I've just finished Paul Bowles' : "The Spiders House" . An intriguing study of the city of Fez in Morocco just as the French colonial government is being overthrown. The story is well-written and the plot while moving slowly, is compelling, as are the characters. I felt as though I were right there, in Fez, surrounded by dusty olive trees, baked by the sun and constantly having to tread a minefield of treachery on all sides.
I have emerged at the end of this novel with enlightenment. I understand, I think, the concept of 'surrender' that is Islam. And, while the mindset of 1955 may not be the same as today, Islam is such an unchanging faith that I'm reasonably sure that many jihadists would share it today.
I'm going to be releasing this book (BookCrossing) - anybody want to catch it?
Showing posts with label BookCrossing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BookCrossing. Show all posts
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Book to Cross
I'm always a little sad when I finish a book - any book. Somehow, books just seem to abandon me. The world we've been sharing for the past few days is over. And, sometimes, a book's atmosphere really lingers...like the wisps of a dream left upon waking.
"The Map of Love" by Ahdaf Soueif is just such a book. I've been living in pre-WW1, as well as, modern Egypt for days now. I've learned about Middle-East politics of the past and present and particularly the European colonial power struggles in that region. I've been given interesting insights into the linguistics of the Arab language. And, I've enjoyed a good romance. Oh, did I mention that the writing is pretty darn good, too. This novel was short-listed for the Booker prize in 1999. To be balanced in my review, I have to admit that it was a pretty long read. But when you're transported to another time and place, who really wants it to end?
I'm getting this novel ready for Bookcrossing later this week. If you'd like to have it crossed to you, just let me know. I usually leave my books on the bus stop bench down the street. It's been, by far, the most successful drop site for me. I even have a book that made it to Cairo. If you want to see my bookshelf, my ID is 'fiberlover'.
"The Map of Love" by Ahdaf Soueif is just such a book. I've been living in pre-WW1, as well as, modern Egypt for days now. I've learned about Middle-East politics of the past and present and particularly the European colonial power struggles in that region. I've been given interesting insights into the linguistics of the Arab language. And, I've enjoyed a good romance. Oh, did I mention that the writing is pretty darn good, too. This novel was short-listed for the Booker prize in 1999. To be balanced in my review, I have to admit that it was a pretty long read. But when you're transported to another time and place, who really wants it to end?
I'm getting this novel ready for Bookcrossing later this week. If you'd like to have it crossed to you, just let me know. I usually leave my books on the bus stop bench down the street. It's been, by far, the most successful drop site for me. I even have a book that made it to Cairo. If you want to see my bookshelf, my ID is 'fiberlover'.
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