I was reflecting on some of the books that maybe are not ones that I am absolutely in love with but nonetheless have left a deep impression. I was in Phoenix at my grandparent's home for a vacation when I asked my grandfather for a reccomendation. He told me to read "The Haj".
And so I did.
It is a story set in the middle east from the 1920's to the 1950's told by a son in a family of the day and culture. It is a violent and sickening story that leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth. It is absolutely one of the most disturbing things I've ever internalized.
So why would I classify it as "deep impression" stuff, and why in the world would my grandfather (who reads avidly and is something of a quiet, un-voiced intellectual) recommend this book to me?
I have thought of a couple reasons. It makes you really, really think about some of the basic premises of society and what contributes to success. It also, and I think this was the big one for me, helps someone from a relatively sheltered and privileged life understand how in the world ancient hatreds and crazy-bad behaviors have managed to create the current middle eastern world. It is not just history, this background is a real factor in the world today.
So, I'm not going to really say go and read it. If you do so it will more than likely unsettle your mind.
1 comment:
Sounds like an interesting read. I've never heard of it before. About when was it published?
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