What are you reading? 2011

[EshuBarakeno]

Slowly working my way through the Koran.

[Hina]

Slowly working my way through the Koran.

That is my project for this year. As Muslims we are taught to read Koran in the language it was reveled (Arabic) and Arabic is not my mother tongue. There are quite a few excellent English translations and I am looking forward to read both the literal translation ( as in word to word) and then the what is called "Tafsir" which means the explanation of the written word i.e why a certain verse was revealed , what's the historical back ground, what was happening at the time of Prophet Mohammad's (P.B.U.H) life and times when a certain verse was revealed (Muslims believe that Koran was reveled over a period of 23 years during the life time of the Prophet).

Our mosque is starting an evening class for the new converts called Islam 101 and I am the first to sign up. Not because I am a convert but because growing up I was taught the ritual side of the religion i.e how to perform Prayers, how to fast in Ramadan, how to calculate the yearly charity for the poor and how to perform Hajj at Mecca but I have never understood the philosophy behind the religion..um what you'll call the essences of the religion. I am looking forward to that and hoping that we will get a well-learned Muslim scholar to teach it.

[ritaillinois]

The Appeal by John Grisham

[Dreams4us4]

Just finished The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright. I LOVED it. Made me warm and fuzzy, reminded me a ton of Nick Sparks...The Wedding and The Notebook put together. After reading The Wedding I bought a copy and wrote a note inside with pictures, gave it to my husband for our anniversary....I will do the same with this book except wait a few years so I can collect the letters. You will understand if you read this book. LOVED LOVED LOVED it!!!!!!

[aaahchuu]

I'm reading Tishomingo Blues by Elmore Leonard. Last year the rumor was that Matthew McCaughney & Don Cheadle were going to play in the movie but no mention since. That would be great though since I'm a big fan of both.

Would love to read The Anansi Boys or American Gods by Neil Gaiman next. Please PM if you can loan me either book! His books aren't available at my library. I do belong to bookcrossing and posted ISO this morning.

[Qbert]

Reading Playing for Pizza by Grisham.

I read the first 1 or 2 chapters and liked it. I'm reading his "The Partner" now.

[skw6559]

Fresh Disasters by Stuart Woods

[miacat]

The Appeal by John Grisham

Just finished that! I thought it was mediocre compared to the rest of his books.

I enjoyed it, but didn't like the ending.

[miacat]

That is my project for this year. As Muslims we are taught to read Koran in the language it was reveled (Arabic) and Arabic is not my mother tongue. There are quite a few excellent English translations and I am looking forward to read both the literal translation ( as in word to word) and then the what is called "Tafsir" which means the explanation of the written word i.e why a certain verse was revealed , what's the historical back ground, what was happening at the time of Prophet Mohammad's (P.B.U.H) life and times when a certain verse was revealed (Muslims believe that Koran was reveled over a period of 23 years during the life time of the Prophet).

Our mosque is starting an evening class for the new converts called Islam 101 and I am the first to sign up. Not because I am a convert but because growing up I was taught the ritual side of the religion i.e how to perform Prayers, how to fast in Ramadan, how to calculate the yearly charity for the poor and how to perform Hajj at Mecca but I have never understood the philosophy behind the religion..um what you'll call the essences of the religion. I am looking forward to that and hoping that we will get a well-learned Muslim scholar to teach it.

Whose translation are you using? I was told by an Arabic speaking Muslim it's more accurate than Ali's, but he may be biased, Pickall is much more generous in his interpretation - I like Islam better if it;s the way HE interprets it, not so much by Ali.

[shelleyf]

I am reading the Bible and all the threads on HCW!