By Meena Nanji

By Tamim Ansary

Review by Tara Marie Good

A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes: your purchase benefits in part Levantine Cultural CenterIn 1940 Walter Benjamin wrote, "To articulate what is past does not mean to recognize ‘how it really was.' It means to take control of a memory, as it flashes in a moment of danger." For the German-Jewish Marxist philosopher that moment of danger was the Nazi march on Europe. The moment of danger that inspired Afghani born Tamim Ansary to articulate Islamic history in Destiny Disrupted was September 11th.

Destiny Disrupted is a historical narrative of the Islamic world addressing the chasm seen to separate Western and Middle Eastern histories. The main thesis presented by Ansary is that the history of Islam and the West are two parallel histories, which overlap at points, but are fundamentally separate. Claiming to represent a general Muslim perception, Ansary charts Middle Eastern history from the ancient world to the western colonial and economic expansion in the modern era.

Author, philanthropist and businessman Dr. Nadir Atash presents his book Turbulence, the Tumultuous Journey of One Man's Quest for Change in Afghanistan.

8th Annual West Hollywood Book FairLevantine Cultural Center will be participating in the 8th annual West Hollywood Book Fair, Sunday October 4th, 2009 with a booth featuring authors and musicians/peformers, and a panel discussion with Tamim Ansary and Reza Aslan. Directions/map.

For the past seven years, this event has attracted many avid readers and book enthusiasts alike. Over 400 authors and artists will be in attendance during the 2009 edition of the WeHo Book Fair, with some 100 discussion panels, book signings, writing workshops, poetry readings, storytelling and theatre. As ever, there will be a children’s area to entertain kids.

Come visit the Levantine Cultural Center’s booth (# E47-48, located in “The Field”), where we will have a comfortable lounge area to relax in, interesting books, CDs and DVDs available for purchase and some free goodies for those who come by. We will also be hosting a number of book/CD/DVD signings with authors and musicians:

8th Annual West Hollywood Book FairSee event photos below.

Levantine Cultural Center participated in the 8th annual West Hollywood Book Fair, Sunday October 4th, 2009 with a booth featuring authors and musicians/peformers, and a panel discussion with Tamim Ansary and Reza Aslan.

For the past seven years, this event has attracted many avid readers and book enthusiasts alike. Over 400 authors and artists will be in attendance during the 2009 edition of the WeHo Book Fair, with some 100 discussion panels, book signings, writing workshops, poetry readings, storytelling and theatre. As ever, there will be a children’s area to entertain kids.

Come visit the Levantine Cultural Center’s booth (# E47-48, located in “The Field”), where we will have a comfortable lounge area to relax in, interesting books, CDs and DVDs available for purchase and some free goodies for those who come by. We will also be hosting a number of book/CD/DVD signings with authors and musicians:

Khaled HosseiniKhaled Hosseini's bestselling novels The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, have transformed the understanding of Afghanistan and its history for millions of readers. His riveting and heart-wrenching tales capture everyday Afghans' struggles to raise families and find happiness while facing violent political upheavals, devastating wars and entrenched inequity.

Born in Kabul in 1965, Hosseini's family sought political asylum in the United States in 1980 during the Soviet invasion. This much-loved author discusses his life, work and insights on Afghanistan's people and future. Visit Khaled Hosseini's web site. Read his blog page.

Get tix for Sept. 30.

News from the war in Afghanistan and the surrounding region has not been good this week. A recent Pew Global Attitudes study conducted in Pakistan found that while support for the Taliban and Al-Qaeda is declining there, 64 percent of respondents now consider the U.S. an enemy. This week, as Afghanistan prepares for its second presidential election since the U.S. occupation began in 2001, American troops are fighting a pitched battle against Taliban fighters to secure the southern town of Dananeh. On August 15, the Taliban claimed responsibility for a car bomb that exploded at the NATO headquarters in Kabul, killing seven civilians and wounding dozens more, children among them.

Afghan Star

Using film, music and scholarship, on August 5th, speakers will explore the Mizrahim (Eastern Jews):

• Are the Jews of the Middle East/North Africa as Arab or Iranian as their host nationalities?
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  How were they received in Israel?
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  Are the Mizrahim/Sephardim a missing link to Middle East peace?