Some places linger in your imagination long before you ever visit. For me, Jordan is one of those. The rose-red city of Petra, the vast silence of Wadi Rum, the winding alleys of Amman — it’s a place that feels both timeless and electric. And while travel isn’t always within reach, books are a passport that never expires.
So whether, you’re planning a trip to Jordan, reminiscing on one, or simply curious about this fascinating corner of the world, here’s a list of fiction that will transport you right into the heart of the Levant.
1. Pillars of Salt by Fadia Faqir
This novel tells the story of two women confined in a mental asylum in Jordan during the British Mandate era — one a Bedouin, the other a modern urban woman. It’s a bold, haunting exploration of patriarchy, colonialism, and female resistance, written by one of Jordan’s best-known authors.
Perfect if you love: feminist fiction, complex narratives, historical context.
2. The Women of Sand and Myrrh by Hanan al-Shaykh
While not set exclusively in Jordan, this novel captures the rhythms and restrictions of women’s lives in the Middle East. It’s lyrical, raw, and intimate, focusing on four women navigating love, identity, and autonomy.
Perfect if you love: interwoven female perspectives, emotional depth, culture-focused stories.
3. Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa
Though the story centers on a Palestinian family, much of it is set in the Jordanian refugee camps after the 1948 Nakba. It’s an epic, heart-wrenching tale of displacement, identity, and endurance across generations — and Jordan plays a pivotal role in the narrative.
Perfect if you love: sweeping family sagas, political context, emotional storytelling.
4. The Secret Life of Saeed the Pessoptimist by Emile Habiby
A darkly comic classic of Arabic literature, this satirical novel isn’t set in Jordan, but it offers powerful insight into the Palestinian diaspora — many of whom found refuge in Jordan. Reading it adds a crucial layer to understanding the region’s cultural fabric.
Perfect if you love: political satire, absurdist humor, layered storytelling.
5. Married to a Bedouin by Marguerite van Geldermalsen (Memoir, but reads like fiction)
Okay, I’m bending the rules — this is a memoir, not a novel. But it reads like a storybook. A young New Zealand woman visits Petra in the 1970s, falls in love with a Bedouin man, and ends up living in a cave. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the Petra you don’t see in guidebooks.
Perfect if you love: real-life romance, cultural immersion, desert adventures.
6. A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum
Though this story is set primarily in Brooklyn, it offers an intimate look into the lives of a conservative Arab-American family — rooted in traditions that trace back to places like Jordan and Palestine. It explores generational trauma, silence, and the courage to break cycles.
Perfect if you love: emotionally intense family dramas, strong female voices, diaspora narratives.
🌅 Bonus: Pair Your Reading With a Taste of Jordan
To bring the desert ambiance home, sip some strong cardamom coffee or sweet mint tea. Bake a batch of ma’amoul (date-filled cookies) or grab some za’atar pita chips. And don’t be surprised if you start googling “how to get to Petra” halfway through a chapter.
Final Thoughts
Jordan might not have as many novels set squarely within its borders as, say, France or Japan — but the stories connected to it are deep, meaningful, and full of spirit. These books offer windows into its history, its culture, and its people — and will leave you wanting to experience it firsthand.