Your Favorite Quotes ...

Few days ago, I asked you guys to write your favorite quotes of  all the time on the Facebook page, and by the end of the week we gathered an amazing collection of  quotes, and they are quite inspiring. So, I decided to Blog them.

Why ??
Because, why not !!!

here they are , enjoy !

"But it is the nature of stars to cross, and never was Shakespeare more wrong than when he has Cassius note, ‘The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves."
John Green , the fault in our stars by Ãmēnÿ Tãbõūbī

"He stepped down trying not to look long at her as if she were the sun , yet he saw her like the sun even without looking "

leo tolstoy -Anna karenina by Feriel Herondale

" it does not do well to dwell on dreams and forget to live "

J K Rowling , Harry Potter by Feriel Herondale

“She wasn’t doing a thing that I could see, except standing there leaning on the balcony railing, holding the universe together.”
—J. D. Salinger, “A Girl I Knew  by Hiba Edahdeh

فيما مضى كنت أحاول أن أُغير العالم .. أما الآن وقد لامستني الحكمة , فلا أحاول أن أُغير شيئا سوى نـــفسي.

- جلال الدين الرومي by حنان محرز

بين منطوق لم يقصد، ومقصود لم ينطق، تضيع الكثير من المحبة

جبران خليل جبران by Khaoula Ltr

'Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.'

 Oscar Wilde by Maïssa Bachouche

"The fault dear Brutus is not in our stars but in ourselves we are underling"

Shakespeare by Kater Nãdaa

Perhaps, somewhere, some day, at a less miserable time, we may see each other again.”
― Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita by Houda Bes

"There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls".

 George Carlin by Lim Dùk

ﻟﻦ ﺗﺴﺘﻄﻴﻌﻲ ﺃﻥ ﺗﺠﺪﻱ ﺍﻟﺸﻤﺲ ﻓﻲ ﻏﺮﻓﺔ ﻣﻐﻠﻘﺔ"

ﻏﺴﺎﻥ ﻛﻨﻔﺎﻧﻲ" by Nour Oueslati

جون جاك روسو by Moukhtalif Mani

Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do.

St. Thomas Aquinas by Mehdi ChouChène

"No matter how busy you think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender to self-chosen ignorance "

 -Atwood H. Townsend by Maliki Aya

"Try again, fail again. Fail better."
Samuel Beckett by Marwen Trabelsi PW

“ليس من يكتب بالحبر كمن يكتب بدم القلب و ليس السكوت الذي يحدثه الملل كالسكوت الذي يوجده الألم.”
― Khalil Gibran, العواصف by me.

Divergent: the book and movie ...

Ok, how can I put this?!!

 I like Divergent, I really do; why wouldn’t I when the main character is a young short brave girl, (my favorite type of heroines) who is living in a society with 5 factions which are Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), Erudite (the intelligent) and Abnegation (the selfless), and our hero, Beatrice, has to choose one of them to join for the rest of her life. Well, it’s a hard decision to make when you are only 16; thankfully the government is there to help. They provide an aptitude test to make them determine which faction they belong to. So far so good, till Beatrice’s test result informs her that she is Divergent and she is a “harm” on the society.  What will she do? What she is going to choose? How is she going to hide and handle her secret?? The answer for that is up to you, you have to read the book to find out.

The book is obviously belongs to Dystopian, Post-apocalyptic Literature with little bits of romantic touches (Tris falls for her instructor Four, (yes, like the number) and they share slow-developing and not rushed love story, Platonic love). It is easy and fun to-be-read for YA and even adults (why not). it is written by the American novelist Veronica Roth and it is the first book in the Divergent Trilogy… B-B-But …

But, something is missing in the book, like magic or something (I don’t know how to describe it). This “missing thing” wasn’t missed in the movie; I love the movie, the director takes the book to a new high level. Don’t judge me but the movie is so much better than the book, why? Because the themes, the characters, the factions and everything are more believable and graspable in the movie than the book. I FOUND the magic .

In my heart a Jewish girl في قلبي أنثى عبرية

In the heart of a neighborhood in the Island of dreams Djerba , Reem, a young  orphan Muslim girl, lives within a Jewish family, but due to certain circumstances, she is forced to leave Tunisia  and moves to south Lebanon to live with a Jewish family as well. There, she becomes a friend with Nada, the Jewish tolerant stubborn girl who is engaged to Ahmad the Muslim mujahid for Allah' sake . Their relation is based on one question, whose religion is the right one ??

My dear friend had recommended the book for me and since I trust her choices, I put the novel on my To-be-read list and I forgot about it. However, last week I found a PDF version of the book and I learned that the author's name is Khaoula just like mine and she is Tunisian too, so I stopped reading all the book that I was currently reading and I started reading this Amazing book.

As I started reading the first words, I fell in love with the book  and I couldn't stop reading . I found myself flying through the pages eager to know more.  it is emotional and intense and I was mesmerized by the story. I loved every part of the book and I learned more about my religion.
I loved all the characters but I had special feelings for Marwan, such a gentleman, he is just awesome.


I was reading some review on Goodreads and almost everyone loved the book and ranked it high. However, some people didn't love it and gave it just one start, and I was seriously, they thought that the book is an invitation to Islam.

I highly recommend the book to all people but you have to put away your believe aside then start reading, be neutral.

The a-Maze-ing Runner

The Maze Runner is a 2014 American science fiction action thriller film directed by Wes Ball, based on James Dashner's 2007 novel of the same name. The film stars Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee and Will Poulter.

The movie is about a sixteen-year-old Thomas, played by O'Brien , who wakes up in a moving elevator "the Box". 

When he arrives at the top, he finds himself in a grassy wide open expanse surrounded by huge grey walls, without his memory.

 Could this Be more terrifying ? oh yeah wait till you see the Maze. 

or the Grievers.

The movie was released in America on the 19th   of September 2014, but I was lucky enough to watch it on the 18th  , oh yeah, I found a hacked version and I was so glad and since then I have seen it twice. I really love the movie, why wouldn't I ?? it is "solid, well crafted and entertaining". Everything is like I have imagined while reading the book; the glade, the maze, the Grievers, the gladers, the runners ..  it is like Wess took the images from my mind and put them on the screen, such a talented director. Well, the movie is not a copy/past of the book; there are some changes  and I expected that and I accepted them with an open mind . The changes made the plot looks more real and plausible, and the director added some parts which made the maze amazing like when the wall moves inside the maze

Everything in the movie is perfect but Dylan O'Brien is beyond perfection, he takes the role of Thomas to a whole new high level and I'm not exaggerating. I first knew Dylan from his role in "the first time" and I was amazed by his acting, since then I have started watching Teen wolf because he co-started the show (yeah, he is the reason why I watch the show) and I saw him grow up and mature as an actor, he went almost through all the phases of acting; he was the good, the weak, the bad, the strong, the honest , the evil , the void , the hero... and while I was reading the trilogy I pictured him in my mind as Thomas then when  I heard that he was chosen for the role, I just couldn't believe  it ( next time, Wess should make me the one responsible for choosing  the cast)

 This is my favorite scene in the book and the film

the sequel of the movie "The Scorch Trial" is being filmed these days in New-Mexico and it is going to be released next fall.

if you want to see the movie click here

The Giver : Book and Movie

The Giver is a 1993 American  novel by Lois Lowry. It is set in a society which is at first presented as a utopian society and gradually appears more and more dystopian.

Jonas, a 12 years old boy, who lives in a "perfect" community where every thing is under control; no chaos, strife nor pain. The community is living by the notion of "Sameness" and eliminating the "threat" of being different. By the age of 12, every kid in the community is assigned for a particular job ( don't worry, they choose for you) however our little hero, Jonas, is selected to do an unusual job for the community which is 'The Receiver' of memories ( I know you never heard of it , an awkward work but don't forget that we are talking about a freaking Utopian society ). During the process of receiving the memories, Jonas learns the truth about his dystopian society, and you have to read the book to know what happened next!!

Imagine living in a black and white world (literally) where no love, no hate, no success, no failure, no singing , no dancing , no reading, no thinking, no creativity . Every thing is the same, When I started reading the book , I was shocked and I hated it. I thought the writer is making a kind of propaganda; encouraging the notion of Sameness, excluding individualism and emotions.She didn't even provide enough characterization to form emotional connection with the characters. Well, every thing was a mystery !!  Then , when Jonas started to get the memories and realized that "that's not fair" I felt relief and I liked the book at that moment . 

the book made me realize the importance of  being different, feeling pain and learning from the past. Different means receiving the world from your own perspective and dealing with it by making your own choices; you make the world colorful as you wish and do not accept the grey sameness. Pain is the force behind shaping people into human being with intense feelings; if you don't experience pain , you won't appreciate happiness.so we should not be protected from pain. Finally, you can't forget the past and you should learn from it and build on it.

“The life where nothing was ever unexpected. Or inconvenient. Or unusual. The life without colour, pain or past.”

The Movie 

The movie has portrayed the story perfectly. I even think that the movie is much better than the book (I won't take it back); I felt the notion of coldness and colorless society better in the movie. I felt emotional connection with the character and I saw them develop their personalities and grow emotionally.

There was a lot of changes made in the film which they made it more plausible , for instance; they get their assignments at age 18 instead of age 12.
The movie creates a clear ending and it gives more purpose to a bigger group of community's members and it was awesome.

I highly recommend the book and the movie as well, you will love it.

you can watch the movie here and if you are interested in a PDF version of the book inbox Bookstore online 

Rue des tanneurs - نهج الدباغين

نهج الدباغين، هو أحد أنهج مدينة تونس، ويربط حاليا بين نهجي المنجي سليم الذي كان يسمى نهج المالطيين سابقا، ونهج رومة من جهة أخرى . وقد سمي بنهج الدباغين لأنه كان يحتضن صناعة دباغة الجلود، وبما أن هذه الصناعة كانت تعتبر من الصناعات الملوثة، فقد اختير موضعها خارج المدينة العتيقة. وبعد اندثار الدباغة بهذا النهج، تخصص ببيع الكتب القديمة، مهما كانت لغاتها 

ومواضيعها ومكان نشرها.

على بعد أمتار من الطريق المؤدية إلى نهج "الدباغين" بالعاصمة التونسية لا بد وأن يلفت انتباهك الكتب المنشورة على أرضية الرصيف، وأخرى على مناضد خاصة، حيث يمتزج سحر المطالعة المنتشرة هنا وهناك برائحة الكتب التي تغمر المكان.

هناك فئة معينة تقبل على شراء الكتب كالمثقفين، و يجد المولعون بالقراءة والمثقفون في هذه الفضاءات لبيع الكتب القديمة أنواعاً عديدة من المراجع النادرة والكتب المفقودة التي يصل عمر بعضها إلى الخمسين سنة وبأسعار مناسبة جداً.

والغريب أن بعض الباعة هناك لا يعرفون قيمة الكتاب أو المرجع لذلك يكون البيع اعتباطياً، ولا يعبر عن القيمة الحقيقية للكتاب، ويكفي أن يباع مرجعاً يتكلف آلاف الدينارات التونسية بالعشرات فقط منها.

و يمكن أن تجد نسخة موقعة شخصيا من قبل كاتبها

Khaoula Hammami

J’aime

The Seven Stages Of Love

The book talks about Oussama who is delivering a lecture about The Seven Stages Of Love through four stories. The names of heroes of these stories  are codified, so he refers to them as A,B,C, and D. Each character has an experience in love with a tragic end. And through their experiences and fails the reader learns the to-do and the to-not-do and most importantly the reader learns the seven stages of love.

 What I like about the book is first, that the reader can easily identify themselves with the stories; I've certainly lived and went through at least one phase from that stories and you will feel the same when you read it, you will find answers. Second, it is so emotional and touching; in some parts I was crying a river. finally, I loved , like really really really loved the end and I can't say anything because I don't want to spoil things for you.

I hate one thing in the book which is the dialogues are not written in Arabic but in Egyptian common language  and it made it hard for me to understand some words outside the context.

"Speak" now or forever shut your mouth

Speak is a YA/ realistic fiction/ contemporary book by Laurie Halse Anderson. 

Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her  friends don't talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her . The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, SOMETHING happened at that party, SOMETHING horrible, SOMETHING made her withdraw from life, family and school and I won't tell you what is it but you can guess from the following quote:

"Our frog lies on her back. Waiting for a prince to come and princessify her with a smooch? I stand over her with my knife. Ms. Keen's voice fades to a mosquito whine. My throat closes off. It's hard to breathe. I put out my hand to steady myself against the table. David pins her froggy hands to the dissection tray. He spreads her froggy legs and pins her froggy feet. I have to slice open her belly. She doesn't say a word. She is already dead. A scream starts in my gut - I can feel the cut, smell the dirt, leaves in my hair."

 Therefore, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth. "Speak" now or forever shut your mouth!!!

well, well the book is awesome; written in a very simple English , it's , in fact, like reading a personal diary of a teen girl (I love 'Tnasnis' it's fun !! kidding, but this time it wasn't); because the narration is in Melinda's head , the memory too is in her head which added the realistic notion to the story.

It's like a dark, sad and terrifying diary , you surf through unhappy and angry words and I hated it at first ; I was like, com'on get over yourself or who the hell cares !!! I didn't feel like,don't worry hon, I'll be your friend, even though I have a soft heart. I just felt lukewarm towards her I didn't like her and I didn't hate her, I didn't feel sorry for her. Maybe, she didn't want to be pitied.

However, I was glad when she found finally her voice, she was going through a phase of awakening, and she exposed "IT"( Ps: IT refers to a person , I know we are breaking a major rule in the English Grammar but you have to read the book to understand why) and the book ended perfectly; The books end as the following GIF :

I couldn't really talk about the book and how I really felt because it would be a major spoil;  One word and I would expose everything.

The answer for the why : "I am I am I am" , sitting under a bell jar

Sylvia Plath's shocking, realistic, and intensely emotional novel about a woman falling into the grip of insanity

Esther Greenwood is brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under—maybe for the last time. In her acclaimed and enduring masterwork, Sylvia Plath brilliantly draws the reader into Esther's breakdown with such intensity that her insanity becomes palpably real, even rational—as accessible an experience as going to the movies. A deep penetration into the darkest and most harrowing corners of the human psyche, The Bell Jar is an extraordinary accomplishment and a haunting American classic.

As soon as I started the book I loved it, I said finally a book talking about a successful, independent and talented young lady. I was flying through the pages to know more about Esther; her life in New York (com'on, it is the city that never sleeps) , her job at a glamorous magazine, her writings. I wanted to know it all about free clothes, parties and men. It is every girl dream to live in a big city, have AMAZING job and have fun, duh. I was expecting more, much, much more( people see good, expect good). However, our young lady turned to be a "spiteful" woman , a modern female version of the "underground man" (the protagonist from "Notes From the Underground" by Fyodor Dostovesky); she felt empty and "being burned alive all along (her) nerves". She felt like sitting under a bell jar. It was depressing and each time she talked about suicide I was like "WHY SYLVIA WHY !!!". Then I understood why.

The why!! 

The book is literally Plath's last couple of breath, she wrote her own autobiography then she committed a suicide :

"My heroine would be myself, only in disguise. She would be called Elaine. Elaine. I counted the letters on my fingers. There were six letters in Esther, too. It seemed a lucky thing."

The book is depressing but not sad, I did not even shed one tear while reading the suffering that Esther went through because she did not want sympathy , she was just telling us her story. The answer for the why.