Review by shreya_mishra91 -- Bedu: Bedouin Boy, Poet King
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- Latest Review: Bedu: Bedouin Boy, Poet King by David W. Sutherland and Paul McKellips
Review by shreya_mishra91 -- Bedu: Bedouin Boy, Poet King
[Following is a volunteer review of "Bedu: Bedouin Boy, Poet King" by David W. Sutherland and Paul McKellips.]
The book is set in 30 A.D. One would instantly think that the time was much more peaceful than what it is today. The book begins amid simple settings of a life being lived by a Bedouin family. This simplicity made a poet out of Bedu, who is both dreamy and has the will and the ability to bring those dreams to fruition. Only he is not aware of his own abilities.
The book depicts that Bedu’s father remembered King Melchior and vice-versa. It was more surprising from the latter’s point of view because he is an old man, more than 90 years old. He tells Bedu to check on Yasmin, his granddaughter, in the winter; and to travel along the path Bedu’s father had taken to find who he truly is. Bedu is sceptical initially, because he identifies himself as a Bedouin, a shepherd boy from Damascus, and his world begins and ends there. But the King was wise, with a hint of clairvoyance in him. He tells Bedu that the stars told him things, and they told him quite a lot, as is revealed in the book towards the end.
Bedu’s journey along the path traversed by his father to find Jacob’s sheep and goats was the most interesting part of the book. He learned big lessons on his way, when he saved a small boy from the flooding river; when he got saved, nourished and employed by a couple after he lost his money; and when he showed compassion to the weak by buying food for them. The lessons continued quite literally when he met his cousin Wali, and stayed with him for more time than he had anticipated. Wali made him realise fully who he truly was- a Bedouin boy, and taught him to dream big. He turned Bedu into a wiser man, and also gave him a precious gift in the form of Noam, his son’s son. Bedu was able to learn these lessons because he was essentially a conscientious person, and had a good heart. He also found meanings in things he observed, whether it was learning from his own mistakes or listening to sermons.
Bedu did go to Bsharri to check on Yasmin, but ended up finding a kindred spirit in her, albeit in a different way. Both were extremely caring, nurturing people. The difference was that Yasmin was aware of her own identity, and Bedu was evolving into a self-made man. Yasmin was eccentric, but in all good ways. If Yasmin were alive today, she would be sad to see the state of the world’s forests, including some of her own trees. Bedu began a business, but he was not really business-minded. He wanted youngsters to be educated, and that began an idea of starting a school. He missed his family, but he could not stop listening to the call of his conscience, because he had enough wisdom to begin educating and helping others. While his life was constantly changing, what did not change about him was his poetry. Yet ironically, poetry has its origins in myriad shifts in life.
The book has a tone and pace similar to that of an unheard fable. It also has a Paulo Coelho-ish feel to it, maybe because it reminds one of ‘The Alchemist’ too. This is a great read for children and adults alike. It has a calming, soothing feel to it, and one wishes for it to stay because there are many simple but important truths about life that we learn from the story. The authors David W. Sutherland and Paul McKellips have created some simple, but beautiful characters, especially Bedu and King Melchior, who finally reveals the reason for not reprimanding or punishing Bedu for his theft, and gives some priceless gifts in return to Bedu. His journey was indeed simple, but profound. “From something, we become nothing..from nothing, we become something”, he had said; and this could not be more true for anyone other than Bedu: Bedouin Boy, Poet King.
Rating: 3 out of 4 stars
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Bedu: Bedouin Boy, Poet King
View: on Bookshelves
The book is set in 30 A.D. One would instantly think that the time was much more peaceful than what it is today. The book begins amid simple settings of a life being lived by a Bedouin family. This simplicity made a poet out of Bedu, who is both dreamy and has the will and the ability to bring those dreams to fruition. Only he is not aware of his own abilities.
The book depicts that Bedu’s father remembered King Melchior and vice-versa. It was more surprising from the latter’s point of view because he is an old man, more than 90 years old. He tells Bedu to check on Yasmin, his granddaughter, in the winter; and to travel along the path Bedu’s father had taken to find who he truly is. Bedu is sceptical initially, because he identifies himself as a Bedouin, a shepherd boy from Damascus, and his world begins and ends there. But the King was wise, with a hint of clairvoyance in him. He tells Bedu that the stars told him things, and they told him quite a lot, as is revealed in the book towards the end.
Bedu’s journey along the path traversed by his father to find Jacob’s sheep and goats was the most interesting part of the book. He learned big lessons on his way, when he saved a small boy from the flooding river; when he got saved, nourished and employed by a couple after he lost his money; and when he showed compassion to the weak by buying food for them. The lessons continued quite literally when he met his cousin Wali, and stayed with him for more time than he had anticipated. Wali made him realise fully who he truly was- a Bedouin boy, and taught him to dream big. He turned Bedu into a wiser man, and also gave him a precious gift in the form of Noam, his son’s son. Bedu was able to learn these lessons because he was essentially a conscientious person, and had a good heart. He also found meanings in things he observed, whether it was learning from his own mistakes or listening to sermons.
Bedu did go to Bsharri to check on Yasmin, but ended up finding a kindred spirit in her, albeit in a different way. Both were extremely caring, nurturing people. The difference was that Yasmin was aware of her own identity, and Bedu was evolving into a self-made man. Yasmin was eccentric, but in all good ways. If Yasmin were alive today, she would be sad to see the state of the world’s forests, including some of her own trees. Bedu began a business, but he was not really business-minded. He wanted youngsters to be educated, and that began an idea of starting a school. He missed his family, but he could not stop listening to the call of his conscience, because he had enough wisdom to begin educating and helping others. While his life was constantly changing, what did not change about him was his poetry. Yet ironically, poetry has its origins in myriad shifts in life.
The book has a tone and pace similar to that of an unheard fable. It also has a Paulo Coelho-ish feel to it, maybe because it reminds one of ‘The Alchemist’ too. This is a great read for children and adults alike. It has a calming, soothing feel to it, and one wishes for it to stay because there are many simple but important truths about life that we learn from the story. The authors David W. Sutherland and Paul McKellips have created some simple, but beautiful characters, especially Bedu and King Melchior, who finally reveals the reason for not reprimanding or punishing Bedu for his theft, and gives some priceless gifts in return to Bedu. His journey was indeed simple, but profound. “From something, we become nothing..from nothing, we become something”, he had said; and this could not be more true for anyone other than Bedu: Bedouin Boy, Poet King.
Rating: 3 out of 4 stars
******
Bedu: Bedouin Boy, Poet King
View: on Bookshelves
