Read in 2012

For the past few years, my target has been to read one book each week on average (not including manuscripts I edit or children's books I read to my children). I'm short by 6 this year, and I'm happy enough with that. Here are the books that I've read in 2012 (copy pasted from my Goodreads record):

1. And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie
2. The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, Alexander McCall Smith
3. Laughing Gas, PG Wodehouse
4. Stories (an anthology), Neil Gaiman
5. Womenomics: Write Your Own Rules for Success, Claire Shipman & Katty Kay
6. 1515, Faisal Tehrani
7. Animal Farm, George Orwell
8. Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki & Sharon Lechter
9. The Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, John Perkins
10. Love & Dr Devon, Alan Titchmarsh
11. Poke The Box, Seth Godin
12. Leaving Microsoft to Change the World, John Wood
13. The Devil You Know, Louise Bagshawe
14. Food For Thought, Philip J Romano
15. Suu Phea, Abu Hassan Morad
16. Mengapa Rasulullah Tidak Pernah Sakit, Dr Adi Hashman
17. Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World, Zig ZIglar
18. Gifted, Nikita Lalwani
19. Snow, Orhan Pamuk
20. Indahnya Hidup Tanpa Derita, Noor Laila Aniza Zakaria
21. In the Footsteps of the Prophet, Tariq Ramadan
22. Permata Aurorius, Ahmad Patria Abdullah
23. The Weed That Strings The Hangman's Bag, Alan Bradley
24. Divided Kingdom, Rupert Thomson
25. Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
26. The Book of Tomorrow, Cecilia Ahern
27. 100 Kisah Kehidupan, Zakaria Sungib
28. I Want to be a Writer, Ummu Hani Abu Hassan
29. Noorah, Ummu Hani Abu Hassan
30. Googled, Ken Auletta
31. Travelog Haji, Muhd Kamil Ibrahim
32. Panduan Ibadah Haji, Umrah & Ziarah (TH)
33. The Foundling, Georgette Heyer
34. Soal Jawab Ibadah Haji & Umrah (TH)
35. Nat Geo Amazing
36. 50 Tip Motivasi Haji, Muhd Kamil Ibrahim
37. Haji Muda, Ridzwan Bakar
38. Catatan Penglipur Lara Sang Majistret, Zabidi Mohamed
39. The Footprints of God, George Iles
40. Pecah, Khairulnizam Bakeri
41. From My Sisters' Lips, Na'ima B. Roberts
42. Next, Michael Crichton
43. Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, Premilla Mohanlall
44. The Help, Kathrynn Stockett
45. Mr Mulliner Speaking, PG Wodehouse
46. The Qur'an and I, Anas Zubedy

I'm not into writing book reviews I suppose, but occasionally I would feel like saying a thing or two about a book (not quite a review, just some thoughts) like the previous post on The Help.

Happy new year, by the way, and hope we'll all be enriched by the books we are going to read next year :)

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The Help

The Help, written by Kathryn Stockett, is the first book from this year's Big Bad Wolf Sale that I've read, and I think it's really good. The story is about black women working as domestic maids back in 1962 (till 1964). These are some of the things that made the book interesting (perhaps a bit from the technical point of view):
- The story is told from the point of view of three different people, with clear distinction between the three in the chapters splits, the style of narration as well as the narration itself
- The story moves at a good pace (not too slow, not too fast)
- There are 'mystery' plots to keep reader guessing and in suspense
- The plots are not all predictable
- Good dose of humour as well as heart-warming moments

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A well-rounded education

Personally, I want a well-rounded education for my children, an education that includes learning about their deen; becoming fluent with written and spoken languages; learning Arabic; understanding Maths, Science, the way things work; understanding and learning how to recite and memorize the Qur'an; knowing world history and culture as well as their Islamic heritage; developing their creative talents through art; learning about discipline and their physical abilities through sport; developing good manners, an honourable character, a love of learning and of reading, and encouraging a curiousity about life and people and a desire to live a life that is full and meaningful. It is that balance of spiritual, mental, and physical development - of deen and dunyah - that, as Muslim parents, we strive to attain.

- Na'ima B Roberts in her book, From My Sisters' Lips

Thanks Mrs Roberts for eloquently summarising the hopes and wishes of most Muslim parents (including myself) when it comes to the education of their children. 

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