Total freedom can be thought, perhaps paradoxically, as the possibility of prison. 66 by writing ghazals, you get parole from this prison and into a kind of topsy-turvy world, where perhaps you are in a prison of your own making, but you're sitting in the middle of a panopticon whore and the view really keep you awake.

Luca Mozzati (Prestel) $ 85

Covering fourteen centuries of Islamic art, this monolith-and rightly-called authoritarian to a book is slightly larger in the size of a vinyl record, though its 320 pages, containing over 400 color images, it is much heavier. The art of the book is organized geographically, covering three continents. Accompanied by essays on topics of architecture from geometric shapes to specific historical periods dominated by works of art featuring paintings, miniatures, ceramics, textiles, carpets, metalwork, and calligraphy....

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I think I posted a comment when you mentioned your calligraphy class before (or maybe I’m imagining it?). Anyway, I recently posted an entry on my own blog about my first calligraphy class taken 2 weeks ago.

I totally agree about the misconception that good handwriting = good calligraphy, but I am determined to practice!

xo Christine

Yes, it is sooo much more difficult than it seems. I took Chinese calligraphy in college (absolutely amazing and ridiculously difficult) and then I took a two level calligraphy course over two semesters at a local community college a few years back. You truly have to keep up with the practice or you lose it. It was so satisfying to do the calligraphy on my own wedding invitations and I have done a few friends’ as part of their wedding gift. It is so special to them and great practice for me. Keep it up, it looks like you’re doing great!