TPFF is proud to host the book launch for Her First Palestinian by Saaed Teebi. The book is a collection of elegant, surprising short stories about Palestinian immigrants in Canada navigating their identities in circumstances that push them to the emotional brink.  Saeed will be doing readings from the book as part of his conversation with Huda Hassan. We are also pleased to announce there will be a book signing after the event.  Please order your copy of the book in advance using the registration link. This is event is organized jointly with our literary partners Another Story Book Shop. 

Her First Palestinian

Saeed Teebi’s intense, engrossing stories plunge into the lives of characters grappling with their experiences as Palestinian immigrants to Canada. A doctor teaches his girlfriend about his country, only for her to fall into a consuming obsession with the Middle East conflict. A math professor risks his family’s destruction by slandering the king of a despotic, oil-rich country. A university student invents an imaginary girlfriend to fit in with his callous, womanizing roommates. A lawyer takes on the impossible mission of becoming a body smuggler. A lonely widower travels to Russia in search of a movie starlet he met in his youth in historical Jaffa. A refugee who escaped violent circumstances rebels against the kindness of his sponsor. These taut and compelling stories engage the immigrant experience and reflect the Palestinian diaspora with grace and insight.

About the Author

Saaed Teebi is a writer and lawyer based in Toronto. His story "Her First Palestinian" was shortlisted for the 2021 CBC Short Story Prize. He was born to Palestinian parents in Kuwait and, after spending time in Connecticut and California, has lived in Canada since 1993.

About the Moderator

Huda Hassan is a writer and cultural critic. She writes about art, culture, and power as a columnist for CBC Arts. She is a juror for Polaris Music Prize and SOCAN Songwriting Prize.

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