MSI Press Blog

  photo includes Princess Muna of Jordan (mother of King Abdullah) in the center and Dr. Betty Leaver, MSI Press editor, second from the right; others - members of a visiting delegation We are happy tp provide you with a taste of the Middle East. Each of the books below contains nuggets and insights that are hard to find elsewhere -- written by the residents of the Middle East. Follow the links to more information. Damascus amid the War by Muna Imady Written by popular author, Muna Imady, whose book, Syrian Folktales, has delighted an uncountable number of readers outside of Syria, Damascus amid the War tells the very human story of the devolution of a society. The book containts 29 pre-war poins, vibrant with imagery of daily life in a robust Damascus. The 100 war poems that follow show the devastating affect on the people who navigate a daily existence after war came. This is a posthumous publication, containing Muna’s very last works and an introduction by her mother,...

  excerpt from Damascus amid the War (M. Imady) --              Commentary   In Muna Imady’s writing we witness a kind of devolution from poetry that was filled with vivid imagery and striking metaphors to that which was made to carry words of the brutality of war. Stripped of Muna’s imaginative, powerful, evocative language, her poetry becomes savagely direct, honest to the point of shocking readers with its transformation.   The world of Muna’s early poetry has become broken, brutalized, burned, and bombed. With it, Muna’s heart is broken; her imagination has been filled with what is dark and laden with grief. The simplicity of most of the war poems, when compared with those of her pre-war output give readers a stark reminder of the effects of war in ways that the news cannot. War breaks people and it transforms artistry into something it was never meant to be, painting a picture in words of the way the human spirit can be crushed, th...

Extracted from photo by M. Katherine Shear, M.D. See original photo with words and blog article at aspire.com .   Whether they die in war, from illness, by suicide, or as a result end-of-life issues, their loss affects relatives, friends, acquaintances, neighbors, and colleagues in  devastating ways. The following books are gentle but helpful treatments of the issues of bereavement and grief. Damascus amid the War by Muna Imady Written by popular author, Muna Imady, whose book, Syrian Folktales, has delighted an uncountable number of readers outside of Syria, Damascus amid the War tells the very human story of the devolution of a society. The book containts 29 pre-war poins, vibrant with imagery of daily life in a robust Damascus. The 100 war poems that follow show the devastating affect on the people who navigate a daily existence after war came. This is a posthumous publication, containing Muna’s very last works and an introduction by her mother, Elaine Imady, author o...

Poems and stories from before the war in Syria and during the war by a Damascene experiencing the war first-hand. The pre-war poetry reflects the rich and joyful life that exsited then, and the poems and stories written later reflect the starkness and fearfullness of life that now surrounds Damascus and its inhabitants. Muna is also author of the beloeved book, Syrian Folktales (available at our webstore and other stores).   Damascus amid the War is available now on pre-order from: Amazon MSI Press (use code FF25 for a 25% discount)

Wishing all our Islamic friends, fans, and readers Ramadan mubarak wa kareem.  Here are some books that can take your attention away from long days of fasting: Damascus amid the War Poems and stories from before the war in Syria and during the war by a Damascene experiencing the war first-hand. The pre-war poetry reflects the rich and joyful life that existed then, and the poems and stories written later reflect the starkness and fearfulness of life that now surrounds Damascus and its inhabitants. Introductory Lectures on Religious Philosophy This series of lectures is an overview of five ancient philosophical traditions, focusing on the following questions: More than a series of lectures, this collection of dialogues addresses the following questions: What is the relationship between religion and philosophy? What social and psychological functions do religions serve? What does it mean to be educated? Professor Sabzevary's intellectual nuance is matched only by his clarity, not onl...

  excerpt from  Damascus amid the War  (M. Imady) --     Pre-war Poems 11-20 11. Mending With gold and silver threads, my dreams I mend. Patch up the grey thoughts, then embellish them with bright hopes. ***        12.  The Field of Hope In the field of my mind, I weeded out the fears, sowed seeds of hope, then watered them with tears of joy. ***   13.  The Mask The sad look faded out. The pale mask shriveled and shrunk. Then, suddenly, it dropped. Undisguised, fingers danced upon the bare flesh with grace. Lips twisted and curled. Then, cautiously, drew a happy face! ***   14. The Shadow A laugh! A carefree laugh rang in my ear. Arms excitedly flapped in the air. Feet danced – lively – down the street. Gazing at the reflected figure -on the pavement – to my surprise I realized it was me! *** 15.  How How hard must I try to break through the iron bars? How far must I go To reach a silver star? How mad s...