Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Favourite Books |
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| Merimda |
| 01/24/02 at 02:37:36 |
| Salam, Not including the Quran-- for this Noble Book should be very dear to every Muslim--What are your favourite books..both fiction and non fiction.. Tell us a little bit about why you enjoyed the book and, if you can, to whom would you recommend the book? JAK salam, merimda |
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| Sparrow |
| 01/24/02 at 07:30:52 |
| Hi all, My favorite book of all time is TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. It's about honesty, justice, and doing the right thing. I'd recommend it to everybody! There is also a fabulous novel called THE SPARROW, it has a sci-fi setting although it's really more about religion and culture, and what happens when people (even well meaning people) arrive on a scene, in this case, another planet, and (sometimes inadvertently) change things, without really understanding the people they are dealing with or the consequences of their actions. It's a compelling story and really well written. Peace, Sparrow |
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| mujaahid |
| 01/24/02 at 08:23:24 |
| I've got a few fav books, Father Chritmas, and the Snowman, both by Raymond Briggs! Also i LOVE funny bones. A series of books i like are the Tim and Tobies books!!! |
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| humble_muslim |
| 01/24/02 at 13:42:00 |
| AA 1. To Kill a Mocking Bird. Read the book a dozen times, seen the movie, seen the stage play. I just love the book, but cannot describe it, you need to read it yourself. 2. Watership Down by Richard Adams. About rabbits, but not at all boring, and beautifully written. 3. For kids : The Three Investigator books, by Robert Arthur, sometimes with an introduction by Alfred Hitchcock. Good, clean boyish fun. 4. For kids interested in science : the Danny Dunn books. About a geeky schoolboy and his friends, but very educational. 5. If you like mystery, any good Ellery Queen novel. 6. Lately, I have been listening to 'Cape Cod Radio Mystery Theatre' on books on tape. Very suspensful, based on a radio show from the 80's and early 90's. |
| NS |
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| Mystic |
| 01/24/02 at 15:32:16 |
| [slm] Non Islamic??? Hands down "The Alchemist" ;-D;-D;-D If you haven't read it Meri, check it out, I know you'll love it too:) Maliha :-) [wlm] |
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| Caraj |
| 01/24/02 at 16:14:58 |
| (Cara) I really enjoyed James Herriot books the most. He was a Veterinarian in England and wrote a few books titled from a poem His books were (but not limited to) 1) All Creatures Great and Small 2) All things wise and wonderful 3) All things bright and beautiful 4) The Lord God made them all Those were 4 of his books about his adventures as a Vet in the English countryside. I enjoyed them as a 12 y/o and started reading them again as a 40 y/o and I read them again about 10 yrs ago. Would recommend them to all ages and he wrote some small childrens stories about animals. As for fiction???? Let me think about that and will post it later. |
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| Hania |
| 01/24/02 at 16:33:53 |
[quote] Non Islamic??? Hands down "The Alchemist" ;-D;-D;-D If you haven't read it Meri, check it out, I know you'll love it too:) Maliha :-) [/quote] M is that written by a Portuguese guy? I think I read one of his books called 'Veronica wants to die' is it the same person? My favourite books are: 'Memoirs of a Geisha' : made me cry so much 'The sugar street' triology by Naguib M. and I'm trying to read 'A suitable boy' by Vikram Seth (its funny). Hania |
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| Sparrow |
| 01/24/02 at 17:51:10 |
| Hi all, Hania, The Alchemist and Veronica Decides to Die were both written by Paoulo Cohelo, I think. Humble Muslim, I'm so excited you put TKAM on your list! A reviewer once called it 'the most graceful American novel ever written." I couldn't agree more! Peace, Sparrow |
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| BroHanif |
| 01/24/02 at 18:01:19 |
| Aww, Andy Mcnab, Firewall. Fiction An absolute gem of a book, the story is about an ex-SAS soldier wanting some cold cash, in order to get it he has to capture a Chechneyan Mafia, from there things go belly up. From the onset the plot is gripping, tense and above all its like your dodging the bullets. Very good. Chris Ryan, The one that got away. Fact and Fiction A true story or at least some events, its about a British SAS soldier during the Gulf War. Shows one mans strength and agility when everything else fails around him. Classic. Mark Bowden, Black Hawk Down. Fact An historic account of how the US/Somalia were at loggerheads with each other. Describes the events in excellant detail both for the US Rangers and for the Somalia's. Goes to show that even if you have all the latest technology and all the best plans drawn up you can still fail.Amazing. Famous Five adventures. Kid classic |
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| Hania |
| 01/24/02 at 18:08:07 |
| [quote]TKAM on your list! A reviewer once called it 'the most graceful American novel ever written." I couldn't agree more! [/quote] Sparrow did you ever read roll of thunder hear my cry? [quote] Famous Five adventures. Kid classic[/quote] <*cough*><*smirk*> I didn't realise you were an Enid Blyton sort of man Bro Haniff. Did you ever read malory towers books? The best kids books were by Roald Dhal!! Georges Marvellous Medicine and The Twits!! |
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| BroHanif |
| 01/24/02 at 18:27:25 |
| AWW, [quote]I didn't realise you were an Enid Blyton sort of man Bro Haniff. [/quote] First, its one F. in my name :) Haniaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Secondly, man of mystery, adventure and looking for thrills I am, or was at that age. :). I wanted to be in the famous five adventure gang. [quote]Did you ever read malory towers books[/quote] Hmm, tell me abit more about this... its years since I read any. I think I can remember but not quite.... Road Dahl was kewl but it was too much like a fairy tale. I guess I grew up a bit tooo fast. |
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| Merimda |
| 01/24/02 at 18:34:24 |
| Salam, *Takes notes* ^_^ I'll look into "Alchemist", Maliha I read "To Kill a Mocking Bird" when I was in High School and I thought it was okay. "Watership Down": that book was on my summer list but I never got around to reading it...But insha-Allah I might pick it up this summer. I have read a couple of Naguib Mahfouz novels when I was in High School but his stories do not appeal to me..I actually did not like them..I forget the titles of the books I read.. Salam, meri |
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| Sparrow |
| 01/24/02 at 20:15:18 |
| Hi Hania, Yes! I read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry years ago and loved it. I've actually read it a couple of times, and also the sequel, Let the Circle be Unbroken. I was (am?) a MAJOR geek in high school and spent most of my time reading. Peace, Sparrow |
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| Hajreee |
| 01/24/02 at 22:00:03 |
| Salaams BroHanif- i think Hania's name has only one "a" in it at the end, not 20 :P and look who's critcizing hania for putting two F's! hehe, i'm only kidding bhai :) I liked "To Kill a Mockingbird"...i am not really a book worm and in high school, i got influenced from my friends and started reading cliff notes! :/ but i really like "The Partner" that's a really clever book and i liked "The Kitchen Gods Wife" (i think it's called that, it's by the author who wrote "The Joy Luck Club") those were just some recent books i read that i liked :) okely dokely, this is an interesting thread, i'm surprised we haven't done one before =) take care book worms! Wasalaams |
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| Asim |
| 01/25/02 at 00:13:43 |
| Assalaamu alaikum, I haven't read any fictional stuff in years. Sigh. Most of my reading time is taken up by research papers and technical stuff... But long time ago I was a novel reader. My favorite author was Alistair McLean. His adventure novels are just amazing, captivating, thrilling, and dramatic. He knows how to keep a suspense with a great attention to detail. Some of his best novels are HMS Ulysses, Puppet on a Chain, South by Java Head, Guns of Navarone, Athabasca, etc (btw, if you are wondering, I haven't seen any of the movies... ) I liked PG Wodehouse books also. Agatha Christie, well, only a couple I think. I didn't like her style of murder on first page, solution on page 200. Hehe, me an Enid Blyton reader too! The Famous Five and the Secret Seven, childhood memories... Cara, yep I have read some of James Herriot novels also. They are fascinating, usually a saga of life and death and farmers and their animals. They can be quite emotional. Wasalaam. |
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| Merimda |
| 01/25/02 at 02:08:01 |
| [quote]Non Islamic ???[/quote] Just a clarification..this thread is not limited to fiction or Non-Islamic stuff.. As for my Favs: Fiction: I mostly enjoy YA fantasy/adventure usually set in medieval or ancient times (or a fantasy land resembling medieval or ancient times): I loved Lloyd Alexander's 'The Prydain Chronicles': It consists of five books: The Book of Three The Black Cauldron (which Disney made into a movie..I haven't seen it ) The Castle of Llyr Taran Wanderer (My favourite of the five) The High King I loved the Prydain chronicles..it's full of adventure, humour, charming characters, lots of morals.. and the ending is bitter sweet..Although it is for the youth.. I think it is one of those works that anyone, young or old, can read. -The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien..I really enjoyed this book.. And after seeing the movie I have picked up the Lord of the Rings again..I enjoyed it before but I am really beginning to appreciate it more this second time around... Even though I enjoy them I can't recommend..if you liked the movie.. can't guarantee that you'll enjoy the book..it proceeds very slowly... Non Fiction: When it comes to non-fiction I am a slow reader.. again even here I like stories, Biographies and histories.. A book to read: Men around the Messenger by Khaalid Muhammad Khaalid.. about 60 of the companions of the Prophet (saw) I loved this book..it will move you to tears.. And for kids.. As a kid I really enjoyed those stories of the Prophet (saw and the companions (ra) by Khuram Murad.. My favourite from all of those is the Long Search..story of Salman al Farisi (ra) And another book for kids that I like is 'Saladin' by Marion Khalidi part of the 'Heroes from the East series'. |
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| Hania |
| 01/25/02 at 07:41:02 |
| slm Sorry Hani'F'! :) Thanks Hajaree ;) [quote] Yes! I read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry years ago and loved it. I've actually read it a couple of times, and also the sequel, Let the Circle be Unbroken. I was (am?) a MAJOR geek in high school and spent most of my time reading. [/quote] I didn't know there was a sequal!! Have you read any Toni Morrison books? I haven't read any of her books yet but Oprah Winfrey seems to love her. Her books follow on the same genre as ROTHMY and TKAMB. No way are you a major geek! :) [quote]I have read a couple of Naguib Mahfouz novels when I was in High School but his stories do not appeal to me..I actually did not like them..I forget the titles of the books I read..[/quote] Meri that almost killed me when I read that :) I love Naguib M books! Maybe my taste for books is very sad :) [quote]As a kid I really enjoyed those stories of the Prophet (saw and the companions (ra) by Khuram Murad..[/quote] I read these too :) I still have a few Khuram Murad books safely in a box above my bed, I'm saving them for my future kids :) |
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| Hajreee |
| 01/25/02 at 11:34:11 |
| Hania, it's Hajreee, not HajAreee ;-D |
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| abdulsamad |
| 01/25/02 at 12:28:04 |
| Assalamu Alaikum, I've read a bunch of star wars books. I also read the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (kinda silly now that I think about it.) Has no one read the "Redwall" books by Brian Jacques? I've really enjoyed every one. There should be a new one out this year. I also liked "Castaways of the Flying Dutchman" by the same author. Not to mention "The Buccaneers" by Iain Lawrence. Wassalam, Sabri |
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| Sparrow |
| 01/25/02 at 13:05:30 |
| "Have you read any Toni Morrison books? I haven't read any of her books yet but Oprah Winfrey seems to love her. Her books follow on the same genre as ROTHMY and TKAMB. No way are you a major geek! :) I have read a couple of Naguib Mahfouz novels when I was in High School but his stories do not appeal to me..I actually did not like them..I forget the titles of the books I read.." Hania, I've read several Toni Morrison, wasn't a HUGE fan although I liked her, but really started to like her once I read "The Bluest Eye." Have you read The Color Purple by Alice walker? That one blew me away. Who is Naguib Mahfouz? I would love to read some good Muslim and/or Arab fiction writers(in English! my Arabic is spotty at best!) if anyone has suggestions, I have a book of Arab poetry and a bunch of non-fiction, that's about it. Do you read alot of Oprah's books? I liked a couple of them, like She's Come Undone, but I find a lot of them have the same opressed Southern girl with a crazy, booze addled daddy and wacked out Christian mama storyline. :) No no, really, I was a GEEK although I have to confess not just in high school but in college as well. Fridays night I wasn't at the parties but the library, and then I'd go home and watch Star Trek and go to bed. Woo-hoo! :P Peace, sparrow |
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| Mystic |
| 01/25/02 at 14:08:48 |
| [slm] I really liked Toni Morrison's 'Bluest Eye' and 'Beloved' too:) Have you read Alice Walker's 'Temple of My familiar'? I liked that one too... hmmm... 'one thousand years of solitude'-Garcia Marquez 'Things Fall Apart'- was pretty powerful (chinua Achebe) 'The joy luck club'- I liked this one:) 'Native son'-Richard Wright Meri have you read 'Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follet? That was pretty good too... I was relieved to see I wasn't the only "famous five" fan growing up ;-D;-D I was into all of those adventure rides Hardy boyz, Nancy drew, etc etc...and then "moved on" :):):) Maliha :-) [wlm] |
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| Merimda |
| 01/26/02 at 02:30:11 |
| Salam, Irony...This morning my bro was cleaning out his school bag and he pulls out a book and throws it on my bed. "here something to read" he says I look at the book and find that it is none other than " To Kill a Mockingbird"..Which I found kinda funny.. bc we were just talking about TKAM here and I was actually thinking, after reading this thread, of borrowing the book from the library and giving it another try.. The book belongs to the school..He had to read it last year for his english class( which he did not do..he cheated and did the coles/cliff notes thing)..My bro has a notorious record for not returning his English books back at the end of the year..I don't know why he doesn't return them..It's not like he reads them..He doesn't even like to read! Anyway, I started reading it again and am really enjoying it... Narnia Chronicles that was on my summer list as well..but I also did not get around to reading.. hope to get a chance this summer insha-Allah..Man I had so many books on my summer list..but there were just too many books and too little time.. [quote]Meri that almost killed me when I read that I love Naguib M books! Maybe my taste for books is very sad [/quote] Hania, don't take offence.. my taste in books don't appeal to many others ^_^..NM is depressing..and I don't like depressing books..^_^(but I also had some other issues with NM) Like "1984" or "The Lord of the Flies" ..great books but I didn't enjoy them because they were depressing..^_^ Sparrow, Naguib Mahfouz is a well known Egyptian writer..he won a Nobel prize for his literature..his books are translated in English and many other languages...However in Egypt he remains very unpopular with Islamic groups.. I think he is 90yrs old now, nearly blind and he can only hear in one ear now.. [quote]I read these too I still have a few Khuram Murad books safely in a box above my bed, I'm saving them for my future kids[/quote] Lol and I have them in my bed drawer..also saving them for my future kids..^_^ Maliha..I am going to check out 'Pillars of the Earth' as well..when I read them insha-Allah I will let you know what I think. Salam, ohh.. long post..sorry ^_^; merimda |
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| Fatoosh |
| 01/26/02 at 23:07:27 |
| SAlaam Alaikum [quote]'The joy luck club'- I liked this one[/quote] Do you remember the part when it said "they were pious people, Muslims." I was so excited that I wanted to scream!!!! It was soooooooo awesome. It was totally out of no where, but totally natural. Very good dawa :) [quote]As a kid I really enjoyed those stories of the Prophet (saw and the companions (ra) by Khuram Murad..[/quote] Yeah me too, we have the them all on tapes (from soundvision.com) and we listen to them over and over again-- they helped my baby bro (age six) a lot. [quote]TKAM on your list! A reviewer once called it 'the most graceful American novel ever written." I couldn't agree more! [/quote] That's a wonderful way to describe it. I've read it three times since I was 13, and I'll probably read it many more times since I plan on teaching it in my classes. |
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| reg |
| 01/26/02 at 23:35:55 |
| [slm] The Time Machine - by H.G. Wells, too bad the movie version is "hollywoodized" :( I also like reading Stephen King novels, especially the dark tower series. I love how he mentions some character or plot from one novel into another novel that has nothing to do with the first. Suddenly you've got one big story and each novel is only a small part of it. [wlm] |
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| proudtobemuslim |
| 01/27/02 at 08:13:07 |
| Assalamu Alaikum, I take it you all don't consider fiction books a waste of time. If you haven't read The Autobiography of malcolm X then what have u read. Wassalamu Alaikum, Uzer |
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| Sparrow |
| 01/27/02 at 09:37:14 |
| Hi all, I love this book discussion :) Yesterday I checked out some Mahfouz books from the library. Why is he unpopular with Islamic groups? Quote: "I take it you all don't consider fiction books a waste of time. If you haven't read The Autobiography of malcolm X then what have u read." I don't consider any book I learn something from or enjoy a waste of time. :) I have read The Autobiography of Malcolm X and thought it compelling. Another good biography is A Beautiful Mind. I recommend it to anyone interested in mental illness or mathematics (a strange combination, that!) Has anyone read I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings? Peace, Sparrow |
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| Fatoosh |
| 01/27/02 at 15:07:24 |
| [quote]Has anyone read I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings?[/quote] Yeah I read most of it. In 7th grade the kids used to call me the caged bird :( |
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| veilsofbeauty |
| 01/27/02 at 16:12:00 |
| Salaams, I LOOOOOVVE reading!!!! I continuously get bookmarks with a worm on it reading w/big nerdy glasses :) Anyways, i know there has been a thread on this already, but Harry Potter definetly and Lord of the Rings. To Kill a Mockingbird was really good, so is April Raintree. However, I could not STAND Animal Farm...sorry it put me to sleep, and I nearly cried in the end. :) I loooovvve historical fiction...anybody recomends any? |
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| veilsofbeauty |
| 01/27/02 at 16:14:21 |
| Oops, forgot to add Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the Story of Henry Sugar (i think that's how the title went) |
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| abdulsamad |
| 01/27/02 at 19:44:03 |
Assalamu Alaikum, I've also read some of Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book". As for books by muslims, I've read the Invincible Abdullah series (I don't know who the author is), "Isabella: A girl of muslim spain," by Yahiya Emerick, and "The Army of the Lions" by whatsisname (I forget). Wassalam, Sabri |
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| Rehana |
| 01/28/02 at 05:02:26 |
| [slm] [quote]I don't consider any book I learn something from or enjoy a waste of time. :) Peace, Sparrow[/quote] Sparrow's remark brought a quote to mind : [color=blue][i] The time you enjoy wasting in not wasted time - [sub]Bertrand Russell [/sub][/color][/i] I haven't managed to get down to a good read in AGES! I am far to busy reading Topsy and Tim etc. to my kids ;-D Whenever they see me settle down with a magazine or a book, they want me to read to them...so..for now...Topsy and Tim it is! :) [slm] |
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| eleanor |
| 01/28/02 at 06:49:12 |
| slm Favourite books? Where to begin? As a seven year old I read my first book without pictures "The Wishing Chair" by Enid Blyton. After that I stormed through all the children's books in the house - mostly Enid Blyton - Mr. Pink Whistle, The Faraway Tree, The Secret Seven, The Famous Five, Malory Towers, St.Clares, the Investigator Series with Fatty (*loved* how he could disguise himself and "throw" his voice)...it goes on and on... then came Roald Dahl - The BFG, Witches, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mathilda,..... Judy Blume - can't really remember the titles - Fudge? etc.. moving onto "teenie" stuff - Christopher Pike - wow..he had my hairs raising in the middle of the night... The "Cheerleader" series and *loads* of teeny romances that my sister had.. ;-D then came Dean Koontz, more hair raising in the middle of the night... Lately I have been reading a whole load of "women's" stuff, from Mary Flanagan, Catherine Alliott. I *love* the Harry Potter books (did I mention this before?), although I hate how blown out of proportion it all is. Patricia Cornwall and Michael Crichton pop in at interludes. Non-fiction doesn't really go down well with me. I get bored about half way through, which hasn't augered well for my Islamic studies :( I like fictional stories that are set in a genuine historical scenario eg "Trinity" by Leon Uris. Then I can learn and have fun at the same time. I haven't read TKAM yet, my friend gave it to me to read, but I couldn't "get into" it. Does anyone else get that? After one chapter you get bored? I'll give it another go, however after all your waxing lyrical about it. I decided a long time ago that my favourite book ever was "Watchers" by Dean Koontz. It just gripped me from start to finish. Made me laugh, made me cry... It was just awesome. However I haven't read it in years, so I can't really claim that anymore. So, I don't really have a "favourite" book, rather many many many fond memories of books that I thoroughly enjoyed. Parents! Pass on the love of reading to your children. Stock the house up with books, because the most fantastic journey a child can make, is the one in their own imagination, where they are transported to the most wondrous places, far away from where they are sitting on a rainy afternoon, or under the bedclothes at night. And Mujahid - Father Christmas - is that the comic book where at one stage Father Christmas's bare behind is to be spotted? ;-D I *loved* that book too! He was so grumpy! ;-D And the Snowman was televised - also beautiful. Happy Reading!! :) wasalaam eleanor |
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| Sparrow |
| 01/28/02 at 07:33:32 |
| hi all, okay this is a long shot, BUT, it seems a lot of people on this board read extensively as kids, so: when I was 11/12 I read this young adult sci-fi story about an alien brother and sister who land somewhere in the mountains, in a small community. One family realizes what they are and take them in to live with their own kids, a boy and girl as well. Eventually the rest of the town figure out what's going on and the persecution begins. The story ends with the entire family escaping back to the alien kids' planet when the UFO arrives in search of the brother and sister. It was a *great* story and I've never been able to remember the title. Does it sound familiar to anyone? peace, Sparrow |
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| proudtobemuslim |
| 01/28/02 at 09:58:15 |
| Assalamu Alaikum, It seems that I am hijacking this thread but I just thought I'd let you know how I feel. My experience with fiction books hasn't really been too good. When I was young I used to read those short stories books a great deal. I enjoyed them and they improved my english Al-hamdulillah. But now most of the fiction books that would interest me would almost always be preaching some kind of message. I wanted to read the book Catch-22 for ages and when I finally a got a hold of it I was disappointed. Not that it wasn't funny or wasn't good literature but the message it was trying to project was basically war is NEVER worthwhile (even if you're being persecuted in your own land by a foreign invader , etc.) and that there is nothing good in death... One must live life as long a possible. I tried before this in the Brothers Karamazov which I was of the impression was a classic. But I didn't go beyond the introduction after realizing the heavy influence of atheistic and Chrisitian ideas in the book. Maybe my sampling is biased and maybe there truly are some fiction books that do teach you good... I'd sincerely like some recommendations. But wouldn't one get this far more easily if one read items from the History of Islam? Or wouldn't it be time better spent in the search for knowledge which we all so lack? I'm not against reading fiction totally... I'm sure they help relax the mind and maybe after an entertaining read one may be able to worship Allah (AWJ) with a clearer and more relaxed mind. But, whenever I do read, I tend to try and do that with nonfiction books about real life people or events that would proabably affect me in a more direct way. This was just my 2 cents worth which I felt I needed to vent. I did not intend to offend anybody and I will be interested in reading your replies. Wassalamu Alaikum, Uzer |
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| proudtobemuslim |
| 01/29/02 at 05:22:02 |
| Assalamu Alaikum, Whoah!! This was a really fast growing thread until my post! Please, it was not my intention to stop some legitimate discussion, rather I just wanted to warn abt some dangers. Wasaslamu Alaikum, Uzer |
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| Sparrow |
| 01/29/02 at 07:21:04 |
| Hi all, My dad says the same thing about fiction vs nonfiction. He says he has nothing against fiction; he'll start in reading it when there is no more non-fiction left in the world that interests him. I like both. Sometimes my life is all the non-fiction I can handle and I want to disappear into someone else's world for a while. It recharges my battery, so to speak. :) Peace, Sparrow |
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| saadia |
| 01/29/02 at 09:43:19 |
| Asalaam Alaikum, One of my favorite books is 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' by ALice Walker, had to read it in high school and i looooved it... ALso, i read this book when i was in junior high or something i dont really remember the title, something like 'The Girl Who Owned a City'??? Does anyone have a clue? i think it was about a group of kids and something happened...it was a city of kids without parents or adults.....it was kind of a creepy book...hmmm. |
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| Anonymous |
| 02/02/02 at 16:57:27 |
| Assalaamu alaikum, Sparrow, I remember that story, though I'm not sure I ever read it. There was a Disney movie with that plot, called something like "Escape to Witch Mountain" (or "Return to..."). It was really nicely done-- you might still find it on video somewhere? Maybe it was based on a book of the same title... Wassalaam, Rachel |
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| abdulsamad |
| 02/04/02 at 22:51:51 |
| Assalamu Alaikum, How could I forget Sherlock Holmes! Arthur Conan Doyle's works are pretty good. I've also read some Jules Verne, namely "Around the world in eighty days" and "Journey to the center of the earth". Also comic books like Tintin and Asterix. Wassalam |
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| Ziggy |
| 02/05/02 at 11:09:15 |
| Assalamu'alaikum, wow, and i thought *I* was a book worm ;-D i read loooooooaaaddzzz of books, especially when i was younger but i don't remember most of 'em.. Firstly..Harry Potter.. hehe hmm..oh yeah..when i was around 11 i read 'The Prince of Narnia' or something...can't remeber the title.. oh yeah and 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardobe'..i think the title went something like that.. hmm....I also read 'Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry'..has anyone read 'The Well'? it was written by the same author as 'roll of thunder...', pretty good book. i had to read 'I am David' for english..found it boring in lessons..but later i appreciated the message behind it. wow...a thread about books and I of all people can't remember what my favourite one is. hmmm..alright..never mind.. Gotta go Ma'assalaam Zakira |
| Re: Favourite Books |
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| Sparrow |
| 02/06/02 at 15:37:52 |
| Hi all, I am reading "Nine Parts of Desire" now...can't say it's great, the author seems to have an agenda to prove, i.e. that Muslim women are oppressed. Any comments? What books do *you* guys recommend about Muslim women? Peace,Sparrow |
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| princess |
| 02/06/02 at 18:49:51 |
| walikumas'salaam warahmatullah ;-D (1) [i]there's a boy in the girls bathroom ;-D [/i] this was the cutest book! it was about a bully in the 5th grade ;-D (2) [i]adventures in babysitting :)[/i] this was good too :) i think there was a movie about it as well :) girl who baby sits and gets taken around the city being chased by thugs ;-D (3) [i]the alienist :o [/i] creepy book about a serial killer in the early 1900's..good book..very intense ;-D |
| Re: Favourite Books |
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| zanfaz |
| 02/07/02 at 03:31:22 |
| salaam, [quote]I am reading "Nine Parts of Desire" now...can't say it's great, the author seems to have an agenda to prove, i.e. that Muslim women are oppressed. Any comments? [/quote] Here's an article abt the book. [url]http://www.jannah.org/sisters/nineres.html[/url] [hr] A Muslim Response to: Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks As Ms. Brooks narrates her memoirs, an attitude surfaces. Her descriptions of things Islamic are filled with inflammatory adjectives and terms carefully chosen to elicit a negative response in the reader. Details of the Saudis not allowing a women traveling alone to have a hotel room sound harsh, yet the author neglects to explain how she got as far as that hotel lobby -- traveling with a male family member is a requirement of Saudi law and necessary to prove even to get a visa to enter the country. She describes the call to prayer as it "shatters" the peace of early morning. She makes the arrow pointing to qibla (the direction Muslims face when praying) seem invasive, as if it offends her eyes. The author appears to set out on a self-designated mission to advocate the rights of the supposedly oppressed. Taken from an uncited source, the title of the book indicates that Imam Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, says that nine out of ten portions of desire have something to do with women. For the author, that's why some are allegedl= y oppressed and secluded. The Islamic code of attire doesn't keep women from education or entering the work force. If Ms. Brooks is indeed on women's side, she should rejoice in the fact that Muslim women enjoy such freedom. Sahar (the Harvard candidate) said it makes her feel free and respected as an intellect, not a body. Asya (the Oxford candidate) says that when she opted to wear hijab all her fears disappeared. These women move freely on their campuses, unafraid of the likes of `date rape' and `stalkers', are treated as equals based on their intellect not as `se= x objects' -- things many American female students wish for. As Ms. Brooks shifts abruptly (at times incoherently) in time and place, she struggles to prove that Islam is holding women's progress back. Yet she cannot restrain from including examples of Islam's women achievers, starting with the Prophet's wives and ending with the Turkish and Kurdish women. Even in Iran, amid absolute seclusion of the sexes, women have entered every aspect of the work-force and education. Chadors do not inhibit them from driving motorcycles to work. Saudi laws ban women from driving not because Islam says to, but because it is the law of the land. Men, Ms. Brooks says, suppress their wives. But she also says that Khadija (Khomeni's wife) played a key role in his political decisions. So do all the wives of political leaders and not only Queen Noor, the American-raised queen of Jordan. Muslim men do respect and include their wives' opinions= , following the example of Prophet Muhammad himself. When Ms. Brooks talks about polygamy in Islam, she takes the reader on a roller coaster ride between the positive and negative. In the time preceding Islam, Arabs considered women as property...a man could have as many wives as he could afford. So when the Quran permits men to have four wives it is actually limiting them to four, and adds the stipulation that they must be fair to all the women involved. In another verse the Holy Quran says no man can be completely fair, gradually bringing men to realize monogamy is their best choice. But, human nature being what it is, some men may not be satisfied with one woman year after year. By choosing to take on an additional wife, the man must take the permission of the first wife and must support all his wives and children. No abandonment...no single motherhood...the man is held accountable and financially responsible throughout. The noble symbol of motherhood, the Palestinian Rahma, is a good example. As her husband falls out of love with her and in love with Fatin, he offers her the opportunity of divorce. She chooses to stay with him. She pleasantly dances in his wedding and lives in peace with Fatin as they both raise the growing family together. Female genital mutilation (FGM) to reduce sexual desire is another issue Ms. Brooks frequently mentions. The practice of FGM is a sub-Saharan African custom that predates Islam and by no means has anything to do with Islam. It is a cultural practice in some primitive communities, which is gradually diminishing, thanks to the efforts of Muslims in educating the people and applying Islamic law rather than clinging to cultural practices with no foundation in Islam. As a supposed advocate for women's rights, the author indulges in politic= s. As she singles out the Palestinians as objects of her and her husband's admiration, she makes sure to include negative comments about Hamas or a Palestinian man who allegedly tries to rape her. When visiting Palestinian `friends' she contrasts the impoverished Palestinians against the moder= n `settlements' and `high-rises' of their Israeli occupiers. She tur= ns western (especially American) mentality against Islam and Muslims with images of Iran during the revolution, chanting that America is the devil and the embassy a nest of spies. She degrades King Hussein of Jordan, making him appear as a barbaric Bedouin by her gory description of the slaughter of a camel. Egyptian artists (belly dancers and singers) who opt to retire and wear hijab are depicted as being part of a conspiracy, supposedly bribed by influential Saudis. Islam, the author says (and Muslims agree) means "submission" yet it is submission to God and only to God, not submission of woman to man as Ms. Brooks leads the reader to believe. Such misinterpretations and half-truths are too numerous to menti= on. It seems that, in the eyes of the author, Muslim women are `damned if th= ey do and damned if they don't'. While Ms. Brooks hails the achievement o= f Egyptian Muslim women, she counters with images of them being crushed between their jobs and selfish, demanding husbands. At Gaza University the Palestinian women are depicted in cumbersome hijab, yet the author neglects to remind the reader that the nearby Israeli (Orthodox Jewish) women also cover in much the same way. The American Muslim converts in Iran are happy and content in their new environment, but the author makes heed to remind us of Margaret and Betty Mahmoudy. While touting the Emirate women proven capable in the army, the author expresses her sorrow for them for acquiring `the right to kill and be killed'. The Women'= s Olympics are shown as an achievement for Muslim women, but somehow less so because of the exclusion of men and the ban of makeup. Not a single woman seems to meet the author's approval. A tabloid and gossip-oriented approach also prevails throughout the book. As she discusses the daily life in Prophet Muhammad's home, Ms. Brooks talks of scandals and competition. Throughout there is a tone of sarcastic disrespect. She portrays the wives of Prophet Muhammad as opinionated and influential; ranging from Khadija who allegedly `paid his bills', to Ai= sha, shown as terribly cunning -- the author neglecting to remind the reader of the time frame -- this `cunning' wife was only a teenager at the tim= e. Khadija was a strong businesswoman and Prophet Muhammad was her employee yet Khadija proposed marriage to him -- quite an unusual thing at that time and still an unusual turn of events in any society. Their strengths are negated by innuendo and the author's own renditions of Islam's early history. Ms. Brooks is aware of human, particularly `western', cravings on the i= ssue of sex. She does admit that Islam respects women as equal partners in sexual pleasure. Interestingly though, she depicts Islam in a misogynistic light, yet foreplay is actually a right ordained for all Muslim women. Ms. Brooks misinterprets the hadith as saying "play with your women, don't approach them like birds"...the actual translation is "don't approach them like beasts" -- Islam's injunction against spous= al rape. The positive aspects of Islamic sexual injunctions (such as not having intercourse during menstruation, both partners washing their genital regions thoroughly after intercourse, etc.) are not highlighted, yet medical evidence continues to prove these to be sound and effective practices. Instead the author chooses to focus on the pain of stoning a small minority of adulterers. In her conclusion Ms. Brooks claims she wasn't `raised as a bigot', y= et she is bitter against women she sees wearing hijab in an Australian airport. She appeals to the feminist and human rights advocates to do what they can to `save' Muslim women, yet she cannot deny that those "shadows" wearin= g "shrouds" enjoy the privilege of career, education, and financial independence that is beyond that guaranteed to `western' women. Muslim women have always had their own names - not their fathers or their husbands. Muslim women have always had an equal say in political issues and the right (Islamically) to vote - something even American and European women struggled for generations to obtain. Muslim women in the workforce in Muslim communities are on equal grounds with men in both pay and career growth, yet women in the U.S. still make 57 cents to the dollar in realation to their male coworkers. Muslim women veterans have been glorified throughout Islamic history, whereas only very recently have American women veterans even been recognized. Though the author implies extensive abuse of Muslim women, she neglects to provide any statistical proof to back up her statements. Due to the heavy penalties for abuse they are few in comparison to the U.S. where 1 in 22 women is the victim of physical abuse, 1 in 3 women murdered are killed by their husband or boyfriend, 1 in 7 the victim of spousal rape, and where 1.3 women are raped per minute! Ms. Brooks need not bother to strive for Muslim women's rights to bare their bodies if they chose to spiritually rejoice in covering them. Women's right to drive is not questioned anywhere outside Saudi Arabia, a= nd even those Saudi women who would be able to own cars and drive are comfortably chauffeured in top of the line automobiles. (One wonders how many American women might give up their `right' to drive in lieu of bei= ng so pampered.) The short comings of specific Muslim individuals or politicians only stands as proof of human limitations. It would be absurd to hold a few random Muslims the author happened to meet as the standard, judging all Muslims on the basis of the actions of those few, or even to presume that those few are representative samples of that particular culture. It is equally preposterous for Ms. Brooks to visit a country for a short period of time yet write of the people as if she had a complete, unequivocal understanding of the culture, people, history, and language that makes them who they are. At best Ms. Brooks has glimpsed the life of some Muslims...a far cry from understanding or appreciating the depth of their Islamic faith and culture. Finally, Ms. Brooks sums up the book by admitting that her own emotions are complex, and purportedly accepts every woman's right to choose her own lifestyle. Mentioning the Muslim woman on the Australian beach "...had made her choice. It was different from mine. But sitting there sharing the warm sand and the soft air, we accepted each other. When she raised her face to the sun, she was smiling." So much for contradiction. The reader is left wondering then...what was the point of the book? wassalam Faizan |
| Re: Favourite Books |
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| MalikShabazz |
| 02/08/02 at 04:18:54 |
| [quote]If you haven't read The Autobiography of malcolm X then what have u read.[/quote] right on! right on! if you haven't read this one book, forget that any other book exists on the earth (beside the Qur'an/Hadith, etc. of course) and the sherlock holmes canon and also the Lord of the Rings yaaaah salams |
| anybody?? |
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| Jenna |
| 02/12/02 at 19:05:00 |
| slm ummmmm :) I love old fashion books and good mysteries Little Women Old Fashion Girl Lyddie Litte House on the Prarie series (I have read all of these at least 5 times) ~~~~ Harry Potter (of course), looking out on auctions for the goblet of fire. Since my husband knows spanish and I don't know that much; I asked him how would you say 'Goblet of Fire'in spanish, he said "Gobleto e Firo" I knew he was kidding but I ALMOST believed him LOL. ;-D ;-D ~~~~ [color=Red]I haven't read many GOOD Mysteries can anyone reccomend some??? PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAASSEEEEEE!!!!! [/color] Your Sis in Islaam Jenna :-) |
| Re: Favourite Books |
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| Kathy |
| 02/13/02 at 09:08:44 |
| slm One of the most influential stories I read, when in high school, was a short story called "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. I think I read it when my path in life was about to divide. |
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