Well, not really, but I am fairly certain that was he.
When Fredrik Backman the novelist walked up to the stage and took a seat, I exchanged a look with my husband. What’s with him? No author, hosted by Barnes & Noble for a book reading, gives the audience a do I really have to do this look. He settled uncomfortably in his chair, asked if he could speak without the mic (Khalid called out ‘mic is better) and he sighed. Now he had this OK so I am here; what else do you want me to do look. And I was wondering if this was going to be what made me come to this event evening.
It was the best book reading ever.
Read more“Cassius Clay has defeated Sonny Liston,” Daddy announced as he walked into the living room, holding the Pakistan Times. My sister and I were sitting on the rug, doing I don’t remember what. But I do remember looking up, feeling the incredulity in his voice, and wondering what the fuss was about. I was 12, and this was the city of Quetta in northwest Pakistan. We remained sitting, and Daddy remained standing, as we obediently listened to him explain to us who Sonny Liston was, who this Cassius Clay was, what in the world is ‘heavy weight’, and what is the big deal of one boxer winning over another.
Read moreNo Muslim is surprised when they hear someone say, “Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim” (In the name of Allah, the gracious, the merciful). So why was I surprised? Because this was not just another Muslim saying Bismillah. It was a Rabbi.
Read more4 DESIGN TIPS
First impressions are made in one-tenth of a second.
- Your photo: Look friendly. It should make people want to work with you.
- Book Jacket: It should represent you, and your work.
- Website: Get it up & running 6 months before your book is published. Get it professionally done. Readers will judge the quality of your work by the quality of your website.
Read moreYesterday was Mothers Day. My son called me at 8:00 am, “Happy Mothers Day, Mom.” Relishing the moment, and robotically programmed, I reached out to call Mummy. Then stopped. She won’t take my call. Her phone is cut off. She doesn’t live there anymore.
Mummy stopped talking to me two years ago.
Read moreThe phone rang. I woke up with a start and looked at the clock. 3:00 a.m.
Remember the feeling!
Terror: ‘Please God, let it not be bad news.’
Hesitation: ‘I am afraid to answer the phone’.
‘Sorry, wrong number’.
Read moreI must have laughed the hardest as Wajahat Ali made InshAllah jokes at the MUBANY gala (Muslim Bar Association of NY) last week, and I exhaled decades of pent-up exasperation. If you were there, I was the woman at the front table, laughing long after everyone else had stopped, causing heads to turn. Sadly, it wasn’t my looks.
Before I explain, let me first apologize.
Read moreI didn’t expect Gloria Steinem to talk about violence; well, I sort of did, but only in the context of domestic violence. But police violence, wars, & terrorism?
What did she just say?
Read more“At my age, most people are dead,” she said to a thunderous applause. “I am 82.”
Gasp!
You just took another look at that photo, didn’t you?
I had walked out of the 900-seat auditorium, wishing I could have seen her a little closer. And who do I run into at the street corner!
Read moreWhile in Pakistan, I was hanging out with friends when her phone rang. She excused herself and returning, apologized:
Matchmaker (MM): Sorry, it was a rishta call.
Me: What do you mean rishta call? [Rishta is ‘match' in Urdu]
MM: I am a matchmaker.
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