February 2016

How I lived during February 2016

February is a really slow month, and I never liked it because I always have finals during this month.
But surprisingly, I managed to get over with my finals by the 07th of February, and that gave me the rest of the month to deal with my ever growing TBR list, some work, and working on one of my essays.

In addition to the things mentioned above, I also found out how to make and work with a bullet journal. I don't really use it on a daily basis, for now, it is only a general review of the whole month. One other thing that I thought necessary to do is to start taking better care of my well being. In the past couple of months, I was in such stress modes constantly. So I decided that this will have to change if I wish to maintain a good and healthy life.

Here are some of the things I did in the reading field:
I started by reading Dan Brown's lastest novel "Inferno" that has been on my TBR list for ever. But I found out a problem with this book: it is a hardcover copy and heavy to shlep around, as I do most of my reading during my hour drive to and from the University. So this went straight to my nightstand, and I usually read a little before collapsing into sleep after my long and exhausting days.
Well to exchange that book, I took on reading Animal Farm by George Orwell. A book I have read during high school, but had to read once again. And this is how it will be going on I guess, I will always take a small book with my to Uni and I will tackle the bigger books at home. By the way, I am really not fond of e-Readers...Actually, I abhor them!!

Here are some changes I took in the spiritual field:
Every day is a blessing, and we should all live this blessing and cherish the things that we see around us! I have always been ignorant to the things surrounding me. I spend my whole days either in classes or in the library, and these are both indoors. So a good thing to do is to step outside for a few minutes a day, sit in silence close your eyes and enjoy the good breeze or the windy air or whatever it is. Also, taking photos can add to the fun.

Well, those are the main things that were going on... More to come soon!

Have a great weekend,
Linette

Books & Reading: Lists!!!!

Books & Reading: Lists!!!!: The fun of making lists! So the new year 2016 is right around the corner! And my favourite thing to do around the end of the year is to p...

Lists!!!!

The fun of making lists!

So the new year 2016 is right around the corner! And my favourite thing to do around the end of the year is to prepare lists of all kinds of things for the up and coming year.
One list is, of course, my New Year's Resolutions!
I compared the things that were on my 2015 resolution just to get an idea if I really did manage to achieve them, and I'm happy to say that partly at least, yes!
But this is not about the Resolutions which are very personal and change from one person to another.
This is about the best of all the lists... BOOKS!!!

I am a huge fan of classics. I do read modern and recent literature, but what attracts me most are the classics.
My initial goal was reading 10 books during 2015. Gladly, I ended up reading 19, which, looking back, gives me a shock!
So this year I decided to start with a goal of 35 books, and I classified some of them into genres.
This list is still a work in prgress, I still have my required reading for university that I would have to add next semester. Usually, I would rather decide as the year proceeds, but I have to have a general list for the books that I wish to read in any case.

So here is a part of my list for the next year... as I mentioned, it is still in progress, so expect additions soon!

Historical Novels

1. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo.
2. The 40 days of Musa Dagh - Franz Werfel.

Free Choice

1. Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakmi.
2. The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov.
3. Inferno - Dan Brown.
4. My name is Aram - William Saroyan.
5. A room of one's own - Virginia Woolf.
6. The diary of a young girl - Anna Frank.
7. The white guard - Mikhail Bulgakov.
8. Dubliners - James Joyce

Biography

Banned Books

1. Animal Farm - George Orwell.
2. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller.

Required Reading for UNI

1. The mysterious flame of Queen Loana - Umberto Eco.
2. The betrothed - Alessandro Manzoni.
3. The princess of Cleves - Mme. de la Fayette.

I really hope that my list would give some inspiration for you to read some of the books on this list. If not, I only hope that it will inspire some to actually read. The advantages that reading can have on our lives are great, the way we read and what we read are very important points that help to broaden our minds ad views. 

We live in a world that wasn't made cruel, but became cruel due to us, the people inhabiting it! The corruption and the vile ideas that take form in actions that we see on daily basis are astonishingly destructive. The least every person can do to himself, in the midst of all the mess that we live in, is to try to forget, or if not forget, to shift the center of attention to something else, something that can be relaxing, and cheering in times when our morals are low.

A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

What does Christmas mean to us?

December 19, 2015

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Linette Sandrouni

Christmas is a time of joy! It is the joy of the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. When this time of year comes, people can't help but feel joy and love! 

I live in a country in which this holiday barely gets any of the attention it does in other places. Very ironic considering the fact that I live in the country in which Jesus was born. So in order to get into the season, I decorate my house for Christmas and I like being in the presence of people or in places that have the Christmas spirit in them.

This year, I decided that in order to get into the mood of the season, I would like to read Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol at last! So I grabbed a copy of it from my University Library and started reading...And i must say that it really did get me into the season :)

I am writing this blog because people sometimes tend to forget about the meaning of Christmas, as they get swept away with all the festivities everywhere, so it ends up being a time when all people do is gather around, eat and drink and do nothing more. So, as a small reminder of the things that i believe should be kept going on during this jolly season, here are some of my thoughts on the matter...

The first and most important thing to do during this season is to attend masses during advent. Not that it isn't important to do so all through the year, but in case it is forgotten, it is always nice to attend church during the 4 weeks of advent, in order to keep the spirits up, and to make the coming of the Holiday itself a much more awaited one, with enthusiasm and cheer.

I believe that the second most important thing is to think of others, less privileged than us. This is a season of giving and sharing. And these acts, as simple as they may be, can bring utter happiness to other people, especially to kids. Let us not forget that this Holiday is first and foremost for children as the new born Jesus himself received wonderful gifts on this day!

I quote Scrooge's nephew here: "I have always thought of Christmas-time, when it has come round [...] as a good time, a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as  if they were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys"

Really, let us all give up our pride and egotism and for once look at other people as we would like them to see us. Let us not think that we are superior to others; we were all born of the same God and will all eventually die the same death. So I call unto all, to let go of that self-centered attitude that we all have and for once look at one another through the eyes of love.

I wish a Merry Christmas to all, peace on earth and goodwill to all men!

I love the photo

reading - http://pinterest.com/pin/382735668307684937/?s=3&m=blogger

One of the best movies of all time!

"Schindler's List", epic historical war drama film by Steven Spielberg (USA, 1993) - http://pinterest.com/pin/56013589092359530/?s=3&m=blogger

Finishing a good book

Finishing a book you loved is like losing a best friend. | 25 Signs You’re Addicted To Books -- Desc... - http://pinterest.com/pin/3237030958528735/?s=3&m=blogger