Wild Thorns

I thought the book was great. It really showed the different impacts the war had on the different characters in the book. I thought it was crazy how concerned Usama was about everything, described on the ride to Nablus, only to arrive in a town where lifestyles had changed and people were almost oblivious to living under military rule.

The part in which I felt the truth really came out about the changes that had taken place was when Usama had spoken with the old man at the farm. Usama tries to get him to remember who he was, and asks about his cousin Adil who had worked there, and it all seems foreign to the man. I thought that showed how so much had changed that someone would seem as if they had been brainwashed with that thing Tommy Lee Jones uses in Men In Black.

At first, I found it a bit strange the way each chapter started, then I realized the impact it gave later. As each chapter ended, the next one began in a completely new setting with a completely new event taking place. Eventually I liked the way it jumped from story to story in a rather rapid manner, greatly emphasizing the number of issues and hardships these people went through living under such intimidating conditions.

Also, I found this interesting picture:

SnowMen In The Sun

I think it's safe to say that Kanafani's stories are a tad more on the darker side. All of which conveyed family struggles and hardships, but with an unexpected
M. Night Shyamalan-ish twist. The two shorter stories I felt related more to each other, in terms of the war and the characters' experiences confronting Jewish soldiers.

In The Land Of Sad Oranges, there's a disturbing image of the father seen through a window, ill-looking and accompanied by a revolver. A sight of such graphic violence is enough to give any kid looking through that window a pretty good freak out. I know I shouldn't, but I actually liked the comparison of the father's face to a rotten orange. I felt it really described his state of being.
At first, I didn't know what to think of If You Were A Horse. Not that I didn't like it, I just had something totally different being pieced together in my head. When I read that the boy's mother died after she gave birth to him, I thought just that; she died giving birth. Little did I know her skull was crushed by hooves.
A Hand In The Grave came off as quite the thriller. There was so much suspense and anticipation throughout the story until the "event." I would almost call it a backwards thriller, or what some call a "turn-off."
I got all excited for some wild demon thing to possess him, but he just stuck his fingers in the eyes.

The Koran Readings

I wish I could say that I found some similarities between the Koran readings and the Bible, but I can't. My knowledge of religion to this day goes no further than Jesus was born on Christmas, and resurrected on Easter. Yes, I grew up Catholic.

One thing I did see was the idea of punishment for sinning, which is a pretty basic concept and seemingly universal across all religions. This line sort of explained the fate of the nonbelievers (From the second reading):
"SHAKIR: (As for) those who disbelieve, surely neither their wealth nor their children shall avail them in the least against Allah, and these it is who are the fuel of the fire."
In this second reading it came off as a rundown of guidelines and rules to follow and the consequences for not doing so. That seemed to be pointed out a few times, like the first quote:
"SHAKIR: Say to those who disbelieve: You shall be vanquished, and driven together to hell; and evil is the resting-place."

Now the first story reminded me of the little I know about the Bible. A woman having a child that had never been "unchaste." Relating to Jesus's birth and later, resurrection:
"SHAKIR: And peace on him on the day he was born, and on the day he dies, and on the day he is raised to life"

The Burden of Opinion

Obviously, the perceptions of the Middle East depend on so many variables it's almost impossible to form an opinion. However, it's safe to say that the hardships over there have drastically increased over the past two decades. I find it tough to understand how innocent people can be merged into a category with lethal killers based on a childish stereotype. When you search Google Images for "Middle East," you get page after page of violent hate-seeking terrorists, and poor helpless refugees. It may be me, but everywhere I look it's one or the other. And the fact that we associate the Middle East primarily with a blood stained battlefield is a little sad. Yes, we're in the middle of a war, but does a war have to be the motivator in learning about a culture?

My "Rubaiyatic" Attempt:

1. Morning is here, violating her visits,
Clearly doubting my love for our kids;
To watch them sleep so sound through the night,
Is all that I get-but she rose before six.

2. Why, might I ask, is it so hard to speak?
Seeing someone so stunning, I'm left without speech
Can beauty truly leave a man mute?
They've locked up advice and eaten the key.

3. It can't be found in music class,
This outlook so sincere and vast
Just lay on a car, pen in hand
With Springsteen, Dylan, and Mr. Cash.

Paper 1

Of the readings we've done, it's apparent that the Moors have differing representations. In Othello, he's described as some sort of "tramp," marrying Barbantio's daughter in secrecy. Othello is looked down upon by the higher class, and singled out/disrespected because of race.

The Vitkus article reveals another description of the Moors. In one part, we hear about the Barbary Pirates, viewing some Moors as much more violent as they enslave Europeans and demolish coastal villages.

My paper is going to be on these varying depictions of the Moors. The change in description between stories is somewhat dramatic, and also being viewed from different angles. I found a site with information on Present Day Moors as well, which I think could tie in with what we've learned in the previous readings and research.

Literary Carpet Ride

KING SHAHYRAR AND HIS BROTHER

This story was very interesting, and it definately kept my attention throughout the entire thing. I read the Wikipedia "rundown" of The 1,001 Nights which I feel helped out alot when I began to read this story. I liked how Shahyrar's initial decision to go visit his little brother Shah Zaman was easily skewed by his "Wazir" (reminded me of a butler?). It showed the traditionality of brotherly relationships that we still see today. Think about it:

(2007, Anywhere)
Big Brother: "Hey man, I miss my litte bro, let's go see him."
Big Brother's friend: "No way dude, tell him to come over here instead."
Big Brother: "Little Bro! come over!"

Another thing that sort of tied together with Othello was this term "cuckold," which we talked about Monday. It comes up the first time when Zaman leaves, forgetting the gifts for Shahyrar, only to walk in on his wife partaking in post-intercourse "spooning."...with a lowly cook. However, that issue was easily solved with one fell swoop of his "scymitar." Point being she "cuckolded" him.
Later on, we see it again once Zaman is at Shahyrar's. Shahyrar's wife is in the garden (I think) accompanied by handfuls of other naked horny slaves. Eventually, Zaman witnesses the Queen having "relations" with a black guy that fell out of a tree.
This all relates to the wives' actions we discussed in Othello, who intentionally play the field to humiliate their husbands. A.k.a., "cuckolding" them.


OTHER "NIGHTS"


One of the other stories I read was "The Thief and His Monkey." Sound familiar? Now I'm not quite sure if it's actually the story of Aladdin (I know we were looking for it Monday), but it sounds pretty damn close. It describes a man (the thief) who never enters the market, but frequently makes subtle "visits" with his monkey to steal stuff. However, he resells these items. That was either forgotten in Disney's Aladdin, or left out so kids wouldn't go on a looting rampage at the mall with wild animals for sidekicks.

I read another titled "Woman's Trick Against Her Husband;" another fine display woman making man look like a complete idiot. The man comes home to his wife with a fish, and asks her to prepare it. The man goes out and finishes his business for the rest of the day, and she puts the fish in a jar of water then leaves for a week. When she comes back, he's furious. However, she's convinced the people of the village to play along with her little prank. The man sees a fish in a jar, doesn't believe it's the same fish and is imprisoned for going crazy. That sounds like the plotline for "Mr. & Mrs. Smith II."