Can you recommend any good books?

Question

Either Arabic or English. Please mention as many as you can, with a brief description of the book if possible. Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi there...

If you are into politics: I've recently read "The Age for the Defamation of Arabs and Moslems" "عصر التشهير بالعرب والمسلمين" by Galal Amin. Its a short anlytic book about the tactics used by the west for the defamation of Islam and Arabs. Although the issue itself is very controversial, but I like the pragmatic and realistic way Galal Amin dealt with it. With the exception of his over-obsession with the Arab Human Development Report published by the UNDP I guess the book is an eye opener.

If you are into thrillers, I've just finished reading Dan Brown's "Deception Point". Great thriller taking you on an adventure in time and place, as all other Dan Brown's books; "Digital Fortress", "Angels and Demons" and of course his best seller "The Da Vinci Code". (I would recommend reading all four).

Today I've started reading "The Witch of Portobello" by Paulo Coelho. So far I don't know a lot about the writer or his work, but I feel he is worthy of the praise he has been recieving. I find the idea of the book quite interesting... he is telling the story of this girl, Athena, born in Romania, rasied in Beirut and living in London, through the eyes of the many who have known her well - or hardly at all. But are they really talking about the same person? Can a single person hold so many contradictions? Every one gives a completely different account of that girl they all think have known so well. A human being is such a complicated thing... we have the ability to be so many things at the same time, and this is what Coelho tries to invoke in his thought provoking book.

P.S. I've read "A thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini upon your recommendation. What a heart breaking experience (with a "touch" of American propaganda) but still a literary master piece. I tried to get "The Kite Runner" but its sold out. Can't wait to get a copy.

Answer 2

It would help if you gave your age and interests, but here goes:

http://www.life-after-harry-potter.com

Included is a list of only the best sorcery fantasy books, grade reading level, a short review of each book along with a brief summary of adult content. There is also a "Reader's Choice" list of favorite books, and a list of heroine sorcery fantasy books.

Also these: http://www.interleaves.org/~rteeter/grtother.html#great . Lots of lists, but I especially like the Harvard Classics list - all the books that I should have read, but (mostly) never did. Most of these should be available in Arabic.

Finally, these: http://www.awardannals.com/wiki/Honor_roll:Genres - pick your genre, find the best books ranked by how many awards they've won.

I hope this helps.

Jim, http://www.jimpettis.com/wheel/

Answer 3

I will recommend also {To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee} like one of the answers above mentioned about it. You can also watch the old film about it by actor [Sidney Poitier].

Read [Silas Marner] by author George Eliot. There is also a film about it, but the book is greater. About faith, God and how money corrupt our lives. Same elements or problems in our lives can lead us to better life or worse life. It's a great novel with a great wisdom.

[Merchant of Venice] by William Shakespeare. It tells about a moral of mercy, forgiveness and tolerence that God encourage between humans.

A must read book for anyone interested in Egypt (Arabic) شخصية مصر - دراسة فى عبقرية المكان - The Character of Egypt by Gamal Hamdan. I wish this unique book for the great man is translated in many languages. It reveals the secret of the Egyptian character and answers almost all questions about how, why, where it was formed. It link and explains the relation between nature, Geography, history of Egypt with it's culture and the Egyptian personality. It's not only about the individual personality, but also the personality of the country itself it answers this (why it's unique country)

Anwar El Sadat: In Search of Identity an Autobiography. Either in English or in Arabic. It's not only about a ruler or a talented politician. It's a bout a deep thinker and again how can we get all binifits of the hard times to be used in the better times.

Answer 4

Oh, I like soooo many...a lot of classics that you may have already read, but just in case, I'll include them.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee: A powerful book about injustice in America, told from the standpoint of a little girl whose father is assigned to defend a black man unjustly accused of a crime against a white girl in the 1950's south.

Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier: The new Mrs. De Winter is constantly "haunted" (not literally) by the memory of the first Mrs. De Winter, which seems to overshadow everything in her new life...Good bit of mystery...

The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan: An American born Chinese woman comes to learn some startling truths about her mother's past.

Persuasion by Jane Austen: A story of a man and woman separated by the "persuasion" of family and friends, who, years later, meet again when he is courting her neighbor.

Timeline by Michael Crichton: An group of archaeologists must travel back in time in order to save their professor. (It might sound a little cheesy, but I loved it...)

Cheaper By The Dozen by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey: Hysterical book about an American family with 12 children in the early 1900's written by two of the children...GREAT for a good laugh!

There are sooooo many more. If I think of some others, I'll let you know. Don't know if any of these are your taste, but I hope so!

Answer 5

I will give you authors and genres; you go take a look for yourself.
Tom Clancy-spy fi
W.E.B. Griffin-historic fiction, cop fiction
Ann McCaffrey-Fiction Fantasy
Frank Herbert-hard science fiction
Brian Herbert-hard scifi
Jerry Pournelle & Larry Niven-scifi
Ray Bradbury-scifi
Isaac Asimov-Scifi


and a few outstanding book titles;
Footfall-by pournelle & Niven (alien invasion gone very wrong)

The Dosadi experiment-by Frank & Brian Herbert (stars as sentient beings, ability to exchange bodies with other willing participants)

The Mote in Gods Eye; cant remember the author right now

Answer 6

1- The best seller THE SECRET by Rhonda Burne. It shows you how to have a good positive attitude in life like all world famous personalities. I like it, but a Muslim who wants to apply its rules, must say in shaa Allah each time.

2- Working It Out At Work by Julie Hay. It is about understanding attitudes and building relationships.

3-A book about how to sleep well. It is in Arabic called mafatee7 el nome el mori7, by Dr Ayman el 7osainy. It has 50 tips to treat insomnia.

4- Games people play by Eric Burns. it is a book that shows us many repeated actions by people that you want to stop them doing them and how. It is a master piece.

Answer 7

Romaica said it all! am 100% with her opinion. Angels and Demons is a very nice book, you can't leave it till you finish it. Arabic, Taxi and shaklaha bazet will make you laugh out loud bardo and in the same time feel strange about Cairo 2007 :)

Answer 8

The October War by Mohamed Abd Elghany

Answer 9

the same period of Dickens
Charles zivago(surname as in dr.Zivag),he deals with the period of dark ages in france,its a serry of books over 40 i m sure you will like them

then there is the book which i doubt you might find it it is famous,very famous

i read it in arabic ,it s called
AL SA7ER EL 3AZEEM
or
ANISTRODAMEES
if you manage to find it,its great

Answer 10

English:
i recommend any book for Charles Dickens...am in love with him

Arabic:
2oo days around the world for Anis Mansour, it shows the traditions of different countries