Jasmine and Fire

As Beirut exploded with the bombs and violence of a ruthless civil war in the 80s a nine-year-old Salma Abdelnour and her family fled Lebanon to start a new life in the States. Ever since theneven as she built a thriving career as a food and travel writer in New York CitySalma has had a hunch that Beirut was still her home. She kept dreaming of moving backand finally decided to do it.. But could she resume her life in Beirut so many years after her family moved away? Could she or anyone for that matter ever really go home again? . Jasmine and Fire is Salmas poignant and humorous journey of trying to resettle in Beirut and fumbling through the new realities of life in one of the worlds most complex legendary ever-vibrant ever-troubled cities. Whats more in a year of roiling changes around the Middle East and the rise of the Arab Spring Salma found herself in the midst of the turmoil. . As she comes to grips with all the changes in her lifea love left behind in New York and new relationships blossoming in BeirutSalma takes comfort in some of Lebanons enduring traditions particularly its extraordinary food culture. Through the sights sounds and flavors of a city full of beauty tragedy despair and hope Salma slowly begins to reconnect with the place shes longed for her entire life.