2012's Prettiest Flower: A female doctor risks it all in Syria

Nada and many other Syrian medics now face an uphill struggle to attend to the mounting casualties of the war; a Syrian admires Oscar Wilde; Review: The Man With The Iron Fist; and the year's most annoying noises.

This year's hero's name means 'Morning Dew' and she's a doctor in Syria.

Arab Saga [3]

Syria: A rose grows from the concrete

She is a Syrian medic. Her first name is Nada (Arabic for dew). Her surname is withheld for security reasons. She and many other Syrian medics now face an uphill struggle to attend to the mounting casualties of the war. To cope with the rush of casualties, Nada has just set up a “field hospital”.

Weblog of a Syrian Diplomat in America [4]

He was a Great Genius, His Familiar Talk was Golden

Ceremonies of Bravery is an exceptional book for a simple reason; it tells a fascinating story and fills in many gaps in our knowledge of the last years in the life of Oscar Wilde. However it is written in an exasperating way.

Z District [5]

Review: The Man With The Iron Fist

On the hunt for a fabled treasure of gold, a band of warriors, assassins, and a rogue British soldier descend upon a village in feudal China, where a humble blacksmith looks to defend himself and his fellow villagers.

And Far Away [6]

Noises that piss me off

Not all annoying noises were created equal. These are the noises that REALLY PISS ME OFF: 1. People who drag their feet when they walk. Man, pick up your damn feet! read on for the entire, exhaustive, exhausting list.