The Cairo Trilogy

After I finish reading a novel, I have two choices - to keep or to give it away. The one that gets a place on my shelf is a book that I would want to read again. It is exceptionally well written; a thought-provoking and emotion-evoking story that has the mark of the consummate wordsmith. It is a pleasure to hold such a book in my hands, reading the lines, sometimes re-reading them in appreciation of the craftsmanship.

Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz (1911-2006) wrote the type of book that I would proudly have on my shelf, and I have three that together are known as 'The Cairo Trilogy', a saga of a Muslim family in Cairo during Egypt's occupation by the British at the end of World War I. The first in the trilogy is Palace Walk.

The first line, "She woke at midnight", short and succinct, leads you into the life of the al-Jawad family who lives on a street in Cairo called Palace Walk. The story carries you through the rooms and corridors of the family's home, along the alleys and into the goings-on in the neighbourhood. The rich descriptions and insightful observations draw you into the saga, and it is as if you're right there in the midst of it all. 

The second in the trilogy, Palace of Desire, continues the story about seven years after the culmination of events in the first book. Members of the al-Jawad family are at different stages of their lives during which they are faced with difficult questions reflecting the revolutionary spirit of that time. 

The family's saga concludes in the final book, Sugar Street. The children of the al-Jawad family are all grown up and are themselves parents. World War II is brewing and the world around them is changing. In fact, change is the recurring theme, not only in regard to society but also beliefs and values. 

The richness of the prose reminds me of Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy, also a family saga that is full of details as well as drama. Naguib Mahfouz certainly deserved the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature. Regarded as "one of the first contemporary writers of Arabic literature,... he published over 50 novels, over 350 short stories, dozens of movie scripts and five plays over a 70-year career" (Wikipedia).

Bookish things

My sister Zakiah in Berlin, who's now into sewing, referred me to this website that featured a "contest for fabric designs inspired by the love of books"; too late to take part in the contest, however. The site had over 100 cool designs to look over, examples of which are below:

Since we're on the subject of bookish things, check out these 'wish-could-haves':

Put up this tent when you go camping next time and you'll certainly stand out. Unfortunately, the manufacturer has got its order-book full.

If you're ever at the Los Angeles Public Library, you might be enticed into buying this book rest cum reading lamp. After reading your book by the light of the lamp, just place your book over the lamp and pick up where you stopped reading the following night.

And what better cake to make for a bookaholic than this one...

Anyone care to make me one?

Need a good laugh?

Time for a light-hearted post, so why not get a good laugh out of the many translation bloopers of the English language. Here are a few examples I got just by googling:

Probably not difficult to do for yoga enthusiasts...

As if you would want to...

Wonder if you have to pay if they leave your luggage alone...

I think we know who they mean...

Don't laugh! We're no better...

The standard of writing and speaking in the English language in our country today is far, far below what it had been when I was in school. At my uni in New Zealand in the mid-1970s, Malaysian students were commended for their excellent English, when compared to students from other Asian countries. We have now come to a point where we need TV programmes such as 'Oh, My English' to help people who are struggling with simple usage of the language and committing bloopers unheard of at one time.

Back to basics

I often get asked by people how they can get started as a freelance writer/editor. I tell them that, in the first place, they have to write well, which really develops through reading - a lot of it and preferably, reading the classics and serious fiction. I also tell them that there are five books they should buy.

The first is William Strunk Jr and E B White's timeless The Elements of Style. It's only 92 pages long (index included) but within these pages are key requirements that will help to give your writing "cleanliness, accuracy and brevity". One of the rules: Omit needless words!

The Elements of Grammar by Margaret Shertzer is the second book. It covers the basic rules of grammar and usage in 168 pages, providing hundreds of examples of correct grammar. There's even a chapter on how to express numbers.

The next book to buy is the 156-page The Elements of Editing by Arthur Plotnik. It brings together the author's own experience in writing and editing, making it therefore a book that deals with practical issues. He points out, "An editor edits above all to communicate to readers." Written with a wry sense of humour, it gives an inside look into the editorial process, giving aspiring editors a good idea of what editing is all about.

The fourth book, The Elements of Copywriting, is just as concise as the ones above. In 173 pages, authors Gary Blake and Robert W Bly cover "writing headlines and body copy as well as increasing readership and response, and go on to provide copy guidelines for print ads, direct mail, brochures, catalogues, press releases, electronic messages, and more".

And last but not least is the Handbook for Proofreading by Laura Killen Anderson. Proofreading is essential in written communication to avoid embarrassing errors, and this book "shows how to systematically and thoroughly proofread everything from headline copy to book-length manuscripts". It's only 176 pages long but it takes you through the entire proofreading process. 

So there you are - the five books that can make you a better writer and editor. In fact, I bought these books when I was still in full-time employment as my work involved a great deal of written communication. And I continue to refer to them now. 

Remembering our Creator

It is a striking book - black with a burst of colour in the upper corner, and the title and author's name embossed in gold. Within its full-colour pages is a flowing river of poetry and poetic-style prose by the author, Dr Safiah Osman, thanking "Allah SWT for His clear reminders that there must be love, fondness and kindness in our hearts."

Dr Safiah Osman is a very close friend of my aunt Datin Kalsom Taib and she has become a friend of mine. Soft-spoken, gentle, gracious and courteous, she is also humble, not speaking much at all of her achievements, which are many. She had been a Professor of Language Education at the University of Malaya and, later, at the Sultan Idris University of Education, where she moved on to become its Director for International Relations before retiring in 2004. Safiah was the founder member and first President of the Malaysian Reading Association, affiliated to the International Reading Association.

She had a dream she wanted to pursue after her retirement - and that was to put down her thoughts and feelings about the boundless gifts and blessings of Allah in books that will guide people to always remember Him. In this book, Let Us Remember Allah For the Gift of Love in Our Hearts, her sincere and heartfelt words cover the spectrum of love from what we feel for our parents, mothers, children, relatives and friends, to what we can have for the poor, elderly and sick; even for those who smile warmly, speak politely or forgive readily. 

It's a beautifully written book. Safiah's poems and prose are all the more meaningful accompanied by verses from the Holy Qur'an and authentic Hadiths, and illustrated by photographs and original Islamic calligraphic art-pieces. She gives so much in the book that you need to take your time to savour her words, reflect upon them and, of course, if you haven't been doing so, to build that love within you and share it (Please click here for the pdf sample of the book).

This is not Safiah's first book. Her earlier one, published in 2009, is "about the wonder of Allah's Creations, about love for the seas, oceans and mountains; trees, rivers, animals, insects, plants and vegetation." 

Both books would make ideal presents for all kinds of occasions. A gift of knowledge, one that may help to improve our deen, must surely be one of the best to receive.