Danderma (Author of The Chronicles of Dathra, a Dowdy Girl from Kuwait)

Danderma is now friends with ياسر أحمد

Danderma rated a book 2 of 5 stars

The Newlyweds
by Nell Freudenberger (Goodreads Author)

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Danderma rated a book 3 of 5 stars

Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story
by Arnold Schwarzenegger

read in February, 2013

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The first time I saw Arnold Schwarzenegger was while watching Terminator with my father. When the terminator came ion the screen, my father pointed at him and told me "This actor? This is the world's champion in bodybuilding". Of course, an athletic...more The first time I saw Arnold Schwarzenegger was while watching Terminator with my father. When the terminator came ion the screen, my father pointed at him and told me "This actor? This is the world's champion in bodybuilding". Of course, an athletic person going into movies is not that surprising, happens all the time with football and basketball players. An Austrian champion bodybuilder becoming a movie star then becoming the governor of the state of California in the USA, is worth reading about.

I loved the beginning of this book, how Arnold was born in a year of famine, how they lived in bare necessities, how he had strong parents who disciplined him yet a father who didn't believe in him. Defiance is very present in the first chapters of the book and throughout. How the little boy had a dream and he worked relentlessly to make it happen and worked harder whenever someone laughed his dream off or told him it cannot happen.

His commitment, his punctuality, defiance, determination, and steel will got him his many bodybuilding titles and helped put the bodybuilding on the map and got him to America and gave him his first business of bodybuilding videos, tips, and supplies mail order. Then the book talks about his American life and doesn't much talk about his relationship with women then you turn a page and find him talking about falling in love with a Kennedy and marrying her and having children.

The book, even though it talks about his family life after marriage, is still on the private side. You cannot sense much gooey emotions but you can definitely sense a strong will and determination to put a mark on this world and change it to the better. Then the book progresses into the movie parts of Arnold's life, which was fun to read, then the politics part. In the politics part we see a side of Arnold that is so private that he didn't inform his wife of his wanting to run for governor or the people of California until the last-minute. The man is like a machine that works silently with Austrian efficiency!

I, however, hated the part about Arnold's secret affair with the housekeeper that resulted in him fathering a son who'se as old as his youngest son from his wife. His, lets say, explanation is too casual and after a long book filled with details, its just not enough or that convincing.

Overall, the book is an inspiration for how to achieve what you want in life even if all the odds were against you. I can identify with that and I think I'm going to listen to Arnold's dream-to-reality transformation tips. After all, he made, didn't he? Defienetly going on my bookshelf and I would strongly recommend it.(less)

Danderma rated a book 1 of 5 stars

Men I've Loved Before
by Adele Parks

read in January, 2013

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

The story in this novel started out brilliantly, Nat is preparing to celebrate her husband Neil's 35th birthday with friends and family and a modern restaurant in King's Road. Life is good for the couple, they live in a small house in London with dec...more The story in this novel started out brilliantly, Nat is preparing to celebrate her husband Neil's 35th birthday with friends and family and a modern restaurant in King's Road. Life is good for the couple, they live in a small house in London with decent jobs they love and are madly in love with each other. They both want the same things in life and one of the things they don't want for sure is children cramping their style.

Then one day Neil changes his mind, he just springs it out of no where at Nat, he now wants children, no actually dying for children, and she refuses without giving a reason. What does Neil do? He sulks, he tries like a child to prove she can be a good mother, and Nat keeps silent and retaliates by calling up old her old lovers and meeting with them behind her husband's back, and not knowing how to explain why is she sitting there when they ask her the question themselves. Their relationship unravels until it goes to the point where it all falls apart.

I loved the begining of the story. I actually envied the couple the life they had in hip London. Then I couldn't understand how two people so deeply in love and entertwined in each other's lives suddenly stop talking and move away from each other. Just one calm talk would have solved a lot of hanging issues from the begining! Plus, Neil's idiotic, selfish, and quite childish actions made me want to reach inside the book and slap him to his senses. As for Nat, well, I thought I had found a good argument for why a female might choose NOT to bring a child of her own into this world without having to justify it as some deep hidden personal drama but I think I am wrong. All females want to have children apparently and if they don't there is something not right with them.

The ending is quite cheesy and frankly, when Neil does two unforgivable things, the last of which is impegrating his wife without her knowledge or her conscent when she had made it absolutely clear she did not want to be pregnant, is so unforgivable I wonder how Nat could stand be around him rather than move on with him by her side as a dotting husband.No, its not OK and no its not the same as what the stripper did by "not taking the pill so she could fall pregnant". Its quite disturbing and the ultimate breach of trust. Therefore I can't chalk the ending to a happy one. If anything, its a sad thing for Nat to be happy about spending her life with that childish sulking jobless wanker even if they loved each other.

Would I recommend it? Well, why not? Its not a best seller's material but its a quick and fun read if, say, you are on a plane or having trouble sleeping. Started out great, had a nice twist in the middle, though it flopped in the end.(less)

Danderma rated a book 2 of 5 stars

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)
by Suzanne Collins

read in January, 2013

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Out of the three hunger games book, this one was the most boring and my least favorite. Its all about war and fighting and resistance and blood being spilled everywhere. I had to read it just so I'd know the ending but I felt like reading a war time...more

Danderma rated a book 3 of 5 stars

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)
by Suzanne Collins

read in January, 2013

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I saw the movie in the cinema before I read the book, then I had the trilogy in my bookshelf waiting for the perfect moment to be read. The moment presented itself when The Hunger Games movie premier came on TV so I picked up the book and read it dur...more

Danderma rated a book 2 of 5 stars

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)
by Suzanne Collins

read in January, 2013

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Frankly I liked the first book much better. I felt the first part of the book drag on, like it was revving up to start running and by the time it finally did its been stretched too far already. The last line in the book however did ring in my head, t...more

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The Other Side
by Terry Tyler (Goodreads Author)

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Danderma rated a book 3 of 5 stars

The Sealed Letter
by Emma Donoghue (Goodreads Author)

read in January, 2013

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Ever had a friendship you cherished end up abruptly? Ever wished for friend who had done you wrong to come back and mend everything, to resume where you stopped last and have the good old days back? That’s what happened to Emily ‘Fido’ Faithful on on...more

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	The Chronicles of Dathra, a Dowdy Girl from Kuwait 4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2011	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Chronicles of Dathra, a Dowdy Girl from Kuwait Volume II (Yawmyat Wa7da Q8ya Dathra, #2) 5.0 of 5 stars 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Danderma is now friends with ياسر أحمد
May 20, 2013 03:34pm · like
Danderma rated a book 2 of 5 stars The Newlyweds by Nell Freudenberger (Goodreads Author)	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 16, 2013 03:20am
Danderma rated a book 3 of 5 stars Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story by Arnold Schwarzenegger read in February, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The first time I saw Arnold Schwarzenegger was while watching Terminator with my father. When the terminator came ion the screen, my father pointed at him and told me "This actor? This is the world's champion in bodybuilding". Of course, an athletic...more
Feb 05, 2013 02:36am · see review
Danderma rated a book 1 of 5 stars Men I've Loved Before by Adele Parks read in January, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Jan 22, 2013 12:51am · see review
Danderma rated a book 2 of 5 stars Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3) by Suzanne Collins read in January, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Out of the three hunger games book, this one was the most boring and my least favorite. Its all about war and fighting and resistance and blood being spilled everywhere. I had to read it just so I'd know the ending but I felt like reading a war time...more
Jan 18, 2013 02:14am · see review
Danderma rated a book 3 of 5 stars The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins read in January, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I saw the movie in the cinema before I read the book, then I had the trilogy in my bookshelf waiting for the perfect moment to be read. The moment presented itself when The Hunger Games movie premier came on TV so I picked up the book and read it dur...more
Jan 18, 2013 02:06am · see review
Danderma rated a book 2 of 5 stars Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins read in January, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Frankly I liked the first book much better. I felt the first part of the book drag on, like it was revving up to start running and by the time it finally did its been stretched too far already. The last line in the book however did ring in my head, t...more
Jan 18, 2013 01:52am · see review
Danderma added The Other Side by Terry Tyler (Goodreads Author)	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 18, 2013 01:47am
Danderma rated a book 3 of 5 stars The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue (Goodreads Author) read in January, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Ever had a friendship you cherished end up abruptly? Ever wished for friend who had done you wrong to come back and mend everything, to resume where you stopped last and have the good old days back? That’s what happened to Emily ‘Fido’ Faithful on on...more
Jan 10, 2013 12:20pm · see review
Danderma voted on a poll Do you use Goodreads to shelve your children's books? She voted for: I'm not a parent
Jan 05, 2013 10:00pm · like · take the poll

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