“How do you talk about war? The “Keep Writing” program attempts to find answers to this question through correspondence with female authors from crisis regions.“
“Of all forms of long-distance communication, letter-writing is the one I cherish most, for letters can deepen a relationship,” writes Parand to the author Mithu Sanyal. Before embarking on their correspondence, the two were strangers to one another. Now, they are connected by an exchange spanning national borders—linking Kabul and Düsseldorf. Parand writes about offering each other solace and making space for the sorrow they have experienced. She speaks of torn-apart families—like her own—living on different continents, who may never see one another again.”
*This review is in German.
Eva Goldbach reviews Wenn ich deine Worte lese, finde ich den Weg zurück nach Hause (Ullstein, May 2026). The anthology’s title translates in English as ‘When I Read Your Words, I Find My Way Back Home’, and contains letters from almost 10 years from Weiter Schreiben’s program, from fifteen different tandems, including eight letter exchanges featuring Paranda Network writers:
– Marie Bamyani & Tanasgol Sabbagh
– Tamanna Easar & Yael Inokai
– Freshta Ghani & Daniela Dröscher
– Batool Haidari & Marica Bodrožić
– Masoma K & Heike Geißler
– Shamsia & Francesca Melandri
– Parand & Mithu Sanyal
– Zahedeh & Judith Hermann
The Letter Exchanges from Paranda Network writers published in this anthology are a partnership between Untold Narratives, Weiter Schreiben, and KfW Stiftung.
