How do I feel on the occasion of my 93rd birthday? Well, the fact that the French publisher Le Roché is issuing my Ahlam Fatrat Al- Naqaha (Dreams of the Recuperation Period) in book form is reassuring. And certainly I feel immense gratitude to God who has extended my life thus far. I come from a family that has enjoyed remarkable longevity: my mother lived to the age of 100, as did my paternal aunt and my cousin.
I also feel content, I could actually say joyful, that literature, and especially the novel, remain vital enough to solicit so much attention despite the difficulties they confront. That at least some new books are popular enough to be translated and reprinted is a solace.
My wishes for next year? At my age the most that one can hope for is to preserve as much energy as one already has -- enough to control oneself -- rather than become totally debilitated and a burden to my companions. My only other wish is to retain the ability to be creative. Writing is one of the things that keeps me alive and gives me a sense of purpose.
How do I feel on the occasion of my 93rd birthday? Well, the fact that the French publisher Le Roché is issuing my Ahlam Fatrat Al- Naqaha (Dreams of the Recuperation Period) in book form is reassuring. And certainly I feel immense gratitude to God who has extended my life thus far. I come from a family that has enjoyed remarkable longevity: my mother lived to the age of 100, as did my paternal aunt and my cousin.
