Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H

Can things become as complicated or as simple as we want them to be?

This was such a confused book. It looks like being written by at least 5 different people. On one page the author is ecstatic, fun and lively, and on the next page it is dark and depressing.

Even if you just ignore the haphazard structure of the whole narrative, this looks like a complain book rather than a memoir.

The worst part is identifying with every single character from Quran, which looks like a force fit since the author has not given anything from own account, and just keeps borrowing from other sources.

Maybe not worth a read.

Love

Against the World by Tara Zahra

Why it is complicated to move from one country to another irrespective of the reasons? What are the reasons to keep a geographic region insulated from the rest of the world? Why does the loyalty to a nation state is the first requirement or criteria for being considered as a citizen of the country? How does an idea of resource independence get stronger even at the cost of sacrificing living conditions of its inhabitants? How the narrative of framing people for the bad situation works at a global level?

These are some of the questions which are discussed in this book. It focuses largely at the period between the two world wars but the problems and ideas more or less apply to the current timeframe as well. The idea of finding a scapegoat and pushing a personal agenda on masses is something which has been an integral part of history but it never goes out of style, and just comes back in a new form.

The book doesn't provide an answer but tries to frame the narrative, and leaves it to a reader's own perception to draw a conclusion.

There is nothing like a citizen of the world but we can always hope for a future of humanity which goes beyond the artificial borders, conflicts, and skin colour.

Peace

Forever, Erma by Erma Bombeck

Erma the columnist :)

This is a compilation of Erma's columns which she wrote over the decades.

It covers a lot of day to day mundane things in a funny way (kids, family, marriage, shopping and what not). These are really funny until you start reading them in a single sitting which is a mistake I made. It was funny initially to read but once I was through with the first half, rest sounded more similar to the previous ones. But I'm sure the readers who will be seeing these weekly would have definitely enjoyed all of them.

Comedy is a serious business, and there are some real gems. And, yes it has some serious ones which hit it hard.

Love

Africa Is Not a Country by Dipo Faloyin

What defines a country? Is it a geographical border with the citizens who are harmonised/connected with language, food, culture, God etc or is it a jingoistic world created by the power hungry to mobilise the mass of people to fulfil the vested interests?

This is not an easy question to answer. The definition of a country is very fluid until we put it down in terms of a boundary around a land mass. So, the first look of the title here was a bit unclear because you don't know if you're talking about a country in a geographical sense or a sublime thought.

To clarify, it is about the fact that Africa is not a country like mentioned in a lot of narratives, mostly negative, but it is a mix of people/tribes/clans who own different traits and attributes which varies on a wide range of scale but mostly misattributed to just one world "Africa" which is actually a continent and not a country.

All the arguments are correct as long as we're talking about the discriminations, brutalities endured, and sufferings. The path of differentiating between people based on visible traits and behaviours is a critical one because it has all the options of slipping open for anyone who misses a single step, which is more closer to human nature then all the language, food, culture, and Gods put together.

Since the situation can be improved by our own efforts which is why it is important to have zero to minimal dependence on external factors. Which is correctly very much stressed in the book. People need more support then pity.

This is definitely a good one to read, and highly recommended if you think Africa is a country. Plus it does talk about serious things in a lighter way which keeps the tone brighter.

Love

Otherlands by Thomas Halliday

Evolution is a small word but represents and unimaginably long time.

This one was such an excellent read to know how the whole ecosystem on earth has evolved over billions of years. It picks up various regions from earth's current configuration (my funny word!!!) and puts the narrative of evolution behind it. So, you will be reading about the plants, animals (on ground or water), how they not only evolved but survived the ever changing atmosphere. The most interesting part is when it tries to give you some semblance of different floras and faunas from the present but shows that there is a limit to it.

However, the biggest takeaway is the all changing conditions of earth. Something which happens at a level that can only be survived and not fought or adapted in short term. Our surrounding shape everything around us, and it gives us a lesson of being humble, and cautious about how we use or misuse what we have.

After reading a rant against civilisation, this one was a breather which puts a lot of things in context and actually tells about the things which go beyond any human knowledge and experience. This doesn't tell us to prepare for the future or charge us on counts of exploiting the nature but it does end up with the cautious and optimistic words of how we can be conscious about our surrounding, and appreciate what we've been endowed with.

Peace