pickA book I did buy from The Haunted Bookshop, Cambridge is yet another edition (my twentieth) of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám by Edward FitzGerald.
This is a 1955 Folio Society edition, different to the other, later edition I have by them.
This one is bound in red brocade with a gold and silver floral pattern, and comes in a gold-paper covered box, rather than the gold slipcase of the later edition. Small, but perfectly formed 💖
Having read the Majnun/Qais version earlier this year, I have now moved on to the Nizami version of Layla and Majnun. I am not 100% sold on the fake twee style of the French translation I am reading, but am making good progress nonetheless.
#poetry #Azerbaijan
painting of Majnun in the wilderness found on Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
pickThis was riveting coming-of-age story about an unnamed girl set in 17th century Persia. The historical and cultural aspects were fascinating. I appreciated how folktales were woven into the story and how the plot somewhat mirrored the style of those folktales. The descriptions of Persian carpets were so beautiful; they made the art come to life.
This pairs well with the nonfiction book I'm reading about Iran's history.
pickThermopylae. The Hot Gates. Gates of Fire. I'm actually having issues figuring out how to loudly exclaim the excellence of this work. It explores what drives the warrior to make the ultimate sacrifice. Spoiler alert: love. A worthy trip into the heart and soul of a warrior and those who aspire to be. Don't let this pass you by.
pickA story within a story about welcoming different people into your country (and an immigrant perspective). Due to a language barrier, a king tries to show a group of refugees that his country is full by pouring a glass of milk. The refugees' leader uses a sugar cube (that dissolves in the milk) to show that their presence would make their country sweeter, and not cause issues. Thrity Umrigar, the author, is an Indian-American immigrant.
