Arab American Book Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 4 (2010) Winner
Gregory Orfalea
グレゴリー・オルファレア
Gregory Orfalea
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1949-08-09 （Los Angeles, California, United States）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Los Angeles (born and raised)
Career
- Occupations
- Poet, Writer, University professor
- Active Years
- 1975-
- Affiliations
- Claremont Colleges, Georgetown University, Westmont College
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Arab American Book Award | Angeleno Days: An Arab American Writer on Family, Place, and Politics | — | Arab American National Museum | Winner |
| 2010 | PEN Center USA Prize (finalist) | Angeleno Days: An Arab American Writer on Family, Place, and Politics | — | PEN Center USA | Finalist |
Arab American Book Award
2010
Work:
Angeleno Days: An Arab American Writer on Family, Place, and Politics
Organization:
Arab American National Museum
Result:
Winner
PEN Center USA Prize (finalist)
2010
Work:
Angeleno Days: An Arab American Writer on Family, Place, and Politics
Organization:
PEN Center USA
Result:
Finalist
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Journey to the Sun: Junipero Serra's Dream and the Founding of California
2014 Biography / HistoryA biography tracing Junipero Serra's life and role in the founding of California, examining the intersection of religious vision and colonial history.
religious historyCalifornia historycolonialism and mission
The Man Who Guarded the Bomb
2010 Short storiesA collection of short stories focusing on personal memory, history, and identity.
memoryidentityfamily
Messengers of the Lost Battalion: The Heroic 551st and the Turning of Tide at the Battle of the Bulge
2010 Non-fiction / Military historyA non-fiction account of the 551st and their actions during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.
war historyheroismmilitary
Angeleno Days: An Arab American Writer on Family, Place, and Politics
2009 Memoir / EssaysA collection of memoirs and essays about family, place, and politics from the perspective of an Arab-American raised in Los Angeles.
immigrant experiencefamily historysense of place
The Arab Americans: A History
2005 History / Social historyA historical overview of Arab-American communities and their social impact in the United States.
immigration historycommunitycultural assimilation
Up All Night: Practical Wisdom for Mothers and Fathers (co-edited)
2004 Essays / ParentingAn anthology of practical wisdom and essays for parents, co-edited with Barbara Rosewicz.
parentingfamilypractical advice
Grape Leaves: A Century of Arab-American Poetry (co-edited)
1999 Poetry / AnthologyAn anthology compiling a century of Arab-American poetry, co-edited with Sharif Elmusa.
poetryArab-American literaturecultural expression
Bibliography
- Journey to the Sun: Junipero Serra's Dream and the Founding of California (2014)
- The Man Who Guarded the Bomb (2010)
- Messengers of the Lost Battalion: The Heroic 551st and the Turning of Tide at the Battle of the Bulge (2010)
- Angeleno Days: An Arab American Writer on Family, Place, and Politics (2009)
- The Arab Americans: A History (2005)
- Up All Night: Practical Wisdom for Mothers and Fathers (2004) (co-edited)
- Grape Leaves: A Century of Arab-American Poetry (1999) (co-edited)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- lyrical and observant prosea blending of nonfiction and personal memoir
- Recurring Motifs
- familymemories of immigrationCalifornia and sense of placereligious and spiritual inquiry
Legacy
A notable voice in both Arab-American and California literature. Through memoirs and historical works he has brought immigrant experiences and regional history to wider scholarly and public attention.
Quotes
-
“These essays, recollecting Gregory Orfalea's American life, are delightful and wise.”
Source: Richard Rodriguez (critique)
Trivia
- His grandparents immigrated from Syria and Lebanon.
- He is a cousin of Paul Orfalea, founder of Kinko's.
- Angeleno Days won the Arab American Book Award.