Middle East Books

I don't wont to be qualified as an "extremist fan" of Mahfouz, but I repeat myself: this is one of the most interesting and human book I ever read. The style chosen by Mahfouz is absolutely fascinating: a series of most appealing or repulsing people - both men and women - pass before our very eyes led by the voice of an anonimous character. Of course, one firstly suppose that the latter is none other than Mahfouz himself and that the other people are actual persons whom he met along his life, since the narrative is presented as flowing evocative occurrences, some having a sort of continuation along the play, others not. Some critics have denied that this work should be defined as a "novel", but an attentive reading and evaluation certainly dispels such a pretension. It is not only a "novel", but an extraordinary one, through which one can get closer to the mind, ways and heart of the Egyptian modern people. The Arabic original was published in 1972 and this was Mahfouz's first work after the "disaster" of 1967. Therefore, even the title is evocative of the psychological conditions of the Egyptian society at the time: like a mirror reflecting a succession of images, as a lot of fragments after a shock. The life of all those around the teller is simply sketched out, but one becomes familiar with each one of them, perhaps because, as it is usual in Mahfouz, he has touched upon the chords of the human heart.

Here is a work with the omniscience of genius, but none of the arrogance. A great writer's puppet show, with invisible strings. Naguib Mahfouz, who is undeniably a great writer, has written a novel that feels like a documentary so rich and detailed, it could never be documented by a person without having his/her personality color the facts to suit their particular agenda. So Mahfouz's Mirrors is a sprawling story told by an anonymous narrator who never bothers to introduce himself and never volunteers his religious or political beliefs. It is not told in chronological chapters, but seemingly random accounts of characters the narrator has met in his lifetime. At first glance, Mahfouz seems to have accomplished what is physically impossible; a mosaic of parallel lines. But what I think is the ultimate message of Mirrors is that, within a given society, no life ever progresses in parallel to the next. But its not that simple.

The first character, Dr.Ibrahim Aqul casts a long shadow over the others. As a post graduate student he had submitted a thesis that was perceived to be anti-Religion, and was attacked by the country's right wing as an atheist. Rather then stand up to public outrage and defend his beliefs, he recoils and denies the accusations. The narrator's first encounter with him was as his Literature student in the 1930s where Dr.Aqul, who had survived the controversy and taken a comfortable job, was the most despised member of the university's faculty. The hypocrisy of the bourgeoisie, who understood and/or questioned the government and religion, yet conformed for the sake of their financial security, would seem to be Mahfouz's target here. But Dr.Aqul reappears as a supporting player in the lives of other people, the reader's impression of him changes as other characters weigh in with their opinion of him. Maybe the message here, is that one person's impression of a man could never encompass who that man really was. There are many ways to interpret a man's actions, more still to guess his motives. But I'm afraid it was never going to be that simple.

The narrator never marries, but he does share two heartwarming tales of childish love of neighborhood girls he had never met face to face, and two heartbreaking, sordid affairs he had with two emotionally scarred and married women. His romantic idealism as a youngster mirrored that of a nation that fought tooth and nail against British colonialism. His loveless affairs and his surrender of idealism mirrored a broken nation, whose new rulers, the revolutionary forces that overthrew the corrupt monarchy and forced the British out, followed the example of Pigs in Orwell's Animal Farm and became more autocratic, brutal and unforgiving then their predecessors ever were.

Another buried theme in Mirrors is the emancipation of Egyptian women in the face of an often restrictive culture. There is the Madam who controlled many of old Cairo's bordellos, the illiterate housewife who accepts an acting job, the student who turned heads in a 1930s Egyptian university with her provocative clothes and her strong will and many many more. Yet Mirrors could never be pinned down to just that. The narrator is so subjective, so non-judgmental that he often appears bland, and therefore trustworthy.

The structure of Mirrors has a message all its own. As the narrator chooses to summarise his entire experience with a character in just a few pages, we are introduced to a character only to learn of their ultimate fate a few fleeting moments later. Because Time in its "Heaviness, majesty, betrayal, perpetuity and its effect" is mindlessly unjust. Its treats the good and the bad with equal disdain. From those, often shattering, short accounts of a life, there are stark images that once imagined will stay with a reader for a long time. There is the clueless and shocked eight year old narrator standing outside an Alexanderian bordello between to chattering whores, there is the love struck schoolboy who steels a gun and shoots the object of his desire once she rejects him and the beautiful girl standing at the window while an awe struck narrator watches from the street. What finally emerges from the Mirror is a kaleidoscope of sixty years of Egyptian history. It is a country that has often found itself out of the frying pan and into the fire. One that often retains a certain mystery even to people who have lived there their entire lives.

The last character in Mirrors is completely unrelated to all the others, the account, or in this case the memory of her is only two pages long. But its so perfect, so symbolic that it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

She's a girl from the narrator's childhood. As a seven-year-old, he would watch her from his window, and this sixteen-year-old girl would jokingly smile back at him. Everytime he tried to get to her house, the maid would catch him and would carry him kicking and screaming back to his house. So one day, when it had rained so heavily that their alleyway was completely flooded. In the pouring rain, he gets into his mother's plastic laundry box, rows past the made with a broomstick and runs upstairs to meet the ethereal beauty that had so moved him. Dripping wet he enters her room. She ruffles his hair, takes his hand and says:"I will read your fortune". And as she held his hand and revealed his destiny, the narrator remembers: "She followed the lines of my hand and read my future, but I had used up all my consciousness staring at her beautiful face". Mirrors is a masterwork. It's as simple as that.

"Misadventure in the Middle East" is a beautifully written, fun and easy read while at the same time being very topical and insightful. Full of funny anecdotes about what the author and his cohorts ran into while spending a year in a pickup truck driving throughout the middle east making art, while at the same time infused with insight and held together with an exciting and constantly developing story line. I read it in a day or two of travel - couldn't put it down. Must reading for anyone interested in the middle east, art or travel. His website's great too - www.henryhemming.com.

bought it after spending 1 month travlling in Iran & was missing the ME vibe. I like his book alot. It is very true & he looks at things objectively- and its funny too. he does so many random things in random polaces & I like that as well. BTW, Iran is the friendliest country i have ever visited- such warm, giving people. And I am even an American.

This book is a gift to read - which may be why I keep ordering additional copies to give as gifts to my friends. The photographs, taken over a twenty-five year journey into the Aranbian desert are combined with exquisite poetry selections that beautifully articulate the visual images. Through the book I've journeyed to a part of the world I'd never seen. Included are pictures of Bedouin men and women, camels, and the most sensuous desert imaginable. A rare book that's a real tour de force.

I stumbled upon this book and could not believe how timely it is. Not only does this lovely photographic book feature beautiful images of sand dunes and people in far away places, accompanied by imaginative poetry, but it shows the side of Arabia that President George Bush and New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani, among others, are asking us to remember in light of the difficult times.

We are lucky to have at our fingertips, in a moment of need, an artistic expression of this part of the world to remind us of beauty and not fear.

I intend to share this book with as many people as I can, not only because of the stunning photography and magical poetry, but because I have found solace in its pages.

I proudly display it in my library.

Dr. Beblis's Myth of "Enuma Elish" is a welcome event in the world of Assyriology.
So many books have been written on the subject, that, one might think, everything has been said about it. Yet, this book brings something new, a new outlook and a new interpretation of the events described in the myth. I have always believed that I know all that is needed to know about "Enuma Elish", but, reading Dr. Beblis's book, showed me that this myth is more beautiful than I had perceived it, and that there was a direct relationship between the evolution of the social and political life of society, on the one hand, and its reflection into people's mind in the form of a myth. George Yana.

The Myth of Enuma Elish (Assyrian and Babylonian Myth): First story of Evolution is another masterpiece of its genre by Dr. Oshana Beblis. His deep knowledge of ancient history, mythology , religion and philosophy is combined with wisdom and analysis. When he poses the questions of "Who" rather than "How" or "I" and "Thou" and "man without power and will", he is telling us that mythology is a way of making sense of the world in which we live.

I found Marcus Henderson Wilder's travel narrative, NAÏVE & ABROAD: PAKISTAN, highly intriguing, insightful and adventurous! Marcus pulls back the veil on an area of the world that has been shrouded in mystery for centuries. Passing through this land as a gentle stranger, he becomes our eyes and ears in this untamed--yet charming--corner of earth which is seemingly untouched by time. Mark rarely makes hard-and-fast pronouncements. He observes... questions... comments. His observations bring understanding. His questions stimulate thought. His comments stir deep emotion--running the full gamut from anger to tears. Descriptions of ancient culture and scenery instill a sense of wonder. Generosity, hospitality and kindness--showered on a grateful pilgrim--impart an appreciation for tribal traditions that create an unbroken connection to a distant past. While general circumstances for women in this man's world sting with injustice, specific examples of feminine spunk illicit cheers! Depictions of unbridled violence and cruelty, "uncivilized" behavior, and sanitation standards powerfully appall while the maze of colorful bazaars and markets--filled with makeshift manufacturers, rug traders, gun dealers, gem peddlers, and deal makers--sparks a whirling kaleidoscope in the imagination. Mark's dry wit will keep you on your toes, his self-deprecating humor and astute observation of human nature--sown throughout--will keep you laughing!

Wilder's quest to play the free-for-all, no-holds-barred polo game, buz kashi, makes this read an adventure that rivals a classic knight's-of-the-round-table novel. Political events and figures of the era add context and intrigue. Marcus neither vilifies nor glorifies the ancient culture he visits. And yet, the political and cultural observations and insights are astoundingly important. He spurns the false perspective of political correctness while providing an honest lens into a world and mindset that stand in stark contrast to our own. This book would make a great gift for adventurers, real or arm-chair travelers, political science majors, gun enthusiasts, horse lovers, students of culture or religion, missionaries, history buffs, soldiers, or advocates for women's rights. Diving into the pages of NAÏVE & ABROAD: PAKISTAN was a highly enjoyable and very informative experience. I found myself truly laughing out loud on numerous occasions and walking away with a whole new level of understanding for another culture. Kudos, Mr. Wilder!

I've just finished reading a really great book. You should, too.

It's by a local author named Marcus Wilder who had this idea to write a book about his travels in Pakistan 20 years ago. Strangely, although his work is dated 20 years, much of what he observed is still relevant and informative today. Originally conceived as notes on his travels to quiet an insistent friend, his 10 page manuscript has grown to a 200 page critique and insight you won't find in any other book available. Written in a style reminiscent of Hemingway's short, punchy word pictures, Marcus almost overwhelms the senses with sensory input from his descriptions of "pungent" room cleaners in Pakistan, the sheer grandeur of the Taj Mahal, or the simple pleasure of a succulent orange in the Hindu Kush.

Marcus' manuscript, just as an outsider viewing an Islamic society in passing, has shown me more than I learned in a college-level comparative-religions course that contrasted the three faiths of Abraham (Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.) Take his observations on the prophet Mohammed: that unlike the teachings of Christ or Buddha, Mohammed's teachings do not project well into a modern, literate world. Education is the Koran's worst enemy. (p.60)

Marcus also doesn't mince words when analyzing the opposition to both America and Israel, as well as our basic inability to grasp the problem facing us: For them it is about killing infidels. For us it is about understanding their point of view. What twits we are. (p. 167)

And yet, as Paul Harvey likes to say, "It is -not- one world." Marcus' description of Lahore Pakistan made me laugh out loud: "Lahore--in Muslim Pakistan--has one of the largest, oldest, continuously operated red light districts in the world. (A bawdy editor penciled in, "La Whore.") In some families, prostitution has been the family business for uncountable generations. No family member--male or female--is too young to serve in the family business.

Lahore is the cultural capital of Pakistan." (p. 40)

Marcus' little internal dialogue -- that's very much what it reads like on paper -- discusses so much that I frequently wanted to go back and re-read the last two or three pages to make sure I had fully absorbed everything on the pages before moving on. "The burkah is not Islamic. Muslims adopted that custom from a primitive tribe they converted to Islam." Or that Mohammed married a 6-year old girl, but waited to consummate the marriage until she was nine. Or, that to prove rape, a woman must have four male witnesses. Or, how he came to travel to Pakistan in the first place -- to play a horseback game called buz kashi (literally "goat snatching" -- so named by Rudyard Kipling as a bizarre sort of horseback soccer involving a headless goat carcass and several dozen very angry horsemen. (Marcus excelled at the game when finally allowed to play.)

The book was so riveting for me I had to learn how to get the Adobe PDF version to download into my Palm Pilot so I could read it during pauses at stoplights. Timely, insightful, and engaging; i look forward to his book about "Limping Across Spain."

I first became aware of the conflicts between Israel and its neighbors during and after the Six-day War in 1967 (I was just short of fourteen years old). However, I had not heard of the PLO until 1972 in the slaughter of Israeli athletes in Germany. It was the first time I had heard of "Palestinians". When the Yom Kippur War came in 1973, I was living in Australia and followed the news in the papers and in Time and Newsweek (which I no longer find useful reading). Since then the press has continually turned against Israel and taken on the rhetoric, propaganda, and causes of its enemies, especially outside America.

Hundreds of books are written each year on the history of this conflict and many of them are tendentious. Some are honestly so because they are simply describing what their side believes and are open about their bias. Others are mendacious because the present falsehood as history and partisan causes as universal values.

This book is very useful because it tells of the entire history of the military engagements Israel has faced since the Arab Revolt of 1936-39, before the Arabs were suppressed during WWII. The authors admit that this is all told from the Israeli point of view, but insist that they are trying to be as factual as possible. It consists of 12 chapters with each being about twenty pages in length. Each chapter is by different authors (sometimes the article is by multiple authors) and each is fully illustrated with maps and there are endnotes for each chapter to aid further study.

There are a number of pages of black and white photographs in the middle of the book that provide useful orientation to what is being discussed in various chapters of the book.

I found the information quite useful and the discussions are useful antidote to the current assumption that Israel is the cruel aggressor in this conflict. Therefore, I recommend this to you as part of an education of the history of the current conflict and for the background it provides that will almost certainly change your perceptions of the current discussion in the popular culture and media.

But this is a MILITARY history, not so much a political one (although some is unavoidable).

I read this book in two days. It was great!If you want to know how Israel has survived until today,this is your book!

Brian Fagan's edition of Austen Henry Layard's 'Nineveh and its Remains' is a wonderful and affordable abridgement of what has to be the most romantic tale of archaeology- finding the enormous palaces and monumental sculptures of the ancient assyrians(ca.850bc).Traveling by horseback to the dangerous and exotic Turkish ruled mid-east; living amongst the arab people and enjoying their culture, customs, language and learning their history; visiting the ruins of other civilizations and contemplating the 'meaning behind it all'; and finally bringing back to the light of day the ancient assyrians through their remains- human-headed lions and bird-headed divinities, massive throne rooms and polished ivories. Adventure, travel, culture, archaeology. This is the way a book of archaeology should be written.

This classic account of Layard's discoveries in Nimrud,(not really Nineveh, althought when he wrote the book, he thought it was Nineveh, reads like a facinating adventure story. I love the large print and quality of the book, and binding.
The many excellent illustrations give life and meaning to Layard's considerable contribution to archaeology.

No Rattling of Sabers is an anthology of Israeli war poems. But do not let the theme of this anthology turn you away. This collection contains an impressive range of subject matter, from strident militaristic anthems to cynical, ironic commentaries on war and the leaders who run them, to dirges for fallen comrades. In a state beset by war for much of its history, war poems have had an immense cathartic effect for Israel. In this collection, the full range of this expression can be read. And for those with knowledge of Hebrew, this bilingual edition allows us to see what a faithful rendering of the original are the English versions.

This is one of the most evocative, powerful collections of war poetry since those penned by Britain's soldier-poets of the Great War. Throughout this volume we find anew the mysteriously beautiful and tragic collision between war and the Muse, and the haunting elegies that such violent encounters leave us with. Serious readers of poetry will find themselves taken on a journey spanning four decades, travelling down passages as ominous as Dante's inferno, reaching places of the human heart which resound with visceral and imagistic power.

Shahla Haeri's No Shame For The Sun: Lives Of Professional Pakistani Women is recommended for college-level collections specializing in both women's studies and Middle East history. This surveys the lives of professional Pakistani women in chapters which document both political and social thought in Pakistani society.

Finding it ironic that Westerners are most familiar with the veiled, hidden Muslim woman, Haeri, (Iranian-born director of the Women's Studies Program at BU) introduces six unveiled, professional Pakistani women who talk about their families, childhood, marriages, struggles, politics, religion and work. These in-depth interviews reveal cross-cultural commonalities among women in family and work relationships as well as deep divides between Western and Pakistani attitudes toward women. Several make a distinction between Islam and tradition, saying men interpret religion to reinforce patriarchal culture, a point which is best articulated by Sufi feminist, Nilofar Ahmed. She explains that a lot of accepted knowledge is a matter of interpretation, "and we did not find any female scholars in this line. ...Even the most sincere male scholar with the best of intentions could not look at the law from a woman's point of view."

They are all university-educated English speakers and several have done advanced studies abroad. Each describes herself as "different" from other women, by which she means determined, rebellious and independent and, usually, as a child, interested in "boy" activities. Most were encouraged in their education, at least until they got married. Divorce or separation and child custody are discussed at length as well as difficulties (and advantages) of extended family living. Though women worldwide still marry to escape the parental yoke, Western women get to make their own mistakes. These Pakistani women made arranged marriages and three were unhappy. Another, a widow, describes her husband in the same breath and repeatedly as "wonderful" and "difficult," "special" and "bad-tempered." Several found it easier to work and continue education with the support gained from an extended family, several found the demands of in-laws suffocating and demoralizing. Marital separation, leaving aside financial considerations, is difficult for a woman who loses her children (considered to belong to the father), is condemned by family and society, and, if she tries to pursue any kind of independent life, is assumed to be of loose morals.

One intriguing woman lives two lives - a government official in Lahore, and a feudal lord in her rural village. In Lahore some men refuse to work for her because of her sex, but in the village feudal position trumps gender. Men and women rely on her for advice, financial aid, arbitration, even spiritual counseling and healing. Born to a second marriage, Ayesha was treated like a boy by a man with no sons. Though proud of this and of her ability to "act like a man," several years after her interview with Haeri, after studying (War Studies) abroad and marrying, she writes Haeri that this posture destroyed "my sensuality, my appreciation of the other sex." Ayesha also has complex dealings with family - legal wrangling over property coupled with a desire for closeness; severe parental restrictions coupled with demanding expectations.

Parental restrictions are a common complaint, followed in due course by marital restrictions - brought about by precepts of "izzat" or honor. Woman must be pure and her behavior reflects on her family or husband. "Hence, the threat of women's mobility and autonomy," Haeri explains in her succinct, illuminating introduction. All of these women are politically active (one builds sanitary facilities for the poor, several are involved in education and human rights) and one, Rahila Tiwana, suffered torture in police custody, though she denies reports of sexual assault, saying her family was too well-respected. Rape, Haeri explains, is used to dishonor men, by besmirching the purity of their women.

Haeri lets each woman speak in her own voice and speak they do. The interviews come alive with passion, intimacy and intellectual power. Independence comes at the price of loneliness and conflict, even separation from children and family. The author follows each interview with her own comments and conclusions and while her structure is academic, her prose is clear and her opinions insightful. This is a text designed for college use, with copious footnotes, bibliography and index, but it's also a fascinating view into Pakistani culture, history and religious thought for the general reader.

Jeff Halper is one of Israel premier peace advocates, and his newest book is a must for anyone wishing to understand the realities in Palestine-Israel. Halper debunks Israeli mythology and carefully explains Israel ultimate goals. He does so with colorful maps illustrating the facts on the ground created by Israel in the occupied territories to exert control on the land and to prevent the emergence of a viable truly independent Palestinian state. Reading this book is the next best thing to visiting the occupied territories and seeing with you own eyes what is really going on.

Without question one of the nastiest features of the Zionist (I put it this way because hardly do all Isrealis support it) genocidal occupation of Palestinian lands has been the practice of house demolition. This book produced by The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, ICAHD (in other words, Israelis who oppose such actions) chronicles in gritty detail, replete with maps, color photos, and extensive analysis, this vicious policy and its progress since its inception (recorded as far back as 1953). "Out of a total of 12,000 Palestinean homes demolished since 1967, close to 5,000 houses have been demolished during the second Intifida (September 2000 - present ) - 2,800 West Bank, 2,400 in Gaza. 60% of the Palestinian homes demolished in the Occupied Territories were done so as part of military "clearing operations"; 25% were demolished as being "illegal", not having permits; and 15% for collective punishment (B'tselem Summary 2004:2). 15,000 houses have been damaged, 5,000 of them in refugee camps. More than 75,000 people have been affected. In addition, some 30 Mosques and 12 Churches have been destroyed, 134 water wells sealed or destroyed, 180,000 olive and fruit trees uprooted or cleared (Palestine Monitor, B'tselem ICHAD)".