Sunday, September 16, 2007

One more laish

Why are all Kuwaitis presented in our TV shows as these vulgar, hailag, difasha people? Constant portrayal of these vulgarities as the norm, even if meant to criticize such behavior, is promoting a behavioral pattern that is already in the rise here.
Working on my syllabi and other minor preparations for the term, I've been sitting on my *** (see!!! It's already rubbing off on me) for the last 3 hours with the TV on: 2 shows in AlWatan (Al-wazeera & 3ers Al-dam) and 1 in Dubai TV (Al-Kharraz). The result: here I am using *** in my blog. Point well-proven. Now let me move to the next point.


I just finished reading Middlesex, and here's my two-cents:
Middlesex is the story of a boy who was born a girl, or rather, born with his male parts 'tucked in' remaining un-noticed by the family's old doctor until the girl turns 14 and discovers she's a he.
Now aside from the interesting psychological and gender perplexities presented here, the novel presents a new look at Greek Americans, an ethnic category that I have so far escaped in my literature (Aside from the glimpse in the recent, hilarious My Big Fat Greek Wedding). But aside also from the informative nature of a novel that is both cultural and psychological, the author (same author for The Virgin Suicides. ٌٌٌYou might have seen the movie. Coppola's daughter directed it) manages to create a narrator whose voice is really captivating.
If those Kuwaiti shows leave you on the verge of craziness, pick up the book. I promise you similar juice (there's a brother/sister marriage in there to keep your perverted interest peeked :) Anyone here remembers the Flowers in the Attic series?)

13 comments:

Amethyst said...

Avoiding the shows, over-excited about the book:)

White Wings said...

juicy; i shall pick up that book..
and you...you shall watch Halima's Riddles (Fawazeer), ultimate idiocy :)

Ms. Sarah said...

I WANT THAT BOOK!

and i definitely remember Flowers In The Attic! i love that series.. i actually have the first book, an original copy when her novels were by "Virginia Andrews", not "V.C. Andrews".. apparently the V.C. ones are by other authors who only completed her stories after her deathand published them..

And TV Shows suck, mako a7la min Fereej on Sama Dubai, around 6:00..

and 7aleema should NOT be on TV. (yay! i said something about her that doesn't deserve her taking my 7asanat :p)

sweetd said...

shinsawey b3ad :P this is what makes people watch the shows...Honeslty too many shows r on at the same time...gabil kanfe bas 2 or 3..max 4...now with the extra channels u get confused..:/..the same actors and acteresses...I luv sleeping :P..I'll do that be4 we start :/...anyways..:P dont worry about it..theres nothing we can do to change these type of dramaitic/comdey shows...Another point is..is it me or Amal al3awthy is on tv too much...and Swair..i totally agree :P...I still can't believe shes dancing on the show!

the tooth.fairy said...

I have that book ! I was too excited when I bought it, bss ma teshajja3t agra, now that I saw your review I'm thinking of starting reading it now, shja3teeni .


I just finished reading a book called Mrs.Kimble. It was interesting. The leading charachter was very weird. Bs it's a verry nice rread :)

Alia said...

حنان لا تطوفج شخصية مهمة في مسلسل الوزيرة

اعتقد إسمها "أم حنان" وهي صديقة بنت اخت الوزيرة


Flowers in the Attic
I loved those series

كنت وأختج المصونة نمثل قصتهم بالباربي
في الأتيك مالت بيتكم القديم

Maya // مايا said...

Hey hon! :)

Those TV shows are icky! I keep away from them but yeah, I do swear loads in my blog, lol *blushes*.

I'll definitely get the book- seems really interesting- probably something I could relate to :)

Thank you so much for sharing!!!

Oh and I haven't heard of the Flowers in The Attic- will check that out too!

Thanks again!

♥ Maya

Hanan said...

amethyst. The shows are an essential Ramadan torture. They're part of fasting. Teach you tolerance.

white wings. Of course. Another Ramadan must.

swair. I'd lend you mine after Ramadan. I just need it for our book club meeting after Eid.
I read the originals as well. Read them to my younger brothers and sisters actually. (what was I thinking? :)
I don't watch Fereej. I only watch shows that are worthy of being mocked. That's the true Ramadan spirit.

sweetd. Amal is indeed everywhere. Getting more and more hyper each day too.

alia. I still didn't meet Um Hanan. (Where you part of the group of kids I used to tell those stories to? I'd think you were too young at the time)

mayaforget Flowers in the Attic. It's too cheesy. But Middlesex is worth your time.

Shurouq said...

How come you're not on the aggregator? I missed out on your previous posts. Do I have to pay you for that free advertisement?


Alia is only one year younger than I am you know :P

Pass me that book if you're done with it. I'm on vacation. I get to read what I want :D

ValenciaLover said...

Flowers In The Attic... oh my God, do you still have those books? of course I remember them, you were a very good story-teller... I never liked reading for my younger brothers & sister but I remember you enjoyed doing that as well as our older brother M. Do you remember him reading Alf Laila W'Laila for us? I love those days

Anonymous said...

If I know one thing, and I am usually right because I say so, its because kuwaiti people actually have a false image of what they really are. they have this illusion that we live in this amazing society where god loves us and although we have so many problems we can always be rest assured that we can always just through money at the problem.

So when a kuwaiti writer starts to look for conflict or problems in society, he really cant see them, because his opionions and beliefs are based on streotypes created by clueless people in a dwania.

Or when Sameer wila Fareed is given 300kd to write a script for a show, he looks at kuwaiti people, and suffice to say he does not have one lick of a clue what the hell is going on so the result is just another malaqa-fest for all to see

Alia said...

Shurouq: min qal???!!????
a9lan i'm only 6a3ash

Intlxpatr said...

I read the book, too, and found it amazing. Given the improbably hero/heroine, the main character comes across as both believable and sypmathetic. When the book ended, I wasn't ready!