I think To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the books that you don’t realize that you got something out of it until you finish it.
I mean until the 200-and...moreI think To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the books that you don’t realize that you got something out of it until you finish it.
I mean until the 200-and-something it was so boring and to some extent pointless for me. But once the trial and Tom Robinson’s part comes, the novel becomes interesting.
To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the classics that is considered to be a masterpiece! Personally, I can’t see this judging the overall; nonetheless, there were really good parts here and there.
The story plot is sorta vague! It was like watching a series of incomplete episodes that each has different events! along with observations of human’s behaviors baked up in a “seemingly” little tiny … innocent head. But maybe you can hold on a main thread in the story which is Robinson's case.
Scout, Jem, Atticus-their father-and their neighbors live in Macomb; a town like any other town that has its endless stories about joy, ethics, contradictions, injustice, prejudice, racism and attempts of making a change. So you can guess how the story goes.
There were two things I really loved the most in this novel; (1) the trial part, it was truly moving. Indeed if I would rate this part separately, it’ll be 4 outta 5; (2) when Scout wonders how the teacher happens to condemn Hitler’s hatred towards the Jews, then she and many others like her turn to be as ugly towards other folks….. doesn’t that sound familiar ! I wonder !
Man !!! I’m deeply, madly, extremely in love with the book !!!!!!!!
I don’t know from where I should start… but I definitely know that there are about...moreMan !!! I’m deeply, madly, extremely in love with the book !!!!!!!!
I don’t know from where I should start… but I definitely know that there are about a million thoughts ringing in my head at the moment!
So here she is ... Sophie, or Hilde (or me?) being thrown into a totally new pool of thoughts. A pool that she never (whoever is she!) has thought she would take even a peek at! Or, let’s say, she has never realized that it’s existed before.
Sophie’s World is a story that introduces you to the history of philosophy (cliché, huh?). Ok, let me try again. Sophie’s World is a freakin’ genius book that opens up the hell out of your eyes to everything around you!
To begin with, I couldn’t help it but to be totally fascinated by seeing how humans’ thoughts evolve and develop over time. For me, it was one breath-taking ‘scene’. With that amazingly crazy plot, I loved the way philosophy classes were injected. Additionally, I loved the historical background-or show- which I find utterly brilliant as it helps in understanding and deepening the information.
Now, if one thinks this book creates confusion, I would say it’s definitly the healthy type of confusion. Too much on the table is good. Even if none makes sense, you’re still getting a lot!
Gaarder is one genius man. The story itself (the fiction side if I may say) is just so smart as it represents an application of philosophical concepts. I don’t mean the events that happen before, after or during the conversations of Sophie and Alberto like Winnie the pooh, Adam and Eve showing up, but rather the whole story of Sophie and her world being just a product of someone else’s imagination or.. willingness. Oh! Not to mention the whole UN thing!
By the time you finish the book, it doesn’t really matter whether you agree with Spinoza or Berkeley the most. It doesn’t even matter if you don’t find yourself in an agreement with Plato or Kant. Yet, what really matters is to learn how to weight and consider things, and how to know the process that everyone of those has gone through; the process in which he could conclude what he concluded.
Umm I do have two major issues with this book though. Firstly, although the objective here is to give you the big picture, I found some of the philosophical doctrines to be misunderstood when discussed broadly. A thing that makes me think of this big-picture approach of handling such complicated concepts to be somehow misleading sometimes. However, I still believe it’s good anyway as it makes a pretty good start point. Secondly, although the author mentions the most critical Muslim philosophers and gives them credit for laying down an important infrastructure for the following philosophers, I would have loved to see some of their theories discussed just like the other critical philosophers’ theories.
[One extra note:]
Speaking of Muslims, I know some who may view philosophy as a ‘taboo’ thing as it tackles subjects like God, the hereafter…etc. but as I said earlier, it’s not about what that certain philosopher says, but rather how and why he says it. And as a matter of fact, just look how philosophical the Qura’an is; how it seeks to create highly intellectual people out of us and how it teaches us to be critical thinkers… which unfortunately is not always the case!
Anyway, I’m saaaad I finished that book ! and I guess I’m even sadder to think that Sophie and Alberto are not real !!!! (as if Hilde and her dad are !!)
By far, I believe this is the MOST interesting book I’ve ever read…. Hence the long review :P
As this was the first time I read any for Shakespeare’s work, I found it to be a total disappointment! Now, the reason doesn’t go back to the quality...moreAs this was the first time I read any for Shakespeare’s work, I found it to be a total disappointment! Now, the reason doesn’t go back to the quality of the work itself but rather the way it’s read. Since it’s a literature, I made sure that I read the original text/language. Yet, I found the original language (i.e. Early Modern English) to be extremely difficult, so I shifted to the Arabic translation where I was hit with even larger disappointment. Now even when you have a very good translation, the original text with all its meanings still loses A LOT (for example the Religious Illusion) ! so imagine how the case would be with a poor, bad and stupid translation !!
Anyway, the plot of the play is pretty simple. However, the heavy work lies on the characters. I don’t know whether this is the case in all Shakespeare’s works, but in Othello that the characters’ structures have the important emphasis rather that the plot or the story.
The main theme in Othello is jealousy, love and maybe nobility, but there is another interesting and prevailing theme which is racism and Caste.
Personally, I felt like Shakespeare was influenced by Aristotle’s school of thought. It just shows in his play especially regarding the depiction of women! but anyhow I’m not fully sure of this!
All in all, it wasn’t an interesting reading (because of the language barrier) but afterwards you come to think of and analyze its characters, different Illusions, and the framework as a whole, and you really find it very interesting !
لا أعلم كيف اقيم الكتاب ولا اعلم كيف اعلق عليه !! كل ما اعلمه هو انه يتملكني شعور غريب جدا
مسرحية اهل الكهف لتوفيق الحكيم كانت اعجب ما قرأت في حياتي ....moreلا أعلم كيف اقيم الكتاب ولا اعلم كيف اعلق عليه !! كل ما اعلمه هو انه يتملكني شعور غريب جدا
مسرحية اهل الكهف لتوفيق الحكيم كانت اعجب ما قرأت في حياتي . بل ان كل ما قرأت من كتب في كفه وهذا الكتاب في كفه اخرى مختلفه تماما !!!
توفيق الحكيم(هذا الاديب العبقري "المجنون") في كتابه هذا قدم لنا قصه اصحاب الكهف على شكل ادب مسرحي رائع جدا ومميز ، قامت اعمدتها على الاحداث الاساسيه المعروف في قصه اصحاب الكهف .. ولكن ....
أطلق الكاتب لخياله العنان وسمح له ان يسترسل في تفاصيل من وجهة نظري "تجاوزت الحدود" لدرجه تكفير احد الشخصيات ( نفر من اصحاب الكهف) !!حاولت كثيرا ان اتغاضى عن هذا الجانب في مسرحيته ......ولكن....
هناك جانب ومعاني وفلسفه ورساله رائعه ...... رائعه
لا اعلم فعلا لا اعلم .... هذه المره الأولى في حياتي التي اعجز فيها عن وصف او حتى التعليق على ما قرأت .... او حتى ما أشعر به !!!
قرأت الكتاب مرتين . المرة الأولى كنت مصدومه نوعا ما. كان عقلي حينها "معطل" الى حد كبير..... وقرأتها مره ثانيه كانا فيها عقلي وقلبي على درجه كبيره من اليقظان !
العقل ....... والقلب هذا تماما ما أراده توفيق الحكيم
القلب ........ والعقل
من اعجب ما قرأت ...... من اعظم ما ترك اثرا في نفسي ...عقلي ... قلبي !
As I just finished reading the novella, I found myself incredibly wearing an air of extreme excitement!! And I couldn't help it but to run towards the...moreAs I just finished reading the novella, I found myself incredibly wearing an air of extreme excitement!! And I couldn't help it but to run towards the computer to write a review about it!
Animal Farm is one of the most spectacular literary works of all the time, not only during the 20th century. However, in order to get it right and enjoy its brilliance, you ought to go back in time and look at the conditions and events where this stunning novella was born. Orwell's novella is about a group of animals who live in a farm called "Manor Farm", owned by their master, Jones. The animals grow enthusiastic to get their freedom, and be the masters of themselves. They seek nothing but breaking away from tyranny, enjoy equality and fair living that have been demonstrated to be achieved by one way only; Jones's and all other human race's expulsion. Eventually, the rebellion, of the animals, succeeds. Nonetheless, things turn to be worse than before. Those animals who promised for freedom, dignity and better living turned to be as cruel as the humans they once hated- or even worse!
In my opinion, this story can be read in two different levels. The first one is the real purpose and motive of the author in which he wrote this novella. It was a sharp criticism of Stalin's and his government corruption rather than criticism of communism-as a system- as some may think. Tyranny of the Leader, corruption of government and absolute ignorance of people, were the fundamental blocks, I believe, in which Orwell built his novella upon. The kind of symbolism used and the way of description draw clearly a political allusion. In addition to this, the nature of the characters and the way they were depicted can tell you a great deal about the author's main purpose. For instance, you would know the dogs, in the novella, represent police, military or something like that! Also Squealer he would clearly be seen something like a Minister or so!
On the other level, one may look at the whole thing with totally different view; human beings, their nature and various innate desires. What may authority, power and control change in humans? How could they alter their beliefs and principles? And how harsh life would treat those who are powerless? Submission or rebellion? Many questions may arise while you read this book ………. despite its simplicity! Definitely one of the greatest books ever! (less)
**spoiler alert** Wow ! … I mean wow would likely be your first impression the moment you finish reading this novel. Not only astonishment, but The Ca...more**spoiler alert** Wow ! … I mean wow would likely be your first impression the moment you finish reading this novel. Not only astonishment, but The Catcher in The Rye is exactly the kind of novels in which you find yourself still opening the last page (even though you just finished it 10 min ago!), looking thoughtfully at it with probably a half-open mouth and a hundred ideas dancing madly in your head!
Salinger's the Catcher in the Rye is one of the really profound novels although it may seem not! It's mainly about a teenager called Holden Caulfield, the protagonist and the central intelligence of the novel, who has a miserable attitude towards the world, and throughout the novel you see how this sixteen-year-old boy acts, talks and deals with people accordingly. Nonetheless, he has this wonderfully kind and honest side of him. The thing is that Holden- who happens to be a distinguishably thoughtful boy- develops a terrible reaction as he sees the ugly truth of the world. I think this is exactly why the author chose him to be a teenager! It's precisely the passage between two major phases; childhood (the world of innocence) and adulthood (the world of experience). So what happened is that Holden could figure out the ugliness of the later world but unlike others he couldn't be an active part of it. And I think this is why you always find him love children (especially his little sister whom he adores the most) and wants to be with them all the time.
Generally, the novel has the simplest plot ever to the extent that you may think it doesn't have one. However, as you keep reading, you will be able to generate a good idea about what the author is trying to say here. The novel is FULL of hypocrisy images. No wonder the author emphasizes on the word phony all the time. Furthermore, this novel was written in the 20th century where the weakening of religious faith has strongly taken place, and you can see this idea amazingly and brilliantly depicted in the novel, especially in the part where Holden unintentionally blows smoke on the face of a nun!
Anyway, it will take me hours and hours to tell all about the wonderful images and symbols woven in this brilliant novel. Oh! Forgot, one of the most superbly amazing symbol in this novel is the title itself, if you could know what it means and see how it relates to the whole novel, you will just uncover clearly the brilliance of J.D. Salinger and his spectacular novel.
Defiantly one of the books I've enjoyed the most. (less)
As everyone looked down on her, she remained the same outspoken, honest and innocent girl till the last day in her life. She neither did something wro...moreAs everyone looked down on her, she remained the same outspoken, honest and innocent girl till the last day in her life. She neither did something wrong nor did she harm anybody. However, her major sin was her extreme "spontaneity". In his Daisy Miller, Henry James presents a beautiful novella about an American young girl called Daisy.
The novella has a really simple plot. Nonetheless, the whole brilliance revolves around the main character, Daisy, and the way James contrasts her with an enormously traditional environment. Henry James's Daisy is a very-as her name suggests- fresh, Spontaneous and open. And I would emphasize on the later one, because the author here is mainly presenting individuality through daisy – an extreme one actually. So, imagine this sort of individuality set in an utterly conformist society! (Huh! pretty ironic). This girl with her "confusing" American nature got nothing but European cold shoulders, and umm a fatal misjudgment.
A sense of confusion would prevail, in the story, regarding Daisy's personality. And Through the mind of a young American but "Europeanized" man called Winterbourne, you will see this confusion! innocent or audacious !? flirtatious or coquette !? The poor man tries, throughout the story, to find the right formula where daisy's character can be fitted in.
On a deeper level, I would say the aristocratic and hierarchical European society is being compared to the American democracy represented through Daisy's individuality. A second thought is that, it seemed as if author is suggesting that too much individuality is not very preferable or can be harmful!
I liked James's sophisticated writing-style. I loved the sort of symbolism used, and the symbolic setting specifically was just charming and admirably clever. All in all, it's a very lovely yet a profound novella.
الحرب سلبته طفولته، احلامه ، وجد نفسه صبيا تعتنق يداه الحجارة ، يقاتل من اجل تحقيق ما اصبح لاحقا لا يؤمن بوجوده. عاش الانتفاضة. اختلس من الموت نفحات م...moreالحرب سلبته طفولته، احلامه ، وجد نفسه صبيا تعتنق يداه الحجارة ، يقاتل من اجل تحقيق ما اصبح لاحقا لا يؤمن بوجوده. عاش الانتفاضة. اختلس من الموت نفحات مرات عدة حتى قرر ان يركن الى ظل اليأس. اصبح و ببساطة لا يؤمن بصمود الامل امام الرصاص. لن اموت سدى رواية قصيرة تحكي قصة وائل الذي قرر التخلي عن وطنه-فلسطين- والهرب بعيدا الى امريكا. الرواية تفتقر كثيرا الى الاحداث. بينما يغلب عليها الحوارات المطوله والتي تبث من خلالها الكاتبة افكارها و مفاهيما المتعلقة بالجهاد، الموت، التضحية، الوطن وغيرها الكثير. افضل الاجزاء تلك الي تحتوي على حوارات بين وائل-الشخصية الرئيسية- وبين العجوز الامريكية (لا يوجد لها اسم!) حيث تناقش تلك الاخيره نظرتها عن الاسلام و العرب.
اسلوب الكاتبه بشكل عام تقليدي جدا. لم يشدني لمتابعة القراءة. لكن بالنسبه لافكارها المطروحه وما ترمي لايصاله اجده رائع.
لست هاوية لهذا النوع من الروايات على الاطلاق ، ولكن اضررت لقراءتها من اجل نادي القراءة . انهيتها ولا زلت مشوشه ... لا اعرف بالتحديد ماذا يفترض بي ان اج...moreلست هاوية لهذا النوع من الروايات على الاطلاق ، ولكن اضررت لقراءتها من اجل نادي القراءة . انهيتها ولا زلت مشوشه ... لا اعرف بالتحديد ماذا يفترض بي ان اجني بعد قراءتها.
قلب الليل احدى اعمال نجيب محفوظ ، تحكي القصة مراحل مختلفه من حياة رجل يدعى جعفر الراوي . من بين تخبط ايام الطفوله و جنون المراهقة الى تمرد ايام الرشد . تسرد احداث القصة من خلال محادثة بين شخصين احدهما جعفر الرواي الذي يحكي قصة حياته لصديق. تتجلي في الرواية نكهة فلسفية واضحة في تناول المواضيع التي تطرق اليها الكاتب ، كعقل الانسان و حقيقة سيادته على الغرائز ، الانسان الالهي و مفهوم السياسة واهميتها في الحياه وغيرها . لا اعلم اذا كانت جميع اعمال نجيب كهذه الرواية ، ولكنني وجدت عنصر التصوير ضعيف الى حد كبير. ليست كتلك الروايات التي تسلبك من عالم الحقيقه الي ارض الخيال .
تبقى مشاعر السعاده طاغية على حاليا لانني قرأت رواية من روايات الادب العربي. :D (less)
Breaking my promise of keeping myself away from dramatic novels, I made up my mind to read this one, and just lucky me …….it was really worth it.
Memo...moreBreaking my promise of keeping myself away from dramatic novels, I made up my mind to read this one, and just lucky me …….it was really worth it.
Memoris of a geisha is an astonishing novel that exposes the questionable secretive life of geisha specifically, and the superb Japanese culture in general. It's a story of Chiyo, a-nine-year-old girl, who had happened to be driven away from her own family, town and the spontaneous innocence of childhood, to be thrown in a curst, sickening life. In a world where loneliness becomes the precise definition of life, Chiyo-chan seeks desperately surviving with some of her few shattered hopes and dreams. In somehow or another she could actually make it through the symphony of that suffering.
It was quite stunning how a Western author could represent a totally exotic culture with such extremely intimate fine descriptions. I really loved his writing-style, the way he overuses similes and metaphors which just put you in that amazing pre-set fantasy.
Nonetheless, as the story was approaching the end, I found it kinda boring. Until the very moment when Pumpkin betrayal takes place. Now I didn't see this one coming, which actually I found it "superbly duperly" brilliant. I just didn't imagine that clumsy girl would turn to be a nasty one.
My favorite character was Mameha. I disliked Chiyo, the main character, though you can't help but awfully sympathize with her for which her life, personality, dignity and dreams were hardly crushed.
If I were to change something in the story, I would change the end. I wished that the Chairman walks out on Chiyo and leaves her behind!
Oh, all what i am thinking about right now is to wear a kimono :D(less)
Even though I am so not into dramatic novels, I liked this one. It was really superb. Thousand splendid suns is a story of the brutality, sufferance a...moreEven though I am so not into dramatic novels, I liked this one. It was really superb. Thousand splendid suns is a story of the brutality, sufferance and rough inequitable treatment that women of Afghanistan had faced during the war era. Specifically, it talks about a thorny difficult life that two young women had been through with their appalling sickening husband.
I'm really wowed by hosseini's story-telling aptitude, he actually made me live it, like if I'd really been there. Nevertheless, as I found it interesting in some places, it was dreary in others.
-------------- oh, one of the wonderful shots I liked the most, is when Mariam finds magazines in Rasheed's drawer, and then gets shocked, wondering about his talking all the time about the honor, propriety and his disapproval of women who don’t cover up or even those who just show their feet, whereas he actually does keep that kind of magazines!!! ((( huh, what a "familiar" contradiction ))) (less)
The eleventh hour groom is a story of a couple, Elizabeth and Jay, who got married or let's say made a "contract" according to the condition of Elizab...moreThe eleventh hour groom is a story of a couple, Elizabeth and Jay, who got married or let's say made a "contract" according to the condition of Elizabeth's father so she can get her inheritance. The story goes like this; they love each other, each one of them tries to hide his\her feelings, each one doubts that the other has a secret affair and booooom !! the end of the story they confess and find that they were mistaken and can't live apart anymore.
huh!, CAN IT BE MORE TYPICAL !!
One thing I really liked in this story is when the author describes Elizabeth's passion, feelings and emotions. I reeeeeally could feel what she felt. In my opinion that was the one thing the author showed a wonderfulness at.
I don't actually recommend it unless you wanna change the mood of a previous book .. like what I did
Tikitian imprints is a quite philosophy embedded in a simple story that represents the life of the human being in different stages; in which a human i...moreTikitian imprints is a quite philosophy embedded in a simple story that represents the life of the human being in different stages; in which a human is alone, with nature(universe), with a socity. Dr. Hatem wanted to reveal the human's thinking, wondering, emotions, needs, fears and aims at evey stage, besides the development from one stage to another. Moreover, in this story, sevral issues are discussed in amazingly impressive philosophical perspective, including; friendship, love & the intimacy relationship betweent a man & a woman and parenthood, the book reveals explanations for the real reasons beyond each one, that we as people keep denying it or even keep coming up with other artificial, bogus and nicely-faked reasons to believe instead of those real ones. Honestly, this book had been awesomely done by Dr. Hatem, nevertheless, you might find the story boring in some places, maybe that's because obviously the main focus is on the philosophical dimensions rather than the story itself.(less)
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