“The Bird Tattoo” by Dunya Mikhail

"The Bird Tattoo" is a beautiful and troubling look at Iraqi village life in the time of war

Needless to say, when we first planned this week's schedule, we had no idea just how emotional it would be to read a novel about a small village in the Middle East that is ripped apart by war, terrorism, indoctrination, and gender-based violence. Yet, here we are.

But before we begin talking about Iraqi author Dunya Mikhail's stunning 2022 novel "The Bird Tattoo," we have to issue our strongest content warning in the history of the newsletter.

This book is not for everyone — particularly if you have difficulty reading about rape, abuse, and ethnic cleansing. If you need to skip this week's newsletter, we understand. We also promise that next week's edition will be much lighter.