News
--Montaha's second novel, Will the Sun Rise Again?, is now available. Please click "Store" for an autographed copy.
--To read Arabic articles written by Montaha, visit Tebayn.com.
Will the Sun Rise Again? Review
While human nature is universal, we are each individually shaped and separated by our environment - relationships, culture and religion.
Montaha Kochou reveals every tender side to the woman in our community, breaking the novel into three categories – Emotional, Psychological and Spiritual, and their responses within a community. The community, first being the family, in this story the author speaks of the ever transparent, complicated human nature, whose reflection of what is fed during childhood is concealed throughout adulthood. Simply put, Montaha is brave and daring. She prolifically addresses the multi-dimensional human character, while many of us choose selective exposure to information.
The author opens the door to modern psychology, something that remains unpopular in our closely-knit community, associated with shame, instead, oftentimes calling to spirituality for aid. And while spirituality remains universally popular, it deepens as you travel further into the Eastern cultures. This is why the character of Joseline is portrayed as confused; as she is unable to base her decision on her own rationale, caught between her lustful emotions and her spiritual beliefs. And when things for her turn the other way, she is quick to punish herself and calls to God to condemn her.
“Will The Sun Rise Again?” the sequel to her first novel “Burning Desire, ” released in 2003, mirrors Kochou’s own confidence and honesty about every woman’s emotions. Montaha dares to go to places most of us would put on the back burner. Guaranteed, every woman will find herself in the pages of this novel. This book will grip the reader, isolating intimate emotions (desires) that are only felt in our darkest hidden secrets.
An honest work that speaks from the heart of a woman whom herself is a wife and a mother. Montaha Kochou is profound in her message and stays true to her feelings. Thank you for saying it for all of us. Chebo!
Will the Sun Rise Again? Review
By Habib Ephrem
Does the Sun Rise Again? Yes, Always, Forever...
About which sun does "Montaha" write? About which planet?
Is it about the immigration of a people lost in the streets of
Chicago, so he went searching for an identity, a culture and values?
Or is it about a love that lingers in a memory of ice?
Is it a story that emerges from a mind or from a dream? Or it is a story
of a woman searching for tenderness?
In all cases, it is the ink that fights against the melt-down. It resists.
Every letter in the book is an affirmation of the Eastern Christian
Assyrian identity.
The players, the stories, the music, even the dinning table.
But is all of that enough to say that we are resisting?
Wherever we plow in our society we have bitter tales to tell.
The meanings of first love, of sacrifice, betrayal, loyalty, family,
crime... the same pictures of life in all times and all places.
Congratulations to Montaha, a disciple of the word.
To you from Beirut, which she remembers with longing, a salute of literature and love.
Habib Ephrem
President the Syriac League in Lebanon
Secretary General Union of Lebanese Christian Leagues
Comments
"It was such a pleasure meeting you at the assyrian festival in San Jose. I just finished the book, it was very captivating. I really got close to the characters and enjoyed the way you write. You made me so close to the characters, I want to get the first book. I am very impressed with your talent." -- Caroline Piro
"I really enjoyed your book Burning Desire, now that i found ur website i am now interested in your 2nd book. Will the sun rise again" -- Anne-Marie S.
"Very nice piece of work. I will read it even though I do not read novels regularly." -- Adel Jaber
"I'm an Assyrian who's read your book....fantastic job. I couldn't put the book down and I read it all in 4 hours with tons of tears." -- Angela Warda
"I enjoyed reading Burning Desire very much ... I enjoyed it so much that I didn't want to put it down. ... Your a great author. God Bless you!" -- Pauline Malko
"Nice book you have on www.onefineart.com. Please keep working like that. I enjoy the extract." -- Elie Farah
"I was impressed to discover your profile in Onefineart.com. Really impressed...!!! Regards." -- Fadi Karam
"Congratulations Montaha. You make us proud. Good luck with the signing." -- Eva Shamouel
"I hope this e-mail finds you in good spirit. I am very proud to have met you at the convention. Congratulations, and more... for being a woman, wife, and mother, and above all, an independent spirit. Our community cherishes you. Please keep up the good work. ... Your opinion is yearned for." -- Helen Talia
"Thank you so much for sending the novel. The story is lovely and touching.. I wish someday it may be converted to a film script." -- Dina Zoulfikar
"After finishing the book I think you were totally right about the accuracy of the legal proceedings being fine how it is. I thought that the ending was wonderful, especially the chapter where Ralph almost proposes. I saw the foreshadowing to that scene and was happy it didn't end that way. And the mother's story about Ashur's father. The whole thing has a kind of divine logic to it. I’m comfortable saying that I cried at the end. I hope you will keep writing." -- Davi Barker
"I bought your book from the party in chicago on friday. I have been reading your book and I have been loving it. I just want to say the theme of the story and the way the story is produced and written is very highly intriguing to readers! GREAT JOB!" -- Sargon
"Yes I did read your novel. It is a piece of art written by a novelist. A novelist used his fingers as a painter! May be based on a real story, but you put the touch of fiction's life into it. The touch of a writer involved with his characters problems, and let them say what they want,not what he intend. It is obvious that a sensible woman full of life's joy wrote that act. The more years pass on this novel, the more value will add to those papers." -- Adel Saouma
"Dearest, your book made me want to come home earlier from meetings, waking up before I had too and want you do know that I love it." -- Nuri Kino
