Recommended reading material on ME culture

khanjar · 08-09-2008, 02:40 AM

So, maybe learning as much as one can about the ME culture might be of help with the atmosphere of the dance we all love. One of the ways, perhaps the best way is reading about the culture, as words read conjure the image in the mind's eye, as if one was there viewing instead of reading. So that being that, can anyone recommend any books on ME culture from the past or the more recent past ?

I did in the past even read fiction based upon the region and became fascinated with the fajals, so much so, when I visited the region mentioned in the work of fiction, I sought out the fajal and found what the author had written a story around was based upon fact, the author had knowledge of the region and it's people, an eye opener, works of fiction contain a large amount of fact. That author was Hammond Innes and he described a region of the UAE as it was then, the Trucial oman States. From his works of fiction I also sought out the date groves and found them to be as he described, a veritable oasis of green in the dun.

I am currently reading Karen Armstrong's ; ''Muhammad, a biography of The Prophet'' and as a result, so far I understand so much more.

Kashmir · 08-11-2008, 12:52 AM

Here's a mix of "belly dance" and Middle Eastern books:
Sources

Will be expanded as time allows.

The DVD "Umm Kulthum - A Voice Like Egypt" is also well worth buying.

Marya · 08-11-2008, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khanjar

So, maybe learning as much as one can about the ME culture might be of help with the atmosphere of the dance we all love. One of the ways, perhaps the best way is reading about the culture, as words read conjure the image in the mind's eye, as if one was there viewing instead of reading. So that being that, can anyone recommend any books on ME culture from the past or the more recent past ?

I did in the past even read fiction based upon the region and became fascinated with the fajals, so much so, when I visited the region mentioned in the work of fiction, I sought out the fajal and found what the author had written a story around was based upon fact, the author had knowledge of the region and it's people, an eye opener, works of fiction contain a large amount of fact. That author was Hammond Innes and he described a region of the UAE as it was then, the Trucial oman States. From his works of fiction I also sought out the date groves and found them to be as he described, a veritable oasis of green in the dun.

I am currently reading Karen Armstrong's ; ''Muhammad, a biography of The Prophet'' and as a result, so far I understand so much more.

I like Robert D. Kaplan. a journalist specializing in the Middle East and Balkans.

I also read a book called the Ornament of the world by Maria Rosa Menocal about Spain during the period of Islamic domination. and of course Sir Richard F. Burton's account of disguising himself as an Muslim and taking a pilgrimage to Meccah.

I have a lot of books but they are all in boxes so I can't list them right now.

Marya

Aziyade · 08-13-2008, 02:02 PM

Old Arabesque magazines are treasure troves, but I'm also seeing a lot of the authors reprinting their Arabesque articles on their websites or in other current magazines. Some of the articles focused on Arab artwork and art/crafts, others on history and what it means to be Arab-American. Interesting stuff. There was a beautiful 4 or 5 part article on calligraphy.

Gilded Serpent has printed some previously published articles as well.

Aisha Azar · 08-13-2008, 02:12 PM

Dear Khanjar,
I would suggest you get a free subscription to Saudi Aramco World. The magazine does tend to accentuate the positive, so if you are looking for in depth political analysis or a list of one country's sins or something like that, you will not find it in Aramco. You WILL find some history, a lot of good info on music, architecture, food, and articles abut specific cultural things like della, Morrocan lamps, clothing, ethnic groups and geography, the silk Route, etc. As I said, none of it is in depth, but you can learn a lot about the cultural offerings of many different countries, and see some very pretty pictures. they also have an
international Exhibits list and great book list as well as lists of musical offerings now and again, if I remember correctly. I have been subscribing for many years now and I love it.
Look up Saudi Aramco World on the net and they should be able to tell you there how to subscribe.
Regards,
A'isha

08-09-2008, 02:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
khanjar Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: England Posts: 442	Recommended reading material on ME culture So, maybe learning as much as one can about the ME culture might be of help with the atmosphere of the dance we all love. One of the ways, perhaps the best way is reading about the culture, as words read conjure the image in the mind's eye, as if one was there viewing instead of reading. So that being that, can anyone recommend any books on ME culture from the past or the more recent past ? I did in the past even read fiction based upon the region and became fascinated with the fajals, so much so, when I visited the region mentioned in the work of fiction, I sought out the fajal and found what the author had written a story around was based upon fact, the author had knowledge of the region and it's people, an eye opener, works of fiction contain a large amount of fact. That author was Hammond Innes and he described a region of the UAE as it was then, the Trucial oman States. From his works of fiction I also sought out the date groves and found them to be as he described, a veritable oasis of green in the dun. I am currently reading Karen Armstrong's ; ''Muhammad, a biography of The Prophet'' and as a result, so far I understand so much more. __________________ I am a dream to some...and a nightmare to others.

08-13-2008, 02:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Aisha Azar V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 4,463	Reading Dear Khanjar, I would suggest you get a free subscription to Saudi Aramco World. The magazine does tend to accentuate the positive, so if you are looking for in depth political analysis or a list of one country's sins or something like that, you will not find it in Aramco. You WILL find some history, a lot of good info on music, architecture, food, and articles abut specific cultural things like della, Morrocan lamps, clothing, ethnic groups and geography, the silk Route, etc. As I said, none of it is in depth, but you can learn a lot about the cultural offerings of many different countries, and see some very pretty pictures. they also have an international Exhibits list and great book list as well as lists of musical offerings now and again, if I remember correctly. I have been subscribing for many years now and I love it. Look up Saudi Aramco World on the net and they should be able to tell you there how to subscribe. Regards, A'isha

08-11-2008, 12:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
Kashmir Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 246	Here's a mix of "belly dance" and Middle Eastern books: Sources Will be expanded as time allows. The DVD "Umm Kulthum - A Voice Like Egypt" is also well worth buying.

08-13-2008, 02:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
Aziyade V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornfields of Evansville Indiana. Posts: 1,050	Old Arabesque magazines are treasure troves, but I'm also seeing a lot of the authors reprinting their Arabesque articles on their websites or in other current magazines. Some of the articles focused on Arab artwork and art/crafts, others on history and what it means to be Arab-American. Interesting stuff. There was a beautiful 4 or 5 part article on calligraphy. Gilded Serpent has printed some previously published articles as well.