Shop Urdu Poetry books at Amazon Books !

Shop Urdu Poetry books Online ! 

Now you can buy and browse many Urdu books just sitting at home during  your winter days. Buy Books at Amazon!

Gone are the days when Urdu  books were rarely available for non residents Desis, Seen many  friends debating which books to carry in their luggage during  their next trip back from India or Pakistan, however with availability of internet especially  the presence of Amazon like platforms changed things 180 degree for the Urdu literature fans.

Now  not only  you can buy new books if available you can buy  used books at a fraction of cost at Amazon. Options are for audio books and Kindle versions are in Urdu lovers reach as well. 

You can have Diwan-e -Ghalib to Mirza Dagh's poetry or  a bit modern  revolutionary poetry collection of Ahmed Faraz at Amazon Urdu poetry  section. 

There is a whole horizon of Urdu poetry to explore  just a click away Shop Urdu Poetry books Online ! 

About Ahmed Faraz :

Selected poetry of Ahmed Faraz recited in his own voice. Ahmed Faraz, born Syed Ahmed Shah, was one of the most acclaimed modern Urdu Poets of the last century. Faraz was his pseudonym or 'takhallus'. Faraz, who has been compared with Faiz Ahmed Faiz, holds a unique position as one of the best poets of current times, with a fine but simple style of writing.

Faraz studied Urdu at the Peshawar University and later began teaching there. Outspoken about politics, he went into self-imposed exile during the Zial-Ul Haq era after he was arrested for reciting poems at a Mushaira criticizing the military's rule. He stayed for six years in Britain, Canada and Europe before returning to Pakistan, where he was initially appointed Chairman Academy of Letter and later chairperson of the Islamabad based National Book Foundation for several years.

He was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 2004, in recognition of his literary achievements. He returned the award in 2006 after becoming disenchanted with the Pakistan government and its policies.

Raising kids in a Global Village : Growing up Bilingual .

 

Raising  kids in a Global Village :

Children's Urdu Books :

An Opportunity to be Bilingual:

We are living in a time and age when the majority of the children are being raised in a different country than the country they were born into, it is easier for them to  learn a language which is used in school and in their immediate environment however they lag behind in their respective native languages, their skills limited to  just at spoken level.

 Raising Bilingual Kids has its benefits, It also has become a necessity!. 

Mass migration is happening for many reasons which leads to more pressure to raise Bilingual well prepared humans for a shrinking world.

Introduction to Children their Native Language Urdu:

 

Urdu as an asset to culture  :

 

Urdu is a beautiful and deep language which holds great literary treasures in it, 

If you are a parent and sending your kids to an international school or an expat removed from your ancestral land it becomes a task to introduce your kids to Urdu.

You can help your kids improve Urdu with Low Urdu language skills ;,

These books are easy for beginners , youth and adults equally who know Urdu however they still want to improve their Urdu language skills :

Either just to  brush up Urdu skills or learning from scratch there are some fun new books available to purchase online :

Easy to Learn Urdu Qaida

Many parents who reside in the subcontinent struggle with their kid's Urdu comprehension and grammar as well,  the non migrant kids are mostly  receiving  their education in English so they may be more familiar with Urdu but their comprehension is still  at a low level and  they  find it hard to retain their Urdu skills in a majorly English curriculum environment.

There are some fun  new solutions for these families whether you live in any state, you can buy these Fun to Learn Urdu Books online .

To raise open minded bilingual humans is vital , as it's not only that they will speak and understand their parents language, and will not feel awkward at family gatherings, it also ensures to maintain a connection to their cultural heritage around this language .

 

About LLF 2016 & ’Love Letters’ the Play

 

Books and Pamphlets from Lahore Lit  Fest 2016
 
(Older post with a Nostalgic feel) 

The security situation led to a change in venue and the shift from AlHamra to the Avari Hotel’s grounds ended up making a quite a difference for this year’s Lahore Lit Fest.  Not only was the trademark art exhibit missing, there was a distinct shortage of wares and cultural activities to engage LLF-goers not attending the on-going sessions. I wonder why the Rafi Peer crew were no where to be seen. Their exhibit in the main hall, with a plethora of colourful puppets on display and a variety of publications describing events at the Peeru’s restaurant and theatre were sorely missed.  

Where were the LLF volunteers providing pamphlets and booklets with the programs printed? The LLF stamped mugs, tees and tote bags? The yearly special edition of Newsweek Pakistan with stories dedicated to the event.   The offering of books were adequate with Readings and Liberty Books having the widest variety available. However the smattering of complementary stalls were quite sad. Aside from the Desi Writer’s Lounge, the other stalls were boring or had little to offer. Speaking of which, where were the folks from The Missing Slate? 

This being the fourth year of it’s existence, it may seem a bit extreme to sound so nostalgic, but this gives credit to the organisers who managed the earlier events effortlessly. 

A.R. Gurney’s ‘Love Letters’ was performed by Rehana Saigol and Imran Aslam on Saturday, 20th February at the Lit Fest. Looking a vision in her sparkly dangly earrings and ruffly black dress, Saigol effortlessly transformed into the sensitive yet witty Melissa, the heroine in the duo. Aslam aptly played the responsible yet love-lorn  Andy Lad the Third, whose persistent letter-writing wins the heart and soul of Melissa. 

The musical interludes that punctuated sessions of letter-writing were tastefully selected - punctuating the innocence of childhood kinship or heating up the beginnings of a lustful affair-  with the musical stylings of the greats such as  Elvis Presley and Diana Ross at service. Arif Mahmood’s photos were sweet additions to the tenderly enacted romance on the LLF stage, documenting Melissa and Andy’s interactions from the cradle to the grave. 

The seating capacity for the play underestimated the demand for live theatre as the organisers hastily lined up chairs to fill up the back of the hall.   Even then, another 300 LLF goers were barely kept outside the hall, with youngsters asked to sit up on the carpet , front-row, to empty chairs for adults.  I hope the play organizers have understood the enthusiasm for live theatrical performances and will hold stage such performances on the regular, preferably at more easily-accessible venues. 

“Mein Manto” – a drama on Saadat Hasan Manto’s life

A glimpse into the life  of "Manto "

 Like Allama Iqbal, he predicted that the same people

who jeered at him would praise him in times to come, so he continued to show society its own reflection and wrote: “If you find my stories dirty, the society you are living in is dirty. With my stories, I only expose the truth.”Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto who had published 22 collections of short stories, one novel, and five radio plays knew then that he would be remembered.

           

“Mein Manto” – a drama on Saadat Hasan Manto’s lifeLAHORE: 

A Life Clouded by Controversy;

 Although Manto was never convicted, he was tried six times for obscenity in his writings in India prior to 1947, and three times after migrating to Pakistan. In his short and poverty-racked life of 43 years, Manto wrote only what he believed in. “Manto could foresee what would happen, he told the truth,” says award-winning playwright Shahid Nadeem. “He showed that a writer should be closely linked to his society and that should reflect in his writing; in a creative way.”

Nadeem — also the Executive Director of Ajoka Theatre which works for social change — believes there hasn’t been enough focus on Manto’s work or his life. “We have only seen one-dimension in the mainstream, some people regard him as a pornographic writer who was banned not only by the courts but also by the society,” says Nadeem.

 

A TV Drama serial “Mein Manto,” 

As this year marked Manto’s birth centenary, Nadeem and director Sarmad Khoosat teamed up to bring together “Mein Manto,” a drama serial for television audiences to rediscover the writer’s short-lived 43 years. “This is the first time that Manto’s life story is being presented alongside the socio-political conditions of the early ‘50s.”

Book Culture, pick up a book !

Has the Book Culture Faded  in Pakistani Society?

When we  are hostage to this smartphone and we don't see the need to pick up a book or read an article because information is at our fingertips, to say that book culture is dying may not be an exaggeration.

Libraries vs Used Bookshops:

Existing libraries in big cities of Pakistan discriminate against residency and  education , they missed that  opportunity to be a shelter and refuge  for a tired mind and a playground for the imagination, they stayed uninviting, non inclusive,  commercially motivated and restrictive.

 Quaid -e Azam Library limits it’s membership to only  masters students that are also  from few approved universities, that fades the purpose

of a library . 

“DHA Lahore library was once approached to offer free “story telling time” from my friend.

It was shocking that the manager basically replied, ” if we let you do it for free for the children,

what is in it for us ?”

 Hope at the End of the Tunnel !

However this less availability of books and reading materials gave birth to library type bookshops which

offered  reading fans a refuge and an ambiance they craved. 

 Paid library memberships from Oxford University Press and now Feroze sons and Readings opened

up their big outlets to facilitate browsing and buying both, a welcoming trend  for a privileged educated

population from posh locals, but still out of the reach for 90% of the population. 

New Trend : Readings style Book shops 

Since" Readings" style book shops  where you can get a variety of used books as well on discounts with new expensive books,  it encourages reading habits... " these new library type Bookstores also encourage people to relax and browse, which makes

it more inviting... some older bookshops are adapting this style... in a place where libraries are limited

to a chosen few.... it is a very welcome trend, we wish it to expand more.

Books for Children :

Kids develop a love of reading and books if it's been introduced in their formative years, if it's in an environment with less distractions like TV or gaming around them.

Neighborhood gaming rooms or hangout places or to  mobile gaming apps .  

Reading is a good habit and it makes people less lonely when you need a friend to pick up a book  

Lahore’s history is deeply rooted in literary heritage;

The city has a long history of  book culture, from publishing houses of good old Urdu bazaars to  sidewalk book sellers to  LLF

in 2000 era, 

Sidewalk used book sellers:

 From Anarkali Lahore to Sadar bazar Karachi these  used books sellers receive appreciation  from

students and avid book readers who despite their love for reading want a good bargain, a good place

to look for some rare editions as well .

 

Centuries Old Book Culture of Subcontinent:

You can  find an “Urdu Bazar '' almost in every city of the subcontinent, usually a landmark in an

old part of town which  consists of publishing houses and book shops.

Urdu bazar online  

Urdu Bazar Lahore. 

Urdu Bazar Delhi  

 

Furiously Happy by Jennifer Lawson

Furiously Happy by Jennifer Lawson

In Furiously Happy, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jenny Lawson explores her lifelong battle with mental illness. A hysterical, ridiculous book about crippling depression and anxiety? That sounds like a terrible idea.

But terrible ideas are what Jenny does best.

I will give Jenny Lawson's Furiously Happy a 4 out of 5 stars for being a brave yet humorous book about life as a writer who happens to be battling serious bouts of anxiety and depression. Lawson's writing is crisp and she keeps you engaged throughout the text.

 

 

As Jenny says:

"Some people might think that being 'furiously happy' is just an excuse to be stupid and irresponsible and invite a herd of kangaroos over to your house without telling your husband first because you suspect he would say no since he's never particularly liked kangaroos. And that would be ridiculous because no one would invite a herd of kangaroos into their house. Two is the limit. I speak from personal experience. My husband says that none is the new limit. I say he should have been clearer about that before I rented all those kangaroos.
 Buy this book at Amazon 

"Most of my favorite people are dangerously fucked-up but you'd never guess because we've learned to bare it so honestly that it becomes the new normal. Like John Hughes wrote in The Breakfast Club, 'We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it.' Except go back and cross out the word 'hiding.'"

Furiously Happy is about "taking those moments when things are fine and making them amazing, because those moments are what make us who we are, and they're the same moments we take into battle with us when our brains declare war on our very existence. It's the difference between "surviving life" and "living life". It's the difference between "taking a shower" and "teaching your monkey butler how to shampoo your hair." It's the difference between being "sane" and being "furiously happy."

Lawson is beloved around the world for her inimitable humor and honesty, and in Furiously Happy, she is at her snort-inducing funniest. This is a book about embracing everything that makes us who we are - the beautiful and the flawed - and then using it to find joy in fantastic and outrageous ways. Because as Jenny's mom says, "Maybe 'crazy' isn't so bad after all." Sometimes crazy is just right.

             

Kamila Shamsie's Broken Verses

Kamila Shamsie's Broken Verses

Is there a book that you wish you could “unread”? One that you disliked so thoroughly you wish you could just forget that you ever read it? I would have to say that for me Kamila Shamsie's Broken Verses is a book I wish I could 'unread'. It starts out well enough, with her trademark intriguing Karachite character, Aasmani clinging to her rather complex past. However, as the story progresses, you get the feeling the author lost direction with the plot. The premise of a mysterious Faiz-like individual 'The Poet' is promising, but the novel quickly loses steam and is unable to engage the reader.