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 Diary >> Affan Chowdhry The New Statesman suffers from historical amnesia The Height of Opulence in Abu Dhabi Where the wine flows like lassi Q in the News Iran's mystery DJ Women slipping thru’ the gaps >> Samira Ahmed The Rock Star and the Mullah >> Fareena Alam "A modern day hippie in search of love" >> Abdul-Rehman Malik Handing Victory to the Terrorists >> Shami Chakrabarti and Megan Addis Who is Sania Mirza? >> Siraj Wahab Democracy Inside Out: The Case of Egypt >> Louay Safi Turks: A Journey of a Thousand Years >> Isla Rosser-Owen Raising Aspirations >> Raihan Alfaradhi Bleedin' Islamophobia >> Yakoub Islam Disappeared in America The Muslim Blogosphere >> Shahed Amanullah Blogger's Manifesto >> Haroon Moghul The politics of common purpose >> Ian McCartney Waking up to Progressive Muslims >> Nazim Baksh The Shariah Firestorm in Canada >> Faisal Kutty Renewing Our Faith in Common Ground >> James Abdulaziz Brown Hafiz Gulammohammed Bora >> Fuad Nahdi Chicken Soup for the Muslim Soul >> Sana Khatib Mourning the Unknown >> Abu Anon Youssou N'Dour wins world music award Fun times for Oxbridge Muslim Alumni Deenport Mania Book views |
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Book Views Page 38 With
winter dragging its feet into march, there’s no better time to stay
warm with a cup of chai and one of these recently released titles that
will satisfy your appetite for history, culture and the arts. The Alhambra, by Robert Irwin. The Alhambra, the ‘red fort’ on its rocky hill above Granada, with its fountained courts and gardens, and intricate decoration, has long been a byword for exotic and melancholy beauty. In this title in the Wonders of the World series, Robert Irwin, Arabist and novelist, examines its engrossing and often mysterious history. £8.99, Profile Books. Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel, by Israel Shahak, Norton Mezvinsky. This is a new edition of a classic and highly controversial book that examines the history and consequences of Jewish fundamentalism in Israel. Fully updated, with new chapters and a new introduction by Norton Mezvinsky, it is essential reading for anyone who wants a full understanding of the way religious extremism has affected the political development of the modern Israeli state. Acclaimed writer and human rights compaigner Israel Shahak was, up until his death in 2001, one of the most respected of Israel’s peace activists - he was, in the words of Gore Vidal, “the latest - if not the last - of the great prophets.” Written by Shahak together with American scholar Mezvinsky, this book shows how Jewish fundamentalism in Israel, as shown in the activities of religious settlers, is of great importance. They conclude that Jewish fundamentalism is essentially hostile to democracy. £14.99, Pluto Press. The Creation of Iraq 1914-1921, by Reeva Spector Simon. With the U.S.-led Operation Iraqi Freedom, we are reminded that almost one hundred years ago, a similar process of regime change and territorial reorganisation in the same region of the world was undertaken by Great Britain. Yet unlike the coalition forces that in 2003 proclaimed the territorial integrity of Iraq, the British had to begin from scratch: until 1921, the country of Iraq did not exist. How did this actually come about? And what were the reactions of the peoples living in that contested territory? This collection of essays by leading scholars provides a comprehensive yet accessible overview of Iraq’s history and its strategic importance from three points of view: local residents, Iraq’s neighbors (Iran, Turkey, and Kurdistan), and the Great Powers. The book captures the complexity of forces that contributed to the making of Iraq as a modern state, integrating short and long term policy, individual and group interests, and the impact of World War I. The Creation of Iraq allows the reader to understand the dynamics and interplay of regional history and geo-strategic and imperial priorities in an area of the world that will continue to dominate interrnational politics for years to come. £13, Columbia University Global Civilization: A Buddhist-Islamic Dialogue, by Majid Tehranian, Daisaku Ikeda. This book emerged from a series of conversations between two peace advocates of Japanese and Iranian origin. It covers the encounters between Buddhist and Islamic civilisations from the 7th century to the present. For all their cultural differences, Buddhism and Islam share a surprising number of intrinsic similarities. The topics discussed include such diverse subjects as the nature of religious faith today, global ideological terrorism, religious fanatacism and universal human rights. Ikeda and Tehranian, two important representatives of their respective faiths, propose dialogue as the most effective method of conflict resolution at interpersonal, intra-national and international levels. It is a call for tolerance, for dialogue and for peace. £14.95, British Academic. The Art of the Islamic Garden, by Emma Clark. Islamic gardens are enchanting places. Just the names of some of the most beautiful gardens in the world - the Alhambra, the Generalife, the Shalimar - conjure up images of calm and even divine beauty. No visitor is left untouched by their magic. The Art of the Islamic Garden examines that magic, describes the component parts and explains the design and symbolism which to allow a deeper understanding of the beauty. £25, The Crowood Press. Women, Islam and Cinema, by Gonul Donmez-Colin. Film critic and author Gonul Donmez-Colin explores the role of women as spectators, images and image constructors in the cinemas of the countries where Islam is the predominant religion, focusing on Iran and Turkey from the Middle East, drawing parallels from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the two Central Asian Republics of the former Soviet Union, and Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia, the prominently Muslim Asian countries with a challenging film industry. Some of the relevant films made in India by and for Muslim Indians are also explored. The author discusses cinematic archetypes such as the naive country girl, or the devious seductress, as well as looking at controversial elements such as screen rape, which, feminist film critics claim, caters to male voyeurism. She also discusses recurring themes, such as the myths of femininity, the endorsement of polygamy and the obsession with male children, as well as the most common stereotypes, depicting women as mothers, wives and daughters. £10, Reaktion Books Ltd. Iznik: The Artistry of Ottoman Ceramics, by Walter B. Denny. Denny offers new perspectives on one of the most popular Islamic art forms. Covering both Iznik pieces de forme and the famous Iznik tiles that decorate ottoman imperial monuments, the book integrates the entire spectrum of Iznik production, both tiles and wares, and the broader artistic tradition in which it originated. Professor Denny begins with a discussion of the particular nature of Islamic art under the Ottomans. He then examines the relationship between the court style of Istanbul and the ceramic ateliers in Iznik in nearby Bithynia, and the crucial role of two styles - dubbed by the author the ‘enchanted forest’ and ‘heavenly garden’ (the saz and aux quatre fleurs styles) - and their creators, Shah Kulu and Kara Memi. Finally, he covers Iznik works with human or animal imagery, the patronage of non-Muslim communities within the Ottoman Empire, and the chronicle of destruction and damage of tiled monuments due to war, earthquake and fire. The book reflects Professor Denny’s ambition, almost thirty-five years after completing his doctoral dissertation on Iznik tiles and after well over a dozen publications on the subject, to create a comprehensive overview of this beautiful art form. £45, Thames and Hudson. The Ottoman Empire and the World Around It, by Suraiya Faroqhi. Faroqhi demonstrates that there was no iron curtain between the Ottoman and other worlds but rather a long-established network of diplomatic, financial, cultural and religious connections. £35, I.B. Tauris, Out in November 2004 |