digressions on writing

...coming back to the "creating language" issue.... it doesn't have to mean a different prose altogether. creating a language could also mean making variant uses of the same words. or adding sounds, and so on.

...i think am getting a better grasp of what you mean now....'language' threw me off...you mean voice or diction or in a lesser way a certain identity a writer has or builds through his work?

...if my conjecture is correct then i would say the following:

...there are thousands of english writers in the world...hundreds in the south asia (diaspora included)...how many have found their 'voice' their unique 'style' or 'diction'?...

...personally i think we should focus on reading and enjoying the book...and leave such grave matters to studious language scholars and academics who would give their verdict long after the authors are dead...and no, am not being facetious...such verdicts are grave and can only be uttered after a time lapse and after studying the great body of work of the author in question...

...presently, mohsin hamid, arundathi roy and others are one trick ponies only...

(now turn around and accuse me by saying so was desani...which is true...his other writings for us magazines and the illustrated weekly of india have been lost...but...desani was a unique writer...in that he was a trail blazer...

are you familiar with urdu?...ahmed shah bukhari wrote only one book patras kay mazameen but he is acknowledged as a leading humorist...

also on urdu...a digression what else...in lahore lives intezar hussain...he is known as a columnist who writes on language in literature in both urdu and english...but his fame in literary circles is due to his short stories...read a collection or two of this stories...he is a major 'voice' in udru ...has a unique 'style' and 'diction'...and if you are not familiar with him i have an excellent source on the net where you can learn more about him...but please do so after exams...

...go to Journal of Urdu Studies and search for articles on intezar hussain and translations of his works...

warning...if you do that...(click on urdu studies—a passion of dr. muhammed umar memon)...you will be visiting a new vista...the paths in the jungle will vie for attention...such gems are there...should you visit ismat's villa or manto's house, intezar’s chalet or nasir's abode...fehmida's nasheman or...shakir's gulzar...

...where was i?...

that was one of the reasons why m.hamid's novel was so readable. it followed its own pace and the tone of the language diversified with the characters.

yara to be honest if you remember cut above and re-visit in 20 years and see if it still holds true...i suspect mohsin appealed more to you and you sensibilities because you happen to live and breath his city...if...and this is a very qualified if...mohsin is really great then he would have a similar impact when read in civitivecchia, cartaghena or cairns...

ps. what essay? and since i have not read desani, what was rushdie acknowledging?

...this is a toughie…I don’t have the foggiest clue now...but I read his acknowledgement of desani’s pioneering efforts in south-asian English propulsion..and his influence on his writings...

i still have to read 60% of the books i've bought. mid-way through some and have yet to start others.

...unlike our respected maulana roz, my favourite abu huraira hadith does not mention finishing every book I read (now, please take it with a grain of salt)...it is perfectly alright to start and not finish some books...the writing, the authors, the weather, the friends, external circumstances beyond one’s reach sometimes dictate leaving a book unfinished...and if you do not ever return to that unfinished book then my favourite abhu huraira hadith says it is thus ordained