Today I made up my mind that I have read enough of Daphne du Maurier’s books. My reading journey with ber books has started last December and continued until last friday. I read about ten of her works, both short stories and novels. I enjoyed reading them all, but one of my reading techniques is to follow my intuition. And today, mine says it’s time to read different books for a different author.
Don’t you agree that changing geners can enhance your imagination, polish your literary talent, and broaden your knowledge? I do agree, but of course, that depends on your literary preferences and style
Now, it seems it’s time to make a fresh start and read a new author. I have a specific one in mind, and I hope I won’t be disappointed. So, this month will be dedicated to non – fiction philosophy and wisdom books.
By the way if you wish to read my reviews on Daphne du Maurier’s books, please check my book review blog. Here’s the link.
That’s Blue, my little bird. I think you already know about him. I wrote about him a few times.
Today, he flew away.
First, I couldn’t ‘t believe it when I saw him ran outside after me into the garden. He’d done it once before, but this time, he didn’t stand on my shoulders, didn’t jump on the laundry airer, didn’t fly back inside, and didn’t even look back. He flew away, up and high in the blue, warm sky.
But, I believe it, and I even felt it. Deep in my heart, I knew he would. Today was the perfect day. Yes, it’s a perfect springy day. The birds outside are singing and calling one another, high and loud. He couldn’t stop getting excited, couldn’t stop spreading his small wings and letting the gentle wind take him away.
I feel happy for him, but also heartbroken, very hearbroken. He’s been my friend for almost three years. Over the last two weeks, after his mate died, he followed me everywhere. He made me laugh, he made me angry, and today made me cry.
I believe birds have feelings, because they have a soul. Otherwise they wouldn’t get attached to others, wouldn’t fear, wouldn’t love life.
How I missed writing so much over the last few days! Was it three or more days that I didn’t blog a post?
Things happen! It’s not that I ran out of thoughts but I felt just like want to pause. Perhaps because of the terrible headache I got, or because of my little bird following me like my shadow, or because of my daughter’s half-term break, or becuase of my middle son’s move to another city, or because of my eldest’s move to another in a month or so, or because of my husband’s busy work schedule.
But, you know what? All these are excuses, because I know myself well, and I know that I want to pause, and that’s what I did.
However, I haven’t paused reading, though my reading rhythm is slower than usual this month. I love and enjoy the book I’m reading right now. It’s interesting, a different story with special, unexpected turns of events and surprises. I’m determined to finish it today.
I have been reading quite a lot of Daphne du Maurier’s books. My first was Rebecca, and since then, I have read one after another. Though she belonged to a far distant generation, with different writing style, prose, characters, and plots, many people still read her books. Perhaps, some find her work an alternative to contemporary themes, trends, and stories of today. Or, perhaps some enjoy her work because they, too, feel different in their own style, own voice, and own stories.
Aren’t there people who prefer to take the road less travelled by?
“Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.”
Alexander Pope
I really like this quote.It was so random when I found it while searching for something else. I don’t remember if I have heard or studied Alexandre Pope before, but I think I will have a look at some of his work soon.
How many times have you met a charming person with dazzling looks that would strike the light and blast your mind at first sight? These things happen at least once or twice in your life, right? But then, things turn out to be just like the old saying: Appearances are deceiving. Or, may I suggest a slight alteration and make it: appearances can be just soulless charms. When your charm is souless, it’s vague, and though it might be expensive and powerful, it is also short-lived just like a tempst in a teapot.
Haven’t things nowadays come to depend first and most on appearances, which are laden with money and power? In most cases, they are soulless charms because they have nothing to do with the soul. They mainly have to do with attention, attraction, and surfaces. Does this make sense? Let me explain more.
The soul is neither an ownership nor a commodity. It’s a divine entity. Whatever is divine is pure, and whatever is pure will touch the pure whining you: your soul.
Is things getting clearer now? I hope so.
That’s why it’s merit, not charisma that wins the soul. Perhaps that’s why some people say what is good, genuine, and honest always makes lasting impressions and wins true respect.
How would you feel if you receive this message first thing in the morning?
Elated! That’s how I felt after I had finished an entire French unit on my Duolingo app with only a few typos. I really felt that I deserved it. It’s not becuase my French is perefct. I hope it will be one day, but my current level is high B1 level on the CERF scale, which means I can handle most daily situations.
The main reason, I felt I really deserved this compliment is that I made the best of my time early morning. During the weekends, I usually do just one lesson on Duolingo because it’s the weekend: my family’s gathering day. However, today I got up at four o’clock and couldn’t get myself to sleep again. An hour later, I decided to do my lesson. But when the first went smoothly and perfectly, I did the second, third, fourth, and so on. Actually, I think I did more than ten lessons.
Don’t I deserve “You are flawless” compliment? Of course, I do.
My French learning journey started many years ago at high school. Back then, I didn’t like it because I found it too hard to write what you don’t pronounce. But my marks were good. At university, as I was studying for my English degree qualifications, I had to learn another foreign language. Though French would have been a perfect choice since I had already studied some of it, I decided to study Spanish instead. It’s really disappointing how I can hardly remember any Spanish, but if you don’t practice a language, it will fade away from your brain. But then, why this didn’t happen with my French? Honestly, I don’t know why.
I started my Duolingo sessions during the lockdown, mainly to encourage my daughter to keep on her French lessons. Surprisingly, I found out that my old French lessons were still stored in the back of my brain, waiting to be revived and used.
Scientifically, learning a different language is so beneficial for your cognitive health. It’s like challenging your brain to speak, read, communicate, and understand in more than your mother tongue. In this way, your brain becomes more alert, flexible, and smarter. And, socially, it’s a credit to your social status, professional opportunities, and literary creativity.
Have you ever read the concept of a dead language? It refers to the language that is not widely known but locally practised. However, I don’t like it, becuase even if a language is not widely known, it’s still honoured by its own people which means it’s not truely dead.
How many languages do you wish to learn or have already learned? I’m just curious to know.
“If you kill a cockroach, you are a hero; if you kill a butterfly, you are evil. Morals have aesthetic criteria.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
Sometimes, one can’t comprehend how those classical scholars make things far more complicated.
According to the quote, our moral perception of good and bad is biased because it’s mainly based on how do we feel and perceive things. For example, the act of killing might be seen as heroic, or it might also be barbaric, depending on personal perceptions and favourism.
Don’t you agree that this point of view mainly applies to cases related to connections, power, money, and unfortunately race. But, definitlly, things are not the same with insects.
The moral aesthetic criteria when coming face to face with insects are mainly based on your ability to either flee, let them flee, or sadly end their lives.
Can you consider this blog an analytical study and examine my point of view regarding the issue of moral aesthetic critiria? Please do, because it’s based on a real case study – my own experience.
Many years ago, when I was newlywed, I was tidying up my cosy, small flat in Cairo after my husband had left to finish some official papers before our travel to the UK. It was one of August’s smouldering days, and in Egypt we used to keep all windows shut in the morning. They used to be wooden windows that allowed good ventilation and worked so well with indoor fans. We could have installed air-conditioning, but since we were planning to travel in a few months, we didn’t want to waste extra money.
Back then, I was one of those people who could get frightened by their own shadow (I am not now). So, when I heard a strange sound and felt suspicious movement around, my heart started pounding hard and fast. As I fearfully gazed around the hall trying to spot the intruder, a cockroach with two big wings flew next to me and hid somewhere.
How I wished I could run to my room, lock the door, and hide there until my husband came back. But, I didn’t because I wouldn’t rest until I got rid of this intruder.
How would the well – known scholar expect me to react in this case? Welcome its company and offer it food and shelter? I can’t believe anyone would. That’s simply because a cockroach is a creepy, harmful insect that can not only bite but also cause diseases that might be poisonous.
So, after chasing each other, jumping from one sofa to another, screaming, and almost fainting, I grabbed one of my slippers and held it tightly with my trembling hand. The moment came when the intruder stood still on the floor. Though it took too long, but it finally came. I ran and slapped it on the head, not once but ten times, and I left my small slippers on its corpse.
The thought of what the moral aesthetic criteria of my deed had never crossed my mind. The only moral aesthetic thing I did was lie down on the sofa and breathe in relief.
With butterflies, the case is different because they are harmless, delicate insects. If you just touch them hard, they would be broken, and fade away. And, unless you have a garden or they get into your house by mistake, they never intrude, never scare, or cause any harm. That’s why I always let them out when I spot any in my house. But would you blame the spider when you find a butterfly caught in its web? I wouldn’t because that wouldn’t ‘t be evil, but a survival criterion.
This extract is from a parable in the Arabic Folklore. It tells a brief encounter between an old, cunning man, and a clever girl.
As the girl was walking along the road, carrying a covered plate in her hands, an old man stopped her.
“What’s in the plate, young girl?’ He asked.
‘And, why do think we covered it?’ She replied.
The man’s face reddened with shame, and he felt as if the girl had just slapped him.
Do you know why he felt so? Can you guess the meaning of this brief encounter?
Of course, both the old, cunning man and the clever girl are not talking about food? Or do you think they are?
It’s okay if you think they are, but then, there wouldn’t be a moral meaning, which means there’s a moral meaning.
Can you guess it now?
Haven’t you ever met or heard about some people who wouldn’t rest until they dig deep into others’ lives? They try their best to uncover what has been covered, perhaps even changed and forgiven. Their main goal is to pry and satisfy their curiosity and sense of gloating, to hurt and debunk others.
Worse still, have you met those who expose themselves and call it complete honesty and ultimate bravery? Their private and confidential life becomes a free open store for anyone to explore, share, and spread all over the world. Sometimes, I really can’t understand if you’ve been granted the chance by God’s grace to have your mistakes, secrets, or even misfortunes, covered and hidden from others, why expose them?
Now, back to the old parable, and the old, cunning man. He wasn’t after the food; he was after the news that was none of his business, nor anyone’s else business. That’ why he was full of shame. It turned out that the girl had given him the lesson of his life.
Do you think this old parable would have any significance, any echo in the world of social media today?
Would this clever girl exist once more?
Would the old, cunning man be ashamed again?
What do you think? Do you have another interpretation of the parable?
With all the best wishes,
Nahla
P.S. For all of you who are having snow in their places, have fun! It’s so windy and rainy here as my photo shows, but surprisingly it’s warm!
I stopped at this question as I was reading my book last night, but I wrote it down before forgetting about it.
Have you ever met a person who looks exactly like your reflection in the mirror? Isn’t it scary to meet someone who look exactly your double, even if they are your lost cousin?
I believe that’s not only scary but can also be dangerous.
That never happened to me, or anyone I know unless of course they are twins. And, even the twins I met, were not identical.
However, there is what people call the bond of likeness which doesn’t solely imply physical looks. I think that’s somehow can be like blood bond or soul bond.
The blood bond is comon in families’ similarities because of inherited genes. In my family, for example, though my sons look totally different, most people believe they look so similar that they are confused when calling them. Later, when they know them more, they see how they are different. Although my boys always laugh at these incidents, they do the same with my daughter and me, even though we look different. But it’s the blood that runs in our veins and how close we are together that gives others this impression.
On the other side, there might be the soul bond. That’s when you share similar thoughts, dreams, sense of humour, or even fears and worries with others. They might be friends, acquentences, or complete strangers, but Fate makes you cross paths together even once. In this case, you feel relaxed and happy to be in their company, as if you were somehow related.
However, back to the one – in- a- million possibility of having your double image, it would never be exactly you. We can’t just have printed copies of ourselves because we are not just photos. We are human beings with more than physical shapes. We’re created to be different, meant to be different. So, just in case you meet one day face to face with your double, be one hundred percent sure that you would never be confused because they would never be you.
Many books might have the same title, perhaps similar front cover, but never the same author, never the same content.
But, of course, you wouldn’t grant it to others every now and then. Or would you?
Suppose, for example, you had a bully at school, or at your workplace, or even in your neighbourhood. After every disaster caused by this person, they put on a repentant mask, shed a few tears, apologised, and swore on the name of God to never repeat the awful deed, never cause any harm, never cheat or steal from you. Would you grant them your forgiveness?
Before you reply, please be honest and realistic, because unless you’re, God Forbid, another bully you’d have only three options:
In the first scenario, you might voice the words, but from the bottom of your heart, you’d pray that the ground would open and swallow them whole, delivering them straightaway to hell.
In the second scenario, you’d scream, “Never!” out loud, and be either a martyr of bravery or live with all its consequences.
As for the third, you’d play the diplomat and remind the forgiveness seeker, that genuine good deeds erase bad ones. That’s God’s law. The Most Merciful knows what lies deep in the heart, but of course there’d be no need to voice the final addition.
If you had the three options, which one would you choose?
And, finally, don’t forget that all can be forgiven but not forgotten.
If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why?
Isn’t it incenrdible that space scientists or astrophysicists are working hard, really hard to create life and build new world on other planets? Or is it Not?
If I had the opportunity to have the power to issue one new law, I wouldn’t let it pass without submitting my proposal on this issue.
But first, since it’s all imaginative, I’d like to also have the opportunity to imagine a different me, in a different setting. I am Her Majesty the Queen, or His Excellency Mrs President. I’m sitting at my famous desk, with the formal legal document of my new law in front of me. Journalists, interviewers, small and big cameras, assistants, ministers, mayors, and others whom I don’t know and wouldn’t wish to know, are just a few meters away. They are surounded by bodyguards or supe – powerful gurads, or whatever. I’m actually trying hard to stifle a laugh, wondering what the point of all this gathering. My law is going to be signed whether they like it or not.
Before reading my law out loud, the flashing and clicking of cameras makes me blink and feel ill at ease. No one is allowed to talk or even whisper before I reveal the new law. I choke and cough, and my voice sounds muffled in my ears. Am I catching a cold? I wonder, and find a crystal glass of water in my hand as if by magic. I sip some water and it tastes so cold and sweet that I am tempted to drain it in one gulp. But, I can’t. Her Highness would never do that. What do I have to do with Her Majesty? Oh, that’s me. I have to sign my new law. The gathering and people both online and offline, are waiting to hear it.
I look down at the document and read: Astronomers and astrophysicists can go to whatever plantes, to the moon, and even to the sun on their own cost, using their own expenses. As for us, normal people we’re amazed with our own planet, and we’ll never give it up.
Pure and Simple 