Book Review: “Behind Picket Fences” by Hend Hegazi

Hot off the press, this is up and coming author Hend Hegazi's second novel, following the publication of Normal Calm last year. Hegazi is an American author currently based in Egypt.

The night before I started reading this book, my husband and I had a fairly heated discussion about what causes seemingly healthy couples to cheat on one another. No, in case you were wondering this had nothing to do with our own (happy) marriage- the very concept of cheating was bit of an enigma to both of us but we had heard of a few stories in our own social circles of marital breakdowns caused as a result of infidelity under circumstances that perplexed us as outsiders. I went to bed that night pondering how fragile marriages can potentially be and what could possibly trigger a complete erosion of a relationship between couples who appear to have it all. The next day, I started reading Behind Picket Fences, which I received for review purposes, not realising that to a large extent, it delves into this very issue. 

The story revolves around four seemingly different couples residing in the same neighbourhood, all of whom seem to have it together on the surface but in fact experience complex challenges in their marital and personal lives behind closed doors. 

Farris has tried everything under the sun to try to put the spark back in his marriage with Sidra. Yet all things point to the fact that she may be cheating. Is all as it seems? Is the person who seems like the 'bad guy' where marital problems are concerned always the bad guy? Mariam and Morgan appear to be happily married until financial problems place a strain on their marriage and Mariam finds herself leaving her young family to return to the workplace. Summer appears to be a typical spoiled housewife with every material pleasure at her disposal but why is she so unhappy? May and Hassan face the ultimate test when chronic illness comes knocking at their door.

I must confess that the book started out feeling a little bit like a stereotypical Bollywood script. However, it definitely does improve as it progresses and it carries some deeply profound messages about life, love, marriage and faith. The book explores the complex issues faced from both a female and a male perspective in a sympathetic and insightful way.

The book has not officially been released as yet but look out for it on Amazon in the near future. 

Win With Kids Book Club

Guess what? We are giving away another one month subscription to Kids Book Club- delivered to your doorstep!

If you have been living under a rock and don't know about Kids Book Club, then read more about our experiences with them here and here.

As a family of bibliophiles, we all get excited when our monthly delivery arrives. We just got our latest monthly delivery yesterday and I am thrilled with the books they have chosen for us this month. 

Noodle starts school in January so the books about the first day of school and about making new friends are incredibly apt. 

These books also follow on from a clock book that we received in October featuring the same characters. There is a hard mini book about playing in the snow (Squish has taken this one) and and a book with lots of Christmas craft activities (there are some cute ideas and most of them can be adapted to the rest of the year so they are less seasonal). Craft ideas will definitely come in handy while the little ones are at home for over a month and of course Noodle likes all the shiny stickers in the middle! 

We also get a bunch of magazines each month. While these are meant to be for mom, Squish has taken a liking to these and 'reads' the magazines to me. I love paging through them while he tells me stories about what is happening in the pictures (his stories are a bit bizarre sometimes but always cute and entertaining).

So I am sure you are dying to win a Kids Book Club subscription. To enter, just follow the Rafflecopter steps below. Note- only step one is needed to enter but the other steps earn you bonus entries.

This competition is only open to individuals who reside within South Africa. The prize is sponsored by Kids Book Club, who will be solely responsible for delivery of the prize to the winner. The winner will be selected randomly using online digital software. The competition closes on 18 December 2015. Good luck to all who enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sandcastles And Snowmen- A Personal Search for Spirituality

I have received a few books from FB Publishers for review and I am so excited each time I do since their books are so different from the norm and always so enlightening. Sandcastles And Snowmen- A Personal Search for Spirituality by Egyptian author and international public speaker Sahar El-Nadi did not disappoint.

I had eagerly been planning to read this book for a month but had to put it on hold due to urgent work commitments that were taking up most of my time. However, I think when I did actually read the book, it was at a time when it was most beneficial to me.

You see, being a Muslim in this day and age often means a bit of an identity crisis. There is  a dichotomy between what I know and believe to be a religion of peace, love and tolerance and all the negativity portrayed in the media about Muslims, made worse by a minority of so-called Muslims who perpetrate horrendous acts of hatred and violence. My heart (and those of billions of peace loving Muslims globally) sinks every time I hear of acts of terror in the name of Islam and we weep with the rest of the world when there is a loss of lives. This week's attacks on Paris and various other places was no different. Of course, when these things happen, supposedly in the name of your religion, it forces some introspection into what it really means to be a Muslim and whether the cowardly acts of a few can in any way be reconciled with this (the answer of course being no). By now you are probably wondering what all this rambling has to do with the book I read?

 

Sahar tells the story of her journey towards spirituality. She was born in Egypt, where, despite being a predominantly Muslim country, the practice of Islam was frowned upon (something which I was certainly unaware of). Although born Muslim, Sahar went to a Catholic school and led a glitzy jet-setting life in fashion and media. She only truly discovered religion and spirituality in the form of Islam in her thirties. She writes about about this journey in a profoundly beautiful manner and in the process shares both her scientific research and emotional findings of what Islam is really all about. 

Sahar explains in detailed but simple terms what Islam really is, where it comes from and how Muslims are in fact expected to conduct themselves (as opposed to how many Muslims in fact do behave). She answers in elquent terms two of the existential questions that my four year old has been asking me recently, namely why were we created or why a God that is loving would allow pain and suffering in the world. 

She debunks various myths relating to Islam and issues like women's rights, animal rights, politics and what is allowed in war. For example, she shares stories of the prophet Mohamed's friendship with people of all religions and how in times of war (which were carried out through necessity and not hate), it was forbidden to hurt women, children or the elderly or to destroy property or nature. In times of war, it was even ordered that any captives were to be fed the best of food, even if it meant that the prophet's own people went without and that they were entitled to the best medical care. This of course is a total contrast to some of the events we see in this day and age. 

She shares ideas for how inter-cultural barriers can be broken and how to encourage communication and understanding across different religious and social backgrounds in a peaceful and productive manner.

Why the title? Sandcastles and snowmen, although from completely different climates, are both a child's innocent attempt at turning something abstract into a tangible reality, just as adults do when trying to build a life. 

However, as with life, neither sandcastles nor snowmen are permanent and both will return to where they came from. Put simply, this book is all about finding the meaning of life before it comes to an end. 

I would recommend this book to any Muslim person who seeks some spiritual enrichment or wants a refresher on what it really means to be Muslim and I would recommend it even more so to non-Muslims who wish to find out what the religion is really about as opposed to what the media portrays it to be.

If you are keen to read the book, it can be purchased on Amazon. Alternatively (for my South African readers) I have spotted it at the local CII store. 

On My Bookshelf

I promised myself I would make more time for reading, so this past couple of weeks I read two really inspirational and thought-provoking books. 

BRICK WALLS, TALES OF HOPE AND COURAGE FROM PAKISTAN
SAADIA FARUQI

While this is an anthology of fictional short stories set in modern  day Pakistan, the characters feel so real ad have such depth that it is almost difficult to believe that these are not actual biographical accounts. The seven stories revolve around very different individuals from all walks of life, ranging from a ten year old budding feminist who dreams of playing cricket, a grumpy but purposeful old lady, a falsely convicted prison inmate, a wealthy college student who discovers what the other half live like to a would-be suicide bomber. 

While the various protagonists differ in age, gender, socio-economic status and in their political and religious outlooks, what all these characters share is an exceptional display of courage and bravery in the face of extremely trying circumstances and a sense of hope that they will overcome their varying challenges. The Pakistani American author does not shy away from controversial subjects and her characters provide some insight into a country facing unique challenges and challenges preconceived notions of the people of this country. Despite depicting characters in the harshest of circumstances, she is able to paint a picture of the beauty of humanity in even the most trying of times.

I could not put this one down once I started it and I hope that the author considers extending some of these stories into full stand-alone novels as the stories are so compelling that they deserve to be showcased individually.  

HOW TO BE A HAPPY MUSLIM, INSHA'ALLAH
SHEIMA SALAM SUMER

I had never before come across a self-help book written from a Muslim perspective, so I thought this one would be interesting, especially given that the author is a professional counselor with a Master's degree in Counselor Education.

Happiness is of course something we all strive towards and a manual to attaining happiness is something that most people could use.

This is a short, easy read with many pearls of wisdom, most of which apply universally to people of all religions. Indeed, the recommendations at the beginning of the book come from people of all faiths, including an Anglican priest and various medical professionals.

The suggestions for attaining happiness in this book seem sensible to me and are set out in a simple and easy to follow fashion. There are little 'Happiness Hints' along the way, almost like little takeaway nuggets of wisdom for quick absorption. While the main ideas involve prayer and teaching yourself to be a calm and positive thinker, other interesting topics covered include physical health (with the author setting out her journey to weight loss) and even a chapter on Islam and the Law of Attraction (as set out in the Rhonda Byrne book that we all know and love).

Simple and to the point, I am sure this book will provide answers to many seeking to make a positive difference in their lives.

Some More Amazing Kids Books

It is month two of our Kids Book Club subscription period and this month's bag was even better than month one. (If you missed out on our previous post on Kids Book Club, you an check it out here. In short, this is a subscription service where you get a bag full of awesome kids books each month). Here is last month's selection:

 

This time, Noodle was home when the courier came to drop off our package and she was beyond excited when I told her it was a package for her (last month she was at school when it arrived). I think getting a package was almost as exciting for her as the actual contents, as she is used to seeing packages being dropped off for the adults in the house but not especially for her. 

I told Noodle that she could only open the package that evening if she was well behaved all day and she kept her end of the deal. She was thrilled when she opened it and told me these are the best books ever, ever, ever. I even got smothered me with hugs and kisses!

This month, the carry bag has a Halloween theme, which can double up as a trick or treat bag for those who celebrate. 

I love the big hard cover book with the movable clock (especially handy for us as Noodle is currently learning how to tell time). The story goes through the different parts of the school day and shows a clock with the time of day on each page. The book is very interactive with various activities on each page, including number and letter recognition,counting,colours, basic geography and songs to sing. This is Noodle's new favourite book.

The second book is a colourful activity book with a clever shark crayon/ puzzle built into the cover. The activities are age appropriate and Noodle has enjoyed them so far.

As always, there are a couple of magazines included for mom (a month out of date but I am not complaining as I would not have read these otherwise).

 

If you would like to find out more about Kids Book Club, you can go to www.kidsbookclub.co.za and click on the relevant age category.

Giveaway- Win a Kids Book Club Subscription!

It is no secret that I am a complete bookworm and that my kids are avid readers too. While Squish still enjoys the pictures more than the contents, Noodle loves listening to stories (and is starting to identify a few words in the books as well).

Every week, Noodle has 'book day' at school, when she needs to take a book to be read and shared with her friends and I often feel like I have been sending the same books over and over a few too many times. 

Given the above, I was very excited when I heard about what Kids Book Club has to offer. As a Kids Book Club subscriber, you get a special delivery directly to your door each month containing:

• two age appropriate books;
• magazines for mom and dad;
• downloadable colouring sheets (available from their website);
• a themed carry bag for your books.

Part of your subscription will go towards donation to the Bokamoso Educational Trust. Find out more at www.kidsbookclub.co.za

We just received our first delivery. I opted for a subscription for Noodle only as we are still building up our book collection for older kids but already have plenty of toddler books for Squish (but if you do take out subscriptions for more than one child this is discounted). I also know that he will be listening in when we read the books at bedtime, so they will both benefit from it.

This month's carrier bag has a 'spring' theme- perfect for this springy month! Obviously, what is in the bag is age dependent. The Waybaloo book is definitely up Noodle's alley as she is a fan of the television version. I think she said thank you about twenty times!!! This month, there is also a sticker activity book and a smaller story book, "Night Train Adventure" (a humorous tale about a family of cats and a clumsy hippo who go take an overnight train to their holiday destination) which we read last night and which both little ones enjoyed.

So I am sure you would love to get hold of some awesome Kids Book Club books for your kids, right? Well, you're in luck as we are giving away a one month subscription to Kids Book Club.  

All you have to do to enter is to comment below with the age of your child and what your favourite children's book of all time is. (We would love it if you would share this competition with your friends via Facebook and Twitter too, this is entirely optional though).

Please note that this competition is only open to individuals who reside within South Africa. The prize is sponsored by Kids Book Club, who will be solely responsible for delivery of the prize to the winner. The winner will be selected randomly using online digital software. The winner will be announced on 7 October 2015.

Good luck to all who enter!!!