Novelists Dala’a, Badr, Garo
over the past few days, i’ve been engrossed in reading three books. i’d pause at certain sentences, ponder deeply on others, and find myself captivated by certain paragraphs that i’d read over and over.
the experience was a mix of emotions and fears, but ultimately, it was enjoyable and enlightening.
in her novel “midnight sun,” dala’a al mofti beautifully expressed, “me and shams cannot be more different as her environment, education and character are not like mine.” despite the differences, they shared a profound connection through the course of pain, experiencing feelings of depression, frustration, resistance, and stubbornness, ultimately finding themselves back together.
dala’a’s novel is powerful and filled with sincere emotions. it brought back memories of my early reading experiences, particularly a book titled “our sexual life” by dr. sabri al qabbani that i read during my teenage years. i vividly remember feeling as though i suffered from the symptoms of every disease mentioned in the book, convincing myself that i was a patient.
reading the “midnight sun” evoked a similar response, as i felt like i was accompanying the writer and her friend through their journey of pain. this sensation also occurred when i read sherlock holmes by sir arthur conan doyle, to the point where i’d feel so scared that i had to leave my room and continue reading in the company of my brothers. “midnight sun” is intense, painful, and deserves to be read.
lady suad al buaijan kindly gifted me a copy of the encyclopedic book “history of oil refineries... challenges and achievements... bio” by badr al buaijan.
approximately one-third of the book, around 200 pages, delves into al buaijan’s career and his journey in the kuwait oil company (koc) since its establishment. it recounts his progression through various oil refineries and offshore oil fields, providing invaluable insights for the new generations.
the remaining two-thirds of the book details al buaijan’s biography, experiences, and his instrumental role in establishing and monitoring projects. this book is a must-read to comprehend key aspects of kuwait’s oil exploration and refining history.
the third book, authored by my friend giragos kuyumjian, who goes by the name garo, is titled “my journey with iron.” this 330-page book delves into the history of iron and garo’s personal journey with it, spanning almost 60 years.
garo, fondly known as an “iron lover,” inherited this passion from his father. in the book, garo vividly recalls, “i entered an iron store in italy where i saw quantities of iron bars in different measures, with their lovely blue color since they had recently been brought out of the blast furnace. actually, it was the best thing my eyes could see.” the book is a treasure trove of historical, technical, and personal information, making it a rare and valuable read for those interested in the topic of iron.
footnote: greek ambassador to kuwait konstantinos piperigos and his wonderful family left the best ever cultural impact. i have received over 14 invitations to attend different farewell parties to say goodbye to piperigos who leaves kuwait to occupy a senior position at the greek ministry of foreign affairs.
this number of events organized in his honor shows the special place of piperigos in the hearts of those who have known him. good luck to mr. piperigos and his family who were the best messengers of their friendly country.
