I Will Judge You from Your Roommate

In her vibrant new story collection, I Will Judge You from Your Roommate, Fatima J. Alharthi explores the fundamental question of identity assertion: “who am I?” It challenges collectivism while embracing the imperfect traits of being human. The settings vary from Saudi Arabia, the Aegean Sea, Kenya, and Syria, but the uneasy drive to anchor the self is the overarching theme of these stories regardless of geographical location.

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Praise for I Will Judge You from Your Roommate

“I Will Judge You from Your Roommate is both urgent in its insight into these tumultuous times and enduring in its wisdom about the immutable human condition. Fatima J. Alharthi’s collection of short stories brilliantly explores the deep quest for self that everyone on this planet experiences every day. This is not just a timely book but an important one, by a truly gifted writer.”

–Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer Prize Winner of A Good Scent from A Strange Mountain

“An Arab woman, an American campus, and no end of cultural, political, and personal complications across the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and/or the Red Sea. In these generously observed character portraits, Fatima J. Alharthi gives the perennial and overriding question of identity a fresh twist.”

–Youssef Rakha, author of The Dissenters

“With skillfully rendered visuals and language, these stories map the worlds of Alharthi’s characters and the inner pathways through their hearts, minds, and memories. Conversations between loved ones and strangers show that every word exchanged is a negotiation. Alharthi shows how newness and familiarity shape and reshape voices and worldviews. The beauty and power of the writing make this an immersive and memorable collection.”

–Ravi Howard, author of Like Trees, Walking

About the Author

Fatima J. Alharthi is a Saudi writer and founder of Sard Adabi, a quarterly Arabic literary journal. Her work has appeared in The Southern Review, Los Angeles Review, Denver Quarterly, Indiana Review, and SmokeLong Quarterly. Her Arabic short story collection won the 2021 Sharjah Prize for Arab Creativity. She holds a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from Florida State University.

I Will Judge You from Your Roommate

Praise for I Will Judge You from Your Roommate

About the Author

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