tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011502657601398172024-09-06T22:02:50.629+03:00a poetic soliloquy, on writing, my book reviews and more ramblingsZahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-47032534059315647362016-06-15T03:28:00.000+03:002016-06-14T03:30:23.073+03:00

William Wordsworth was one irritated man with the fast pace of the world. That was nearly 200 years ago.  I am not sure with how much horror he would react to the world in 2016 but I can safely assume that he wouldn't be amused. WW started something spectacular in the wake of the Industrial Revolution with his collection of eclectic poetry (people in his time were horrified with his

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-71680510672534574372016-06-14T02:13:00.002+03:002016-06-14T02:21:44.320+03:00

If you are having a minor fling or even an all out affair with books, well you aren't the only hopeless loser in the history of the entire history ... Books command attention (Michael Crichton's any book), give sleepless nights (Stephen King) , make you cry (Wuthering Heights), squeal with laughter, put you on a cloud of wonder (too many to count) and can lead you to ravenous murdering

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-1611953089324852912016-06-10T21:37:00.000+03:002016-06-11T04:51:24.963+03:00

I am a devourer of all things thrilling and mysterious. How much alluring can one get with a title like Lions of Lucerne? Being on the Audible bestseller and having rave reviews: (“Quite possibly the next coming of Robert Ludlum”.—Chicago Tribune) , this book was being compared to the likes of Clancy, here is where my excitement was peaked and also where the trouble started.  A spy

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-32777496758004873922016-06-10T03:46:00.003+03:002016-06-10T06:07:53.595+03:00

I am a newly initiated Stephen King fan. Lisey's Story is my third book and I have not read his early works. From reviewers to critics, Lisey's Story comes as unKingly but I believe since I don't have the shadow of his other works hanging around, I could give a different perspective. Lisey's Story, for me not a horror but more of a psychological investigation (I wouldn't term it as a thriller

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-67670331671835265802016-06-03T01:44:00.000+03:002016-06-11T04:07:21.482+03:00

Perfect beginning and perfect ends, great stories and earth-grating ideas. This is what stops one from writing. For me, it is the wonderfully wrapped box, which a child is afraid to open lest his dreams come crashing down to discover a piece of sensible clothing instead of a toy that he so longed for. So, he prolongs it as much as possible to savour the dizzying feeling of anticipation. Soon,

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0Dublin, CA 94568, USA37.7021521 -121.935791837.6016681 -122.0971533 37.8026361 -121.7744303tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-76897769090827418712012-01-05T22:41:00.001+03:002012-01-05T22:41:00.508+03:00

I got up today. Ready to take on the world.By mid afternoon my head was spinning in multitudinous directions. I started grumbling and bitching in my own head. To get over it I started day dreaming about the next season of Dexter and how would he get out of explaining to his sister (who is in love with him) about the murder she sees him committing and .........and whamI could swear

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-31318217029234060312012-01-05T15:17:00.000+03:002012-01-05T15:17:04.059+03:00

Its Thursday morning and a weekend here in the cold desert that I have come to call home. Was aimlessly wandering in the web of the web and came across another Robert Frost poem; and wondering why haven't come across it till now. It goes like this. Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leafs a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-25358742917992960552012-01-01T22:38:00.003+03:002012-01-01T22:57:44.935+03:00

What the *bleep* is going on with people? I usually get up bright and early at the crack of dawn, make myself a cup of tea and open google chrome. Check my mails, browse through a couple of newspapers, read the highlights on answers.com and … and ... turn facebook on. I procrastinate going to this ultra ridiculous website. I admit that I am not the biggest fan of facebook. Infact one of the only

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-1083921403875329552012-01-01T22:37:00.000+03:002012-01-01T22:37:27.365+03:00

Its been a long time. I am refraining from checking when I last blogged. Its not that I haven't thought of it. It was just sitting in the corner of my head. When I came up with words, the keyboard wasn't there and when the screen was staring at me, my brain stubbornly stared back. I guess its a party tonight cause they are both here with me....I will start off with posting

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-85626662244279820222010-09-08T04:44:00.004+03:002010-09-08T14:52:50.737+03:00

There are times when things happen, but the mind and body is a mere guest to the scenes played out. And then in the quiet 4 am of an ordinary sleepless night , the mind comes to an utter realization of the profoundness of what had happened months ago.Well the story is something like this...We were 5 people. Myself and my husband Ammar, my friend Umaima and her husband Taha, and good old Ali Bhai.

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-20424197304784877992010-05-21T13:07:00.006+03:002010-09-08T04:44:12.856+03:00

I was reading Atlas Shrugged this past week. It is a long and difficult journey through the book. But every second of reading it was worth it. When I finished, I was exalted.I am posting an edited excerpt from the book. This was being said by Francisco de Anconia, one of the books' heroes ; addressing a general gathering but directing it towards Hank Rearden."So you think that money is the root

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-66530282632384043952010-05-21T13:06:00.001+03:002010-05-21T13:07:48.801+03:00

I admit I have been sleeping. I knew I had been sleeping.Its so easy to sleep than to be awake in this age and time. My country is sleeping. I see it everyday in the news, I hear it from the people. The country I right now live in, which conjures up the fallacy that to be a woman is a sin let alone let"allow" her to vote or drive a car. The pain is too much. And hence, its easier to not think. To

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-51723140840032277062009-12-15T14:24:00.000+03:002009-12-15T14:24:00.317+03:00

How Do I Love Thee? How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-47598226129694171622009-12-05T10:22:00.004+03:002009-12-09T10:59:51.298+03:00

Better to be deprived of food for three days, than green tea for one dayWhy is Green Tea so Special and What are the Health Benefits of GreenTea? Presence of Anti Oxidants: Green Tea is the store house of epigallocatechin gallate, an antioxidant. This antioxidant effectively protects the cells of your body and helps you get rids of malignant cells without creating any negative side effects.

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-16390903696939083302009-11-25T09:42:00.000+03:002009-11-25T09:42:00.111+03:00

Photographed: Ammar Fakhruddin

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-78185665276546101272009-11-21T14:22:00.004+03:002009-11-21T14:35:11.243+03:00

Today was the first day of winterIts comingIts on its wayI can smell the crispness in the airThe lazyness of the morningsThe incomprehensible urge to just lie in bed...tucked under the coversThe smell of brewing coffee more heightened than beforeSnuggling into the tunnels of the nostrils... aah winter is here!

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-38975268222882173322009-11-08T14:03:00.002+03:002009-11-08T14:03:00.936+03:00

The Mystic SeaThe smell of the sea in my nostrils,The sound of the sea in my ears;The touch of the spray on my burning face,Like the mist of reluctant tears.The blue of the sky above me,The green of the waves beneath;The sun flashing down on a gray-white sailLike a scimitar from its sheath.And ever the breaking billows,And ever the rocks’ disdain;And ever a thrill in mine inmost heartThat my

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-21354116955600917822009-11-05T20:10:00.001+03:002009-11-05T20:10:00.147+03:00

Photograph by: Shabbir Fakhruddin

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-12266127903515327072009-11-05T09:14:00.005+03:002009-11-05T10:10:46.411+03:00

Marjan means coral in arabic and various other regional languages.Situated a little away from the hub of Dammam Corniche, the Marjan Island was built by Saudi ARAMCO ....hmmm lets say a lot of years ago. The island is small, consists of patches of green and cement; perfect for a day out for all activities.Families usually crowd around to have a fun time barbecuing, the children playing around and

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-957577334703044902009-11-05T06:54:00.000+03:002009-11-05T07:07:56.693+03:00

It has been a long time since my last post. Infact about 4 months gone by and the "I" in me has... rather hopefully had disappeared.Stuff happens.... and then for a long time one thinks about getting back on the horse but it just doesnt happen. And the muse inside, starts to ignore you as you had ignored her. She sleeps unperturbed until one day with fresh energy she blooms out and refreshes

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-51361260975329218242009-06-26T08:15:00.000+03:002009-06-26T08:15:01.906+03:00

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-33697158077503855882009-06-21T08:25:00.000+03:002009-06-21T08:25:00.572+03:00

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-74193465133078473592009-06-16T08:12:00.000+03:002009-06-16T08:12:00.422+03:00

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-9623825296072063962009-06-11T08:17:00.000+03:002009-06-11T08:17:00.684+03:00

A bit of sweet Cinnamonand a couple of cardamom split open can transform the drawing room tea to the tea on top of a hill.

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801150265760139817.post-90518805073855012552009-06-06T07:43:00.000+03:002009-06-06T08:12:40.776+03:00

Zahrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742929321086192688noreply@blogger.com1