Qais Ghanem's Blog, page 4

Forbidden Love in the Land of Sheba

It is as if the writer did not write this story out of imagination, but wrote several real stories in one story, describing the core of what is happening in Yemen: corruption of power, in trade, and in the judiciary, in addition to the insurmountable fear of scandal and shame. As a woman of Yemeni origin, who lived nearly 18 years in Yemen through a lot of tragedies and events, I wish to thank the writer and novelist, Qais Ghanem, for his courage in exposing the reality of Yemen by writing this novel and two other novels centered round life in that country. Tahani Shihab-Dubai - See more at: http://dialoguewithdiversity.com/forb...

Two Boys from Aden College - Review

This is my second book review and to my unanticipated luck, i t is Qais Ghanem’s second novel as well. Two Boys from Aden College represents, passionately, the elegance of a heroic author who increases his page count in order to honor the decent, delicate, and dedicated Muslim women, as his first page of dedication demonstrates. Certainly this fiction salutes the dignity of women and recognizes their equal value within Western and Eastern borders. Nothing less would do for Dr. Ghanem; for anyone who is familiar with his first novel, Final Flight from Sanaa, will notice his high regard for neutrality and fairness - like a complementary dish with all the right spices.
Ahmed and Hasan, the two main characters and unquestionably the best of friends, have enriched the story in many ways, more than can be imagined. It is not to the complexity of a traditional Arabic and Muslim culture that I find myself attracted, but to the simplicity of character definition, and how two boys born and raised in the same strict customs can grow up to have such distinctive views; as distant as the crinkling grass to the moon. Both students depart to the United Kingdom determined to complete their studies and return to their native land, Yemen.
Hasan, who graduated as an accomplished and bright lawyer, was keener on his Islamic prayers which he performed five times a day regardless of any and all circumstances. Adherence to Islam was one of his strengths and no enticement to alcohol was ever successful. Despite his other progressive and secular Muslim friends, Hasan found no reason to abandon his religion or go astray in the city streets of a foreign country like England. However, he did somehow find a way to justify his carnal relationships with women - numerous women.
Ahmed, a passionate medical doctor, indulged in alcohol and did not perform his prayers or fast during the holy month of Ramadan; yet he was a noble and honest man who maintained his commitment to one relationship. To most in Yemen, he was the outsider. Like all cross-cultural experiences, the cultural shock of a westernized society quickly turns two young suppressed and naive boys into grown men as they face challenges that deeply perplex their values and Islamic beliefs. These challenges were due to numerous restrictions embedded into strict Arabic and Muslim heritage that provoked rebellious behavior by both students. Facing no more constraints, in a new and open society, where alcohol and sexuality were welcomed and embraced, Ahmed and Hasan found themselves swimming in a sea of honey, far from potential shame and dishonor. As they experienced British society separately, both friends matured in different directions and at separate speeds, and away from one another.
Interestingly, the story unfolds when the two boys return to Yemen after several years of westernized views and behavior mixed in with hard work and success. It is this event in the book that author Qais Ghanem beautifully portrays – the contradictions of Islam that an entire society, much like Hasan, uses in order to justify wrong and unethical behavior. The comparison and contrast between the two characters is, to my surprise, the most honest definition of a defective Islamic society. As a Muslim myself, I find myself in astonishment at how society ignores its failure but seeks justification to use a peaceful religion such as Islam in order to fabricate false assumptions of manhood, womanhood, honor, and equality.
Much like in Two Boys from Aden College, society does not disgrace Hasan for his immoral behavior of degrading women and using them as sex slaves, in order to please his egoistic brainwashed dead cells, which only an ignorant man can maintain with such diligence. Instead, it commends him for his bogus religious beliefs which he displays to the outside world. While Ahmed is society’s bad apple, I identified continuously with his values and demands for fairness and equality. Ahmed was indeed the rare apple who truly understood the true significance of Islam.
I do hope this book goes far; challenging politics and religion. And I do pray that injustice to women, as Qais Ghanem stated in his dedication, can be limited in marginalizing these poor victims of circumstances, in many geographical locations. I salute Dr. Qais Ghanem, yet again, for his equal and fair outlook, depicted in this novel that is nothing short of the unfortunate truth about a male-dominated culture.
I also anticipate Final Flight from Sanaa and Two Boys from Aden College to be translated into Arabic. It is equally important that the dialogue begins within the origin of the problem.

Tamara Tarchichi, Student of Journalism, Ottawa, Canada

Two Boys from Aden College - Review

Qais Ghanem In reading TWO BOYS FROM ADEN COLLEGE, I had to delve deeply into the personality of the author, the physician, the man because everyone who excels has his own special personality which leaves its finger prints on his creations, however much he tries to avoid that. For in the end he is only human. That is why I enjoyed reading his book, and learning so much about his personality, his intelligence, his aspirations, his achievements, as well as his failures.

This is a wonderful story which would make very enjoyable reading for western as well as eastern readers; for it explains in simple and calm dialogue, many of the false assumptions and misconceptions of both groups about each other, including those pertaining to religion, faith, relations and culture. But it specifically describes the failures of Yemeni society, which should become apparent to those who will read it.
As a Muslim Yemeni woman, I found myself living the lives of the characters in the novel, as if I was there, in their midst. The author, like an accomplished artist, painted pictures of cities and countries which I have never visited, and yet I found myself smelling the smoke in their air, and the sweetness of their flowers, and looking into the souls of some heartless fiends among their people. This is a story with profound meaning, for those who want to dive into the depths of people’s lives. It offers lessons to those who wish to learn from the cumulative experience of a modest physician. Professor Qais Ghanem: you have truly excelled, and twinkled like a bright star with this novel. Please accept my special greetings.

Mrs. Tahani Shihab, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Two Boys from Aden College - Review

This fictional story of Two Boys from Aden College describes beautifully the dilemma faced by two friends thrown into a world completely alien to their conservative culture. Arriving in the UK in the 60's they are faced with challenges they had never experienced. The 60's was a time of new previously unheard of sexual freedom and both boys in different ways indulge in what is on offer. Hassan on the surface follows his faith religiously but hypocritically enjoys extra marital sex. His character is already in training for his future successful life based on greed and corruption. Ahmad whilst also studying hard enjoys sex and alcohol but makes no pretense to be following an Islamic way of life.
The author writes as if neither boy can distinguish between sex and love as they indulge their passions but Ahmad is already becoming the more likeable character.
Hassan returns to Aden where he marries Ahmed's sister who is depicted as having no mind of her own.
On his return Ahmad is appalled to find his friend uncompromisingly corrupt in his greed for money and power. This,together with his own battles that he faces with the authorities,make life impossible in his own country.
The prostitute Haleemah is a strong character,doing what she despises to men she despises even more for their hypocrisy in visiting her.
The author's comparison of the way both men treat her shows great insight into how some men view women.Ahmad shows respect and compassion while Hassan uses and abuses her for his pleasure----her revenge is great!
The author shows the life of many Yemeni women to be subservient to their husbands in every way but gives us an optimistic promise of a way forward as Ahmad goes to meet Meethaq who will be his Yemeni wife and equal. There is hope!

Liz Robertson, Teacher, Edinburgh, Scotland

Two Boys from Aden College - Review

Two Boys from Aden College deserves a much wider readership than its title would suggest that it will attract. It will resonate with many who migrated to find work or who received life-changing higher education abroad and could not return or returned but could not adapt to their home of origin. It is a good read. Dr Adel Aulaqi, Surgeon, London, UK.

Two Boys from Aden College - Review

Just finished reading Two Boys from Aden College, a great novel that should be required reading for High school and colleges in the Arab world and Yemen 4 its provocative themes. Dr Zuhair Shihab, Prof. of Ophthalmology, Texas, USA.

Comment by former ambassador of Yemen in Canada about Qais G

His novels ought to be translated and taught in Arabic and other countries where females are deprived depressed and denied basic rights and freedoms. ..
his books would contribute and create some changes in conventional concepts, dilute or defeat some of the taboos and
push towards female emancipation.

Dr Abdulla Nasher, Ottawa

I need your advice: Should I modify my novel?

Although I joined Goodreads a few months ago, I have not, until this week done much with it. Partly, it's because I am busy finishing my third novel about Yemen and Arab Muslim society.
But, frankly, the main reason is that I didn't realize how powerful an instrument Goodreads is to reach so many people. So, I'm going to participate much more.
Already a young man got in touch. He happens to be from the same small town where I was born. We had a good chat. Somehow he found my first novel FINAL FLIGHT FROM SANAA, and is half way through my second one TWO BOYS FROM ADEN COLLEGE. That's where I went to school.

I translated my first novel into Arabic to reach people in the ME, but I chose to remove or modify the erotic scenes. My Q is: should an author do that, to avoid any possible offense? I don't know