ِAnimal Farm – George Orwell

http://www.strategicpoliciesinstitute.org/Images/Reading/animalfarm.jpg

book: Animal Farm

Author: George Orwell

Number of pages: 141

THE SEVEN COMMANDMENTS

1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy

2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend

3. No animal shall wear clothes

4. No animal shall sleep in a bed

5. No animal shall drink alcohol

6. No animal shall kill any other animal

7. All animals are equal

Because of being mistreated and underfed by human the human race, the animals of Manor Farm decide to create a just, progressive world for themselves. They start a rebellion and take over the farm (chasing away all the humans), calling it Animal Farm.

The pigs, the smartest animals of them all, lead the rebellion. The two main leaders are Napoleon and Snowball, who are always in disagreement with each other.

Later, Snowball disappears and Napoleon remains the leader of Animal Farm.

Above are the seven commandments agreed upon, but when the pigs start to fiendishly punish and kill animals, editing the Seven Commandments each time to make excuses for ruthlessly breaking the rules and acting like humans, the other animals start to contemplate on whether life was better off before their revolution.

The style of the book was simple and straightforward, so it was easy to read.

Memorable characters in the story included Boxer, the diligent, determined horse whose slogan is “I will work harder”; and Benjamin the pessimistic donkey whose opinion is firm throughout the story until the end: that life is unfair.

After reading it for the third time, Animal Farm still continues to be my favorite book.

Most of the parts in it were ironically funny, and Orwell didn’t put exclamation marks or present the novel in a way that that made you feel he forcefully wanted you to laugh.

Animal Farm is called a ‘fairy story’, but like Orwell’s other novel, 1984, it is an anti-totalitarianism novel; yet Animal Farm can be enjoyed as a classic novel.

You will love this book, so pick it up.

My rating: 10/10

Animal Farm SparkNote

Switched back to Blogger

I’m very sorry to confuse everyone, but I’ve switched back to Blogger again. This blog which you are reading is now is the one which I will be updating.

http://zawan.blogspot.com/

a new home

I haven’t been posting or responding to your comments lately because we have just moved to The United States the day before yesterday! My father and I are staying at a place called Ithaca in New York state, since he’s coming as a visiting scholar at Cornell University.

I’m very excited to be here and I’m also curious about how different my school will be from that in Sudan. The schools are on holiday here, so we will search for schools after the holiday.

We’re currently staying at my dad’s friend’s house till we get to buy some stuff for our home.

I’ll tell you once we settle.

Oh, and I’m turning 13 today! It sure will be an unforgettable birthday.

2008 books

This is a list of the books I’ve read in 2008 (in no particular order). Click the title to see my review. Sorry, most of the reviews are linked to my other Wordpress blog.

1. The Catcher in the Rye – J. D. Salinger
2. The Film Club – David Gilmour
3. The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
4. A Taste of Melon – Borden Deal
5. Season of Migration to the North – Al-Tayyib Saleh
6. Love in the time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
7. One Hundred years of Solitude  - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J. K. Rowling
9. Tess of the d’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
10. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
11. Shopaholic Abroad – Sophie Kinsella
12. Dubliners – James Joyce
13. The Thief and the Dogs – Naguib Mahfouz
14. Atonement – Ian McEwan
15. Blackbird House – Alice Hoffman
16. Thirteen Reasons Why – Jay Asher
17. The Diamond Girls – Jacqueline Wilson
18. The Secret – Rhonda Byrne
19. The ABC Murders – Agatha Christie
20. Murder on the Orient Express – Agatha Christie
21. The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde
22. Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
23. Youth – Joseph Conrad
24. The Alchemist – Pablo Coelho
25. The Reader – Bernhard Schlink
26. Animal Farm – George Orwell

The Reader – Bernhard Schlink

The Reader is a book by the German author, Bernhard Schlink.

On his way to school, a 15-year old ill with hepatitis named Michael throws up and is assisted by a stranger old enough to be his mother.

After Michael gets better and pays a visit to the stranger, whose name is Hanna, he and Hanna fall in love with each other. Soon, Michael is obsessed with her and starts visiting her daily at her apartment.
Hanna doesn’t tell Michael a lot about herself, and after Michael betrays her, she disappears.

In part two, Michael is a law student, and Hannah is being tried for a crime regarding the Nazi.
As Michael observes the hearings, he realizes that Hanna has been concealing a secret – one that she considers more shameful than the Nazi ones - all this time.

This was a haunting and mysterious read, yet it is written simply.

The Reader is absorbing and unputdownable. It makes you want to finish it in one quick read.

The story was very wise and you could feel the guilt and perplexity of the protagonist. It leaves you thinking even after you’ve finished the book.

This is a book you should add to your reading list.

The story is now a motion picture starring Kate Winslet (Titanic) and Ralph Fiennes.

My rating: 9 ½ (a memorable, worthy read)

Buy at amazon

The Reader movie site

Switched to Wordpress

Hello readers,

I’d like to announce that I’ve switched my blog to wordpress.

I’ll still keep this blog, but I’ll be updating my new one.

My new blog address is http://zawan.wordpress.com/

please visit me there

thanks
Zawan

http://zawan.wordpress.com/

CNN Business Traveller: reading

This month's edition of CNN Business Traveller (hosted by Richard Quest) is about reading and books: the things I'm most interested in!

I watched it twice on TV, and it was very good. Anybody who is a traveller or an avid reader (or both) should watch this edition.

It will introduce you to some historical bookshops such as Shakespeare & Company (in London).

It compared the new books of the future: Sony's e-Reader and Amazon's Kindle. And 3 city guides were laid side-by-side to see which one showed you the most exceptional of places.

Did you know what "readers in residence" and "writers in residence" mean?

You can watch the 30-minute show below.

Visit the CNN Business Traveller site to learn more and know when the show airs.

 

 

The Catcher in the Rye

https://www.stanfords.co.uk/stock/the-catcher-in-the-rye-129247/

Title: The Catcher in the Rye

Author: J. D. Salinger

In The Catcher in the Rye, an odd teenager called Holden Caulfield narrates his experiences in New York after being expelled from his fourth prep school, Pencey.

Holden states that he is undergoing mental treatment, and throughout his narration he criticizes and judges people and likes to stand out from the crowd. He alienates himself from the world: he says he doesn't like the adult world because it is full of deception and betrayal, even though he's a lying fiend himself. He prefers the innocence and honesty of childhood.

Holden wants to find an identity in New York, but he falls into a lot of trouble. He misinterprets people's actions and irritates everybody he meets.

His little sister, Phoebe, is an important character in the story because Holden accepts her advice and she shows the reader Holden's faults.  

Some people were offended by the slang in Catcher in the Rye, but I think it's ok. It also makes the book stand out among others.

This is a very good story because I could empathize with the phases Holden goes through, especially loneliness and being rejected by people. Holden Caulfield is a very unique, memorable character. He is naive yet intelligent, but the people around him don't understand him nor appreciate him for that.

I think that any teenager should read this book because they can relate to it and the narrator, a teenager himself, speaks very openly.

The Catcher in the Rye SparkNote

Amazon 

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

image via wikipedia

Yesterday, I finished reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, which is definitely a favorite of mine.

During their childhood, Amir and Hassan shared an inseparable friendship, despite their different beliefs, ethnicity and status.
Hassan is supposed to be the son of Amir's father's servant.

After a kite fighting tournament, Amir witnesses Hassan being raped by the bully, Assef, and doesn't defend him, which haunts him all his life.
Now Amir is an adult living in the United States and he has a chance to atone for what he had done in his childhood.

The Kite Runner is set in Afghanistan during the period of its invasion by the Soviet Army and the ruling of the Taliban.

 

Gripping and poignant, The Kite Runner is very well written. The twists and events in it are totally unexpected and moving.

Khaled Hosseini successfully manages to put you in the state of emotion of his characters. I like the way he portrays many different feelings, especially panic.

While reading, the story shifts to memories from the past very neatly.
I'm also very impressed at how the characters and events all link together in the end.

The story is heart-warming yet it is very realistic.

The Kite Runner is not just a dramatic story of a long-lost friendship; it vividly shows you through the eyes of the protagonist the effects the war left on Afghanistan.

The Kite Runner is a stunning read about friendship, betrayal and guilt. It also gives you an insightful understanding of the writer's homeland and its people.

If you haven't, you must pick-up this book and read it.

My rating: 10/10 (outstanding!)

I'm very eager to read Khaled Hosseini's other book, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and I'm also looking forward to seeing more from this author.

The Kite Runner has been made into an Oscar-nominated movie. Visit the official site.

Khaled Hosseini's website

Buy the book at amazon now

Love in the Time of Cholera

Buy the book at Amazon

After impatiently reading the last pages, I've finally finished Love in the Time of Cholera.

The story begins with the accidental death of Dr. Juvenal Urbino, the husband of a woman named Fermina Daza.

Then it switches back to the past, when Fermina is a young teenage girl who keenly falls in love with Florentino Ariza, a telegraph boy, and soon their correspondence with each other through letters becomes an obsession.

But when Fermina Daza unexpectedly marries the prestigious and wealth doctor, Juvenal Urbino, Florentino is devastated, but has a strong will to wait for the death of the doctor.

After fifty-one years, nine months, and four days of patience and long-suffering for Florentino, Dr Juvenal Urbino is finally dead. Florentino and Fermina are now in their seventies. Will Florentino be able to win back Fermina's heart again?


Right from the first page to the last, I've been absorbed into Marquez's captivating world of love, devotion and wit.

Not only does he make you eager to know what will happen to the two lovers in the end, but he will lure you into his magical world of brilliant, unique imagination.

Through his humane stories and characters, Gabriel Garcia Marquez again proves to be a master storyteller.

I've read three books of his now, and I think he's the most talented and powerful writer ever.
I am sure you will treasure this book as much as I have.


I am also looking forward to watching the 2007 movie adaptation of Love in the Time of Cholera.

Read my review of One Hundred Years of Solitude, by the same author.

A book site for teen readers

image: http://telescope0.logika.net/b/scope?u=www.teenreads.com/&c=voxwunnllvkwvykpnmqpquvpqvkztmkr

TeenReads is a wonderful site for books for teens.

It's focused on the newest and latest Young Adult books with reviews and author interviews.

There are lots of contests and giveaways on TeenReads.

What I like the most is their 'Ultimate Reading List', which includes over 300 titles of a good combination of classics, nonfiction, young adult books and modern fiction, which you can read from during the summer holidays. The list is regularly updated with the latest, best titles.

Also, at TeenReads you can know which books have been made into movies and keep up with the latest.

http://www.teenreads.com/

The Thief and the Dogs

The Thief and the Dogs is a popular novel by the Egyptian author, Naguib Mahfouz.

After being imprisoned for four years, Said Mahram is finally out of jail; he is seeking revenge.

All those who have betrayed him are now leading their own lives.
His wife and his once best-friend, Illish are now married and estranging him from his daughter, Sana. She is now six years old and doesn't remember him. Rauf Illwan, who was once his partner-in-crime and mentor, is now a wealthy businessman who wants nothing to do with him.

Driven by revenge, Said wants to take vengeance on all those people even if it the last thing he does, but eventually everything goes terribly wrong: he shoots two wrong people, gets caught stealing, and is being chased by the police.

Was revenge really worth it?

This was a very thoughtful, absorbing novel which is worth buying. It also has a very good message behind it.

My rating: 10/10 (highly recommended)

Naguid Mahfouz is a well-known, nobel prize-winning Egyptian author (passed away in 2006).
He has written over a hundred short stories and many novels.

Dubliners - James Joyce

photo via Wordsworth-editions

Dubliners is a book of 15 short stories written by James Joyce, which is about the life of middle-class people living in Dublin. It is set in a period where people were searching for a sense of identity.

I thought the stories were very ironic and realistic. My favorite stories were A Little Cloud, a story of a man who thinks he leads an unsuccessful and unhappy life because of his family, and The Dead, about a man named Gabriel, who later discovers how insecure he is and something else he didn't know about his wife.

Some of the characters and events in Dubliners, particularly those in The Dead, were actually based upon Jame's own life.

Basically, the stories in Dubliners are about people discovering themselves.

I loved this book because each story leaves you thinking long after you've finished reading it.
The conversations between the characters were fun to read.

I read it as a Wordsworth book, and the introduction gave me a very good understanding of the stories.

Read the full text of Dubliners online, free

my rating: 9/10 (must-read)

update: Stevie pointed out the sequel to The Dead, The Ugly, written by a young Irish writer called Anne Pignone in 2007 (click here to read it)

Atonement - Ian McEwan

image via wikipedia

Title: Atonement
writer: Ian McEwan

On a summer in 1935, Briony Tallis, a thirteen year-old aspiring writer, accuses her elder sister’s lover and gardener of a crime he did not commit. He is sent to jail then is sent off to fight during the war, where he is separated from her sister, Cecilia.

Then the novel switches to the future, where Briony is working as a nurse instead of going to Cambridge as a sort of penance. Robbie is at the war and corresponds with Cecilia through letters.

The book tells the story of how Briony tries to atone for the unforgivable, lifelong ruin she has done to Cecilia and Robbie’s lives.

There isn’t a lot to say about Atonement; it was beautifully written. Ian McEwan has writes elegantly and the plot nurtures very smoothly.

It’s was heart-warming, good read that I highly recommend.

My rating: 9/10

Blackbird House - Alice Hoffman

Author: Alice Hoffman

I read this book because it was the only interesting one I had.

Blackbird house is a story that spans for about 200 hundred years, about the families living in a house in Massachusetts called Blackbird House.

Once Coral Hadley loses her sons and husband at sea, tragedy strikes all the next generation of inhabitants of that house. And a bird witnesses all those tragedies.

Each chapter in the book tells the story of the families living in that house. I loved the stories and thought they were very imaginative and delightful. Alice Hoffman is a very good storyteller.

I think this book is similar to One Hundred Years of Solitude, since it does not have a particular plot but it consists of many happenings. In contrast to One Hundred Years of Solitude, it is much shorter.

However, the end didn’t make any sense to me and I didn’t enjoy how it ended.

Blackbird House is a good, short read that will lighten you up.

My rating: 6/10

Click here to read what I thought about One Hundred Years of Solitude

Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher

Author: Jay Asher

genre:young adult novel

Although I don’t read teen novels much, I’ve always longed to read this book because according to the review everybody seemed to like it.

Thirteen Reasons Why is about Hannah Baker, a teenager who has recently committed suicide. Before she did, in a set of 7 tapes, she explained the reasons why she ended her life. The tapes should be passed on between the people who impacted on her life, causing her to kill herself; and Clay, her classmate who had a crush on her, is one of the reasons why.

You will be reading what the tapes say, which is in italic, and Clay’s thoughts, which is a normal font. This made it very confusing. After every few lines of the tape comes what was on Clay’s mind, and I often found myself reading on, still thinking it was Hannah on the tape when instead, it was what Clay was thinking.

Another thing I didn’t like about this book was that some parts were longer than necessary, and I sometimes thought of giving up on reading the book.

note: it gets more exciting near the end.

However, what was good in this book was that the idea of the tapes was unique. The book shows what high school is like: the people there and their intentions.

Although Thirteen Reasons Why has good things and bad things, I generally enjoyed reading this book. I think it was a very good story. The ending was also satisfying.

I think everyone liked this book because it was different.

I have learned from it that you should go ahead and say/do whatever in your mind before it’s too late, and that when someone impulsively does a stupid thing to a person, no matter how small, it can affect that person deeply, so you should think twice before doing anything.

If you have read this book, please tell me what you think.

visit the official website of the book

My rating: 8 / 10

Shopaholic Abroad - Sophie Kinsella

image via FantasticFiction.co.uk

Shopaholic Abroad (also called Shopaholic takes Manhattan) is the second book in the best-selling Shopaholic series, by Sophie Kinsella.

This time, Rebecca Bloomwood, the shopaholic, moves to New York, where her boyfriend, Luke, has made a deal. She also has a chance to work there.

New York is a shopping paradise for Rebecca, but can she pay off all her debts and stay with Luke?

Will Rebecca be able to keep her job when Alicia, who works for Luke at Brandon Communications, tries to ruin Rebecca and Luke’s reputation?

Near the end of the book, things start to get more thrilling and you’ll become excited to know what will happen to Rebecca.

This is the first Shopaholic series book I’ve read, and even though I don’t like these types of books, I enjoyed this one. It was downright funny. Even though I wanted to, I couldn’t laugh hard at school or else I would have looked awkward. I adored how the author, Kinsella, wrote the book in Rebecca’s point of view. It was very realistic too.

This was an exhilarating read, but I didn’t find the end satisfying. I also thought some parts were unnecessarily long.

Sophie Kinsella's website

Quizlet - great for studying

Today, I've discovered a highly efficient website, Quizlet, which allows you to create your own flashcards and study them or play other flashcards created by users in order to prepare for tests or quizzes.

I'm giving this site 5 stars and it deserves to be linked at my sidebar. It's also very easy to use.

There are lots of ways to study and help you to memorize things at Quizlet.

I think that teachers and students will really benefit from this site. The good thing is that you could join a group (such as your classmates) and study or edit your flashcards.

Did you know that Quizlet was created by a high-school student? read the Quizlet story

 
Andrew Sutherland, creator of Quizlet

I'd say that Quizlet is superb for studying vocabulary, definitions for any subject and facts of points. I've already created an account and made flashcards for the new words I've discovered and for my Geography test.

Please share Quizlet with your friends.

http://quizlet.com/

Book meme from Booking through Thursday

Hello, this is my first meme which I found on Books Worth Reading. Click here (Booking through Thursday) to do it youself and find other memes.

I’m tagging Meghna and the authors of Taking it further.

What was the last book you bought?
The last e-book I bought was Atonement by Ian McEwan. Actually I used my dad’s credit card…

Name a book you have read MORE than once
The only one is Animal Farm by George Orwell: one of my favorites

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?
I don’t know… maybe Tess of the d’Urbervilles, One Hundred years of Solitude…

How do you choose a book? eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews
By recommendations and reviews; and for classics: my dad knows the good books

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?
I prefer fiction… but I’d also like to try different genres including biographies

What’s more important in a novel - beautiful writing or a gripping plot?
The size is very important. I hate those terribly long books, especially classics like Great Expectations. But Harry Potter is an exception.

I think beautiful writing is important, but so is clarity. I don’t like those books when you have to read a sentence twice to understand what it says. A gripping plot is also crucial. I think the best examples are Harry Potter, Agatha Christie books and The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Most loved/memorable character (character/book)
Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, because he’s witty, and has a bizarre character, and is very fond of himself.

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?
What’s a nightstand?

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?
The last book was One Hundred Years of Solitude… I finished it the day before yesterday at school when typically, the teacher didn’t appear in class

Have you ever given up on a book half way in?
No, I don’t even risk reading un-known books which are bad

One Hundred years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Today I have accomplished a great achievement – I’ve finished reading One Hundred Years of Solitude, a novella by the noted Colombian author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who has written other great works including Chronicle of a Death Foretold – which I’ve already read and appreciated, and Love in the Time of Cholera.

I found One Hundred Years of Solitude quite a long book, and I wouldn’t have read it all if it wasn’t an amusing, clever story.

One Hundred Years of Solitude was not like any other novel I have read: it had no particular plot; it was rather a series of events that have happened in the fictional town of Macondo, which is similar to where Garcia Marquez grew up. The story covers more than a hundred years (according to Wikipedia), as you read about the lives of the Beuendia family through generations.

Although the story is purely fictional and has the wittiest happenings I’ve ever read – even wittier than Harry Potter – it seemed so real and magical.

Lots of parts in the book were skillfully hilarious and bizarre.

What confused me was that members of the Buendia family were named after each other, since the story went on for about seven generations; sometimes I couldn’t identify who was who.

As you read One Hundred Years of Solitude you’ll encounter war, amnesia, spirits, solitude, heavy rain, incredible Gypsies and supernatural amusements. The story also contains a shade of mystery behind it.

This surely is a book to read. It’s a very long book, but you’ll never regret reading it.

Visit Wikipedia to read more about One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Bookreporter.com - a site for booklovers

image via bbc.co.uk

I'd like to share a site called BookReporter.com with those who love to read or those who are interested in books.

It's a simple book site with reviews, author information, interviews, recommendations, content for book clubs and more...

On BookReporter.com, you'll find thousands of book reviews of mostly modern books books of different genres. It's a community for bookworms to delve into the world of reading and discuss books.

The only thing that I find impractical about the website is that if you want to search for anything, you'll need to open a whole new page; you cannot find a search bar on top of every page.

Other than that, I highly recommend readers to open this site. I'd give BookReporter a rating of 4/5.

Visit bookreporter.com

Stardoll is fun

Whenever I’m bored, I visit Stardoll and dress up my favorite celebrities including Hilary Duff, Avril Lavigne, Jennifer Hudson and others.

 
credit: http://www.cnet.co.uk/i/c/nws/software/stardoll/stardoll1.jpg

Stardoll is a site where you can dress famous celebs, actors and actress, singers, and other well-known people. It’s a very easy-to play-flash game, and the clothes you can dress each celebrity with are those which they’ve worn in real-life.

But Stardoll is much more than just dressing people. After becoming a member, you could become a ‘superstar’ after paying some money to get exclusive advantages and dolls to dress. Although you could also buy stuff and do numerous things, I still stay on the shallow end and just have fun dressing dolls!

Visit stardoll.com

Be part of an online drama at To be Continued

BBC Switch is hosting a very interesting site where those over 16 and under 24 can direct, write, and act their own film as part of a drama called To Be Continued. There are certain outlines and characters of the drama that you can learn more about by visiting the site.

Those who want to be part of this would write their script and edit it at the Studio, which is on the site, and share the film with the community.

According to the site, the people behind To Be Continued will decide when to release each act.

Remember that you have to be the age stated to join To Be Continued. After becoming a member, gather your crew and start working on Act one.

You could do all this at the site, http://www.bbc.co.uk/tbc/

This activity looks fun and will engage people in creativity.

If you're younger than 17, you shouldn't be a member, but you could still create your own drama series and post it on YouTube.

visit to be continued

visit the BBC Switch YouTube channel

The Diamond Girls - Jacqueline Wilson

image via http://www.readingmatters.co.uk/book.php?id=258

A classmate lent me The Diamond Girls by Jacqueline Wilson (thanks); I’ve just finished reading it, so here’s the review.

The Diamond Girls is a heart-warming story about 4 sisters, Martine (the eldest), Judy, Rochelle, and Dixie (the youngest), who live with their mother, Sue, who is pregnant with a boy. They call themselves the Diamond Girls, but they’re not prosperous as their name suggests. All of the girls have different fathers who are not living with them. The Diamond Girls have just moved to a new home, hoping to live happily ever after, but things turn out totally different from what they’ve expected. Devastated and disappointed, Martine, Judy and Rochelle start going their own ways. Read the book to find out how Dixie tries to bring the family together and make things better when she finds out that the baby is a girl, her new friend is abused by her mother, and that Martine, the eldest sister, storms out and goes to their old home and her boyfriend Tony.

I loved reading this book because it deals with all sorts of problems that happen in people’s lives including abuse and teen pregnancy. Jacqueline Wilson sure has a talent of telling the story from a child’s point of view.

However, the only thing that annoyed me about this book was that the author made the story unnecessarily longer by adding too many details on Dixie’s imagination and the way she thinks. That made a book a bit tedious for older people to read, even though the book looks suitable for those a little bit older than tweens.

Other than that, The Diamond Girls is a very good book with an uplifting ending.

I highly recommend this book for those aged 9 to 12.

My review of Google Chrome

image: http://www.downloadgooglechrome.org/google-chrome-official-logo.html

Google Chrome, the web browser by Google, has pros and cons.

First of all, it’s very neat. Unlike Internet Explorer, Google Chrome’s tabs are smaller and the interface is spacious. It’s fun to use because it gives you the freedom to drag and drop effortlessly. I read that Google Chrome is also stable. Whenever it crashes and closes, which barely happens on me, you can reopen all of the tabs that were working before the crash. The URL box, which is called the Omnibox, could be also be used as a search box.

What I don’t like about Google Chrome is that you cannot organize your bookmarks easily. For those who were using Internet Explorer, Google Chrome may first seem impractical because there is no drop-down menu on the Omnibox, but actually you can drag any web address on the toolbar as a shortcut.

Google Chrome is still on Beta stage, and it is not integrated with some services, including StumbleUpon. Right now, it is only available to Windows users.

Overall, I'm impressed and delighted to be using Google Chrome because it is very practical once you get used to it, and is definitely more stable than Internet Explorer.

Although Google Chorme is not available in all countries, read this post to know where you could download it wherever you are.

Some useful links:

Download Google Chrome as a zip file

Google Chrome blog

Google chrome comic book (read all the features of Google Chrome)

Google Chrome on Wikipedia

The Inspiration Behind The Logo Design of Google Chrome

A Blog on Google Chrome Web Browser (this site has lots of Google Chrome tips and tricks)

Another Cinderella Story (2008)

image: wikipedia

Another Cinderella Story, starring Selena Gomez and Drew Steeley, is a modern “Cinderella” style movie, just like Hilary Duff’s A Cinderella Story.

The Plot is like any typical Cinderella story. Mary (Gomez) is a maid who works for her evil employer and guardian, Dominique, along with her silly, wicked stepsisters. She dances with the popular star, Joey Parker, in the school dance disguised behind a mask, and when the clock strikes, she hastily leaves before revealing her identity to him and drops her “slipper”, a Zune. Joey wants to know who the spectacular mystery girl is but his ex-girlfriend and Mary’s wicked stepsisters stand in the way. Her best friend, Tami, is always on her side.

The music was great, and both Selena and Drew’s voices and dance moves were astounding. I loved the songs Tell me Something I don’t Know and New Classic because they were very energetic. Selena’s clothes were cool too.

The only thing that bored me in the film was the tedious storyline. The parts of Mary’s ugly stepsisters were dull because their personalities sounded too ridiculous and brainless.

A Cinderella Story is not a favorite nor is it worth buying, but it was an entertaining teen drama.

Visit the official site

Watch the music video of Tell me Something I don’t Know

my rating: 3/5

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

 
The Alchemist is a best-selling book by the Brazilian author, Paulo Coelho.

Its concept is to follow your dreams, heeding omens and listening to your heart on the way.

Santiago is a young Spanish shepherd who dreams to finding treasure on the Pyramids of Egypt. The story follows his journey to Egypt, where he encounters several wise people who guide him on his journey and teach him many valuable things about life, especially achieving your dreams.

The story says that everybody has a Personal Legend or a goal in life, and no matter how difficult that legend is you will fulfill it if you remain persistent and recognize small details or omens, which will lead you to your objective.

I loved this book because it was very simple, and the message behind it was filled with wisdom and it was inspiring. It’s not a very long story either; it’s worth your time and money, and teaches you great lessons, too.

Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Kung Fu Panda is an animated movie starring the voices of several well-known actors including Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, and Jackie Chan. It is directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osbourne.

Kung Fu Panda tells the story of an unlikely hero who shall become the warrior of the Valley of Peace.

Po is a light-hearted panda who dreams of becoming a kung fu master; but he works with his father in a noodle restaurant.

After being unexpectedly chosen as the Dragon Warrior instead of the highly skilled members of the Furious Five, he has to bear the burden of defeating the evil enemy of the valley, Tai Lung, who has just escaped from prison.

Although the movie wasn’t realistic, I enjoyed how simple it was. It taught many lessons such as believing in yourself at all times, and not underestimating others.

The story was beautiful and humorous at the same time.

It doesn’t cause the type of tension you feel when watching action movies, even though the theme of the movie was based on martial arts and fighting. Instead, the fighting and action scenes were mild, focusing on the touching story and good personal values. The music, composed by Hans Zimmer, added a touching feeling to the movie and the detailed animation made the movie very enjoyable to watch.

Kung Fu Panda is a very good movie that has a poignant story behind it; and you shall learn lots morals from watching it.

My rating: 4/5

According to Wikipedia, there will be a sequel to Kung Fu Panda.

visit the official website

Ebooks and e-newspapers

I have no choice but to read ebooks because in Sudan there is no access to the latest books and Amazon service is not available here. Thankfully, most ebook websites allow even those living in Sudan to create accounts and purchase ebooks.

Since I don't have a laptop, I have to read my ebooks on a desktop computer, which is very uncomfortable.  A disadvantage of ebooks is that you cannot print them out because they are protected.

I wish I had a kindle.

Some months ago, I made an account on ebooks.com. I downloaded The Film Club, The Shack, and Atonement. Something very strange happened when I downloaded The Shack. I received the wrong cover! The picture looked scanned and it said "So you don't want to go to church".

In my opinion, diesel-ebooks, another place to purchase ebooks, is much better than ebooks.com. It definitely has newer ebooks and a wider collection that ebooks.com.

Two excellent programs to read ebooks on your computer or laprop are Microsoft Reader and Adobe Digital Editions. Both of them are free and they're clear and easy to use.

The iRex Digital Reader 1000, is the same as the Kindle except that you read newspapers instead of ebooks on it. Read more

read this also, about e-newspapers in general: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/technology/08ink.html?scp=1&sq=e%20newspapers&st=cse

updates

hello readers,

Come back soon because there will be a new movie review on my blog later today.

I'm also reading two books at the moment:

• The Alchemist
• The Seven Sins of Memory

...so expect some book reviews soon

thanks, and don't forget to come back

On the Lot

On the Lot is a reality tv competition developed by directors Steven Spielberg (The Color Purple) and Mark Burnett (Are we there yet) where chosen filmmakers compete in certain movie tasks until everybody is eliminated and one person wins a deal with DreamWorks Studios.

Although On the Lot focuses more on drama, like the conflicts between the competitors, I still think it gives newbies an idea of what filmmaking is like, and shows you examples of good films and bad films.

The judges, didn't seem to give criticism for the competitors' works; they just said "I love it, it's awesome" or "I don't think that's good".

But other than that, I think it's a pretty good show for those who are interested in directing films.

On the Lot shows on Dubai One on Saturdays at 12:30 KSA, which is 12:45 in Sudan.

If you're interested, you can check the schedule on the Dubai One website.

or

Visit the site on tv.com

The new Apple ipod: Nano Chromatic

Apple has released a new ipod nano, called Nano Chromatic. It's available in 8GB and 16 GB, and in 9 different colors. One of its interesting features is that if you give Nano Chromatic a shake it will shuffle your music. You could also control your ipod by turning or tilting it. Learn more

ad:

thanks to thecolmexguy for posting the ad on YouTube

visit Apple to learn more about the features and tech specs of Nano Chromatic

Free magazines online at Mygazines.com

Mygazines.com is a mag-sharing site where users can scan and upload full magazines or articles online, where they are converted digitally so that they are easy to read.  Users can share and rate magazines and articles, post comments, create custom magazines, and save their favorite magazines after making a free account.

There are thousands of magazines of all types: Books, sports, kids and teens, fashion, etc...

Mygazines.com has a system that allows you to zoom in while reading magazines, flip through pages easily, and search for articles inside a magazine.

Although some people say that this site is illegal and are trying to shut it down, I think it's ok to read some magazines online in a place like Sudan, where there are no English magazines at all (except Newsweek) that teens are interested in.

visit mygazines.com

read New magazine-sharing site escapes copyright laws abroad

 

The Taste of Melon – short story by Borden Deal

The Taste of Melon is one of the set texts of the IGCSE 2010 syllabus.

It’s about a person who recalls his inconsiderate doing as a sixteen year-old of stealing a watermelon.

The boy had just moved to a new home with his parents and had stolen a watermelon from the fiery Mr. Wills, whom nobody dares to touch his crops.

Mr. Wills had raised the biggest watermelon in the country and was guarding his patch with a gun.

When the boys and his friends passed by Mr. Will’s patch one night, the boy successfully manages to steal the great seed melon and enjoy it with his friends.

Mr. Wills soon discovers about his stolen watermelon and becomes desperate and angry; the boy is touched when he discovers that Mr. Wills wanted to give it to his sickly wife to make her feel better. He decides to collect the seeds and go confess to Mr. Wills with his father, expecting Mr. Wills to try to shoot him.

Instead, Mr. Wills makes a deal with the boy that they’ll grow together next year instead of this one, which is ruined.

I’ve found The Taste of Melon a very entertaining 16-page read.

The end is very ironic and witty. This short story is worth reading.

Click here to read the story.

Google chrome not available in your country? Download this zip file (link)

 

Google Chrome, the new Google browser has been released on the 2nd of September, but it is only available in "100 countries", and Sudan doesn't seem to be one of them.
I think Google Chrome is available in only a limited number of countries because it is still in BETA stage.

But if you want to download it as a zip file (no matter which country you're living in), click this link to download it as a zip file from Rapidshare.

I've already downloaded it and it's working perfectly

Download Google Chrome (zip file)

P.S. If the download link is blocked by the National Telecommunication blabla, visit 8day.info, and paste this url (http://rs531.rapidshare.com/files/142129854/chrome_installer.exe)  on the bar which you will find in the site:
 

update: you could also download Google Chrome from FileHippo (click here)

Season of Migration to the North – Al-Tayyib Saleh

My rating: 3 3/4 out of 5

Season of Migration to the North is a mysterious novel by the well-known Sudanese writer, Al-Tayyib Saleh.

It was originally written in Arabic, but is translated into English and French (I read the English version).

It tells the tale of a young Sudanese man who had come back to his local village after spending seven years in England, studying poetry at a university there.

Among all the people who had greeted him, he spotted one, Mustafa Sa’eed, a stranger whom he did not know. All the villagers knew very little about him, only that he had a business in Khartoum.

One night, after the young man hears Mustafa narrating some English poetry when he was drunk, he grows more suspicious and curious about him until he urged Mustafa to tell him his true identity, which Mustafa had never told to anyone before.

It turns out that Mustafa Sa’eed was a brilliant student who was sent to England on a college scholarship, where he had complicated relationships with various women. Mustafa Sa’eed does not tell the young man his whole life story, but instead gives him a key to a ‘secret room’ in his house for the young man to explore and learn more about him.

After Mustafa Sa’eed unexpectedly dies, the young man opens his secret room to discover the past of the stranger who had settled in his village.

I enjoyed reading Season of Migration to the North, but I took pleasure in the little hilarious bits and dialogues more than the actual story. To be frank, I didn’t understand some parts of the novel, especially when the young man enters Mustafa’s room.

While Season of Migration to the North is more of a “Dorian Gray” ghostly novel, it depicts in depth what the Sudanese society was like in the past and how ignorant villagers used to think and treated their wives.

In 2001, Season of Migration to the North was selected as the most important Arab novel of the twentieth century. (Read more on BBC)

This is an enjoyable, entertaining novel that will cover some History, African studies and culture.

Read another review

Blogger names crisis

Before launching my new blog, The School Episode, which I’ve been thinking a lot about, I started brainstorming for a blog name. My dad suggested ‘nine’, which was great since I was a ninth grader, but when I typed it in it was already taken. I visited the blog called ‘nine’ to find only two posts made up of two sentences dated 2001.

I tried a dozen names including “Grade nine” and “class nine” but they were all taken and the funny thing was every single one of them was outdated and contained no more than two posts that were ‘tests’.

Even the names “yellow ochre”, “avocado” and “lime green” were taken and not even containing any useful posts or were outdated!

The Blogger team REALLY has to go over all the blogs in their database and delete the empty, outdated ones because it is completely unfair to be denied the blog name you want while some person made a new blog of that name years ago and got bored of it and just leaves it there.

I’m very lucky that my name isn’t very common otherwise the address zawan.blogspot.com would’ve been already taken.

The Blogger database must have millions of junk blogs that must be deleted.

Four BBC sites for young people

Here are 4 BBC sites I've discovered that you may like:

1. Blast

   

   Blast is a BBC site for young people interested in art and design, dance, film, music, writing, games or fashion.

   Each category has a sub-site where you can discuss topics related to your interests, read about events, see submissions by other young people and submit your own, get advice from experts, download tools and lots more.

   It's a great place to explore and be inspired by other young people.

2. Bloom
   
   Bloom, an interactive flash site, shows you how to "make smarter decisions about the things you can do to become more climate-friendly" by helping you find suitable actions depending on your lifestyle that make a difference in the environment.
   Each time you make an action, click on its seed and it'll bloom into a flower. The more environment-friendly actions you make, the more flowers will bloom in your garden. It's a great way to track your progress.
   Also, read facts, opinions and debates to see how much of a difference you're really making.
   learn more
   
3. GCSE Bitesize
   
   If you're preparing for the IGCSE exam, then this is a highly recommended site for you. It has summaries and useful skills on all of the subjects of the exam including Spanish, physical education and ICT. Download free audio related to your subject and play games. It's easy to become a member and discuss subjects and experiences with other people. 
   
4. Slink
   
   Slink is an online magazine for young teen girls where you'll find advice on everyday life, information, entertainment, health, games, fashion and beauty tips, and lots of other stuff.
   It's a fun and informative site to check out.

Free papers at printablepaper.net

Have you ever needed graph paper for school or music paper?

If so, then you'll love printablepaper.net, where you can download hundreds of detailed types of paper such as lined paper, dot paper, score sheets, hexagon graph paper and much more.

It is very simple to download papers: just click on the type of paper you want and it will be downloaded as a PDF document. Print the paper then use it!

Visit printablepaper.net

          
free music paper, lined paper grids etc...

The Sims 3 release date + Sims 3 Collector's Edition

The Sims Label has just announced the release date of The Sims 3, which is February 20, 2009.

"The Sims Label, will be available at retailers worldwide and available by digital download on February 20, 2009."

A limited 'The Sims 3 Collector's Edition' will also be available on the same date which will include the full game and other collectible goodies:

"The Sims 3 Collector’s Edition will include:

• The Sims 3 Game for PC
• The Sims Plumbob USB Drive with matching Green Carabiner
• Exclusive In-Game Italian-Style Sports Car
• Tips and hints guide
• The Sims 3 Plumbob Stickers "

Sim fans will love this!

Read the press release

Don't forget to check out the official Sims 3 website for updates.

click here to read my other posts about The Sims 3

Related Posts

from tag thesims3

• zawan's blog: The Sims 3
• zawan's blog: New pictures of The Sims 3!
• zawan's blog: Awesome Sims 3 facts
• zawan's blog: The Sims 3 release date + Sims 3 Collector's Edition

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How to access blocked YouTube (without Proxy)

YouTube has been blocked in Sudan since July 22nd for various reasons. People using ISP of the national telecom for connectivity such as Sudani and Zain cannot access YouTube, but Canar Telecom users seem to have no problems accessing the site.

Blocking YouTube prevents people from expressing their opinion online, and not everybody visits YouTube to watch porn videos. Some visit it for educational purposes and for fun.

Here's the easiest way to access YouTube that a classmate told me:

Instead of typing http://www.youtube.com on the address bar, type http://youtube.ca. I think this is the local site for Canada. The videos stream well and I don't see any problems that way.

visit the links below to read more:

YouTube blocked in Sudan?

Group protests Sudan Telecom's YouTube blocking

The Film Club - David Gilmour

Title: The Film Club
Author: David Gilmour
Genre: non-fiction

Could you imagine a father who lets his teenage son drop out of school as long as he watches 3 movies a week?

That’s what David Gilmour, a re-married former film critic did. His 15-year old son, Jesse, a heavy smoker and drinker, is miserable at school; so one day his father asked him whether or not he wanted to go to school. After Jesse mentioned that he hates school, his father told him that he’ll let him quit school under those conditions: 1- That he watches 3 movies a week selected by him and 2- That he quits drugs.

As you read along, you’ll know what ups and downs occur in David and Jesse’s lives and what Jesse learns from watches over a hundred movies.

The 3 years of film school was a great moment for David and his son because teens don’t spend that much time with their fathers at that age.

The Film Club is a truly entertaining read that you’ll never get bored of. It is written as a memoir on the point of view of David, where he writes his observations on his son in a hilarious and amusing way.

David Gilmour, like any father, worries that whether letting his drop out of school is the right decision.

The Film Club is definitely a must-read that you will love.

Read about David and Jesse

NYTimes book review

The Sims 3 - A brand NEW website

EA Games has re-made the The Sims 3 website, with loads of stuff including wallpapers and buddy icons, a community section with a place to chat and read the blog, more pictures and deeper insights on the game!

You've got to see the screenshots!

Visit the website now

related posts:
Awesome Sims 3 facts
New pictures of The Sims 3!
The Sims 3

5 new websites + what's coming up

I've discovered 5 cool websites (including bogs) you might be interested in checking out:

1. Disney updates: free song downloads, downloads of Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Hannah Montana, The JB Living the Dream, The Cheetah girls, HSM 3, Camp Rock, and lots of other episode downloads and pictures
   
   
2. Episode Disney: new song downloads, Wizards of Waverly Place episode downloads, and other Disney downloads and stuff
   
   
3. Connect with your teens through pop culture and technology: this is not a new site but it's updated regularly.  Here you'll find some updates about stuff teens are interested in: new movies, books, music, tech, news and also The Jonas Brothers
   
   
4. Teen Reads: a website for young adults and teens who love to read: authors, interviews, recommendations, starting your own book club, and what's new in books and movies
   
   
5. Adobe e-book mall: a page with links of e-book and e-magazine websites

Right now I'm reading the e-book The Film Club and I'm really enjoying it. A review will be coming soon.

Have fun! and for more links see my link list

Which is better: e-book or print?

 

There's a NY Times article called Online, R U Really Reading?, which centers around a 15-year old called Nadia who shows no interest in books whenever her mother takes her and her younger sister to the library. Instead, she prefers to to chat online, watch music videos on YouTube, and post and read stories on Quizilla and FanFiction.net.

The New Generation prefers reading online, which is either e-books or just doing stuff online.

With the Amazon Kindle, a device that lets you read e-books on it, people started focusing more on ebooks.

However, e-books haven't totally dominated the reading revolution.

If I had to choose between printed books and e-books, I'd go for printed books because they give you the 'feel' of reading: the cover illustration of the book, the type or glossiness of the paper and etc.

But because you cannot order books via Amazon from Sudan, I'm thankful for e-books and I've just created an account on e-books.com.

When reading an e-book, I think a laptop is more handy than a desktop, because you can read wherever you want on a laptop. A good screen is also essential.

On the other hand, reading a printed book doesn't require anything at all (except light if you're reading in the dark).

Regarding the NY Times article, I don't think that doing stuff online can actually replace reading even though whatever you're doing online you are being subjected to some text, because when you're not reading something online, you don't read as if you're reading a book: you skip long words and even whole phrases.

I also prefer reading books because since I spend most of my time in front of the screen, which isn't really good for your eyes, reading gives me some time off the screen. I've also read that by reading on screen too much you could have difficulty reading text on paper, so that why reading books makes a balance for me.

"But others say the Internet has created a new kind of reading, one that schools and society should not discount. The Web inspires a teenager like Nadia, who might otherwise spend most of her leisure time watching television, to read and write".... that's also another point.

E-books can also be a solution for those who live in places where there are no bookstores in their area.

Also, after purchasing e-books online allows you to download the book immediately, but if you order a book the shipping might take some time. E-books are cheaper too.

Both e-books and books have advantages and disadvantages.

I think that after some time, e-books will replace printed books (just like ipods have replaced CDs and mp3s).

If U can't beat 'em, join 'em!

image credit: http://www.intertechpira.com/

Listen to Radio Disney on iTunes

Everybody loves Disney, so in this tutorial I'll show you how to listen to Radio Disney on iTunes, even if the iTunes store isn't available in your country.

1. Open iTunes
2. Click Radio
    
   Note: If Radio is not on the list, go to Edit - Preferences and check the Radio square
   

So, when the Radio screen appears, you'll see all the radio genres.

     3. Click on the arrow next to Pop

     4.  Scroll down to R and double-click on Radio Disney

Note: There's a station called DIS Radio, this is not the one

That's it! Now you can listen to Radio Disney!

Drag it to your favorite playlist so that you don't have to search for it next time.

If you have any questions please post a comment.

Radio Disney official website

A Little Bit Longer album review - The Jonas Brothers

 
Artist: The Jonas Brothers
Album: A Little Bit Longer
my rating: 5/5

If you're a fan of the Jonas Brothers, this album will not let you down.

The Jonas Brothers have put all their latest talents in this album, which is something completely different from their previous albums, Jonas Brothers and It's About Time.

Songs such as Video Girl, Burnin' up, Don't take my heart and put it on a Shelf, and Tonight are packed with energy and rhythm that will make want to sing and dance along. They'll "get you going crazy"!

The album cover is cool too.

The 3 brothers will rock your sox with their awesome guitar moves and Joe and Nick's breathtaking voices.

Kevin sings lead vocals in the song, "Sorry".

And of course our favorite, A Little Bit Longer,which is Nick's song where he plays the piano, is a single from the album.

Honestly, all of the songs from this album are in my "favorite songs" playlist.

If itunes is available in your country, do the Jonas Brothers a favor and don't download the leaked album. Appreciate all the hard work they've done.

If there's one album that you will buy this year, it should be this one.

Click here to listen to samples and buy the album.

Related Posts

from tag thejonasbrothers

• http://zawan.blogspot.com/2008/07/jonas-brohthers-new-album.html
• zawan's blog: Camp Rock (2008)
• zawan's blog: The Jonas Brothers to appear on Larry King Live
• zawan's blog: A Little Bit Longer album review - The Jonas Brothers

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Ratatouille (2007)

Directed by: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava (co-director)

Starring: Patton Oswalt, Lou Romano, Peter Sohn, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo, Ian Holm, Brian Dennehy, Peter O'Toole

my rating: 5/5

Ratatouille is a Walt Disney Pixar animation that follows a story of a rat called Remy who dreams of becoming a chef and loves to enjoy the pleasure of well-prepared food, which is tough for a rat. Remy, unlike his dad, brothers, and the rest of the colony who eat garbage, tries his best to add flavor to his food.

He finds out that his idol, chef Gusteau has recently passed away after receiving a negative review of his cookbook and his restaurant by the difficult food critic, Ego.

As the rat colony has no choice but to flee after being discovered by an old woman, Remy gets separated from the colony and accidentally finds himself at his idol’s restaurant, which is now run by Skinner, the former assistant of Gusteau.

Linguini, a young adult who is having difficulty finding a job, comes to the restaurant and is hired by Skinner as a garbage man.
He has no cooking skills at all and as he spills a pot of soup by accident, he tries to cover it up by randomly adding ingredients. Before escaping from the restaurant, Remy is determined to fix the mess. Unfortunately, Skinner spots him and orders Linguini to get rid of the rat; however he couldn’t stop the soup from being served and is stunned when a critic praises the soup.

After much hesitation, Linguini decides not to kill Remy, who has just saved his job. They become friends and make a secret team: Remy hides inside Linguini’s chef hat, directing him in the kitchen like a puppet by pulling his hairs.

Adventure and drama take place as Remy reunites with his family, Linguini tries to conceal his secret and the ambitious Skinner hides Gusteau’s will after finding out that Linguini is Gusteau’s son.

The graphics are amazing, the story is creative and convincing and so are the characters and dialogue. The music is superb too.

This is a film that is packed with laughter and adventure, and I’ve enjoyed every single moment of it… the best animation I’ve ever seen yet!

Ratatouille has won an Oscar and several awards.

Visit the official website and buy the film.