Ce Vain Combat que tu Livres au Monde by Fouad Laroui:

I already had a pretty high opinion of Fouad Laroui as a writer and a social and political analyst. His book “Les Tribulations du Derniers Sijlmassi” have made me reflect deeply on a matter that I was already fascinated about: the overwhelming relationship between individuals and technology. I have discovered with delight the spirited writing style of Laroui, full of intellectual humor but deeply thought-provoking. “Ce Vain Combat que tu Livres au Monde”  is another masterpiece by this prolific writer, whom I think I can easily call my favorite Moroccan author.

“Ce Vain Combat que tu Livres au Monde” although on a totally different topic, shows the mastery of Laroui and his storytelling skills on a wide range of issues, and specifically the sensitive topic of radical extremism and terrorism.

The novel recounts the story of  Malika and Ali, a couple that decide to move in together. Malika is a native French from Moroccan parents, and Ali is a Moroccan that has been living in France for several years since he came to study in Paris. He is a brilliant IT engineer. The project proposal he elaborated is going to the next level as the company he is working for is going to be approved as a contractor. Although Ali was the project lead and by far the most qualified person to implement it, he is going to be dismissed brutally. When he tries to dig deeper on the reason, he discovers that since the project involved governmental security and defense, his name was automatically rejected because he is Muslim, Arab and Moroccan: three serious charges.

The feeling of injustice will lead to a severe depression that will make Ali re-question his whole identity. He will develop, with the influence of his cousin Brahim, a visceral hate of the West and although Ali has never been “practicing his faith”, he will develop radical thoughts. Religion has never been a relevant matter to him, but now he perceives it as the solution to his misery.

Enough about the narrative, I do not want to spoil it, although the landscape clearly shows the development of the story. Ok, whatever, I will spoil it. Ali is going to join the “Islamic Caliphate”, and eventually decide that it is not what he signed up for. Unfortunately, the story obviously ends on a very tragic note.

Filled up with events that you would naturally expect from this frustrating work issue (Ali changing towards his partner, denial of previous behavior such as drinking alcohol, questioning gender roles…), the narrative is often interrupted with background history of  the Arab people: the division of Middle East through the Sykes Picot agreements, the betrayal of Lawrence of Arabia, the promise of Balfour, the Golden Age of Islam and the Western perspective of world history…

My analysis is that these events are not recounted to justify the mess of the Middle East and to blame it all on the West and their numerous manipulations on the region, but rather to give a framework of analysis for readers. What I appreciated about the novel is that it never falls in judgments or taking sides. Instead of this, Laroui explores and digs deeper in every arguments of both sides. When you think he takes on side, he flips the coin to show you another perspective.

This story is fictive, but it could as well have been the story of the thousands of youth that join the “Islamic State” out of frustration and despair, only to realize later on that it was a stupid idea. This novel is moving because it raises questions without answers. How can young people feel so miserable as to identify with the “ideals” of ISIS? How can they express  protest through taking the lives of innocent people? How can there be so much frustration and hate in the world? When did this even happen?

The novel closes on the attacks in Paris in November 2015. We all have witnessed the scenes of horror at the terraces of cafes. However, I felt that a written insight, although imaginary, was much more terrifying. They say an image is worth a thousand words.. When the words are just, words are worth a thousand images.

Novel is highly recommended. It gives a deep insight in France’s contemporary identity and social issues related to immigration, religion and secularism. It also gives an independent overview on Arab history without linking the dots, giving freedom to readers to interpret, decode, and evaluate.

 

 

Dreams of Trespass: Tales Of A Harem Girlhood by Fatima Mernissi

Fatima Mernissi is certainly one of the most renown Moroccan authors, sociologists and public figures. Her writings touch upon diverse range of subject such as patriarchy, sexuality or Moroccan society. She is a fervent feminist and has struggled for women’s rights in Morocco for the last three decades.

Born in Morocco in 1940 when the country was under French protectorate, she has witnessed major changes in her country, struggling for independence while adapting to Western standard and the birth of the country’s double identity.

This is the first book by Mernissi I ever read, and certainly not the last, as I find her insight and views extremely bright and relevant. I read Dreams of Trespass in French, but the book was initially written in English, which I think is a formidable thing because it makes available to a wider audience a candid yet sharp account of a childhood in the very complex and codified environment the Harem is.

A harem: noun. (in former times) the separate part of a Muslim household reserved for wives, concubines, and female servants.

To the Western eye, a harem can seem like some kind of prison where men keep their women from the outside world. Even in Muslim society, Harems are relegated to being an obsolete and bygone practice, which is very legitimate if you ask me.

However, Dreams of Trespass is so beautifully written that it brings a bit of nostalgia and smoothly brings the reader to another era whith distinct colors, smells, and sounds. Through a poetic language and a candid spirit, Mernissi describes her life as a child, the hierarchy in the Harem, the rituals and celebrations and all kind of intriguing issues related to her environment.

The author had lots of questioning and she therefore was an acute observer of the dynamics of her environment. Besides very delightful tales of Hamam stories, beauty recipes, popular beliefs, and entertainment with means at hand, she relates the comfort and backing her mother provided. Although having been raised in a conservative environment, her mother had enough insight to wish something better to her daughter than being confined to the walls of a Harem, as opposed to other women (aunts or cousins) of the family, who were actually happy with their lots and didn’t expect anything else from life than to be a good wife and mother because, they tought, that was their destiny as women. Her mother wanted her to travel the world, to be educated and smart, to speak many languages and to find love, which I think is exquisitely revolutionary for that time.

I highly recommend the book. It is entertaining and informative, and makes you wonder about the processes from which people’s mentalities and beliefs change from an era to another. Superb read.

I am Malala by Christina Lamb and Malala Yousoufzai:

A hero: a character who, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, displays courage and self sacrifice for the greater good of humanity. All lyricism aside, Malala is indeed, a true hero. Her story has nothing to envy to the greatest heroic trajectories of Mandela, Parks or Ghandi. More than that, she is well set on track to become a symbol, an icon, a model for a whole generation.

The book that she has co-written with Christina Lamb traces back the story of her activism in favor of girls education in Pakistan before she was shot by the Taliban. The writing is very smooth and simple, and the story is simply exciting. A girl, born in a modest family of Swat, Pakistan, gets transmitted the love of education by her dearest father, a fervent defendant of education himself.

The story also includes, obviously, some accounts of late Pakistan’s history, some features of Pakistani culture, traditions and people. In order to tell her story, she describes the political situation of Pakistan before the Taliban took power and the political tension in her valley and the threats she and her father had to face.

The highlight of her story is of course the moment she is shot by a Taliban while she was on a school bus. This event has dramatically increased her notoriety in the national level, and also in the international level. Heads of state, politicians and celebrities became concerned by her situation and she received support from all around the world.

It is very heart-warming to see how human beings get together in support of a noble cause and show a weakened person love, compassion and encouragement. Malala still continues her campaign for education and she received a number of awards; she was also nominated for the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize, making her the youngest ever to be nominated.

The young lady is a model in every kind of way for all girls her age, because while most teenage girls are busy discussing their boyfriend and make up stories, Malala is fighting for the greater good and she is contributing to make the world a better place to live. She is building her personality and developing her skills. I was thrilled to hear her speak at the United Nations, in front of a very wide audience  including the General Secretary of  the United Nations, politicians and people from all horizons. She had the grace and the charisma of a peron who is going to become someone. And you’d better remember her name because in few years, she’ll probably become the second female prime minister of Pakistan.

The Monk who Sold his Ferrari by Robin Sharma:

This title sounds so enigmatic, improbable and mysterious that this curious oxymoron drags you to buy the book and urges you to know what it is about. Well, this novel by Robin Sharma sounds to me like deja-vu and his style seems largely borrowed from Paolo Coehlo’s. However, one should give Ceasar what is Ceasar’s, it has some pretty deep life lessons to teach (or at least to remind).

The novel revolves around Jonathan, a successful and busy engineer, unbalanced and unhappy. His marriage is a disaster, his son needs him more than ever but the only thing he can think of is work, because he feels he “needs” to build a financially secure future for him and his family. One day, he will be contacted by his uncle, a former successful businessman (or whatever he was), converted into an extensive traveler. He is going to ask Jonathan to take a journey around the world to retrieve some talismans of his. I don’t know by what miracle he is going to end up convincing him to leave his work and bring him his talismans. Anyways so his journey is going to take him all around the world from Paris to Tokyo, from Mexico to Australia etc… Everywhere he goes, he is going to meet friends of his uncle who are going to hand him the talismans. And each of them is going to share his story with him.

Here. A simple trivial story becomes a best seller… and I am just so really jealous because anyone could have thought of it. Actually, this book has confirmed to me that anyone (literally anyone) can become a writer.

Ok, I’m not going to be a hater. This book holds a nice reminder of some life lessons we all know but we often forget like finding out who we truly love and give them the necessary care and attention, make a living out of our passions and also the virtue of simplicity despite opulence. So yes, overall it is pretty well thought.

Some inspiring quotes from The Monk who Sold His Ferrari:

“Everything is created twice, first in the mind and then in reality.” 

“Never overlook the power of simplicity” 

“the purpose of life is the life of purpose” 

“I once read that people who study others are wise but those who study themselves are enlightened”.”

“It is only when you have mastered the art of loving yourself that you can truly love others. it’s only when you have opened your own heart that you can touch the hearts of others. when you feel centered and alive, you are in much better position to be a better person.” 

“Never regret your past. Rather, embrace it as the teacher that it is.” 

“The moment I stopped spending so much time chasing the big pleasure of life. I began to enjoy the little ones, like watching the stars dancing in moonlit sky or soaking in the sunbeams of a glorious summer morning.”