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Mohammad

Mohammad

Reading is what I do best. This sometimes makes me feel good, other times it makes me feel bad.
  • Cairo, Ca, Egypt
  • member since November 10 2007

Public Notes

 
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Displaying 1-20 of 24 notes
  • Kristel

    Kristel says

    Welcome to 1001 books. You can keep track of the books you have read from the book, 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, join in the discussions on the books we are reading for the month (BOTM) or you can debate the merits of the list as some enjoy doing. We hope you will want to join in the choosing of BOTM and the discussions. The current books are pinned to the top for that month. There are older discussions that can be found by searching discussions. If there is any way the group administrator can help further feel free to ask one of us. If you don’t own the book the list can be found at the top in the group description or at http://www.listology.com/content_show.cfm?content_id=22845. A downloadable list of the second edition is available at http://johnandsheena.co.uk/books/?page_id=160.

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • HebatAllah H

    HebatAllah H says

    No Mohammad, I wouldn't call the events in the life of little Harry "coincidents"; it was all planned and premeditated by the school he has always been destined to join; even his life with his nasty relatives "the Vernons" is a decision made by his "guardian angel" "Dumbledore" (in the final book, you'd discover the reason). I said that I don't mind the happy ending because it's a children book, not that I don't mind the bad narrative because it's children book. And by the way, the book is HIGHLY water-tight and it doesn't have the slightest trace of "bad narrative", and the "happy ending" perfectly suits it, but it's ok if we differ over that, though I'd advise you to take my word on that; for "narrative techniques" are gonna be my specialization in-shaa'-Allah in my MA thesis, I read books on them, I worked on them from both a literary and a linguistic perspective in my MA "Linguistics and Literature" course to death. So, I'm pretty sure I can tell a good narrative from a bad one, or so I think, and I'm, by the testimony of soooooo many friends who know me or heard me discuss a novel, quite good at drawing comparisons between different works of art, and detecting the references an author would use to other novels in his/her work, but I'd accept your opinion regarding Dumbledore, though there is more to him than meets the eye, or rather, "your eye". Read the rest of the books, and you'll know Dumbledore's "complete story", though I think that he's more like Gandalf in that he speaks in riddles, he's wise, and there is a Gandalf-like aura of mystery around him. And I wouldn't say that Rowling used a competition without rules: "you're good, you take points, you are bad, you have points taken from the house where you belong". How far could this get more complicated?!! Personally, I kinnda like it; simple, straight-forward and as easy to follow as the rules of "Heaven and Hell" (Good: Heaven, Bad: Hell) :)

    As for Austen, it's obvious that you're determined against her, and that you don't accept arguing about her, and if you are "too rebellious for her to suit you", I'd say that "because I'm rebellious, she suits me very well". Austen is never cold; she writes in fine well-organized words with "passions" and "emotions" boiling behind their pretty surface; in brief: "wild passions in strained style of writing". So, she is not cold AT ALL. As for her lack of imagination, I can see your point; some characters are repeated, and girls are deprived from inheritance because of the-female-doesn't-inherit rule during her era. However, Austen never meant to fantasize; she just drew a thorough image of the little society that she lived in, and it was a confined one when you come to that. So, a girl living in a confined society that might not have exceeded her own home, writing about that little society that perhaps had just few people in it, producing six novels!! Six Novels!!! with all those characters, their lives, their dilemmas, their complexities, and that biting satire on the "rules which don't make sense", and all this "fighting of the circumstances of society" (a rule like "It's a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of good fortune must be in want of a wife") with the "universally acknowledged" here being satirically "ironic" (coz Austen opposed that in that novel). You see?!! Austen WAS rebellious herself. Come on! You have to give her some credit for that. Her very act of "writing" is an act of rebellion, in a society where female writers were made fun of, abused and stigmatized. Her refusal of marriage "without affection" is an act of rebellion in a society where a woman "is supposed" to rejoice over a marriage proposal because it was the only means of a living for a woman during Austen's era. AUSTEN LIVED INDEPENDENTLY BY HER PEN, AND THAT IN ITSELF WAS A HUGE ACT OF REBELLION, that amounted almost to disgrace in her society. I know your argument Mohammad, you'd say, but all her novels ended by the "happily ever after" with her female protagonists MARRIED to WEALTHY men. "Married", but not without "love", as she kept stressing all through her novels, and she found her OWN rule: "no marriage without love", and she followed it to her death; she followed her own rule, not the rules of society. SHE ALWAYS HAD THE RULES OF "OTHERS" IN HER MIND, and she made fun of those "which didn't make sense to her". So, the question is: "hadn't Austen ever fallen in love?!" Yes she did, Mohammad, but with a poor man. His name was "Thomas Lefroy". She used to roam the lands with him, hand in hand, AGAINST the rules of her society. She once wrote to her sister, Cassandra, in a letter: "I could shock you with what I do with Thomas". However, his family was decided against his marrying Austen, because: 1) She wrote (something that was a disgrace to any woman in her society) 2) Because neither of them had any money. And his family (who were spending the summer in Hampshire) leaved, taking him away, and Austen never saw him again. Then, when she was a bit older, she received a marriage proposal from an admirer. She accepted him, only to change her mind in the morning; she didn't feel content with herself following the bloody rules of her society. Later, Thomas Lefroy re-appeared on the surface, but this time death took him from her, not his family. So, if you cannot understand a broken-hearted woman writing about women getting married from wealthy men (because she herself was deprived from her love because he was poor) and healthy manly men riding on big stallions and going hunting, shooting, and swimming (she was deprived from her love again because he was in poor health) only to wreak revenge on her "circumstances" and "society rules" even though only on paper, then that's your problem!! You say that you like biographies, don't you? Why don't you simply go, dig her biography out, and read it? Or are you too decided against her to do that?!!

    Do you realize that Austen's novels were among the banned books in Iran when the Islamic revolution broke out. It was because her books taught women "rebellion", "wit" and how to be determinedly independent, no matter how stifling the society is. Do you know about el-Khomini's revolution?! Do you about how it abused, and still busing, women?! Go and read "Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books" by Azar Nafisi. This book is, of course, banned as well in Iran until now. Nafisi is an Iranian female writer who wrote this book about books banned in Iran using them to mock the authoritarian Iranian regime. She divided it into four sections: one about the books by Nabokov, one about Henry James's, one about F.Scot Fitzgerald's and the last part about Austen's. And just as Austen used "It's a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of good fortune must be in want of a wife" to mock the miserable reality of her society, so did Nafisi use "It's a truth universally acknowledged that a Muslim man, not necessarily in possession of any fortune, must be in want of a nine-year-old virgin wife." That's Austen anywhere at any time. That's the Austen who relates to all the lives of people no matter where they are or when they live. Read that book, and you'd know how the abused Iranian women, those students who studies her books secretly at Nafisi's home (as though they were committing a crime) found an outlet of their miseries through Austen's words, novels, passions and emotions. How they found in Austen their rebellion, no matter how secret it was. I don't know what kind of girls whose goal in life is to relent and adapt whom you know and they like Austen, and I'm quite happy I don't know them, though I'm dead sure that such girls like her for "superficial reasons" exactly as you hate her for "superficial reasons as well". My guess would be that they are the kind of girls who are swoony, always dreaming about a "good marriage" and who are unwilling to see behind those "good marriages" and what they meant and still mean in a society which thinks more or less, like Austen's. So, I don't think that such girls have given Austen her due share of literary appreciation, being to busy swooning over Mr.Darcy I think. To be honest, I swooned over him too, myself (he is my favorite male character along with "Heathcliff"), but not for the same reasons I suspect those girls have about him (handsome, tall, rich). I like him because in a way, he adapted himself, against the rules of his own family, and regardless of all the notions of the elite society where he belongs, to be Elizabeth's man. When he tells her, in his first proposal: "Could you expect me to rejoice over the inferiority of your birth and your connections?" She answers: "And those are the words of a gentleman?!!" Only then does Darcy realize that a gentleman is only so, not by riding in and out of carriages, not by his fine petticoat. He realizes that a gentleman is so in the eyes of whom he loves, by giving her his utmost love, with no constraints, no rules to follow, no considerations of fine birth or family situation; "he loves her, so be it!". And I'm glad that Austen has given him a second chance which he uses to prove to Elizabeth that he has changed, and has become her gentleman. That's my Mr.Darcy, and THAT IS AUSTEN!! But as long as you don't see behind the lines, and as long as you don't look closely, I'm afraid that you'll keep, unfairly, hating Austen, and those relenting adapting poor girls you know will keep hating her for the wrong reasons.
    Do you know that a literary work of art is highly "literary" because it has a meaning on the deeper level other that the surface level that meets your eye. It seems that you have to be a Azar Nafisi or a literature student to appreciate Austen.
    In brief, whether you like it or not Mohammad, the literary consensus (not me) has agreed that Austen is the equal of any other literary giant, be it Dickens (in his realism, and finely presented) or the Bronte sisters in their passion and floods of emotions.
    Have a nice day :)

    posted 5 months ago. ( send a note )
  • HebatAllah H

    HebatAllah H says

    Oh, Mohammad, about Jane Austen! Remember when I told you that Auten wrote about life, and hence about love (not the other way round), because "love is life"?! Remember when I told you that her books are unforgettable because they can affect the lives of people everywhere at any time?! There is a 2007 movie entitled "The Jane Austen Book Club" that is based on a novel of the same name. Would you please try to get it and watch it? Please?! It was about to win the "best movie of the year", but it lost the prize for "Stardust". But at least, the movie made it to the final two. Watch it Mohammad, please, and try to understand Austen. The movie holds all the opinions, no matter how different they are about Austen's books. And at many points of it, it's mentioned why men don't read Austen, and if they did, why they would hate her books :) Anyway, would you please try to watch it, and try to see who Austen really is, how she can get deep inside us?! I just think that the movie would give a little insight to Austen for a boy who has read "Sense and Sensibility", "Pride and Prejudice", "Mansfield Park", and a "fourth book he can't remember the title of" :)
    I hope I'm not being pushy about it, but if you hate the "Harry Potter" books, it's ok... hate them then, I'm ok with that; some people do hate the books; it's simply not their type. But Austen!!!!! Oh, COME ON!
    I don't know why it's so, but I think that you'd say that the movie is boring. However, would you please give it a try?! And by the way, I won'tr accept "boring" as an answer :)

    posted 5 months ago. ( send a note )
  • HebatAllah H

    HebatAllah H says

    Mohammad! I can't believe you hated the Harry Potter book. I guess I'd differ with you about it, exactly like "Jane Austen" :) Anyway, it's your opinion, though I'd like you to elaborate your review a little bit about it. Where are those coincidents, and what's wrong with the happy ending? It's a book for young adults and "children" after all. And the style of writing! It's funny, terrific, brilliant, Agatha-Christie-like, full of twists and surprises, keeps you turning the pages, full of suspense and wise sayings. I mean, come on, wasn't Albus Dumbledore a unique copy (though in an original way) of your beloved "Gandalf"?! And it has some wise and thorough meditation about death. And the fun competition between houses! I know it's supposed to be a fun read book, not really literature (as Austen is), but believe it or not Mohammad, it IS literature; in its language, in its having another meaning and so many interpretations on the deeper level of writing. in its portrayal of characters. It has every quality of a literature book.
    If you hated it, then what would you do with the "Twilight" saga books, I wonder! :) I'm afraid to say that you'd be miserable, because I'm not sure how you would react to them. I thought that you were loving this one, but you didn't. I'm no longer sure about your reaction. I wouldn't recommend them to you; it would be a sorrowful waste of money, but if it happens that you read them, I'd like to have your opinion about them. But I'd recommend that you go on reading the Harry Potter books. Who knows?! Perhaps there would be a book of them that you might like... :)
    See you around

    posted 5 months ago. ( send a note )
  • HebatAllah H

    HebatAllah H says

    Mohammad!! You're reading Harry Potter, the first book! CONGRATULATIONS boy :)
    How is it going? The style of writing is BRILLIANT isn't it? I'm soooooooooooo happy you started it. Wait until you reach the 7th book :) I bet you're loving it already :)

    posted 5 months ago. ( send a note )
  • darkme

    darkme says

    Hey, I was just browsing through your self, and we have a few books in common like Frankenstein, and to Kill a Mocking Bird but actually u've read alot of books that I wanna read like Brave New World, Gilgamesh, and for H.G.Wells, and Lord of the Flies and Animal Farm, and 1984, Of Human Bondag (e the last word is banned on shelfari! thats why i cant write it.. Why?).
    I'm envious!!!!

    posted 6 months ago. ( send a note )
  • coffe cappuccino

    coffe cappuccino says

    hi Mohammad, i read your comment about Taxi book .. i am agree with your openion although i didnt read it, but i dont like this kind of books ite real empty and just abook releas no more .. its reflect the true way of reader's looking for .. !!

    posted 7 months ago. ( send a note )
  • HebatAllah H

    HebatAllah H says

    Good for you that you went to the Kota one... I'm sure it was lovely, and since you didn't go to the San Mark one, the better... today was it's last day anyway, and it has been only 12 days since it has been opened; obviously it failed. And thanks for the tip, I'm sure I'll check it out. Look Mohammad, if you are staying longer in Alex, try El-Shobban El-Muslimeen Book Fair, it started today... I have been there today and they have got a wonderful collection of novels... and it's very cheap (enriched classics) but I didn't get any of them still coz I squandered all the money I had in the Arabic Department on 5 of Naguib Mahfouz's novels. Don't worry... it's a short distance from the Kota book fair, and El-Shobban El-Muslimeen is already a famous tram station... so you won't get lost...
    It's great you're having a good time with "Lord of the Rings", but don't neglect your studies nevertheless or I'll call you a "bad boy"... try to make both go along with each other.
    Good Luck in everything... "may the hair on your toes never fall out", as Thorin would have said :)) :))

    posted 11 months ago. ( send a note )
  • HebatAllah H

    HebatAllah H says

    Which Bookfair did you go? The San Mark one or the Kotta one that has just started. Look, I went to the San Mark one, and I have to disagree with you; it wasn't "small but ok"; it was utterly disappointing...It has seen better years before... I don't think I'd go to it again. One of my friends went to the Kotta Bookfair (right beside bibalex), and she said that it is wonderful. So, I think I'd go to that one...
    I'm really happy for your progress in translation into English... it's truly truly great, especially that your English really is very good. And yes you should start Harry Potter soon, you won't just be "addicted"; you will be "enchanted" by it... but let it be after the trilogy...
    Best of luck...

    posted 11 months ago. ( send a note )
  • HebatAllah H

    HebatAllah H says

    Hey Mohammad, I see you're back on "The Lord of the Rings" horseback ... good for you. I'm so sorry for the long pause, but I'm ashamed of e-mailing you because I still didn't have a look at your translation; I'm deep to my knees in loads and loads of stuff... I don't even have time to do some reading. Besides, I know that you're busy yourself with your translation studies... (how are you doing in them by the way? I hope everything is fine.) So, I thought it would be wiser to spare you the sterile hi-and-hello e-mail, especially that I know that any e-mail I write, it turns into a thesis.
    But on the whole, welcome back to Shelfari, and most important, welcome back to "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
    A little tip: forget about your reading plan or whatever you intend to read after "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy... just start the "Harry Potter" books; they are well-worth the effort. You will feel a "Tolkienish" touch in them; Rowling was greatly inspired by Tolkien while writing them.So, they would be suitable after the trilogy. Besides, they are fun an light reads especially in busy times. Believe me you won't regret it. I lured a friend into reading the first book... she finished it, and start book 2 right away, and currently she is looking for book 3.
    Good luck to you in everything,
    Bubye

    posted 11 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Lou Z_diva

    Lou Z_diva says

    aywa ybny howana ethbalt mn shwaya :D

    that's what i read since i was 9 or so :D -beside mlf elmosta2bl we mawara2 eltabe3a tab3an :D-

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • coffe cappuccino

    coffe cappuccino says

    hello dear Mohamed,thanks for your complemt, you are welcome dear

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • coffe cappuccino

    coffe cappuccino says

    hello dear Mohamed,thanks for your complemt, you are welcome dear

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • HebatAllah H

    HebatAllah H says

    Hey Mohammad, really glad to hear from you again; it has been quite a long time since you logged into Shelfari. As for how I'm, I'm barely alive; I'm writing you this note at 3.30 am and I have a phonolgy exam at 12 afternoon, pray for me, and I'll tell you how it went when I'm done with it. And of course, you can imagine that there have been no reading; the last one I read was "Reading Lolita in Tehran", and it was even for the World Literature course. But the good news are that tomorrow's exam (or rather today's) is the last one, and I'll go back to reading soon.
    As for James Joyce, I only read Dubliners by him, and a long time ago. Some of the stories I liked, some I didn't. So, I can't really tell you my opinion regarding him because my knowledge of him is not that good.
    Mohammad, do you mind sending me your e-mail in a private message? I wanna attach something for you.

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • HebatAllah H

    HebatAllah H says

    Hi Mohammad,
    Ok, you win, perhaps it's me who is wrong and I'm trying to find faults in other things. But I have to disagree with you Mohammad regarding my choice of not facing the society. I'm a person who is very good at facing people and fighting back, and I pride myself over that. As a matter of fact, I'm extremely clever at attracting trouble (and I'm proud as well to say it) that many of my friends view me as quite daring more than usual. Besides, I have not choosen to stay at home Mohammad. I promise you that as soon as exams are over, I'll resume my pursuit of a job, and I hope my efforts would be fruitful this time, for I WANT to be independent. But Cairo? I would love to visit Cairo, explore it and buy books from it. But stay? Can that really be the end of my ambitions? Perhaps the problem is that of Cairo itself. Look Mohammad, if I'm destined to get out of Alexandria, I hope it will be to a totally different country altogether. But let's face it, if you go there without a proper education that would be acknowledged there or at least a good job experience, you won't stand a chance out there, at least in your field. Besides, my sister and I already moved from PortSaid to Alexandria to pursue out studies in university. I think I'd be demanding for now and even "re5ma" if I ask my parents to allow me to move to Cairo. And I have a personal experience of trying to live in Cairo that there is no space for it here. But I do still insist that our society is full of "flat-heads", and by society I mean the one you have just defined even if I have given you an example of a street incident. You do respect those independant girls Mohammad maybe because you are "2a5er el-regal el-mo7tarameen", but don't fall in the mistake of thinking that everyone is like you. No Mohammad, that is not the case.
    I'm so sorry about your not getting along well with your sister. Look Mohammad, try to reach an understanding with her, and gain her love. It's really worth it, I promise. Try to find out what she likes most, bring it to her or take her out for a walk or anything, and you will find out that you will get closer a bit by bit. I mean try to show her your love first, for I'm sure that you do love her, and she will show you her love in return, for I'm sure that she loves you too. Come on! You are brother and sister. Definitely, you love one another. Right?
    Thanks a million for the site. I'll definitely check it when exams are over.
    Happy feast for you Mohammad, and don't forget to enjoy your "fatta" dish:D.

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • HebatAllah H

    HebatAllah H says

    By the way, what are "outsourcing sites"? can you explain it to me?
    And happy feast again.

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • HebatAllah H

    HebatAllah H says

    Hey Mohammad, I'm back. So, back to our note-writing marathon. Sorry for being late.
    Well, Mohammad, I have to disagree with you regarding your view towards University Education in Egypt. Oh, no... I agree, but I have to point out something to you. It differs when it comes to the English Department to where I belong. I did learn Mohammad; I learned loads of loads of loads of things. I got innovative ideas... I understood the world better than I used to do before joining it. I started seeing everything around me from totally new perspectives. And, what is more, I got more in touch with the literary side inside me. As a matter of fact, I discovered it only when I became an English Department student; I learned how to write... use literary language to draw images in readers' minds through words and I came to appreciate language as an art in itself, and I adored Arabic even the more. I explored cross-cultural aspects...learned something of comparative literature from my literature section colleagues. And the best of all is that I learned how to fight and stand up for my views, ideas and beliefs, tolerating others' beliefs at the same time knowing deep in my heart that there is no such thing as "the other". Indeed Mohammad, our professors were, and still are, excellent teachers especially my translation, writing and literature ones. But nothing is perfect; nothing has ever been so. It's only these two teachers out of the linguistic ones who are awful. May God save our necks from their hands. Pray for me Mohammad.
    As for moving to Cairo Mohammad, I have only something to say to you before telling you that it's out of the question: "how easy of you to say that!" And now, I'm about to know something new about you; you do not have sisters... right? For you clearly do not know what it's to be a girl in this country, and I'm saying "country" Mohammad to make it clear to you that the problem would not be the family (mine is conservative, but not strict at all) as much as it would be from a whole social mentality that you cannot change. Let me explain to you why you seem to me to be living in "3alam Semsem". Where to start? Oh yea, let me answer your question. Girls are allowed to "study and stay" in some other city because there is always, in the minds of their family members, this concept of "it's all four or five years maximum, and the girls will be back with a grand university certificate." So, Mohammad, because they are "coming back", they are allowed to go. Besides, for many people, they represent the eager young minds craving to learn, or even begging for a university certificate that would grant them a job later (poor they for thinking that), it won't really make a difference, and this is something that cannot be questioned or degraded into "something else", not even by the dirtiest of minds.
    As for why they are not granted the same right when it comes to work, you already said the reason Mohammad. Apart from the absence of the "coming back" concept, it's because they have become "older". So frustratingly paradoxical, isn't it? But alas, it's true. Once a girl steps into womanhood, the look towards her changes. As an undergraduate, she is just a teenage girl (even a kid in many people's eyes) who seeks to learn. But it's different once she graduates. How to explain it?... How to explain it? How about describing to you the humiliation of waiting for a friend on the street, just for five minutes. Can't really describe to you the dirty looks I recieve, and I'm do not even dress up in a please-look-at-me way; there is nothing unusual about me at all. I'm veiled, and I know very well how to respect the veil I wear, though short as it's, but I do dress very casually in clothes which have to make me feel comfortable, and consequently have to be loose. I do stand straight, with arms folded and a long face, looking at my watch from now and then, and clearly look like someone...waiting. But that is the mentality:"you are a girl. You are standing alone on the street. Then you are asking for harrassment." And when my friend comes at last, I can't help but be unpleasant with her and make a fuss about those five or ten minutes whereas it's not her fault nor is it really mine. And mark me, I'm talking about the street where the university is located (el-Shatbi), not a Soho street. Mohammad, I'm just giving you a piece of the image not the whole of it. So, what would happen if I live in a city where I know no one on my own? I do not even want to imagine it. You may say that I can ignore it, and go on with my own life. But if you ignore Mohammad, you will be ignored in return, and how would you prove and improve yourself in a society that ignores you? You may say that I can fight back, isn't that what I learned in college? Tell me Mohammad, how will you fight back just irritating "looks" cast towards you. How will you fight back vebal harrassment when you know very well that insults are not effective (I can assure you regarding that)? We are part of this society Mohammad, no matter how much we object to many stereotypical ideas that got fixed in people's minds as though they were born with it. This is the herd mentality, and when that society beats us down, the least we can do is to conform to its norms, be it with our will or against it. Got it, Mohammad?
    As for my postgraduates studies, thanks for wishing me luck, but I was not "considering" it, Mohammad; there was no choice, and let's look at the bright side of it: I enjoyed the world literature course greatly. I need your prayers, so don't forget me in el-eid prayers at dawn, ok?
    And again, do please forgive my being late. To be honest, I saw your note ever since you sent it, but never had time to read it except for now though I quickly logged twice into this site. And from now onwards, Mohammad, do please forgive my would-be-being late, for I'm really now working against the clock to get all that stuff finished before exams, and you see by yourself; every time I reply to a note of yours, I can't help but type all that, and make your prfile look, if it's still possible, even worse.
    Oh, and Mohammad... happy happy happy happy feast to you we koll sana wenta tayyeb.
    Bye

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Basma B

    Basma B says

    Taxi is quite a good book. I am wondering why didn't you like it. You know it's honest, and humerous. I like it a lot myself. But I agree with you about one thing that it's about one fact and it depicts it as clearly as ever which is Egypt sucks. I hope that you write more reviews. That's what I really like about Shelfari. You could see a variety of opinions.

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • HebatAllah H

    HebatAllah H says

    Mohammad, I joined the Faculty of Arts, not that of Education, because I did not want to work as a teacher in a school (only a school, but I'm ready to teach in a teaching centre). However, when I graduated, and that was only last June of 2008, I found out that life is not that beautiful after all... the only available job vacancies are in private schools, and even those require you to be a language school graduate (look even what they care about: language shools, not four years in the English Department, Linguistics and Translation section), and which is something that I'm not. Of course the first job I looked for was that of a translator, but I'm afraid that translation is not as prosperous here as it's in Cairo. Translation offices here want you to translate legal stuff, like divorce and marriage papers, passports and some frustrating stuff of that sort, and to cap it all, it's 2 pounds for the one paper. And mark my words, people don't get divorce every day. So, imagine what my feeling would be if I translate one divorce paper in return for two pounds after 4 years of, not only English studies in all its various forms, but also of translation studies. So, horrified, I gave up the idea of working as a translator, though I do translate from now and then on my own just for the sake of not forgetting what I learned. Anyway, finding it pretty hard to find a job, I decided to undertake some post-graduate studies, and it seems that disappointement is determined to haunt me.
    Look Mohammad, I have been a student in linguistics and translation section, and I regretted that very much, and do still regret it. I adooooooooooooored translation and HATED linguistics, and my only consolation was the literature subjects. I always wanted to join the literature section, but it was too late.
    So, now I'm a student in the preliminary MA studies, a year that I have to succeed and even have a high grade in in order to be allowed to make my Masters, which, if, and only if, I succeed, I hope it would be something on translation, or linguistics in relation to literature BUT NOT PURE LINGUISTICS; it would be the death of me.
    Now I'll tell you why I'm disappointed, and do not expect to succeed. There are three subjects, one elective subject that I have chosen which is "World Literature" in which we, the students, are working on 8 novels. I LOVED it, and our professor is positively brilliant. The other two are semantics and phonetics, the teachers of which have always taught me when I was an undergraduate, and we have never made use of any of them, and I did not aspire to learn much from them anyway because they have never had anything to give. But I had a hope that I would open a new page with linguistics on the basis that I would learn something from the books themselves as I have always done. And now where is my disappointment? Their choice of books simply sucks; the books do not teach anything, and they don't even want to be understood.
    My exams are on the 20 th of this month, and I still have 3 more reseach papers to work on (I already handed one for the world literature last Monday), and I still do not know anything about phonetics, and currently trying to understand anything of the semantics books. So, what I'm doing now is that I'm writhing with pain with semantics, and life is beautiful!

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • HebatAllah H

    HebatAllah H says

    Not as good as my reviews?!!! Are you joking? I just visited your blog, read your review about "Brave New World", and I won't be exaggerating if I say that it's the best review on "Brave New World" that I read ever. I felt that you felt every word of it. And it's a wonderful blog. I'll make sure I read the rest of it soon. Keep the good hard work up, and best of luck.
    Good that you loved Gulliver's Travels. Personally, I read it six times, and I'll read it again; have never, and will never be fed up of it. Swift was the first one to teach me how to love English fiction through that book, amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing.
    As for Oscar Wilde, now I know why you hate his plays, and now, we will disagree, for I enjoyed it very much. Yes, it looks as though it's not natural, but you cannot deny that it's something novel for an author to present his ideas through amusing converstions instead of long paragraphs of nagging philosophising, and which is, in turn, very natural to a play that means "people talking on the stage". So, I guess that I, unlike you this time, will enjoy his plays. We shall see...
    I'm sure you enjoyed translating "The Fellowship of the Ring"; the three of those books are positively brilliant. If I were you I'd read the other two, and translate them as well, just for the pleasure of translation. Besides, who knows? Perhaps you would have a chance of publishing them one day through a great publishing house. That you no longer work as a translator should not stop you from craving for more of its pleasure. And yea, we would make a good literary talk. By the way, what's "LOTR"? What does it stand for?
    Ok, the ideas of Brave New World are brilliant, but I remember that Huxley's descriptions and dry use of language got on my nerves most of the time of my reading it.
    Don't say that your blog is not good because it's excellent.
    Thanks, H

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
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