Saeed

The beautiful book trailer for YOU WILL NOT KILL OUR IMAGINATION: A MEMOIR OF PALESTINE AND WRITING IN DARK TIMES. Thank you to the amazing team @simonschusterca for this production. View it with the sound on. Some background to the book below. -- INSTANT BESTSELLER A vital, fearless memoir explores what it means to be a Palestinian in this moment, the effects of the genocide on Palestinian art and imagination, and that to even claim a belonging to the land from a country thousands of miles away is an act of subversion—a book that Omar El Akkad says “so perfectly contextualizes and humanizes so much of what has led us to this awful moment, and one that will be remembered long after.” Imagination is a more powerful force than hope. Acclaimed author Saeed Teebi was at work on his first novel when the attacks on Gaza began in late 2023. The violence and cruelty of the attacks, accompanied by the assent and silence of international governments, stunned many across the globe, like Teebi, into a new state of permanent horror. What does it mean to be of the Palestinian diaspora in such a moment? What does it mean to be of a people who have sustained such a large-scale assault not only on their homeland, but their entire identity? What is the role of art, of language—of imagination—in asserting one’s identity, when that very assertion is read as an act of subversion? In this incisive work, Teebi explores, with searing, razor-sharp prose, the effects of genocide on the bodies, minds, and imaginations—of Palestinians especially, and humanity in general. This is at once a memoir of one family’s displacement, a scathing indictment of global complicity in the face of brutality, and a profound rumination on art and imagination as a means of defiance. It is an astonishing work of resistance by a major intellect, and it is both urgent and timeless.

Thank you to @rdassaly and @thetorontostar for this wide ranging interview. I had a chance to talk about my new book, my personal history, the deficiencies of witnessing, and the role of the artist in these times of genocide. Link in bio to read the full interview. #YouWillNotKillOurImagination

A national bestseller. A year ago, when I felt so alone writing this book, never -- never -- did I expect it to be so embraced. To my readers: Thank you. I hope this book made you feel less alone, and more resolved in our resistance. Because we have a lot more to do, still. #YouWillNotKillOurImagination (Bestseller lists per @thetorontostar and @globeandmail )

My book opens with my move to Oakville. And everything I wrote is as much about the local as it is about the global. Thank you to @oakville_news and @ramonaleitao for this kind interview. Link in bio.

BOOK CLUB TONIGHT IS POSTPONED TO TUES, FEB 3RD DUE TO THE SNOWSTORM! ❄️ YOU WILL NOT KILL OUR IMAGINATION: A Memoir of Palestine and Writing in Dark Times ✹ Tues, Feb. 3rd @7pm + Q&A with Saeed Teebi @8pm In case you missed the email announcement about the rescheduling of tonight's book club, please sign up for your desired book club email lists via the link in our bio or visit shop.queenbooks.ca/book-clubs ☆ Upon signing up for book club, you will not receive an individual email confirmation regarding joining, BUT you will receive future book club updates/email blasts.

Thank you to @f.abdalla.h and @theconversationdotcom for this beautiful article on prisons, witnessing, and exile. Link at Teebi.com under News.

Part 2- The Road to Egypt This is the second piece I created inspired by the book “You Will Not Kill Our Imagination” by Saeed Teebi. Reading this section of the book, I couldn’t help but put myself in the shoes of Saeed’s grandmother. Pregnancy is supposed to be such an exciting time, I think of women nesting and preparing their home to welcome a child. Instead, families were expelled and people were forced to find safety on foot. I can’t imagine the toll that journey could take on a pregnant body. I often wonder what traditions would look like today had there not been an illegal occupation. So many of the traditions have become aligned with symbols of resistance, a fight against erasure. But how would they have evolved outside of an occupation? Source for the Tatreez motifs and image of the sisters mentioned: Threads of Identity- Widad Kawar

This is Part 1 - Spiral The book “You Will Not Kill Our Imagination” explores the experience of living in the Palestinian diaspora and all the feelings associated with it. It discusses the aftermath of displacement and the psychological toll it takes. The study I referenced is one that was conducted in Syrian refugee camps across multiple generations. It explored genome changes as a result of war violence and persecution in the 80s at the hands of the Assad regime. This concept was also studied on a larger scale, across multiple generations of mice. All of this also makes me think about the people of Gaza and the ripple effect that the genocide will have on generations to come.

Had a great conversation with @davidwall83 on the Jewish Heretics podcast. We covered a lot of ground, but if you're a chapter 6 person ("The Company and You") this is the first time I've talked about that part in any real depth in an interview. Link at Teebi.com under News.

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending in Vancouver the Not the Giller Gala organized by @shirarosewilensky , @jensookfonglee and other wonderful souls. I was supposed to just read some of my book, but I felt I needed to say a few things about the writers that joined me (@delbauchery @jensookfonglee @jasminefrancessealy @voice___memos @carmellaprecarious and Ziyad Saadi), as well as the many others like them who took a principled stand to boycott and withdraw from the Giller prize. My words were meant just for us who were there, in the spirit of celebration and resolve. But thank you to @rdassaly and @thegrindto for seeking to publish these remarks. Link at Teebi.com under News.

HER FIRST PALESTINIAN, now in Japanese. It is the first translation of the entire book. Much gratitude for this translation by Shoko Otsu, and publication by Shogakukan.

I had an excellent conversation with Resh Budhu from the Courage My Friends podcast @rabbleca We touched on topics from the pervasiveness of the feeling of exile, the politicization of Palestinian art, and how meaning disintegrates when we forbid ourselves from using the language we need. Link to listen is under News on Teebi.com.