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Interpreter of Winds
Often an unnoticed caress on our faces, winds are voiceless and formless. How do we interpret them? What mysteries can we find in the whispers of winds? From a Dutch occupied Java where a witch was murdered, a dog who desires to be a Muslim, to a day in which all sense of music is lost, the mundane is aflame with the uncanny.
In these stories, Fairoz Ahmad invites you to take a closer look at ordinary objects, as they take on a life of their own and spin gossamer threads. This book is a celebration of the little charms and enchantments of our universes amidst struggles and eventual helplessness.
Interpreter of Winds is a reflection of the author's experiences and observations growing up Muslim in a world too busy, too distracted, to understand one another, and his belief that the magic, wonder and richness of one’s history and culture, together with their quirks and eccentricities, could help narrow this gap in understanding.
In these stories, Fairoz Ahmad invites you to take a closer look at ordinary objects, as they take on a life of their own and spin gossamer threads. This book is a celebration of the little charms and enchantments of our universes amidst struggles and eventual helplessness.
Interpreter of Winds is a reflection of the author's experiences and observations growing up Muslim in a world too busy, too distracted, to understand one another, and his belief that the magic, wonder and richness of one’s history and culture, together with their quirks and eccentricities, could help narrow this gap in understanding.
- GenresShort Stories
101 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2019
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70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 3, 2020
“The day the music died” is one of the most amazing, beautiful and thought provoking short stories I’ve read. No spoilers, it’s simply about “a day in which all sense of music is lost”.
July 10, 2019
Interpreter of Winds is refreshing and close to the heart. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as it explored the stories of Javanese characters and Muslim individuals going about their daily affairs, mixed with the elements of magical realism and fairytale-like surroundings.
My favourite story is the first titular one, where a curious and inquisitive dog is accompanied by a rigid and strict camel as they journey across the desert while telling each other stories. I was drawn to the way the dog loved to question everything, much to the camel's annoyance, as I could see myself in the canine being, always asking too much and sometimes getting berated for it. I liked how curiosity is treated with encouragement, and I liked how it all ties back to the over-reliance a lot of people have on faith and religion, and how dangerous and harmful such over-reliance can be.
Additionally, the book also deals with the Southeast Asian identity. Being part of a Southeast Asian community would necessitate the coming to terms with a long and traumatic history of colonialism and self-oppression. By introducing genuine characters who tell their stories earnestly and sincerely, more progression is made towards breaking away from the colonialism that has long kept us silent and subservient. This book is a reminder of how powerful literature and literary representation is, and I am truly grateful for that.
I would've given it 5 stars if some stories weren't so draggy and difficult to follow -- these parts became quite a chore to plow through, but it was worth it in the end.
My favourite story is the first titular one, where a curious and inquisitive dog is accompanied by a rigid and strict camel as they journey across the desert while telling each other stories. I was drawn to the way the dog loved to question everything, much to the camel's annoyance, as I could see myself in the canine being, always asking too much and sometimes getting berated for it. I liked how curiosity is treated with encouragement, and I liked how it all ties back to the over-reliance a lot of people have on faith and religion, and how dangerous and harmful such over-reliance can be.
Additionally, the book also deals with the Southeast Asian identity. Being part of a Southeast Asian community would necessitate the coming to terms with a long and traumatic history of colonialism and self-oppression. By introducing genuine characters who tell their stories earnestly and sincerely, more progression is made towards breaking away from the colonialism that has long kept us silent and subservient. This book is a reminder of how powerful literature and literary representation is, and I am truly grateful for that.
I would've given it 5 stars if some stories weren't so draggy and difficult to follow -- these parts became quite a chore to plow through, but it was worth it in the end.
March 8, 2020
I really liked the writing, but unfortunately a lot of the stories were lost on me; I'm not entirely sure what the end point or even lesson of some of them were, or perhaps they were too crass for my liking. In the one about the keris, for example, it seems to be but that seems too obtuse to befit the beautiful writing. And it is beautiful; I really liked the way the element of local myth and fairy tale was woven into not only the plot but the cadence as well. Like a modern day Sejarah Melayu. If only the stories were stronger.
July 4, 2022
i have a pension for abstract, wit-laced short story collections which i can never immediately understand but will always remember for the way their words left me reeling. this book is yet another testament of this obsession, but what made this collection especially memorable is how it interlaced Islamic reminders with stories set in the context of Islamic countries such as Southeast Asia and Iraq. Just like how short stories revived my willingness to emerge from my reading slump and be more meticulous in appreciating how language is construed with each book, this short story collection made me more keen to discover more traditional stories and also modern retellings of folklore from the Malay-Muslim community, and to find out more about the rich culture of the malay archipelago. my favourite stories were the interpreter of winds and the night of a thousand months, but all the stories converged to send the same message that achieving wealth and prosperity in the Hereafter should be our ultimate aim as Muslims in this world, rather than limiting our minds and hearts to this realm alone. that is truly the most important reminder.
January 4, 2021
Interpreter of Winds is a collection of short stories filled with refreshing perspectives and allows the reader to have a deeper appreciation of Islamic culture and the Muslim world, especially for those less familiar with it. I enjoyed the writing, especially the first story which is phrased like a light fable, but has much more depth hidden within. Though, despite so, much of the plots themselves, even the first story, were unfortunately lost on me; it may be because I've missed a bunch of subtleties, which could have been caught on by those more familiar with the culture. Either way, I would still recommend this book and appreciate the writer for adding his voice into the space, as well as Ethos Books for publishing this.
|selfnotes|
harmattan and the significance of winds, arabic language has (sixteen) different words for camels, arabs v persians, keris [dagger], imam [religious leader], surau [smaller version of a mosque]
|selfnotes|
harmattan and the significance of winds, arabic language has (sixteen) different words for camels, arabs v persians, keris [dagger], imam [religious leader], surau [smaller version of a mosque]
February 5, 2023
This title is the second in Ethos Books' orbit series that I have read, the first one being Notes After Terawih.
I really enjoyed it, far more than I did the first one and will be looking for the next title, Giving Alms.
These short stories by Fairoz Ahmad are so very lyrical and filled with longing. The first story 'Interpreter of Winds' takes us into the Arabian desert; the second, 'The Smell of Jasmine After the Rain' about the death of a witch in Dutch occupied Java; the last 2 in the collection – 'The Day The Music Died' and 'The Night of a Thousand Months' deal with the Malay-Muslim community in a kampung. All so very beautiful. Succinct and well told.
I can't wait to read more by him. He is a master storyteller, an expert fable teller.
I really enjoyed it, far more than I did the first one and will be looking for the next title, Giving Alms.
These short stories by Fairoz Ahmad are so very lyrical and filled with longing. The first story 'Interpreter of Winds' takes us into the Arabian desert; the second, 'The Smell of Jasmine After the Rain' about the death of a witch in Dutch occupied Java; the last 2 in the collection – 'The Day The Music Died' and 'The Night of a Thousand Months' deal with the Malay-Muslim community in a kampung. All so very beautiful. Succinct and well told.
I can't wait to read more by him. He is a master storyteller, an expert fable teller.
June 26, 2020
A beguiling collection of four stories, slim but not insubstantial. The storytelling is surefooted, the whimsy is put to profound questioning of religious belief—is loyalty the same as faith, asks the dog of the camel—and a sly eye is turned on human foibles and social customs. Since so much Anglophone Singaporean writing is oriented towards the West, especially now when many younger writers study creative writing in the UK and the US, it is refreshing to read a writer so at home in the English language, but with his cultural references turned towards the Malay and Arabic worlds, towards the eclectic blending of Islamic and animistic beliefs.
October 3, 2020
This is a book with four short stories by Fairoz Ahmad. Dilemmas posed through gently written words brings you on a journey led by the common theme, wind, intertwined within the stories. In the first story and also the most beautiful of the four, Fairoz blurred the distinction between faith and loyalty. The research and thoughtfulness put into the book was thorough, especially the focus on Muslim and Malay culture and traditions. However, the other three stories lost me halfway through and left me wanting at the end. It may be due to the high expectation after the first but the endings for the other three can be explained more succinctly.
April 20, 2020
Beautiful stories stemming from Malay and Muslim cultures.
September 30, 2020
wonderful!! cleverly written, very meta, and deeply affecting.
February 10, 2022
This slim and highly portable collection of short stories is perfect for mrt rides. I love that I don’t have to clear mental space to ‘sink’ into the book in order to enjoy it, and the Muslim themes provided rich flavouring. Another reason to read this: support Singlit!
August 11, 2019
Coming in the disguise of harmless fables and little vignettes of curious characters, this book is both a literary homage to and a sociological observation of Muslims and Islam.
Some could read it through the cultural lens to appreciate the intricacies of rich Islamic tradition, especially in Southeast Asia. Another could choose to use it as an exploration of religiosity, piety and humanity in their various incarnations.
A book that could be as light or complex as you allow it to be, and leaves you with different thoughts after every reading.
Some could read it through the cultural lens to appreciate the intricacies of rich Islamic tradition, especially in Southeast Asia. Another could choose to use it as an exploration of religiosity, piety and humanity in their various incarnations.
A book that could be as light or complex as you allow it to be, and leaves you with different thoughts after every reading.
December 2, 2019
this may be true to any form of literature but for me it is especially so for this slim collection: it could mean anything or nothing at all depending on its reader. that said, ‘Interpreter of Winds’ was very interesting to me. the most imminent themes for me were stories within stories, language and questioning faith. i also loved the evocative and beautiful writing style of the author and would recommend it to anyone, really.
August 5, 2019
A really special book depicting how lives are spent and appreciated in a group that might be unfamiliar to many of us. Deeper issues like religion, values, life and death are touched in the very subtle storytellings. Every reader would have different gains and insights about this book. A highly recommended read.
August 10, 2019
The book is like a introductory book on Islam.. It arouse interests on the religion. Innthebcurrent era when there are some misunderstanding of the religion duento misunderstanding, this book act like a book of social harmony and promoting peace among the different religions.
Ad a non Muslim, I encourage my non Muslim friend to read the book.
Ad a non Muslim, I encourage my non Muslim friend to read the book.
September 7, 2019
The book is a subtle invitation to question our conventions and offers a novel standpoint for viewing usual things. The wording is a very refreshing and the author’s style is beautiful.
The stories are positively inspiring and thought-provoking, I wish there were more books like this to calm our fast-paced minds with this form of meditation.
The stories are positively inspiring and thought-provoking, I wish there were more books like this to calm our fast-paced minds with this form of meditation.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews