Gone With The Wind

(This was written Thursday night)

I have been wondering lately why do I love reading novels so much, and more than few answers came to my mind and all of them, added together, made sense, but only when I was reading 'Gone With The Wind' did I realize the real reason behind it all.

I read to live in other people's shoes, to know what they have experienced in life and what emotions they went through, to know what makes them happy and what break them, where they lived and where they've been to. I like to live these life and add their experiences to mine, believing that knowing more about that would make me understand people and this world better. I read novels to live with these people for few hours and then come back to reality and be glad and happy with my life, and appreciate everything in it much more.

I believe I have never read a book like 'Gone with the Wind', and I have a very strong feeling that I would never enjoy and love a book as much as do it. It's the story of something that actually happened (Civil War) and then the story of people who lived it, their thoughts and feelings, what they did and what they have been through. It takes you from how a plantation is run to politics, to love and marriage, death and loss, sickness, and people – I believe people are the most difficult of all that – and yet you're not bored by it, but rather would want to spend as much a time reading it to know what would happen, but with every page, you wish you can stop pages turning because you don't want it to finish.

It's also the first book I read that explained slavery in the US from a white person point of view. White people thought the black people are happy and couldn't really understand why does the Yankees what to set them free! It was also a shocking knowledge how much the Yankees and the Southern used to hate each other, I never thought people from two different places who hate each other that much can actually live with each other later.

I spent hours on it, the last being more than 10 hours last night, I just couldn't sleep and when I was told in the morning we're going out, I just smiled and couldn't stop smiling all day to the point people were wondering what's going on with me? Only my youngest sister guessed that I read a very good book but she dismissed the thought because it sure is something more. Nothing would have stopped my smile – not even when I found that a favorite shirt was ruined.

I think the way I think of books might be weird to people, stupid to others, or confusing, and very few might get what I'm talking about in this. If there is an excuse to my rambling, it would be that I didn't sleep and need it desperately.

Dorothy Parker

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity."
- Dorothy Parker

I have never studied poetry and I don't think I ever well, but I do enjoy reading it a lot and Dorothy Parker is the poet tonight. Even though she was crazy and tried to commit suicide and all – she's fun! And aren't all the great poets depressed, sad and weird?

Finis
Now it's over, and now it's done;
Why does everything look the same?
Just as bright, the unheeding sun, --
Can't it see that the parting came?
People hurry and work and swear,
Laugh and grumble and die and wed,
Ponder what they will eat and wear, --
Don't they know that our love is dead?

Just as busy, the crowded street;
Cars and wagons go rolling on,
Children chuckle, and lovers meet, --
Don't they know that our love is gone?
No one pauses to pay a tear;
None walks slow, for the love that's through, --
I might mention, my recent dear,
I've reverted to normal, too.

Many of her poems are full of emotions and meaning that the reader would feel with her but then she would end it with a line or two that just makes me smile.

Observation

If I don't drive around the park,
I'm pretty sure to make my mark.
If I'm in bed each night by ten,
I may get back my looks again,
If I abstain from fun and such,
I'll probably amount to much,
But I shall stay the way I am,
Because I do not give a damn.

Distance

Were you to cross the world, my dear,
To work or love or fight,
I could be calm and wistful here,
And close my eyes at night.
It were a sweet and gallant pain
To be a sea apart;
But, oh, to have you down the lane
Is bitter to my heart.

When will it be over!!

Is it only me, or there's nothing to do in the summer here?

I wish I took summer courses or did an internship because this life is not working well with me, I need something to do, a project to work on and reading and writing are not enough.

I have finished exams two weeks ago and I don't think I want more than two weeks of holiday because I feel, like, wrong – I'm doing nothing and I'm wasting my time doing nothing.

It's like because I'm not busy, I'm not even reading or writing much. I don't function properly if I'm not busy.

Help?

Can you or can't you?!

I didn't know comments were not allowed to comment on my blog because I get few comments.

So if you can't comment, poke me, send an email, and I will just go back to my old layout.

Thank you.

Notes on 'reading Lolita in Tehran'

(This was written Friday night)

I don't usually feel comfortable readings books that might insult or criticize Islam in anyway but this book is different; this is Iran.
I have only read 44 pages so far and therefore I'm not going to judge the book (even though I can say I'm enjoying reading it) but here are some things I felt like writing that the book made me think of:

Reading a book is something, writing about the book is something (I'm really bad at that!) and discussing the book with others who read it is something else. That's my favorite part, because then you noticed things and think more deeply about what you have read, and all that turn reading any book into a learning experience.

Iran scares me and I don't know much about it, it has always been like this mystery throughout my life and I guess it's time to read and learn more about its history and culture.

Is freedom doing what you believe is right, or doing what your family and society think is right? Or maybe it's what your family and society think is not right. On of the women in the book used to wear the veil before the revolution and even though she was different, it was what she believed in. after the revolution, when all women were forced to wear it, she said it lost its meaning to her because nothing any longer is about what you believe in or what you think – it's about what you do to survive.
It's like in KSA where everyone is covered, but look at Saudi's when they go abroad – they go overboard with what they wear. I'm not saying we don't have this problem here, but at least it's much better.

FIFA is not only about football

You can't miss this article on gulfnews!

It's not all about football for the lovers of sexy men

These are some of the most entertaining paragraphs:

For millions of TV viewers who are following the World Cup, there is more to admire than mere dribbling and back-heel passes, namely, legs shaped as though sculpted, seductive smiles and disarming gazes.

Political tensions notwithstanding, the team whose players have caused the greatest stir with their looks is Iran. Young German women and girls scramble to get autographs from the raven-haired, intense-eyed Iranians.

The tall, strong players of Ivory Coast have also set many a heart aflutter.

"Nesta is a Mediterranean beauty," it wrote. "He has a classic countenance, fine facial features, and a glance that's simply stunning." The Danes, who failed to qualify, can afford more neutrality.
The Argentinians have their charms too. Most striking about them is their luxuriant hair,

And not only women, gay men's favourite pinup boys include Ljungberg, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ukraine's Andriy Shevchenko. Or so it seems judging from gay Internet sites, where photos show the players scantily clad and in daring poses.

There are more attractive footballers out there, waiting to be discovered during the World Cup.

By the time the final rolls around on July 9, perhaps we will know who the top beefcake is.


Good God. I don't wear contacts when I'm watching the matches unless the two teams have close colors.

Tagged...

I was tagged by ahmed...

20 Years Ago I...
o Was not born…
o I guess I did nothing because I was not born.
o I was to be born in a year.

10 Years Ago I...
o Realized I'm not as stupid as I think.
o Went to Cardiff. (It's the most random place I have been to… Why there?!)
o Broke my 3 years old sister's hand – It was an accident.

5 Years Ago I...
o Was a nerd.
o Saw a woman poop in an airport and walk away, a guy went to take a picture. I didn't take any pictures.
o Was harassed by a drunk guy in Australia

3 Years Ago I...
o Didn't graduate from High school
o Got to university
o Met Biz and thought she was the most random person ever and I scared her by telling her "My dad knows your dad"
o Ran into a roundabout pole walking in the street because I was busy talking to friend and I had a white mark on my abaya and Shayla. Was very entertaining.
o Had local girls with me in the same classroom for the first time.

1 Year Ago I...
o Transferred colleges from IT to business.
o Decided to go to London because it's the safest place I can think of – it got bombed.
o Tried to learn how to drive in the desert but was told that 'I failed with honor'

So Far This Year, I...
o I hugged a huge teddy bear in Toy Store, Mall of the Emirates.
o I jumped in a very cold swimming pool fully clothed in January after I finished my exams.
o I had a cocktail that looked like dirt.
o Was in an X5 with 7 other people – it was an experiment.
o I took so many pictures.

Yesterday, I...
o Watched a world cup match in Chinese.
o Watched 'Meet the Fockers'
o I started reading 'Reading Lolita in Tehran'

Today, I...
o Woke up very late.
o Will go swimming.
o Realized I didn't give a friend her birthday card. (It was last November)

Tomorrow, Inshallah I Will...
o Read.
o Swim.
o Eat ice cream.

In The Next Year, Inshallah, I Will...
o Have one more year to go of university.
o Study more. Read more.
o Try to go to a wedding. (I have never been to a wedding before because I hate it and no one hates me for it from my family because they just think I'm weird)

I Will tag...
o Everyone I know was already tagged… so anyone who reads this and was not tagged – do it.

Small things

One of the most special memories I had growing up is staying up all night in the summer just to hear all the Adhans from the different masjids – in a way it was a scary, but also very calming and I loved it.

I forgot that and only remembered it this weekend, as I was up at Fajr and heard all the Adhans and I couldn't stop but smile and was so happy to hear it and then realized that I have missed it living in Alain and Dubai – I was in Ajman.

Some time ago, all 'adhans' in Alain where unified, then some time after they were not allowed using the outside microphones for Fajr prayer, when I asked why they did that, I was told that they did it because there're people who are not Muslim or people who don't pray and it's disturbing for them.

Friday morning I was thinking of that and how our country is turning into such a globalized place and even the small things that defined it and made it special are taken day after day – is that what we want it to turn to?

These thoughts were not about prayers or anything in particular, just in general, if small things from our culture are cancel because they would disturb others, then what would be special about it? Aren't the small things what add up to define something?

It would end up being like eating pizza with no tomato sauce or cheese.

Three reads

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
Was, generally speaking, an interesting and funny read with lots of sarcasm and jokes about simple things in life that make you think more about those things and why are we doing them. Even though, sometimes while reading that book I was like 'what's the point of all this?!'
It's not a favorite book and a good read of you like these kind of books. There were some parts that I wanted to type here because I liked them but I gave it to a friend so maybe some other time.

Middlesex: A Novel -- by Jeffrey Eugenides
I decided to read this book because of many recommendations and the awards it won – I was disappointed by it to the point that I didn't finish it; I was disgusted.
So maybe the topic of the book is weird but I just couldn't read after I found that the girl/boy is like that because her/his grandparents were siblings – I find that a very sick thing, so I didn't read it…

The curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon
Almost finished with it and I'm loving the book and it sure is going to be added to my 'recommend to everyone' list. The 15 years old boy in the book has Asperger's Syndrome and when you read the book you understand exactly how he's thinking. Also, when I was reading some of the reviews on the book some people with the same problem said that that book is the best one that describes exactly how they think.
Basically, they can only understand facts and give facts and they have a very unusual way of reasoning things. He doesn't understand metaphor and he can't lie too, because to answer a question truthfully you only have one option but to lie you have infinite options. For example, if he had cereals of breakfast and someone asked him what did he have, he can either say that or lie. If he lie he can say anything starting with 'I had pancakes' or 'I had a burger in New York' or I had "a monkey in china"*** and there're an infinite number of options that his mind can't handle.

*** These are options I made up not from the book.

hello yellow.

Brazil! … All the way! … I guess.

Why did I finally get to choose Brazil?

First, no one is with Brazil at home which means there are going to be so many debates and… fights. Very much fun.
Second, I was told but from a not so trustworthy friend (on this issue only!) that when Portugal took over the UAE in the 18th century they married people here (Unlike the British!) Therefore, that means that maybe some of my ancestors are from Portugal (My dad didn't think so… or so I guess from the look he gave me "MJ, are you high?!" me: -points at friend-)

Long story short, Brazil talks Portuguese and therefore, maybe just maybe I have so Brazilian blood in me!

I couldn't find any other reason to vote for any other team, I was going to go for Germany but was told that everyone think they're going to lose, and was going to Vote for England but almost everyone at home is with England and it won't be fun…

Therefore, England better not win or I would be devastated!!

Why do people watch TV...?

I never watch TV, and by never I mean I might only watch some once every few week and only because it's there and someone else is watching it.

Today, I actually sat there with everyone else, first to watch the news and got sick of it and left. Then I came back for the World cup only to find that there's no world cup on the TV I'm watching and I was too lazy to move to another room.

I'm sitting there and we are checking all the channels and I honestly was shocked by the number of music channels only because those channels being there mean someone is actually watching them, and therefore how many people are watching those channels in the Arab world – It's a very sad thing to think of.

It's time something is done about that.

We then watch Oprah with Queen Rania, it was really interesting, I mean I'm just so proud of the queen and the way she represents Arab and Muslim women. She made a point that women are not oppressed and that you don' have to be covered head to toe to be a Muslim…

Mango

Why is the color orange 'orange' and not mango?

I was thinking about mango, and how it plays such a part in the summer here. Dates are important too, but I don't care about those – I'm in a mango mood.

There're so many different kinds of mango that almost everyone knows about but not many know about green mangos, they're soar and you eat them with salt… mango with salt? Yes and it's really good too!

I remember we once were eating some and an American friend was there and she tried it but had this disgusted look on her face and then said 'Those apples taste funny!'

It's one of those jokes that will never be forgotten.

For some unknown reason to me, I sat and watched the news with my family, and I wish I didn't. Everywhere is being bombed and people are killed everyone and I just think 'what did I do to deserve the life I have? And what did these people do to deserve to the life they have?'

I just couldn't watch more after the beach that was bombed in Palestine, I mean those people were going to the beach and it's weekend, the last thing I would expect is to go back home an orphan, or to lose a child on the beach… Why's life so cruel?

I'm off to live through another summer day and guess watch the World cup opening later tonight…

I need to pick a team, I think I did few weeks ago but I can't remember which team now. Last world cup, I was voting for France and they lost so badly…

This year it would be … England, Germany or Brazil.

TBR

Finals are over and summer is here and what else is there to do than read? Well, I can think of few things but none would occupy my time as much as reading, so this is my TBR (to be read) list for the summer which I put together while studying so some might change but most of these books I want to read so badly.

1. kite runner by Khaled Hosseini
2. The history of love by Nicole Krauss
3. The hornet's nest by Jimmy Carter
4. Small island by Andrea Levy
5. Captain Correlli's mandolin by Louis de Bernieres
6. The count of Mont Cristo by Alexandre Dumas pere
7. A suitable boy by Vikram Seth
8. The broker by John Grisham
9. Love in the time of cholera Gabriel Garcia Marquez
10. The beach by Alex Garland
11. Middlesex: A Novel by Jeffrey Eugenides
12. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
13. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi
14. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America (Vintage) by Erik Larson
15. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
16. An Evening of Long Goodbyes : A Novel by Paul Murray
17. Bel Canto: A Novel by Ann Patchett
18. Gone with the wind by Margaret Mitchell
19. On Thin Ice by Cherry Adair
20. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
21. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan : A Novel by Lisa See
Tangerine Dream (Paperback) by Ken Douglas, Jack Stewart
23. Walk-On by D. Mikels
24. Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
25. We Need to Talk About Kevin: A Novel by Lionel Shriver
26. Dead famous by Ben Elton
27. The Autobiography of Malcolm X : As Told to Alex Haley (Mass Market Paperback) by Attallah Shabazz
28. Fahrenheit 451: Rad Bradbury
29. A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
30. Me talk pretty one day by David Sedaris

I would be expecting so much book talk on this blog this summer, so I warn!
On another topic, just now another sand storm started and it's cloudy ,so it will probably last for few hours and then it will rain some, just like last few days, it's what I would guess a typical Alain weather. Oh well, at least everyone else think we're so lucky because it's raining!

[EDIT]
... and it's raining!!!