DMV-based Palestinian poet, leena aboutaleb, comes to Lost City Books to discuss her debut full-length poetry collection, THALASSA.
About the book:
Lush and poignant, THALASSA is a love song of misery and grief, tracing the poet's steps as she dives into the Underworld in search for her brother. THALASSA is a map, moving between temporalities and worlds, from past and present to seen and unseen realms. "Like teethbones, I fail to forget you," aboutaleb bemoans, "I knew you. I knew you." Dreamlike, Aboutaleb's elegy lights the passage of despair and hope as the poet collapses the ephemeral threshold between the dead and living. Grief is a sea, and aboutaleb shows us how to build a boat to find a way home.
About the author:
leena aboutaleb is an Egyptian and Palestinian writer who asks you to commit to the Palestinian liberation struggle. She is the author of Thalassa (Game Over Books, 2026). Her pamphlet, Expeditions of Projection, was released in 2023 (VIBE). Her film, Oracle, coproduced with Youssef ElNahas, debuted in Venice, 2025. She is a Brooklyn Poets fellow, Kundiman fellow, and Tin House Scholar.
The conversation will be moderated by Fargo Nissim Tbakhi.
Fargo Nissim Tbakhi is a Palestinian performance artist and the author of TERROR COUNTER (Deep Vellum, 2025) and ANTIGONE. VELOCITY. SALT. (Deep Vellum, 2027).
Accessibility note: This event is up two flights of stairs and Lost City Books does not have an elevator. Please contact events@lostcitybookstore.com with questions.
Dato de accesibilidad: Este evento toma lugar en el segundo piso y Lost City Books no tiene ascensor. Favor de contactar events@lostcitybookstore.com con cualquiera duda.
Good to know
Highlights
- 1 hour
- In person
Location
Lost City Books
2467 18th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20009
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