The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation will be hosting a book signing event for the book, Kutub wa Kuttab- Qira’at Mukhtara (Books and Authors- Selected Readings) by novelist Abdul Ghaffar Hussein at 9:30pm on Saturday, April 23, 2022. The new book has recently been released by the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
In his new book, the author sheds light on 150 books from different genres that cover various topics. Among the reviewed books are 60 books by Emirati authors, which constitutes more than one third of the books reviewed by the author, reflecting the current boom in the fields of writing and publishing in the UAE, which is en par with the publishing movement in the Arab region.
In the introduction to his book, author Abdul Ghaffar Hussein writes: “I try not to be a casual reader, who puts down one book to pick up the next. I am keen to take down notes if I come across any noteworthy information or opinions mentioned by the author that are worth debate. I used to publish my feedback on the books I read in daily newspapers in the UAE whenever possible, especially in the Ramadan article series I have been writing for Al Khaleej newspaper since 20 years. I believe many readers have come across my reviews over the years, in which I always mention the newspaper and the date the review was published. Since I have written quite a number of various book reviews, I have decided to compile them into one book for the benefit of the reader who did not come across my previous reviews. Moreover, compiling all these articles in one publication makes them more accessible and makes it easier to refer to them whenever one needs to.”
In his book, novelist Abdul Ghaffar Hussein not only reviews the books but also attaches the name and photo of the author along with a short bio and a picture of the original book cover. In some reviews, he adds a photo of the dedication page that includes the signatures of the authors and various dates that give the reader clues about the date and place of publication of the book. The dedication page has always been a cherished memory for the reader. At the conclusion of each review, author Abdul Ghaffar Hussein puts down the title of the published article as well as the name and date of publication.
In addition, the book includes a preface by Mr. Mohammed Obaid Ghobash, in which he writes: “Abdul Ghaffar Hussein is one of a few multidisciplinary authors who are always on a quest to gain knowledge. This encyclopedic approach to culture is rarely seen in intellectuals who often resort to one specialized field where they feel comfortable, hence they are missing a great deal about other fields of knowledge. However, Abdul Ghaffar Hussein is not one of these, as he rarely seen without a book in his hand or at his worktable. Armed with a great command of classical Arabic, he is is capable of understanding obscure words that are no longer in use, hence he effortlessly delves into archaic books. With his fluency in English and Farsi, not a day passes without him browsing through a recently published book that reveals historical secrets for the first time, a circular that publishes political articles or an internet website that gives important information about planting and gardening. An avid listener to experts in various fields, he listens, asks and follows up and this spirit with its unquenchable thirst for knowledge is reflected everywhere in this book.”
The final section of the new book sheds light on the professional and personal biography of Abdul Ghaffar Hussein, and includes the positions he held and the great contributions he made to public life in general and to culture specifically; as he chaired the Emirates Writers Union, cofounded the first public library in Dubai and “Akhbar Dubai” magazine. He also helped established the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award and was Chairman of its Board of Trustees for 16 years, in addition to his many contributions in the field of writing and publishing, as he has authored 12 books that highlight various topics.
Moreover, the final pages of the book include a number of testimonials about the author lead by a quote by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, in which His Highness says: “The contributions of Abdul Ghaffar Hussein enrich the cultural movement”. In addition, the book also includes testimonials by Abdullah Al Madani, Bilal Al Budoor, Khalaf Al Habtoor, Dr. Ali Bin Tamim, Hanif Al Qasim, Dr. Saeed Harib and Dr. Abdul Khaliq Abdullah.
The new book, which was released by the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, comes in 842 medium-cut pages, and the cover showcases a painting from the author’s personal collection. The first section was artistically supervised by artist Mohammed Fahmi, while the material was compiled by Injy Al Awni and executed by Ahmed Abu Zeid.
