Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Life Is Too Short For Boring Books

There is this code about when to stop reading a book you don't like. There is a set amount of pages you must read before giving up all hope and putting it in your donation pile. This is how it goes:

100 - your age = number of pages you should read before stopping.

Unlike Chris Argent, I do not go by the code.

Meet the humungous pile:
ebooks not included

1. The True Secret by Amira Ayad (Non-Fiction: Self Help)
Why I picked it up: I like to prize myself in thinking I have a religious consciouns, I thought this could be something I could both enjoy and benefit from.
Why I haven't finished it yet: BOOOOO-RING! Okay, maybe that was a bit uncalled for, but oh my God does this book drone on and on and on. The first chapter is just one paragraph repeated and paraphrased to no end. I couldn't get past that to actually enjoy the information discussed.
Will I ever finish it: No.

2. Writing in the Dark by David Grossman (Essay Collection)
Why I picked it up: So I went to watch a movie at the mall, I think it was Hugh Jackman's weird robot movie, and then went to the book store where they had a sale or something. I looked through the pile because I was on a book-buying-ban and reduced price books don't count. I found this book with this beautiful cover and a very gripping blurb. It was also partially because I was in a very political mood in that period of time. God knows.
Why I haven't finished it yet: The author assumes you have read all of the books he has read and based his opinions in life on. He keeps referencing all those books and authors. I am not in on the joke and I am not loving it.
Will I ever finish it: Most probably not.

3. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (Novel)
Why I picked it up: I heard tons of good thing about this author through the booktube community. I wanted to explore the modern sci-fi genre after liking some of Bradbury's work and Ender's Game. It was in our Booksessed charity book fair and I wanted to buy everything there to help the cause.
Why I haven't finished it yet: Don't get me wrong, the premise of this is great. The world was very well built, but I just couldn't get myself to care about the whole plot. I mean, maybe if it was a movie starring Juno Temple I would, but no.
Will I ever finish it: I would give this book a second chance. Not soon, though.

4. The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays by Oscar Wilde (Collection of Plays)
Why I picked it up: Osacr Wilde is the best.
Why I haven't finished it yet: Here is the thing, I only ever read 2 plays prior to picking this book up, and they were both by Shakespeare. What I was expecting was different from what I got.
Will I ever finish it: Most likely, yes. I love the ideas presented in the two plays I have read and I am looking forward to reading the main play in the book.

5. The Book of General Ignorance by John Lloyd & John Mitchinson (Non-Fiction: Compilation of commonly believed false facts)
Why I picked it up: Because it is the best thing anyone can ever own! All the things we thought were correct but aren't.
Why I haven't finished it yet: The thing with this book is, because it is just a list of facts written and explained it is difficult to read all in one go. I like to pick this book up whenever I am in a reading slump and read a few facts.
Will I ever finish it: My sister thinks I won't. Consider that challenge accepted!

6. The Ballad of Reading Gaol and Other Poems by Oscar Wilde (Poem Collection)
Why I picked it up: Oscar Wilde is the best.
Why I haven't finished it yet: I do not read much poetry, but I do believe it should be enjoyed. I'm making my way through this book, slowly, and with a pen to underline all the beautiful beautiful thing this man says.
Will I ever finish it: Yes. I do enjoy it very much.

7. The Complete Short Stories by Oscar Wilde (Collection of Short Stories)
Why I picked it up: You haven't been paying attention.
Why I haven't finished it yet: I'm on my way! I have less than a quarter to read and I am dreading the end of this journey!
Will I ever finish it: Yes. Then restart again and again.

8. Secrets of the Tattooed Girl by Dan Burstein, Arne De Keijzer, and John-Henri Holmberg (Non-Fiction: A Guide to Steig Larsson's Trilogy)
Why I picked it up: The Millennium trilogy is probably my all-time favorite book series. I've read the books, watched the Swedish adaptations, watched the American adaptation, read the graphic novel (currently waiting for the second!), and I am still eager to read more. I have been researching books that discussed the series in depth, and this seemed like a good starting point.
Why I haven't finished it yet: I got sidetracked doing other things.
Will I ever finish it: YES! I am loving it. I'm not that far in, but what I've read is captivating enough to pull me back into this book.

9.رواية الثورة التونسية by د. نزار شقرون (Non-Fiction: Historical & Political Discussion of The Tunisian Revolution)
Why I picked it up: Again, political phase. Mainly though, this was basically what started the Arab Spring and the Arab Spring is very relevant.
Why I haven't finished it yet: I honestly don't know. I was reading it on a flight, the plane landed and that was that. I want to finish it, though.
Will I ever finish it: I hope so.

10.أنا أحب دميتي: سيرة عشق الإنسان لصورته الدمية by جعفر حمزة (Non-Fiction: A study of mankind's relationship with dolls through the ages)
Why I picked it up: The cover of the book was intriguing.
Why I haven't finished it yet: The pages of the book weren't intriguing enough.
Will I ever finish it: I'm not sure.

11. محاورة عن الجميل by أفلاطون و هيبياس الأكبر ترجمة د. علي نجيب إبراهيم (Non-Fiction: Philosophical Debate)
Why I picked it up:  I wanted to "broaden" my "horizon"
Why I haven't finished it yet: I'm not sure. I don't even like philosophy.
Will I ever finish it: No.

12. لحظات تفكير في قضايا عالم مضطرب by د. إبراهيم القادري بوتشيش (Non-Fiction: A Discussion of Capitalism, Prejudice, Cultural Identity, and Other Things and What is the Islamic View on These Subjects)
Why I picked it up: This sounds so awesome. I love reading about things and then tying them to religion. It is what makes the pinwheels in my brain turn.
Why I haven't finished it yet: I read the introduction. Then I got sidetracked and haven't been in the mood to pick it up again yet.
Will I ever finish it: Hopefully! I only read the intro but it was very well written. 

13. العالم الأخير by د. محمد بن عبدالرحمن العريفي (Non-Fiction: Listing of All Minor Events that Will Lead to the Judgement Day)
Why I picked it up:  It is the second installment in a dueo-logy. I read the first one for a religious studies project in school and it was awesome.
Why I haven't finished it yet: It is HUGE!
Will I ever finish it: Yes.

14. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Classic Novel) [Kindle e-reader]
Why I picked it up:  My sister kept nagging me to read it because it is her favorite book of all time by her favorite author of all time. Also, the movie was the next attraction at the cinema.
Why I haven't finished it yet: Dear GOD. I don't know. I did not enjoy the writing style. I honestly only read the first chapter.I really wanted to love it but I didn't.
Will I ever finish it: God knows.

15. Grimm's Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm & Wilhelm Grimm (Classic Short Stories) [Apple iBooks]
Why I picked it up:  I was on vacation and hadn't brought my kindle. I was in the mood for a short story so I downloaded No Free Lunches and this. Read the former, it is amazing.
Why I haven't finished it yet: As with no. 9 on this list, the plane landed. I have read some more 2 weeks ago. I'm slowly making my way through this.
Will I ever finish it: Yes. It is quite enjoyable, actually.

16. زينب by محمد هيكل (Novel) 
Why I picked it up:  It is the first ever full novel written in Arabic. We studied the art of novels in Arabic Literature class back in school and my friend Jinan said, "Hey! I have this book. You should read it because I couldn't finish it for all the boring aspects of it!" and I said, "Yeah! it's gonna be awesome"
Why I haven't finished it yet: That statement of mine was indeed false.
Will I ever finish it: No. I hope it burns in the hell from whence it came.

This is a collaboration post, to read my sister's click here.

Monday, July 1, 2013

My Mad Fat Diary

So my sister and I have this weird thing in which we have to be obsessed with something at any given period of time. As this season of Game of Thrones is coming to an untimely end like a certain warden of the north turned hand, we decided it was time to start watching something new.

I've been seeing a lot of posts about My Mad Fat Diary and finally decided to watch it. Apparently the show is based on the real story of a real Rae Earl. Basically, there is this 16? year old who had a self-harming "accident" and had to spend a few months in a psychiatric ward without anyone knowing about it. In the beginning of the first episode she explores her first week back in the real world where she tries to meet people, become better, and recover from her setback.

On her way home for the first time in month she runs into her best friend since ever, Chloe. Chloe then invites her out to meet her new made friends, "the gang" in "the pub".


Meet Rachael 'Rae' Earl:


Meet "the gang":

Meet Rae's mom and Karim:






Meet Tix & Danny:



Meet Kester:

This show is weirdly funny. I mean okay, it is a tad weird and inappropriate, I'll give you that, but what British show isn't? *cough*Misfits*cough*


Things I like about the show:

a. The characters. They are all individually exactly the same, which most people are. I feel the direction captures that human trait perfectly.

b. The soundtrack is perfect. You know when you watch a very nice scene in TV or in the cinema but the music playing ruins everything? not once has this happened in this show. 

c. The graphics and special effects. I could just write a love letter to graphic effects designed of this show.

d. The show has a very Mean Girls-y vibe, which I obviously am a huge fan of because MEAN GIRLS.

e. I like the fact that even though the show starts with Rae judging everyone to be awesome based on how they look, after the first episode she kind of realized that looks aren't the most important thing and maybe it's what is on the inside that counts. This is a lesson as old as time itself, taught by parents from generation to generation for eternity, and it is cool how the show doesn't just let Rae narrate that, " looks don't matter... being a nice person does." She just changes the way she acts around others and that is completely fine.

f. Kester's character is very interesting. He isn't perfection in the form of a psychiatrist, he's just a regular guy with a messed up life of his own which he doesn't let effect his job.

g. Rae always tells it like it is




Things I don't like about the show:

a. some of the graphics are very well, graphic. I don't know any other way to put it.

b. I don't know about others, but as for myself I don't  usually become close friends with people I've just met over night. I mean, especially if you struggled in making friends all through your life. It just doesn't make sense to me.

c. The fact that Chloe is essentially always mean and cruel to Rae. I mean, she's always putting Rae down because of her weight and personality, and sometimes she's right, but others she's just unfriendly.

d. Smoking and drinking are REALLY big parts of this show. I recognize the necessity of those two elements to the "troubled youth" story, but I don't understand why they need to make smoking look so appealing and sexual. 
 
Overall rating: 3.5/5