Friend + Reading Challenge Hello, everyone! It has been a very long time since I wrote a post here. I decided to return to italki so I can improve my conversation skills. I will be happy to meet native English speakers interested in improving their Arabic conversation. I also decided to read lots of books this year. I wasn't much of a reader. Last year, I read thirteen books. So this year, I have challenged myself to read twenty books. I keep track of the reading challenge on Goodreads. So far, I have read nineteen of twenty books (isn't that great?). I even joined a group on Goodreads; this group discusses public domain books. I like this reading group because I can participate in it. All I have to do is search for the book online then read it. I want to see how many books I will read this year. And the number I reach will be next year's challenge. This month's focus, in the group, is to read a book that has been made into a movie. I have chosen The Count of Monte Cristo. I listen to David Clarke's reading of the book as I read. My question for you: how many books do you plan to read this year?

Very very long time I didn't write here for a long time. I will tell you a quick summary about what I did during my absence. Firstly, I graduated my fourth year in college in 2013 with overall grade: good (congratulations to me) Secondly, I applied for a premaster's. I wanted to specialize in Literature, so I studied: Poetry; Criticism; Fiction; Drama; Arabic; and General Linguistics. I passed the exam and got a first place by default (I was the only person who attended all the exams). Now, I should choose a topic to write about and to choose either to specialize in Fiction or in Drama (I still didn't make a final decision about my major). Thirdly, I tried to get a job. I wasn't successful for a couple of times, currently I work as a freelancer translator. Last thing, the last book which I finished reading was: 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'

Does anyone of you use marginalia while reading books? I read an article called "What I Really Want Is Someone Rolling Around in the Text" by Sam Anderson. When Anderson was in college, he read a book called "How to Read a Book". There was a line in that book which changed Anderson's way of reading; which is this: "The author argued that you didn't truly own a book (spiritually, intellectually) until you had marked it up." After that Anderson "adopted the habit of marginalia". So I was wondering if anyone is using marginalia. I didn't use it before. As a matter of fact, the first time I knew the word and it's meaning was from the article. I am the kind of person who likes to keep their books clean. Later I found that I don't remember the things I read. So, I totally agree with the author. One must mark the book up, to own the book (spiritually and intellectually).

MA Preliminary isn't a piece of cake. MA Preliminary is neither a piece of cake nor a walk in the park. I, first, took it for fun. But when the final exams are coming near, I find pressure and stress on me. I am studying 6 subjects, they are: Arabic, Linguistics, Poetry, Criticism, Drama, and Novel. I am studying 13 plays in Drama, 3 in Novel, 5 or more critical theories, more than 7 poems. Do I have to talk about Linguistics? well, I am studying general Linguistics and most of the lessons, I already studied it before (when I was undergraduate). But, I am struggling with chapter 1 right now. My major is studying Literature, however, general linguistics is an extra obligatory subject. The final exams will be in September, which means less time left to study all of this. I know what's on your mind, why didn't you study before instead of cramming it now? well, I totally agree with you, seriously. As I said before I took it for fun. The good thing is: I have always prepared the lessons before attending the lectures and I also did the assignments. Nevertheless, I spent most of the time goofing around.

Books are my best friends I totally agree with the people who say your books are your best friends. When you hold the book with care, the book gives you a lot of advises to help you. The book can help you change your sadness into happiness, can help you when you have a problem. The book is always waiting patiently for you to open it; so why don't you make the book happy by reading it. :D