What to Read This Summer?

thats a good plan aisha :)

well í wouldn't be any help.. u know me

but maybe i should start reading.. hmmm ..i might need a book for the plane ..

go for "chicken soup for the teenage soul" it contains stories poems and cartoons relating to the specific troubles that traumatize teenagers everywhere. its written by teenagers all over the world.

http://www.teenink.com/Past/9900/January/Books/ChickenSoup.html

visit dis website to knoe more abt it :)

In 2003 the BBC did a series called The Big Read where they asked people to vote for their favourite book. You can see the results on http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top100.shtml. These are books loved by real people, not just critics. Some of them are children's books. I find it useful when I don't know what to read next. Or at least I did when I lived somewhere which had libraries and bookshops.

Awww...My sisters keeper is a very sad book but beautifully written. Have started (not finished) a book called "We need to talk about Kevin" by Lionel Shriver. Its really really good but quite a chilling topic (i.e akin to Columbine high school shooting)

If you are into fiction, try this out...

Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown....

It is a nice book, read it before the movie comes out.

I finished it over the weekend. Extremly exciting life I have isn't it, spend all weekend reading this book. Started on Thursday afternoon after work and finished it on saturday evening.

Beast666

Can it actually happen, that after login no posts can be placed?

Maybe I should talk with my friends from the ministry of interior side, if such things are coordinated.

They have a good file. Otherwise I thank for the opportunity of joining in some questions with decent words, that are catching the dissonances which exist either here or on other places. I hope that the humanity will prevail here.

And that the wordings are not too tough anymore..

We just give positive examples.. but maybe are positive examples disliked. Or none believes they are true.

I am though and will remove myself after this happenings forever from this page. Thanks, and may the guidance of the Allmighty be with you.

Maybe some people from here benefit from my good deeds.. now and later, in Diva & Divinita.

Salam Aleikum

P.S. And thanks for the recipes on another place.. I love cookin'

Super7,

Welllll, thank you ..but I’ll pass :-)

DohaGirl,

Yes I agree with you.. I’ll check the kids’ books hehe.thanks :-D

*Writing the stuff down*

Loki,

Welll I just think that Americans have a simpler style of writing and and a great sense of humor. And when I watch American movies or tv shows I understand them smoothly, unlike the British for examble. .Look at the way Super Nanny talks! or the Australian Princess !! .. I guess I’ll buy “self matters� by Dr.Phil :-) I heard about it in his show. When he talks, he uses so many useful words and all are easy..So I guess his writing style would be the same..

Squarepeg,

Thank you :-)

Bibliophile,

Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

Butterfly,

Sounds GREAT. I guess it will be one of my summer’s ENGLISH books..Thank you very much! I’ll buy it..

Ameen,

Thanks a lot. Will take a look :-) But looking for real touchable books :-D

In a few minutes:

Within 17'000 books are for sure some to find. In any many other languages, too. They got also some books besides in form of mp3's, so that anyone can read with the thumb and listen to a native reader.

http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/languages/en

~~~ Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930

He is the one who wrote SHERLOCK HOLMES for example,

or

~~~ Wells, H. G. (Herbert George), 1866-1946

He wrote the WAR OF WORLDS (lately captured with Tom Cruise)

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1743

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/8970

or the wise and unique thinker

~~~ Montaigne, Michel de, 1533-1592

with quotes and pictures from his first five chapters:

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/7551/7551-h/7551-h.htm

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3581/3581.txt

http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/m#a1230

~~~ Shelley, Percy Bysshe, 1792-1822

A vibrant writer and seldomly known. He puts fire on the emotions and is - though not the "newest" - quite easy to understand.

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/4800

Click on "Edit" in the left corner and seek for... :

1) THE DAEMON OF THE WORLD (a fragment - Part 1 and Part 2)

2) THE REVOLT OF ISLAM (from 1818)

3) TO MARY -- --.

The poems especially are so full of meaning and rhythmic, that anyone grows with delight deeper into the English language - and Bysshe Shelley has often found having a breath-taking power...

or:

read the well-known story of Aladdin and the Magic Wonderlamp:

http://education.powys.gov.uk/english/literacy_special/aladdin_text.ph

or:

take one of the selected links on the right side under the headline

"E-Books"

http://www.saskschools.ca/~qvss/curriculum/ela.htm

The world is full of free offers.

If someone doesn't like the layout, he or she has just to click into the page, press Ctrl+A, copy the text and paste it into for example the MS word(R) application, change the font and margins.. KHALAS ... the printout on economic black&white brings a readable dossier into the hands.

Great also for study purpose in 2-line-spacing, so that colored notes can be added on the vocabulary,

or on the side of the text, if the margin leaves space on the side.

With the mp3-downloads is the language a big fun...

Hasta la proxima, yours Ameen

You will love "my sister´s keeper", I copied that from some website because I´m really bad at telling books and things...

The one of the "the mistery of the dog" is really really good as well, a very sweet history.

New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her keen insights into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she tells the emotionally riveting story of a family torn apart by conflicting needs and a passionate love that triumphs over human weakness.

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.

My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.

Hi,

Equin0x - Philip Pullman is a great writer. His books are mainly for tweenies but have a fan following among all ages.

Aisha - I suggest you try some light and easy reading - there's this brilliant book called the Curious Incident of the Dog in the night time by Mark Haddon. Its about a young boy with Asbergers syndrome (similar to autism..) and its really well written. Its a british writer. If you want American authors, I loved The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger. I can't think of any off the top of my head but will check when I get home.

Btw, I am part of a book club. If anyone of you out there is an avid reader. let me know. We are always looking for new members.

Bridget Jones and the Constant Gardener are excellent and fairly easy reads. May I also recommend DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. They might be a little difficult, but they are really interesting. And to add to the classics list: Black Beauty and anything by John Steinbeck (since you want an American author, he is awesome, easy to read, I really recommend Travels with Charley, Of Mice and Men and the Grapes of Wrath are also really really good.)

I'd go along with dohagirl's suggestions and I'd add Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, The Constant Gardener by John le Carre and The Shadow of the Wind by a Spanish author whose name eludes me, but if you want non-fiction you should try Bill Bryson's travel books or "A Short History of Nearly Everything" which is absolutely brilliant.

Aisha, sounds like fiction is what you are after so I will leave it to someone else to recommend... I think I'd be hopeless at recommending fiction as it has been years since I read any... :)

I second DG's recommendation of "To Kill A Mockingbord", though - it's been years since I read it (in English class at high school) but I remember really liking it...

Just curious - why do you want American writers...?

I've found the best books for someone getting into reading English is Harry Potter(but remember I have always taught children). I would defintely say the Time Travellers wife is good as well.

I would recommend reading what native English speakers read when they are in school: To Kill a Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies, Jane Eyre, Oliver Twist, Tom Sawyer, etc etc etc.

A nice non-fiction book to try. History in fact...

"1759 - The year Britain became master of the world"

It's very good!!

venom,

Thank you for praising my humble English, well I’m on that track I guess :-) *flattered*

The dictionary joke was really inspiring! :-) Nice one! I wish It was MINE hehe..

Loki,

welll I don’t know! In Arabic I read whatever happened to be in my hands.. Same in English I guess..Just keep me away from the scientific stuff :-)

And I usually get tooo emotionally involved into what I’m reading so make sure I won’t waste my emotions lol

Butterfly,

Thank you for the very useful reply.I’m definitely going to Jarir.My sister’s Keeper sounds cool hehe so tell me about it plz!@@

Canarybird,

I usually FIGHT “myself� against the temptation of reading the end!! And “I� usually win lol, now which is which? I dunno :-D

Eqin0X,

Thank you :-) Will check it out.. Not a fan of novels now.. no time, no patience sooo short stories are most likely to be chosen..

Alright if you're giving a shot at reading in English, and if you're into fiction, you reallllllllllllyyyyyyy gotta check this out.

"His Dark Materials"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_Dark_Materials

Its an awesome fictional trilogy consisting of the Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and .... The Amber Spyglass. Unfortunately I couldnt find the last book, so i couldnt finish it, but the from the first two books i can say it was amazing. It might be a lil difficult, but like i'm not a native speaker, i read this when i was 14 lol, so give it shot.

Hi Aisha,

now I am an avid book reader and I can read them in several languages, but I have found often I buy a book and when I get into the first few pages it doesn't hold my interest at that particular time. Sometimes I have up to three books started and they lie for weeks until I find I have the necessary peace to read them.

I have a very bad habit too when I buy a book I always read the back page first - if the ending is good I mostly buy it.

I don't advise you to buy a book in this way.

Hi Aisha,

Last year I got some books at Jarir that I enjoyed reading. I´m sorry I cannot remember the authors, but I can remember the titles:

"Paranoia", "The secret life of Bees", "The time traveller´s wife" and "My sister´s keeper".

Hi Aisha,

Last year I got some books at Jarir that I enjoyed reading. I´m sorry I cannot remember the authors, but I can remember the titles:

"Paranoia", "The secret life of Bees", "The time traveller´s wife" and "My sister´s keeper".

What sort of stuff are you interested in? Fiction? Non-fiction? Genres? Perhaps then someone can give recommendations.... :)

I cant believe you have trouble reading in english...you write so well!! If you really must know what to read then may i suggest one great english book...the dictionary!! hehe coz dont get me wrong thats the only book where you'll never come across a word that u wont know the meaning to. :)

sorry i cant suggest any books coz i'm not very keen on readings, but just want to tell you, for a Qatari i think you write very good english.