The major religions of the world base their legitimacy on the approval of God, gods, goddesses and angels. Their holy books, as well. Their founders are venerated by churches, temples and mosques. And public celebrations. Doctrines are laid out, heresies punished. Followers go to heaven, disbelievers to the other place.
In The Shadow Of The Sword By Tom Holland 574pp, 2013 Abacus paperback Available at Asia Books and leading bookshops, 495 baht
The bane of existence to priests, mullahs or monks are impartial historians who gather and analyse the documents and manuscripts from the time the religions came into being. Often as not there are discrepancies with the accepted versions. The founding fathers and their successors doctoring the facts.
Was it important in the wide scheme of things? It was to no-nonsense, truth-seeking historians who brook no lies. Even when their findings shake the foundations of the religion focused on. With In The Shadow Of The Sword, British historian Tom Holland sets his sights on Islam. Today, more than a few people associate it with Muslim terrorists and Sept 11, 2001. This 574-page history, not historical novel, comes replete with a timeline of the 6th century, list of real life characters with thumbnail descriptions, photos of artefacts, period maps, glossary, index, footnotes.
Mohammed's revelations (from God via the angel Gabriel) are accepted by Holland, the multi-cultured Arabs balking at his insistence that there's only one God. Gabriel advised him to flee Mecca to avoid being murdered. An Egyptian disciple referred to him as the Prophet, the Messenger of God. The author contends that the Koran was not dictated by God. Giving us many examples, he points out that its sources range from the Jewish Torah to Christian works to once popular beliefs, held no longer. Its contradictions leave the reader guessing whether God is compassionate or vengeful.
The Ka'aba (stone and mud) was considered an outsized lucky charm before it became regarded as holy. Mecca became the centre of Islam by chance. The religion's schism is covered. Pages are devoted to Jesus, but he isn't given the full treatment. Perhaps the author will satisfy us in a forthcoming history.
Histories aren't like fiction novels, even historical fiction. To his credit, Holland isn't a dry writer as men of his ilk are. But make no mistake. In The Shadow Of The Sword is a work of history. I enjoyed it. This reviewer hopes that it doesn't earn him a fatwa.
NYPD Red By James Patterson & Marshall Karp 483pp, 2013 Arrow paperback Available at Asia Books and leading bookshops, 325 baht
A loser's revenge
A much-travelled senior citizen with my eyes wide open, and meaning no disrespect, I can honestly say that I've met virtually no beautiful women. It is well said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Indeed, we don't all agree on who is beautiful. Not that my standards are exceedingly high.
As the Nite Owl I judged wet T-shirt contests, taking into consideration the whole package. My vote went to the sexiest contestant. Not the most beautiful, which isn't synonymous with sexiest. To be sure more than a few katoeys are better looking than women, but their voices and exaggerated walk put me off.
The most beautiful woman I knew personally was Chinese, 20, a student. I was a proofreader with the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. Nothing came of it, yet thinking of her still takes my breath away. The thing is that the vast majority of women I've come across have been pretty, with not too much make-up, very pretty.
As a reviewer of mainly novels, it irks me that the authors invariably call their heroines beautiful. Why not pretty or very pretty? Be she a serial killer or the policeman who takes her down, beautiful is the description. When a customer in a shop is thumbing through a story, will he slam the book shut and put it back in the rack because the protagonist is pretty?
In NYPD Red by James Patterson and Marshall Karp, Kylie MacDonald is beautiful. She's a homicide detective with a special unit of the New York Police Department dealing with high profile cases. She doesn't go by the book and has killed more than one perpetrator.
Partner Zach Jordan and Kylie used to be an item, until she wed a successful TV producer. Zach still carries a torch for her, unreciprocated.
The heavy fancies himself an actor, scriptwriter, and director. But unable to get a break as any of them is only a film extra. Fancying his talent unrecognised, he snaps and proceeds to murder the top men in the visual arts field.
Kylie and Zach are given the cases. As bodies pile up, practically all New York's Finest are after him. An evil genius, master of disguises, turning on his pursuers, Kylie and Zach barely manage to stay alive.
The appeal of fame and fortune on stage, screen and TV attracts countless more hopefuls than there are jobs for them. Working as waiters and waitresses for sustenance, hoping to be discovered. Few are. The future is bleak. The authors have captured the frustration. What of the beautiful hopefuls?
