Comedies, Histories and Tragedies
Books and pandemics go way back. William Shakespeare wrote King Lear while he was in quarantine from the bubonic plague, waves of which killed at least a third of the European population. Covid-19 forced people around the world to stay home, where many turned to books to let their minds explore. Celebrating Sharjah’s year as World Book Capital, which came to a close in April, we asked some cultural figures to share their lockdown reading.
ABDULLA AL KAABI
Filmmaker
Gold Dust by Ibrahim al-Koni
During the lockdown, I discovered a new book by a Libyan writer, Ibrahim al-Koni. Gold Dust is a classic story of the brotherhood between man and beast, the thread of companionship that is all the difference between life and death in the desert. It is a story of the fight to endure in a world of limitless and waterless wastes, and a parable of the struggle to survive in the most dangerous landscape of all: human society.
I am fortunate to have a profession which requires me to read and read in order to come up with a new film idea. My passion for camels started at a young age when I read Wilfred Thesiger’s book Arabian Sands, about his travels in the 1940s across the Empty Quarter over four years. What stood out for me the most in his story was the camel, this ship of the desert that no desert culture would have been possible without. This led me to countless readings about Bedouin culture and especially camel mentality, which is the subject of my next film.
Gold Dust moved me because it celebrated the diversity of desert culture across the Arab world and also it showcased the deep affection found between Bedouin and camel.
I like to read mostly before I sleep. I drift into my dreams, taking the ideas I read about with me. The characters come alive. During the lockdown, I craved some sort of companionship, and this book offered it to me.
MANAL ATAYA
Director General of the Sharjah Museums Authority
The Poetry of Our World: An International Anthology of Contemporary Poetry —Edited by Jeffery Paine
I have always loved poetry since I was introduced to it by my favourite English teacher in high school. I have continued to enjoy famous English writers, however later, in university, I started to read more that was translated into English from other languages, beginning with Persian and then Chinese.
I saw this book at a second-hand shop and picked it up immediately. The book is an interesting collection of diverse poems, both in terms of topics and geography. An anthology, it extends from the English-speaking world to parts of Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.
This book includes some well-known figures of poetry that I love such as Pablo Neruda, Wole Soyinka, and Elizabeth Bishop, but more importantly it offers the reader lesser-known prose by poets that write in their native language which is not English, including Ugandan poet and novelist Okot p’Bitek and Japanese poet Shuntaro Tanikawa. It offers, too, insightful essays by eminent scholars and poets.
It is a magnificent collection of world poetry, rich and eclectic. It is a great way to introduce anyone to how remarkably different poetic themes, structures and styles are depending on a country’s culture and history and how much poetry has evolved over time.
AHMED AL AMERI
Chairman of the Sharjah Book Authority
Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina
Brain Rules presents 10 interesting insights on how our brains work in an informative and entertaining format. It offers transformative ideas about how we can use that knowledge in our daily lives. The book addresses questions that are at the top of our heads for which we do not always have clear scientific answers, like, how do we forget, how do we remember things? And how can we boost our capabilities to develop ourselves at the psychological, intellectual, scientific, and practical levels?
Every book we read expands our consciousness and introduces us to new ways of thinking and of looking at the world. Brain Rules answers a lot of the “why” and the “how”—the science behind some of the best practices that positively influence the way we learn, behave, and perform at work. This book instilled in me a desire to learn more about the human mind and furthered my commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
NUJOOM ALGHANEM
Poet, artist, scriptwriter, award-winning filmmaker and cultural consultant
Old Path White Clouds Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha by Thich Nhat Hanh
There are many reasons why I chose this book. First, it’s about an extraordinary spiritual and historical awakened figure that I’ve always wanted to know more about: Gautama Buddha.
Second, it is written by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Zen master and spiritual leader, who is also a poet, a teacher, and a phenomenal and influential peace activist. And finally, because it is translated by my dear friend, the poet Adel Khozam.
This book brought to me joy, gratification and a feeling of fulfillment. I appreciated its simplicity in telling the stories through Buddha’s disciples, as well as the fluidity of the translation.
It was an enjoyable read thanks to the dramatic biographical style that keeps the reader engaged and excited. It eloquently unfolds the life and teachings of Buddha. It sheds light on the development of Buddhism, the early struggles, and its impact on people from different ranks of society. It is very informative when it comes to the Buddhist philosophy and principles.
I found myself underlining passages and taking notes, especially when it explains awareness or consciousness as opposed to comprehensive awakening and living the present moment.
Usually, I choose either historical or theological books to read during Ramadan. This year I was encouraged to pick something related to the Eastern spirituality. I needed to overcome the stress of Covid-19 and the lockdown. I think I chose the perfect book, it helped me reach a beautiful serenity.
ANTONIA CARVER
Director, Art Jameel
The Whole Picture: The colonial story of the art in our museums and why we need to talk about it by Alice Procter
Not being able to take for granted our daily doses of art in the galleries, or impromptu debate with colleagues, seemed to sharpen our awareness of the absolute centrality of culture in our lives. I started lockdown with lofty intentions to read all the great novels I’d missed, but it was hard to not be a 24/7 work and news junkie. So it felt right to turn to something topical that reflected the debates going on in our industry, which through this dramatic period of tragedy and soul-searching have taken on a new urgency. Alice Procter runs Uncomfortable Art Tours—unofficial journeys around museums in the UK that unearth and highlight the multiple, often violent underlying histories that the wall labels tend to forget or avoid. Her new book takes as its premise “everything in a museum is political because it is shaped by the politics of the world that made it.” She frames the museum world through four descriptions—the Palace, Classroom, Memorial and Playground—and through examples of specific works challenges us to unravel our sense of self and our own gaze in order to see what we see anew.
