Mika Waltari: Sinuhe the Egyptian
With Egypt in the news lately, I will start with this historical novel based on ancient Egyptian history and the power battles of the countries leading family. Why? Because it is simply my all time favorite book, I could read this over and over again without getting bored!
This was actually the book that initially got me interested in the Middle East. I read it for the first time as a teenager and was taken away by the detailed descriptions of ancient Egypt and the intriguing characters of the story. This book inspired me to start studying more about Egyptology, to learn belly-dancing and to make a journey across Egypt to the very places described in the story.
The author is a well known Finnish writer and one could never believe from the accuracy of his descriptions of the Egyptian environment that he never stepped foot on Egyptian soil during his entire lifetime. The author did years of research to make the novel as historically accurate as possible and I think he did a great job considering the book was published in 1945.
Once you start reading the story will captivate you totally and you will not be able to put the book down! The novel is based on events from the times of Tutankhamon and Nefertiti. It tells the story of an orphan boy who becomes a brilliant physician and ends up working in the palaces of the Pharaohs. He gets to know the real people behind their golden masks and all the dirty secrets of the royal family. It's a rags to riches story, a love story and a thriller all in one book. I was fascinated by some of the characters and to this day I have a strong image of them engraved in my head.
Highly recommended!
Marguerite van Geldermalsen: Married to a Bedouin
This is the true love story of a woman from New Zealand and a Jordanian Bedouin man who met in Petra back in the 70's. The book itself is a very interesting read and it gives an inside look to the everyday life of the Bedouin of Petra and how the young western woman adapts to their rustic way of life and immerses herself in their culture.
It's a special book to me for many reasons.
This book was actually given to me by friends I had made in Saudi-Arabia. They had visited Petra and met the author Marguerite who happened to be in Jordan at that time. My friends, thinking of my life situation (contemplating on marrying a Saudi) had bought the book and asked her to sign it for me. So I actually have a special message from her on my copy!
My situation with my Saudi was in a difficult stage and I was facing many dilemmas and having self doubts. Reading the book gave me hope and I thought to myself, if this woman could live in a cave, make bread over a fire and learn to milk goats and still be perfectly happy, surely I could live a happy life in a cozy house in Saudi-Arabia. I used to look at the pictures of their children and wonder about how our children might look like. This book certainly came to me at a time I needed to read something so positive about multicultural marriages.
One of those friends I mentioned in fact met her now husband, a Bedouin from Petra, on that very same trip. Like Mohammed, Marguerites husband, he lives in Petra and gets his living from tourism. What a coincidence!
Inspired by the book, my husband and I later visited Petra. The boy pictured had a British mother :)
Your thoughts provoke me to rethink many abandoned areas of interests within me. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteJAM
love your blog! keep up the great work x
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