NPR's Book of the Day 'Fire in Every Direction' is a personal work by Palestinian scholar Tareq Baconi
Nov 20, 2025
Tareq Baconi, a Palestinian scholar and author, delves into his personal journey in his memoir, exploring three generations of displacement. He discusses the impact of silence around queerness and politics in his family. Baconi shares poignant stories of his first love, Ramsey, and the guilt that shame—embodied in the Arabic concept of aib—brought to his life. He reflects on the complexities of coming out to his parents, the initial rejection from his father, and ultimately, the search for a sense of home beyond physical borders.
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First Love Preserved In Letters
- Tareq Baconi describes Ramsey as his closest childhood friend and first love, a neighbor and pen pal for six to seven years.
- Their letters became precious remnants after their friendship ended and they haven't spoken in over 25 years.
Masking Identity Becomes Unsustainable
- Baconi likens hiding his sexuality to wearing a mask that protected him but became unsustainable as feelings grew stronger.
- The mask allowed him to pretend life was normal until a confession forced it off and changed everything.
Silence Shrinks People And Fuels Anger
- Baconi connects his mother's restrained anger to silences that made her smaller, similar to how silence shaped his life.
- He observes that political and personal silences limit people's full humanity and fuel bitterness.
