1. In what way or ways do you "connect" with the book The Rock of Tanios by Amin Maalouf? In what way is it accessible or familiar to you?
While reading The Rock of Tanios, I really enjoyed it. One of the reasons for this is because I could really connect with the characters, their daily life styles, and the setting, having lived in Lebanon all my life. The names of the characters were mostly very familiar and easy to remember. In addition, I was familiar to many of the traditions, such as making “meghleh” when a child is born or the idea of a Sheikh ruling over a certain region. Also, some Arabic words are used throughout the novel, some of which are slang. Because I can understand them, they give the novel a more familiar feel and make the setting seem more realistic.
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4 comments:
Having lived in Lebanon, I agree completely. The names are familiar, the concept of making maghleh is well-known, and the Arabic word or phrases are comprehensible! Certainly, a foreigner, someone not from Lebanon, wouldn't be accustomed to these traditions. Since I have lived here all my live, I can easily "connect" to the characters, setting, and daily life style.
Good job. :D
I can really agree with what you are saying about how you can understand the author's choice of diction in the novel concerning Arabic words. Also, when you mentioned the traditions and how familiar they are, it is very true since all those old traditions are still being conducted to this very day in some regions in Lebanon. You said that the names were easy to remember and you are VERY right with that; it is a MUCH simpler novel than,say, 100 years of solitude in terms of characters. I find the repitition of the names in the endless amount of characters extremely boring, unecessary, and without taste( im not sure if I can use that phrase in the English language :P). Overall i completely agree with your position concerning the novel. Great job! :D
Though I can very well see how you, who has lived in Lebanon all your life, could relate with this novel. As you said, the setting, the expressions, the traditions all make the connection you feel with the novel much deeper than would conventionally be. However, being that I myself am not familiar with Lebanese culture and setting, etc., I do not connect with the novel any differently than I would with any other novel. Therefore, I envy you, for this book touches you on many more levels than it does me, to whom the story is foreign.
I agree with you that the book is interesting. Because you can relate to the author's story seing how you lived in lebanon, and adapt the lebanese culture.
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