WATANI International
14 June 2009
Light Red
Ahmar Khafeef (Light Red) is the most recent book by Waheed al-Taweela. It deals with characters of rural and urban areas, and includes stories about long forgotten customs. Taweela records the literature and the history of different localities through legends, folklore stories, proverbs, poetry and narratives. The book is published by al-Dar publishing and distribution house.
Back Streets
Abdel-Rahman al-Sharqawi’s novel was an attempt to record Egypt’s modern history in light of a community through the 1930s and the beginning of the 1940s. Al-Shawarea al-Khalfiya (Back Streets) depicts a period known for its struggles on both the political and social levels. The novel was reprinted and published by Shorouq as a part of a project to reprint all Sharqawi’s works. Sharqawi (1920 – 1987) was a leading activist and multitalented intellectual who wrote some of the most memorable works in Egyptian literature and theatre.
Geniuses and lovers
In Abaqira wa Oshaq (Geniuses and Lovers), Fayez Farah presents a rich and comprehensive collection of stories about the lives of nine geniuses who have played an impressive role in our world. Farah highlighted their social life and focused on their points of view concerning women and family, providing the reader with abundant information about their mysterious lives. The main characters of the novel include Abbas al-Aqqad, Ibrahim Nagi, Michael Angelo, Voltaire, Alberto Moravia, John Stuart Mill, and Adolf Hitler. The book is published by Dar al-Maaref.
Coptic Egyptian Identity
Merit recently published a detailed study on Coptic heritage entitled Defaa’an An Turathina al-Qibty (Defending Our Coptic Heritage). In his study, Bayumi Qandil tackles the complete heritage of the Coptic and Egyptian culture, using a rhetoric that stresses the integral Egyptian identity.
Coming generations
Agyal Min Baadina (Coming Generations) is a new book that includes a group of articles by the veteran journalist and writer Anis Mansour. Mansour writes on the state of Egyptian society and how it will affect the coming generations, especially focusing on the role of each generation in building the foundation of the future for following generations. It is published by Nahdet Misr.
Shots from life
Complicated and outstanding issues, exciting statements, interesting stories, reasonable analyses, and warm and sensitive feelings; these are standard features in the works written by columnist Sanaa’ al-Beesy.
In her new book Masr Ya Welad (Egypt O Sons), published by Nahdet Misr, Beesy offers her readers a collection of articles she had recently published in the daily State-owned Cairo paper al-Ahram under such titles as ‘Shots’ or ‘Scenes’. These are mostly incidents we encounter in daily life but; being so preoccupied with our immediate interests, we never give them so much as a thought. Beesy’s sharply observant eye guides us through the intricate details of incidents so often overlooked. The book includes such titles as Thaqafat al-Kathib (Culture of Fabrication), Le’bat al-Karasy (Musical Chairs), Qalbi Ala-Awladi (My Heart Burns for my Sons), Al-Balcona (The Balcony), Sahbo Ghayeb (No Owner), Bait al-Umma (Home of the Nation), and Rayheen Feen (Where to?).
Biographies of the beloved
A recent publication by al-Shorouq has another book by Beesi hitting the bookstores. In Sirat al-Habayeb (Biographies of the Beloved) Beesi tackles the biographies of 55 prominent Egyptian icons. She presents perspectives of their social lives and careers, their impact on their community, and their achievements. The book introduces a comprehensive look at a variety of characters that have left a lasting influence on Egyptian society on the political, creative, and intellectual and artistic levels, in addition to a number of Islamic preachers.
Administrational Corruption
Farouq Abdel-Khaleq believes administrative corruption is one of the most complicated problems that Egypt has failed to solve. In his new book Al-Fasaad al-Idari fi Misr (Administrational Corruption in Egypt), published by Al-Shorouq, Abdel-Khaleq reveals the roots of corruption through three main axes largely related to the general climate and governmental authorities.