Dubai Tales

by Muhammad al Murr | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0948259868 Global Overview for this book
Registered by LyzzyBee of Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on 9/17/2008
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10 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Kindly donated to BookCrossing by the Red Cross charity shop in Kings Heath. They donate the books they don't sell, rather than recycling them.

I am putting this aside to read before releasing.

Journal Entry 2 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Sunday, December 21, 2008

A set of deceptively simple stories about marriage and family in Dubai in the 1990s. Slightly reminiscent of R.K. Narayan, these are absorbing and well-structured; I am not always keen on short stories but these, although the characters were not linked through the stories, seemed to show facets of the same experiences, seen from different angles and through different eyes.

Journal Entry 3 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 4, 2009
BookRing!

Usual rules apply...

Make a journal entry when you receive the book
Contact the next reader for their address when you are almost done
Post a review when you've read the book - please try to send it on within a month of receipt if you can
Make a journal entry or controlled release notes when you send the book on

PARTICIPANTS

Kerriou UK (UK/Eur)
PeaMartian UK (anywhere)
Scotsbookie UK (Europe)
wanderingstar8 UK (anywhere)
Tarna Finland (EU pref)
Sofitta1 Portugal (EU pref)
Maria-Nunes Portugal (EU pref)
Okyrhoe Greece (anywhere)
[[[Jaenelle US (US only) -- asked to be skipped]]]
Bug2004 US-Nebraska (US only) <----- it's here!
mandyfaye US (US pref)

Journal Entry 4 by LyzzyBee at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, March 14, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (3/14/2009 UTC) at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posting to the first person in the BookRay!

Journal Entry 5 by Kerriou from Swansea, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, March 16, 2009
Arrived safely this morning. Thank you LyzzyBee.
Will make a start on this as soon as I've finished my current read.

Journal Entry 6 by Kerriou from Swansea, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 24, 2009
A quick and easy read. Thank you for sharing, LyzzyBee.

I have PeaMartian's address and will get this book in the post tomorrow.

Journal Entry 7 by Kerriou at Swansea, Wales United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (3/25/2009 UTC) at Swansea, Wales United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:


Sent to PeaMartian this morning.

Journal Entry 8 by PeaMartian from Durham, County Durham United Kingdom on Saturday, March 28, 2009
Recieved with thanks,and added to my bookring queue... It may be a little while before I get to this one...

Journal Entry 9 by PeaMartian from Durham, County Durham United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The short stories in this book are fairly easy to read, and introduce a range of characters. Having said that, I only managed to read to about half-way through book. After that the book sat on my shelf for a couple of weeks, waiting for me to be inspired to pick it up again. I'm not sure why I left this book without finishing it, but I suppose I just was never gripped by the stories I'd read so far to be inspired enough to see what the next one would bring. So, I've drawn the line, and posted the book on to scotsbookie this afternoon.

Thanks for sharing!

Journal Entry 10 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, June 4, 2009
Arrived this morning, thank you. It is next up to be read.

Journal Entry 11 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, June 8, 2009
I enjoued these short stories about all aspects of family life in Dubai. For the me they were the most rounded short stories I've read so far, some mad me laugh, others were filled with poignancy, a couple brought a tear to my eye.

Just off to PM wanderingstar8 & will have the book on its journey again asap.

Thanks to LyzzyBee for the chance to read the book.

Journal Entry 12 by wanderingstar8 from -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, June 19, 2009
Just received, thanks!

Journal Entry 13 by wanderingstar8 from -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, June 19, 2009
Just received, thanks!

Journal Entry 14 by Tarna from Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Thursday, July 23, 2009
I was away for a couple of days and when I came back, Dubai Tales was waiting for me. In the package, there were also some beautiful bookplates. Thank you, wanderingstar8!

Journal Entry 15 by Tarna from Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Wednesday, August 5, 2009
I’ve learned there’s no novel writing tradition in the Arabic cultures and that’s why the novels by Arabic authors follow Western narrative traditions. What I was expecting, was a collection of short stories set in Dubai but told in the way I’m used to. I was wrong, fortunately.
In every aspect, Dubai Tales is Arabic. Yet, Muhammad al Murr shows that, basically, people and their problems are the same everywhere. I enjoyed these stories very much.
Thanks for sharing, LyzzyBee!


Mohammed Al Murr at EAIFL site
al-Murr, Muhammed Ahmad (1955—) at Encyclopedia of Arabic Literature

***
The book is in the mail and the estimated travelling time is 3—6 working days. Dubai Tales should be in Soffitta1’s hands some time next week.

2009 KTMC #41

Journal Entry 16 by soffitta1 from Ipswich, Suffolk United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Thanks for sending this, I have been on holiday, so sorry for the delay. Just finishing another book, then will start on this one.

Snapshots of life in Dubai, I felt like a bit of a fly on the wall with this collection. You really only get brief glimpses, but the result is very realistic and compelling. I have the next address, so will be posting this on Monday.

Sent 07/09

Journal Entry 17 by Maria-Nunes from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Arrived this morning, thank you.
It is next to be read, as soon as I finish the two books I'm currently reading.

Journal Entry 18 by Maria-Nunes from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Wednesday, September 23, 2009
I really loved reading these 21 short stories; I loved them all and each of them.
I found this book amazing and I am really happy for having read it.

Thank You so much for sharing!!

I shall post it to the next reader as soon as I get the address.

Journal Entry 19 by Maria-Nunes from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Friday, September 25, 2009
the book is already o it's way to "Okyrhoe".
posted today.

Journal Entry 20 by okyrhoe from Athens - Αθήνα, Attica Greece on Friday, October 2, 2009
Arrived in Athens.
Thanks LyzzyBee for including me in the ring, and Maria-Nunes for posting the book!

Journal Entry 21 by okyrhoe from Athens - Αθήνα, Attica Greece on Monday, November 2, 2009
There's a level of disconnect between the literary traditions of Europe and the Middle East. These stories are 'Arabic' in the sense that the written text follows the style of a longstanding oral tradition (whereas contemporary short stories in the 'West' have evolved to emphasize the written word/text/form).
The narrator's point of view determines the voice and tone of Murr's stories - all except for the last one, which stands out from the rest of the collection for it first person point of view and introspective tone (and is thus more 'familiar' in style as a 'short story').
Even though this oral tradition is one I am familiar with, still I was unable to suspend my critical judgment, and so I found fault with the repetitive ironic twists saved for the final lines of each story. These last minute plot reversals (or rather, the withholding of a truth by the narrator till the concluding moment) underscored a didactic tone that I found unnervingly reminiscent of fables and other moral tales.

2010 Festival of Literature @ Dubai.

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Contacting the next reader - to verify if Jaenelle wants to be skipped (as noted on her profile info). If so, I'll move onto the next name on the list.
Update: Contacting Bug2004 now.

Journal Entry 22 by okyrhoe at By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, November 12, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (11/12/2009 UTC) at By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to Bug2004. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 23 by Bug2004 from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Sunday, January 10, 2010
Arrived safely.


Journal Entry 24 by Bug2004 at Omaha, Nebraska USA on Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Snt 2nd request for address today.

Journal Entry 25 by LyzzyBee at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, October 14, 2010
Looks like this has finished - I'm not sure if it was posted on. Counting this bookray as finished now.

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