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Year2010

Legends of the Sea

I don’t know about you but seeings how Doha is supposed to be the Culture Capital of the Arab World this year, I keep thinking, ‘Where’s the culture?” When I do find ‘culture’ I wonder why it can’t get jumping before 4 p.m. If you got kids and you got a bedtime, this just ain’t happening.

Take note, this Saturday there’s a book signing of a children’s book at the Museum of Islamic Art. That’s 5 days from now, so you can even plan ahead. And, guess what? It’s from 12 - 3. Not ideal for all, perhaps, but certainly better for a good lot of people who have short legs and a daily melt-down time scheduled for 4:30. That being said, this event is especially of interest for children ages 7 - 10.

Alright already, what’s the book about? Sea, diving, pearls, poisonous jelly fish and giant whales, hope in the face of a difficult life; a legend about Abu Derya, the guardian of the Sea Kingdom.

I haven’t seen a copy of the book yet but have it on good faith that the author/illustrator is “talented”. I’m not sure in comparison to whom; you’ll have to go check it out for yourself to see. The author and illustrator, Mohamed Ali, is Qatari and will be at the MIA to sign your books. Information being hard to come by, I’m not exactly sure what a book signing in Qatar looks like. It was intimated that there might be a reading. Each copy costs 60 QR. So have your cash at the ready should you be inspired to buy. If not, the museum is a fabulous place to let the kids wander around for a bit. Truth be told, we prefer sitting by the fountains and making art on the sidewalk with a finger or toe that’s been dipped in the fountains. I assume that after seeing this book, it will also include children screaming, “Watch out for Abu Derya! He gonna bite your behind!”

Victory over Abu Derya : The Quest for Pearls in the Arabian Gulf.  Mohamed Ali. Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing, 2010. 48 pages. ISBN: 9789992142233 (English). Hardcover. Available in English or Arabic. 60 QR.

Meet the Author of Abu Derya, Mohamed Ali. Saturday, May 1, 2010. 12:00 to 15:00. Museum of Islamic Art Atrium.

See you there!

Christine Gerber Rutt

(Doha Mums member, writer, mother, etc. etc Check out her blog on life in Qatar at and keep your eyes open for the upcoming release of koo • ki, her quarterly ‘zine, all about an American-born, Swiss-immigrated, Qatar-living, writer, mother-of-two, husband-to-one, car-pool chief, ex-pat woman buffling through life with a feisty 5-year-old, a 9-year-old going on 16, and a Swiss husband.)

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