All Strangers Are Kin

“Zora O'Neill is the perfect travel companion: smart, curious, witty and knowledgeable. In a time when the news out of the Middle East is too often grim, she finds warmth and humor. By refusing to tread along the same paths that so many news reporters are confined to, she reveals to us rich new possibilities for understanding, all in a deceptively breezy tone.”—Carla Power, author of If the Oceans Were Ink

“O'Neill masterfully weaves together vignettes, linguistic musings, and a colorful cast of thousands into an always-thoughtful, often hysterically funny paean to a part of the world about which most Americans remain woefully ignorant.”—Suketu Mehta, author of Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found

“Wry, witty, and charmingly erudite, this lovely book goes through the looking glass of the Arabic language and emerges with a radiant image of the Arab world.”—Diana Abu-Jaber, author of The Language of Baklava: a Memoir

“You will travel through countries and across centuries, meeting professors and poets, revolutionaries, nomads, and nerds. O'Neill's generous storytelling makes the intricacies of Arabic grammar seem fascinating and inexplicably glamorous. And the most unforgettable character you encounter may be the Arabic language itself, which will feel like an old friend by the time you finish this warm and hilarious book.”—Annia Ciezadlo, author of Day of Honey

“At a time when politics dominates our view of the Middle East, Zora O'Neill has found a different port of entry: the language. An enthusiastic and resourceful student of Arabic, O'Neill captures both the richness of the language and the ways in which it allows an outsider to connect with common people all the way from Morocco to the Persian Gulf.”—Peter Hessler, author of Oracle Bones and River Town

“Zora O'Neill is a wonderful writer, a hakawati who can spin a tale with the best of them.”—Rabih Alameddine, author of An Unnecessary Woman

“Charming”— AramcoWorld

“Witty” —Us Weekly

“Fascinating” —Publishers Weekly

“A genial and revealing pleasure.” —Seattle Times

“Memorable and funny. . . an engrossing read about the very different places she visits, learning from the various people she encounters and speaking as much Arabic as her brain will allow her.” —BookRiot, 7 Memoirs on Learning a New Language

“Like her journey, her memoir is colorful, comical, and compelling.” —Bustle, 16 Must-Read Nonfiction Books

“Her writing brings to life dynamic settings and captivating people. —Romper, Summer Books to Enjoy On Your Warm Weather Adventures

“Glimpses of daily life, particularly of Arab women, are intriguing and sometimes unexpected, including the rich assortment of Lebanese cursing while driving.” —Library Journal

“Engaging. . . A valiant chronicle of the author's 'Year of Speaking Arabic Badly.'”—Kirkus Reviews

“Zora O'Neill is a keen observer of cultures fresh to her and a fine writing stylist.”—Society of American Travel Writers Lowell Thomas Award citation for Best Travel Book