Sue Diaz will visit the Berryessa Branch Library to discuss her book Minefields of the Heart: A Mothers Story of a Son at War on Friday, March 15 at 2 pm. A question and answer session will follow.

Minefields of the Heart is one of the selections for Silicon Valley Reads 2013. The book is about Diaz's son's two deployments in Iraq and how it affected the family on the homefront. You can participate in SJPL's online discussion group about the book here.

Sue Diaz is a journalist who has contributed to the Christian Science Monitor and NPR and conducted writing workshops for veterans in San Diego.  

Julia finds that her interests are changing one summer, a summer when her friend/niece Eliza and she no longer see eye to eye. At the heart of the matter lies her budding interest in a boy. Eliza cannot understand Julia's changing tastes and is hurt and confused.

The Summer Before Boys (AR 5.0, Level 4.4) is a twist on the hurt friend who is left behind. Author Nora Raleigh Baskin instead takes the point of view of the kid who is changing. In Julia's case, she must face her guilt and budding romantic feelings alone.

In addition, many people are either oblivious or have forgotten about those who are in other countries fighting wars for the United States. A timely tale for the tenth anniversary of 9/11, this story takes the point of view of a girl whose mother is a nurse in war-torn Iraq. How do the families who are left behind deal with the ongoing stress of wondering if their loved ones are safe?

Encountering the term Mesopotamia in the news, social media, or even surfing the Web, is the reality of facing history and searching for the real historical facts. Then, what is Mesopotamia?  Is it a nation, a civilization, a mystery, or is it an art? Realistically speaking, reviewing the history lessons would be the best rationale. Mesopotamia is the term that we have known in the history of the Ancient Civilizations, and it’s an integral part of the Near-Eastern Studies, Oriental Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, or even the Western Civilization. Mesopotamia is the modern nation of today’s Iraq. The country is also called “The Land between the Two Rivers” (Tigress & Euphrates) and it’s the Cradle of Civilization. The valley of Mesopotamia is the home of the great civilizations of Akkadian, Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians empires. This is the land where the alphabet was developed, art was flourished, inventions were created, and the first cities were built. It is the land of Hammurabi that produced the first laws of the land, and it’s the center of a first library in the world which was built here by the Assyrians in Nineveh. In today’s Mesopotamia (Iraq) the existence of the Great Ziggurat of Ur, City of Babylon, the Capital of Nineveh, the treasures Nimrud, and the Iraqi Museum of Baghdad are the witness of this great civilization. Today’s Mesopotamia is the transparency of the great civilizations to humanity and multicultural society with ethnic groups and languages. It is the home of many Arab speaking groups, Kurds, Assyrians Turkmans, Armenians, and others.

Have you ever wanted to travel to Middle East and discover Egypt, Syria, or Lebanon? Have you ever thought to listen to Arabic music or view an Arabic movie or even learn the Arabic Language?

Have no doubt in your mind; all your dreams can become true here at San José Public Library. The Arabic Language collection includes Arabic Books, CDs, and DVDs from many parts of the Middle East. San Jose Public Library’s Arabic Language collection have materials in classical literature, fiction, philosophy, poetry, art, history, politics, and current events concerning many Middle Eastern countries including Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Morocco and others. The Arabic language materials are waiting for you explore and enjoy Middle Eastern cultures. In addition to classical Arabic, you will also distinguish many different Arabic Language dialects from Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Arabia and Gulf states.

Ahlan Wa Sahlan (Welcome) to San José Public Library!

Muqtada : Muqtada al-Sadr, the Shia revival, and the struggle for Iraq
by Cockburn, Patrick
Muqtada is a summary of the Shia’s modern history and conflict in Iraq as is rooted with a mystery figure, a maverick, and a firebrand young cleric Muqtada Al-Sadar. Patrick Cockburn compiles an account of the Shia modern politics, religion, nationalism, and their conflict in Iraq. The author had a firsthand experience in the modern Iraqi political conflict including Saddam’s brutality, the Shia suffering, and the destruction of Iraqi infrastructure. Mr. Cockburn’s book is a collaboration of valuable interviews and direct contact with many Iraqi figures including Shia, Sunni, and Iraqi officials.

The book is not just a biography of Muqtada Al-Sadar, but details of his family’s history and the Sadirist movement including the feud of Shia’s leadership and their struggle with the Iraqi government and Baath party. Muqtada blended the Shia’s cause with violence, assassinations, and anarchy. The young cleric seized the momentum to conquer by combining his family’s name, assembling the poor with religious rhetoric and nationalism. He became a ruthless militiaman, but he successfully identified himself with the Mahdi army and his movement. Nevertheless, his rivals were many, al-Khoie, Sistani, & al-Hakim including the Sunni, and the middle class. Many saw him as a dangerous figure leading a mob of thieves and robbers and created bitter rivalries, a controversial figure, but a popular among the poor Shia fanatics.

Reviewed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library staff member Ashour Benjamin

The Forever War
by Dexter Filkins
In The Forever War, N.Y. Times correspondent Dexter Filkins captures many dramatic moments of the Afghanistan and Iraqi wars. The book begins in Kabul with the brutality of the Taliban. Mr. Filkins demonstrates the Afghani conflict in many perspectives including the ethnic groups, the struggle against the Soviets, warlords, and the extremism of the Taliban. The book covers the crimes of the "Mujahideen" and the survival of the Afghans in decades of conflicts.

The 2nd part of the book is entirely on the Iraqi war. As an eyewitness, Mr. Filkins reports on many major events in the war including amazing stories where American troops are in the middle of the Iraqi war zone, battling insurgents, and counseling with Iraqis. The author visualizes scenes of battles, car bombs, foreign jihadists, and the suffering of Iraqi people. This section of the book includes GI sacrifices in many hotspots like Fallujah, Baghdad, Mosul, Sadar City, and Najaf. In addition, there are emotional parts in the book, including scenes of killing and death that are unforgettable. The Forever War is a reflection of war memories, democracy, justice, and equal rights for the people of Afghanistan and Iraq. It’s the world of wars and the real story of brave American men and women.

Reviewed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library staff member Ashour Benjamin