Don't Shoot, I HATH another story to tell



She is unruly, willful and recalcitrant. Like an erratic comet, she magnetizes her readers, knavishly and cunningly, into her enchanting course, sending them soaring high in the breadth of the sky, emancipating their curbed minds and hearts, and satiating their wills and desires with the salacious relishes that the shackling politics, religion and society had rigorously tabooed.

Having hooked me to her writings for over two years now, she often made me laugh, and at the same time, cry. And much as she pleased and warmed my heart at times, she enraged me no less at others, such that I would leave, promising never ever to be back, a promise I never kept. I would find myself longing within a short time for the unique flavor of her pen. And on her expected publishing date, I would turn head over heels, only to be incensed again, but this time, at her absence

Who am I talking about? Who else but, Elen Ghulam… The wild horse of the Iraqi Blogsphere, the Iraqi-Canadian Shahrazad, who’s never ceased to mesmerize me by her most fabulous anecdotes

Don’t Shoot, I HATH another story to tell, has recently published her first book, thru Lulu:

Comments

AngloGermanicAmerican said…
"Characterisitcally strange" was what how one Iraqi blogger recently introduced a link to one of Ihath's posts. I laughed out loud when I read that. I laughed for no reason other than I knew exactly what he meant. I knew also that what we found "strange" was decidedly different.

You have done a marvelous job of conveying what is an experience with words, my only complaint being that I, again, needed to consult a dictionary. :)

I have come to view Ihath's absences as blessings, as they release me to accomplish the tasks that I need to accomplish, and to say that I am "hooked" is really an understatement. The problem is not that reading her stories is time consuming, it isn't. The problem is that her stories replay themselves at times of their own choosing, days, weeks, even months following their initial reading. Time consuming? I would say "yes".

So, by all means, buy the book, but only if you have time on your hands. :) I haven't bought it yet, but only because I fear that I have insufficient time for it. I also know that the book won't take "no" for an answer, not ever.
11/09/2006 9:42 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

69. "Say it for God's Sake, Say it" / Part XIV

I leaned against the copier, my back pressed to it, and stood, hands folded against my chest, anxious for an explanation. He maintained what seemed to be an everlasting silence, settling his smiling eyes provocatively on mine. My thin patience ran even thinner, and surprisingly contrary to my shy nature, I took the initiative, killing the nervous wait, “What is this all about?” “I told you,” he replied and reiterated calmly his previous reply, “It’s about time.” His provocative demeanor inflamed further my stifled rage, which I sensed now to be surging, engulfing my head and burning my face, which must’ve been glowing red. Despite my befuddlement, I was aware of how much he was enjoying this ungoverned manifestation of emotions. “And what’re you up to now?” I asked, assaying hard not to betray my feelings. But such self-control was unnecessary since the question in itself was quite revealing, and had said it all. I was hoping that he was surely going to talk about us, about me,
Read more

70. "Say it for God's Sake, Say it" / Part XV

Mum wasn’t naïve enough, however, to buy my defensive claim that Martin was like any other suitor. “Is he?” Mum asked, arching her eyebrow. “Well, listen up Liana,” she carried on with a firmer tone. “Dina has told me everything that I needed to know, but I want to hear it from you now; and when I say everything, I mean it, Liana! You hear me? Everything!” I straightened slightly, leaning my back against the headboard, and I sat still for a few moments, my heart thumping wildly, and my mind trying hard to marshal its jumbled thoughts in preparation for the arduous “cross examination.” Well, it was judgment day alright! Notwithstanding, it dawned on me that I mustn’t bury my head in the sand and indulge myself in wishful thinking. For any further attempt to blot out or obscure the truth had not only become utterly unfeasible, but was also futile since it wasn’t going to serve any purpose. Moreover, I was racing with time. Martin was in the process of arranging for his final departure
Read more