Book On The Bedside Table

[comrade]

Re: Book On The Bedside Table

Good books I've read recently:

Every Man In This Village Is A Liar - Megan Stack
Inside reporting from the LA Times Middle East correspondent from the last decade. Giving a Western woman's perspective on a number of conflicts in the Middle East. Really well written reportage which is at times heartbreaking.

Reading Lolita in Tehran - Azar Nafisi
Another view of the Middle East from a woman's perspective, this time from the view of an Iranian professor of classic literature. Tracks the change in Iran as the culture changes with the introduction of strict Sharia law and the small group of woman who gather to read "illegal" slassic western literature. Again a very moving read.

This Is How - M.J Hyland
Borrows liberally from the plot of Camus' The Outsider but still an interesting book from the perspective of a very socially inept man who reads people very well. Deatails how he deals with the consequences of his actions.

Currently reading "Buzz Aldrin, What Happened To You in all the Confusion" by Johan Harstad a Norwegian writer. Enjoying it a great deal.

Where does the interest in the Middle East (and female perspective) stem from? Work related or personal interest?

[The Underdog]

Re: Book On The Bedside Table

Where does the interest in the Middle East (and female perspective) stem from? Work related or personal interest?

Probably came off the back of what happened in the Middle East earlier this year. I was really intrigued by the popular uprisings against governments which had imposed themselves on the people.
I think Reading Lolita was mentioned in Hitchens autobiography which lead me there. Heard an interview with Megan Stack earlier this year on ABC Radio and that piqued my interest. I find Middle East politics a really fascinating subject especially given the intertwining religious aspects and the marginalisation of women particularly. Iran especially was a fairly progressive society and has just gone "stone age".
Funnily enough I did politics at uni but probably too late to go back there despite how much I enjoy it (not that I have that much time for it between working and procreating).

Tried to write that without sounding like too much of a twat...

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Book On The Bedside Table

Reading Lolita in Tehran - Azar Nafisi
Another view of the Middle East from a woman's perspective, this time from the view of an Iranian professor of classic literature. Tracks the change in Iran as the culture changes with the introduction of strict Sharia law and the small group of woman who gather to read "illegal" slassic western literature. Again a very moving read..

Sounds like an interesting book, let me know what you think of it? I've read a few of those types of books...having visited Jordan and a few other Mid Eastern areas it was interesting to witness culture and their laws.

Whilst visiting Egypt on holiday we were staying in Cairo for a few nights and in the hotel where we stayed we were dining in one of the outdoor restaurants and the table next to us had 4 fully veiled women seated with their sheik, we got into a conversation with them whilst the Sheik disappeared for about 15 mins. They told us that they would give up everything they had to be free like we were. They were all educated in England and one by one when they turned 14 they were 'given' to their future husband. They told me he was very wealthy, they had 4 homes scattered around the world and each home had identical furnishings, clothes etc. So when they bought things they'd buy 4 of the same...they did this so they would feel at home wherever they travelled. Fascinating stuff...as soon as the Sheik came back to the table, the women stopped talking.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Book On The Bedside Table

This. I understand the implications from a resource perspective but I love the physical aspect of a book. Plus you can always recycle the duds, Alan Partridge style, to make new ones.
I'm also a firm suporter of using the library. Mainly because books cost a fortune but also because libraries are cool...right?

Love actual books, love digital books, just love reading. A physical book is like a good friend, but my tablet is a lifesaver on long plane trips, and my preferred pdf reader of documents. Also, have you seen how thick some of these non-fiction titles are getting?

Ps. Libraries are mankind's greatest invention, bar none. I don't think that's an exaggeration, and it's a shame ours in Melbourne are generally underfunded.

[Twodogs]

Re: Book On The Bedside Table

I'm also a firm suporter of using the library. Mainly because books cost a fortune but also because libraries are cool...right?

Yeah, libraries are great.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Book On The Bedside Table

I just bought the '50 Shades' books 1, 2 & 3...which have been flying off the book shelves at an alarming rate. Looking forward to reading about the adventures of Mr Christian Grey.

[Max469]

Re: Book On The Bedside Table

I just bought the '50 Shades' books 1, 2 & 3...which have been flying off the book shelves at an alarming rate. Looking forward to reading about the adventures of Mr Christian Grey.

I haven't read it yet - but I hear chapter 8 is the one to read.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Book On The Bedside Table

I haven't read it yet - but I hear chapter 8 is the one to read.

I'll remember that Max.

A friend of mine was telling me that his wife stopped cooking, cleaning and the house went from rack to ruin whilst she read the three books over the space of four days haha.

Another male friend told me it was the best investment ever buying the three books for his wife, he said his life has changed for the better.

Geez, they made me laugh.

[Scraggers]

Re: Book On The Bedside Table

I just bought the '50 Shades' books 1, 2 & 3...which have been flying off the book shelves at an alarming rate. Looking forward to reading about the adventures of Mr Christian Grey.

Just downloaded the first book for my wife on the Kindle ... I know nothing about it, but she said she'd heard good things about it

[comrade]

Re: Book On The Bedside Table

Just downloaded the first book for my wife on the Kindle ... I know nothing about it, but she said she'd heard good things about it

Hehehe.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Book On The Bedside Table

My cousin has just read all three books & was gushing/blushing all over Facebook about them.

I hear Big W have the series for $20 at the moment. May have to buy them.

I'm reading Slash's autobiography at the moment & really enjoying it.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Book On The Bedside Table

So we're talking BEDSIDE books now are we...

[SlimPickens]

Re: Book On The Bedside Table

A couple of great books i have read recently and would highly recommend are;

Blood on My Hands: A Surgeon at War by Craig Jurisevic

- True story of an Australian surgeon in the Kosovo conflict in the late 90's. Confronting but a very good read.

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall

- If anyone on here runs on a semi/regular basis you need to read this book

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Book On The Bedside Table

I hear Big W have the series for $20 at the moment. May have to buy them.

Correct - till the end of the week. Just check the BigW store first to see if they have stock. When I went there yestereday, they apparently just about sold the stock that arrived that morning.

So we're talking BEDSIDE books now are we...

Haha, I'll let you know after I've read it Lantern.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Book On The Bedside Table

Correct - till the end of the week. Just check the BigW store first to see if they have stock. When I went there yestereday, they apparently just about sold the stock that arrived that morning.

Thanks BulldogBelle. I might pop in after work today then.