The Orange Trees of Baghdad by Leilah Nadir

Review by Zainab Nouri Al Mufti

The short:

Both personal and political, Leilah Nadir’s poignant memoir is an account of her quest to connect with her Iraqi heritage and discover her culture. The book provides a fascinating portrait of a country & culture irrevocably changed by war and destruction, through the lens of one family.

The long:

Born to an Iraqi father and an English mother, Nadir narrates the book through the stories of her family members living in Baghdad. Set against the backdrop of the Iraq war, Nadir writes beautifully of her mixed heritage and how she felt as if she had been torn in two - ‘both the occupier and the occupied coursed through my veins’. She had always yearned to visit her father’s family but never set foot on Iraqi soil. Her father tells her stories of the city he left behind in the 60s, painting a beautiful picture of Iraq before the war. His depiction of Iraq is of mythical origins, and is contrasted by the experiences her extended family still living in Baghdad speak of. As the bombs land on Baghdad and more of her relatives flee the country forever, she begins to uncover the story of her lost roots. Alongside this personal discovery, she gets first-hand insight into what every day Iraqis are experiencing, from the invasion to its aftermath. Through her aunties and cousins, Nadir learns of what life is like living in an embattled land as war becomes occupation. Tragic events unfold, but just as Nadir gives up hope of ever meeting her distant family, a surprise reunion takes place.

To read or not to read:

A must read! The book not only captures what it means to be of mixed heritage living in the West, it also beautifully tells the story of occupation through the real people who have had their lives upended by tragedy. Honest, poignant and emotional, Nadir provides a stunning portrait of the majestic city Baghdad once was, and showcases the tragic reality that war and destruction has had on Iraq.