Yoghurt and Jam – Lena Merhej

or How My Mother Became Lebanese

Lena Merhej's graphic memoir Yoghurt and Jam is set in Lebanon, where tradition pairs yoghurt with cucumber and salt. Discovering how her mother likes her yoghurt sparks a captivating exploration of what led her mother from Germany to Lebanon, as well as triggering Lena's quest for self-discovery. Blending humour with poignant reflections, Lena delves into her mother's life as a doctor during the Lebanese Civil War, challenging East-West clichés and embracing the complexities of hybrid identity. (Winner of English Pen Award)

Lena Merhej is a visual storyteller and an expert in graphic narration. Lena has taught at several universities in Beirut. She is the founder and director of the Story Center, which offers professional training in animation, illustration, and comic books.

Lena was the director of the Beirut Animated Festival, and worked with Tosh Fesh to promote comics and animation in Arab countries. She has illustrated over twenty-five Arabic children's books and has exhibited her work both locally and internationally. Her animated Drawing the War (2002), her comic book Kamen Sine (Another year, 2009) and her book Murabba wa laban (Yoghurt and Jam) won international awards. She is a co-founder and a member of Samandal, an award-winning comics organization in Lebanon.

9781913891510
Balestier Press
2023