Abdel Rasheed Mahmoudi revealed he was close to scrapping the title of his novel, After Coffee, which won the literature category of The Sheikh Zayed Book Awards.
Speaking as a part of his session at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair on Friday, the Egyptian writer said he was planning to call his book Night of Good Times after the song by Syrian songstress Asmahan.
“This is because part of the novel occurs in Vienna and Asmahan’s song is inspired by the city.”
Mahmoudi eventually settled on After Coffee due to its link with the plot-ending.
“It occurs in the last scene,” he remarked.
“Where the novel’s hero, Methat, faces the women and must decide whether he should surrender to his passions or stand firm.”
Announced last week by award organisers, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA), Mahmoudi received a Dh750,000 cash prize after his novel stood out amongst 344 entries.
The Abu Dhabi Dhabi International Book Fair runs until Monday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center. For details go to www.adbookfair.com
sasaeed@thenational.ae
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Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
Managing the separation process
- Choose your nursery carefully in the first place
- Relax – and hopefully your child will follow suit
- Inform the staff in advance of your child’s likes and dislikes.
- If you need some extra time to talk to the teachers, make an appointment a few days in advance, rather than attempting to chat on your child’s first day
- The longer you stay, the more upset your child will become. As difficult as it is, walk away. Say a proper goodbye and reassure your child that you will be back
- Be patient. Your child might love it one day and hate it the next
- Stick at it. Don’t give up after the first day or week. It takes time for children to settle into a new routine.And, finally, don’t feel guilty.
