It’s another Wednesday, the month is almost over and we all need a little bit of motivation to get the week, and by extension, the month, going. So here it is!
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Author Archives: memoriesandsuch
In My Hands Today…
The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu and Their Race to Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts – Joshua Hammer
To save precious centuries-old Arabic texts from Al Qaeda, a band of librarians in Timbuktu pulls off a brazen heist worthy of Ocean’s Eleven.
In the 1980s, a young adventurer and collector for a government library, Abdel Kader Haidara, journeyed across the Sahara Desert and along the Niger River, tracking down and salvaging tens of thousands of ancient Islamic and secular manuscripts that had fallen into obscurity. The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu tells the incredible story of how Haidara, a mild-mannered archivist and historian from the legendary city of Timbuktu, later became one of the world’s greatest and most brazen smugglers.
In 2012, thousands of Al Qaeda militants from northwest Africa seized control of most of Mali, including Timbuktu. They imposed Sharia law, chopped off the hands of accused thieves, stoned to death unmarried couples, and threatened to destroy the great manuscripts. As the militants tightened their control over Timbuktu, Haidara organized a dangerous operation to sneak all 350,000 volumes out of the city to the safety of southern Mali.
Over the past twenty years, journalist Joshua Hammer visited Timbuktu numerous times and is uniquely qualified to tell the story of Haidara’s heroic and ultimately successful effort to outwit Al Qaeda and preserve Mali’s—and the world’s—literary patrimony. Hammer explores the city’s manuscript heritage and offers never-before-reported details about the militants’ march into northwest Africa. But above all, The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu is an inspiring account of the victory of art and literature over extremism.
Genres
Nonfiction
History
Africa
Books About Books
Poem: The Simple Joys of Childhood
I sometimes tell BB & GG that I had a better childhood than them. While the two of them did not grow up with technology like the children of today, they were exposed to it at a much younger age. My father was in IT, so I was exposed to technology much earlier than my peers, but our childhood was one that was free of pretty much all technology, with the exception of the radio and some television. Today’s poem is a throwback to that simple time, when life was about playing and enjoying life!
The Simple Joys of Childhood
In the days of the eighties and nineties’ embrace,
Where childhood was golden, a magical place,
No internet buzz or smart device calls,
Just laughter and sunshine, and echoes in halls.
Mornings with cartoons, a bowl full of cheer,
Saturday wonders, so simple and dear,
Riding bikes freely, till the streetlights came on,
With scraped knees and smiles, till daylight was gone.
Secret societies and letters sent through the mail,
Whispered secrets and an adventurous tale,
Skipping rope rhythms, hopscotch on chalk,
Endless games played on sidewalks of talk.
Library visits, the scent of old books,
Adventures in pages, with longing looks,
Trading cards, stickers, and marbles in hand,
Simple treasures cherished, in a world unplanned.
Climbing up trees, feeling the breeze,
Catching fireflies with effortless ease,
Running through sprinklers, laughter in flight,
Campfire stories that flickered in the night.
Handwritten letters passed in the class,
Notes folded neatly, with whispers that last,
Ice cream truck melodies, coins in races,
Chasing the music, with joy on our faces.
Friendships were forged in the simplest of ways,
Shared in the parks, on long summer days,
Hide and seek giggles, and tag’s playful chase,
In a world of pure wonder, an innocent space.
No screens to distract, no digital chase,
Just the pure, simple joys of a slower-paced race,
In the heart of the eighties and nineties delight,
Childhood was magic, in the purest of light.
2024 Week 38 Update
Another week where I was exhausted. I think I was more tired this week as compared to last week because we hosted S’ extended family. And because I wanted my home to reflect us, I went slightly out of the way to ensure that my inlaws had nothing to nitpick about when they came over. The party was a hit and everyone loved the food that R and I made. Some of the recipes that I made yesterday and last week will slowly make their way here.
Today’s quote comes to us from American novelist, essayist, and non-fiction writer, Anne Lamott who is known for her candid, witty, and deeply personal reflections on faith, writing, motherhood, and the human experience. Lamott’s quote conveys a message of resilience and perseverance through challenging times. The quote suggests that the best way to navigate difficult or chaotic situations is to focus on small, manageable steps. By taking things one step at a time, we can move forward without feeling overwhelmed. Lamott emphasises the importance of taking a breath, implying that staying calm and composed is essential in dealing with life’s difficulties. Breathing serves as a reminder to pause, center ourselves, and approach challenges with patience. The simplicity of “left foot, right foot” reflects the need to focus on the basics, keeping things uncomplicated when life feels too much. It encourages persistence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain.
That’s all from me this week while I take some time off today to rest and rejuvenate so I can tackle next week with vigour and enthusiasm.
Keep smiling and be positive!
In My Hands Today…
It’s All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World’s Family Tree – A.J. Jacobs
A.J. Jacobs has received some strange emails over the years, but this note was perhaps the strangest: “You don’t know me, but I’m your eighth cousin. And we have over 80,000 relatives of yours in our database.”
That’s enough family members to fill Madison Square Garden four times over. Who are these people, A.J. wondered, and how do I find them? So began Jacobs’s three-year adventure to help build the biggest family tree in history.
Jacobs’s journey would take him to all seven continents. He drank beer with a US president, found himself singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and unearthed genetic links to Hollywood actresses and real-life scoundrels. After all, we can choose our friends, but not our family.
Memories and Such 