouz Medal Winner Huzama Habayeb's Full Address"
399:
poetic prose and skillful deployment of vocabulary choice.
498:"Huzama Habayeb wins Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature"
231:
810:
808:
1176:"حيثيات فوز حزامة حبايب بجائزة نجيب محفوظ 2017 | صور"
358:'s website. The review acknowledges Huzama Habayeb as "
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The original title "مُخْمَل", which in English means "
1152:"Huzama Habayeb: a novelist with a velvet touch"
814:
805:
554:"The Palestinian Author Habayeb Wins Naguib Medal"
1275:
429:" to Habayeb, as she said in an interview with
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769:بكاء حزامة حبايب خلال تسلمها جائزة نجيب محفوظ
234:", which obviously holds a lot of symbolism.
765:
74:Arab Institute For Research & Publishing
1010:"رواية "مُخمَل".. رحلة في المخيم الفلسطيني"
888:
856:
393:The award committee hailed "Velvet" as a "
25:
524:"The Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature"
163:
377:
167:
1276:
349:newspaper, in a review, 5 January 2016
1223:"Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature"
952:
950:
948:
437:" in which she had always believed: "
207:, acceptance speech for the 2017
124:language novel by Palestinian author
815:Alghad TV - قناة الغد (2017-12-17),
332:
128:published in 2016. The book won the
990:. Al-Ghad Newspaper. 5 January 2016
836:
610:"A Journey in the Palestinian Camp"
374:Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature
209:Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature
132:in 2017. The novel depicts several
130:Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature
117:
101:Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature
13:
1203:. The American University in Cairo
945:
560:. 12 December 2017. Archived from
219:
14:
1300:
1035:The American University in Cairo
668:. 5 January 2016. Archived from
502:The American University in Cairo
433:.net website — a surprise that "
271:between Hawwa and Nathmi.
191:the American University in Cairo
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1:
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395:new kind of Palestinian novel
1227:American University in Cairo
327:
16:2016 novel by Huzama Habayeb
7:
766:Mobtada .com (2017-12-11),
10:
1305:
1211:– via aucegypt.edu/.
662:"Habayeb releases Mukhmal"
473:"Velvet page on Goodreads"
388:Francis J. Ricciardone Jr.
319:
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984:"A New Novel by Habayeb"
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176:'s "Velvet" take place.
1284:Arabic-language novels
958:"A review of "Velvet""
435:reiterated a principle
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164:Conception and writing
839:""مُخمل" حزامة حبايب"
408:
381:
337:
196:
171:
1084:english.ahram.org.eg
672:on 17 December 2019
199:greatest calamity…
138:Baqa'a refugee camp
21:
1108:www.egypttoday.com
642:. 12 December 2017
590:. 11 December 2017
504:. 12 December 2017
450:Habayeb replied: "
384:
297:nocturnal enuresis
187:Zarqa refugee camp
178:
19:
988:Al-Ghad Newspaper
564:on 5 January 2018
333:Media and critics
269:arranged marriage
107:
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79:Publication place
58:Arabic Literature
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1229:. Archived from
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964:. 4 August 2016
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616:. 4 August 2016
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183:Asharq Al-Awsat
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837:البياري, معن.
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126:Huzama Habayeb
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41:Huzama Habayeb
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1233:on 2007-03-20
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1180:بوابة الأهرام
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789:"حزامة حبايب"
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1261:. Retrieved
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1235:. Retrieved
1231:the original
1226:
1217:
1205:. Retrieved
1195:
1184:. Retrieved
1179:
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1159:. Retrieved
1156:The National
1155:
1146:
1135:. Retrieved
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1111:. Retrieved
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1063:. Retrieved
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1039:. Retrieved
1037:. 2017-12-12
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1014:. Retrieved
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936:. Retrieved
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750:. Retrieved
748:. 2017-12-11
745:
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725:. Retrieved
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670:the original
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618:. Retrieved
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592:. Retrieved
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566:. Retrieved
562:the original
557:
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536:. Retrieved
532:the original
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506:. Retrieved
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427:big surprise
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66:January 2016
1289:2016 novels
1259:(in Arabic)
1257:www.mbc.net
1237:31 December
1182:(in Arabic)
1012:(in Arabic)
877:(in Arabic)
845:(in Arabic)
723:(in Arabic)
698:(in Arabic)
676:31 December
646:31 December
620:30 December
594:30 December
538:30 December
508:30 December
482:30 December
445:Adaptations
153:protagonist
134:Palestinian
1278:Categories
1263:2018-01-04
1186:2018-01-04
1161:2018-01-03
1137:2018-01-03
1113:2018-01-03
1089:2018-01-03
1065:2018-01-03
1041:2018-01-03
1016:2018-01-03
938:2018-01-03
914:2018-01-03
881:2018-01-03
875:جريدة الغد
849:2018-01-03
824:2018-01-03
798:2018-01-03
775:2018-01-03
752:2018-01-03
727:2018-01-03
721:aawsat.com
702:2018-01-03
696:بوابة فيتو
477:Good Reads
459:References
356:Al-Jazeera
31:Book cover
1207:3 January
994:3 January
968:2 January
568:1 January
453:visually.
328:Reception
83:Palestine
71:Publisher
63:Published
962:Al-Hayat
614:Al Hayat
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364:Al-Hayat
120:) is an
47:Language
843:alaraby
666:Al-Ghad
558:Reuters
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347:Al-Ghad
118:مُخْمَل
20:Velvet
411:Velvet
320:Muneer
275:Nathmi
263:Nayfeh
149:Velvet
142:Jordan
122:Arabic
114:Arabic
110:Velvet
103:(2017)
50:Arabic
37:Author
283:Lutfi
254:Rab'a
238:Qamar
225:Hawwa
97:Award
89:Pages
55:Genre
1239:2017
1209:2018
996:2018
970:2018
678:2017
648:2017
622:2017
596:2017
570:2018
540:2017
510:2017
484:2017
311:Ayah
303:Qays
291:Ayed
246:Musa
640:AUC
528:AUC
431:MBC
232:Eve
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