Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Blind is the eye that doesn't see You

Don't tell me nature isn't a miracle. Don't tell me the world isn't a fairy tale. Anyone who hasn't realised that, may never understand until the fairy tale is just about to end. Then there is one final chance to tear off the blinkers, a last chance to rub your eyes in amazement, a final opportunity to abandon yourself to the wonder you are bidding farewell to and leaving. 

The Orange Girl

Reading another Jostein Gaarder is like a chocolate bar after a year-long diet. I breezed through this in a day and it ended too quickly, leaving me with a strange tangy-sweet-bitter-melancholic-nostalgic taste. I think I have been gripped with Habitophobia again. The world has grown on me, and I needed this nudge to get fascinated again.

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Georg is reading the letter his dead father wrote him before he died that was only just discovered. His dad is telling him a story- of when he is three and in his arms, out in the backyard. They're looking up at a star-filled sky.

The last time I saw a sky like that was in Baghdad, eleven years ago. A vivid memory. I can see us four cousins on the rooftop of our home, feeling adventurous. We crouch low, peer outside, at a dark street lined with neat rectangular homes and incredibly tall palm trees, silent except for the occasional cricket chirp. From here we can see the front garden of our neighbours on the left, their big brown guard dog standing attentive. One of us throws a pebble, and the dog stands higher, his ears straight. Another pebble and he is barking now- loud barks that pierce the still air. We stuff our hands in our mouths, trying to stifle the giggles. And then the sound of a front door unlocking and the neighbour is out, and we are clambouring over each other to crouch down, unseen. It is then that I lay my back against the wall and look up. Innumerable stars shine back at me. I have never seen anything like this before. It's like somebody painted the entire sky pitch-black and glued tiny diamond bits all over.

Don't tell me the starry sky isn't a miracle.

_______________________________________________________________

I'm making Spaghetti with Tuna Sauce for lunch. Cutting the onions half an hour earlier because I know what it does to me. I chew gum and try not to smell but none of that works. The knife slices through and I am weeping insanely, temporarily blinded. I take a breath, wipe the tears away and resume the cutting, trying to see through my stingy eyes. It's amazing what a little vegetable can do to you.

Don't tell me that's not a miracle.

_______________________________________________________________


31 comments:

  1. Hmm As I love reading will surely try this book and this author is new to me so hoping to get a good result :)

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    1. If you're into philosophy, read his novel on philosophy for teenagers- Sophie's World.

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  2. That was written not only so beautifully, but so elegantly as well.
    Starry skies bring such unexplainable peace and love to the heart. I'm loving the description "It's like somebody painted the entire sky pitch-black and glued tiny diamond bits all over". Sigh.

    Thank you for this...

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    1. Thanks for reading :) [Beauty's in the eye of the beholder ;)]

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  3. Lovely writing, sigh, a writer of wonders. Thank you for your post, I have added this book to my list.

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  4. It sounds like a very good book you are reading! I've never had tuna spaghetti, but I know what you mean slicing and peeling onions. :) Great posting!

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    1. It's better than spaghetti bolognaise, in my opinion. If you ever come to this side of the world, you're welcome to come over and try some!

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  5. "Blind is the eye that doesn't see you"...fantastic line. Lovely writing, girl.

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    1. Thank you.

      That is a famous line from a praise to God recited by Imam Hussain (Hussain ibn Ali)- an Islamic historical figure.

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  6. orange girl is one of my favourite books! :)

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    1. I'm so glad I found it, I think it's one of my favourites now too.

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  7. Seems interesting.. I wanna read it too so didn't read what you've written here as it might contain spoilers :p

    Thanks for sharing the book title xD

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    1. No spoilers, but sometimes I like reading a book without knowing absolutely anything about it! It's something you'll like, I remember you blogged about how you liked Sophie's World.

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    2. Exactly!

      It's a must-read then! Thanks again :)

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  8. Thank you for the review. I am currently looking for a new bedside book. Now I am torn if should buy this or Haruki Murakami's. But I love Sophie's World especially back in my university days so I think Orange Girl it is.

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  9. Thank you so much for this post! I love Jostein Gaarder's books so much but hadn't heard about this one. Will surely read it! :-)

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    Replies
    1. He really is an incredible author, knows how to bring just about anything to a comprehensible level.

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  10. What a beautiful excerpt. I definitely want to read THAT book! I am constantly amazed, awed, by nature, by life. Can't tell me it's not a miracle.

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    1. If you are constantly awed by life, it means you are one of the rare that are constantly- alive!

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  11. The memory is so vivid, it's beautiful o.o I want to read this book now!

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  12. Sounds like a beautiful book! Will check it out.

    The short memory of sitting on the rooftops sounds great. I remember chasing fireflies in the night under clear skies while the moonlight covered us with its silvery blanket and the stars, those beautiful stars. :)
    Thank you taking me on a trip!

    As for the onions? Cut them under water and it doesn't cause the crying.

    Hope you have a lovely weekend!

    N.

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    1. Cut them under water? I haven't heard that one! Let's try it out..

      I saw a tragic animated film called 'Grave of the Fireflies' once- It made me want to chase fireflies- I've never seen any before.

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  13. You make me sigh. And that's what I write every time I am here. I might be getting a little stale for you now. Heh. But there is nothing left to say, with your writings.. I like how you make me want to read this book. So desperately. But after I get done with Wallflower. And it didn't spoil anything, you mentioning the impending mention of Holden. Makes me look forward to completing the book now. :)

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    1. Hehe thank you so much, it's undeserved and not getting stale at all!

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  14. Marvellous, G...simply marvellous!
    And I'd definitely like to read the book!

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  15. Love your description, might check this book out.

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