Buddy Read Challenge

[MI]

Hi Zareen,

Only two people can do this at a time? Or if I want I can suggest another book being the Member C to any other member D?

[Rao]

Yusra wrote: "Hi Ramla; I have wanted to read The Picture of Dorian Gray for a while! I'm swamped with coursework at the minute so I won't be able to start it immediately, but I'd be up for starting it next week..."

Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hi, I have to read The Picture of Dorian Gray for another challenge. It's not the type of a book that I usually read so I thought that I might find it more enjoyable with a reading part..."

First of Ramal...brilliant idea...as a matter of fact I am reading a book "Six of Crow" with my friend Mimi these day in which Mashallah she is always two chapters ahead of me. x'''D

And I would had love to read The picture of Dorian gray with you but I have already read it and...I don't feel like reading it again. The book was really good though. It is an outstanding book because of the origin of the story. The ending is just tremendous, and the character lord Henry is a very influential character. However, you won't find Lord Henry very influential because he is a kind of chauvinist person who offends woman throughout the book. Like at some points he says:

"Never marry at all, Dorian. Men marry because they are tired; women, because they are curious: both are disappointed." (4.8)

"My dear boy, no woman is a genius. Women are a decorative sex. They never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly. Women represent the triumph of matter over mind, just as men represent the triumph of mind over morals." (4.9)

"But why should you be annoyed? I suppose she will belong to you some day. When one is in love, one always begins by deceiving one's self, and one always ends by deceiving others. That is what the world calls a romance." (4.10-11)

My friend, Mehwish, hates the entire book because of this one person.

So I strongly suggest you not to read this book. As a matter of fact Ramla I always ask you to read the Great Gatsby...even thou I have already read it, but I would love to read it again sometime with you. :-)

And Yusra, i give the same suggestion to you. :-)

[Rao]

Yusra wrote: "@Umar, he does sound annoying, but the book is too intriguing not to read because of one character's perspective. Besides, a character with a horrible personality doesn't mean the story itself is b..."

Well said, Yusra....it is indeed hard to create a believable character...like the joker from the Batman movie. :-P :-P :-P

Now I know people get easily annoyed whenever I talk about Christopher Nolan...but I promise - well I don't promise - but I will try not to mention him again after this.

So in order to define a bad character, this is a scene from the Batman movie... Where batman and Alfred are talking about the joker, so here it is:

Batman: Criminals aren't complicated, Alfred. Just have to figure out what he's after.

Alfred Pennyworth: With respect Master Wayne, perhaps this is a man that *you* don't fully understand, either. A long time ago, I was in Burma. My friends and I were working for the local government. They were trying to buy the loyalty of tribal leaders by bribing them with precious stones. But their caravans were being raided in a forest north of Rangoon by a bandit. So, we went looking for the stones. But in six months, we never met anybody who traded with him. One day, I saw a child playing with a ruby the size of a tangerine. The bandit had been throwing them away.

Batman: So why steal them?

Alfred Pennyworth: Well, because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn

That is why I am so fond of Nolan. :-D

[Rao]

Ramla Zareen wrote: "@Rao, once Yusra and I are done with The Picture of Dorian Gray, then if you like, we can set a date to start reading The Great Gatsby together, if you will read either [book:Lord Edgwa..."

Sure....i would love to read hail to the chef with you. :-)

[Jibran]

@Yusra, you mentioned Midnight's Children above. I am gearing up for it. Shall we read it together?

[Jibran]

Yusra wrote: "Sure Jibran, I would love to! The tome I have (a hardback copy from the library) looks pretty hefty and daunting, so having another person to read along with will give me the kick I need to approac..."

Great!
I'm busy on and off till 10th of April. I have a relatively free last week of March but I wouldn't want the interruption. How about we start it on or after 10th April if that's okay with you?

I am not familiar with the format of the book, as yet, so maybe you can come up with a plan as to how we should proceed? Or shall we just read the whole thing and then discuss it? Any time restraints?

I also like hardbacks for longer books but as you'd know, no one sells any of Rushdie's books in the "Land of the Pure." So I will have to make do with an e-copy filched from the web. But I'm not complaining!

[Jibran]

Cheers, Yusra. I will check out The Open Library for the book. These e-readers are still not my preferred format so anything that helps to ease the strain is welcomed.

Okay, let's start it by the agreed date. We'll figure out the rest later. Lest you forget, I will remember to give you a buzz when the time comes :D

[Jibran]

Yeah, sure, start reading when convenient. I'll just make sure you, and I, finish the book!

[Ramla Zareen]

BUDDY READ CHALLENGE

Hi,
Just thought I'd simplify and revive the challenge at the same time :-)

1) List down the names of the books you would like to read with a partner.

2) Wait for an interested member to offer to read one of your listed books with you. (Or you can reply to another participant and offer to read one of their listed books with them.)

3) At that time, the other member will ask you to choose a book from his/her list too.

4) Once you've both selected the two books, one from each of your lists, you can initiate a discussion thread in this folder titled "Buddy Read Challenge by A & B" (replacing A and B with your usernames) and start the buddy read.

5) You can either read the two books simultaneously or one after the other.

6) The challenge will be completed when both the books are finished.

Wish you all the best & Happy Reading :-)

[Fakiha]

is anyone still interested in buddy read challenges??