Title: The Sight
Author: David Clement-Davies
Hullo ppl! You guys must be wondering wtf is this girl writing a completely absurd review of a 2002-published book when HPHBP is currently the most talked about book of 2005. Outdated, some might say, but I think there's no need for a bunch of HP reviews...cuz if I start to write abt it, I'll whine. And seriously, you'll not like it when I whine.
So what's "The Sight"all about? It's supposed to be a children's book (Just like HP was supposed to be), but it must appeal to werewolf fans (my friend recommended me this particular book), and since I'm quite one myself, I wondered how come I've never read this book b4. Frankly speaking, I didn't quite notice the cover for a while until I examined it, and I realized, that I've read magnificent reviews of this book sumwhere, a long, long time ago. (Yellow eyes of a wolf staring ryte atcha!)
Anyway, it's about a pack of wolves (or Vargs, rather) which has their own beliefs in Gods like Tor and Fenris, and how this particular belief pushed away all their superstitions of prophecies and such. The most popular, and feared superstition of all (which is told to the cubs usually to scare them) is The Sight, the ability to see the future, past, make a pact with birds, see through birds' eyes, etc.) One of the members of the pack, named Morgra was condemned for having The Sight, which is also related to an Evil Spirit called Wolfbane. She was wrongly accused and left out of injustice, and her anger led to manipulating her powers for evil.
Note that females are called Drappa, and males are called Dragga. Animals are called Lera, while Putnars are commonly hunters. Anyway, Morgra's brother is Huttser, whose mate is Palla. Now, this Palla, gave birth to two cubs, a Dragga and a Drappa. The Dragga cub's name is Fell, while the Drappa's name is Larka. Their elderly nurse, Brassa, could sense that one of these cubs has The Sight. It is said that a prophecy long forgotten will come true, and it is going to be a battle of which one between the wolves who possess The Sight could fulfill it.
Due to this, and the confrontation/hatred towards Morgra, the pack had to travel together in order to save themselves from Man traps, Morgra, and anything else that comes in their way. Man and Wolf are related quite closely in this tale, of fantasy and unexpected events that happen in their excursion of separating the truth from lies, and good from evil. Will Larka, Fell, and their friend Kar survive? What actually happened to Morgra, and who the heck is Wolfbane? You gotta read this one, guys. It's kinda complicated to tell the whole story, so, just pick this one up.
And soz, no HP review from me. My heart is shattered to pieces.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Title : Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Author: As if she needs introduction anyway! Hehe..
Ok.. I've been putting off making my review for this book for the longest time.. Yes Farah, I guess you must wonder why are we lagging behind here, especially for THE book of the year. Well, I have my reasons which I must say, seems SO obvious from my say in the chatter box.
I (and I'm not alone here) have been anticipating the coming of THE book for so long. C'mon la all of you, look deep down inside yourself and tell me that you didn't already start waiting for this book right after you turned the last page of The Order of The Phoenix? Heheh.. jangan tipu la.. I have the all-seeing eye here ;-p
I mean, Baizurah talked non-stop about Harry Potter and she kept giving me these pop-quiz questions, asking me to give her the exact moment a dialogue was said in the previous 5 books and though I was sooooooo busy at that time, she helped put me in the mood.
On THE day itself, I was all jittering, couldn't stop myself from wanting the time to fly quickly so I could finally have THE book in my hands. Baizurah was no help as she called me at 10.00am just to gloat over her 'victory' of picking up her copy first ;-p heheh.. Sangat jeles tau, Sentot! My feelings didn't get any better when she told me about the door gifts she received when getting her copy. Then I had to endure another 5 hours of tuition before FINALLY getting the chance to read my book.
Ok.. ok.. enough about the 'adventure' in getting the book. Let's go to my review, which in one word says : DISAPPOINTING!!!
Whhoooaww.. I can feel the glares of most of you here! Cam daggers going through me, but well, this IS my review kan? Haha.. Baizurah mesti tak puas hati ni hehe..
I mean, when I first started reading it, I found myself amazed at how matured Harry is, no longer feeling sorry for himself anymore.. ok, maybe a bit la but he DID change kan. And when he went back to the Burrow with Dumbledore, I was feeling,"Waaa.. baiknye Dumbledore! Macam Tok (father tak leh la kan since Dumbledore taught Harry's father before him) Harry plak" Though here, most of us noticed the differance in Dumbledore.. especially the obvious one where there was s'thing wrong with his hand kan.
As the story progressed, I found myself sinking deeper into the book but still, I had this nagging feeling at the pit of my stomach. When I came to the 3rd quarter of the book (I can hear Baizurah saying, "Asyik ulang ayat yg same je.. 3 quarter.. 3 quarter" Hehe..), I suddenly realized, "What??!!?? No nothing here??"
Lets face it, the only thing that seemed related to the previous books are their normal classes which sadly are mentioned very 'seldom'ly (ade ke perkataan seldomly?). Their classes have always been the source of the magical feelings we get when we read the books. Ok la, maybe one of the sources la but still, everyone agrees how they liked to read about the classes in Hogwarts kan? Especially now diorang dah complete their O.W.L.s so their lessons this year should be waaaaaaaay more interesting.. err, even if they HAD to drop Hagrid's subject! Haha, couldn't fit it in their schedule konon heheh..
Even Quidditch has lost its place in THIS book and this is quite disappointing considering that Harry HAS become the Captain of the Gryffindor team. I mean, Quidditch IS Harry's passion, right? And most of us have grown so used to knowing Harry would once again be the star in Quidditch tapi just look at that, just a few paragraphs of Quidditch here! But thank God there's the attraction of Dumbledore's 'private lessons' with Harry (Yup, we agree on THIS, Sentot!)
Another thing, (Baizurah says: Harry dah besaq la, Ayu.. biaq la dia bercinta!) is about the love affairs in this book. There seems to be endless stories about kissing in this book. I mean, since when did this book revolve around kissing? Memang la in the second book, Ginny DID mention she saw Percy and Penelope kissing, but THIS is outrageous! With Ginny and Ron quarelling about 'snogging', I mean, whats happening here? I know, maybe Rowling wants to appeal to the teenagers but still, it seemed out of place here.. a little bit could be okay, but not half of the book la!
Ok, maybe I'm a bit protective of Harry here haha.. perasan la cam kakak dia plak! I mean, kalau betul Ginny REALLY liked Harry, why talk about her and Dean yang 'like glue stuck to each other'? Then there's this somehow sickening description of Ron and Lavender sounding like a suction cup.. call me old fashioned then!
Though I still enjoy Ron and Hermione's bickering and their 'who-says-I-liked-you' attitude around each other, it didn't feel THAT appealing when too much outside affairs were thrown in.
Dumbledore's death DID move me a bit.. ok, a lot coz I was starting to feel more affectionate towards him and maybe most of you feel the same way too but still I couldn't help agreeing on some views that say, it should be more dramatic. Sirius's and Cedric's death seemed more interesting to some of us. I didn't quite realize this until it was pointed out to me but yes, maybe I DO agree.. a bit la sebab still sedih gak Dumbledore mati.
And about Snape.. I have always trusted him since Dumbledore trusted him too.. turns out, he's a true Slytherin! Sangat marah!!! Heheh.. over plak.. But then, do all of you sympathize with Malfoy here? I dunno, tiba² kesian pulak kat dia in this book though I've hated him before.. tgk la time Myrtle told Harry that Malfoy's been crying in the toilet for a while, saying that he's being bullied (by Voldemort la, sape lagi kan?)
Then there's this seemingly rushing-into-the-ending thing that I can't quite understand. All the while, I always liked reading the book from the start right through the end but this time it feels like I'm driving this car idly and only at the last minute, when going downhill, do I realize I don't have brakes.. soooooo.. Gosh, I don't have the word to describe it!
Maybe its just me BUT I've gotten the same comments from fellow fans here..
And to make matters worse, I don't have the feeling of, "Cepat² la next book dia kluar! Tak sabar ni!" like I felt when reading the previous book. I feel as if I waited 2 years for nothing here sob.. sob..
I mean, there MIGHT be no Hogwarts! There's definitely no more Dumbledore though I'm secretly hoping that he'd come back, as a ghost pun tak pe lah! And it DOES seem like there'd be no more FUN in it since Harry is adamant to go search for Voldemort! Waaaaaaaaa, why aah? Why??
Well, I hope I'm wrong.. really² hope I'm wrong! *Crossing my fingers here* I guess even the greatest writers have their ups and down and for Rowling's sake, I hope it'll be more UP than ever in the next and supposedly final book in this series.
There are lots more I want to know, unanswered questions, I mean
1. Why did Petunia recognize Dumbledore's voice in the Howler he sent to her a few books ago?
2. Does she have relations to the magical world too?
3. To what extent are the powers of Voldemort towards Harry, since he supposedly tranfered some of his powers to Hary when he wanted to kill him, remember?
4. How come Dumbledore could trust Snape so much? What did he do to REALLY deserve his second chance? I mean, takkan la you guys believe the story yang Dumbledore trusted him sebab dia dah insaf?
5. Why did Voldemort say that Snape is 'my servant who would never return to me' in the forth book, but it still turned out that dia tu belot?
Banyak lagi questions, but I've got this writers block here now..
Well, I guess thats it from me now.. till then, keep your fingers crossed for the final installment of Harry Potter.. cheerio!
Author: As if she needs introduction anyway! Hehe..
Ok.. I've been putting off making my review for this book for the longest time.. Yes Farah, I guess you must wonder why are we lagging behind here, especially for THE book of the year. Well, I have my reasons which I must say, seems SO obvious from my say in the chatter box.
I (and I'm not alone here) have been anticipating the coming of THE book for so long. C'mon la all of you, look deep down inside yourself and tell me that you didn't already start waiting for this book right after you turned the last page of The Order of The Phoenix? Heheh.. jangan tipu la.. I have the all-seeing eye here ;-p
I mean, Baizurah talked non-stop about Harry Potter and she kept giving me these pop-quiz questions, asking me to give her the exact moment a dialogue was said in the previous 5 books and though I was sooooooo busy at that time, she helped put me in the mood.
On THE day itself, I was all jittering, couldn't stop myself from wanting the time to fly quickly so I could finally have THE book in my hands. Baizurah was no help as she called me at 10.00am just to gloat over her 'victory' of picking up her copy first ;-p heheh.. Sangat jeles tau, Sentot! My feelings didn't get any better when she told me about the door gifts she received when getting her copy. Then I had to endure another 5 hours of tuition before FINALLY getting the chance to read my book.
Ok.. ok.. enough about the 'adventure' in getting the book. Let's go to my review, which in one word says : DISAPPOINTING!!!
Whhoooaww.. I can feel the glares of most of you here! Cam daggers going through me, but well, this IS my review kan? Haha.. Baizurah mesti tak puas hati ni hehe..
I mean, when I first started reading it, I found myself amazed at how matured Harry is, no longer feeling sorry for himself anymore.. ok, maybe a bit la but he DID change kan. And when he went back to the Burrow with Dumbledore, I was feeling,"Waaa.. baiknye Dumbledore! Macam Tok (father tak leh la kan since Dumbledore taught Harry's father before him) Harry plak" Though here, most of us noticed the differance in Dumbledore.. especially the obvious one where there was s'thing wrong with his hand kan.
As the story progressed, I found myself sinking deeper into the book but still, I had this nagging feeling at the pit of my stomach. When I came to the 3rd quarter of the book (I can hear Baizurah saying, "Asyik ulang ayat yg same je.. 3 quarter.. 3 quarter" Hehe..), I suddenly realized, "What??!!?? No nothing here??"
Lets face it, the only thing that seemed related to the previous books are their normal classes which sadly are mentioned very 'seldom'ly (ade ke perkataan seldomly?). Their classes have always been the source of the magical feelings we get when we read the books. Ok la, maybe one of the sources la but still, everyone agrees how they liked to read about the classes in Hogwarts kan? Especially now diorang dah complete their O.W.L.s so their lessons this year should be waaaaaaaay more interesting.. err, even if they HAD to drop Hagrid's subject! Haha, couldn't fit it in their schedule konon heheh..
Even Quidditch has lost its place in THIS book and this is quite disappointing considering that Harry HAS become the Captain of the Gryffindor team. I mean, Quidditch IS Harry's passion, right? And most of us have grown so used to knowing Harry would once again be the star in Quidditch tapi just look at that, just a few paragraphs of Quidditch here! But thank God there's the attraction of Dumbledore's 'private lessons' with Harry (Yup, we agree on THIS, Sentot!)
Another thing, (Baizurah says: Harry dah besaq la, Ayu.. biaq la dia bercinta!) is about the love affairs in this book. There seems to be endless stories about kissing in this book. I mean, since when did this book revolve around kissing? Memang la in the second book, Ginny DID mention she saw Percy and Penelope kissing, but THIS is outrageous! With Ginny and Ron quarelling about 'snogging', I mean, whats happening here? I know, maybe Rowling wants to appeal to the teenagers but still, it seemed out of place here.. a little bit could be okay, but not half of the book la!
Ok, maybe I'm a bit protective of Harry here haha.. perasan la cam kakak dia plak! I mean, kalau betul Ginny REALLY liked Harry, why talk about her and Dean yang 'like glue stuck to each other'? Then there's this somehow sickening description of Ron and Lavender sounding like a suction cup.. call me old fashioned then!
Though I still enjoy Ron and Hermione's bickering and their 'who-says-I-liked-you' attitude around each other, it didn't feel THAT appealing when too much outside affairs were thrown in.
Dumbledore's death DID move me a bit.. ok, a lot coz I was starting to feel more affectionate towards him and maybe most of you feel the same way too but still I couldn't help agreeing on some views that say, it should be more dramatic. Sirius's and Cedric's death seemed more interesting to some of us. I didn't quite realize this until it was pointed out to me but yes, maybe I DO agree.. a bit la sebab still sedih gak Dumbledore mati.
And about Snape.. I have always trusted him since Dumbledore trusted him too.. turns out, he's a true Slytherin! Sangat marah!!! Heheh.. over plak.. But then, do all of you sympathize with Malfoy here? I dunno, tiba² kesian pulak kat dia in this book though I've hated him before.. tgk la time Myrtle told Harry that Malfoy's been crying in the toilet for a while, saying that he's being bullied (by Voldemort la, sape lagi kan?)
Then there's this seemingly rushing-into-the-ending thing that I can't quite understand. All the while, I always liked reading the book from the start right through the end but this time it feels like I'm driving this car idly and only at the last minute, when going downhill, do I realize I don't have brakes.. soooooo.. Gosh, I don't have the word to describe it!
Maybe its just me BUT I've gotten the same comments from fellow fans here..
And to make matters worse, I don't have the feeling of, "Cepat² la next book dia kluar! Tak sabar ni!" like I felt when reading the previous book. I feel as if I waited 2 years for nothing here sob.. sob..
I mean, there MIGHT be no Hogwarts! There's definitely no more Dumbledore though I'm secretly hoping that he'd come back, as a ghost pun tak pe lah! And it DOES seem like there'd be no more FUN in it since Harry is adamant to go search for Voldemort! Waaaaaaaaa, why aah? Why??
Well, I hope I'm wrong.. really² hope I'm wrong! *Crossing my fingers here* I guess even the greatest writers have their ups and down and for Rowling's sake, I hope it'll be more UP than ever in the next and supposedly final book in this series.
There are lots more I want to know, unanswered questions, I mean
1. Why did Petunia recognize Dumbledore's voice in the Howler he sent to her a few books ago?
2. Does she have relations to the magical world too?
3. To what extent are the powers of Voldemort towards Harry, since he supposedly tranfered some of his powers to Hary when he wanted to kill him, remember?
4. How come Dumbledore could trust Snape so much? What did he do to REALLY deserve his second chance? I mean, takkan la you guys believe the story yang Dumbledore trusted him sebab dia dah insaf?
5. Why did Voldemort say that Snape is 'my servant who would never return to me' in the forth book, but it still turned out that dia tu belot?
Banyak lagi questions, but I've got this writers block here now..
Well, I guess thats it from me now.. till then, keep your fingers crossed for the final installment of Harry Potter.. cheerio!
Monday, July 11, 2005
Aristotle Politics
Since I am in the National Academy and wants to torture those friends of mine not here, I'm gonna do a review on a classical text or literature on constitution and political theory. This is probably the most important text ever, as it discusses the ideas or the foundations of a good constitution.
Aristotle's Politics is one of the most influential and enduring texts of political philosophy in all of history. The Aristotelian tradition, following from the philosophy of Plato and continuing in the writings of Cicero, Augustine, Aquinas (pening ke belom lagi fromall these wierd names?) and other medieval theorists, has formed the backdrop against which all subsequent political and moral philosophy has found its orientation.
Early modern political philosophers such as Machiavelli and Hobbes (which I am sure is quite familiar to all of us), as well as modern Enlightenment theorists and even postmodern authors have either explicitly or implicitly defined themselves against the Aristotelian model (which is the whole idea of Aristotle on the criteria and characteristics of a good constitution). While writers in the Aristotelian tradition believed that politics has to be based on a fundamental conception of the good as an objective ultimate end for human beings, political theorists from the pre-moderns to today have tried to base politics on anything but a shared idea of the good.
The initial reason for this change is perhaps the fear that claiming the existence of one objective end for human life is too likely to lead to serious conflicts like the Wars of Religion. Coupled with this fear is a profound philosophical skepticism originating with Descartes that questions the existence of any intrinsic human nature, objective end for human life, and even objective truth in general.
These motivations are relatively clear at least in the case of Hobbes, who lived through both the Wars of Religion and the English Civil War, both of which were highly ideological conflicts, although concerns for power and material gain were also at the forefront. Hobbes attacks Aristotle vehemently in his writings, precisely because he is afraid that having such a clear-cut and universal conception of the good will inevitably lead to further ideological warfare. It is because the core assumptions of Hobbes' and Aristotle's thought are directly opposed to one another that Hobbes believes Aristotelian ideas sufficiently dangerous to merit such strong condemnation.
While Hobbes constantly emphasizes the absolute necessity of acting rationally for self-preservation, Aristotle looks beyond the mere goal of living to the higher aim of living well, in accordance with the natural function of man. This emphasis on living well is a danger in Hobbes' view, for he believes that any lofty ideals for which one may be willing to sacrifice one's life can lead to rebellion and the dissolution of the commonwealth. From Aristotle's perspective, what Hobbes fails to understand is that the goal of self-preservation will not suffice to motivate people to moderate their desires and restrain their actions. Hobbes, however, a skeptic who had been highly influenced by the writings of Descartes, simply did not believe in the existence of an ultimate good, or even for that matter in the existence of objective reality outside the human mind.
The Enlightenment was likewise largely a reaction against the Aristotelian tradition. All liberal political theories, no matter how far-ranging in specific tenets and prescriptions, hold in common one fundamental premise: the freedom and equality of human beings. To safeguard this hallowed bedrock of liberalism, liberal philosophers shrink from the metaphysical view of virtue proposed by Aristotle.
For with a fixed standard of human excellence, how can one say that all are equal when some are clearly more virtuous than others?
Hahahahahaha.... I don't want to be stressing your minds unnecessarily anymore... Anyway, basically what I understod from yesterday and today's session - as I have several more weeks to go - is that Constitution is the most important part and duty of a citizen. A citizen's duty is to interpret the meaning and function of a constitution. Without this knowledge, we would not know the importance of the power that is in our hands - that we place in the representatives we elected to voice out our needs.
Another thing that I want to say is that this workshop has given me a greater understanding and appreciation of not only the American Legacy - the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, but also OUR own Malaysian government and independence... and I'll explain that later in part 2...
Aristotle's Politics is one of the most influential and enduring texts of political philosophy in all of history. The Aristotelian tradition, following from the philosophy of Plato and continuing in the writings of Cicero, Augustine, Aquinas (pening ke belom lagi fromall these wierd names?) and other medieval theorists, has formed the backdrop against which all subsequent political and moral philosophy has found its orientation.
Early modern political philosophers such as Machiavelli and Hobbes (which I am sure is quite familiar to all of us), as well as modern Enlightenment theorists and even postmodern authors have either explicitly or implicitly defined themselves against the Aristotelian model (which is the whole idea of Aristotle on the criteria and characteristics of a good constitution). While writers in the Aristotelian tradition believed that politics has to be based on a fundamental conception of the good as an objective ultimate end for human beings, political theorists from the pre-moderns to today have tried to base politics on anything but a shared idea of the good.
The initial reason for this change is perhaps the fear that claiming the existence of one objective end for human life is too likely to lead to serious conflicts like the Wars of Religion. Coupled with this fear is a profound philosophical skepticism originating with Descartes that questions the existence of any intrinsic human nature, objective end for human life, and even objective truth in general.
These motivations are relatively clear at least in the case of Hobbes, who lived through both the Wars of Religion and the English Civil War, both of which were highly ideological conflicts, although concerns for power and material gain were also at the forefront. Hobbes attacks Aristotle vehemently in his writings, precisely because he is afraid that having such a clear-cut and universal conception of the good will inevitably lead to further ideological warfare. It is because the core assumptions of Hobbes' and Aristotle's thought are directly opposed to one another that Hobbes believes Aristotelian ideas sufficiently dangerous to merit such strong condemnation.
While Hobbes constantly emphasizes the absolute necessity of acting rationally for self-preservation, Aristotle looks beyond the mere goal of living to the higher aim of living well, in accordance with the natural function of man. This emphasis on living well is a danger in Hobbes' view, for he believes that any lofty ideals for which one may be willing to sacrifice one's life can lead to rebellion and the dissolution of the commonwealth. From Aristotle's perspective, what Hobbes fails to understand is that the goal of self-preservation will not suffice to motivate people to moderate their desires and restrain their actions. Hobbes, however, a skeptic who had been highly influenced by the writings of Descartes, simply did not believe in the existence of an ultimate good, or even for that matter in the existence of objective reality outside the human mind.
The Enlightenment was likewise largely a reaction against the Aristotelian tradition. All liberal political theories, no matter how far-ranging in specific tenets and prescriptions, hold in common one fundamental premise: the freedom and equality of human beings. To safeguard this hallowed bedrock of liberalism, liberal philosophers shrink from the metaphysical view of virtue proposed by Aristotle.
For with a fixed standard of human excellence, how can one say that all are equal when some are clearly more virtuous than others?
Hahahahahaha.... I don't want to be stressing your minds unnecessarily anymore... Anyway, basically what I understod from yesterday and today's session - as I have several more weeks to go - is that Constitution is the most important part and duty of a citizen. A citizen's duty is to interpret the meaning and function of a constitution. Without this knowledge, we would not know the importance of the power that is in our hands - that we place in the representatives we elected to voice out our needs.
Another thing that I want to say is that this workshop has given me a greater understanding and appreciation of not only the American Legacy - the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, but also OUR own Malaysian government and independence... and I'll explain that later in part 2...
Sunday, July 10, 2005
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation tie-ins
Title: CSI series
Author: Max Allan Collins
It's been a long time since my last review.... so I decided to make a sextant (sp?) review of the whole CSI novel series.
If you're a true CSI fan, you've gotta get the books cuz there's so much in detail written here including, some *ehem* hints of romance between the CSIs. Like the TV series, the book also usually has two cases in one book, solved at the same time.
The first in the series' title is Double Dealer. It's mainly abt a killer who has a double tap signature, whose identity must be revealed. The problem is, FBI agents are also interested in the case and of course, Grissom wouldn't let it go so easily. Another case is the murder of a 15-year-old girl.
Second is Sin City (not the Jessica Alba movie, mind you!), where a born-again Christian woman named Lynn Pierce was reported missing after her husband threatened to cut her into pieces, while Jenna Patrick, a stripper (thus the relevant title), was found strangled in her working booth.
Third is Cold Burn, Grissom and Sara were sent to a conference for forensic geeks high up on a picturesque, chilly mountain hotel (Grissom+Sara couple lovers will love this one), found a burnt body in the midst of the snowy mountains. This is one of the best novel in the series, and my personal favorite together with Sin City.
Fourth is Body of Evidence, where an employee discovered a grotesque child porn photos in her boss' printer. Another case is the disappearance of the mayor's secretary. You'll never get to guess who's the culprit until the very end.
Fifth is Grave Matters, where a woman wants to excavate her mother's grave because she believed that her mom was murdered. However, more problems pop out when the body was not her mom's, but a complete stranger's. Meanwhile, at a nearby hospital, a patient's death was very unnatural which led to an investigation by Catherine and Warrick. This is another favorite of mine because of the twists.
The last one, but not least, is Binding Ties. This is the first book that features Dr. Al Robbins and Greg Sanders on the back cover (The other five only have Grissom, Catherine, Nick, Warrick, Sara and Brass) since both cast members (David Hall and Eric Szmanda were finally credited as main cast in Season 5). It's abt a serial killer who had been terrorizing Las Vegas 10 years back, used the same modus operandi to kill his latest victim. However, through a reporter, he claimed that he didn't do it. There's a copycat, or so he said. This is the most tense of the series, and by far most real.
I must say that I loved the series because the author didn't mind to delve into the character's emotions and past background. While the TV show took a while before telling the audience what the characters' lives were, or the troubles they had beyond LVPD office hours, the book had it all. Besides, I loved the fact that there's much I could learn (all the scientific terms and chemical stuff) which made the series a must-have just like the show a must-watch.
Coming UP: THe CSI Miami series.
Author: Max Allan Collins
It's been a long time since my last review.... so I decided to make a sextant (sp?) review of the whole CSI novel series.
If you're a true CSI fan, you've gotta get the books cuz there's so much in detail written here including, some *ehem* hints of romance between the CSIs. Like the TV series, the book also usually has two cases in one book, solved at the same time.
The first in the series' title is Double Dealer. It's mainly abt a killer who has a double tap signature, whose identity must be revealed. The problem is, FBI agents are also interested in the case and of course, Grissom wouldn't let it go so easily. Another case is the murder of a 15-year-old girl.
Second is Sin City (not the Jessica Alba movie, mind you!), where a born-again Christian woman named Lynn Pierce was reported missing after her husband threatened to cut her into pieces, while Jenna Patrick, a stripper (thus the relevant title), was found strangled in her working booth.
Third is Cold Burn, Grissom and Sara were sent to a conference for forensic geeks high up on a picturesque, chilly mountain hotel (Grissom+Sara couple lovers will love this one), found a burnt body in the midst of the snowy mountains. This is one of the best novel in the series, and my personal favorite together with Sin City.
Fourth is Body of Evidence, where an employee discovered a grotesque child porn photos in her boss' printer. Another case is the disappearance of the mayor's secretary. You'll never get to guess who's the culprit until the very end.
Fifth is Grave Matters, where a woman wants to excavate her mother's grave because she believed that her mom was murdered. However, more problems pop out when the body was not her mom's, but a complete stranger's. Meanwhile, at a nearby hospital, a patient's death was very unnatural which led to an investigation by Catherine and Warrick. This is another favorite of mine because of the twists.
The last one, but not least, is Binding Ties. This is the first book that features Dr. Al Robbins and Greg Sanders on the back cover (The other five only have Grissom, Catherine, Nick, Warrick, Sara and Brass) since both cast members (David Hall and Eric Szmanda were finally credited as main cast in Season 5). It's abt a serial killer who had been terrorizing Las Vegas 10 years back, used the same modus operandi to kill his latest victim. However, through a reporter, he claimed that he didn't do it. There's a copycat, or so he said. This is the most tense of the series, and by far most real.
I must say that I loved the series because the author didn't mind to delve into the character's emotions and past background. While the TV show took a while before telling the audience what the characters' lives were, or the troubles they had beyond LVPD office hours, the book had it all. Besides, I loved the fact that there's much I could learn (all the scientific terms and chemical stuff) which made the series a must-have just like the show a must-watch.
Coming UP: THe CSI Miami series.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
'Double double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble' - Macbeth...
I studied Macbeth when I was in high school. Instead of taking other subjects like Arts or Geography, I had to be different. I took English Literature - and my highschool at that time did not offer English Literature, but Malay Literature (Gila nak suruh aku buat Malay Literature, BM biasa pun nak pass susah!! hahahaha). There were only four of us who took English Lit. from SGGS, and we had to take extra classes on our own in order to pass the course. And yes, I think it's the best subject by far!
If Hamlet is the grandest of Shakespeare's plays, Macbeth is from a tragic standpoint the most sublime and the most impressive as an acting play.
Nothing so terrible has been written since the Eumenides of Aeschylus, and nothing in dramatic literature--not even the slaying of Agamemnon--is depicted with such awesome intensity as the murder of Duncan. The witches are not, it is true, the divine Eumenides; they are not intended to be so; they are ignoble and vulgar instruments of hell, and the German poet who transformed them into a mixture of fates, furies and enchantresses, clothing them with tragic dignity, very ill understood their meaning.
If Hamlet is the grandest of Shakespeare's plays, Macbeth is from a tragic standpoint the most sublime and the most impressive as an acting play.
Nothing so terrible has been written since the Eumenides of Aeschylus, and nothing in dramatic literature--not even the slaying of Agamemnon--is depicted with such awesome intensity as the murder of Duncan. The witches are not, it is true, the divine Eumenides; they are not intended to be so; they are ignoble and vulgar instruments of hell, and the German poet who transformed them into a mixture of fates, furies and enchantresses, clothing them with tragic dignity, very ill understood their meaning.
Whether the age of Shakespeare still believed in ghosts and witches is a matter of perfect indifference for the justification of the use which, in Hamlet and Macbeth, he has made of pre-existing traditions. No superstition can be widely diffused without having a foundation in human nature; on this the poet builds; he calls up from their hidden abysses that dread of the unknown, that presage of a dark side of nature and a world of spirits, which philosophy now imagines it has altogether exploded. Shakespeare is a true literary genius - and the play of words, emotions and scenarios for a writer during his time was absolutely marvellous. Due to his literary genius, words were coined and created by him, due to his writings!
Back to Macbeth, these repulsive hags (the witches of course!), from which the imagination shrinks, are here emblems of the hostile powers which operate in nature; and the repugnance of our senses is outweighed by the mental horror. With one another they discourse like women of the very lowest class; for this was the class to which they were ordinarily supposed to belong; when, however, they address Macbeth, they assume a loftier tone; their predictions, which they either themselves pronounce or allow their apparitions to deliver, have all the obscure brevity, the majestic solemnity of oracles. They are governed by an invisible spirit, or the operation of such great and dreadful events would be above their sphere.
With what intent did Shakespeare assign the same place to them in his play which they occupy in the history of Macbeth as related in the old chronicles?
A monstrous crime is committed; Duncan, a venerable old man, and the best of kings, is, in defenseless sleep, under the hospital's roof, murdered by his subject, whom he has loaded with honors and rewards. Natural motives alone seem inadequate, or the perpetrator must have been portrayed as a hardened villain. Shakespeare wished to exhibit a more sublime picture--an ambitious but noble hero, yielding to a deep-laid hellish temptation, and in whom all the crimes to which, in order to secure the fruits of his first crime, he is impelled by necessity, cannot altogether eradicate the stamp of native heroism. He has, therefore, given a threefold division to the guilt of that crime.
The first idea comes from beings whose whole activity is guided by the lust of wickedness. The weird sisters surprise Macbeth in the moment of intoxication of victory, when his love of glory has been gratified; they cheat his eyes by exhibiting to him as the work of fate what in reality can only be accomplished by his own deed, and gain credence for all their words by the immediate filfilment of the first prediction.
The opportunity of murdering the king immediately offers; the wife of Macbeth conjures him not to let it slip; she urges him on with a fiery eloquence, which has at command all those sophisms that serve to throw a false splendor over crime. Little more than the mere execution falls to the share of Macbeth; he is driven into it, as it were, in a tumult of fascination. Repentance immediately follows, nay, even precedes the deed, and the stings of conscience leave him rest neither night nor day. But he is now fairly entangled in the snares of hell. That same Macbeth, who once as a warrior could spurn at death, now that he dreads the prospect of the life to come, clings with growing anxiety to his earthly existence the more miserable it becomes, and pitilessly removes out of the way whatever to his dark and suspicious mind seems to threaten danger.
However much we may abhor his actions, we cannot altogether refuse to compassionate the state of his mind; we lament the ruin of so many noble qualities, and even in his last defense we are compelled to admire the struggle of a brave will with a cowardly conscience.
Lady Macbeth, who of all the human participators in the king's murder is the most guilty, is thrown by the terrors of her conscience into a state of incurable bodily and mental disease; she dies, unlamented even by her husband. Macbeth is still found worthy to die the death of a hero on the field of battle. The noble Macduff is allowed the satisfaction of saving his country by punishing with his own hand the tyrant who had murdered his wife and children.
Banquo, by an early death, atones for his ambitious curiosity to know his glorious descendants, as he thereby has roused Macbeth's jealousy; but he preserves his mind pure from the evil suggestions of the witches; his name is blessed in his race, destined to enjoy for a long succession of ages that royal dignity which Macbeth could only hold for his own life.
In the progress of the action, this play is the reverse of Hamlet; it strides forward with amazing rapidity from the first catastrophe to the last. The precise duration of the action cannot be ascertained--years, perhaps, according to the story--but to the imagination the most crowded time appears always the shortest. Here we can hardly conceive how so much could have been compressed into so narrow a space, and not merely external events, for the very inmost recesses in the minds of the dramatic personages are laid open to us.
It is as if the drags were taken from the wheels of time, and they rolled along without interruption in their descent....
Friday, July 01, 2005
Anne of Green Gables series pt.1
Title : No specific title.. I'm talking about the series here :-p
Author: Lucy Maud Montgomery a.k.a L.M. Montgomery
I was introduced to this carrot-haired lass a few years back during the Dunhill Double on TV2.. remember? Yup, I got to know her from the TV FIRST, before getting to know her in literature. And, hey, don't tell me I'm the only one here hehe..
Fast forward a few years later, I was in the school library when I stumbled upon the series and after that, I kept going back to borrow the books until I finished all 8. Sadly, I didn't get to read them in order as it was more to availability. Being the blabbering girl who loves to talk about books, I told my classmates about my find and well, everyone just wanted a piece of it that I had to 'chup' the books from my friends in order to read them.
Well, back to the present time, around last year when I was doing my usual book hunting (one thing about Popular, you never KNOW when you'd find a GEM.. I found Quidditch Through The Ages on one of these trips and I doubt that most of you even have SEEN it haha.. Baizurah, tolong la jeles kat saya!!!) when I came across Anne of Green Gables. Remebering the childhood fun of reading it, I quickly paid for it and savoured every minute reading it.
A few days later, at KBJ, must be jodoh haha, I found other the books in this series but since I bought just a handful of money then, I just managed to buy 2 but that just started my hunt to complete the whole series from the well known Anne of Green Gables right up to Rilla of Ingleside which by the way narrates the accounts of Annes youngest daughter, Rilla, named after Marilla Cuthbert, the woman who took care and loved Anne as her own child.
So now, people, I'm the proud owner of the whole set!!
The series kick-starts with Anne of Green Gables which all of us know is about the 9 year old orphan who was sent to the Cuthberts by mistake, but managed to steal the hearts of everyone in Avonlea, including the Gilbert Blythe, who somehow seems to remind me Raja Nazrin.. in the movie la but don't ask me why! Baizurah, we can relate to her, you know.. she too, is a day dreamer like us haha.. She and her 'bosom friend' Diana get into a lot of scrapes, with Anne as the mastermind of it, of course. The both of them (kindred spirits, as Anne describes them) create all these stories for every place in Avonlea and even venture to change the name of nearly all these places.
Anne (spelt with an 'e' haha..) is described as a smart but hot-headed girl, proven by her infamous action of slamming her slate on top of poor Gilbert's head, then refusing to speak to him ever, even when he saved her from the river one day. Her pride just won't let her befriend him, though, at the end of the book, she finally asks him for forgiveness for her stubborness.
The second book is Anne of Avonlea which tells of Anne abandoning her dreams to further her studies just so she could look after Marilla after Matthew's death. She becomes a teacher at her dear old school in Avonlea, courtesy of Gilbert who handed her the post given to him earlier. Full with expectations, she starts her job but soon realizes that what she dreamt of and what student REALLY are made of, are not the same. But cheery Anne still maintains her trust in her students and she wins their adoration. She further becomes close to one student of hers named Paul (I think..) who lost his mother since he was small. Somehow, Anne's intrusion in his life helped him find a new mother who's just perfect for him.
Back at home, Marilla adopts twins who are somehow her kin. I don't remember what happened to the twin's family, though. Dora and Dave are as different as day and night. Dora, the sensible, prim and proper but boring twin contrasts with her mischievous and cheeky twin, Davy. Davy soon grows attached to Anne and is jelous of the bond between Anne and Paul. Gilbert also starts his advances to Anne, which, as readers, we understand Anne's feeling's more than she herself does. *sigh*
Here we learn that, once upon a time ago, Marilla and gilbert's father were once a couple but because of Marilla's stubborness, they broke up. Mariila never forgot that and she was afraid that Anne might make the same mistake.
Another thing, Ms Rachel moved in with them after the death of her husband and together, the old ladies took care of the twins and the farm, enabling Anne to go to college the next fall.
Then there's Anne of the Island. In this book, she finally pursues her dream of going to college, Redmond College to be exact. And guess who's also there.. Gilbert Blythe! Together they compete with each other in college, with Gilbert always a small step ahead of Anne.
Anne befriends this cheeky but very sweet childish flirt with the name of Phillipa and together with her old friend Prissy, they rent this cute cottage together and learn not only lessons in class, but also lessons in life. It is here that Anne starts feeling confused with her feelings for Gilbert. Gilbert on the other hand, hurt by Anne's rejection, befriend another girl, Christine but only at the end do we know that he was just taking care of Christine.
Anne gets her first proposal, in such a ridiculous way that she can't help laughing about it! She also befriends this other guy, whom I can't remember his name (nmpk sangat pro-Gilbert!) but doesn't end up with him in the end for obvious reasons haha..
She misses Green Gables, Marilla, Mrs Rachel whom she once despised, Dora and Davy but somehow manages. Even her dreamy Paul has grown up, living with his father and new mother. He no longer has day dreams like he once had but he still corresponds with Anne and still writes his poetry.
Towards the end, Gilbert fall sick and is feared to be dying. This somehow is the turning twist of Anne and Gilbert's life when they finally admit what they've been feeling for so long *double sigh*.
The fourth book is Anne of Windy Poplars about her life after college. She has finally graduated and about to begin a new life as a teacher in Summerside. Howver, her cheery composition is darkened by the Pringles, a clan considered 'royalty' of Summerside.
Here, she rents a room at Windy Poplars with two widows, Aunt Kate and Aunt Chatty, together with their housekeeper, Rebecca Dew (Anne could never call Rebecca with her first name, it was always accompanied by her surname). These are her friends who help her uncover the secret of the Pringles and at the same time, win their trust and heart too.
Apart from the Pringles (I'm imagining the potato chips right now..), Anne's meddlesome nature urges her to help little Elizabeth, a dreamy girl version of Paul. She was abandoned by her hurt father after her mother died while giving birth to her and looked after by her grandmother who controls her too much. Anne however managed to persuade Elizabeth's father to come and just take a look at his daughter, but the father took a step farther by taking Elizabeth with him instead, making the little girl happy.
Anne also helps change this hard hearted teacher, Catherine. Anne's warmth and cheerfulness was so infectious that she finally thawed this Ice Queen who finally became her friend after so much differances they displayed against each other. Don't forget, Anne is stubborn too!
Here, Anne also manages to learn about her real parents and suddenly feels so complete after having the chance to keep sweet momentos of her parents.
This book is punctuated with letters from Anne to Gilbert and vice versa.. sweet² letters too! BTW, Gilbert was still finishing his studies in medicine here, that's why they aren't married yet.
Wow!! Look at the time, I still haven't finished the preview for the other 4 books of this series, but I guess I'd continue next time.. later, guys!
Author: Lucy Maud Montgomery a.k.a L.M. Montgomery
I was introduced to this carrot-haired lass a few years back during the Dunhill Double on TV2.. remember? Yup, I got to know her from the TV FIRST, before getting to know her in literature. And, hey, don't tell me I'm the only one here hehe..
Fast forward a few years later, I was in the school library when I stumbled upon the series and after that, I kept going back to borrow the books until I finished all 8. Sadly, I didn't get to read them in order as it was more to availability. Being the blabbering girl who loves to talk about books, I told my classmates about my find and well, everyone just wanted a piece of it that I had to 'chup' the books from my friends in order to read them.
Well, back to the present time, around last year when I was doing my usual book hunting (one thing about Popular, you never KNOW when you'd find a GEM.. I found Quidditch Through The Ages on one of these trips and I doubt that most of you even have SEEN it haha.. Baizurah, tolong la jeles kat saya!!!) when I came across Anne of Green Gables. Remebering the childhood fun of reading it, I quickly paid for it and savoured every minute reading it.
A few days later, at KBJ, must be jodoh haha, I found other the books in this series but since I bought just a handful of money then, I just managed to buy 2 but that just started my hunt to complete the whole series from the well known Anne of Green Gables right up to Rilla of Ingleside which by the way narrates the accounts of Annes youngest daughter, Rilla, named after Marilla Cuthbert, the woman who took care and loved Anne as her own child.
So now, people, I'm the proud owner of the whole set!!
The series kick-starts with Anne of Green Gables which all of us know is about the 9 year old orphan who was sent to the Cuthberts by mistake, but managed to steal the hearts of everyone in Avonlea, including the Gilbert Blythe, who somehow seems to remind me Raja Nazrin.. in the movie la but don't ask me why! Baizurah, we can relate to her, you know.. she too, is a day dreamer like us haha.. She and her 'bosom friend' Diana get into a lot of scrapes, with Anne as the mastermind of it, of course. The both of them (kindred spirits, as Anne describes them) create all these stories for every place in Avonlea and even venture to change the name of nearly all these places.
Anne (spelt with an 'e' haha..) is described as a smart but hot-headed girl, proven by her infamous action of slamming her slate on top of poor Gilbert's head, then refusing to speak to him ever, even when he saved her from the river one day. Her pride just won't let her befriend him, though, at the end of the book, she finally asks him for forgiveness for her stubborness.
The second book is Anne of Avonlea which tells of Anne abandoning her dreams to further her studies just so she could look after Marilla after Matthew's death. She becomes a teacher at her dear old school in Avonlea, courtesy of Gilbert who handed her the post given to him earlier. Full with expectations, she starts her job but soon realizes that what she dreamt of and what student REALLY are made of, are not the same. But cheery Anne still maintains her trust in her students and she wins their adoration. She further becomes close to one student of hers named Paul (I think..) who lost his mother since he was small. Somehow, Anne's intrusion in his life helped him find a new mother who's just perfect for him.
Back at home, Marilla adopts twins who are somehow her kin. I don't remember what happened to the twin's family, though. Dora and Dave are as different as day and night. Dora, the sensible, prim and proper but boring twin contrasts with her mischievous and cheeky twin, Davy. Davy soon grows attached to Anne and is jelous of the bond between Anne and Paul. Gilbert also starts his advances to Anne, which, as readers, we understand Anne's feeling's more than she herself does. *sigh*
Here we learn that, once upon a time ago, Marilla and gilbert's father were once a couple but because of Marilla's stubborness, they broke up. Mariila never forgot that and she was afraid that Anne might make the same mistake.
Another thing, Ms Rachel moved in with them after the death of her husband and together, the old ladies took care of the twins and the farm, enabling Anne to go to college the next fall.
Then there's Anne of the Island. In this book, she finally pursues her dream of going to college, Redmond College to be exact. And guess who's also there.. Gilbert Blythe! Together they compete with each other in college, with Gilbert always a small step ahead of Anne.
Anne befriends this cheeky but very sweet childish flirt with the name of Phillipa and together with her old friend Prissy, they rent this cute cottage together and learn not only lessons in class, but also lessons in life. It is here that Anne starts feeling confused with her feelings for Gilbert. Gilbert on the other hand, hurt by Anne's rejection, befriend another girl, Christine but only at the end do we know that he was just taking care of Christine.
Anne gets her first proposal, in such a ridiculous way that she can't help laughing about it! She also befriends this other guy, whom I can't remember his name (nmpk sangat pro-Gilbert!) but doesn't end up with him in the end for obvious reasons haha..
She misses Green Gables, Marilla, Mrs Rachel whom she once despised, Dora and Davy but somehow manages. Even her dreamy Paul has grown up, living with his father and new mother. He no longer has day dreams like he once had but he still corresponds with Anne and still writes his poetry.
Towards the end, Gilbert fall sick and is feared to be dying. This somehow is the turning twist of Anne and Gilbert's life when they finally admit what they've been feeling for so long *double sigh*.
The fourth book is Anne of Windy Poplars about her life after college. She has finally graduated and about to begin a new life as a teacher in Summerside. Howver, her cheery composition is darkened by the Pringles, a clan considered 'royalty' of Summerside.
Here, she rents a room at Windy Poplars with two widows, Aunt Kate and Aunt Chatty, together with their housekeeper, Rebecca Dew (Anne could never call Rebecca with her first name, it was always accompanied by her surname). These are her friends who help her uncover the secret of the Pringles and at the same time, win their trust and heart too.
Apart from the Pringles (I'm imagining the potato chips right now..), Anne's meddlesome nature urges her to help little Elizabeth, a dreamy girl version of Paul. She was abandoned by her hurt father after her mother died while giving birth to her and looked after by her grandmother who controls her too much. Anne however managed to persuade Elizabeth's father to come and just take a look at his daughter, but the father took a step farther by taking Elizabeth with him instead, making the little girl happy.
Anne also helps change this hard hearted teacher, Catherine. Anne's warmth and cheerfulness was so infectious that she finally thawed this Ice Queen who finally became her friend after so much differances they displayed against each other. Don't forget, Anne is stubborn too!
Here, Anne also manages to learn about her real parents and suddenly feels so complete after having the chance to keep sweet momentos of her parents.
This book is punctuated with letters from Anne to Gilbert and vice versa.. sweet² letters too! BTW, Gilbert was still finishing his studies in medicine here, that's why they aren't married yet.
Wow!! Look at the time, I still haven't finished the preview for the other 4 books of this series, but I guess I'd continue next time.. later, guys!
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