Overview of the Movie "Ya Khayl Allah" by Nabil Ayouch

Movie Name : "Ya Khayl Allah"
Producer : Nabil Ayouch
Date of Release : 2012



Disclaimer : 
Since the release of the Movie named "Ya Khayl Allah" in 2012 by Nabil Ayouch, many people objected the contents of the movie and said that it touches the Moroccan identity from the inside, thus many intellectuals view the Movie from their own perspectives, but as a Cultural Anthropologist I watched the movie several times and in several versions, to grasp what the producer wants to say in his ultimate work. But I was shocked by the immense negativity that the producer used to depict such matter. The review I am writing is a personal view and it does not support any part or any Ideology.

Synopsis:
"The movie started with the depiction of small children playing football in one of the Shanty town in Casablanca, poverty and dirt dominate the whole scene, then the focus of the camera moved from the general to specify the life and events of two families inside this Shanty town. Events developed to describe the change happened to those men in light of Islamisation and the show up of an Islamic group who try to convince those men to change their Ideology and to implement a radical change in their life, than events ended up with two of those men exploding themselves in several part of Modern Casablanca."

Notes on the Movie :
As a reviewer, I was longing to see that such a movie would judge and stop the negative perspective, that "Islam as a semitic religion is responsible for those attacks that we see in the whole world," but as real idea I saw that the producer expands this view and makes it concrete.

Personally I've never thought that a Moroccan producer coming from Moroccan origins would depict his country in such a negative way, in fact, the pictures exposed inside the movie are extremely negative.

In addition to that, I see it useless to promote the idea that this Shanty Town named "Sidi Moumen" is not a part of Casablanca and that the authorities of the city are neglecting the population inside this part.
Besides I still don't know what is meant by use of that immense sexual assault and Gayism performed by the population of this shanty town, is it to say that women in this shanty town don't exist ? or is it to say that the mean reason behind these terroristic attacks is pederasty ? I am still confused about this idea.
Another important aspect in the movie is the use of Gangsta. The Shanty town of "Sidi Moumen" according to the producer is just a cradle of Cannabis, gangs and criminals, and that Moroccan authorities inside this shanty town are depicted as corrupt. Though It never comes to my mind that the language used in the movie is uncensored and most terminologies relate to insults and sexual assaults in the first part. In the second part during the "Islamisation" of characters, language have been changed radically and the focus became on the religious speech and religious expressions.
And yet, it is useless to depict the existence of men with beards wearing Islamic uniform, and calling people for "Jihad" in a rainy day, if we would like to ask a question, This "Jihad" against whom ? and why Moroccan authorities are completely absent in that moment ? do they fear from rains ?
Yet it is hardly expressed; to whom this Islamic Group belong ? It is completely shameful to let the viewer asks empty questions which have no answer.
The notions of Love and Dominance overlap inside the movie, and the focus is more on the Intoxication of those young to make the "Attacks".

My Personal Attitude :
Personally I see that Mr. Nabil Ayouch took the subject matter from a westerner point of view. In his movie he tries to clarify or impose the idea that Terrorism came from Poverty and Illiteracy, and that Moroccans in this aspect lack patriotism and love to their country, and that religion and extremism dominate the whole run. In addition to that, I was ashamed to see those sexual depictions of that young boy being assaulted by many Characters. It is such a shameful attack on Moroccan childhood.
Though I completely disagree with the use of Islamic expression to portray Terror in Islam. For example, the expression of "O Horses of Allah" is used to depict the Soldiers of Islam in the time of Islamic victories. But in the context of the movie the meaning is changed and semantic function shifts from the good meaning to the bad meaning.
Also my big objection is mainly on the use and the portrayal of Islam as a curse to this country and as a symbol to the Middle East, may be the producer is longing to introduce a new orthodoxy to Morocco in order to create an environment of tolerance and conformity.
Again I still don't know what is the benefit of using an Uncensored Language, completely related to the terminology of Sex and Humiliation of Human race.
And as an Anthropologist, I see there is no use to relate between an International case like Terrorism and a religion which calls for tolerance and acceptance of the others. Culture and Politics have no relation at all.
And finally I would personally say that Producers are intended to present and portray their culture in a positive way abroad not to destroy the image of their country in front of the world. Because what is intended to be real in the movie is fake in the reality.

Recommendations :
The movie is intended to support the western point of View about Islam and its relation to Terror. So I hardly recommend it to academics who already have a background about the Subject Matter. Though the movie shall be prohibited to children under the age of Puberty due to explicit contents of sexual assault between males during the events. For Moroccan viewers, the language is so much vulgar and sexual jargon dominate the whole discussions. Violence also dominates the whole picture in the movie, the use of Drugs and alcohol take over the first part of the movie.

Review of A Passage to India by E.M. Forster

A Passage to India by E.M. Forster

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclosure:
In fact I am not a fan of these kinds of books, but I was obligatory in the English Curriculum. I have this book in a Paperback and PDF too. I got them both free.

My Plot:
A Passage to India, is a plot of conflict between cultures. The story begin with Miss Adela Quested and Mrs Moore taking their journey from England to India, The purpose of the journey was that Adela wants to discover India and to meet her intended Husband. Mr. Ronny Heaslop, Mrs Moore's son of the first husband, The first part of the story was about the meeting between Mrs Moore and Dr. Aziz. the second part takes place in the Marabar caves, where Dr. Aziz takes Mrs. Moore and Miss Adela took his English friends for a party there. in this Part Dr. Aziz is accused of Assaulting Miss Quested. after several hard events. Dr. Aziz is set free due to Miss Quested testimony that he is not guilty. After the trial Miss Adela receives the news of Mrs Moore's death in the sea. In the third part of the story, in Mau City, Dr. Aziz view will be changed, at this part he is more cared about his people in India. He will meet The Fieldings' family, and all the misunderstandings will be cleared.

Positive and Negatives Aspects:
Conflict is the main theme in this story, It is a conflict between the Good and the Bad, Between the British culture and the Indian Culture during the colonisation time. Everything inside the story is very interesting. It was a nice attempt from Foster to depict the real relation between the English Elite and the Original Indians inside their country. The Passage here is meant for the Understanding between the two cultures. A mental passage to change the minds from the claimed backwardness to the sophisticated culture and way of living.
Speaking about the positive aspects. the story narrates in a very professional way all the incident that presented the mental conflict between English as colonizers and between aboriginal people of India. The language was simple and clear and the narrative techniques were amazing. No bad aspects at all. and that's the reason why I vote for the book as Amazing.

My Personal View:
For me the book as a nice depiction of the relation between the mental conflict of Imperialism, and the aboriginal culture of Indians inside their country. It is an implementation of the contradictory relation between developed and backward people. It's in fact the theory that Edward Said spoke about, Between the East and the West. But even if I am not a fan of themes but I really liked the way of how events went complicated and how it was released at last. It was amazing anyway.

Recommendations:
The language of the book is simple and clear, there is no blasphemy inside it. the main theme that dominate the story was the relation between English people and Aboriginal Indians, there is no feeling of superlativity, because the story criticize the way Indians are treated inside their country during the colonization Era. Finally wish you a good reading !



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Review of Kamasutra the Art of Sex by Kamasutra

Kamasutra the art of sex by Kamasutra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Disclosure:
I would reveal that this book have been one of the amazing historical pieces I've ever read. with some nice explanations and pictures, it turns everything very simple. I have this book in an electronic format. In english, and with the same characteristics above.

General Overview:
The Kama Sutra, or the art of love, is one of the historical treasure that come from Indian culture long time ago. It takes love as a main subject to accomplish a psychological sensibility between the two lovers. The following book is taking this matter with some nice explanations of the sensibility and the power of love. in addition to some recommendations concerning the sensual part of love. the Possible positions and all the instructions of massage, in order to accomplish a nice level of sensuality and love.

The Positive and the Negative aspects:
Since this book is a part of a historical heritage, that means it is a piece of antiquity that survives for today, and that's the best part of it, because we see a lot of researches have been done concerning this old art of love. Concerning the book itself, I would say that it is completely simple and everybody could understand its contents, since it was translated from the old indian Language to English and several other languages. Even if there is some Indian words are showing themselves inside the book, but that not really matter.

My Personal View:
I am not that pessimist to criticize with ferocity, but I enjoy reading this book, I enjoy the enlightenment of the love science, the possible positions for making love and the means to make love go smooth and easy. What inspires me the most is that this science takes love as a source of life and respect, not as a taboo that society put in order to make love as a crime or something of envy. Concerning the practice, I reveal that I am not up to this level, but theoretically, I am well enlightened.

Recommendations:
This book is an Instructive science that examine love and the right way of making love. so my recommendations would be as following. This book should be between the lovers hands, as a manual that helps the reader to accomplish a psychological level of sensuality. I don't recommend this book to children under the age of maturity. Apart from this all the materials inside the book are real and healthy. Wish you a good reading.


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Review of The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women by Tristan Taormino

The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women by Tristan Taormino

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclosure:
It would be a surprise to have such a book in my shelves, I mean since it was designed for women, but I manage to call that book a sexual guide to Anal sex. I choose to have it since Tristan Taormino decides to make sexual education go toward a healthy and happy sexual life. I have this book in eBook format.

My Plot:
"I have to say from the first that I am going to be so open, so please don't get offended". In the beginning of the book Tristan took the subject of "Anal Sex" from a social and religious point of view. She made some researches about sodomy and why it was forbidden according to the three religions, she discusses the social point of view of "Anal Sex" from different dimensions, than she moves to her confessions, she said that she "went crazy the time someone put a finger in her anus" - Sorry for this expressions but it's a quotation from the book. Tristan than.. decides to make some explorations to this orifice, actually the information that she states about anal orifice were so amazing. In the upcoming chapters, she discusses several matters that relates to this subject including Enemas, Anal plays and Beads, Dildos, and what is the right way to use them. In addition some recommendations for the best positions to this "Anal sex" - So sorry again for the explicit language - The last thing she spoke of is "Fisting" - Oh again - in addition to some testimonies made by people who practice this act.

Positive and Negative Aspects:
The Guide to Anal Sex is a kind of new form of books. So it would be surprising for the reader to find some quotes about "Anal Sex" at the margins of each page, or find out some written experience about people who practice this act, The photographs inside the book were so classical, and they get to the point. Another amazing thing was that Tristan were so hard working to bring the idea that "Anal Sex is not a sin, so according to her, it's a sexual enjoyment that everybody need to explore it, and benefit from its pleasure.

My Personal View:
I want to say that I am still a "Virgin" and I don't feel the shame of it at all. "May be I consider it as Chastity" But I would love to say that these kind of books are quite stranger to me, the fact is that I benefit a lot from the experiences inside the book; and I hold my position as a beneficent from these references, but the main point that I see Tristan insisting on is "Lubrication". Actually this word is running through the whole of book. Meaning that without lubrication there would be no pleasure, "That's what I have in mind from this book". Apart from this I hold no objection toward the contents inside that book at all, and that's the reason why I put all these five in the voting block.

Recommendations:
The Book is a sexual reference, so it is forbidden for the people under the age of puberty to have it, due to its explicit language and direct images that demonstrate the "Anal Subject". Apart from this, the book is so useful in order to benefit from its information on the subject of "Healthy Sex".



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Review of "The Torah: The Five Books of Moses" (Sacred Text)

The Torah: The Five Books of Moses by Anonymous

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclosure:
This book was a part of my study in the Jewish tradition, Actually it helps me understand the main pillars of believing in the Jewish religion. And it was also the reason why I develop somehow my Hebrew. The book I am reviewing is translated to English, I don't read it in Hebrew. And here is my point of view upon it.

The General Idea:
The Torah consist of five books, Bereshit, Shemoth, Vayiqra, Bamidbar, Devarim. These five books contains all the events of life that happens to Jews during the leadership of Moses (PBUH). It contains also the recommendations and the forbidden thing that were imposed upon Jews during the period of Moses as a prophet. Inside the Torah there is a mention of several prophets that were behind Moses... The list is very long that's why I don't have to state it.

Amazing Facts about Torah:
Pending on the knowledge I have to this religion, Torah is very sacred, and in order to touch it, you have to be clean, besides, you have to wear that Kippah, and the praying shawl called Tallit. It is not allowed to touch Torah with your hand, the reader will use a "Yad" fabricated from wood in order to follow the reading of the holy script.
Since the Torah is written in a very old Hebraic language, most people find it difficult to understand, luckily Jews may use another form of Torah which simplified. It's called "Talmud" or "The oral Torah", most of "Talmud" contents are the interpretations of Moses to the "Written Torah".
"Torah" recommend Jews to abide by "Gods' laws" in order to became "Tsadikim" meaning "True Believers". "God" have a lot of name inside "the Torah" including "Akadosh Baruchu" "Elohim" "Elokay"... Jews avoid writing the name of God completely, fearing from the sin of Falsification and disrespect of God's name.

My Personal View:
Referring to the book I am reviewing, "The Five Books of Moses" gave me a deep knowledge of how the Jewish religion is. For the moment I am convinced that Jews were ordered to love everybody no matter his race is. and to choose peace and tolerance as the right path for their life. Besides, the proverbs and the teachings of Moses were so meaningful. Now I have a profound knowledge on the Jewish Tradition by virtue of this nice book.

Recommendations:
You have to bear in mind that this is a sacred text, so there is no need to tell about your negative comments.. because I am really astonished to see people voting 1 out of 5 or 3 out of 5. It's like they are reviewing some D.H. Lawrence books.



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Review of Memoria. A Corporation of Lies by Alex Bobl

Memoria. A Corporation of Lies by Alex Bobl

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclosure:
Actually this is the first time I win a book as a gift from the Writer himself. Alex Bobl gave me the chance to explore his talent in writing. And here I am, reviewing his nice work. The version I am reviewing is in English. and I have it in a Kindle Version.

My Plot:
I hope that I am not so spoiler to break the surprise of the reader, but my Plot will go like this: In a Bombed New York, Frank Shelby coming from DC to New York for a personal visit to his girlfriend Kathleen Baker, the scientist of Memoria - the corporation that helped people to erase their mind from the past events of War. At the airport Frank had been forced to take the cab of a bald man, but fortunately he was saved by his allergy against the Leather. He took another cab heading toward his apartment, Kathleen was waiting him there. She tells him that she has a secret that he needs to know. Arriving to the apartment, Frank finds Kathleen dead in his bed, and here starts the story. Police catch him, he was accused of several crimes including Terrorist attacks and Manslaughter. During the interrogation by the police, a group of armed guys breaks in the Police station trying to kidnap Shelby but he breaks free heading to the post office to get Kathleen's hard disk. The operation passed successfully, and Frank got the Hard Disk; fleeting from another attempt of kidnapping by the bald heads group. Frank heads toward his coach Max, and seeks help from his part. Max consult Barney for a solution to open this hard disk. Now the three heroes have to lead a war against Memoria in order to know the secret project that Kathleen wants to reveal. Through an enormous adventures, Barney was caught by Memoria's security team, Max had been killed in the migrants camp. Frank and Maggie continues the battle in order to discover the mysterious vaccination project of Memoria, and to show the corruption that dominate the Corporation Plan.

Positive and Negative Aspects:
I know that I shrink the plot so much but I do it for purpose, I have to let the reader find out what's going out inside the story. Speaking of positive sides, I would admit that this is the first science fiction I read in my life, It discusses the relation between Humans and New Technology, corruption and domination also were present in the story. It was simple and the events go smooth, The writer shares all his knowledge in the subject of science and military with the reader, and that's quite obvious through his depiction of Memoria and the techniques used inside this company to erase people's mind. Another nice aspect was the clever depiction of New York, the writer gave New York a depiction as if he is a permanent resident inside it. Besides the description of the migrants camp was so professional. Actually it was a nice combination between Realism, Science and Technology. The Time and the Past were a very valuable elements to understand the events of the story. Many would wonder why I don't state any negative aspect, my answer would be so simple, I enjoy this science fiction and I don't face any frustration from it.

My Personal View:
Inside the story I enjoy two things simultaneously, I explore the sights of New York and the nice places inside it without getting a visa to see it. And the second thing I enjoy was the talent of the writer in writing. Actually this Science fictions makes me believe that the Russians have been given a talent from God to improve the quality of Literature. I assume that reading this story made my time all enjoyment, especially when I stop in the scenes of fighting and Military missions. Finally all I have to say is to wish a good continuation to the writer in his career. Because for me, writing a science fiction and a techno thriller is not that simple task as we think. The writer have to keep the reader excited and to bring him out from boredom to a new world just through the words. So summing up all the review. The story was amazing and worth being read again and again. I hope that It would be made in a movie, I am sure the story will get the approval of all viewers.

Recommendations:
Before to start reading, the reader should bear in mind that all the events inside the story are fictitious, so there is no need to interpret it to the present events. Apart from this, the story is simple and the events are so smooth, so all I wish you is a good reading.



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Review of "Quran" (Sacred Text)

The Quran by Anonymous

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclosure:
Actually I have been aware so much when I put the "Quran" in my shelves especially when a lot of changes have been made in the section of name. Actually there was an ideological conflict between whether to classify the Author as "Anonymous" - According to Goodreads Policy - or as "God Almighty" - according to Muslims inside the website - I download this Quran from the link provided in Goodreads. I read it in Arabic, and here is the result.

The General Idea:
"The Quran" as a holy book to Muslims, contains 114 "Sourah", and each "Sourah" take hold of a certain matter in the life of "Mohammed Peace Be Upon Him", "the Quran" is written in an old Arabic dialect called "Banou Asad" dialect. The most long Chapter in the Quran is "Al Baqara" and the short one is "Al Kawtar". The most important idea in the Quran circumnavigate in the "Loneliness of God", as an independent King and God of Heaven and Earth. Quran contains also some stories of old prophets who came before "Mohammed". The obvious example we have is the Chapter of "Youssef". There are also some stories of famous Prophets including Moses, Jesus, Sodom and Gomorrah and so on and so forth....

Amazing Facts for the Reader:
The first advantage for the reader is that Quran is easy and had been translated to several Language, so there would no obstacles in understanding the meaning of it. Besides, Quran mentions all the prophets and all the religion with respect, there were no negative perception to any Religion, and several question could be answered just from the Quran itself.

My Personal View:
I do not want to give my view concerning this book, because it would create so much chaos, My only feeling toward this "Holy Book" is respect and nothing after it, because as reviewers we should be very aware to offend the feeling of Billions of Muslims world wide.

Recommendations:
If you are an Arabic speaker, than there would be no obstacles in Understanding it, you are lucky than... But for foreigners, feel free to contact me in case you don't understand a chapter in it. And finally I wish you all a good reading.



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Review of The dirty little eBook of sex quotes by Mark Zedler

The dirty little eBook of sex quotes by Mark Zedler

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclosure:
Actually I am feeling honored to be the first reviewer of this book in Goodreads. I get the free copy of this eBook in Goodreads too, actually I feel proud to review such a work.

General Plan:
The book is a collection of all the quotes that have been said in the "World of Sex". From what I read in the writer description, he is so much devoted to "Sex". The outlining of the book is so amazing... The Reader can go through every aspect just from the Glossary. But the ultimate amazing aspect is that the writer went from the simple question of what is sex? to the last aspect of truism.

Positive and Negative Aspects:
The book actually was amazing, the layout, the simple English, and the arrangement of quotes each one in its section.. all these aspects shows the skill of writer to organize a nice work. But I am a little annoyed in the section of Porn stars, I see only very few quotes mostly told by Jenna Jameson and some others, I wonder what if the writer forgot about Shelley Luben or Sacha Grey and their wonderful quotes in this subject. Anyway I have to be supportive and wish to the writer a good continuation.

My Personal View:
I benefit from a lot of thing in this book, at least I explore the thinking of several personalities in this subject of Sex, but what makes me laugh was the explicit language of Barbara Bush and Kenneth Starr, in the section of politics. So summing up all this, we should be grateful to the writer for being so hard working in this sensual subject.

Recommendations:
I wouldn't be so talkative, but I hardly recommend this book to people over the age of puberty, because they will get excited especially by the photos inside the Book.



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Review of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclosure:
I have been waiting for the moment to review this nice piece of work, written by Lewis Carroll, and now since it's been apart, each volume is independent from the other I find my burden to say a word about this novel. I have an eBook from feedbook, the part of Through the looking Glass will be reviewed soon enough.

My Plot:
The Story begin with Alice setting with her Young Sister, enjoying the nature and sweet air when a white rabbit passed through, Alice followed him, they pass through a hole, Alice get excited by tracking the white rabbit to the world of Wonderland, she found a room with a golden key and a bottle saying "Drink Me", she drink the bottle but she forget to take the key that open the door of the Wonderland. After some hard tries to get to this wonderland, Alice feels lonely and despair. She met an old rat, and asks for his help, the Rat takes her to dry out, and from here begins the adventures of Alice in the wonderland. Adventure that actually devour against loneliness and hopelessness, mystery and knowledge. The end goes like this... After Alice gave her testimony in the court for the case of who ate the cakes, Alice begin to grow up inside the court, and hence she finds herself asleep, and that everything that has happened was actually a dream.

Positive and Negative aspects:
Alice adventures in Wonderland was just an account written by Lewis Carroll to a small ill girl, but it grows to be a world heritage in English Literature. The main positive aspect I get - as a reader - is that I get familiar with the creatures inside the story. Now I know what is meant by "the Griffin", "the Big Torture", and "the Marsh Hare", and several mysterious creatures. besides, I enjoyed reading the poetry and songs that used to be a part of the English Heritage. Another positive aspect was that the story of Alice goes through stages, so that every chapter is connected to what it precede and what will comes next.

My Personal Reaction:
the First personal view that I would like to express is that the story was really amazing, I enjoyed reading the adventures of Alice with the mysterious creature including "the Cheshire Cat" and "Mad Hatter".. It was really amazing to explore the cultural heritage of England and what they used to believe in. Even if the story was meant to be read by Children, I as a grown up man share the same feeling of Children when they read this nice piece of Literature.

Recommendations:
I hear that this story was banned in China due to its personification of Characters acting in the same level of Human, and thus I recommend readers to just bear in mind that this work was only for the sake of Enjoyment, it was not a criticizing work of any purpose. I may recommend a dictionary to look for the meaning of the Mysterious Creatures if you are not accustomed to the English culture, "Have a Good Reading".



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Review of Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology by Alan Barnard

Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology by Alan Barnard

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclosure:
I would love to say that this Encyclopedia was my key to the world of Anthropology, and it was also the gate that makes me love this Human science. I own an Electronic book by Routledge.

Overview:
This encyclopedia shed light to a vague amount of the world culture. It explore culture from different perspective. Most discussed subjects are mainly in the Aboriginal Australian, American Culture from different dimensions, North African and Middle Eastern culture, Eastern European and Asian culture.
The Encyclopedia shed light also to some political issues including Marxism and Capitalism, the Role of Republic and its difference from all sorts of governing systems.

Positive and Negative Aspects:
The main positive side that I admit; is that this Encyclopedia take hold of all Knowledge and researches performed in this Domain. Also the reader may encounter several names that used to implement Anthropology and Archaeology from different aspects. The Reader may also come in touch with the History of Anthropology and the Changes that undergo this Science, and what makes it as an Academic subject in the Universities.

My Personal View:
When I start reading, I was completely confused, especially that Each entries looks independent from the other, but when I get accustomed with the name of Anthropologists and their main objectives in this science, I get excited to know more about Malinowski, Spencer and Gillen, and Radcliffe Brown. Actually the success of this science was behind understanding the whole world culture; and the main key to avoid discrimination and prejudgments.

Recommendations:
I don't love being so ruling, but I recommend you to read some details about Anthropology and Its objectives than you can accustomed with this Encyclopedia. The language used in the book is simple, but the only obstacles that may confuse is the name of science that ends by "gy" here you must look for what are the objectives of this word.



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Review of Encyclopedia of Educational Psychology by Neil J. Salkind

Encyclopedia of Educational Psychology by Neil J. Salkind

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclosure:
I admit having an electronic copy of this Encyclopedia, with its two volumes, with a nice quality script. I am looking forward to have the Hardcover soon enough.

Overview:
The encyclopedia of Educational Psychology is a big effort from scholars who have been in touch with this subject long time, In fact it is the result of many Psychologist and Pedagogues. Most of the terms that dominates this encyclopedia relates to the field of Psychology and Paranormal behavior; Education and Learning techniques. I really consider myself as lucky having this Psychological reference for my future Career.

Positive and Negative Aspects:
Most of the times. Encyclopedias have a unified form of Organizing. So it's easy to get to targeted information just from the alphabetical listing, in my case I find it simple to check from the Bookmarks in the PDF Reader. So there is no standard of getting lost inside the information held in the encyclopedia. One thing that amazed me is that each entry has a connection to another one. Actually it makes the whole contents related to each other indirectly.

My Personal Reaction:
Personally I keep this encyclopedia as a reference for all my doubts and researches. Generally it worth having it as a source of information for all the psychological terms. It also worth being as a guide for educational matters. that's why I put 5 stars on it.

Recommendations:
The Encyclopedia is written in simple language with a nice clarification for all the terms held inside, so I would only recommend having a dictionary with you in case if you encounter a new word stranger from your past Knowledge.



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Review of Language and Power by Andrea Mayr

Language and Power: An Introduction to Institutional Discourse by Andrea Mayr

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclosure:
Actually I am not a fan of those heavy linguists, but this book was a task for me to search the relation between Power and Discourse. the result of my research was positive, but I didn't understand much of the run. I have an eBook copy of it if you want it.

Overview:
Andrea Mayr, as a Linguist, tries to make a distinction between Language and society in several situations, in the first chapter she speaks about Power, Discourse and institutions. in this part the writer make a gap of difference between the three elements in accordance to Language, The second part discusses the matter of Higher Institutions in relation to Language. after these relations, Andrea makes a shift and this time she put in Light the Prison discourse, followed by News discourse Part one and Part two. In the last part the writer sheds light on Defense discourse within two parts. following by a conclusion, between Andrea Mayr and Tony Bastow.

Positive and Negative Aspects:
The book is actually designed to students and specialist in the subject of Linguistics and Critical discourse analysis. at least those these audiences have some special tools to decode the meaning inside the book. For me as a literary reader, I didn't understand much of the meaning. The book was written in a simple language but most of the synonym have affiliation to a certain field in Linguistics, and that's the main obstacles behind my lack of Understanding this Book.

My Personal View:
I would not be so negative to criticize the book, actually I use much of its chapters in order to flourish my Project in critical discourse analysis. And I got some new information about the forefathers of Critical Discourse Analysis. and the relations between Language and Institutions, Though I would be grateful to the writer for being so clear in most of her Ideas.

Recommendations:
This book was actually a reference for my presentation in the subject of Pragmatics, though if you are a literature fan I don't recommend you to spend time reading it, otherwise Linguists are the only audience who can understand most of the ideas inside it.



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Review of The Land of Israel in the Bible by Jacques Van Ruiten

The Land Of Israel In Bible, History, And Theology: by Jacques Van Ruiten

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclosure:
I get this book free from charge from a Professor who advice me to read about the Land of Israel, I have an eBook format written in English, with a nice quality script.

Overview:
The Book of the Land of Israel in the Bible consist of two parts, the first part investigate the scope of Israel from a religious point of view, so the writer in this part is taking out texts from the old bible of Aramaic and explaining it in accordance to the existence of Israel as a land. In fact most of the chapters of the first part discuss the Land of Israel from religious perspective and main reference for the first part Is Joshua and some parts of Old Testament in Greek and Hebraic. the second part of the Book discusses the Land of Israel from a Historical perspective meaning that most of the reference in the second part are historical accounts on mainly in German language. in which they extract the geographical shape and the dimensions of the Land of Israel.

Positive and Negative aspects:
The Book as a Historical investigation tries to convince the reader and to give them a general background about the Historical facts and Figure of Israel as a cultural entity. In fact the reference and vague and various, but what inspires me the most was the manner used to translate every single information to the reader.

My Personal Reaction:
Actually I get much information about the main topic, and I get inspired by the methods used to convince the reader, in fact the contributors were skilled to represent a subject that long have been a matter of violence and differences, I really been amazed to explore these mass information about the main topic. I face some difficulties to understand the second part especially the German part of the Book, Apart this, all went OK.

Recommendations:
I really have a funny time reading this book, so I recommend it to everyone who want to explore the history and the cultural entity of the Land of Israel, Actually it is a verification to every single part of Jewish anthropology. The Book contains some German and Hebrew texts in addition to some Old Greek texts, so I recommend people to bear this in mind before start reading.




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Review of Awrak by Abdellah El Aroui

Awrakby Adellah El Aroui

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Disclosure:
I got this copy of "Awrak" from the national library in Morocco, and the celebration was a presentation of the works of "Abdellah El Arwi" as a Moroccan historical and theorist, I own a copy of it, the book is written in Arabic.

My Plot:
I was confused whether to classify this book as an autobiography or as a historical investigation, the fact is that the whole story turns upside down to one Character in General. "Idriss" the main Character or the Writer himself in some respect, had been died and left some "Papers" and the burden of his friend was to organize the papers of Idriss and give birth to a story of the Dead Idriss. The beginning of the story start with some recollections of Idriss and the death of his mother, he was obliged to live with his father and mother in law. this passionate boy choose to look for his way, he studied in the Public high school and gets his Baccalaureate, after this hard initiation he choose to complete his studies in France. and from France he continues to write down papers narrating about his experience with life and culture in France as a foreign cultural entity. The Protagonist was devoted to Cinema and most of the time he choose to write down about movies that he washed in France or in Morocco during his life.

Positive and Negative aspects:
Actually the reader will get confused who was the speaker inside the story, that's the main problem I face during my reading of this work, I hardly understand some symbols that the writer used inside this Novel, in addition to the mass references that he implement during his process of writing. Actually I blame the Moroccan analyzers for being so lazy to let this work out of understanding. Sometimes the writer make use of some symbols that are hard to understand their expressing meaning. Even if the work was introduced to a vague audience of Arabic speakers, the writer ignore the possibility that readers may not understand some of the entities used inside his book. Without forgetting the heavy focus of Nationalism of the Moroccan Identity that the writer used so much in his text. Speaking of techniques of writing, the Book was a heavy work full of new techniques in the world of literature, actually it was meant to introduce the new movements of free literature.

My Personal Reaction:
I admit that this was the second time I vote with one out five, or in an expression it was the second book that I would like to punch in the face according to Richard Van Holst. I get really pissed off reading Arabic literature of this kind. Unorganized events, a lot of Flash backs, confusion of who is the speaker inside the story. Actually I may class this book as an unsuccessful try to the new movement of literature. I really feel angry to gossip to the life and the death of an imaginary Character, so summing up all, I generally say that I didn't enjoy the Book at all.

Recommendations:
I would like recommend this book to the lazy Moroccan analyzers who didn't attempt to make a clear copy of this work, Besides I may recommend this book to the so called Fans of New Literary Movement. The book require more understanding so I suggest relying to every single information of it.



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Review of The Piano Teacher by Elfriede Jelinek

The Piano Teacher by Elfriede Jelinek

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclosure:
I have come across this Novel during a search for Austrian Feminist Literature, I pick the Piano Teacher as a winner of Nobel Prize for literature. I own an eBook of this version, translated in English.

My Plot:
The story happened in Vienna, a grown up girl from France teach the Piano lessons in the Vienna conservatory. Our Protagonist called Erika, and lived together with her controlling mother in a moderate apartment. The relation of Erika with peoples differ from several aspects. Her relation with her mother get worse and some time a big change took place in their relation. Erika's relation with her student get tougher. Her sexual orientation and her psychological depressions were the main obstacles behind her relation. Erika decided one day to befriend one of her students called Walter. this latter was a punctilious student inside her class. Erika invited him one day to her house, and told him the truth that she is a Masochist girl, and love the self mutilation, Waler grow uncomfortable in his relation with Erika especially with the heavy control that was imposed upon him, One day Walter visited Erika in her apartment and raped her even with the presence of her mother. The following day Erika conducted a celebration in the Theater of Vienna, for her surprise she found that Walter was satisfied with what he did to HER. Erika stuck herself with a knife in the shoulder moving out of the theater.

Positive and Negative Aspects:
The main positive entity in the whole story is that "the Piano Teacher" was a combination between psychological and material elements in the events of the whole work, in fact it was the first work I read where the protagonist suffer from psychological depression. Reality was that the writer get lucky to make the readers lived and feel the problems of all Characters inside the story, it was amazing to explore the Phobias and Paraphilias of each Character. but the amazing thing was that Protagonist was in the center of scope to all these problems. "the Piano Teacher" may represent the new form of the 21 century novel due its newly Characteristics. Concerning the nature of Language I admit that I read the Novel in English, so I didn't get the chance to review it in its original language.

My Personal Reaction:
Personally this was the first Novel I read about the Protagonist suffering from psychological depression, I really enjoyed the techniques that the writer used to expose the fear and the psychological reactions of all the Characters, actually it was far more better than the Techniques used by D.H. Lawrence. The events in the story were amazing and expressing, besides, simplicity of the narration dominates more than complexity. anyway I enjoyed reading this story, and that's the reason behind voting it with 5 out 5.

Recommendations:
This genre of Literature is new born, so I recommend people to take caution especially when reading some sexual arousing scenes inside the story, I don't recommend minors to read it.



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Review of L'aigle by Ismail Kadaré

L'aigle by Ismail Kadaré
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Disclosure:
I have got this Novel just temporally from the Library during a competition held for the Book lovers, I spend three days reading this French Political novel and blow was the outcome.

My Plot:
First of all, the story happens in Albania during the communist government period. Max the protagonist was getting out to get some cigarette, he met the Bar boss; and both they engaged in an obscure discourse of being in "the High" and how to get there. Max at this moment begin the process of intoxicating his mind, he was unsatisfied with several incidents that happens in his environment, especially the runaway of the serpent from the zoo and the death of the crocodile, these events happened during the reduction of government from the fund that was allowed for the zoo. One day Max was sitting in "the Bar of Liberty" and accidentally wrote in the Glass of the windows the name of his Fiancée Anna, at this moment a girl was passing by the road, and saw her name written in the reverse, she came in the Bar and they acquaint each other. During their intrigue Max was revealing to annA that they should go outside the country and flee for their life from the revolution that was coming. The girl annA was satisfied with her situation and she did not gave much attention to what he said. Max inspiration' to the Eagle was deep, so one day he get to the zoo, and ask the Zoo keeper about the Eagle's cage, he was shown the Eagle place but the Zoo keeper tell Max that the Eagle stay in hunger each day and that it is the last to eat after all animals. Max grab no attention to these recommendations. The day after Max feels a high temperature in his head, annA gave him some aspirin to calm down the temperature, but Max was eager to flee from this country, so the end was like this. Max went to the butcher to have some meat, he get some extra meet as a gift from the Butcher, and stole his big knife. Max was heading toward the Eagle's cage to feed him and to let the Eagle fly with him to the land where there is no darkness, in the morning the citizen of the city woke up with a horrible news, Max was killed by the Eagle, the latter gets out both his eyes, in response the Eagle was killed by Max too due to the sharpness of the Butcher's knife.

Positive and Negative Aspects:
The story events were the most entity that make the reader wonder about what's going on the story. The positive aspect in this work was that the events were interrelated, so it was hard for me to give simple plot to this work, Besides, the style used in this work were simple and understandable. Concerning the negative aspects, I would simply say that Kadaré attacked violently the Communism and all its aspects inside this work, he was trying to refer that Communism was the main horror that all Characters suffer from, in fact his imaginations were far fetching from reality, The writer in this work tried to implement the same method that George Orwell did in 1984. Most characters in "L'aigle" were suffering from horror of government and from the ghost of Communism, he was really trying to implement a bad image of Communism and Bureaucracy inside the Albanian state.

My Personal Reaction:
Reality is that I am not a fan of Politics at all, Politics for me is a dirty game. But by reviewing this Novel I am opposed to take part in it. First Kadaré choose the name "Eagle" as a title to his work, in fact the Eagle itself was the symbol of Albania, so speaking about this Eagle is mainly a comment to the state directly, Inside the story we hear that the Eagle was the last one to eat and that it was kept in hunger even since it is the symbol of that state. the End of the protagonist against the Eagle also was symbolic. so summing up all these aspects, we simply say that Kadaré was trying to depict an obscure image of Communism against the State of Eagles "Shqiperia", and that the death of the Protagonist was in fact a fight for freedom and dignity of Albanian self. Personally I use much effort to understand the meaning of this work but I really admit that the meaning was vague inside the story.

Recommendations:
This book is simply recommended to Albanian citizens first of all, and to the fans of Ismael Kadaré. I recommend readers of this work to focus on each single detail inside the story in order to accomplish the process of understanding this Political novel.

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Review of The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence

The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Disclosure:
I come across this Novel while I was exploring the page of D.H. Lawrence, I thought it would be amazing to explore the style of this writer but the result was that I am disappointed.

My Plot:
First the story begin with the description of the Place, Brangwen Farm where most of the events have happened, the writer say that the farm has been isolated from the main village due to roads and rail ways that was build during the industrialization of the region. The focus began with the family of Brangwen in General, than the focus turns back to be on Tom Brangwen the noisy and lazy boy, after the death of the main family members, Tom leads an unsuitable life, according to the writer, he was looking for love; with someone who wants to share with him this feeling. Now the focus begin on Tom Brangwen and Lydia Lensky; the Polish refugee who came to the village with her daughter Anna. Tom Brangwen get married with Lydia and took Anna as his step daughter. After the long run, Anna grow older, and begin to explore her womanhood. Than the focus changed to Anna Brangwen and William Brangwen, both couple leads a happy life in the House near the Church, Anna gave birth to Ursula and Gudrun, through all the chapter after Ursula's birth, the Writer was coming back and passing by the narration times, to mention the death of Tom Brangwen the Father in the flood, and to mention the Death of Lydia Brangwen after several years from her husband's death. and after that, came the focus to Ursula Brangwen and her love affair with Anton Skrebensky, the writer in this moment combines between the love affair and the teaching experience that Ursula has been experimenting in Saint Philip elementary school, the end was somehow tragic, Ursula break up her relation with Anton, the latter get married to a colonel daughter and sailed to India to live a happy life. Ursula stayed in England suffering from her weak dependency of herself. Lawrence finish the story by saying that Ursula have seen a Rainbow which symbolize that life is still going on, even with the gloom that Industry has made inside her.

Positive and Negative Aspects:
Let get the positive aspects first, The Rainbow was an exploration of the physical and psychological aspects of all its characters, actually I wasn't fond of this style that D.H. Lawrence have tried, but I see it not my burden to criticize his methods in writing. Passing now to Negative aspects, I would say that D.H. Lawrence was so much heavy in depicting the natural sides of life inside England including Forests, Rivers and all that follows. Besides, his psychological depiction of the Characters' feelings was not successful. The fact is that I was annoyed to keep reading deep description of Characters. Lawrence was trying to implement the Technique of Psychological Depiction that was lead by Dostoevsky, but the result was that he didn't make the readers enjoying; rather he keep annoying them. And that's the reason I vote with just one Star over Five.

My Personal Reaction:
I guess that this is the first time I admit something I didn't like, Reading for two weeks continuously the life and the Death of the Brangwen family without stating something special, for me it was a waste of time, that person was criticizing the Industrialization of his country with the help of his Characters, and I was like a dog with a red nose discovering his thoughts. Generally I didn't enjoy reading this heavy serial of the Brangwen Family. as you see, I am planning to read the sequel of his work, and I hope to find that "Women in Love" is something more interesting than "the Rainbow".

Recommendations:
First of all you need to have a dictionary with you each time you read a chapter from this book, because you may encounter several new words that Mr. Lawrence used in his work, the fact is that he was trying to show up that he is able to explore Language from all its aspects.
Second, the Rainbow is full of sexual description of Characters, than I do not recommend to audience under the age of 18. Third note is that I recommend none native speakers of English to spot all the villages inside the Rainbow, because I am sure they will get confused.

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Review of Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef

Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Disclosure:
I am not a fan of politics, but I hear some friends who told me about a Book that was amazing to read. I pick "Son of Hamas" in order to discover the Truth, but what I found was mostly mysterious. I have an eBook copy of that book in English, and a free copy in Arabic too.

My Plot:
The story began with Mosab riding his car after the IDF arrested him, after this process Mosab start recollecting in a sort of Flash-Back all the events that happens to him or to his family starting from his childhood, when his father Hassan Yousef was arrested by the Israeli Authority for political reasons, and how everybody ignore the family for no sin. Mosab said that he was charged to sell home made sweets in order to support the family, he really reveal an obscurity that dominate the Arab society especially Palestinians. Mosab feels a kind of relief when his father came back home again and how the society changed their treatments toward them. Mosab at this moment was patient to spend the hard moment without the help of the sick society that long suffer from the plague of Political corruption. Than the story goes when Mosab bought some unused riffle to start killing Israeli's as any motivated young did. After this incident, Mosab was caught by the Chin Bet, they offer him to work with them in order to stop the flow of blood, after the period of Custody and prison, he was reluctant to choose that offer, but finally he accept to be a double face agent, In fact he did his job with a nice efficiency, by stopping most of the terroristic attacks. Mosab leads a hard life by doing this job in a most extreme dangerous environment. He was taking all the risk to save the life of both Palestinians and Israeli's. He really fight for the humanity. But the end for me was sad enough. After the work with "the American Agency" and after "the Geek Squad" that Mosab build up with his friend, Our hero choose to live outside the country, and to live with a new religion, and a new ideology.

Positive and Negative Aspects:
First of all this book represent a nice ideology of a modern man, and how humanity should be in this 21 century, I really enjoyed the writing style of Mosab, and his nice story of converting to Christianity, and how he was ordered to love his enemies even if they treat him bad. Mosab in his book opens our eyes to the Truth, a truth that Arab mass media never revealed, that Hamas and the Palestinian Authority were using the Palestinian blood for their benefit, and that they are the main reason why Peace have never reach in the region of Middle East. I really owe more thanks for Mosab for being so daring to reveal these black secrets; of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. Reality was that we were blind with lies that make a gloom in ourselves, until Mosab came to enlighten the truth. Mosab was so frank to reveal in the end that he was in no need of money or authority. He choose Freedom which is a right for everyone, he choose to live his life far from the horrible ideas of Terrorism and hatred of other. Inside his book he told the reader several incidents that Arab Mass Media never told to its viewer. I really congratulate him for this nice sacrifice.

My Personal Reaction:
I was chocked personally to follow all the events that Mosab spoke off. Actually I wasn't fan of Politics but Mosab made me change my view, Even if I read the whole book in two days due the nice style, I was feeling sad to read that Hamas is torturing Palestinians inside "the Majdou Prison" in accordance with Hamas high raking personals. I was even annoyed to hear that simple and poor Palestinians are a nice target for both Hamas and Fath, and that their life and blood are only a way to gain personal profit from the Arab aids. I really thanks the writer for awakening us from the long nightmare we have been living in long time ago. And I would tell him that he did a noble job no matter the outcome is.

Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to any Arab who was living in the long nightmare of Politics, the book is so clean and out from immorality, and thus I hope that everyone who feel sorry for Palestinians to read it once or twice just to discover what going on inside it.

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