Something about my father’s library…
Published by hasan September 13th, 2007 in Bahrain, memories.Every time I am back in Bahrain, I can’t help but barge into my father’s study room and take my time looking at the army of books amassed in his private, little library - which at any given time carries over 1,000 books in a number of languages: Arabic, English, Farsi and Japanese. The rest of the books find their way into the bedrooms and the storage room, but are still highly valued (or at least I would like to think that).
The books that find their way into my father’s library all have some sentimental meaning - not only to my father, but to the entire family. (When I was younger, I used to imagine all these books scream at each other, each showing off why they are an important addition to the library; the ones that make it to the top yelling out that they are the most prized books in the library, while the ones closer to the ground say that it is they who are most prized because they are easier to reach. The battle continues on indefinitely, which explains why I sometimes hear noises in the house late at night while everyone else is asleep).
According to my father, the firm wooden library was something that was always in the house since he married my mother. Recently, a new wing was added to wooden library; the carpenter involved in building the new wing took great care in replicating the same effect of the original library.
A few days ago, I was wondering where some of the novels I read in high school went; I was especially interested in finding the two copies I read of Albert Camus’ L’étranger (The Outsider) - since I never studied French, I read the English translation by Joseph Laredo (1982), and the Arabic translation by Aida M. Idris (1979) after reading over this blog entry by bint battuta. To my surprise, the books were filled with notes and comments I had written while reading over the two versions of the book (I had forgotten entirely about my habit of writing notes and underlining passages I liked in novels I read).
This little discovery led me into taking a closer look at the contents of the library itself. I would like to think that there is some logic behind how the books are arranged:
The top right shelf carries some of the famous volumes of Middle Eastern fairy tales such as “Alf Layla Wa Layla” (Arabian Nights) and Ibn Al-Muqaffa’s “Kalila Wa Dimna“. (I would like to believe that the thought of ancient fairy tales ought to be valued as one of the cornerstones of our collective memory/knowledge of literature was the reason behind those books taking up the top right shelf of the library). Underneath that come anthologies of old Arabic and Middle Eastern poetry: Abu Tammam, Al-Mutanabbi, Arabic Poetry from Andalusia, Khayyam, Attar and some others. On the same shelf are some modern works of poetry by Mahmood Darwish (Palestinian), Adonis (Syrian), Abu Al-Qasim Al-Shabbi (Tunisian), Al-Sayyabi (Iraq), and Gibran Khalil Gibran (Lebanon). Next down the chain are just endless novels - many of which become topics of conversations in random locations and situations: family trips in the car, while taking a stroll in a garden, huddled around a small table with a shaky leg while sipping on Turkish coffee.
Of course there are other books, too. Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, books on Economics, Public Relations and Law. Some books were printed in the early 60s, when my father was a teenager and others are recent (many of which are also marked with comments and lines in a way similar to the way I did them in my own books).
Books I read when I was a child also managed to sneak in there somehow; I would like to think that my father put them there for a reason. Last night, I found a book called “Dinosaur World”: A beautifully illustrated book on some dinosaurs, how they lived and how they disappeared. I remember receiving this hardback beauty as a gift when I was in the 2nd grade. 61 pages of dizzying detail. It was also at that phase in my life where I was interested in drawing pictures that I saw in books and magazines and I remember drawing each of the pages of this book in particular at least a dozen times. I also remember feeling uncomfortable while I looked at pictures of some of the carnivorous dinosaurs eating others. “All in the name of science,” I used to tell myself as an 8 year-old. As I inspected the cover of the book, I noticed how some of my writings and drawings seemed to have left an impact on the cover of the book, which I probably put underneath whatever paper I was writing or drawing on - a real blast from the past.
One of the things that touched me the most, though, were stumbling upon a couple of books that talk about literature in the Arabian/Persian Gulf (which includes Bahrain). I found sections that spoke of the short stories my father had written in his 20s; when he was my age as I write this entry. The way in which his works were described seemed as if my father the writer and my father the family man are two different people - two people I understand very well and I will always hold highly.
I loved my father’s library, too. After he died I had to whittle the number of books down, as there was no way to keep all them (the collection includes some of his father’s books, too). Now most of them are in boxes in Britain; I long for the day when I can surround myself with his books and my own - a library of memories. By the way, are those books discussing Bahraini/Gulf literature old, or recent? Perhaps you could let me know the titles and I’ll see if any of my friends have them.
My father died in 1979 when I was too young so I could not see his library. However, I remember when I was a teenager I discovered a collection of books that must have made up his private library - stashed away by my older brother in the store.
I used to take trips to the store and go through the books. My father was a “shaikh”. Almost all the books were the kind of old yellow paper books that came out of the “Najaf” print shops in the first half of the twentieth century. One thing I still clearly remember is his comments on the sides of some books, which showed some of his biases and beliefs.
He would comment on the page the contains the authors photo:
تسمع بالمعيدي خير من أن تراه
which I learned later to be an Iraqi saying, meaning that sometimes just hearing about someone is better than seeing them. This was his way of rejecting the author’s idea of putting his photograph in the book. He considered photography of people to be “Haram”.
bint battuta - Thanks for sharing your comments. As for the books I mentioned, here are the titles:
“Modern Poetry and Prose of Bahrain”, Barbara Michalak-Pikulska (2006)
القصة القصيرة ÙÙŠ الخليج العربي - الكويت والبØرين - دراسة نقدية تأصيلية” ابراهيم عبدالله غلوم ØŒ الطبعة العربية الثانية 2000Ù…”
So, yes, they are recent.
Lamontami -
Thanks for sharing your comments. I do find your experiences and stories fascinating.
hasan, thanks for the titles. i’ve actually got both of those books. in fact, did you and i have a discussion about one of them?
lamontami, you have to write a book about your family experiences!
Hi Hassan
I miss the reunion .. som other time inshallah before I leave this country .. you know 2 years ago I was in mexico and I was helping one of the house keepers to clean my dad Office and I saw manyyyyyyyyyy books of my childhood.. i mean it! maybe 80? i wasent able to take them with me … but yes I take maybe 15 for sara and now she is reading them can you belive it? .. you make me to think .. that is time for us me and hubby to start making our own … i have many books in my office .. and hubby does too but we dont have any room at the house just for books … i have my room for scrapbooking
i hope you have a good time in Bahrain !
bint battuta -
I think we did have a very brief discussion about one of them. I would like to hear your take on what’s mentioned about the literature of the Gulf. (I was having a discussion about the differences between modern Turkish and Arabic literature earlier this evening and how Nationalism is related to book-sales).
Lamontami -
I would have to agree with the bint battuta; it would be great to read about your family experiences one day.
lorena -
I really enjoyed your story of rediscovering the books you read in your childhood and how your daughter is reading some of them already. Having a nice little private library in your home would be a wonderful addition to any house, if you ask me. I really think that growing up with a library in our house left a positive impact on me; now, I always feel “at home” every time I visit any library or read a book in any small cafe. I am enjoying my stay in Bahrain so far, and I wish you all the best as you prepare to move.
Hi Hassan,
Lovely article. I can relate to your feelings about father’s library, and being sentimental about things.
Amal
Amal,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I am glad you liked the entry (I am writing this reply to you as I sit facing my father’s bookcase - He and I went shopping for books last night, and now I am trying to make some space for the new books!).
Cheers.
I have remembered your account of your dad’s library today when I came across an amazing (and very short!) eassay by Walter Benjamin called “Unpacking my Library - A talk about book collecting”. I am sure they have Walter Benjamin’s “Illuminations” in a library somewhere in Japan and if not, give me a buzz and I’ll scan it for you. But you should definitely read it!