The translation work was exceptional. The pieces were very fluid and gave a clear sense of a Jordanian context; although I do think that one unfamiliar with Jordan might read the stories without placing them in Jordan or the ME due to the universality of the themes. One interesting plotline that popped up in several stories was femininity--the price of it, the keeping up appearances, mysogyny, the spinster, the sacrificial virgin. I don't know if this was a deliberate choice on the part of the editors or not. Having just read BRIDE OF AMMAN by Fadi Zaghmout, I might have been more attuned to this than a casual reader. It's an interesting question, though. Is modern Jordanian literature going to be defined by a feminine voice, or a concern with the feminine. If you are looking for standout stories, check out "Body in Transit" by Ahmed Abu Hleiwa, "The Backyard" by Magdalene Abu el-Rub, and "Eyes Confused" by Khalid Yousef Abu Tamaa. The latter is the most existential of the book.