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As written for The Platform, UK [September 2017] An “autobiographical comedy” is how Trevor Noah’s memoir Born A Crime is often described. But, as everyone’s current favourite satirical funny man, Noah does here too what he does best. Drollery as a façade for dark witticisms. A laugh-out-loud hardcover made up of pages laced with a grim life […]
June 12, 2014
Laurens Hesselink has made it his life’s work to preserve priceless ancient books and manuscripts dating back to the 15th century As written for Gulf News (June 12, 2014) Looking after what was quite possibly the most valuable stand at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, was renowned antiquarian Laurens Hesselink and owner of Antiquariaat […]
May 14, 2013
As written for The National, UAE (May 14, 2013) Another fun round-up for the lit lot. At a time when a true appreciation of literature is seemingly on the demise, thanks to the doomsayer-esque allure of technology and its de-romanticisation of the written word, Dubai seems to be witnessing a sudden revivalist surge in the promotion of […]
July 26, 2012
As written for The National, UAE (July 26, 2012) My definition of a glorious (yes, glorious) Saturday morning; 6 hours, 4 stores and a personal acquisition of 6 titles later = a round-up and critique of the top second-hand book stores in Dubai + the most fun I’ve had on a writing assignment in a […]
April 1, 2012
Friends and acquaintances seem to believe that I have in me what it takes to come out with a book. That is, to make my mark as an ink-slinger of the established sort; an author. Ego had me toying about with the idea, but the day dream was dismissed quite quickly, for which I have […]
January 30, 2012
As written for The National, UAE (January 30, 2012) To merely call the Egyptian-Lebanese author Yahia Lababidi a “poet” would be like heinously dedicating a blank notebook to a specific purpose – limiting the many possibilities of potential expression to just one. For Lababidi is not just a rhapsodist, but also an essayist, and even […]
December 25, 2011
As written for The National, UAE (November 21, 2011). As is the case with most Sri Lankan authors having spent a considerable period of time abroad, I expected Shehan Karunatilaka’s accent to have a pronounced Kiwi cadence and tinged with only a slight Sri Lankan nuance, considering the years he spent in New Zealand. But […]
September 6, 2011
I just can’t bring myself to do it. Give myself up to the cult of e-Readers, I mean. The convenience of the gadget, the eco-friendliness of the investment – yes, yes I’ve heard the argument. The same debate I’ve lobbed back and forth enough times to generate enough electricity to power one of those darned […]
The Kaftan Writer 
November 22, 2017
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