Day 20. Diana Abu Jaber Telling Stories Through Food and Fiction.
“Food is never just food. It’s a story, a culture, a way of keeping tradition alive.”
— Diana Abu-Jaber
We continue our exploration of Arab American writers as we spotlight Diana Abu-Jaber, a celebrated author and storyteller whose novels masterfully blend identity, culture, and cuisine.
Blending Identity and Tradition
Born to a Jordanian father and an American mother, Diana Abu-Jaber grew up balancing two cultures that often intersected around the dinner table. Her writing reflects this duality of identity, using food as a metaphor for cultural connection and self-discovery.
Diana’s debut novel, “Arabian Jazz” (1993), made waves as one of the first mainstream novels to depict Arab American life. The story’s themes of family, tradition, and belonging resonated with readers and earned her the Oregon Book Award.
Finding Belonging in Food
Diana’s most acclaimed work, “The Language of Baklava” (2005), is a memoir interwoven with recipes, capturing the flavors of her heritage while reflecting on the challenges of bicultural identity. The book’s heartwarming tales of her father’s cooking and the memories they evoke remind readers of the power of food to preserve tradition and build connections.
She also wrote “Crescent” (2003), a love story set in a Los Angeles café, exploring the intersections of love, exile, and food. Her works reflect how culinary storytelling can bring people closer, fostering understanding across cultures.
In Her Own Words
“Writing is an act of courage — not because it’s difficult, but because it’s deeply personal. When I write about food, I’m writing about memory, family, and love.”
Her writing celebrates the joys and struggles of cultural identity, showing how cuisine becomes a language of its own — one that tells stories of resilience and belonging.
Literary Highlights
- 📚 Arabian Jazz (1993) – A groundbreaking novel on Arab American life.
- 🍲 The Language of Baklava (2005) – A culinary memoir blending recipes and family stories.
- ❤️ Crescent (2003) – A novel exploring love, exile, and the unspoken power of food.
- ✨ Life Without a Recipe (2016) – A memoir about finding one’s path without a clear guide (Powell’s Book Overview).
Learn More About Diana Abu-Jaber
🎧 Interview: Diana Abu Jaber Life Without a Recipe, A Memoir of Food and Family
📝 News Report: MPR News: Diana Abu Jaber on Family, Myths and Inheritance
Words of Inspiration
“To cook is to remember, to write is to reclaim. Both are acts of holding on to where we come from.”
Reflection
As we reflect on Diana’s focus on connecting community and culinary traditions, we invite you to think of your own culinary traditions and their impact.
💬How does food shape your connection to culture and identity?
💬Have you ever shared a meaningful meal that told a story?
Join us tomorrow as we celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit in Arab culture, and how one man continues to build upon it.
Learn more: Gain insight into her different books, learn about upcoming events and explore other aspects of Diana’s life on her official website.
#UU #UUA #CelebrateDiversity #30DaysOfHonoringArabAmericans #ArabAmerican #ArabAmericanHeritageMonth #FoodAndIdentity #CulinaryStorytelling #DianaAbuJaber
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