Those of you who know me well would know that I don’t cope well with work (as in with having a day-job!) and that I’m impatient, easily distracted and easily bored and that I’m definitely not a multi-tasker!

 

Those past couple of weeks has been completely useless in terms of writing related-issues. Even though there are so many things to be done, I’m just not getting the (as my lovely Karen puts it) UMMPH to do them.

 

Sometimes I have so many thoughts going ‘round my head that it clogs up and shuts off! Our minds really are like computers, they just can’t function when too many data or info are fed into it all at once. Which brings to mind Mark Haddon’s novel “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” because it’s main character, little Christopher, who suffers from autism, had the same problem!

 

Well, right, ok, so I’m not saying that I’m autistic, just saying that reading through that book, and actually getting into the mind of that boy, I recognized certain elements which were very familiar and I could actually identify with him and his condition. I don’t suppose I’m using the right terms to describe it (And I call myself a writer? The Irony!) What I meant is, oh you know what I meant.

 

By the way if you’ve not read that book yet – I would be surprised if you hadn’t – go read it now. I loved it, although the ending, in my frivolous opinion, was rather blunt and unsatisfactory.   

 

Anyway, back to what I was saying. See now, this was exactly the point. I can’t stay focused for long. My thoughts trail and derail and take me to ends I wouldn’t even know could exist! The point is, I’ve really not done much lately. No writing, no editing, no publishing, no… (Actually, I’ve learnt that another of my shorts was published recently at EXPOSE’D. Read Flying Fate, a sort of humble tribute to those who lost their lives in the Gulf Air Cairo flight disaster few years ago, here.

 

Oh I also forgot to mention that I finally been to the Bahrain International Circuit (which holds the Formula One race) on Friday. It was my first time there. The Formula Three race was on and it was great fun seeing those mad cars rocketing past with loud ear-battering, eye-splitting speed!

 

Got some really cool photos on my flickr account… Check’em out.

I actually picked the book up and read it in a couple of hours: very sweet and touching I thought, I did enjoy it very much... I think one of the greatest elements of the novel was not being able to identify with Christopher because of his condition but because of his utter simplicity... well, that's what I found anyway :) I did love how simple it was and how the author found a way to bring the reader to relate to the story without having to identify with autism directly... i did find myself a little emotional when reading, not only towards the end but when christopher was reading the letters his mother sent him without realizing they were for him...?!?! oh call me a softie will you! :)
the problem you have where you can't concentrate for long is one that I have as well (the attention span of a fruit fly!) and which I frequently blame on my very mild but definately present ADD... hmmm... off to read your story then :)

True, Diya, I agree. Haddon has done a great job with that book. I suppose it's impossible for someone who is not autistic to know what it's like being one, but the author painted it in a very believable, realistic and simple way. How he managed to form these visions, perceptions and ideas only the Gods of Writing know!

Christopher’s actions, behavior and patter of speech were very sweet, sad, REAL and quite funny at times! He is certainly a memorable character that leaves his mark on the reader through his touching story.

I think that the best way to counter our common problem of lack of concetration is by NOT trying to concentrate on anything AT ALL! That would work, wouldn't it?
:P

Mark Haddon's book is great. I also read it in one sittin, unintentionally. I heard that he worked with autistic children and his experience fed into the book.

I loved the random thoughts and facts that the kid would think of.

I am trying to get more into Arabic lit as of late. I subscribed to Mizna and got a couple of issues which were pretty good. Any recommendations for an Egyptian fellow going after his roots in the city of fake boobs (Los Angeles)?

hey, nice photos :)

Hi there Cowboy.

I wonder, are you looking into Arabic lit translated into English or original works written in Arabic?

In either case you ought to look up the known contemporary/modern writers such as Ameen Malouf and Tahar Ben Jelloun.

There are many great writers that no one knows about because their works are available only in Arabic. A few rare are lucky enough to get translated.

Which takes us back to the point I made in a previous post about why I write in English and not Arabic.

And Tara, thanks!

Check out this introduction article on Cairo :
http://www.articleworld.org/cairo
Content :
1 Geography
2 Districts
3 Infrastructure
4 Famous Cairenes

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