Few characters receive immediate and warm praise from Holmes as Dr. Mortimer does in The Hound of the Baskervilles. Of the four novels, The Hound of the Baskervilles remains my top favorite and this opening scene with Dr. Mortimer is a big reason why. In this post I will be briefly sharing my thoughts on the four novels featuring Sherlock Holmes.
A roundup of the books that broadened my understanding and fueled my curiosity this year.
Carmilla is a gothic vampire novella published in 1872. It is one of the most influential vampire horror stories ever published, predating Dracula by 25 years. In fact, Dracula incorporates many features which were inspired/influenced by Carmilla. The story, which is set in a remote part of Austria, is about a young woman who is pursued by a female vampire.
Horror, especially, gothic horror literature has captivated me since childhood, forming an essential part of my childhood memories. Its influence has seeped into many of my other passions, from reading and writing to the way I travel and explore the world. It’s been a while since I last shared my favorite books and movies, my previous posts date back to 2015 with an update on movies in 2021. This post is a recap of the movies/TV shows I have watched and books I have read over the past year or so.
This is a collection of classic horror fiction written by some of the greatest writers of horror including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft and Algernon Blackwood (who is my favorite). Spanning from 1872 to 1948 these stories represent the classic age of horror.
Muslim women have played an important part in Islam’s history throughout the ages, from seventh-century Mecca to 21st century United States of America. This book explores the life and achievements of 21 such extraordinary Muslim women from different parts of the world and eras. From Khadijah, the first believer to Maryam Mirzakhani, the celebrated mathematician (after whom the Maryam Mirzakhani Award in Mathematics is named) this book looks at some truly exceptional women.
Since the dawn of civilization Muslims have built some of the world’s greatest cities. As the author of this book, Justin Marozzi says “Civilization was by definition an urban phenomenon, and no one did cities quite like the Muslims.” This city building peaked during the Islamic Golden Age. In this book, the author explores the major Muslim cities starting from 7th century Mecca to the mind boggling rise of Dubai and Doha in the 21st century.
Mecca is the most important religious place for Muslims all over the world. It is, as the author mentions, the heart of Islam. It’s the direction Muslims face when they pray and the site of the annual pilgrimage of Haj, which is performed by almost 2 Million people every year. It’s not for nothing that the word ‘Mecca’ has entered the English language meaning “a place regarded as a center for a specific group, activity, or interest” (Merriam-Webster). This book details the history of the city from pre Islamic times to the modern era. Filled with insights dealing with both religious and non-religious aspects, this books examines the social, physical and cultural points that makes Mecca one of the most influential cities on Earth.
This book, as the name suggests, is a history of horror fiction i.e. horror in the written form; short stories, novellas, novels etc. It starts from the first gothic horror novel which was published in 1764, The Castle of Otranto (which I have read and written about here) and ends with the horror of modern times which is dominated by one author, Stephen King. Over the course of seven chapters, each written by an expert, the book traces the evolution of horror over the past 250 years.
Madinah was an Urdu newspaper which was published from a small town called Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh, India from 1912 till 1973. This book is primarily a study of this hugely influential newspaper and the time and space of its existence. The author, Megan Eaton Robb, who is an Associate Professor in Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania looks at the prevailing political and religious climate of the early 1900s India and how Muslims of small localities or qasbahs used newspapers printed in their qasbahs to create a discourse unique to them and went on to become an influential voice nationally as well as internationally. This book is also a good reminder of the role played by Muslims in India’s freedom struggle.
