Book marathon

I've seen a lot of people on YouTube planning such book readings by putting up challenges to accomplish and to encourage  others to read ,

Each book-tube-athon or a book marathon would have some rules so I came up with the following :

As a start this book marathon would last for 3 Weeks (starting from tonight : 28-7)

in which the participants have to 

- at least read 50 pages per day 

- at least read one Poem collection

- a classic (it can be a play or a novel or even poetry) 

- an illustrated book/novel of at least 300 pages  (it can be several comic books to round up  the 300 pages) 

- read a novel that has Blue in its cover 

-  read a modernist or a post-modernist novel 

- a contemporary novel 

by the end of those 3 week you would read at least 1500 pages good luck .

to help in the process of reading you can mix 2 rules together ; for example A modernist or a  post modernist novel  + Blue in its cover  or a classical+poem collection , illustrated + contemporary novel

another point choose all the books and put them at your disposal so that you won't get confused .

You can always figure out a way to make it easier .

time to share with you my list 

contemporary + illustrated : Cruddy by Lynda Barry 

Modernist : The Trial by Franz kafka 

Poetry + Classic : Poems of Catullus 

Poetry collection : The Essential Rumi 

another contemporary +  blue cover:  Obedience by Will Lavender 

All of the rules are covered and the book I mentioned are the amount of exactly   1530 pages  now its time for you to choose yours *wink wink*

for those who are interested you can send me an email on : muna.abid.aiesec@gmail.com to tell me about your progress or send me your own blog posts where you mentioned your reading progress 

i'll be sharing with you my reading progress over here on my blog so stay tuned 

wish you a good read 

True Blood Recap

The New and  Final season of True Blood started airing on the 22nd of June

Quick recap for the previous season : SEASON 6

Sookie and Eric escaped from the authority , Bill turned into the reincarnation of Lilith -mother vampire- after drinking Lilith's blood. Tara is turned into a vampire by Pam  . Jason meets an old man , and he thinks that its Warlow but it turns out to be a long lost relative (their faerie grand father ) who came to Warn and help sookie from Warlow .





 Eric thwart Gov. Burrell's plans . Bill enlists a True Blood innovator to synthesize a new type of blood , Lafayette summons Sookie's dead parents and , sookie discovers the truth about her parents' death and knows more about why Warlow is after her . Sookie meets a new guy called Ben and invites him over for dinner . Bill seek Lilith's advice on the crisis between humans and  vampires . Eric, Pam, Nora, Jason  Jessica and Tara get an inside look at Vamp Camp ,  Eric discovers the truth about True Blood's resumed production -Hep v- 

Bill attacks the Governor's residence, kills  him and uses his powers to force the guards to kill each other.
Eric makes a last-ditch attempt to save Nora by pledging allegiance to Bill. Jason "breaks-in"again to the vamp-camp to save Jessica.

Sookie and Warlow move to their special hiding place -a parallel faerie world- She gives Warlow her blood, she takes his blood and asks her to marry him , but she doesn't know what to say . Nora dies, Eric decides to take the vampire fate into his own hands. Sookie struggles between staying human/fae or letting Warlow turn her -vamp/fae-  to save Vampire kind . Sookie and Bill clash over Bill's desire to use Warlow's blood ,  Sarah Newlin escapes but before that she opens the roof of the White Room in order to burn the trapped vamps , Bill -with lilith and warlow's blood- arrives in time to save the trapped vamps and offered them his blood to become immune from sunlight . All the  vamps are free again .  In Bon Temps, a funeral takes place for Terry Bellefleur .

 In the season finale , Bill losses his power due to the excessive feeding from his blood . Sookie tries to convince Ben/Warlow to date her rather than marry her , Warlow becomes violent and hold her captive . Jessica encourages Bill to save Sookie, and they take the help of Jason, Violet, Andy and Adylin.  Bill saves Sookie, But Warlow soon overtakes everyone and just as he is ready to take Sookie with him, her Grandfather appears and holds him while Jason puts a stake through Warlow's heart.  As soon as Warlow dies, the power of walking in daylight is also taken away from all other vampires who inherited the trait , Eric far away in Sweden loses the power which causes him to burn. after few months Bill has become a writer, Sam Merlotte is the new Mayor, Arlene has taken over Sam's bar and renamed it "Bellefleur's", and the Hep V infection is running amok among the vamps .

THE FINAL SEASON (7)


The new and final season  started with the Hep V vamps -infected vamps- attacking Mayor Sam Merlot's reconciliation BBQ (reconciliation between humans and vamps) where Sam was assigning a healthy vampire for each human Family in the sake of safety and protection , but the Hep V vamps ruined everything ; Tara dies in the attack , the Hep V vamps abduct  Sam's pregnant  girlfriend Nicole  as well as Arlene and Holly .

Meanwhile Pam is looking for Eric and ended up in Marrakesh where she felt that Tara (her progeny) died , she was able to get hold of some hints to where she can find Eric

Sam's opponent -Gibson-  found out the truth about  him and told the rest of Bon Temps' Civilians that their Mayor  is not really a human but a shape-shifter , the civilians turns against their Mayor and his crew

Arlene and Holly came up with a plan to escape , but everything falls apart when the infected vamps discover their Wiccan circle , and took Holly to help them get more humans to feed on , Sookie left Alcide -her werewolf boyfriend-  without notice to join Bill in his plan  , Since Sookie is a human/fae she can easily attract the Hep V vamps , Holly finds Sookie in the woods and as soon as the Hep V vamps attacked Sookie and Bill ,  Sam and Alcide   joined in the fight and killed off the present  infected vamps ,  Everyone was after everyone and the Civilians of Bon temps ran into the fight and shot Alcide , Jessica offers to Turn Alcide into a wereworlf/vamp and Sookie refuses . on the other side of the world Pam finds Eric and discoveres that he is infected , Eric and Pam revisits old memories -Godric , Nora , Sylvie ...-

It seems like the story line is going down hill , the screenwriters decided to kill off two main characters -Tara and Alcide- and  infected The most loved character of the show " Eric Northman " 

The Story and the show are nice , and I have no doubt about the talent of the Actors and that's why I keep watching it  , but this  last two seasons in my opinion were  written and filmed in a haste , probably the bad thing is that each episode is written and directed by a different person . or maybe its due to the change of producers from Alan Ball to Mark Hudis to Brian Buckner .... 

But this won't stop me from being a real Trubie . 

Enjoy the New/Last season Truebies

White rabbit

Rabbit , rabbit , white rabbit , are you here ?

Cause i can smell your fear 

Those clocks you hear

Their sound will soon disappear

Get out from your place

And show'em your face 

Stand up against exploitation 

It's time for confrontation 

I can see you shivering

I can feel your heart's beat 

I can see you quivering 

I can feel the numbness in your feet 

Your existence will no longer be tragic 

If you stand against their tricky ways and magic 

Don't deny your real perception

Cause it's time for your real redemption 

Deny their brainwashing process 

Cause it's time for you to progress

I don't want to hear any alibi

Otherwise this is my last goodbye 

Dive into the Unknown

When happiness overwhelms us , we wear our goofy smiles and keep on walking in different paths ; experiencing, trying and conquering new things ,
meeting , loving and bonding with new people ,
simply falling in love with each corner we go through,
and falling in love with humanity and oneself ;

Traveling isn't only about discovering new places it's about discovering one's self ,
it's about adapting yourself to the culture that you are in , its a priceless experience.
The age doesn't matter , the destination doesn't matter either , what matters is the Journey and the lessons that you will learn.


I know that it takes courage to dive into the unknown but , all i want to say is Travel and Conquer the world using :

Love,

Understanding ,

and Positive energy

Your Story is important

Dare to write your own story even if you are not a writer, Dive into the depths of you thoughts and try to make the words rhyme , if they don’t rhyme that’s okay too , Try to come up with something that shows how unique you are .

You are the only one who is able to write your own story, because if you don’t ,  no  one will.        

Dare to spill some ink on the blank paper, it will only do you good, Dare to share it with people, and if you are too shy keep it to yourself until you are confident enough to share it . Writing is a healing process , it is a medication that will help you go through rough times , writing is a beautiful experience , write you memories down , good or even bad . Then, when you look back to your writings you can even evaluate yourself , you will see  how much you have grown and how far you are in your quest .

Your story is as important as water to the fish , our life is nothing but a collective of narratives , writing  your story can be a life changing experience for you and for the ones who will read it or hear it , so don’t be greedy and grab a pen , think about what you want to write and start writing , even if you think its lame or if you see it as something common or  even if you think that your narrative is full of cliché , there is no fixed formula to write your story , its your own design , leave your blueprint like our ancestors did and our fellow humans still do . We are living literature so take that into consideration and cherish it .

Join us

Write your story

Draw your thoughts

And share your experience

And you’ll feel borderless  

Mark Gonzales - Wage Beauty

I was wondering about what i m going to write tonight  since i m determined to post something new each night around this time .

I thought " why not talk about Mark Gonzales"

Well I discovered Mark Gonzalez , through Def Poetry Jam where he delivered his Poem  " As with most men "   i got struck by the way he writes and delivers his poetry and the passion he has . I was completely overwhelmed to know that people like him still  exist , He is a social entrepreneur, an impact speaker who specializes in healing through storytelling ,he is as most people describe him  , a Khalil Gibran meets Pablo Nerdua . He is an open book, and the beauty of his  writings and his honestly and the topics he talks about will only make you love him more . I have never came across someone who can eloquently talk about the problems of the world more than him . He is the master Alchemist for me , his words Heals the souls of  people who listens to him . he leaves me speechless and amazed each time i read something new written by him or listen to a new piece of poetry that he wrote and  performed .


i'm lost for words , i will leave you now with this video of him performing his poem " The Alchemy of Storytelling"  and i encourage you to watch all his video and interviews that are available on Youtube and keep yourself updated by following him on  twitter " Wage Beauty "  and on facebook " Mark Gonzales "

and in his own words :

Dance indigo ,
cultivate brilliance ,
speak life, name pain ,
grow dreams ,
and in time of terror ,
WAGE BEAUTY.

A Sufi Dance

A sufi’s dance 

A gentle caress 

An ardent passion 

In the midst of the mission

with closed eyes

towards a divine prize 

The lover and the beloved are one 

Clutching hands as they whirl 

Looking for the divine pearl 

Take a deep look before they run 

They are running towards the moon and the sun 

Keep in mind their longing for the unknown 

They are neither from this world nor the other one 

Their seeds have been sown 

Out of the mud they have grown 

Into reed flowers in complete bloom 

Their wings sprawled 

Their shadows loomed 

On the walls of the room 

They finally took off and left people in Awe .

Marsyas

A lustful dream 

My own loving satyr 

This is for what 

Lovers already fought 

[between heaven and hell

I m feeling the sweetness and hearing the bell ]

Bring me my arrows of desire 

O’ lift me higher 

O’ bring me close to the fire 

And let us forget about all our Ire 

Fly with me to the end of the world 

Where our love will unfold 

The weather is getting dire 

Play me a tune with your Flute

And make it all go in flames and fire .

after that awful dent 

he gave me a kiss , as he bent .

Your melody, your sweet symphony

will keep us forever in harmony .

Inner worlds , Outer worlds

        I am not much of a reviewer , But my current resolution is to post an article or a poem at least once per day . So since i promised myself and my friends to do so , i thought about sharing this amazing Documentary and try to briefly summarize its  main idea . 

Inner worlds , outer worlds is a Documentary composed of 4 parts each part is around 30 mins long ,which makes the information easy to grasp and you don't have to watch all of them consecutively . The documentary was created by the Canadian film maker and meditation teacher Daniel Schmidt . the documentary studies the link between our mundane Life , the universe and spirituality and the importance of Cymatics and sound vibration . in more simple words it studies the relationship between the inner and outer worlds of human beings ; some people tries to look within themselves (microcosm) whereas others choose to look at the outside worlds (macrocosm) . the documentary was published online for free and here are the links to it .

If you are a meditation or a spiritual Guru enjoyment is guaranteed .

I/ Inner worlds , Outer worlds : Akasha 

II/Inner worlds , Outer worlds : The Spiral 

III/ Inner worlds , Outer worlds : The serpent and the Lotus      

IV/ Inner worlds , Outer worlds : Beyond Thinking                

I hope that you will enjoy the documentary and I hope that it will give you a different insight about the World around us , and drives you to take into consideration other faiths and cultures , and come to the conclusion that we are ONE.

On Rumi and Mystic love

Who is Rumi?

You surely came across one of his quotes and probably shared it without giving much attention or asking the question “who is Rumi?”

Rumi is Jallalu eddine Mohammed  Rumi  or Simply Mawlana Rumi who is a Sufi Mystic  and Poet of the 13^th Century , this is only a mundane , Lame presentation ! There is so much to Rumi than what people associate him with; that’s to say that he is a Scholar , a Sufi , a Poet , a teacher, a lover , a believer   but  certainly not your average believer or lover .

A lot of Highly accredited Scholars worked on translating his works from Persian to Arabic, French, English  among other  languages …

 When we decide to talk about something we  love , words sound so futile and meaningless no matter how much comparative and superlative adjective we use . Rumi takes me beyond this world of visible matter and into the void then into the wholeness, most of his poems are love poems but they are by no mean like  the sappy love  poems of Donne . Let’s not go into that now ! ( i m trying to compare the incomparable which doesn't seem legitimate  but for the fun of it  lol )

Reading and listening  to  Rumi’s Poetry is a  task I m committed  to on a daily basis , I listen to it while studying to ease my mind , I listen to it when I want to go to bed , I listen to it when I m chilling   ; I listen to it anywhere at anytime . and I read it whenever I have the chance to hold a book that has Rumi’s poems in it .

I have recently received the Translation of Coleman Barks  of  “Essential Rumi / Selected Poems  of Rumi “ , it was given to me as a Gift  by someone I cherish . I was beyond happy to receive such a gift, I m blessed to have such people around me .

Rumi don’t like labels which is  something I totally approve of .

Here is something he wrote concerning this subject matter :

Not Christian or Jew or Muslim

not Hindu,Buddhist, Sufi, or Zen.

Not any religion

or cultural system. I am

not from the east

or the west, not

out of the ocean or up

from the ground, not

natural or ethereal, not

composed of elements at all.

I do not exist,

am not an entity in this

world or the next.

i will leave you with this link to enjoy some of his Poetry Read by Madonna and several other artists and lovers 

Talks of a Reed flower #2

Flashbacks of a forgotten memory

mixed with Shots of unfulfilled dreams

Swirl around my head 

Bits of serenity and inner peace mixed with agony and tears 

This is the life of a tormented soul 

looking forward to feel whole 

Whirle , Swirl , Whirle , Swirl

Let me join the Universe in its holy dance 

Let me lose myself 

in the beauty of the Divine self 

and go over the limits of the white fence 

in earthly worlds i try to express 

my love for the unmanifest

Talks of a Reed flower #1

Talk to me About the Reed bed and the way it dances with the Universe ,

talk to me about the waves and the way they help the reed sway in harmony with the world

Talk to me about the separation of the reed from the bed and its longing to feel whole again .

Talk to me about it all without saying a word .

The Reed is me , is you , because you are the U in Universe .

And the Reed said I Do

This is not your average love story ,

This is the tale of two souls intertwined in a higher dimension

A meeting that changed the course of history , At least from my point of view . 

I know that those who can relate are few.

This is The tale of two lovers

The tale of two men who fell in love with each other and the divine .

It is a love beyond these physical manifestations.

Sex won't quench their thirst for they are aerials.

Don’t you dare and mistake it for sin

For the divine they rose above with their fingers interlocked

Thats why i am telling you that this is not your average love story

They clutched each other's hands and walked as one.

Rumi was no more than a teacher ,

Shams was no more than a Preacher ,

But together they rose to be greater than anyone .

Poetry was pouring from Rumi's mouth

Rainbows of greatness and awe .

Their love is ethereal and will never cease  to grow ,

So don’t you dare and mistake it for sin

Shams  gave his heart and soul

To the one yearning for them

Taught  him love and showed him the way to the one

The path is long and may not reach the sun

the Journey itself might take a spun

but keep yourself aligned with the one

and you’ll reach the state of ecstasy and fun

so don’t you dare and mistake their love for sin

Shams ‘blood nourished the song

And made Rumi Whirl in woe

Lamenting the loss of the awakened one

And now he feeds on the sound of the snitched Reeds

But he kept his mind focused on one thing

That of being aligned with the one

The divine in everyone

And Rumi Said :

“I belong to no religion

My religion is Love

Every heart is my temple “

He knew at the end that it was planned

And that his heart will eventually be mended

Yet he wept ,except that he afterwards accepted the unacceptable

And devoted himself to the sound of the far away Reed

That one which he mystically  feed

It said ; I do, I do feel your  love and pain

He Kept  on whirling and whirling that was a need

Yet he never felt dizzy nor wanted to sleep

His sunshine already nourished his leaves

and it was time for him to be freed 

I dare you to say that this love was a physical need .

I am WHOLE

I am and i am not , I am in and out 

I am within and without 

I am the Universe and the Void

I am compelled and apart 

I am Radha-Krishna , I am your Karma and Dharma

I am seth and Osiris fighting for power

I am the fire and the water 

I am Horus in the eyes of the mother 

I am the hater and the lover

I am the opposites joined

I am WHOLE

Wurthing, Wyrthyng, Worthing

 Wurthing, Wyrthyng, Worthing was totally worth it.

(this is how worthing welcomed me in its arms)

The clouds of memories pass over my head  each time I look at these pictures , This place is more than just a little town by the sea , it is the place where I left a part of my heart . As  time goes by I long for it more and more , I wish I can go back in time  just  to stay a little bit longer  in its arms , to linger on its shores ,to take a walk in the  Pier ,  to watch a movie in the Dome , to enjoy the fresh breeze  of its summery days or even to enjoy the sound of raindrops during its rainy nights.

You might be wondering why is it so special to me , well it gave me a new breath  and pushed me forward to discover a new kind of love , that is to say the love of travelling and embracing every new destination that I will  take in the future , but Worthing will always have a special place in my heart.

Few facts about worthing :

-Worthing  Town and borough is situated  in West Sussex in the historic county of Sussex , England . Ten miles west of Brighton and eighteen  miles east of Chichester

-Its nickname is Sunny worthing , its motto is ; Ex terra copiam E mare Salutem ( from the earth wealth and the sea health)

(Town hall) 

 - It welcomed  and held in its arms several famous people including Princess Amelia, Percy B. Shelley 
Oscar Wilde, Harold Printer and Sean Connery

(Princess Amelia)

Places worth visiting:

The Dome : construction started in 1910 and was completed in 1911 it is one of the oldest operating Cinemas in the UK.

The Pier opened in 1862 and it was damaged by a storm and rebuild in 1914 and still operating until now . the First moving picture show in worthing was seen on the Pier in 1896

Connaught theater : was built in 1914 as a Cinema then in 1935 it reopened as a Theater and nowadays it works as both a Cinema and a Theater

Worthing Museum and art Gallery ; it is the largest museum in West Sussex it exhibits the history of the region from the Bronze age 'til modern day worthing, with the art Gallery that contains a collection of environment friendly sculptures and paintings done by local artists it hosts visiting exhibitions as well 

(exhibition of a Victorian nursery  in Worthing museum)

Add to that that the parks (Cissbury ring , Homefield park , Highdown Gardens) and the several pubs and restaurants overlooking the mairina parade. without forgetting Waterstones ( the best bookshop ever ) and the HMV store and the wednesday Street market *winkwink*

Every corner in worthing is simply worth visiting . what are you waiting for ? pack you luggage and go for it
discover the delights of worthing by yourself