A LANTERN IN THE SHADE

The touching story of an immortal love between a mother and her son. A gripping family heritage tale spanning generations. A Lantern in the Shade is the epic historical fiction novel that draws on a blend of Middle Eastern cultures and poignant, dramatic prose, to tell the story of one immigrant family’s quest for truth and honor –– offering a unique perspective that heralds the rich and vibrant history of the Middle East, while unveiling oppressive challenges some marginalized communities have endured throughout history. 

Nour is the responsible, devoted daughter of Syrian & Lebanese immigrants with a coming-of-age story desperate to be told –– she is faced with the impossible task of reconciling with her father’s heavily-guarded secrets and her mother’s deteriorating mental health. She struggles to prevent her own dreams from falling by the wayside, as she fights to hold her family together.

Years later, Nour’s son Jacob makes a harrowing move to the Arabian Peninsula to be closer to his family’s homeland –– yearning to uncover lost details about his mother’s life, and ultimately, his own. Jacob’s path to self-discovery, fraught with peril and wonder, quickly becomes treacherous. Should Jacob prevail, he will finally achieve his life-long aspiration to shed light on their family’s deepest-held mysteries. But if he fails, he might just become a lost soul consumed by the sinking sands of the Arabian Desert…

“Equal parts witty, historical and dramatic, Nader’s narrative, A Lantern in the Shade, is a page turner.” – Reader Review

“I truly enjoyed reading this book, it made me feel heard in some ways, most of the topics he talked about felt very real and hit home, and he did a wonderful job shining the light on important [Middle East and Arab] regional topics. I teared up at the end of it.” – Reader Review