Customer Reviews

Watermelons, Walnuts, and the Wisdom of Allah: And Other Tales of the Hoca

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I read the original edition of this book nearly 30 years ago, and keep buying it for friends, and my own daughter - it is a sensitive, whimsical and accessibly deep look at Islam, the nature of life, the Turkish culture, and simple, transcendent morals. The humor, and the points of the fables are all gently made, with a great deal of charm and simple eloquence. One of my favorite books of all time. Great for anything from laughter, to learning about another culture, to simple and timeless morals, to an understanding of the common ground we share with Islam

Timeless folktales (originally Sufi teaching tales) of Nasreddin Hoca (or Hodja) - also known as Mullah Nasreddin and even as the Arabs' Joha. Here retold in Turkish settings are tales full of charm and humor and enhanced by sweet illustrations by Harold Berson!

Teachers/Librarians: Kindergarten - 7th grade. Even upper elementary and middle school students like "picture storybooks" when they are read aloud!

I had this book as a child 30 years ago and loved it. From age five to age ten, it was one of my most requested bedtime books. My mother never understood why, as the illustrations were not vibrant as with other children's books, but the stories and far-away setting just entranced me. I still have my copy and will read it to my own daughter when she is old enough for stories. Highly recommend.

When the author was living in Turkey, she heard many tales about Nasreddin Hoca who was a religious teacher, Moslem priest and judge who lived several hundred years ago. He may be a mythical figure predating Emperor Tamerlane but he is so well loved that that his fame and stories have spread to many countries, where he is used to make a point because there is a tale to fit almost every situation. Hoca stories are very much alive today and Bruce Lansdale, Director of the American Farm School in Thessaloniki Greece from 1955 to 1990 used a Hoca story in every talk he gave. In fact, he was so famous for his Hoca stories that if by chance he had not told one, the audience insisted on a tale before he was allowed to sit down.

Hoca stories are not only full of wisdom but they are a way of breaking down barriers so if you are doing business in the Middle East you must anticipate hearing some in the course of your visit. In fact you would be wise to travel well armed with a collection of Hoca stories so you can tell one back to your client - especially if you have enough at your finger tips so that you have one appropriate to the point you want to get across. If you are giving a public speech, Hoca stories are a good alternative to a joke which the audience may have already heard. But the lovely thing about a Hoca story is that you can hear it time and again and it seems to get better. If you are reading to your child at bed time, a Hoca story is not only fun but later you can discuss the inner meaning and gain a double benefit. If you are an enterprising story teller, you can even make up your own Hoca stories. If you are teaching a course on the Middle East, you should definitely include Hoca stories; in fact if you started with a Hoca story your late arrivals will probably drop dramatically.

While this collection of 18 of the most popular stories has been prepared with children in mind, the message is there for people of all ages to appreciate alongside the beautiful illustrations which provide an insight into a very different culture from that of the West. At the end of some of the stories we are given a sentence such as: "This tale is so well known in Turkey that anyone whose innocent action brings down a punishment entirely out of scale with the offense is said to have 'frightened the potters' mules.'"

This book is well worth a read or giving as a present.

I look forward to reading this book. One of the stories is reproduced on the Teaching Tolerance website...
The reproduction also includes audio and the site is well worth a visit. It is simply written, but that enhances rather than detracts form the message.