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A
2007 reader A
word about letters
We
may miss some significant works of the year but that was a risk TNS was
prepared to take as it ventured out to find out the 'favourite book of the
year' from some avid readers. So here's a highly subjective list of favourite
books from an equally subjective list of 'readers' A real
page-turner Dr Asif
Farrukhi, critic,
translator, fiction writer The best
book I read in 2007 is 'The Adventures of Amir Hamza'. It is a complete and
unabridged translation of the great epic by Musharraf Ali Farooqi. The
translator has used the single-volume The
quality of translation is excellent, as Musharraf Ali Farooqi has employed
modern and lucid prose. It is for this reason that the book has been
published by a big publishing house like Random House Modern Library, New
York. There have also been some raving reviews of the book in leading
publications like the 'New York Times' and 'Time' magazine. I would say that
Farooqi has given world literature a gift, as Many
colours of subcontinent on the canvas of 19th century Dr
Sohail Ahmad Khan, Professor of Urdu Literature Although
I read a lot of books during 2007 but one book which impressed me most was
Shamsur The true
picture of 1857 Intizar
Hussain, novelist, short story writer
Celebrating
Shakespeare Zia
Mohyeddin, actor, columnist I have
been a great admirer of Bill Bryson -- his engaging scepticism; his
magnificent wit and the gentle, delightful manner in which he satirises mores
that are held to be sacrosanct in the United Bryson
celebrates Shakespeare as a man who provided an incomparable, ever-delighting
body of work, which has enthralled us for four hundred years. He has the gift
of an excellent story-teller and his knowledge is truly amazing. Step by
step, he takes you inside the Globe. The picture, he paints, of the
atmosphere in the theatre of the late 16th century, is remarkable in every
way. Masterpiece
biography Shahzad
Hameed, rock guitarist The best
book I read in 2007 is Neil Slaven's 'Electric Don Quixote: Frank Zappa.'
This biography of Compared
with other sources of all things Zappa, 'Electric Don Quixote' is like a
spotlight that illuminates not only the facts and chronology, but also the
mood and mentality surrounding the rock star and the key individuals in his
immediate circle. As good as the book is, I do not consider it adequate to
stand completely on its own. It stands on the shoulders of past Zappa
biographies and without reading at least one or two of them, the reader might
lose the subtlety Slaven has incorporated. Still, I have no doubt that
'Electric Don Quixote' is most creative title among the Zappa biographies.
Clearly this title accurately reduces Zappa's musical contribution to the
fewest read possible words. Thus, the title also is a masterpiece of
composition and creativity. Attempt
of re-invention Faryal
Ali Gohar, actor, novelist I read a
lot of postcolonial literature this year. Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Nadime
Gordimer remain the top of the list. But the latest book I read was Mohsin
Hamid's 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist.' Voice of
Americans who oppose war Kishwar
Naheed, Poet, writer There
are no favourite books, there are only good books. I read a lot of books
during this year including Pamuk's 'Snow', Moshin Hamid's 'The Reluctant
Fundamentalist' and the much talked about
Sheikh
Ayaz's tenth anniversary If
modern Sindhi literature has not attracted many readers outside the province,
it is mostly because of the language barrier. Very few pieces of the new
Sindhi writers have been translated into English or other languages of the
region. Although selected poetry and prose of Sheikh Ayaz have been
translated, including his highly readable autobiography, they provide little
insight into the nature and standard of literature being created in the
language of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai. Sindhi
writers have not produced outstanding novels, short stories and plays, but
the poetry Sheikh
Ayaz is the undisputed guru of the new generation of the Sindhi literati.
Many of them now hesitate to subscribe to the Sheikh's later socio-political
views but his literary excellence and intellectual leadership have never been
questioned. Sheikh
Ayaz published some forty books, mostly collections of poetry. During the
early days of his creative life, he wrote in both Sindhi and Urdu. A volume
of his Urdu verse has been compiled by his friend Afaq Siddique. It was
published in 1954 under the title 'Boo-e-Gul, Nala-e-Dil'. There are visible
influences of Federico Garcia Lorca and Pablo Neruda in his work but his main
source of inspiration remains the kalam of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai. He also
translated his kalam into Urdu verse. I had
the opportunity to read some of Sheikh Ayaz's works and also meet him a few
times in Karachi and Hyderabad. My impression is that he was the greatest
poet produced by our corner of the globe during the second half of the past
century. Sheikh Ayaz died on December 28, 1997. His tenth death anniversary
was observed in Hyderabad past week. Other
Sindhi voices
Commencing
on his poetry, Iftikhar Arif said the lyricism of Dr. Tanveer Abbasi's verse
"finds strength in the use of similes that he draws from real life which
immediately capture his audience who respond as the images are transmitted
through recognition and association." "His verse," he
continued, "is a dialogue with the human soul, an active conversation
that engages and ennobles the mind and librated the creative energies." I was
introduced to Dr Tanveer Abbasi at a seminar held in Khairpur, his hometown,
some years ago and a friendship ensued. I found him a very charming and
generous person. He always remembered to send me a copy of his new volumes. The last
days of his life were spent in Islamabad where he now lies to rest. Another
literary figure who played a significant role in the establishment of the
Sindhi Adabi Sangat during the early days of the 1960s, Noorud Din Sirki
passed away recently in Karachi. He was a close friend of Sheikh Ayaz and Dr
Tanveer Abbasi. He is mostly known as a literary critic but will also be
remembered for his hospitality. His office in Karachi had become a sort of
meeting place for Sindhi writers, journalists and intellectuals. I twice
visited his office in 2004 and found several young people engaged in literary
and political discussion. They had come from various towns and villages of
the province. Sirki's friendly and welcoming behavior had attracted them
there. Petofi
in Punjabi Hungary's
most popular poet Sandor Petofi who died fighting for the liberation of his
nation during the revolution of 1848 at the tender age of 26, is not unknown
in our literary circles. Hungarian
scholar Professor Dr G.W. Leitner who was the first registrar of the Punjab
University and also served as director of public education spent the last
years of the 19th century in Lahore. It is said that he kept clear
connections with the local intelligentsia. Another
Hungarian professor of the same university Aural Stein is known to have
brought a copy of Sandor Petofi's book to Lahore with him during the same
years. Perhaps those were the teachers through whom Allama Iqbal learnt about
Petofi's life and poetry. Iqbal was so impressed that he composed a poem in
Persian in which rich tribute has been paid to the late Hungarian poet. Now a
noted Punjabi poet Sarwat Mohiuddin has translated selected poems of Petofi
into Punjabi and published them together with original text, in the form of a
book titled 'Geet Hayati Hoey.' The book
was launched in Lahore in the third week of December. The function was
chaired by Shafqat Tanvir Mirza while the Ambassador of the Republic of
Hungary Bela Fazekas was the chief guest. The
ambassador described Sandor Petofi as an icon of the nation. He praised
Sarwat Mohiuddin who has translated the poetry "by keeping it close to
its original meanings."
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version of 'Dastaan-e-Amir Hamza' by
Ghalib Lakhnavi and Abdullah Bilgrami. The book, spanning over almost 1,000
pages and with an introduction by Hamid Dabashi, is very interesting and
makes a good reading. In fact, it is a real page-turner, as the translation
retains the magical realism of the original work and the reader is drawn into
it. When I started reading it, I had no idea that it would be so interesting.
non-Urdu-speaking readers can
at last appreciate an epic on par with anything in the Western languages.
Farooqi's translation is masterful, incorporating the elements and rhythms of
the oral tradition and maintaining the wit and verbal style of the original.'
Rehman Faruqi's 'Koi Chand they Sar-e-Asman'. The mother of the
famous poet Meer Daag Delhvi has been portrayed in the novel. The novelist
has painted the many colours of subcontinent on the canvas of the 19th
century era. One of the peculiarities of the novel is that the writer claims
not to have used a single word in the novel which was not spoken during the
19th century India. An effort of that sort is certainly commendable. It is
not merely a historical novel but depicts an entire civilization. It is for
these reasons that I liked the book.' 
Although
William Dalrymple's 'The Last Mughal' was published in 2003 I
read it this
year. I have read a lot of books on 1857 but this book stands apart -- in its
exposure of what had actually happened. It is probably one of the most
comprehensive books on the subject although the author's sources are not
renowned historians. He brings forth impartial and honest account of the
events during 1857, portraying a true picture of those days. A lot of what
was written about 1857 uprising was not that clear and this books clears the
ambiguities. Details of incidents like the occupation of Delhi are not found
in our own books and I think if some one is interested in knowing what
actually happened the book is a great source. It renders a detailed
description of the horrors that occurred. The book encompasses the details of
Bahadur Shah Zafar's death to the history of Rangoon. Since I am a Dalrymple
fan I loved the book.
States of America. Bryson's
latest work, published recently by Harper and Collins, is called
'Shakespeare'. The book is a vivid and one of the most beautifully written
accounts of the Bard's life and times. The wild speculation about who
authored the plays we know as Shakespeare's has been a burning question for
every biographer. Bryson's untiring research reveals some amazing and
hilarious episodes related to the conspiracy theory. Since no one in
Shakespeare's lifetime or for nearly two hundred years after his death had
any doubts about who wrote Shakespeare, Bryson tells us that the story of
'Shakespeare wasn't Shakespeare' begins in 1811, with an odd American lady
called Delia Bacon..jpg)
the legendary rock star, whose cult has continued to grow
since his death in 1993, is so far the most comprehensive chronicle of his
extraordinary life and career. Neil Slaven has brilliantly brought together
the complex strands of Zappa's life and work in a book that will please not
just his fans, but anyone interested in the history of rock music. In
addition, the book is fully illustrated and includes a comprehensive
discography. Other Zappa biographies, even those written with his input, come
across as dry and disorganised in comparison with 'Electric Don 
Quixote'.
Slaven's analysis seems even-handed and is far from being the drippings of a
starry-eyed Zappa fan. Punches are not pulled, but then again, praise is
dealt out when deserved. 
After reading Marquez, Mohsin Hamid
was a disappointment. I could hardly get through the first page. It is a poor
attempt at reinventing Muslim image. Hamid needs to do his research on Lahore
and the areas he decides to write about in the book. As far as I know there
are no Starbucks in Purani Anarkali. There may be Starbucks all over the
world for coffee but there are none in Pakistan. His understanding of these
areas needs a research. The book, by attempting to disclose the current
global scenario, actually demeans what is actually happening. Unfortunately,
Hamid is a victim of Oriental publishing rampant nowadays.
'Some of Us Did Not Die'. Of the
three I like June Jordon's 'Some of Us Did Not Die' the most. The book has
been written in the context of 9/11. What is striking about the book is the
author's candid opposition of 9/11. Jordon strongly disapproves of the war in
Iraq and the policies of Bush administration. She represents the voice of
Americans who oppose the war. There are two reasons why I liked the book --
its emotionalism and courage. A cancer patient herself, Jordon has
transmitted into her book what she was losing from her body. But it is the
theme which makes the book most appealing.
composed by them during the past half a century is simply
marvellous. Sindhi poets of our time have retained close ties with their
people and traditions. Their poetry provides a powerful expression to the
aspirations and deprivations of the people.
Another
important poet and scholar who greatly influenced new Sindhi writers was
remembered last week in Islamabad where Pakistan Academy of Letters in
collaboration with Sindhi Adabi Sangat, Shah Abdul Latif Cultural Association
and Sindh Graduates Association arranged a seminar to mark Dr Tanveer
Abbasi's 73rd birth anniversary. Speakers on the occasion included chairman
of the Academy of Letters Iftikhar Arif, chairman of the Sindhi department of
the Shah Bhitai University of Khairpur Dr Abdul Soomro, Dr Mukhtar Talpur,
Irshad Abbasi, Dr Qasim Brohi, Dr Salim Ali Soomro, Zahid Jatoi and Wali
Muhammad Memon. 