For the weekly book memes – Book Beginnings and Friday 56: I have picked a couple of sentences from the book ‘The Kindness of Enemies‘ by Leila Aboulela: I picked this book as part of the Strategic Reading Challenge; it also counts towards my Continental Reading Challenge – for books from Africa. Join me in traveling the world!

Book Beginnings: Hosted by Rose City Reader: Share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Include the title of the book and the author’s name.

1. Scotland, December 2010

Allah was inscribed on the blade in gold. Malak read the Arabic aloud to me. She looked more substantial than my first impression; an ancient orator, a mystic in shawls that rustled. The sword felt heavy in my hand; iron-steel, it’s smooth hilt of animal horn. I had not imagined it would be beautiful. But there was artistry in the vegetal decorations and Ottoman skill from the blade’s smooth curve down to its deadly tip.

Friday 56: This book meme is hosted by Freda. The rules of this book meme are simple too. Grab a book you are reading, turn to page 56 or 56% (whichever works), pick any sentence(s) and post it. Include the book title and the author. Link back to Friday 56

In desperation, women and children joined in an ambush. To fool the Russians that they had more fighters, Djawarat and a group of women dressed like men. Reluctantly, their husbands, fathers and brothers shared battle tactics and turbans, lent them swords and sharpened daggers, whispered advice.