WATANI International
14 November 2010
Untold stories
Rehla Ila Gohanam (Journey to Hell) is the autobiography of Nabil Abul-Naga, who led the Egyptian Special Forces during the 6 October War in 1973. Abul-Naga gives a previously untold account of the role played by the Special Forces in the war which led Egypt to victory. He also writes about his childhood, about how he came to join the military and the hard training in the Military Academy. The chapters in Journey to Hell include “The Leader’s early life”, “Joining the Special Forces”, “Preparing for the operation”, “Unsuccessful attempts to get reinforcements”, “Al-Gamal’s suicide group”, “Successfully Passing the Enemy’s Lines”, “Arriving at the Narrow”, and “Contacting the Bedouin, receiving reinforcements and returning”. Journey to Hell is published by the Atlas Publishing House.
Greenhouse effect
The Bustani Publishing House has brought out a new book for children entitled Hatha Kawkabi…Daleel al-Atfal lil-Ihtirar al-Alami (This Is My Planet…A Child’s Guide To Global Warming by Jan Thornhill and translated by Omayma Kamel. The book gives an account of the catastrophic effects of global warming, a subject which can be so overwhelming that young people are often left with the thought: what can I do? This Is My Planet gives young readers the tools they need to live their own lives in a more ecologically sane way, and ultimately, to improve life on the planet. The author takes a comprehensive look at climate change, beginning with basic information about how the planet works and moving through an in-depth look at human societies and three specific environments. Although Thornhill focuses on the catastrophic phenomena relating to global warming, she still offers hope, showing how positive actions can make a difference. Full-colour photographs are attached to enhance the book’s absorbing, informative text.
The other face
A new book by Khaled Mansour, Khalf Al-Sitaar…Al-Wagh al-Akhar Li-Afghanistan (Behind the Drapes…Afghanistan’s Other Face) has been published by Ketab Al-Yom. In his short introduction, “Before Travelling”, Mansour mentions the psychological and social points that led him to write it, including the story of his journey into the world of literature, and the other journeys made in many years of travelling round the globe. Afghanistan’s Other Face presents variety of topics in various fields that include politics, travel writing, ecology and geography.
The Deacon’s Sorrows
The novelist Said Nooh spent two years writing his novel Ahzan Shammas (A Deacon’s Sorrows). Nooh presented the final version to the Supreme Council of Culture in 1996, but it only passed approval this year and has been published as part of Leisure Series sponsored by the council. The novel tells a story of a young Coptic boy and runs through the details of daily life within the Coptic community.
Christians’ Quarter
Asaad Shamei’s latest book Haret Al-Nasara (The Christians’ Quarter) has been published by Doon. The book is in two sections, the first cotainings 18 chapters on subjects such as, “What is the difference between the Christian child and the Muslim child?”, “Copts do not represent the West”, and “Between world persecution and Western persecution”. Shamei writes in the second section: “I write on things Muslims see but do not understand, such as churches that look like citadels; the Christian Mass; the social role played by the church; the ecclesical community; the seven sacraments; the concept of sin in Christianity, and why there are different Christian sects.”
Last kiss
Sinbad for Publishing and Distribution has brought out a collection of stories Al-Qubla al-Akhira (The Last Kiss) by Abdel-Ghafar Mekawi. Mekawi lends various meanings to short stories that mix several cultures and eras in short sentences, offering simple solutions to contemporary intellectual issues though 22 dissimilar tales.