52 Books in 52 Weeks (2011) discussion

Book reviews for week 19.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


it was fun and funny.



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Last Tango in Aberystwyth by Malcolm Pryce

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


If you enjoy the stories about Phillip Marlowe, or any other of the "noir" detective novels then you'll probably enjoy this series. I think it would be difficult to follow this story if you haven't already read Aberystwyth Mon Amour as so many references hark back to the events in the first novel but it's well worth reading. I loved all the references to Welsh culture but Aberystwyth is never going to look the same again.



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Delirium
Lauren Oliver
5/5

Excellent book!! Lena is living in a world where the government and scientists have deemed being in love as a terminal illness. However, when she meets Alex she begins to question what she had always been taught. This book is beautifully written with happy and terrifying moments. I can't wait for the next book to come out.

Palestine in Pieces: Graphic Perspectives on the Israeli Occupation

5/5
"Because seeing in this case is believing" Kathleen and Bill Christison narrate the story of the Israeli occupation to the Palestinian lands with numbers, maps, pictures, and heart felt first hand accounts of the daily struggle Palestinians endure under occupation, siege, separation, and provocations..
This book presents statistics and reports that are so moving and heart breaking that makes one wonder how do we live knowing that there are people who suffer to this this extent only because they are not Jews.

A must read book to everyone who want to know about the conflict in the Middle east and hopes to get an inside perspective..

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

The Bedwetter
By Sarah Silverman
2/5 Stars

Sarah's bright, open, funny way of viewing her life is quick, easy read. There are some laughs, but not that many. Some insight into her family, but not much. Some tales of coming up in comedy and television, not enough. Its good that she feels free to discuss what some would consider private, I suppose. I think I get her humor, yet, I tired of hearing the word "pee". And the book is written in her baby voice-aren't I adorable tone, which I also found tiring. Obviously a cute girl working in a mainly man's world, been told she's cute and she believes it.

By Sarah Addison Allen
3.5/5

All throughout reading this book I was thinking I would be giving it a 3 when I was finished. It was cute and kept my attention but it wasn't "OMG SO GOOD MUST READ OVER AND OVER". However, the last couple chapters really boosted my opinion, so I would give this a 3.5 alllmost 4. I liked the ending a lot, and I know that Josey and Adam were the main relationship focus but I actually liked Margaret and Rawley a little better even though I don't think you're really supposed to like her mother. I really liked one of the surprise parts at the end, although this is the first book of hers I've read so maybe she has things like this in all her books? Who knows. Side note - I also really like the cover of this book :)

يبدو أني من قرأ بالعربية خلال هذا الأسبوع :)

حصيلتي

الحارس في حقل الشوفان
by J.D. Salinger, غالب هلسا

2/5

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


جي بن يقظان
ابن طفيل

4/5

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

*****

العدد
by John Mcleish

5/5

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

*****

الحزام
by أحمد أبودهمان

4/5

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

*****
القبيلة والقبائلية أو هويات ما بعد الحداثة
by عبد الله الغذامي

4/5

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

*****

حكايات قهوة كتكوت
by محمود السعدني

3/5

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

*****

طوق الياسمين
by واسيني الأعرج

2/5

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


والحمدلله رب العالمين :)

يبدو أني من قرأ بالعربية خلال هذا الأسبوع :)

حصيلتي

الحارس في حقل الشوفان
by J.D. Salinger, غالب هلسا

2/5

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


جي بن يقظان
ابن طفيل

4/5

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

*****

العدد
by John Mcleish

5/5

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

*****

الحزام
by أحمد أبودهمان

4/5

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

*****
القبيلة والقبائلية أو هويات ما بعد الحداثة
by عبد الله الغذامي

4/5

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

*****

حكايات قهوة كتكوت
by محمود السعدني

3/5

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

*****

طوق الياسمين
by واسيني الأعرج

2/5

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


والحمدلله رب العالمين :)

Good Morning, Midnight by Reginald Hill

My rating: 3 of 5 stars






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I enjoyed listening to this but it never really gripped me.

rating: 2/5

"plotline is enjoyable but its beauty is ruined by its sometimes unbearable length"

My Full Review


ratings: 3/5

"I really enjoyed this book. It was surprising and makes you wanna read the next book ASAP"

My Full Review

كلام موزون
نورا خشبة
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/97...
4/5

Title: Albert Einstein: Creator & Rebel
Author: Banesh Hoffman
Rating: 2.00/5.00

To put it bluntly, this is not one of the best biographies on Einstein out there.

Sure, there were some amusing stories and facts about Einstein included (just as biographies strive to portray), but they do not live up to the acclaimed "creator/rebel" part. It was somewhat disappointing.

The only thing I can think of that held my attention for more than a few seconds were the photos. There were some remarkable photos of Einstein and of the great physicists of his era. One photo in particular kept me amazed at the number of great minds it contained; it included Einstein himself, Planck, Bohr, Madame Curie, Heisenberg, Pauli, de Broglie, Compton... and other names that just about cover the establishers of the academic syllabus taught in my final year of undergraduate physics. Looking at their synchronized gazes was very humbling.

So, there was something of interest in the book after all. However, I don't think that a collection of "photos" justifies reading a "book of words". But, that's just my opinion:)

My Reviews: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

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Last Man Standing
by David Baldacci
Rating: 4/5

Wow! what a rush!
Incredible thriller. recommended

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

My rating: 3 of 5 stars




Hmmm, more like 3.5 stars, really.

Well, that was strange.
I bought this book thinking it was a work of fiction, and it turns out it isn't. It's an autobiography by this Sedaris guy that I heard so much about, yet knew nothing of. So, how do you exactly read an autobiography of a certain someone you don't particularly care for? The fact it's sarcastic and odd helped.

It had its 'laugh-out-loud' moments. I seriously could not stop laughing at times. Even though I honestly cannot relate to David Sedaris in any way: he is a pretentious gay guy with a low IQ who finds science boring and is not passionate about music as much as I'd like. But, I guess that's what made the book hilarious. When Sedaris told something funny, it was REALLY funny and interesting; but when he told something 'ehhhh, okay', it was dull and boring for me.

I should read 'Naked' before forming my full opinion since most of his fans didn't like Me Talk Pretty One Day as much that book.

Still hate the author even though I enjoyed the book. Don't ask how that works. One thing I know for sure: he is DEFINITELY overrated, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable.




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Second Foundation
Isaac Asimov

4.5/5

The Horse and His Boy
C.S. Lewis

4/5

The third book of the Narnia series. It was yet another great adventure. I am definitely going to read this series one day to my kids.

من أجل الدين والامة..
د.عبدالكريم بكار
4/5
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71...
لم يكن مجرد كتاب ليقرأ.. بل كتاب ليٌفهم ويُحلل والأهم ليٌطبق..
تكلم عن أهم الأمور الداعية لرفعة الأمة ونهضتها وأيضآ أهم الأمور المعرقلة لتلك النهضة وتناولها بتحليل اسبابها ونتائجها كما اقترح حلول عملية للحد منها ومامشكلة التعصب إلا مثال حي لذلك..
رغم صغر حجم الكتاب إلا ان المادة المطروحة قيمة جدا وتنتهي وكلك رغبة بقراءة الكتاب للمرة الثانية

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The book was quite touching. The story of her abuse, although graphic, was very sad. It's a short read but very gripping.

Three stars.

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Ignorance
by Milan Kundera
5/5

"loved the style of writing, the ideas presented , the history it discussed and the quotable plot. Recommended. "

Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


So many questions left unanswered. Mr.Gary's futuristic totalitarian world is as flimsy as a sheet of paper tissue. Why was Fabrizia eliminated? Why was the fat man dragged away? How did the world become this way? What the hell does an apparatus look like, and how do you read off one? And like another reviewer cleverly pointed out, how is it Lenny laments being the last person who reads actual books, when his diaries are published and he becomes famous?

The love story isn't an actual love story, more like an obssessed man versus a flighty shallow woman who has mad survival instincts.



This book is not witty. It was not sad. Unless, of course, you count my sadness at having to report to my mum that the book she happily bought me was a waste of euros.







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مع الناس
علي الطنطاوي
٤\٥
مجموعة مقالات خفيفة عن مشاكل إجتماعية شائعة كالزواج وصعوبته على الشباب،والتعليم والقضاء والإذاعة...الخ
يقدم الحلول في أكثرها ويتناول المواضيع بسخرية ومنطق وحكمة.
كتاب جميل وخفيف فيه الكثير من الأسلوب القصصي المحبب.