The “House of Youth and Culture” in Zouk Mikael hosted a major cultural celebration on the occasion of the book signing of the newly released novel “Wheat, Snow, and Fire” by writer and university professor Dr. Joseph Assaf, published by the “Forum of the Poet of Green Koura.” The event featured a panel discussion with the participation of Dr. Hani Safi, poet and media personality Habib Younes, and engineer and author Miray Chahadeh Haddad, with a large attendance of literary and academic figures. The event was held under the patronage and in the presence of Member of Parliament Dr. Najat Aoun Saliba.
The ceremony was presented by journalist Katia Dabaghi Assaf, who opened the event with a welcoming speech highlighting the importance of literature in the age of artificial intelligence, calling for a return to intellectual, literary, and cultural values.
Dr. Hani Safi spoke about the qualities of the author and the themes of the novel, which explores human drives and moral values. He noted that the author delves into these aspects to weave a compelling story, and added:
“The author puts his finger on a bleeding wound in our societies—the commodification of women, viewed as bodies devoid of spirit or intellect. He also addresses the uncalculated spirit of adventure among youth.”
Dr. Safi also pointed to the many societal issues tackled in “Wheat, Snow, and Fire,” such as disability, unemployment, ambition, broken promises, justice, and freedom.
Poet Habib Younes shed light on the poetic dimension of the novel and spoke about encouraging the author to return to writing after a period of absence. He praised Assaf’s literary touch in previous works and described the novel’s style by saying:
“The narrative is captivating, the plot is strong, and it is divided into short chapters—so much so that you can’t finish one without eagerly diving into the next. The chapters are short enough that time seems like a clock whose hands are moved by the writer at will, without disrupting the flow of the text.”
Engineer and author Miray Chahadeh Haddad, founder of the “Forum of the Poet of Green Koura,” spoke about the novel’s humanistic depth, which rekindles emotions of love, deprivation, injustice, and devotion. She said:
“With Dr. Joseph Assaf, this novel is not merely made up of letters and ideas in refined language. He brilliantly penetrated the text to reach emotional and human dimensions. I saw in him a sensitive poet, who, in some chapters, infused his novel with poetic passages full of emotion and eloquence. As a reader before being the publisher of this book, I found myself revisiting the hut of my memories and savoring the sweetness of the past. Congratulations to Arabic literature for this unique release. Congratulations to the Arab reader for these joyous, galloping horses rising above the clouds of pain.”
The event also featured a tribute to the late painter Zohrab, whose artworks had often adorned the covers of Assaf’s earlier publications. The evening concluded with readings from the novel by Dr. Joseph Assaf, accompanied by musician and artist Ralph Dabaghi, who performed musical pieces on the organ. The event ended with the book signing and a celebratory toast.
