The one about the book

I vaguely remember when I had started this blog wanting to do book reviews.  I am not sure when I forgot about doing that, but here goes another try at it.  The other day I was hit with the realization that I have not read a book, a real book, meant for my age group and without pictures or pop-up characters, in nearly two years. At least this was an easy fix, or so I thought.

Often my eighteen month old and I fight over the use of the laptop, ipad or even my cell phone. Naturally I assumed it was because kids love screens. I hate that she wants these things so I try to limit my use around her. A book would be different, right? Wrong! Every time I sat down with my first book in two years, Noor would run over, say "I want book", taking my book to the nearest sofa and plop down to read with the book in her lap. As frustrating as it was, I must admit I was proud of her.

On Saturday we took a family trip to the local library. I recently received many book recommendations from a few friends, via facebook, so I had decided to work my way down the list. The first book was "Mornings in Jenin," by Susan Abulhawa.  Fiction, which is usually what I prefer to read.

Despite the battle over the book with my toddler, I was able to read it here and there and within 24 hours I got through its' 325 pages. In truth I had trouble putting it down or thinking of anything else until I got through it. I had forgotten how time consuming reading can be when you are someone like me who has the need to know how it ends.

I started off reading the book like it was any other piece of fiction. I was immediately drawn to and immersed in the lives of the characters, spanning several generations of a Palestine family from the 1940's and onwards. I planted myself on their farm, in their home, gathering their harvest by their side.

Then in 1948, the Israeli regime began threatening their homes, their lives, their livelihoods. I was engrossed in the world of guns, violence and the fear that they lived in, interspersed with happy moments, a marriage, a child being born. As I kept reading I was unable to remind myself that I was not in Palestine with them.

Halfway into the book it hit me hard. I really was not in their world. I looked around me, suddenly thrust into my reality, four sturdy walls, a soft bed, a ceiling not ridden with holes, listening to the sound of crickets chirping outside my windows, not bulldozers or guns.

And the it REALLY hit me. This was NOT fiction. These were characters based on real people in real situations. How could I have been so numb, so stupid, as to forget that I was not just reading a piece of fiction, I was in fact reading history. The realization was heartbreaking. When I hear or see the news of Palestine in the media, I am sad for them, but watching these characters who I had placed myself next to go through the actual events put everything in a different light. I could not be the same person after reading this book.

ABC News Now

I know the point of a blog is to periodically post on it..but I don't have the time..nor the inspiration. So here's my second post today..

I recently started freelancing at ABC News Now...this is now my third freelance gig...freelancing is good because I get to turn down jobs when I feel I need a day off...or want to hang out instead...no guilt involved.

So this new gig is at ABC News Now...it's ABC's 24 hour cable news channel, to compete with the likes of MSNBC and CNN...it's still young, and not really available on television. I hear it can be watched on broadband and Sprint (I don't know how)..so it's limited access, but someone must be watching because they put a lot of work into it. Once it's more widely distributed, I shall let everyone know so you can watch what I work on.

Since it's still in it's baby phase, there's great opportunities there to have ideas picked up, produced and turned into something great..fantastic right? Except I haven't had any ideas...if you do please send them my way!

Last week I also met two on air reporters/anchors at ABC...who both wished me a Happy Eid on ...they both spoke Arabic fluently..and were not Arab..or Desi..or Muslim. One of the reporters (who has reported from Iraq, Lebanon and is the new Russian correspondent for ABC) told me she was meeting with her Arabic teacher the next day for Eid lunch. So sweet.

I am seriously inspired to commence serious Arabic studies within a month Inshalah. I have always been interested but held back because all other Arabic studies in my past have not been as fruitful as I had hoped. Over the years I took several courses, some intensive, in and out of college. My Arabic is still pathetic...the two weeks I spent in Egypt this summer were extremely beneficial (even though it was Egyptian Arabic), but now that I'm back, I need to put some serious work into it.

I will study Arabic with the Rosetta Stone program. I hope I have the self discipline to really benefit from it. I have been turned down from a job once because it was given to a candidate who spoke Arabic. I can't let it happen again. Arabic will benefit me in every way, professionally, socially and in my religion. Please make dua' for me that I finally learn!

On the down side of my new gig, yesterday I had to watch President Bush's presser. Usually I can change the channel, but since it was going ot be part of my news brief...it made me cringe..Luckily I had Rehab (fellow hijabi at ABC) amusing me with emails as I watched it.