Cyclamens & Thistles: A Collection of Memoirs

By Sami Atallah

In Arabic, the cyclamen is called the horn of the gazelle. In English, it is sometimes referred to as the shooting star. It has delicate pinkish petals and heart-shaped green leaves. In this book, the cyclamen represents happiness. In contrast, the thistle in Palestine also has a beautiful blue-pink flower, but the flower is surrounded by thorny leaves. Here, the thistle represents the unpleasant, "thorny" moments. Both plants share the land the author has loved since birth.

Cyclamens & Thistles juxtaposes author Sami Atallah's life stories with those of his ancestors in the land of Palestine over the time period from the late 1800's through to his life and travels in the 20th and 21st century. His anecdotes illustrate his forging of a path in a land that often had its fate and direction dictated by other countries. Pursuing his studies in the United States, not only was he dropped into the casual atmosphere of mid-century American college life, but he had to find clever ways to pay for it.

Going from student to professor and later to world-renowned fire researcher, Atallah spares no painful or humorous detail in recounting his experiences and revelations.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FL5R81YZ
• ISBN13: 9798296330277
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 148 Pages
• Weight: 0.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.5"