In the presence of a large gathering of social, artistic, and media figures, journalist Katia Dabaghi Assaf signed her book “The Diaries of Mr. Covid” at the DSpace venue in Mar Mikhael, Beirut. The event was hosted by journalist May Ziadé and featured speeches by the book’s author, followed by remarks from Dr. Joseph Assaf, as well as readings from the book delivered by actress Nawal Kamel. The evening was accompanied by musical performances by artist Ralph Debghi, and painter Roula Dalli exhibited several of her artworks, including the painting that adorns the book’s cover. A celebratory cake was cut to mark the new release, followed by the book signing and a toast for the occasion.
It is worth noting that “The Diaries of Mr. Covid” was recently published by Dar Saer Al-Mashreq and is the first book by journalist Katia Dabaghi. It documents the Covid era over a three-year period, portraying the reality experienced by the author with her family and surroundings during that exceptional time. In her speech, Katia Dabaghi highlighted the importance of the book as a reference for future researchers wishing to understand the nature of life during the Covid period, and she emphasized the lessons and insights she gained after overcoming that challenging phase.
University professor and writer Dr. Joseph Assaf also spoke, noting his close involvement in the publication of the book as the author’s husband and his support for her. He described the book as resembling rain—too pure and pristine to be bottled or confined. He encouraged the author to continue writing and not to limit herself to a single publication.
Actress Nawal Kamel read selected excerpts from the book addressing life at a distance, as well as striking reflections and experiences the author shared in her diaries.
Finally, it should be noted that “The Diaries of Mr. Covid” is available in major Lebanese bookstores and on the Amazon platform.
