Reading Journal: Monday 10th May 2010

Monday may be one of the most depressing days of the week for a lot of people but for me it means Maupassant and I couldn’t be happier. Today it was the turn of a couple of tales which are, in a tenuous way, linked by the theme of babies. The first Mademoiselle Pearl is rather lengthy, but superbly penned. The second – Rosalie Prudent, is short but equally as well written. Both together show Maupassant’s incredible writing ability. I’ve already written up my afterthoughts on both (Mademoiselle Pearl, Rosalie Prudent) so enough said in the pages of today’s journal.

****

Onwards then to the next contribution in the Hay Festival project’s anthology of Arab writing and today’s offering was an extract from the novel The Twentieth Terrorist by Saudi writer Abdullah Thabit. OK so I know this is yet another extract from a novel, but just like the rest of them so far, this one also reads as an encapsulated whole. In this extract we join Zahi al-Jibali – the main character of the novel, believed fictionally to have been twentieth terrorist involved in the 9/11 plot – as he begins attending a Quranic school at age 6. Originally destined to go to a normal government school – as two of his brothers before him have done – he, and his father are convinced by the oldest fanatical brother, that Quranic school would be the best place for him. It soon becomes clear to Zahi however, that life in this school is going to be brutal, and that the curriculum is going to be driven by political and religious ideology.

As one can imagine this is rather a powerful extract from The Twentieth Terrorist; one which demonstrates with full vividness, the brutality of a school which is being run under extremist religious authority. But with this brutality is juxtaposed a more peaceful element, that of the people of Asir in general, who are ‘good folk’; generous, great lovers of music, poetry, and just great lovers in general. Once again this taster from Thabit has made me thirsty for more, and I hope that this is a novel which will enjoy English publication one day. Story Rating:

****

The next story up for me from Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio’s Stories anthology, was Unbelief, a rather short tale from British novelist Michael Marshall Smith. The story follows contract killer Kane, as he confronts an intended target in Bryant Park, Manhattan on the Eve before Christmas. It soon becomes clear in the conversation that ensues however, that this killing may be a little more personal than most.

You know, this isn’t a particularly badly written story. And as with the others I’ve read so far in this anthology, I rather enjoyed it. However, for me it doesn’t quite hit the mark on that wholly imaginative goal that this anthology is shooting for. Sure there is a slight diversion from the norm, as is revealed as one progresses through the story, but comparing it to the others that have come before it, this story doesn’t quite measure up. Story Rating:

****

Moving swiftly on to a quick rundown on my progress through this year’s Foreign Fiction Prize shortlist, and the last time I spoke to you through the virtual pages of this reading journal you may remember I entrenched in Julia Franck’s The Blind Side of the Heart (Harvill Secker). Well, I also mentioned in that journal entry that the Franck’s absence of speech marks in the novel was having an adverse affect on me. So panicking because of lack of time, I decided to put The Blind Side of the Heart to one side for a time, hoping the next title in the shortlist would get me reading quicker. That next title in the shortlist was Chowringhee by Sankar (Atlantic Books), and that’s the one I’m reading now.

So, am I getting through Chowringhee a bit faster? Absolutely! And what a delight it is to read. Wonderfully poetic, wonderfully cultural and wonderfully warming. It’s too soon to say whether it’s an absolute winner as far as I’m concerned (both in my eyes and in the eyes of the Foreign Fiction Prize shortlist judges), but early indications are looking good.

::Tuesday’s reading plans::

• As usual Tuesday mean Chekhov, so it’s full steam ahead with a couple of the Russian meister’s shorts. First up is The Chemist’s Wife, followed by the enigmatically titled Not Wanted.
• It’s story #6 in Gaiman and Sarrantonio’s Stories, and a rather lengthy one by Texan author Joe R. Lansdale, called The Stars are Falling.
• My wonderful journey through the world of Arab writing continues with the next contribution in the Beirut39 anthology. Today it’s the turn of the first contribution I’ve come across from a female writer – Palestinian Adania Shibli, and a full-length short story called At the Post Office
• Chowringhee! Need I say more?

‘Reading Journal’ provides an unedited, on-the-fly record of the bookish highlights in Rob’s reading day.