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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
High profile Al Shabab attacks
- 2010: A restaurant attack in Kampala Uganda kills 74 people watching a Fifa World Cup final football match.
- 2013: The Westgate shopping mall attack, 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and four gunmen are killed.
- 2014: A series of bombings and shootings across Kenya sees scores of civilians killed.
- 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
- 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
- 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
ARABIAN GULF LEAGUE FIXTURES
Thursday, September 21
Al Dahfra v Sharjah (kick-off 5.35pm)
Al Wasl v Emirates (8.30pm)
Friday, September 22
Dibba v Al Jazira (5.25pm)
Al Nasr v Al Wahda (8.30pm)
Saturday, September 23
Hatta v Al Ain (5.25pm)
Ajman v Shabab Al Ahli (8.30pm)
