By my bedside
Just about once a week, sometimes once in two weeks, we go to the library and check out stacks of books. Mostly cookbooks, those that have tons of pictures, because if I never get around to making any of the recipes, that’s ok; at least I have filled my eyes by feasting on the scrumptious pictures. And yes, that is truly enough for me. Who needs to be bothered with doing the after-cooking-and-eating dishes?! This is the mess-free way of feasting.
Aside from the picture books (makes me feel like a pre-schooler!), I also check out a bunch of books that I intend to read…yet, I never seem to get past a couple of chapters, before they are due back at the library again. I think my problem is that I can’t check out one book at a time, I just have to grab a baker’s dozen of them into my greedy little hands…in the end, I am left with a bewildering stack from which to choose, and so I read little bits of each one.
Well, I decided to limit myself to checking out two books this week. Of course, I had to break my word to myself, and now I have four books to read. I will attempt to read these books (in the middle of all the other things I seem to have to do during the day):
- The Book of No: 250 Ways to Say It–and Mean It and Stop People-Pleasing Forever; by Susan Newman Ph.D; 2006.
- Oil On the Brain; by Lisa Margonelli; 2007.
- What’s Right with Islam; by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf; 2004.
- The Qur’an; by Bruce Lawrence; 2006.
Now that I have made my shameful reading behavior public, hopefully I can make progress with this problem. If you never hear a word about what I think of these books, you’ll be able to guess what happened. *sigh*
Delighted that The Book of NO is on your bedside pile to read. If you read just a few chapters, I am pretty sure you will learn how to make time for reading other books before they must be returned to the library…and to create time to do so many of those things we all say we will get to and don’t.
Being able to say NO is a freeing experience and you can learn to do so without feeling guilty and with hurting other people’s feelings.
Susan Newman
Dr. Newman, I am pleasantly surprised and quite honored that you dropped by our humble little blog! Welcome
Anything that can make me accomplish my day to day goals is a great thing. Thank you for writing this book!
Cool the books are on my definite to read list. Thanks for the heads up. Take care dear sis.
You know? When you put your heart on cooking, you cook very good, but also you enjoy and so after-cooking-and-eating dishes will not be big headache. Try once..Good experiance..
My dame should read this..
Sheryza, You are very welcome, hope they don’t disappoint you when you get around to them!
Hope you are having fun, fun, fun, inshaAllah!
Shahrzad, Welcome to our blog! The truth has been spoken–cooking is definitely worth the effort…but I still detest the dishes…some people are just too stubborn, eh?
Thanks for visiting 
Meticulousness, welcome, and feel free send “your dame” the link to this
I don’t know why, but the phrase “my dame” gave me the chuckles. Thanks! 
As-salaamu’alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu my dearest sister(s),
Well.. at least I’m not the only one who loves recipes (books) pictures!!
ahh, what fun..although, I actually end up making some 
I had the same problem about not getting my books read! But alhumduliLlah, I’m more productive now that I stick to only ONE book, and make sure I read at least a page (although it turns out more) a day.
Wonderful blog, masha’Allah. I look forward to read more.. and hearing all about what you think of these books
Wa’alaykum as-salaam
Love Farhana