A Golden Collection of World Literature
Human Nature Deciphered
- Madame Bovary, Gustave Flaubert The Film (2000) (DVD)
- Read: Madame Bovary
- Watch This Masterpiece Take on Flaubert’s Greatest Hit, “Madame Bovary” and “Gemma Bovary.
- Read: Lilies of The Field
- Read: To Kill a Mocking Bird (Take the Quiz)
- Read: The Story of My Life
- Read: A Good Man is Hard to Find
- Read: I Want A Wife
- Read: Diary of Anne Frank
- Read: The Gift of the Magi
- Read Chekov: The Student
- Read Oscar Wilde: The Nightingale and the Rose
- Read: The Sound and the Fury (For a Comprehensive Understanding of Classic Literature)
- Read: What Will Happen to America to Intellectuals and Writers Like Who I Am if Donald Trump Wins the Presidency: “Dr. Zhivago.” (Full Text)
- Read: Madame Bovary
- Read: The Girth with a Pearl Earring
- Read: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
- Read: The Pearl: Steinbeck’s Word of Cautionary Tales and Human Struggles is Timeless and Profound.
- Read Shakespeare’s Timeless Classic, “Romeo And Juliet.”
- Watch: “Vicky, Christina, Barcelona” to Understand Human Nature
- Watch Spanish Director Almadovoar’s Depiction of the Human Condition in “All About My Mother.”
- Read: The Man Who Married Himself by Charlie Fish
- Read: The Match-Maker by Saki
- Read: The Open Window by Saki (With Analysis)
- Read Naguib Mahfouz: The Answer Is No
- I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelo
- The Talking Horse by Sabri Bebawi
Insights from Naguib Mahfouz
The Answer Is No
Naguib Mahfouz depicted the norms of Egyptian society with remarkable power, delving into the constraints and struggles individuals face. Growing up in Egypt, Mahfouz’s homeland, I have always admired his courage in honestly portraying society through authentic storytelling and profound characters. His work inspires me to seek truth in my writings, striving to capture the essence of our shared humanity.
I was honored to meet Naguib Mahfouz at the Nile Sheraton Hotel. in Cairo, Egypt. As he sat reflecting over a drink, I gathered the courage to approach him. After shaking his hand, I admired his work and gratitude for his immense contributions to literature.
Tragically, Mahfouz faced several assassination attempts during his lifetime—proof that the truths he revealed often unsettled people. Yet, his works remain timeless, offering profound insights into the complexities of society and human nature.
Maya Angelou
The Great Maya Angelou, a legendary American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist,
She was renowned for her powerful words and her resilience in the face of adversity. I had the honor of meeting Maya at a function at the University where I used to work. Maya Angelou was a great orator; when she spoke, the earth listened. She was among the most outstanding speakers of the time.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) is the first and most famous of her works. The book recounts her early life, including her experiences with racism, sexual abuse, and the struggle to find her voice as a young Black woman in America. The work became a classic of American literature, breaking new ground in addressing personal trauma and identity with such raw honesty. Shamefully, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is among the books banned in Florida and some other rogue States in the United States’ schools and libraries. This is part of a more significant effort to remove books from school libraries under House Bill 1069.
Her masterpiece, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, is an autobiography. The beauty of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings lies in its raw honesty, lyrical prose, and powerful storytelling. Maya Angelou takes the reader through her childhood and adolescence, capturing moments of deep pain, joy, and self-discovery with poetic elegance. She transforms personal struggles—racism, trauma, abandonment, and identity—into a universal story of resilience and triumph. Her language is rich and accessible, painting vivid portraits of the people and places that shaped her. Every sentence carries weight, whether filled with sorrow, hope, or humor.
The title’s significance comes from Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem “Sympathy,” which describes a caged bird that sings not out of joy but as an expression of its deep longing for freedom. In the memoir, Maya Angelou, like the caged bird, experiences oppression and confinement—both socially as a Black girl in the racist American South and personally through trauma and silence. Yet, like the bird, she finds her voice through literature, poetry, and storytelling, ultimately breaking free from the metaphorical cage. The title reflects the suffering and the unbreakable spirit of those who continue to dream and sing despite their circumstances.
Tales of the Unexpected
- By Sabri Bebawi
- Edited: ChatGPT
In the small, picturesque town of Willowbrook, a boy named Daniel met a girl named Lily on a sun-drenched afternoon in June. The moment their eyes met across the bustling farmer’s market, something magical sparked between them. Daniel, with his messy brown hair and warm hazel eyes, felt an immediate connection to Lily, whose bright smile and sparkling blue eyes made his heart race.
As summer unfolded, their bond grew more assertive. They spent countless hours wandering through the meadows, discussing their dreams and aspirations. Their love blossomed quickly, and soon, they became inseparable. The townspeople often remarked on how perfect they seemed for each other.
One evening, as the sun set over the rolling hills, Daniel and Lily lay on a blanket, gazing at the stars. Daniel turned to Lily and took her hand in his. “Lily, I love you more than words can say. Will you marry me?” Lily’s eyes filled with tears of joy. “Yes, Daniel, I will.”
They set their wedding date for the following spring, choosing a date that held special significance for both—the anniversary of their first meeting. Excitement and happiness filled their days as they planned their future together.
However, as the wedding day approached, an unease settled over Lily’s mother, Margaret. She had always supported her daughter’s relationship with Daniel, but a dark secret had haunted her for years. Unable to bear the weight longer, she decided to tell the truth.
One rainy afternoon, Margaret asked Lily to sit with her in their cozy kitchen. The smell of freshly baked cookies filled the air, but Margaret’s expression was grave.
“Lily, there’s something I need to tell you,” Margaret began, trembling. “It’s about Daniel.”
Lily looked at her mother, confusion and concern written on her face. “What is it, Mom?”
Margaret took a deep breath, tears welling up in her eyes. “When I was young, I had a brief relationship with a man named Michael. It ended before I met your father, but I recently discovered that Michael is Daniel’s father. Lily, Daniel is your half-brother.”
The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Lily felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under her. She stood up, her heart pounding in her chest. “No, that can’t be true. There must be some mistake.”
Margaret reached out to her daughter, tears streaming down her face. “I’m so sorry, Lily. I never wanted this to happen. I never knew about Daniel until recently.”
Lily ran out of the house, her mind spinning. She found Daniel at their favorite spot by the river and tearfully told him what her mother had said. Daniel was equally devastated. The love they shared, so pure and true, was now tainted by a cruel twist of fate.
The days that followed were filled with pain and confusion. Daniel and Lily, once so sure of their future together, now faced an impossible reality. They knew they couldn’t be together despite their love.
In the end, they made the heartbreaking decision to part ways. They vowed always to cherish the memories of their time together and to support each other as siblings. The love they shared would never fade, but it would have to take on a different form.
Life in Willowbrook went on, but nothing would ever be the same for Daniel and Lily. They carried the weight of their lost love with them, finding solace in the knowledge that, despite everything, they had once shared something beautiful.