Title : The Green Mile
Author: Stephen King
Now, though I have an entire book shelf of Stephen King books, which sadly only 4-5 books are good enough for my repeated reading, I'm not exactly his ardent fan. Sometimes I DO wonder why sometimes I keep buying his books but then, once in a while when I manage to get a good book out of him, I'm reminded again of why I buy his books.
One of my favourites is The Green Mile. This novel was first published as a serial novel but I was lucky to find the complete compilation of the series and I really enjoyed it. To be honest, I watched the movie first, before reading the book and though the movie has omitted a lot of the actual story, its still good. I'd recommend watching the movie first before proceeding to the book or you might be disappointed eventhough the movie gets a 4-star rating from me.
The Green Mile refers to this green strip of colour lined at the floor of the prison that leads to the execution area, better known as Old Sparky, the electric chair. The story, narrated by prison guard Paul Edgecombe revolves around a few main characters such as John Coffey (the so-called criminal who's so simple minded, you'd wonder how they even thought of him as the criminal, though his size could contribute to it), Warden Moores (the prison warden), the prison guards namely Dean Stanton, Harry Terwilliger and Brutus Howell aka 'Brutal' (though he's as gentle as a lamb, but has this garang face) and the infamous Percy Wetmore (reminds me of Percy Plod in the 'Happy Family' game card most of us played when younger) who's one of the most irritating guy you'd ever meet, always strutting his stuff (which is not much anyway, he got the job because he had connections and applied for it so he could beat up the prisoners) and pretending to be such a big shot!
Anyway, the story starts with a newcomer in this prison block. The block these guys were stationed at is the final place for the prisoner before he is executed so any newcomer had his fate already sealed. Paul had been used to all sorts of criminals but this new one kept him puzzled. His name was John Coffey ("like the drink, only not spelled the same way" <--this was Coffey's sure-line after introducing himself). Coffey was a giant of a man, and black, and this was a time when discrimination was still on the heat. He seemed to be able to crush everyone with his bare hand but, suprisingly, he was soft spoken and well-mannered in the 'simple Simon' way. The guards were suprised when he told them not to switch of the lights since he was afraid of the dark coz that was a stark contrast to his crime -->raping two sisters and killing them, cold heartedly after poisoning the dog! Somehow, Paul had already started to doubt Coffey was guilty.
Oppss, the story is quite long and I don't want to dwell on the details anyway but as we go on, we are introduced to other inmates of the priosn cell like Dell, a kind'a retarded person who had raped a girl and killed her then burnt her body in hopes to destroy the evidence but somehow, a building was also caught with the fire causing two more deaths. But apart from his ONLY crime, he was just this simple minded guy. Then there's William Wharton aka Wild Bill, I think, who was arrested for I-don't-remember-what BUT, towards the end, you'd know he had a connection with Coffey, and suprisingly, you'd get so mad it was as if you were involved in the story too.. talk about the power of literature! Wild Bill arrived looking like a drug-junkie but you'd laugh out loud at what he did to Percy.. serves him right, anyway!
Then, one unforgetable character will be Mr Jingles who is Dell's pet in prison. He might look like an ordinary mouse but he sure is smart. The story would be punctuated by stories revolving around Mr Jingles, and don't be suprised to see how important the role he plays here. Towards the end.. and here I mean towards the end coz this story is narrated by Paul when he was already in a nursing home.
The story is mainly about what happened during the time Coffey was imprisoned before his execution. You can't help but feel a bit of affection for the gentle giant who always saw the good in people. He was also always trying to be nice to everyone-not in that sickly sweet way, mind you- even volunteered to look after Mr Jingles when it was finally time for Dell to go to Old Sparky which with Percy's 'help' turned into an ugly event. Somehow, King manages to explain the procedur for electric chair execution but Percy, being Percy, wanted to see more of the action and what happened turned out to be so ugly, that Mr Jingles finally ran off after feeling what was happening to Dell, through Coffey's body!
And WOW!! Dell's execution was certainly well described. But you also can't help feeling sorry for him after you've got to know him throughout the book. In the movie, Dell is potrayed by this actor who made such a wonderful job outta it, that when I read about Dell, I keep seeing this guy's face. The same goes to Coffey who was palyed by this guy.. I'm not sure of his name but if i'm not mistaken, he starred in DareDevil the movie as the King Pin or something like that. Sorry, I didn't watch DareDevil but I saw the picture in the papers so I'm sure its the same guy! But Paul was played by no other than Tom Hanks.
Throughout John Coffey's time in prison, Paul had been infected with a urinary infection but somehow, towards the end, he learnt what was special about John Coffey, when Coffey helped him with this problem. This gave them (Paul, Brutus, Harry and Dean) the idea to bring Coffey to Warden Moores home, to help his wife Melinda who was supposed to be dying of cancer. You would laugh at all the measures they took in order to smuggle Coffey out where they had to take care of Wild Bill and Percy, so these two won't notice anything amiss.
Gosh, I wanted to keep this as a secret at first but I guess I have to tell you guys about it. Coffey had this special healing ability where he could 'suck' illness from anyone, and dispose it in form of these dusts he would exhale through his mouth. He did it to Paul so Paul had known what was to happen. However, in doing it to Melinda, Coffey didn't even exhale the dust he was supposed to. This worried Paul but they had to haul Coffey back to prison at that time before anyone realized he was missing, so Paul didn't have time to persuade Coffey to do so.
Arriving at the prison, Percy woke up (he was given sleeping pills by Paul and Brutus) just in time for Coffey to be safely in his cell. Being up to his usually bullying habit, he went up to Coffey for his round of 'torturing' when suddenly Coffey exhaled all those dusts right into Percy's mouth. What followed was something none of the guards would ever forget as Percy slowly recovered but with this distant look on his face. He then went to Wild Bill's cell, and shot the guy clean!
Percy was then institutionalized (am I using the right word here?). He was never the same.
It was after all these that Paul finally had the courage to go up to Coffey and ask him about the crimes, and about what he did to Percy. You'd really pity Coffey at this part when finally the truth comes out. As much as Paul wanted to help Coffey, the sole evidence to Coffey's innocence was already dead but then again even Coffey didn't want to live anymore. He was so sensitive to the pain of others that his execution was a welcome break for him.
I really love this book, one of the King's greatest compositions. Quite heavy though, not intended for light reading but I'm sure you guy's would've enjoyed it too!
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
The 5ive People you Meet in Heaven
Title : The Five People you Meet in Heaven
Author: Mitch Albom
Now don't ask me why I bought a hard cover version of this book. With the big fonts and double/triple (Exaggerating to the max!!) spacing, I now think it was a waste of my money. It just came out here in Malaysia at that time so the were no paperbacks yet.
I read the review from NST. Since they had high regards of Tuesdays with Morrie, also written by the same author, it convinced me to try this book out. Even at MPH, I was dazzled by the praises this book received (reading it at the back of the book!) so it blinded all my dispelasure at the fonts and spacing thingey I'm always fussy about.
Though a tad disappointed, I still think this book is ok. Relaxing even.. ok², I like books too much to say they are not good, though once in a while I DO stumble upon a book not worth reading, not EVEN worth selling in bookstores so this books settles down in the OK category. 97% books are ok for me, in that matter!
This story happens on Eddie's birthday which ironically is also the day of his death. The author describes it as, "This story begin in the end!". Haha.. cute description, though!
Eddie is the maintenance guy who works at the amusement park in his hometown. All his life, he's been living near this amusement park, except the time he went for military services, and since his father also worked there, it seemed like the only logical choice for him.
Everyone loves Eddie (cam nama cerita tv plak..). The kids, the adults, his co-workers and so on and so forth. He periodically check on the rides, ensuring every nut and bolt is in its place so the park would be accident-free. However, God had other plans for him and that day, an accident happend at the Ferris Wheel that lead to his death while he was trying to help a child.
Upon waking up, Eddie, though he knew he had died, was suprised to see the afterlife so much like earth. This is where he met the first person he should meet before entering his OWN heaven. (Ok, the author has the idea that all of us have our own heavens, depending on which place on earth we were happiest)
The book talks about Eddie's journey through 5 other peoples heaven. All these 5 people have been connected to him in one way or another, though some of them he barely recognizes. Once he realizes the lesson in one heaven, he will be transported to another's heaven and learn another lesson.
The journey is punctuated with birthday tales of Eddie throughout his life. From the time he was born, to being a child, then a teenager right through adulthood. Somehow, these birthday tales are essential to understanding the story, I guess.
Simply written, still, sometimes you feel a stab of pain or pride while reading this book, especially when it narrates about his relationship with the father he hates but secretly worships and about his wife whom he really loved. Quite a good writer, though APASAL CITER DIA PENDEK SGT??
Reading this book makes you wonder how much you have affected other peoples lives, and I don't mean this positively! For example, one of the people Eddie met in heaven was this guy who died just because Eddie and his friends were playing ball. It happened that the ball they were playing has been kicked right into the street in front of this guy who had just learnt to drive. Though the guy managed to swerved at the right moment, thus saving the life of little Eddie at that time, the shock at a near-accident weakened his already delicate heart, thus made him die peacefully in his car right after avoiding hitting Eddie. Eddie on the other hand, obvlious to what happened, continued to play with his peers.
It's true, you know. You then realize that sometimes, unintentionally, you affect these changes in other people though you don't really realize it. The change might be for good, might be for bad, but still, it happens!
Hehe, I'd really categorize this book in the self-inspiration category. Even my housemate pondered on this question for days so if you guys want to read this, better borrow my copy or at the library. Not really worth its weight in gold, though in this case, its paper but it could keep you occupied for a few days..
Hmmm. makes me start wondering again..
Author: Mitch Albom
Now don't ask me why I bought a hard cover version of this book. With the big fonts and double/triple (Exaggerating to the max!!) spacing, I now think it was a waste of my money. It just came out here in Malaysia at that time so the were no paperbacks yet.
I read the review from NST. Since they had high regards of Tuesdays with Morrie, also written by the same author, it convinced me to try this book out. Even at MPH, I was dazzled by the praises this book received (reading it at the back of the book!) so it blinded all my dispelasure at the fonts and spacing thingey I'm always fussy about.
Though a tad disappointed, I still think this book is ok. Relaxing even.. ok², I like books too much to say they are not good, though once in a while I DO stumble upon a book not worth reading, not EVEN worth selling in bookstores so this books settles down in the OK category. 97% books are ok for me, in that matter!
This story happens on Eddie's birthday which ironically is also the day of his death. The author describes it as, "This story begin in the end!". Haha.. cute description, though!
Eddie is the maintenance guy who works at the amusement park in his hometown. All his life, he's been living near this amusement park, except the time he went for military services, and since his father also worked there, it seemed like the only logical choice for him.
Everyone loves Eddie (cam nama cerita tv plak..). The kids, the adults, his co-workers and so on and so forth. He periodically check on the rides, ensuring every nut and bolt is in its place so the park would be accident-free. However, God had other plans for him and that day, an accident happend at the Ferris Wheel that lead to his death while he was trying to help a child.
Upon waking up, Eddie, though he knew he had died, was suprised to see the afterlife so much like earth. This is where he met the first person he should meet before entering his OWN heaven. (Ok, the author has the idea that all of us have our own heavens, depending on which place on earth we were happiest)
The book talks about Eddie's journey through 5 other peoples heaven. All these 5 people have been connected to him in one way or another, though some of them he barely recognizes. Once he realizes the lesson in one heaven, he will be transported to another's heaven and learn another lesson.
The journey is punctuated with birthday tales of Eddie throughout his life. From the time he was born, to being a child, then a teenager right through adulthood. Somehow, these birthday tales are essential to understanding the story, I guess.
Simply written, still, sometimes you feel a stab of pain or pride while reading this book, especially when it narrates about his relationship with the father he hates but secretly worships and about his wife whom he really loved. Quite a good writer, though APASAL CITER DIA PENDEK SGT??
Reading this book makes you wonder how much you have affected other peoples lives, and I don't mean this positively! For example, one of the people Eddie met in heaven was this guy who died just because Eddie and his friends were playing ball. It happened that the ball they were playing has been kicked right into the street in front of this guy who had just learnt to drive. Though the guy managed to swerved at the right moment, thus saving the life of little Eddie at that time, the shock at a near-accident weakened his already delicate heart, thus made him die peacefully in his car right after avoiding hitting Eddie. Eddie on the other hand, obvlious to what happened, continued to play with his peers.
It's true, you know. You then realize that sometimes, unintentionally, you affect these changes in other people though you don't really realize it. The change might be for good, might be for bad, but still, it happens!
Hehe, I'd really categorize this book in the self-inspiration category. Even my housemate pondered on this question for days so if you guys want to read this, better borrow my copy or at the library. Not really worth its weight in gold, though in this case, its paper but it could keep you occupied for a few days..
Hmmm. makes me start wondering again..
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Deception Point
Title : Deception Point
Author: Dan Brown
This is yet another book by this author and in a way, this book is more relaxing than the two previous books I've reviewed but nonetheless, still entertaining.
Yes, this book starts with the assasination of someone but no, it doesn't involve Robert Langdon being awaken from his sleep by a phone call. In fact, the story revolves more around a woman, not a man this time. Intelligence analyst, Rachel Sexton is the daughter of a prominant senator who's in the running for the president of the United States election. However, her relationship with her father is anything but close.. hostile in fact. She partly blames her ambitious father on her mother's heartbreak that lead to her death though they still maintain a courtious relationship.
While having breakfast with her father, she is summoned by the President to verify a new finding by NASA. Due to the cirucumstances, where the President is on the brink of losing because of his constant support for NASA which have more than failed the American people during recent times, Rachel's boss suspects that the President is using her as a pawn against her father, not that she minds anyway. Her father has been using the NASA issue as his point to topple the current President with his slogan "Less spending bla.. blaa" Gosh! I forgot the slogan!!! I can't believe I forgot it.. well, I'll update the slogan once I remember, k.
The discovery apparently involves the extraterrestrial issue debated long ago by experts but if you want to know about it, go grab the book la hehe.. Anyway, as an analyst, Rachel was supposed to verify the authenticy of the finding and help to broadcast it throughtout the nation.. theirs la, bukan sini! However, amidst the excitement, a small flaw surfaced that lead to a bigger complication that threatened to put NASA and the President in jeapordy.
Then, as stories go, the people responsible for whatever happened wrong realized that these group of experts have detected the deceit behind the discovery, thus prompting them to destroy the whole group and here it all begins.
Compared to Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code, some people might find this book quite tame but it was a great relief from those two books as you don't have your mind trying to solve anything before the characters do. You just go with the flow with this book though there ARE part which you want to scream or something hehe..
One thing about this book is, though it still with the theme of 'being deceived by someone you trust', this time Dan Brown made a great job of hiding who the person is. In Angels and Demons, towards the end of the book, I somehow realized who was deceiving who, as like in The Da Vinci Code where you could already guess earlier. However, this time, I was proved wrong. Glad about that though as I don't like books to be so predictable.
The end was expected, I mean, good guys always win though they might lose something on the way! Hey, ask Harry Potter, it always happens that way to him.. nearly always la! But still, I quite enjoyed the whole reading experience.
So, people out there, if you want a book to help you rewind, but you're not in favour of the mushy² type, this could be one of your choice.
Till next time.. cheerio!
Author: Dan Brown
This is yet another book by this author and in a way, this book is more relaxing than the two previous books I've reviewed but nonetheless, still entertaining.
Yes, this book starts with the assasination of someone but no, it doesn't involve Robert Langdon being awaken from his sleep by a phone call. In fact, the story revolves more around a woman, not a man this time. Intelligence analyst, Rachel Sexton is the daughter of a prominant senator who's in the running for the president of the United States election. However, her relationship with her father is anything but close.. hostile in fact. She partly blames her ambitious father on her mother's heartbreak that lead to her death though they still maintain a courtious relationship.
While having breakfast with her father, she is summoned by the President to verify a new finding by NASA. Due to the cirucumstances, where the President is on the brink of losing because of his constant support for NASA which have more than failed the American people during recent times, Rachel's boss suspects that the President is using her as a pawn against her father, not that she minds anyway. Her father has been using the NASA issue as his point to topple the current President with his slogan "Less spending bla.. blaa" Gosh! I forgot the slogan!!! I can't believe I forgot it.. well, I'll update the slogan once I remember, k.
The discovery apparently involves the extraterrestrial issue debated long ago by experts but if you want to know about it, go grab the book la hehe.. Anyway, as an analyst, Rachel was supposed to verify the authenticy of the finding and help to broadcast it throughtout the nation.. theirs la, bukan sini! However, amidst the excitement, a small flaw surfaced that lead to a bigger complication that threatened to put NASA and the President in jeapordy.
Then, as stories go, the people responsible for whatever happened wrong realized that these group of experts have detected the deceit behind the discovery, thus prompting them to destroy the whole group and here it all begins.
Compared to Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code, some people might find this book quite tame but it was a great relief from those two books as you don't have your mind trying to solve anything before the characters do. You just go with the flow with this book though there ARE part which you want to scream or something hehe..
One thing about this book is, though it still with the theme of 'being deceived by someone you trust', this time Dan Brown made a great job of hiding who the person is. In Angels and Demons, towards the end of the book, I somehow realized who was deceiving who, as like in The Da Vinci Code where you could already guess earlier. However, this time, I was proved wrong. Glad about that though as I don't like books to be so predictable.
The end was expected, I mean, good guys always win though they might lose something on the way! Hey, ask Harry Potter, it always happens that way to him.. nearly always la! But still, I quite enjoyed the whole reading experience.
So, people out there, if you want a book to help you rewind, but you're not in favour of the mushy² type, this could be one of your choice.
Till next time.. cheerio!
Sunday, June 26, 2005
A Knight in Shining Armor
Title: A Knight in Shining Armor
Author: Jude Deveraux
Continuing the Romance fever that has been controlling the blog recently, I kept my promise of writing another time-travel themed novel...and it's a very touching one, too. And no, it's not downright corny to feel that way (even after a dose of mystery-solving genre).
Anyway, Jude Deveraux is another romance writer whose works I truly cherish besides Judith McNaught (in fact they're both friends), and one thing about Ms. Deveraux is that she loved to tell stories of the heroine being whisked back to the past...(another title is Remembrance).
Okay. The prologue tells us of a young man named Nicholas in 1564 England, trying to write a very crucial letter to his mother, in order to save his life. The next thing that happened was, he started to hear a woman weeping but he tried to shove the thoughts away since he was alone in his room, it might be the works of a witch. Time passed on and he still couldn't get the woman's weepings out of his head. At last, he gave in, following a ray of light...leading him somewhere.
The next chapter we're back to the future (1988 England). The beginning of the story we're introduced to the heroine, an American school teacher named Douglass Montgomery. She described herself as the *black sheep of the Montgomery family* because all her other siblings have better jobs, better lovelifes, etc., and she was always the laughing stock during family reunions. Thankfully, she thought she would end her miserable lovelife after getting hooked with a man named Robert, who promised her to a romantic getaway in England. Unfortunately, Robert confessed that he was going to bring his beloved 13-year old daughter Gloria, together, thus destroying any hopes of a romantic affair to bloom. If taking Gloria is not enough, Douglass could not get along with the young girl because of her spoiled character, dissing Douglass with hurting comments, and accusing her of doing things. Worse, Robert always stood up for her daughter and blamed Douglass for his daughter's misery. At one point, Douglass could not stand it anymore and decided to leave Robert, hoping that he would ask her to follow him back. But he never did. Instead, he drove off angrily with Gloria, leaving Douglass alone at the cemetery of an ancient English monastery. At this point, readers must have felt sympathy for Douglass.
She wept and wept at this particular tomb which had a marble statue on top, of a man wearing a knight's suit. She read the name on the tomb and it stated, "Nicholas Stafford, Earl of Thornwyck". It hit her that she wanted someone judt like that - A Knight in Shining Armor. The next thing she knew, a real, living knight in shining armor was standing right in front of her, accusing her of being a witch and demanded her to return him back. The man was no other than Nicholas Stafford himself. She was mesmerized and confused all at the same time. The man was handsome (of course), but he acted (and spoke) differently that she thought Nicholas was a madman who suffered from schizophrenia or something. AT first, they couldn't stand each other because she didn't believe that he was indeed the Earl from the past and he kept accusing her as a witch.
Time passed on and she started to believe him bit by bit (especially after the ancient-coin exchange part). Since it was the future, Nicholas began to ask her what had happened between 1564 to 1988, how the history books portrayed him, what happened to his family...since one second he was writing a letter and the next he's in 1988. Nicholas realized that he was executed in 1564, his whole family was accused of treachery against Queen Elizabeth I. Even the history books had nothing good to say about him...he was portrayed as a playboy, a spoiled brat who wasn't interested in anything except girls. Douglass felt sorry for him because he didn't seem to be that way. And she tried to help him by taking him to his residence (which was refurnished a a tourist attraction, a.k.a, a museum). There, she learnt more about him, especially an important bit where they were told by a guide that NIcholas impregnated Lady Arabella Sydney, the wife of his friend, Robert Sydney. Two servants spied on him and their accounts were written into a book.
Nicholas frowned, but he still had to know what brought to his execution. He also told Dougless that he had an older brother, Lord Christopher, who drowned in a lake and died, and a son, who died too. He also confessed that he had a wife, Lady Lettice, whom he loved very much. Dougless' heart sank. However, the chemistry was too strong that they couldn't stand being far from each other, that one night, they finally made love.
The next day, Nicholas was gone, just before she could tell him the truth on who framed him which led to his death. Worse, no one remembered Nicholas existed. She searched frantically for shirts and colognes that she had bought for him in their room, but all were gone, as if Nicholas had never entered her life. She cried again, weeping at his tomb, and all of a sudden, she was whisked back to the past, 1560. 4 years before Nicholas' execution. She realized that there was time for her to change history and save her lover. But, she had a few problems. Nicholas didn't know who she was, he didn't listen to her words, accused her of being a witch (again), and she thought she would never be able to save him. It also hit her that everything written in the history books were true -- Nicholas was a notorious philanderer. Just as she lost hope (since Nicholas appeared to hate her), she never thought that his family members adored her.
She cured Nicholas' mom's flu by giving her flu tablets, taught the Thornwyck household Broadway songs (like My Fair Lady - could you imagine?), caught the eye of Nicholas' older and much more sensible brother Christopher, and made Nicholas achingly jealous. All the things she did were important to ensure that a few things didn't happen -- the Arabella incident, Nicholas' brother and son's death, his marriage to Lettice, and more importantly, his own death.
She was even thrilled to find out that some people who gave her a large impact in her future life existed in the past. Could she ever prevent the horrible things from happening to Nicholas, thus saving his life? Who was the one who framed him? Could she change history, and more importantly, is it really true that they belong together? Will the power of love prevail?
The answer lies in the chapters of this wonderfully written novel. I cried as I read through the pages because I felt what Dougless felt, both in the modern and medieval times. Forgive me if the review sucked (I've never been good at writing facts), but please do pick up the book if you see it lying on the bookshelf of any bookstore. It will make you feel as if you want a knight in shining armor of your own.
Author: Jude Deveraux
Continuing the Romance fever that has been controlling the blog recently, I kept my promise of writing another time-travel themed novel...and it's a very touching one, too. And no, it's not downright corny to feel that way (even after a dose of mystery-solving genre).
Anyway, Jude Deveraux is another romance writer whose works I truly cherish besides Judith McNaught (in fact they're both friends), and one thing about Ms. Deveraux is that she loved to tell stories of the heroine being whisked back to the past...(another title is Remembrance).
Okay. The prologue tells us of a young man named Nicholas in 1564 England, trying to write a very crucial letter to his mother, in order to save his life. The next thing that happened was, he started to hear a woman weeping but he tried to shove the thoughts away since he was alone in his room, it might be the works of a witch. Time passed on and he still couldn't get the woman's weepings out of his head. At last, he gave in, following a ray of light...leading him somewhere.
The next chapter we're back to the future (1988 England). The beginning of the story we're introduced to the heroine, an American school teacher named Douglass Montgomery. She described herself as the *black sheep of the Montgomery family* because all her other siblings have better jobs, better lovelifes, etc., and she was always the laughing stock during family reunions. Thankfully, she thought she would end her miserable lovelife after getting hooked with a man named Robert, who promised her to a romantic getaway in England. Unfortunately, Robert confessed that he was going to bring his beloved 13-year old daughter Gloria, together, thus destroying any hopes of a romantic affair to bloom. If taking Gloria is not enough, Douglass could not get along with the young girl because of her spoiled character, dissing Douglass with hurting comments, and accusing her of doing things. Worse, Robert always stood up for her daughter and blamed Douglass for his daughter's misery. At one point, Douglass could not stand it anymore and decided to leave Robert, hoping that he would ask her to follow him back. But he never did. Instead, he drove off angrily with Gloria, leaving Douglass alone at the cemetery of an ancient English monastery. At this point, readers must have felt sympathy for Douglass.
She wept and wept at this particular tomb which had a marble statue on top, of a man wearing a knight's suit. She read the name on the tomb and it stated, "Nicholas Stafford, Earl of Thornwyck". It hit her that she wanted someone judt like that - A Knight in Shining Armor. The next thing she knew, a real, living knight in shining armor was standing right in front of her, accusing her of being a witch and demanded her to return him back. The man was no other than Nicholas Stafford himself. She was mesmerized and confused all at the same time. The man was handsome (of course), but he acted (and spoke) differently that she thought Nicholas was a madman who suffered from schizophrenia or something. AT first, they couldn't stand each other because she didn't believe that he was indeed the Earl from the past and he kept accusing her as a witch.
Time passed on and she started to believe him bit by bit (especially after the ancient-coin exchange part). Since it was the future, Nicholas began to ask her what had happened between 1564 to 1988, how the history books portrayed him, what happened to his family...since one second he was writing a letter and the next he's in 1988. Nicholas realized that he was executed in 1564, his whole family was accused of treachery against Queen Elizabeth I. Even the history books had nothing good to say about him...he was portrayed as a playboy, a spoiled brat who wasn't interested in anything except girls. Douglass felt sorry for him because he didn't seem to be that way. And she tried to help him by taking him to his residence (which was refurnished a a tourist attraction, a.k.a, a museum). There, she learnt more about him, especially an important bit where they were told by a guide that NIcholas impregnated Lady Arabella Sydney, the wife of his friend, Robert Sydney. Two servants spied on him and their accounts were written into a book.
Nicholas frowned, but he still had to know what brought to his execution. He also told Dougless that he had an older brother, Lord Christopher, who drowned in a lake and died, and a son, who died too. He also confessed that he had a wife, Lady Lettice, whom he loved very much. Dougless' heart sank. However, the chemistry was too strong that they couldn't stand being far from each other, that one night, they finally made love.
The next day, Nicholas was gone, just before she could tell him the truth on who framed him which led to his death. Worse, no one remembered Nicholas existed. She searched frantically for shirts and colognes that she had bought for him in their room, but all were gone, as if Nicholas had never entered her life. She cried again, weeping at his tomb, and all of a sudden, she was whisked back to the past, 1560. 4 years before Nicholas' execution. She realized that there was time for her to change history and save her lover. But, she had a few problems. Nicholas didn't know who she was, he didn't listen to her words, accused her of being a witch (again), and she thought she would never be able to save him. It also hit her that everything written in the history books were true -- Nicholas was a notorious philanderer. Just as she lost hope (since Nicholas appeared to hate her), she never thought that his family members adored her.
She cured Nicholas' mom's flu by giving her flu tablets, taught the Thornwyck household Broadway songs (like My Fair Lady - could you imagine?), caught the eye of Nicholas' older and much more sensible brother Christopher, and made Nicholas achingly jealous. All the things she did were important to ensure that a few things didn't happen -- the Arabella incident, Nicholas' brother and son's death, his marriage to Lettice, and more importantly, his own death.
She was even thrilled to find out that some people who gave her a large impact in her future life existed in the past. Could she ever prevent the horrible things from happening to Nicholas, thus saving his life? Who was the one who framed him? Could she change history, and more importantly, is it really true that they belong together? Will the power of love prevail?
The answer lies in the chapters of this wonderfully written novel. I cried as I read through the pages because I felt what Dougless felt, both in the modern and medieval times. Forgive me if the review sucked (I've never been good at writing facts), but please do pick up the book if you see it lying on the bookshelf of any bookstore. It will make you feel as if you want a knight in shining armor of your own.
Saturday, June 25, 2005
My favourite romance of all... Whitney My Love... *sigh*
The story begins with Whitney Stone. She is a feisty, independent fifteen year old and stubborn to a fault. She is more than her father can handle so he writes her aunt and uncle and pleads for their help in transforming Whitney from a defiant tomboy into an acceptable lady of the ton. They are more than willing to help Whitney become acceptable in society but there is one problem, they live in Paris. Whitney is devastated with the prospect of leaving her home, after all Paul Sevarin is there. Whitney has been infatuated with Paul for some time and has made a spectacle while throwing her desperate self at his disinterested feet. Before she leaves for Paris she makes one final plea for him to wait for her but he quickly squashes all her hopes of ever becoming Mrs. Paul Sevarin.
When Whitney arrives in Paris she dedicates herself to becoming the perfect lady, takes her studies seriously (wish I had! haha) and learns all the fine arts of a lady of quality (fine arts of being a lady y'all hear!!). She does all this hoping against all hope that when she finally returns to England she will blow everyone away with her transformation.
When she finally makes her debut in Paris society she quickly becomes the most sought after beauty in all of France but her heart remains in England with Paul and she refuses offer after amazing offer. She becomes a challenge to every suitable male around and still she refuses.
The only man she will allow to accompany her anywhere is Nicholas Duville (whom apparntly is a handsome devil!!). He is urbane, sophisticated and extremely jaded when it comes to matters of the heart. He is the perfect man to have as an escort if you don’t want the trouble of a proposal. But Nicki is fast becoming enchanted with the elusive beauty and he finds himself wanting her for his own. They are in the middle of an argument at the Armand’s masquerade ball where Nicki had escorted Whitney into the garden and he began to press her about marriage. A stranger steps forward and offers her the escape she is looking for. He invites her to dance. He is dressed all in black and wearing a black demi-mask and all Whitney can think of is how this man reminds her of Satan. He and his roguish ways intrigue her but she understands that he is indeed a very dangerous man, the kind that could break your heart if you allow him to. It doesn’t matter because her heart still belongs to Paul Sevarin.
When her father sends word that he wants his daughter to come home to England and to him Whitney is ecstatic and terrified. She knows her place in Parisian society but how different will it be in her homeland?
The reason her father has requested that Whitney return home posthaste is because of a man. A duke actually, Clayton Westmoreland, The Duke of Claymore, one of the most sought after titled gentleman in all England and Paris. Clay has met Whitney on several occasions but she was so distracted with her friends that she scarcely spared him a glance, until the Armand’s masquerade ball. He was the stranger in the garden and it was then that he knew she was going to be his and there was nothing that could stop him.
He contacts her father and makes him an offer he absolutely can’t refuse. Now he is living in disguise, a common county gent that just moved in next door to Whitney’s property. It is the only way he can think of to properly woo her and make her his and so their tumultuous journey begins, full of spicy arguments, witty bickering and outrageous stunts.
This novel is one of my all time favorites. I adore the story with all its fiery conflicts and clever dialogue. The struggle between these two amazingly written characters is not only entertaining; it’s charming as well. Every skirmish lends more insight to the depth of the character and the underlying attraction they both feel for each other. This is one of those books that you just feel the need to scream at some of the stupidity and stubbornness both characters display but can’t help but enjoy yourself throughout the novel
Clayton was written as the ultimate alpha male, proud, arrogant and dominant, he can be one of the biggest jerks on the planet but he loves Whitney with a ferocity that you seldom ever come across. Whitney, with her stubbornness and independence, plays off his pride and drives him insane with her antics to try to hold off the inevitable. Both characters have so much zest and life that you feel you are reading about real people.
McNaught is truly masterful with this novel, wreaking havoc on your emotions and pulling at your heartstrings, creating amazing battles of the wills and writing one of the most poignant and emotionally charged love stories you’ll ever find.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Timeline
Title: Timeline
Author: Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton is one of those authors whose sci-fi works are simply brilliant (Jurassic Park series) but, as a result of terrible screenplay, the movie sucked a little bit. (Probably because of the dialogue and the casting). I'd like to say sorry first if I mixed up the movie and the book because I found both interesting.
The story started when an old man wearing a brown robe was stranded in the hot desert, but he suffered from hypothermia, which was very uncanny. Much worse, the x-ray reports indicated that his veins and bones, although in tact, were not in place, as if it was teared up and being put back again. He had no idea how he got there, and the only thing that they found on him was a blueprint of a monastery (Mon. Ste. Mere), which meant Monastery of Saint Mother in French. Later, it turned out that the monastery existed, but in 1357 near Castelgard, France. And the man's name was Traub, an employee of International Technology Company (ITC), founded by a Bill Gates- wannabe, Robert Doniger.
At the same time, a group of archaelogists led by Professor Edward Johnston was excavating a site where the French and the English army warred each other during the Hundred-Year war. If it sounded familiar, the place was Castelgard, France, and one of the team members, Kate Erickson, was processing the Monastery site. Not a coincidence, but the project was also funded by Robert Doniger, the ITC founder.
Prof. Johnston's team also included his son, Chris, who was rather smitten with Kate, Andre Marek the Scotsman, Francois Dontelle the Frenchman, and a physics expert David Stern. Prof. Johnston was curious at why Doniger was so eager to fund the project and gave him too much information as if it landed from the sky or something. He decided to go to New Mexico to talk to Doniger.
While he was gone, Kate discovered a hole under the spot she was working on and realized that it was an underground room in the monastery. In the room, she found some documents and a stone carving which was ruined badly. When Stern processed the documents, he was dumbstruck to find Prof. Johnston's writing on one of them. It dated 1357. Panicking, the group decided to question Robert Doniger and flew to New Mexico.
When they got there, they met Frank Gordon and Steven Kramer, Doniger's right hand men. They were even shocked to know that Doniger sent Johnston and Gordon to Castelgard 1357, and Gordon actually left Johnston alone. Now, the group's job is to go there, find the prof and return, through a revolutionary machine which works like a fax-machine (that is, by tearing up the electron particles of a body and putting them back together again.) Actually, the machine was meant to be a super fast posting machine that could send a package from point a to point b in seconds. But, they had no idea why they were sent to the past. The only thing that could bring them back was a marker with a button which they could press to return to the future. While Stern was against the idea, the others decided they had to save the professor. Frank Gordon, and his two sidekicks joined the crowd, as guides, since they did the traveling too many times already. THere were a few rules: They had to be back beofre 6 hours, and they were not allowed to bring any modern weapons.
Unfortunately, this trip was going to be different from Gordon's past trips. They went back on the day where the French attacked the English's stronghold La Roque, and brought it down. Worse, the English wrongly attacked them (they thought that they were the French spies). One of Gordon's men was shot by arrows and pressed the marker to return home. Even worse, he brought grenades with him. When he returned to the future, the grenades blew, thus ruining the machine. This meant that if the others were to return, it might not happen until the ITC employees fixed the machine. Doniger was very mad. It may be that even if they managed to save the professor, they might not be able to go back.
During this trip, the group had to go through lots of grueling things of living through the medieval times. Innocent lives were taken, and an unlikely romance that wasn't really supposed to happen bloomed between one of them and a French Dame. There were many plot twisters, including a former ITC employee who was betrayed, and lots of other interesting things that were never shown in the movies. Will the course of history change? With their interruption, will the English win the war instead of the French?
If you saw the movie, you better pick this book up.
If you haven't seen the movie, pick this book up first before laughing at the movie.
Author: Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton is one of those authors whose sci-fi works are simply brilliant (Jurassic Park series) but, as a result of terrible screenplay, the movie sucked a little bit. (Probably because of the dialogue and the casting). I'd like to say sorry first if I mixed up the movie and the book because I found both interesting.
The story started when an old man wearing a brown robe was stranded in the hot desert, but he suffered from hypothermia, which was very uncanny. Much worse, the x-ray reports indicated that his veins and bones, although in tact, were not in place, as if it was teared up and being put back again. He had no idea how he got there, and the only thing that they found on him was a blueprint of a monastery (Mon. Ste. Mere), which meant Monastery of Saint Mother in French. Later, it turned out that the monastery existed, but in 1357 near Castelgard, France. And the man's name was Traub, an employee of International Technology Company (ITC), founded by a Bill Gates- wannabe, Robert Doniger.
At the same time, a group of archaelogists led by Professor Edward Johnston was excavating a site where the French and the English army warred each other during the Hundred-Year war. If it sounded familiar, the place was Castelgard, France, and one of the team members, Kate Erickson, was processing the Monastery site. Not a coincidence, but the project was also funded by Robert Doniger, the ITC founder.
Prof. Johnston's team also included his son, Chris, who was rather smitten with Kate, Andre Marek the Scotsman, Francois Dontelle the Frenchman, and a physics expert David Stern. Prof. Johnston was curious at why Doniger was so eager to fund the project and gave him too much information as if it landed from the sky or something. He decided to go to New Mexico to talk to Doniger.
While he was gone, Kate discovered a hole under the spot she was working on and realized that it was an underground room in the monastery. In the room, she found some documents and a stone carving which was ruined badly. When Stern processed the documents, he was dumbstruck to find Prof. Johnston's writing on one of them. It dated 1357. Panicking, the group decided to question Robert Doniger and flew to New Mexico.
When they got there, they met Frank Gordon and Steven Kramer, Doniger's right hand men. They were even shocked to know that Doniger sent Johnston and Gordon to Castelgard 1357, and Gordon actually left Johnston alone. Now, the group's job is to go there, find the prof and return, through a revolutionary machine which works like a fax-machine (that is, by tearing up the electron particles of a body and putting them back together again.) Actually, the machine was meant to be a super fast posting machine that could send a package from point a to point b in seconds. But, they had no idea why they were sent to the past. The only thing that could bring them back was a marker with a button which they could press to return to the future. While Stern was against the idea, the others decided they had to save the professor. Frank Gordon, and his two sidekicks joined the crowd, as guides, since they did the traveling too many times already. THere were a few rules: They had to be back beofre 6 hours, and they were not allowed to bring any modern weapons.
Unfortunately, this trip was going to be different from Gordon's past trips. They went back on the day where the French attacked the English's stronghold La Roque, and brought it down. Worse, the English wrongly attacked them (they thought that they were the French spies). One of Gordon's men was shot by arrows and pressed the marker to return home. Even worse, he brought grenades with him. When he returned to the future, the grenades blew, thus ruining the machine. This meant that if the others were to return, it might not happen until the ITC employees fixed the machine. Doniger was very mad. It may be that even if they managed to save the professor, they might not be able to go back.
During this trip, the group had to go through lots of grueling things of living through the medieval times. Innocent lives were taken, and an unlikely romance that wasn't really supposed to happen bloomed between one of them and a French Dame. There were many plot twisters, including a former ITC employee who was betrayed, and lots of other interesting things that were never shown in the movies. Will the course of history change? With their interruption, will the English win the war instead of the French?
If you saw the movie, you better pick this book up.
If you haven't seen the movie, pick this book up first before laughing at the movie.
The Rule of Four
Title: The Rule of Four
Authors: Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason
This novel is about about a bunch of Princeton students (roommates) who have different personalities and interests. Thomas, Paul, Gil and Charlie are their names, and like usual American college/university students, they like to fool around (although they are very devoted to their studies), a pinch of hedonisme here and there (Nude Olympics) but in a few days, an ancient text will change their lives.
The novel started rather slowly (written in Thomas' first-hand account). Tom's late dad was an expert in Renaissance studies. There was no doubt, that Tom grew up being haunted by one of the most famous and complicated of all Renaissance text, titled Hypnerotomachia Poliphili. (The text does exist) Paul, on the other hand, is totally crazed about the text that he could spend his whole life studying it. In short, Paul is something like a mirror image of Tom's dad.
To be honest, Hypnerotomachia Poliphili is famous not because of a great storyline, plot, or anything like Homer's Odyssey. It is more infamous for being totally incomprehendable. Even the author remained anonymous until a scholar discovered through some puzzles ala Da Vinci Code style that a certain Francesco Colonna wrote it. On the whole, it tells the story of a young man by the name of Poliphilo, who went looking for his lover. But, as each chapter unfolds, everything made no sense. One second it was talking about architechture, but then pictures of explicit accounts between Zeus and Leda jumped in. One moment it was written in Greek, the next it was written in Hebrew. But of course, there are secrets hidden within...
There are also feuds between two professors who used to work with Tom's dad, namely Vincent Taft and Richard Curry. It was apparent to Paul, who needed both to guide him in unveiling the text, that Taft was accused of stealing Curry's diary that may had clues to solve the puzzle. This is important later.
As Paul and Tom made discoveries from the text, it became clear that Colonna had reasons for the text's complications. Each page that had no sense became a series of questions that Paul and Tom had to answer in order to reach the next clue. Each question was linked to passion for art, culture, and science, for only the ones who are strong-willed enough would break through the maze. Which is why, Paul became half-a-maniac (almost a hermit) with only Tom as his friend during the process.
The reward was priceless treasure (of art and poetry) saved by Colonna during the end of the Medici family reign in Florence from a priest named Savonarola. The title, "The Rule of Four" is the rule to solve the text.
To me, the novel is an interesting read, especially if you're a Da Vinci Code fan. Unfortunately, the writing is quite slow and unlike Dan Brown, the two authors (Caldwell and Thomason) spent too much time writing subplots like Tom's deteriorating relationship with his girlfriend Katie, etc. This may be a hurdle for readers who want more action and less talk. However, the clues are briliant, and it would spoil the excitement if I were to state the ending.
It's worth a read (or two, three times) in case you missed some of the good parts.
Trivia: Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason are indeed, Princeton and Harvard graduates respectively, thus the exaggeration on Ivy League way of life. But, it's a Da Vinci Code style of book with higher standards since some of the true facts are totally distant and never unheard of by laymen, except scholars like the authors.
Next: I'd like to write reviews of a time-travel themed novels:
1. Timeline by Michael Crichton
2. A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux
3. The Time-Traveler's Wife (the author slipped my mind ryte now)
Enjoy!
Authors: Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason
This novel is about about a bunch of Princeton students (roommates) who have different personalities and interests. Thomas, Paul, Gil and Charlie are their names, and like usual American college/university students, they like to fool around (although they are very devoted to their studies), a pinch of hedonisme here and there (Nude Olympics) but in a few days, an ancient text will change their lives.
The novel started rather slowly (written in Thomas' first-hand account). Tom's late dad was an expert in Renaissance studies. There was no doubt, that Tom grew up being haunted by one of the most famous and complicated of all Renaissance text, titled Hypnerotomachia Poliphili. (The text does exist) Paul, on the other hand, is totally crazed about the text that he could spend his whole life studying it. In short, Paul is something like a mirror image of Tom's dad.
To be honest, Hypnerotomachia Poliphili is famous not because of a great storyline, plot, or anything like Homer's Odyssey. It is more infamous for being totally incomprehendable. Even the author remained anonymous until a scholar discovered through some puzzles ala Da Vinci Code style that a certain Francesco Colonna wrote it. On the whole, it tells the story of a young man by the name of Poliphilo, who went looking for his lover. But, as each chapter unfolds, everything made no sense. One second it was talking about architechture, but then pictures of explicit accounts between Zeus and Leda jumped in. One moment it was written in Greek, the next it was written in Hebrew. But of course, there are secrets hidden within...
There are also feuds between two professors who used to work with Tom's dad, namely Vincent Taft and Richard Curry. It was apparent to Paul, who needed both to guide him in unveiling the text, that Taft was accused of stealing Curry's diary that may had clues to solve the puzzle. This is important later.
As Paul and Tom made discoveries from the text, it became clear that Colonna had reasons for the text's complications. Each page that had no sense became a series of questions that Paul and Tom had to answer in order to reach the next clue. Each question was linked to passion for art, culture, and science, for only the ones who are strong-willed enough would break through the maze. Which is why, Paul became half-a-maniac (almost a hermit) with only Tom as his friend during the process.
The reward was priceless treasure (of art and poetry) saved by Colonna during the end of the Medici family reign in Florence from a priest named Savonarola. The title, "The Rule of Four" is the rule to solve the text.
To me, the novel is an interesting read, especially if you're a Da Vinci Code fan. Unfortunately, the writing is quite slow and unlike Dan Brown, the two authors (Caldwell and Thomason) spent too much time writing subplots like Tom's deteriorating relationship with his girlfriend Katie, etc. This may be a hurdle for readers who want more action and less talk. However, the clues are briliant, and it would spoil the excitement if I were to state the ending.
It's worth a read (or two, three times) in case you missed some of the good parts.
Trivia: Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason are indeed, Princeton and Harvard graduates respectively, thus the exaggeration on Ivy League way of life. But, it's a Da Vinci Code style of book with higher standards since some of the true facts are totally distant and never unheard of by laymen, except scholars like the authors.
Next: I'd like to write reviews of a time-travel themed novels:
1. Timeline by Michael Crichton
2. A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux
3. The Time-Traveler's Wife (the author slipped my mind ryte now)
Enjoy!
Flesh and Blood - Jonathan Kellerman
I first stumbled upon Jonathan Kellerman’s books when I was browsing at Novel House bookshop. Jonathan Kellerman’s Flesh and Blood immediately caught my eye and as I skimmed the back cover, I immediately got filled with excitement. Kellerman’s novels centre around a small group of main characters such as Alex Delaware, a child psychologist who is occasionally is asked to work with the police as a consultant. Detective Milo Sturgis, Delaware’s close friend, whom he often relies upon for back up and help. Robin Castagna, Delaware’s long suffering girl friend.
Some of his other books centre on other characters too with the key ones, as I mentioned above, in the background instead. He tends to rotate the importance of his well-developed characters, which I personally think makes his books very interesting to follow.
He is another excellent crime thriller writer, which (as you’ve probably guessed) is my preferred genre. Kellerman’s other books include Doctor Death, Billy Straight, Monster, Bad love and many more.
The author used to be a child psychologist himself, so he brings in an altogether different feel to his books (as opposed to those who write from a detective point of view)….more emotional, and you find yourself really connecting to the main characters.
Flesh and Blood Plot
Shortly after the celebrations of a New Year had settled, Alex Delaware is sat in his office on a perfectly normal (forgettable even) Saturday morning. Then, the phone rang….
The call was from a Mrs Jane Abbot. He didn’t recognise the name at all, but she seemed to know him. She tells him that it was her daughter, Lauren Teague that he once knew. He had treated her nearly ten years ago. Alex instantly remembers the name, and is filled with a sense of overwhelming guilt and confusion. Lauren may have only been his patient for two sessions (the third one was cancelled), but she sticks in his mind due to the circumstances of their chance meeting six years later.
The story then briefly flashes back to the chance meeting, some four years previous.
Alex is celebrating a colleague’s impending marriage with a traditional bachelor party. Not his idea of a good time, and he felt uneasy with the whole thing. Along comes the stripper, as always appear in these parties, and he sees AND feels a spark of recognition. It was Lauren Teague. Nothing was said by either, and Alex made his excuse and left early after the shock encounter.
Later that night, Lauren looks up Delaware’s number and calls him unexpectedly to belatedly re-appoint their third session. She informs him that she is now studying psychology at college herself, and is paying her own way through the stripping. Conversation turns to her family and their faults. After a much-heated discussion, Lauren storms out of Alex’s office, leaving Alex somewhat bewildered.
Back to the present day and the phone call from Mrs Abbot. It is a desperate call asking for his services to try and locate Lauren… She’s missing.
Alex is a little reluctant to begin with, but after he does some delving into Lauren’s past he finds some astonishing discoveries, connections within L.A’s seedy underworld, and a possible link to another girl’s disappearance.
There are a lot of questions that pops into mind. Will Alex find Lauren in time to save her? Will Robin’s love for Alex withstand his obsession for this case?
I shan’t say any more as I do not want to give away any vital parts of the story. I know it’s a cliché, but I have to say it…this book is a true rollercoaster ride, full of twists and unexpected plot diversions. To top it off, the ending will blow you away!
MY OPINION
This book was simply brilliant. There is plenty in this book to keep you guessing and leaves you literally sitting (or rather clinging!) on the edge of your seat. Like James Patterson’s books, the chapters are fairly short and very addictive. They are written in such a way that it makes you want to keep on reading into the early hours, simply to find out what could possibly happen next!
Since reading this book, with it’s subtle style and engrossing characters, I have gone on to read other books by Kellerman and they are all written in the same effortless, and engrossing style.
The characters are extremely believable and, as I have said, because these particular series of books were written more from a psychologist’s point of view, the characters had a great deal of depth to them, and I really did feel emotionally attached to them.
By the time that I had finished reading this book, I knew a great deal about the characters previous encounters, characteristics and personal involvement, as with each of his other books. So much so, I even knew a little of their previous involvement in his earlier books.
Jonathan Kellerman’s brilliant structuring and characterisation made it very easy to understand each of the characters and situations. Each book gives a good insight into the characters themselves, so if you haven’t read any of the previous ones, you will not be left in the dark as far as characterisation goes.
I really enjoyed reading this book (I must have done because I went straight back to the same bookshop the next day and got two more) and I think you will too.
Some of his other books centre on other characters too with the key ones, as I mentioned above, in the background instead. He tends to rotate the importance of his well-developed characters, which I personally think makes his books very interesting to follow.
He is another excellent crime thriller writer, which (as you’ve probably guessed) is my preferred genre. Kellerman’s other books include Doctor Death, Billy Straight, Monster, Bad love and many more.
The author used to be a child psychologist himself, so he brings in an altogether different feel to his books (as opposed to those who write from a detective point of view)….more emotional, and you find yourself really connecting to the main characters.
Flesh and Blood Plot
Shortly after the celebrations of a New Year had settled, Alex Delaware is sat in his office on a perfectly normal (forgettable even) Saturday morning. Then, the phone rang….
The call was from a Mrs Jane Abbot. He didn’t recognise the name at all, but she seemed to know him. She tells him that it was her daughter, Lauren Teague that he once knew. He had treated her nearly ten years ago. Alex instantly remembers the name, and is filled with a sense of overwhelming guilt and confusion. Lauren may have only been his patient for two sessions (the third one was cancelled), but she sticks in his mind due to the circumstances of their chance meeting six years later.
The story then briefly flashes back to the chance meeting, some four years previous.
Alex is celebrating a colleague’s impending marriage with a traditional bachelor party. Not his idea of a good time, and he felt uneasy with the whole thing. Along comes the stripper, as always appear in these parties, and he sees AND feels a spark of recognition. It was Lauren Teague. Nothing was said by either, and Alex made his excuse and left early after the shock encounter.
Later that night, Lauren looks up Delaware’s number and calls him unexpectedly to belatedly re-appoint their third session. She informs him that she is now studying psychology at college herself, and is paying her own way through the stripping. Conversation turns to her family and their faults. After a much-heated discussion, Lauren storms out of Alex’s office, leaving Alex somewhat bewildered.
Back to the present day and the phone call from Mrs Abbot. It is a desperate call asking for his services to try and locate Lauren… She’s missing.
Alex is a little reluctant to begin with, but after he does some delving into Lauren’s past he finds some astonishing discoveries, connections within L.A’s seedy underworld, and a possible link to another girl’s disappearance.
There are a lot of questions that pops into mind. Will Alex find Lauren in time to save her? Will Robin’s love for Alex withstand his obsession for this case?
I shan’t say any more as I do not want to give away any vital parts of the story. I know it’s a cliché, but I have to say it…this book is a true rollercoaster ride, full of twists and unexpected plot diversions. To top it off, the ending will blow you away!
MY OPINION
This book was simply brilliant. There is plenty in this book to keep you guessing and leaves you literally sitting (or rather clinging!) on the edge of your seat. Like James Patterson’s books, the chapters are fairly short and very addictive. They are written in such a way that it makes you want to keep on reading into the early hours, simply to find out what could possibly happen next!
Since reading this book, with it’s subtle style and engrossing characters, I have gone on to read other books by Kellerman and they are all written in the same effortless, and engrossing style.
The characters are extremely believable and, as I have said, because these particular series of books were written more from a psychologist’s point of view, the characters had a great deal of depth to them, and I really did feel emotionally attached to them.
By the time that I had finished reading this book, I knew a great deal about the characters previous encounters, characteristics and personal involvement, as with each of his other books. So much so, I even knew a little of their previous involvement in his earlier books.
Jonathan Kellerman’s brilliant structuring and characterisation made it very easy to understand each of the characters and situations. Each book gives a good insight into the characters themselves, so if you haven’t read any of the previous ones, you will not be left in the dark as far as characterisation goes.
I really enjoyed reading this book (I must have done because I went straight back to the same bookshop the next day and got two more) and I think you will too.
Flowers in the Attic
I know most of us must have read like Flowers in the Attics from way before.
I was browsing through the bookshelves, looking for a book to read - I'm always doing this, rereading my books when I've completed the latest books... I spotted my old copy of Flowers in the Attic, with the cover almost torn apart.
I have read it several times, and each time I read it I am once again drawn into the lives and relationships of the characters in this spellbinding story. Each time I feel what they are feeling and see what they are describing as if I am there with them. This book has affected me emotionally more than any other book I have ever read, and I am writing this so that I may share it with you.
Flowers in the Attic is based on a true story, and is written in the first person. This, coupled with a brilliant writing style of Virginia Andrews makes the story seem so very real, even though the plot seems so unlikely.
This powerful, moving and compelling novel is the story of Cathy, Chris, Cory and Carrie, four innocent children with a horrifying story to tell.
The ‘Dresden Dolls’, as they are nicknamed, are beautiful, happy and have a seemingly perfect life. This all changes when their beloved father is killed in a car crash. After, their Mother suddenly announces they cannot pay their debts and must leave immediately to go to her parent’s house. They are wealthy, and many toys and other fine things await her ‘darlings’ there.
Over the three year period they are locked away in just one room, with an attic as their only playroom, they are put in the care of their grandmother. Not only is she strict and heartless, but she has a particular disliking for these devil’s spawn.
Originally, they follow natural instincts to trust their doted-upon Mother who brings them present after present but later they rightfully suspect her intentions are far more sinister and gradually whatever maternal feeling she had for them is also lost in her greed.
The story which unravels is utterly heartbreaking. Unloved and living a restricted and lonely existence, the eldest brother and sister also assume full care and responsibility over their 5 year-old twin brother and sister. They all endure terrible punishments for breaking the grandmother’s puritan rules and on top of this, they are going through puberty. The growing sexual frustration and the high emotion that both of them are going through eventually has cataclysmic consequences.
The story begins in a small town in America where a happy family live seemingly perfect lives. Cathy and her siblings, Chris, Cory and Carrie are waiting with thier mother Corrine for their father to come home from work on the night of his birthday. Cathy, our narrator is 12, Chris is 15 and the twins are just 5 years old. Their Daddy never comes home that night. He has been killed in a car crash.
Corrine admits to her children that they are now in financial trouble and the house and all their belongings will be reposessed. Luckily though Corrine's parents, who have not before been mentioned to the children before, are considerably wealthy and have a large home in West Virginia and the childrens grandmother has agreed to let them stay. However there is one condition. Corrine had disgraced the family several years earlier and she would have to hide the children away from her dying father until she could win him over and he would accept her and her children.
And so at dead of night without saying goodbye to friends and neighbours the five of them leave and take a train to Virginia. They arrive and the children are ushered into a dark room in a dissused wing of the large house while their mother prepares to make a more civilised entrance in the morning.
Cathy is left with Chris and the twins in this one room with adjoining bathroom and the door is always kept locked. Their mother visited the next day to inform them that it may take slightly longer than one day to in back her fathers affection and they may have to stay in that room for a week or so.
The excuses keep coming and the children are kept upstairs waiting for their grandfather to either accept their mother and them or to die so they inherit his fortunes. Meanwhile the grandmother provides the children with a picnic basket of food daily and a list of rules for them to follow forbidding them from looking outside in case they are seen, and even from looking at members of the opposite sex. they must keep thier thoughts pure and their actions modest and remain hidden from the world. They are also given access to a gigantic dusty attic which is to be their only playground.
Later their mother reveals her secret, that her late husband Christopher was in fact her half-uncle, and because of their incest, they were long ago cast out from the family and removed from her father’s will. She intends to win back his trust, but in the meantime insists the children are hidden away in a distant quarter of the magnificent house until she receives her inheritance.
The focus of the book is much less on the storyline than on the feelings and relationships of the characters. The breakdown of the childrens love for their mother as she continualy betrays them is heart breaking. Although we only see things from Cathy's perspective it is clear to the reader that Chris has greater trust and faith in his mother than Cathy and these differences cause tension between the two of them.
Cathy leads on an emotional journey from childhood to womanhod and the reader will most certainly become wrapped up in the romantic notions of this young girl in these alien circumstances. It really takes you back to a time when you were young and naive and every little thing seemed so important and enormously dramatic. This side of Cathy's personality is brought to life so vividly you can feel her pain and her love, her fears and her dreams.
This is such a harrowing, compelling, beautifully written book and it made such an impression on me when i was younger. Even now when I read it it takes me off into a world of pain and sadness in that dim room and dark attic where the only way to see the sun was to climb out the window onto the steep roof high above the ground.
It is definitely worth a read although I doubt it is half as captivating for male readers. It is suitable for young teenagers through to adults although the subject matter is very disturbing at times. Highly reccommended though (I mean if you want to really feel the pain of betrayal and filial responsibilities and also the implications of incest!).
The book is the first in a series, which continues with Petals on the wind, If there be thorns and Seeds of yesterday. These follow Cathy through the rest of her life and explore how the events of her teenage years affect her through adulthood and even affect the lives of her children. Garden of shadows completes the series and tells the story of the grandmother and how she came to be as she is. All are equally good, although Flowers in the attic can easily be read as a novel on its own.
Virginia Andrews wrote a second series of books and a single novel as well as this set, and her unfinished works were completed and published after her death. In my opinion the books published before she died are much better than the ones she didn't not complete herself.
I was browsing through the bookshelves, looking for a book to read - I'm always doing this, rereading my books when I've completed the latest books... I spotted my old copy of Flowers in the Attic, with the cover almost torn apart.
I have read it several times, and each time I read it I am once again drawn into the lives and relationships of the characters in this spellbinding story. Each time I feel what they are feeling and see what they are describing as if I am there with them. This book has affected me emotionally more than any other book I have ever read, and I am writing this so that I may share it with you.
Flowers in the Attic is based on a true story, and is written in the first person. This, coupled with a brilliant writing style of Virginia Andrews makes the story seem so very real, even though the plot seems so unlikely.
This powerful, moving and compelling novel is the story of Cathy, Chris, Cory and Carrie, four innocent children with a horrifying story to tell.
The ‘Dresden Dolls’, as they are nicknamed, are beautiful, happy and have a seemingly perfect life. This all changes when their beloved father is killed in a car crash. After, their Mother suddenly announces they cannot pay their debts and must leave immediately to go to her parent’s house. They are wealthy, and many toys and other fine things await her ‘darlings’ there.
Over the three year period they are locked away in just one room, with an attic as their only playroom, they are put in the care of their grandmother. Not only is she strict and heartless, but she has a particular disliking for these devil’s spawn.
Originally, they follow natural instincts to trust their doted-upon Mother who brings them present after present but later they rightfully suspect her intentions are far more sinister and gradually whatever maternal feeling she had for them is also lost in her greed.
The story which unravels is utterly heartbreaking. Unloved and living a restricted and lonely existence, the eldest brother and sister also assume full care and responsibility over their 5 year-old twin brother and sister. They all endure terrible punishments for breaking the grandmother’s puritan rules and on top of this, they are going through puberty. The growing sexual frustration and the high emotion that both of them are going through eventually has cataclysmic consequences.
The story begins in a small town in America where a happy family live seemingly perfect lives. Cathy and her siblings, Chris, Cory and Carrie are waiting with thier mother Corrine for their father to come home from work on the night of his birthday. Cathy, our narrator is 12, Chris is 15 and the twins are just 5 years old. Their Daddy never comes home that night. He has been killed in a car crash.
Corrine admits to her children that they are now in financial trouble and the house and all their belongings will be reposessed. Luckily though Corrine's parents, who have not before been mentioned to the children before, are considerably wealthy and have a large home in West Virginia and the childrens grandmother has agreed to let them stay. However there is one condition. Corrine had disgraced the family several years earlier and she would have to hide the children away from her dying father until she could win him over and he would accept her and her children.
And so at dead of night without saying goodbye to friends and neighbours the five of them leave and take a train to Virginia. They arrive and the children are ushered into a dark room in a dissused wing of the large house while their mother prepares to make a more civilised entrance in the morning.
Cathy is left with Chris and the twins in this one room with adjoining bathroom and the door is always kept locked. Their mother visited the next day to inform them that it may take slightly longer than one day to in back her fathers affection and they may have to stay in that room for a week or so.
The excuses keep coming and the children are kept upstairs waiting for their grandfather to either accept their mother and them or to die so they inherit his fortunes. Meanwhile the grandmother provides the children with a picnic basket of food daily and a list of rules for them to follow forbidding them from looking outside in case they are seen, and even from looking at members of the opposite sex. they must keep thier thoughts pure and their actions modest and remain hidden from the world. They are also given access to a gigantic dusty attic which is to be their only playground.
Later their mother reveals her secret, that her late husband Christopher was in fact her half-uncle, and because of their incest, they were long ago cast out from the family and removed from her father’s will. She intends to win back his trust, but in the meantime insists the children are hidden away in a distant quarter of the magnificent house until she receives her inheritance.
The focus of the book is much less on the storyline than on the feelings and relationships of the characters. The breakdown of the childrens love for their mother as she continualy betrays them is heart breaking. Although we only see things from Cathy's perspective it is clear to the reader that Chris has greater trust and faith in his mother than Cathy and these differences cause tension between the two of them.
Cathy leads on an emotional journey from childhood to womanhod and the reader will most certainly become wrapped up in the romantic notions of this young girl in these alien circumstances. It really takes you back to a time when you were young and naive and every little thing seemed so important and enormously dramatic. This side of Cathy's personality is brought to life so vividly you can feel her pain and her love, her fears and her dreams.
This is such a harrowing, compelling, beautifully written book and it made such an impression on me when i was younger. Even now when I read it it takes me off into a world of pain and sadness in that dim room and dark attic where the only way to see the sun was to climb out the window onto the steep roof high above the ground.
It is definitely worth a read although I doubt it is half as captivating for male readers. It is suitable for young teenagers through to adults although the subject matter is very disturbing at times. Highly reccommended though (I mean if you want to really feel the pain of betrayal and filial responsibilities and also the implications of incest!).
The book is the first in a series, which continues with Petals on the wind, If there be thorns and Seeds of yesterday. These follow Cathy through the rest of her life and explore how the events of her teenage years affect her through adulthood and even affect the lives of her children. Garden of shadows completes the series and tells the story of the grandmother and how she came to be as she is. All are equally good, although Flowers in the attic can easily be read as a novel on its own.
Virginia Andrews wrote a second series of books and a single novel as well as this set, and her unfinished works were completed and published after her death. In my opinion the books published before she died are much better than the ones she didn't not complete herself.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Thanks for everything!
Hello, hello, hello (Three hellos to three such wonderful blog contributors!)
First of all, I'd like to thank Ms Ayu for making me a member of her team, together with Ms Soraya and Ms Baizurah. Seriously, I'm delighted to actually find ppl with a same interest as mine. Don't you find books exciting? Anyway, plz don't be mad at me for posting this...but I really do have to (in order to pay homage to the blog's very first administrators). As the old adage says, saya budak baru belajar, kalau salah tolong tunjukkan...
I'm thinking of posting a review of Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason's The Rule Of Four, a mystery novel ala The Da Vinci Code but I'm asking for your permission first...in case it's not approved.
So...thanks a million!
First of all, I'd like to thank Ms Ayu for making me a member of her team, together with Ms Soraya and Ms Baizurah. Seriously, I'm delighted to actually find ppl with a same interest as mine. Don't you find books exciting? Anyway, plz don't be mad at me for posting this...but I really do have to (in order to pay homage to the blog's very first administrators). As the old adage says, saya budak baru belajar, kalau salah tolong tunjukkan...
I'm thinking of posting a review of Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason's The Rule Of Four, a mystery novel ala The Da Vinci Code but I'm asking for your permission first...in case it's not approved.
So...thanks a million!
Ditto...
Hi Life Sketcher.... same as what Bai wrote... I mean Harry Potter HBP is still on sale yet.. so we'll have to be patient. I saw on the Net that the next movie is scheduled to be released in November... So, I'm also waiting for that as well...
Reviews on the HBP will definately be done by three persons, with separate points of view... So, I'm definately crossing my fingers... Anyway, ever since Ayman is together with us in this world, I'm trying extra hard to catch up with reading.. It can definately be a little hard reading and concentrating while your son is like scrambling on top of the television set... Know what I mean!??! :) Yet, I wouldn't trade him with all the books in the world... So, what I'm doing is train him to start reading as well... muahahahhaha I mean if you can't beat them, join 'em right. Better he folow my reading habits than me following his scrambling habits! Hehehehehe
Reviews on the HBP will definately be done by three persons, with separate points of view... So, I'm definately crossing my fingers... Anyway, ever since Ayman is together with us in this world, I'm trying extra hard to catch up with reading.. It can definately be a little hard reading and concentrating while your son is like scrambling on top of the television set... Know what I mean!??! :) Yet, I wouldn't trade him with all the books in the world... So, what I'm doing is train him to start reading as well... muahahahhaha I mean if you can't beat them, join 'em right. Better he folow my reading habits than me following his scrambling habits! Hehehehehe
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
This post is solely dedicated to Life Sketcher..
Hiya there! Wah...tak sangka kita ada our very own fan who reads OUR BLOG!kan ayu kan..kan mickey kan...hahaha...
Anyway...Life Sketcher, mana ble buat review for Harry Potter HBP now...have not read it maaa...and besides, too much speculations would just spoil it. Whatever it is, AFTER July the 16th, come visit us and you'll definitely find not only one BUT THREE SEPARATE REVIEWS on that book (insyaAllah).
For the time being...let's just wait with P.A.T.I.E.N.C.E for another 23 days...until it comes out...(sigh) That's too long man!
Ayu...Mickey...anything to add?? And Oh! me haven't read The Bartimaeus Trilogy...later maybe..
Anyway...Life Sketcher, mana ble buat review for Harry Potter HBP now...have not read it maaa...and besides, too much speculations would just spoil it. Whatever it is, AFTER July the 16th, come visit us and you'll definitely find not only one BUT THREE SEPARATE REVIEWS on that book (insyaAllah).
For the time being...let's just wait with P.A.T.I.E.N.C.E for another 23 days...until it comes out...(sigh) That's too long man!
Ayu...Mickey...anything to add?? And Oh! me haven't read The Bartimaeus Trilogy...later maybe..
Monday, June 20, 2005
Shopaholic....
Well, comparing this book or genre to what you guys have been reading, this is like majalah picisan ajer... Anyway, this is a story that suits those who wants to do some light reading without really using your brains to dechiper anything...
I haven't really read the whole Shopaholic series... so far, I've read the Confessions of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic takes Manhattan... For me, the books suits my need and it is also a book that entices without being too overwhelming and interests you without wanting to take up all of your time... (which is why it is suitable for me ~ juggling time between works, study and family...)
The story revolves around Becky Bloomwood (who has the most captivating personality!) who is sorta like a financial whiz... yet somehow she manages to get in debt... and it somehow seemsfamiliar yet frightening... I mean reading through the book gives you the impression that you are her and the situation somehow seems familiar.... Very disconcerting....
The book also shows us how faith and hardwork will help you acheive what you want... I mean she was actually bankrupt, but managed to get over that bankrupcy... What an astounding achievement... That's why its fiction!! hahahahahaha...
I guess, for me the book is definately suitable for light readings... And if any of you wanna read Confessions of a Shopaholic... I have it in my bookcase...somewhere!!
I haven't really read the whole Shopaholic series... so far, I've read the Confessions of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic takes Manhattan... For me, the books suits my need and it is also a book that entices without being too overwhelming and interests you without wanting to take up all of your time... (which is why it is suitable for me ~ juggling time between works, study and family...)
The story revolves around Becky Bloomwood (who has the most captivating personality!) who is sorta like a financial whiz... yet somehow she manages to get in debt... and it somehow seemsfamiliar yet frightening... I mean reading through the book gives you the impression that you are her and the situation somehow seems familiar.... Very disconcerting....
The book also shows us how faith and hardwork will help you acheive what you want... I mean she was actually bankrupt, but managed to get over that bankrupcy... What an astounding achievement... That's why its fiction!! hahahahahaha...
I guess, for me the book is definately suitable for light readings... And if any of you wanna read Confessions of a Shopaholic... I have it in my bookcase...somewhere!!
Frank Herbert's Dune Series
You guys gotta check this out...
This series is actually something that is definately personal and close to my heart... LOTR is also another series that is close to my heart... I've read through the LOTR even before they made the movies... LOTR is one of my daddy's favourite series of all time... and he suggested that I read through the series... I read the book using my father's copy - all worn out but well-thumbed... That was how I got hooked up with the science fiction series...
Anyway, I guess by now everyone is hooked up with the LOTR. I mean anyone who is a bookworm will have either read the books or saw the movies (which did not vary that much from the books). After reading the LOTR, Daddy suggested that I read Frank Herbert's Dune. From then onwards, I was a Frank Herbert's fan...
The stories apparently, even though, it was written in the early 50s, tells us about the drug abuse and how it affected those around them. You wouldn't get that implication unless you are aware of the conditions during that period of time... However in the books, they would mention it as spices and how adictive it can be. It's a areally futuristic story, written in the 50s with a lot of sci-fi moves and storyline... It's really amazing how advanced the imagination and creative thinking of the writeers then.
The story revolves around a boy, Paul Atreides, who has this special powers, and is somehow or rather known as The One. They move on to a planet in outer space, which is sorta like a sand desert... and gets to know some local sand people. The way of life in the desert is definately different from how things were on his own planet... The beat of movement must not be rhythematic, but inconsistent. Cause, if it is consistent, there are sandworms to be aware off. IT also tells about the addiction and power conflict between different Houses - meaning different political parties... House of Sarkonen, House of Atreides...
The fanatical sisterhood of the Bene Geserit is also a force that no one wants to reckon with... They know how to use their Voice to subdue people, their movements are to a minimal yet lethal... They have the knowledge of thousands women before them... and women are of power here! Hello people!! Woohoo!! :) [ Just kidding.. but it's interesting to read how they manipulate and managed men... it just shows that women are built tougher than others and that women are good at management and manipulation too ~ at times!!]
Paul Atreides is somehow The One and it goes against what the Bene Geserit has planned... The One is a MAN!! Muahahahahaha... Anyway, I'll advise you to read this, cause I don't want to tell it all... The stories goes on to his grandchildren... The fight for Planet Arakis...
To sum things up, here is the novel that will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides [the actor who acted as Paul Atreides boleh tahan laa... not bad], who would become the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib [I've always thot that there were some Islamic elements in the story]. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family—and would bring to fruition humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream [which is truning a desert-like planet full of luch greenery and grass and water that is easily available!]. This is definately a stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune formed the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction.
Anyway, the series are Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune and Heretics of Dune.
Try and read Dune.. I know you guys'll get hooked with the series...
Soraya ;)
This series is actually something that is definately personal and close to my heart... LOTR is also another series that is close to my heart... I've read through the LOTR even before they made the movies... LOTR is one of my daddy's favourite series of all time... and he suggested that I read through the series... I read the book using my father's copy - all worn out but well-thumbed... That was how I got hooked up with the science fiction series...
Anyway, I guess by now everyone is hooked up with the LOTR. I mean anyone who is a bookworm will have either read the books or saw the movies (which did not vary that much from the books). After reading the LOTR, Daddy suggested that I read Frank Herbert's Dune. From then onwards, I was a Frank Herbert's fan...
The stories apparently, even though, it was written in the early 50s, tells us about the drug abuse and how it affected those around them. You wouldn't get that implication unless you are aware of the conditions during that period of time... However in the books, they would mention it as spices and how adictive it can be. It's a areally futuristic story, written in the 50s with a lot of sci-fi moves and storyline... It's really amazing how advanced the imagination and creative thinking of the writeers then.
The story revolves around a boy, Paul Atreides, who has this special powers, and is somehow or rather known as The One. They move on to a planet in outer space, which is sorta like a sand desert... and gets to know some local sand people. The way of life in the desert is definately different from how things were on his own planet... The beat of movement must not be rhythematic, but inconsistent. Cause, if it is consistent, there are sandworms to be aware off. IT also tells about the addiction and power conflict between different Houses - meaning different political parties... House of Sarkonen, House of Atreides...
The fanatical sisterhood of the Bene Geserit is also a force that no one wants to reckon with... They know how to use their Voice to subdue people, their movements are to a minimal yet lethal... They have the knowledge of thousands women before them... and women are of power here! Hello people!! Woohoo!! :) [ Just kidding.. but it's interesting to read how they manipulate and managed men... it just shows that women are built tougher than others and that women are good at management and manipulation too ~ at times!!]
Paul Atreides is somehow The One and it goes against what the Bene Geserit has planned... The One is a MAN!! Muahahahahaha... Anyway, I'll advise you to read this, cause I don't want to tell it all... The stories goes on to his grandchildren... The fight for Planet Arakis...
To sum things up, here is the novel that will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides [the actor who acted as Paul Atreides boleh tahan laa... not bad], who would become the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib [I've always thot that there were some Islamic elements in the story]. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family—and would bring to fruition humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream [which is truning a desert-like planet full of luch greenery and grass and water that is easily available!]. This is definately a stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune formed the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction.
Anyway, the series are Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune and Heretics of Dune.
Try and read Dune.. I know you guys'll get hooked with the series...
Soraya ;)
Sunday, June 19, 2005
The Prophecy of The Stone
Title: The Prophecy of The Stone
Author: Flavia Bujor
Translated from The French by Linda Coverdale
This book is not on the best-sellers list......
It is an extremely childish work compared to Dan Brown's..
But it will bring you into a world full of HOPE and FANTASY....
So...
If u ever dream of visiting the Land of Fairytale...
Go and grab the book... As ur wish would then be fulfilled.........
Okie, okie enuff advertisement there..hahaha...I got the book last weekend. I was bored silly with nothing to do, and I'd been re-reading all the books on my racks for soooo many times that I knew most of it by heart (especially the Harry Potter series). And since I was (still am) infected with the "Harry Potter" fever and and couldn't take my mind off the Harry Potter HBP, I thought that MAYBE if I read some fantasy stories, then my "temperature" could be reduced...hehehe...
So, while I was browsing around at the Fantasy sections (of Prangin Mall Popular), my eyes was laid upon "The Prophecy of the Stones"-at first I wasn't THAT attracted to buy it due to the childish layout, but when I read the synopsis at the back...I was hooked up. (Mainly because it did mention Harry Potter at the back there..hehehe). So I decided that it would make a nice, leisure reading for the weekend. And I bought it...
Three Girls....Three Stones...One Destiny....(Man!Dunno why I'm always attracted to books with that kind of headings!)...
Anyway, this book tells the story of three different girls from very different background who were destined to be united by the three stones they were born with. They were named after their birth stones...Jade, Opal and Amber. Jade who is the Daughter of the Duke of Divulyon led an extremely pompous life. Opal who lived with her grand aunt, and grand-grand aunt, is a girl that hides her emotions very well. She seemed like she was incapable of FEELING, but it changed after she met the other girls. Amber was a peasant girl who led life with HOPE and dreams. She saw beauty in every being on earth...in the stars, in the sun, even in her pains and sufferings. She was hapy with her life until DEATH took her mother away.
The girls-who were born on the same day- found out on their 14th birthday that they were required to set on a quest -leaving their homes and families, to face enemies in the land of Fairytale where magic reigns and evil is unknown. And armed only with their magical stones, they embarked on this epic journey in search of GOODNESS that will fight the evil that has spread throughout the world.Along the way, they found out that they were well-known in the legend as the three girls who would lead the Army of Lights (the good people in the Land of Fairytale) to fight the evil that ruled the world. Together they journeyed through the unknown in order to fulfill The Prophecy that was written hundreds of years ago by a wise man.
Although they met as strangers-and was told by their gurdians that they were to be enemies, the girls discovered friendship as they learned to trust one another with their secret, and their life. They also learned that in order to succeed with the epic task, they've got to BELIEVE in their capability and have faith in one another.
"From the shadows will come the Chosen One
To unify the Realm
And lead into the light
As a King who must not reign,
Crowned in the name of the Gift.
Three Stones, three young girls:
One will discover the Gift.
One will recognize the King.
One will convince the two others to die.
Of three stones, only one fate will remain..."
Towards the end of this story, the three young heroine met the Chosen One; one of them recognized and confirmed that he is indeed the Chosen One, the other girl discovered the Gift that was entrusted to them upon their birth, while the other one.....persuaded the others to DIE....
Ha!!!So if u want to know more...go get the book.And as for the ratings,I'd give this book 3 stars out of 5. It's a good try for an author of 13 years old, and a first novel at that. It won't beat Harry Potter or many other fantasy stories I've read, but at least here's a light, fantasy book that can be read by children and girls as well as boys alike.
Author: Flavia Bujor
Translated from The French by Linda Coverdale
This book is not on the best-sellers list......
It is an extremely childish work compared to Dan Brown's..
But it will bring you into a world full of HOPE and FANTASY....
So...
If u ever dream of visiting the Land of Fairytale...
Go and grab the book... As ur wish would then be fulfilled.........
Okie, okie enuff advertisement there..hahaha...I got the book last weekend. I was bored silly with nothing to do, and I'd been re-reading all the books on my racks for soooo many times that I knew most of it by heart (especially the Harry Potter series). And since I was (still am) infected with the "Harry Potter" fever and and couldn't take my mind off the Harry Potter HBP, I thought that MAYBE if I read some fantasy stories, then my "temperature" could be reduced...hehehe...
So, while I was browsing around at the Fantasy sections (of Prangin Mall Popular), my eyes was laid upon "The Prophecy of the Stones"-at first I wasn't THAT attracted to buy it due to the childish layout, but when I read the synopsis at the back...I was hooked up. (Mainly because it did mention Harry Potter at the back there..hehehe). So I decided that it would make a nice, leisure reading for the weekend. And I bought it...
Three Girls....Three Stones...One Destiny....(Man!Dunno why I'm always attracted to books with that kind of headings!)...
Anyway, this book tells the story of three different girls from very different background who were destined to be united by the three stones they were born with. They were named after their birth stones...Jade, Opal and Amber. Jade who is the Daughter of the Duke of Divulyon led an extremely pompous life. Opal who lived with her grand aunt, and grand-grand aunt, is a girl that hides her emotions very well. She seemed like she was incapable of FEELING, but it changed after she met the other girls. Amber was a peasant girl who led life with HOPE and dreams. She saw beauty in every being on earth...in the stars, in the sun, even in her pains and sufferings. She was hapy with her life until DEATH took her mother away.
The girls-who were born on the same day- found out on their 14th birthday that they were required to set on a quest -leaving their homes and families, to face enemies in the land of Fairytale where magic reigns and evil is unknown. And armed only with their magical stones, they embarked on this epic journey in search of GOODNESS that will fight the evil that has spread throughout the world.Along the way, they found out that they were well-known in the legend as the three girls who would lead the Army of Lights (the good people in the Land of Fairytale) to fight the evil that ruled the world. Together they journeyed through the unknown in order to fulfill The Prophecy that was written hundreds of years ago by a wise man.
Although they met as strangers-and was told by their gurdians that they were to be enemies, the girls discovered friendship as they learned to trust one another with their secret, and their life. They also learned that in order to succeed with the epic task, they've got to BELIEVE in their capability and have faith in one another.
"From the shadows will come the Chosen One
To unify the Realm
And lead into the light
As a King who must not reign,
Crowned in the name of the Gift.
Three Stones, three young girls:
One will discover the Gift.
One will recognize the King.
One will convince the two others to die.
Of three stones, only one fate will remain..."
Towards the end of this story, the three young heroine met the Chosen One; one of them recognized and confirmed that he is indeed the Chosen One, the other girl discovered the Gift that was entrusted to them upon their birth, while the other one.....persuaded the others to DIE....
Ha!!!So if u want to know more...go get the book.And as for the ratings,I'd give this book 3 stars out of 5. It's a good try for an author of 13 years old, and a first novel at that. It won't beat Harry Potter or many other fantasy stories I've read, but at least here's a light, fantasy book that can be read by children and girls as well as boys alike.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
The Da Vinci code
Title : The Da Vinci Code
Author: Dan Brown
This is the second Dan Brown book I've read and in short, I'm hooked!
This is one hell of a writer, no wonder he was compared to JK Rowlings in a recent review. The differance is that JK Rowling's Harry Potter series is a book for all ages while Dan Brown books are more for the matured and intellectual mind (perasan!!)
This time, the main character, Robert Langdon, last seen in Angels and Demons, gets involved in the search for the Holy Grail. Like the previous book, he too was awaken by a phone call that turned into a series of unexpected twists and turns.
It started with the murder of a museum curator. Left to die by an assasin who wanted to find the secret of the Holy Grail, the curator spent the last moments of his life leaving clues behind for his grand daughter, Sophia Neveu, in the museum with a final message for her so find Robert Langdon to assist her. Langdon hawever had become the prime suspect of the crime since his name was written on the curator's body.
With the help of Neveu, Langdon escaped the clutches of the French Police-something (I'm not sure about his exact rank but one of the highest), Bezu Fache and fled to the home of a fellow historian who has been on the trail of the Holy Grail all his life, Leigh Teabing. Together, they flew to Britian where the Holy Grail is believed to 'reside'.
The path to the Holy Grail is hidden in the cryptic poems left by the museum curator before his death but all of them have the expertise in this field that before long, they had already managed to decode it. However, as in his previous book that I read, Brown managed to twist the story around, making us feel just as frustrated as Langdon was when he realized there was a traitor within their circle <-- sense of deja vu here! But then again, good guys always win, no matter how twisted the plot is heheh..
However, suprise².. to me, I find the final parts of the book more interesting, especially when the bad guys have been caught (not gonna tell you who it is though!). I find these last pages more intruiging and fascinating. A true example to show how sometimes, we don't see the most valuable things that have been right under our nose and though at first I thought the cryptic poem were a bit boring compared to the clues given in Angels and Demons, when reading the last part, I suddenly see the beauty of it!
Now, as for this writer, either he's really been doing his homework or he's one hell of a story teller to make you believe all the 'facts' he presented in his books. I mean, the story about the Holy Grail itself is captivating enough. A few times I felt like searching for an encyclopedia just to verify the things Brown describes in these two books I've read and there are moments when I wish I could take a peek at these paintings that are commonly known but never really closely examined.
For the 2 books I've read, a few similiarities (except the ones about the mind boggling puzzles throughout it la, I love those part of the books)stand out
1. Must Langdon HAVE to be awoken from his sleep by PHONE CALLS!
2. Must some be MURDERED at the start of the book (ok, maybe that's how these kinda books should start anyway!)
3. Must the bad guys always have an assassin who's 'different' (an Arab, an albino).. omputih takde ke yg diorang bleh upah? Though I also know that usually these kind of people have had difficult chidlhoods so tu tak kisah la if told pun..
4. Must the WOMAN who assists him be a close REALATIVE of the DECEASED]
5. Must they all be INTELLECTUAL WOMEN (scientist, cryptologist).. tp tkpe gak, Langdon bukan terror sgt pun hahaha..
6. Must they always have a TRAITOR whom they TRUSTED originally
7. Can't think of anything else right now hehe..
All in all, its a great book though I love Angels and Demons a tad bit more ;-) Compared to Angels and Demons, I DO find this book a bit boring, and 'boring' in this sense still means a book I can't put down once I've started. Not the book's fault that I think Angels and Demons is more 'colourful' hehe.. But still, its a great book! I give it a 4-star rating. I'm really looking forward to read more by this author, but before that, pulangkan dulu buku ni kat tuan dia (",) Now I know another section to head to whenever I'm in Popular!
Author: Dan Brown
This is the second Dan Brown book I've read and in short, I'm hooked!
This is one hell of a writer, no wonder he was compared to JK Rowlings in a recent review. The differance is that JK Rowling's Harry Potter series is a book for all ages while Dan Brown books are more for the matured and intellectual mind (perasan!!)
This time, the main character, Robert Langdon, last seen in Angels and Demons, gets involved in the search for the Holy Grail. Like the previous book, he too was awaken by a phone call that turned into a series of unexpected twists and turns.
It started with the murder of a museum curator. Left to die by an assasin who wanted to find the secret of the Holy Grail, the curator spent the last moments of his life leaving clues behind for his grand daughter, Sophia Neveu, in the museum with a final message for her so find Robert Langdon to assist her. Langdon hawever had become the prime suspect of the crime since his name was written on the curator's body.
With the help of Neveu, Langdon escaped the clutches of the French Police-something (I'm not sure about his exact rank but one of the highest), Bezu Fache and fled to the home of a fellow historian who has been on the trail of the Holy Grail all his life, Leigh Teabing. Together, they flew to Britian where the Holy Grail is believed to 'reside'.
The path to the Holy Grail is hidden in the cryptic poems left by the museum curator before his death but all of them have the expertise in this field that before long, they had already managed to decode it. However, as in his previous book that I read, Brown managed to twist the story around, making us feel just as frustrated as Langdon was when he realized there was a traitor within their circle <-- sense of deja vu here! But then again, good guys always win, no matter how twisted the plot is heheh..
However, suprise².. to me, I find the final parts of the book more interesting, especially when the bad guys have been caught (not gonna tell you who it is though!). I find these last pages more intruiging and fascinating. A true example to show how sometimes, we don't see the most valuable things that have been right under our nose and though at first I thought the cryptic poem were a bit boring compared to the clues given in Angels and Demons, when reading the last part, I suddenly see the beauty of it!
Now, as for this writer, either he's really been doing his homework or he's one hell of a story teller to make you believe all the 'facts' he presented in his books. I mean, the story about the Holy Grail itself is captivating enough. A few times I felt like searching for an encyclopedia just to verify the things Brown describes in these two books I've read and there are moments when I wish I could take a peek at these paintings that are commonly known but never really closely examined.
For the 2 books I've read, a few similiarities (except the ones about the mind boggling puzzles throughout it la, I love those part of the books)stand out
1. Must Langdon HAVE to be awoken from his sleep by PHONE CALLS!
2. Must some be MURDERED at the start of the book (ok, maybe that's how these kinda books should start anyway!)
3. Must the bad guys always have an assassin who's 'different' (an Arab, an albino).. omputih takde ke yg diorang bleh upah? Though I also know that usually these kind of people have had difficult chidlhoods so tu tak kisah la if told pun..
4. Must the WOMAN who assists him be a close REALATIVE of the DECEASED]
5. Must they all be INTELLECTUAL WOMEN (scientist, cryptologist).. tp tkpe gak, Langdon bukan terror sgt pun hahaha..
6. Must they always have a TRAITOR whom they TRUSTED originally
7. Can't think of anything else right now hehe..
All in all, its a great book though I love Angels and Demons a tad bit more ;-) Compared to Angels and Demons, I DO find this book a bit boring, and 'boring' in this sense still means a book I can't put down once I've started. Not the book's fault that I think Angels and Demons is more 'colourful' hehe.. But still, its a great book! I give it a 4-star rating. I'm really looking forward to read more by this author, but before that, pulangkan dulu buku ni kat tuan dia (",) Now I know another section to head to whenever I'm in Popular!
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Angels & Demons
Title : Angels & Demons
Author: Dan Browns
As a frequent 'visitor' to Popular bookstores in Penang and Ipoh, I've noticed the book The Da Vinci Code. Though it had great ratings, I never bothered to even flip through the book. I guess, because the title seemed like a long lost Renaissance era-type story, THAT part of it scared me away. I've never really been a fan of arts and I'd be embarrassed if anyone asked me anything about it.. I'll feel soooo stupid la!
Anyway, suprise²! I found out I had a junior who loves books too. Pojie was the one who prompted me to start reading Dan Brown's books. He had already read a few books by this author and I could tell that he was impressed. A good (or bad.. depending on your point of view) thing about an engineer is that we're always curious. This curiosity was what pushed me to borrow this a book form him. He recommended Angels and Demons, the prequel for the Da Vinci code hehe.. at least this title didn't have any Ninja Turtle names in it!
Since I didn't have the time to really sit down and read, I had to 'curi²' read this book during my free time. At the time, I was busy with my work, tuition and a motivational programme held here in USM but once I had the chance to REALLY read the book, I was instantly hooked.
This is the type of book that makes you THINK.. not really light reading, but amazingly, it was still relaxing though you could have your adrenaline going crazy in some of the chapters. For 3 straight nights, I had dreams about this book since I only had time to read it before going to bed.. but WOW!
It narrates about this Harvard symbologist, Robert Langdon. Awaken from his sleep one morning by an urgent phone call, he was suddenly thrust into this amazing.. gosh! I don't even have the right word for it!!!
He was taken to this scientific research centre called CERN. A scientist, Leonardo Vetra, had been killed the night before and his chest was branded with the word 'Illuminati'. This scientist was on the verge of an amazing discovery, that he claims could show the connection between religion and science. He hoped to bridge the gap between these two as according to this book, science and religion are like oil and water.
As for the Illuminati, it was the name of a group that was formed centuries ago by scientists who had the pure intention to combine science and religion. This is a true fact, according to the arthor, with membership of the group that includes famous artist Bernini and scientist (God! I've suddenly forgotten his name!!!). However, due to the closed minds of the church, this group was considered dangerous thus, banned. Some scientists were captured and prisoned, tortured too! This raged the group, making it in the end, an anti-religion group.
Langdon, as well as Vittoria Vetra (Vetra's daughter) went to Vatican to solve the mystery of the murder as well as to find the missing antimatter, which is by-product of the research Vetra Sr was doing with his daughter. This antimatter is a dangerous unstable substance that could endanger the Vatican city if not found in an allocated time.
Unbelievably, the whole book tells you what happened in just a few hours of time, but I guarantee, you won't be able to put the book down once you're engrossed in it. You'd be amazed at the brands which are displayed in this book with the words Illuminati and the four main elements of science (before the JADUAL BERKALA la hehe..) earth, wind, air and water. These word were written in such a way, that you'd see the same thing eventhough it is upside down, talk of pure genius! I read the book while tilting it upside down, just to prove the point.
Though some people might find it a bit heavy, what with astonishing facts and historical events recalled in this book. But it'll leave you in wonder and amazement, and ooooo, the satisfaction of reading it is just undescribable!
I just finished this book and I wish it was longer. I just can't get enough of it, very interesting!
I'm ready for THe Da Vinci Code though.. here we go!!
Author: Dan Browns
As a frequent 'visitor' to Popular bookstores in Penang and Ipoh, I've noticed the book The Da Vinci Code. Though it had great ratings, I never bothered to even flip through the book. I guess, because the title seemed like a long lost Renaissance era-type story, THAT part of it scared me away. I've never really been a fan of arts and I'd be embarrassed if anyone asked me anything about it.. I'll feel soooo stupid la!
Anyway, suprise²! I found out I had a junior who loves books too. Pojie was the one who prompted me to start reading Dan Brown's books. He had already read a few books by this author and I could tell that he was impressed. A good (or bad.. depending on your point of view) thing about an engineer is that we're always curious. This curiosity was what pushed me to borrow this a book form him. He recommended Angels and Demons, the prequel for the Da Vinci code hehe.. at least this title didn't have any Ninja Turtle names in it!
Since I didn't have the time to really sit down and read, I had to 'curi²' read this book during my free time. At the time, I was busy with my work, tuition and a motivational programme held here in USM but once I had the chance to REALLY read the book, I was instantly hooked.
This is the type of book that makes you THINK.. not really light reading, but amazingly, it was still relaxing though you could have your adrenaline going crazy in some of the chapters. For 3 straight nights, I had dreams about this book since I only had time to read it before going to bed.. but WOW!
It narrates about this Harvard symbologist, Robert Langdon. Awaken from his sleep one morning by an urgent phone call, he was suddenly thrust into this amazing.. gosh! I don't even have the right word for it!!!
He was taken to this scientific research centre called CERN. A scientist, Leonardo Vetra, had been killed the night before and his chest was branded with the word 'Illuminati'. This scientist was on the verge of an amazing discovery, that he claims could show the connection between religion and science. He hoped to bridge the gap between these two as according to this book, science and religion are like oil and water.
As for the Illuminati, it was the name of a group that was formed centuries ago by scientists who had the pure intention to combine science and religion. This is a true fact, according to the arthor, with membership of the group that includes famous artist Bernini and scientist (God! I've suddenly forgotten his name!!!). However, due to the closed minds of the church, this group was considered dangerous thus, banned. Some scientists were captured and prisoned, tortured too! This raged the group, making it in the end, an anti-religion group.
Langdon, as well as Vittoria Vetra (Vetra's daughter) went to Vatican to solve the mystery of the murder as well as to find the missing antimatter, which is by-product of the research Vetra Sr was doing with his daughter. This antimatter is a dangerous unstable substance that could endanger the Vatican city if not found in an allocated time.
Unbelievably, the whole book tells you what happened in just a few hours of time, but I guarantee, you won't be able to put the book down once you're engrossed in it. You'd be amazed at the brands which are displayed in this book with the words Illuminati and the four main elements of science (before the JADUAL BERKALA la hehe..) earth, wind, air and water. These word were written in such a way, that you'd see the same thing eventhough it is upside down, talk of pure genius! I read the book while tilting it upside down, just to prove the point.
Though some people might find it a bit heavy, what with astonishing facts and historical events recalled in this book. But it'll leave you in wonder and amazement, and ooooo, the satisfaction of reading it is just undescribable!
I just finished this book and I wish it was longer. I just can't get enough of it, very interesting!
I'm ready for THe Da Vinci Code though.. here we go!!
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