52 Books in 52 Weeks (2011) discussion

Book reviews for week 13.

مدخل إلى دراسة تاريخ الأديان
مسعود حايفي
2/5

لا شيء يذكر .. بعض المعلومات المفيدة ولكن لم يعجبني الكتاب بصورة عامة.

ماذا يعني انتمائي للإسلام
3\5

ماذا يعني انتمائي للإسلام كتاب بسيط بلغة سهلة واضحة، عنوانه يحكي عما بداخله، وينقسم إلى جزئين "ماذا يعني انتمائي للإسلام؟" وقد أعجبني أكثر من جزئه الثاني "ماذا يعني انتمائي للحركة الإسلامية؟" الطبعة التي قرأتها طبعت في العام 1985، لا أدري إن كان قد تغير أي شيء في الطبعات الأحدث، لكن أي كتاب طُبع قبل 2011 في هذه الأوضاع يعتبر قديما ويحتاج إلى المراجعة
وبرغم أن المبادئ الأساسية تبقى ثابتة لا تتغير، إلا أن التفصيل والشرح يحتاج إلى أن يتجدد مع الوقت.
بشكل عام: كتاب جيد ومفيد

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

معالم في الطريق
by Sayyid Qutb سيد قطب

2/5

اختلفت معها كثيرا واتفقت معه كثيرا أيضا
الكتاب في بدايته رائع وإن اختلفت معه لكن أسلوب سيد قطب جميل وأفكاره متسلسلة وإن كانت في بعض الأحيان تصيبها لخبطة فلا يصل ما يريد بسهولة ورغم النبرة الشديدة لكلامه في البداية إلا أني كنت مستمتعة حتى وصلت إلى الفصل الذي عنونه بـ " نقلة بعيدة " الذي وصف فيه المسلمين بالجاهلية صراحة ورغم أنه كررها في الفصول السابقة إلا أني كنت أرى معه بعض الحق خصوصا في مسألة اتخاذ الأحبار والرهبان أربابا وأنها لاتقيم الحاكمية لله وأن هذا ينطبق في الإسلام وهو ما نراه حاليا في رجال دين تزلّفوا للسلطان فهم يحللون ويحرمون في كل أمر لهم فتوى والناس تأخذ منهم كل شيء بلا تفكير بل وتقدسهم كأشخاص !! ولكن لا يجب أن يعمم هذا على جميع المسلمين ولا أن يوصفوا بالجاهلية بعد أن حررهم الله منها وما زاد اختلافي معه أنه عندما تكلم عن نفسه قال (نحن القلائل المنتسبين للإسلام) !! أما البقية ماذا عنهم؟ يقول أنهم يدعون الإسلام أو مسلمون بالإسم وأنا أرى أن الإسلام أكبر وأعظم وأشمل من أن تختزله فئة تدعيه لنفسها وتخرج بقية الناس منه لذلك بعد هذا الكتاب لم استغرب أن يكون من أهم الكتب التي يقرؤها التكفيريون
حاولت أن أقرأ هذا الكتاب وأنا أتمثل عصر سيد قطب فقد كتب هذا الكتاب في عصر غير عصرنا وإن كان غير بعيد - ربما خمسون سنة - ولكن لم أجد مبررا في عزل المسلم عن واقع مجتمعه فهو إما أن ينعزل وإما أن يقاتل العالم أجمع بما فيهم المسلمين فهو جعل العالم طرفين طرف إسلام وطرف جاهلية ترفع رايات الحرب أمامهم ورغم أنه ذكر فترة تكوّن العقيدة في مكة والسبب الذي لم يجعل الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم وصحبه الكرام بالقتال في تلك المرحلة رغم طولها نسبيا (13 سنة) كما ذكر أهمية الصبر والاحتساب ثم يناقض نفسه ويأمر بالحرب ويرى أن المسلمين حقا هم قلة قليلة جدا ثم يطالبهم بالحرب ضد العالم أجمع

باختصار بعض الفصول أفسد جمال بعضها الآخر

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Secrets of a Summer Night
4/5

Very good story. I loved Simon, he was so manly and he evolved so much as a character. I really believed that these characters were truly in love. The book was steamy, but I guess when you read adult romance novels, that's what you get.

The Titan's Curse By Rick Riordan
3/5

Title: Sky in a Bottle
Author: Peter Pesic
Rating: 2.00/5.00

The main questions presented in this book are intriguing; “Is it possible to capture the sky in a bottle?” and “Why is the sky blue?” -I’m sure that many of you have wondered about the latter question at some point during their childhood. I certainly did! Which is what initially drew me to this book.

Although it is an excellent piece of work (in terms of the history of scientists and artists who have pondered the same problems and conjured answers to those questions), I found the book a bit boring to get through. The questions are fascinating, but the answers lacked provoking that specific sense of fascination and inspiration that I usually feel while learning something that is equally as interesting for me. It was not very exciting to read. It is as simple as that!


Review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Not as good as the first two books
3.5/5

however a very exciting trilogy, even tho I'm not into trilogies and series

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella
2.5
This novella gives a different perspective to vampires, if you are a twilight fan you'll like it..

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Book: Tuesdays with Morrie
Author: Mitch Albom
5/ 5

"When you learn how to die, you learn how to live."
I love elderly people, they know a lot about life. Even though Morrie is dying of a brutal terminal neurological illness(ALS), he wasn't focused on his dying.. but on his living! He ensured his wisdom and way of being, were an inspiration to others. I got teary a lot reading how cruel this disease and what it does to the human body.. remembering my brother's bestie who died of it at age 15.
This book is amazing from the beginning to the end. Very easy read that I would recommend to EVERYONE.

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The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
Rating: 5/5


I think this book just made it to the top of my list of favorite novels!

after reading this novel your prospective on life will change. I think it totally changed how I look at love, relationships and life in general.

I wanted to talk about existentialism and other philosophical messages and arguments, but I figured I would either bore you or spoil the fun. ;)

the story is painful. it grabbed me emotionally, but it has that sweet and sour taste to it.

definitely 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' is one of my best novels of all time.
highly recommended!

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
4/5

I am really liking this series! Even though it's for younger kids, I think its smart and funny, and Rick Riordan does a very good job of describing scenes and settings. They are quick reads but super enjoyable and the characters are really well-developed, which is nice!

أم النذور
عبد الرحمن منيف
3/5

رواية عن طفل و ذهابه للكتاب، ما يميز هذه الرواية ليست القصة المميزة و إنما إلقاء الضوء على مشاعر هذه الطفل و معاركه و مجابهته للظلم الذي شعر به.
أبدع عبد الرحمن منيف في وصف و إظهار ما هية مشاعر هذا الطفل و ما يدور في خلده من أفكار

The Lake Shore Limited, by Sue Miller, narrated by Sue Miller, produced by Random House Audio

4/5

Sue Millers books are better narrated by the author. Something about her voice pulls the reader into the story. The characters words and actions have no false moments. Probably more enjoyable for people over thirty or forty as it is easy to identify with at least one, possibly all of the characters.

Marcelo In The Real World by Francisco X. Stork

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




Incredibly brisk read, and it was quite enjoyable.
I think I have a thing for characters with Asperger's. (I liked The Curious Incident of The Dog, and the film: Adam). After knowing that much about them, maybe my rating isn't fair. Maybe it deserves more, who knows? It was a fluff read, nonetheless. Nothing serious, which was exactly what I needed. I believe it is an EXCELLENT book for young adults, and they all should read it. There are lessons there.
I didn't like the excessive referencing from holy books though. Okay, it is not excessive. But I wished that the part was omitted. Just to make it more universal.




View all my reviews

جداً أستمتع بقراءة كتابات محمد الرطيان, أسلوبه سلس وقاسي بعض الأحيان ولكن يصلك المغزى بأوضح طريقة ممكنة.
أحببت مبادئه, ومواضيعه العشوائية التي جمعها في "كتاب".
كانت هناك ابيات شعر, وعلى الرغم من مقتي للشعر إلا أنني أحببت صياغته لبعض الأبيات.
أبرز ماأعجبني:

"المدن.. ابتكرت لكل شيئٍ سجناً.. حتى ((الماء)) محبوس في النوافير والمواسير."

"من يهضم الماضي بطريقة خاطئة.. يتقيأه المستقبل."

"لكل شيئٍ ايقاع.. حتى الصمت!"

by John Green

4/5


http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

A Room of One's Own
by Virginia Woolf
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18...
3/5

An essay about the women and fiction in which Woolf talks about the need of women a room of her own and money so she can write good fiction or any kind of writing.The room symbolizes her ability to contemplate and the money symbolizes her ability to think for her own.

Foundation and Empire
Isaac Asimov
5/5

...

A Woman of No Importance by Oscar Wilde


Warning: Being a fan of Oscar Wilde, this review is going to be slightly biased.

Wilde's language is just beautiful. His simplicity, depth, and philosophy intertwined with the simple humorous plot is just amazing.

More than anything, this play reminded me of The Picture of Dorian Gray - one of my favorite books. It has the same style, I kind of felt it even had the same ideas.

The play mainly revolves around Lord Illingworth and the new appointment of Gerald Arbuthnot as his secretary. There are a lot of funny and silly characters. Oscar Wilde, quite clearly, is making fun of high society and their pettiness is a bit emphasized to the point of ridiculousness. But a really delightful read!

I gave it 5 stars.

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella

4/5

Sophie Kinsella's books are my guilty pleasure. Her plot is always predictable thought, yet funny and easy read.

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Mockingjay
by Suzanne Collins
3 /5

" It was a bit dull comparing with the first two
I did not enjoy it as much,
but all in all the trilogy was a thrill .
"

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Cute, very very endearing. I'd read Going too Far before this, and had branded that book the best of this year, so I was very relieved that this one didn't disappoint.





View all my reviews

ليلة في جاردن سيتي
أبو عبدالرحمن ابن عقيل الظاهري

٥/٣
كتابٌ قصير يناقش قضية الإلحاد عبر الرد على الحجج التي أوردها عبدالله القصيمي المفكر الشهير القديم في كتبه وجلساته. لغة الظاهري في الرد على القصيمي حادة وغليظة، وسياق الأفكار غير مرتب. ولكنه في المجمل يحوي أفكاراً جيدة تنفع المهتمين بهذا المجال.

http://bit.ly/rlxjzw

by John Green

4 / 5

I don't really know what to think about this book, I was enjoying it at first but then it started to sound more like Looking for Alaska. The story of this awkward little guy who is fascinated by an awesome, beautiful and smart girl but that girl is so mysterious and he wants to unravel all her mystery. I felt a kind of repetition, nevertheless, the book was somewhat enjoyable and funny.

عندما يفكر الرجل

خولة القزويني

٢/٥

كفكرة وقصة جميلة لا بأس بها،ولم تعجبني كثيراً ربما لنمذجة الجمل على نحو مستهلك نوعاً ما،لا أدري.

Author: Alek Wek
Rating: 3.5/5

The book was very informative about life in Sudan before and after the civil war. I couldn't believe how brutal some people on earth could be!, it's just inconceivable!
The massive loads of struggles Alek Wek had been through made her the successful woman she is now, I become to strongly believe that "what won't kill you makes you stronger"

I extremely felt ashamed of myself after reading her autobiography!, I felt that I haven't accomplished NOTHING in my life.

I was touched by what her father told her, he used to say to her " look, Alek, you don't have to be a scientist or a doctor or a solicitor. But whatever you choose to do, you should really love it. You should focus on it and you must stick with it. Life is not a game, although it can be fun"

Her first steps into modeling world were a struggle also, but she mad it to the top

I'd like o point out that I learned a moral out of his book, our skin color doesn't define who we are, it's our actions, ethics and values!

This book was an inspirational for me, I believe it will be to everyone else who seeks inspirations within struggle and hard times

Heya =)


Here is my book for week 13, I am quite far behind this year in my reading but I guess better late then never.



4/5

Not sure why I began reading this book at first or what caught my eye, but I couldn't put it down.. I found myself drawn into this weird story, and I liked the pictures throughout the book. I have read some reviews which liken it to x-men etc.. and I just didn't get that feeling from the story.. I liked the weirdness of the story and the strange abilities of these children.


Laylah =)