Into the remarkable memoir: “When Breath Becomes Air”

by Paul Kalanithi

“If I had some sense of how much time I have left, it’d be easier. (…) Tell me three months, I’d spend time with family. Tell me one year, I’d write a book. Give me ten years, I’d get back to treating diseases.”

Most people (me among them) live their lives procrastinating their dreams for next month, next year or even next decade. Unfortunately, death take most of them by surprise before realizing those dreams. Paul had a plan to spend two decades of his life in neurosurgery, then the next two decades as a writer, not realizing that death is going to pay a visit much earlier than he could ever imagine. 

“When Breath Becomes Air” is a memoir about dreaming, working hard, and facing death with courage and a final touch. After the tremendous effect this book left on me, I consider it a life-changing book, and I recommend it to EVERYONE.

Continue reading the review on our Idea Magazine .

     

                                                                                                                    Merry

A New Book Review

After You (Me Before You #2)

By Jojo Moyes 

This book is an unexpected sequel of a famous novel called “Me Before You”. Thus, before reviewing it, I should give my opinion about the first part of the story.

“Me Before You” was – and still – one of my favorite novels I ever read. It was full of passion, empathy, and simplicity. I remember the first time I had the book in my hands as a gift from my cousin which I met for the first time in my life face to face (because he lives in Germany). He knew how much I love books based on my Facebook profile, so he decided to surprise me with a small gift, and I can say it was a very good choice.  

Continue reading the article on our Idea Magazine 

                                                                                                                          Merry

The best books I've read this year (2015)

It is already the end of the year, and I just finished reading another book. It was a busy year for me, so I couldn’t read more than 15 books (for the whole list, visit this link). I chose the best 5 books among them that you may like to start your new year with ... Enjoy! 

WHY SCIENCE IS WRONG...: About Almost Everything By Alex Tsakiris

The title of this book was intriguing enough for me to check it immediately and buy it from Amazon, right after reading the short review Bill Gates wrote about it. Since the first pages, you will realize the book isn’t about all kind of science, it rather focuses on life and consciousness. In explaining his title, Tsakiris says: “Science is wrong because it assumes your consciousness (i.e. your mind… your awareness… the voice inside your head) is an illusion— and it’s not!”.  

Continue reading my article on Idea Magazine 

                                                                   Merry

A Day Without Electricity

It has been so long since the last time I looked at my sister’s painting on the wall of the living room. Pink roses surrounding a blue woody door. It didn’t change, except the fact that it is so dusty now. It has been so long since I have seen the chickens in the garden.  There are fewer chickens now but the garden didn’t change at all.

It has been so long I did not stay alone at home and notice these small details that remind me of old time, when I was still young and full of hope. It has been so long I did not contemplate my fears, my failures, my life …. Myself … Nothing changed, yet everything seems different … Nothing changed but me.

Continue reading my article on Idea Magazine 

Time can heal wounds, but never the scars

  As usual, I spent few unexpected nice days, to face an expected sad event. I hate this life's game. Whenever you say "finally I had some nice time", life comes back and hits you hard to wake you up from your nice dream. 

  At least I am becoming more patient. The more I get hurt and disappointed, the more I become patient. I avoid overreactions, sometimes I don't even react. Doesn't matter anymore. 

In some cases, it is much better to give up on people and dreams than to fight for them. 

  I miss my innocence, my hope for a better tomorrow, my trust in people .... I remember how all used to feel like. 

  I listen (while typing) to some songs (in Arabic) that I used to enjoy before. I found them on my sister's old laptop.  Amazing how different I am now. I almost don't recognize the old me.  

  "All the poems" (كل القصايد in arabic) was one of my favorite songs. I was so broken by that time, and it described my pain perfectly. I used to sing it with my cousin, and cry about loosing my love. I forgot the song's lyrics now, I don't talk to my cousin anymore, and I don't even remember that lover's face. But once I heard the song, I felt the same pain again. Seems like time can heal wounds, but never the scars.

What a complicated creature we are!




                                                                                                                      Merry