The Diverse Bookshelf

Samia Aziz
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Welcome to The Diverse Bookshelf. I’m Samia Aziz, celebrating the power of literature and the voices of authors and change makers from the global majority. Join me as we explore the stories that inspire, connect, and transform our world. Each week I interview an inspiring guest about a whole host of themes and issues while focusing on diverse literature.    Let’s uncover the stories that truly matter—together.

  1. 7 ОКТ.

    Sunny Singh on war, love and stories that refuse silence

    This week, I'm thrilled to be in conversation with Professor Sunny Singh. Sunny Singh was born in India and over the years her life has spanned continents and languages.  She earned a BA in English and American Literature at Brandeis University, followed by a master’s in Spanish Literature from Jawaharlal Nehru University, and a PhD from the University of Barcelona. Over time, she has written novels, creative nonfiction, essays, and short stories; she also serves as Professor of Creative Writing and Inclusion in the Arts at London Metropolitan University.  Beyond her writing, Sunny has been a powerful force for literary equity. In 2017 she launched the Jhalak Prize, a prize for writers of colour in the UK and Ireland, and continues to engage deeply with questions of decolonisation, representation and the literary ecosystem.  In recognition of her contributions to letters, she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.  Her new short story collection, Refuge: Stories of War (and Love) (released August 2025) is a striking, ambitious volume that brings into conversation the most urgent and often silenced narratives of conflict, displacement, and resilience.  Over its dozen or so stories, the collection moves across continents and histories - touching on war zones, refugee lives, gendered violence, memory, and the possibility of tenderness even amid devastation.  What sets Refuge apart is how it refuses easy binaries: perpetrators sometimes carry scars of suffering; survivors negotiate moral compromise and loss; the stories do not dwell on revenge but insist on empathy, nuance, and the endurance of human dignity.  Still, the collection does not shy away from brutality—sexual violence, war crimes, colonial legacies—and the way these violences embed themselves in bodies, histories, homes and memory.  And yet the final gesture of many of these stories is not surrender. They gesture toward renewal, connection, and the redemptive potential in telling the stories we fear. Support the show

    1 ч. 1 мин.

  2. 30 СЕНТ.

    Tasneem Abdur-Rashid on writing YA, family & rebuilding after divorce

    For today’s episode, I’m joined by Tasneem Abdur-Rashid for the third time in three years! Tasneem is a communications professional, writer, and author of the powerful new novel Odd Girl Out. Tasneem’s work explores identity, faith, family, and belonging, with characters and stories that speak to experiences rarely seen in mainstream publishing. Odd Girl Out follows the story of 15-year-old Maariyah who is navigating friendship, love, and the weight of expectations, while also confronting the unspoken challenges of mental health and community pressures. Her life is uprooted following the divorce of her parents, and she leaves behind a life of glitz and glamour in Dubai, for the rather less impressive, London. It’s a novel that is both deeply relatable and refreshingly bold in its honesty. In our conversation, we talk about the inspiration behind the book, Tasneem’s journey as a writer, divorce and family, and the importance of seeing authentic Muslim representation in literature. I’m so honoured to share this conversation with you – it’s moving, insightful, and necessary. Support the show

    1 ч. 1 мин.

  3. 23 СЕНТ.

    Sabrin Hasbun on meeting in the crossing

    After a three-month hiatus, I'm so pleased to be bringing back this podcast with more amazing conversations. This week, I’m joined by Sabrin Hasbun, writer, researcher, and author of the beautiful and moving book Crossing. Born in Italy to a Palestinian father and Italian mother, Sabrin grew up navigating languages, cultures, and identities – experiences that deeply inform her work. Crossing is part memoir, part exploration of belonging, memory, and family history. It moves between past and present, Italy and Palestine, weaving together personal stories with wider questions of identity, exile, and the meaning of home. In our conversation, we talk about her journey into writing, the ways in which her dual heritage has shaped her perspective, and how literature can hold space for histories that risk being silenced.  I'm so honoured to share this conversation with you.  Support the show

    54 мин.

  4. 6 МАЯ

    Chitra Nagarajan on unheard voices from the Boko Haram conflict

    In today’s episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Chitra Nagarajan – a writer, researcher, and activist whose work spans human rights, conflict, migration, and climate justice. Chitra has spent many years working across West Africa, particularly in the Lake Chad Basin region, and brings a deep commitment to centering the voices of those often left unheard. Her writing has appeared in The Guardian, Al Jazeera, openDemocracy, and more, and she is widely respected for her ability to weave together the personal, political, and historical with clarity and compassion. In this episode, we discuss her extraordinary new book, The World Was In Our Hands – Voices from the Boko Haram Conflict, which is a powerful and essential oral history project. Through a chorus of voices – of survivors, fighters, community members, and aid workers – the book paints a deeply human and nuanced portrait of one of the most devastating conflicts of our time. It asks urgent questions about justice, memory, and healing, and it reminds us of the importance of listening deeply to the people most affected by violence. I’m so honoured to share this conversation with you – it’s moving, insightful, and necessary. Support the show

    1 ч. 3 мин.

  5. 22 АПР.

    Juhea Kim on ballet, art and the duty of an author

    In today’s episode, I’m joined by the extraordinary Juhea Kim to discuss her latest novel, City of Night Birds—a haunting and lyrical exploration of artistry, love, and redemption set against the backdrop of the Russian ballet world. The novel centers on Natalia Leonova, once the most celebrated ballerina of her generation. After a catastrophic accident ends her career, Natalia returns to St. Petersburg in 2019, grappling with addiction and the ghosts of her past. As she navigates the city that shaped her, she confronts memories of her complex relationships: her great love, Alexander, who transformed both her life and art; and Dmitri, a dark and treacherous genius whose actions contributed to her downfall. When Dmitri offers her a chance to return to the stage in her signature role, Natalia must decide whether she can face the people and the world that nearly broke her. In our conversation, Juhea and I explore themes of forgiveness, identity, and the transformative power of art. Juhea shares insights into her research process, her connection to the world of ballet, and how she crafted a narrative that resonates with both intimacy and grandeur. We talk about the moral responsibilities that authors have, literature as a work of art, the world around us and so much more.  A bit about Juhea before we begin: she is the author of the acclaimed debut novel Beasts of a Little Land, which was a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and the winner of the Society of American Historians Prize for Historical Fiction. Her writing has appeared in Guernica, Catapult, Zyzzyva, and The New York Times Modern Love. Born in South Korea and now based in Portland, Oregon, Juhea is also a passionate advocate for animal rights and environmental justice. This is a beautiful and deeply human conversation, and I can’t wait for you to hear it. Support the show

    1 ч. 4 мин.

  6. 14 АПР.

    Ibtisam Azem on what would happen if Palestinians disappeared

    This week, I’m speaking with the brilliant Ibtisam Azem—novelist, journalist, and storyteller—about her powerful and thought-provoking book, The Book of Disappearance. Set across 1948 Palestine, in Jaffa and also Tel Aviv, this novel asks a haunting question: what if all the Palestinians suddenly disappeared? Through the intertwining narratives of Alaa, a young Palestinian man who vanishes without a trace, and Ariel, an Israeli, liberal Zionist journalist who finds Alaa’s diaries, the novel explores themes of memory, identity, and erasure. It is both a deeply personal story and a profound political meditation on history, belonging, and loss. In this conversation, we delve into the layers of metaphor and meaning in The Book of Disappearance, the historical and political realities that shape the narrative, and the ongoing situation in Palestine. We also reflect on storytelling as resistance, the role of literature in preserving memory, and the weight of silence in both personal and collective histories. This is a powerful and necessary discussion, and I hope it sparks reflection and conversation for you as well. -- I hope you loved listening to this episode and found things that will stay with you. I’d love to hear from you, so please do reach out on social media and don’t forget to like, subscribe and leave a review as it can really help.  If you're feeling extra generous, please consider buying me a "coffee" so I can keep putting great conversations like this out into the world: https://ko-fi.com/readwithsamia Support the show

    1 ч. 8 мин.

  7. 7 АПР.

    Elif Shafak on the connectedness of our world, water & the power of literature and storytelling

    For this week's episode, I have the immense honour of speaking with Elif Shafak — an internationally acclaimed and award-winning author whose work has been translated into more than 55 languages. With 21 published books to her name, including 13 novels, Elif has built a remarkable body of work that spans continents, cultures, and generations. Her writing is rich, lyrical, and deeply political, shaped by her experiences of living in multiple countries, her life in exile, and her unwavering belief in the power of stories to build bridges and foster understanding. In this episode, we talk about her latest novel, There Are Rivers In The Sky, a beautifully layered and timely book that flows across generations and continents, weaving together stories of identity, migration, belonging, and the sacredness of water. We explore the urgent themes at the heart of the novel — climate change, political unrest, and the silencing of voices — and how Elif draws on oral storytelling traditions to give voice to those often unheard. We also speak about the symbolism of water, the language of silence, and how fiction can hold both beauty and protest at once. This is a powerful and reflective conversation that touches on hope, resilience, and the role of the writer in turbulent times. I am beyond honoured to be speaking with Elif for this episode.  -- I hope you loved listening to this episode and found things that will stay with you. I’d love to hear from you, so please do reach out on social media and don’t forget to like, subscribe and leave a review as it can really help.  If you're feeling extra generous, please consider buying me a "coffee" so I can keep putting great conversations like this out into the world: https://ko-fi.com/readwithsamia Support the show

    1 ч. 8 мин.

  8. 21 МАР.

    Ramadan Reflections: Imrana Mahmood on creativity, faith & representation

    Today’s episode is part of a special mini-series called Ramadan reflections, where I talk to guests about faith, life and Ramadan.  I’m thrilled to be joined by poet and creative producer, Imrana Mahmood for a conversation about creativity and faith, the role of Ramadan in the creative process, and the importance of Muslim representation in literature and on stage and screen. Imrana Mahmood is a poet, curator, and creative producer who has dedicated her career to amplifying underrepresented voices in the arts. With a background in community-driven projects, she has worked extensively to create spaces for diverse creatives to thrive. Her work is deeply rooted in storytelling, activism, and faith, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and spirituality. She has collaborated with leading arts organizations and has played a key role in shaping conversations around Muslim representation in the UK’s literary and creative industries. In this episode, we’ll be diving into Imrana’s journey—how faith informs her creativity, the challenges and opportunities for Muslim artists today, and what true representation looks like in the arts.  Support the show

    1 ч.
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Welcome to The Diverse Bookshelf. I’m Samia Aziz, celebrating the power of literature and the voices of authors and change makers from the global majority. Join me as we explore the stories that inspire, connect, and transform our world. Each week I interview an inspiring guest about a whole host of themes and issues while focusing on diverse literature.    Let’s uncover the stories that truly matter—together.

Информация

  • Автор
    Samia Aziz
  • Годы выхода
    2022 - 2025
  • Выпуски
    110
  • Ограничения
    Без ненормативной лексики
  • Авторские права
    © 2025 The Diverse Bookshelf
  • Сайт подкаста
    The Diverse Bookshelf

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