Merlin's Dragon

 

 

Author: T. A. Barron

Basil is a dragon like no other. He is as small as a bird, green in colour and does not breathe fire. Born in Woodroot - one of the seven Realms that make up the roots of the Great Tree of Avalon - Basil longs to find out what and who he really is.

The novel is about Basil's journey of self-discovery, and by the end (or very near it) he discovers that (big) size does not matter - it's what you do that counts. In fact, his small size worked to his advantage at the most crucial moment.

While I liked the message that the story was trying deliver, the narrative disappointed me somewhat. Basil spends a long time whining and reflecting all by himself (in between being chased by various creatures), and it isn't until the middle of the novel that something really significant happens (i.e. he meets Merlin) - and then the pace slacks again. When he finally sets off on his journey across the realms, there is very little time and pages left, so Basil (and unfortunately his reader) is forced to rush through all the different places.

I also found the dialogue awkward - the author could not seem to decide which type of tone to use: modern 20th/21st century high school or Elizabethan middle ages/typical myth & legend. Granted, the book is targeted for children (age group 9-12) but that inconsistency is still jarring. All in all, this is one trilogy that I shall not finish - not in a hurry to find the related books.

Twenties' Girl

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Lara Lington is a sweet girl trying to make it as an entrepreneur in the headhunting business. She has set up a partnership with her best friend, who unfortunately leaves her for a sudden vacation in Goa. To make things worse, she is also in denial over her break-up with Josh, which leaves her parents worried as they all prepare to attend the funeral of 105-year-old Great Aunt Sadie.

At the funeral, Lara sees the ghost of Sadie, who appears as a Twenties Flapper. Sadie is upset that her favourite necklace is lost, and will not rest until it is found. She enlists Lara for help, and thus begins a strange but ultimately deep friendship between the two.

This novel is written in typical Sophie Kinsella style, and I absolutely loved Sadie! Lara was also more likable than Becky Bloomwood, in that she truly wanted to believe the best of everyone. Except for her infatuation with ex-boyfriend Josh, she seemed to have her head screwed right throughout the story.

I would have rated it 3.5 stars out of 5 on Goodreads.com - very close but not quite up to a 4. Unfortunately it dragged a bit in the middle, and the ending rushed together towards a convenient, happy conclusion. I would have liked certain parts to last longer, especially when Sadie reconciles with her past (sort of, trying not to give the plot away here). It would have been nice to know more about her life, but I suppose going in that direction would require a bittersweet tone in the narrative, whereas Kinsella was probably playing it safe by sticking to her usual witty lighthearted dialogue.

I also wish the plot could have expanded more on the other characters, especially the relationship between Lara's father and her uncle. There was a nice sweet twist at the end involving Lara's mum though.

Water for Elephants

Author: Sara Gruen

Genre: Fiction

Film tie-ins are convenient. If I know who the actors and actresses are, I immediately imagine them playing the same characters in the movie - despite the fact that I have never seen the film myself. This usually sets me up for a potential disappointment when I DO get to see the film, as some scenes are not played the way I saw it in my mind, and some lines are inevitably changed.

However, reading this book disappointed me in a different way. If I were in Reese Witherspoon's shoes, I would feel insulted at being offered to play Marlena from this novel. Imagine - an Oscar-winning actress who has played such diverse roles since her teenhood reduced to playing a one-dimensional part (but hang on, didn't she do the same for 'This Means War'?).

Marlena is a circus performer caught in a love triangle between the circus' seasoned animal trainer and the new circus 'vet'. That's about all there is to her, as the story is told from the vet's POV.

It is set in the 20's or 30's, and is told in flashback by the vet who is now languishing in an old folk's home. The circus is a travelling circus, criss-crossing America on a train to perform shows or acquire new acts from bankrupt competitors. One of their acquisitions is an elephant that the circus owner insists on being made the star attraction, despite not being able to follow instructions.

The premise is interesting, and the novel started off quite well, but halfway through the pace dropped and things began to get quite humdrum. It was only in the last few chapters that the action picked up again, but even then it became a tad too predictable.

The Boy who Harnessed the Wind

Author: William Kamkwamba & Bryan Mealer

This is an autobiography of an African boy who built a windmill to generate electricity in his poverty-stricken village. He has since received worldwide fame and recognition, and his story even appeared in Wallace & Gromit!

The book starts with William's account of his family and their life in Malawi. His father, like many other Malawians, is a tobacco and maize farmer. William takes us through his childhood - his family and friends, the games they play, the stories they listen to and the scrapes they get into.

Then one year a drought strikes the farming community, and they are forced into starvation and poverty. William drops out of school after failing to pay the school fees, but, not wanting to fall behind, he visits the public library where he finds several science books. One of them has a picture of windmills on the cover.

This book is written with such a positive outlook on life. I do not know how much of the book is really written in William's voice, but it is a voice full of wit, humour and a 'what's next?' attitude. I especially enjoyed his account of witch children playing some form of football tournament using people's heads that they steal while the owners are asleep. But most heartwarming is his experience speaking at the TED Conference: struggling with his English, his simple statement summed it all:

"I try, and I made it."

Undomestic Goddess

Author: Sophie Kinsella

I have wanted to read this book for ages, and I am glad I finally did. If anything, this book redeemed my faith in Ms. Kinsella's writing (although she did write this before Mini-Shopaholic).

I also love the fact that the protagonist in this book is so different from Becky. Samantha Sweeting is an intelligent, no-nonsense, workaholic lawyer aiming to make it big. But just before she is about to achieve her dreams, she makes a terrible mistake and goes into a sort of nervous breakdown. Somehow she gets hired as a housekeeper - despite not knowing how to cook or clean.

I suppose the premise is too far-fetched, but at least Samantha does not annoy me as much as Becky did. And despite her lack of domestic skills, she quickly learns her new trade and even excels at it (oh, I am so jealous!!!). Things tie up nicely in the end when it appears her earlier mistake was -SPOILER ALERT!!! - actually a set-up. And of course she gets the guy.

The only grouch I have about this book is the lack of development of the other characters, especially the employers. All in all, an enjoyable read.

Mini Shopaholic

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Chick lit is usually dependable when I need a pick-me-up. Ever since I read the first Shopaholic book, I could always rely on Sophie Kinsella to deliver the goods. And so this time I returned to Becky Bloomwood, several years after I left her at the altar married to Luke Brandon.

This is the latest in the Shopaholic series, I think, and while Becky's circumstances have progressed - she's married, has a 2-year-old daughter and is hunting for a family home - unfortunately her shopping habits have not improved much. In fact, for a mother of one who is hankering for another child, she seems to have regressed into some childish behaviour herself.

Although some of her antics are funny, and there is a bittersweet, heart-tugging moment or two, I can't help but be a little frustrated with Becky for being so immature when it comes to her family. Some events have a big build-up only to end in a sort of anti-climax. Even her moments of brilliance do not match the scale of her achievements in the first few books (the articles, TV show etc). Except for the party - which turns out to be - SPOILER ALERT!!! - absolutely grand. This annoys me even more, in a-'What has she done to really deserve having all her plans come truer than she herself expected it to be?'-kind-of-way.

The Old Man & The Sea

Author: Ernest Hemingway
Genre: Fiction, Classic

This book was lying around in the house - it belongs to Hubby. He seems to have a collection of classics about men, fishing and the sea - before we were married he was reading Moby Dick but never got round to finishing it. Is there a trend here?

The story is basically about an old fisherman whose best days seem to be over. One day he strikes out to sea earlier and further than before, hoping to make one great catch. He snags a giant marlin, and from then on it is a battle of strength, wits and tenacity as he tries to subdue the creature and make his way home with his bounty.

 Anyway, this was a short book, which I finished fairly quickly. The writing was meant to be revolutionary at the time it was published. For me, I prefer my classics to be more meandering with long descriptive sentences. This has a very modern, conemporary feel to it.

Although I did not care so much for the writing style, the story and theme got me hooked. The ending particularly touched me and reminds me of the conundrum I used to face during staff performance appraisals - how do you address no results despite the great efforts you have put in?

My very own TBR Challenge

I have spent a couple of thousand RM on books in the last few years. Unfortunately, I have not read as much. Many of them are still languishing on my shelves or bedside table, collecting dust. And so this year, instead of buying more books that will only contribute to reducing my income tax by a small amount, I shall endeavour to unearth the gems of wisdom that are eagerly awaiting me.

I have two lists, non-fiction and fiction.

NON-FICTION:

1. Wanita Bekerja & Beribadah
2. Coming of Age
3. Linchpin - Are you Indispensable?: CURRENTLY READING
4. Melahirkan Zuriat yang Solat
5. Minda Tertawan
6. Bidayatul Hidayah
7. Ramadhan Terakhir
8. Khutbah Terakhir Rasulullah
9. Peristiwa Bersejarah Ramadhan
10. Ensiklopedia Solat
11. iLeadership: The Steve Jobs Way
12. The Boy who Harnessed the Wind: CURRENTLY READING

FICTION:

1. The Inheritance of Loss
2. Water for Elephants
3. Island Beneath the Sea
4. Warlock
5. The Red Queen
6. Mini Shopaholic: DONE
7. Heretics of Dune
8. The Hummingbird's Daughter
9. The Old Man & the Sea: DONE

100 Best Blogs for Book Reviews

This is also a great website for when I run out of ideas on how/what to review. http://www.onlinecollege.org/2009/09/15/100-best-blogs-for-book-reviews/

How to Write a Book Review

I found this wonderful post http://www.lavc.edu/Library/bookreview.htm. Very helpful and informative - if I ever decide to make a profession out of this.

A Visit from the Goon Squad

Author: Jennifer Egan

I was in the hunt for a book one Friday lunch break (things at the office were stressing me out so I had to resort to retail therapy 20 km away) but did not want a bodice ripper. The colourful cover attracted me, as did the golden circle in the bottom left corner. Pulitzer Prize winners must surely guarantee a good read, no?

Do not judge a book by its cover - or its first chapter. I was looking for a light, entertaining and easy romp. Like Kinsella. Or something semi-reflective like Nick Hornby (the allusion to music made me think of High Fidelity). What I got was rock and roll (or punk, to be more precise), divorce, suicide, illness, drugs, environmental issues. And ultimately, redemption.


Although the synopsis introduces us to Bennie and then Sasha, I related more to the latter. Bennie to me seemed too self-absorbed in only one side of him i.e. his passion for music - or are all musicians/music producers like that?

The book is like a collection of short stories, but it is also almost a novel. Each chapter has a different protagonist, in a different era, but through his or her tale you also get to know more about the previous protagonists. The format reminds me of another book I read a couple of years ago.

Because each chapter is told from a different character's POV, and the timeline is non-linear, it was a bit difficult to read. I admit to being stumped a few times when the narrative is told in the first person which happens to be a totally new character. The most interesting format (from a technical angle) is the powerpoint chapter. However the most poignant character to me is Rolph. His childhood innocence seems reflected in Sasha's son several chapters apart.
 
I found myself semi-quoting on line from the book:

If there are children, there must be a future, right?

Then I belatedly figured out that it was an allusion to the first line of Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All" - I believe that children are our future...  Time may be a goon, but time also repeats itself.

Lilian's Story

Author: Kate Grenville

Lilian is a girl born into a middle-class family, the eldest of two children. Her father is strict, her mother a bit of a dreamer. Lilian herself dreams of acceptance and greatness, however her actions to win favour work against her. As she grows up, she enters a mental institution, and when she leaves she ends up as an eccentric bag lady, quoting Shakespeare.

I wouldn't say that this book was enjoyable, but it is a very moving tale. At times you feel that she is aware of how people perceive her i.e. as a madwoman, and that if she wants to she can choose to conform. However conformity would make her forgettable, as she is not as pretty, graceful or elegant as her peers. And so Lilian chooses to be happy and optimistic in her own way despite all that life throws in her wake.

The tale reminds me of a peripheral character from my childhood - a woman roaming the streets of my mother's hometown of Pasir Mas. Whenever we passed by the shophouses of the old town, we would spot her standing on the sidewalk, laughing alone with her head full of hair thrown back. I could tell that she was once beautiful, and now I wonder what stories she would have to tell if one were to ask, or what misfortunes had befallen her to drive her to such a state.  

Love in the Time of Cholera

Author: Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Initially planned for the 2011 Global Reading Challenge, I was only able to complete it in Jan 2012.

The story of two lovers spanning more than 50 years, it takes place at a time when great social and technological changes occur in their city. Fermina Daza and Fiorentino Ariza fall in love as teenagers, but are separated when Fermina marries an up-and-coming doctor from a distinguished family. 50 years on, after her husband dies, Fiorentino professes his love for her again. Despite having had 422 affairs within that period of separation, Ariza claims he has been faithful to Daza.

Maybe this is typical of South American men, or Latino men, or men in general, but I fail to see how this makes it a great love story. Ariza is described as someone prone to lyricism due to his indulgence of poetry,  romances, and love letters - up to a point where he becomes ghost-writer to illiterate lovers and end up writing for both parties, such that the correspondence is in reality to himself. However, there is no explicit evidence or specimen of his writing in the book. His love is embodied in the physical sense through his many relationships with all sorts of women - widows and wives of other men included.

More striking to me is the love that Fermina Daza's husband, Dr Juvenal Urbino, has for his city. This is shown through his patronage of the Civil and Arts movements as well as his efforts at improving the health system. In a way, this also showcases the love that the author has for this region's history and geography, and most of all for the people inhabiting this city. Maybe this is the real love story it intends to portray.

In describing Dr Juvenal Urbino's fond memories of his hometown while studying in Paris:

"He was still too young to know that the heart's memory eliminates the bad and magnifies the good, and that thanks to this artifice we manage to endure the burden of the past. But when he stood at the railing of the ship...only then did he understand to what extent he had been an easy victim to the charitable deceptions of nostalgia."

And when the penitent doctor arrives at his wife's cousin's ranch for reconciliation:

"It is better to arrive in time than to be invited."

Another wonderful quote is from Ariza' Uncle Leo responding to 'accusations' of being rich:

"No, not rich. I am a poor man with money, which is not the same thing."

God Emperor of Dune

Author: Frank Herbert

Book 4 of the Dune chronicles. I must admit this was a bit of a chore to read, and I only really read it because I like to go through my chronicles in order and I really want to read Book 5 (which apparently is more interesting).

Leto II  has transformed into a human-sandworm hybrid. He is now 3500 years old, so must be bored to death with his surroundings. Despite that, he keeps requesting for Duncan Idaho gholas from the Bene Tleilaxu, although there doesn't seem to be much going on with Duncan except his popularity with the ladies and a role as a human stud.

Being such an ancient being, Leto is something of a philosopher and teacher to his majordomo, Moneo - who happens to be on of the Idaho ghola's descendants and previously a rebel against the Leto administration. Moneo's daughter, Siona, is plotting rebellion against the God Emperor. And there is also the recurring theme of the Golden Path, which frankly I cannot recall its true meaning as it has been several years in between this book and the preceding ones. Best to let Wikipedia explain the plot.

SPOILER ALERT!

A bit of a surprise (even to the seemingly prescient God Emperor himself) is the appearance of Hwi Noree, an ambassador from Ix, who manufacture gadgets under strict control. Leto is taken in by Hwi, both by the her seemingly perfect form as well as the fact that he cannot figure her out. Hwi, likewise, is in awe of Leto and pledges to serve him. In the meantime, Idaho becomes embittered, as he has also fallen for Hwi and begins to distrust Leto. Together with Siona, Idaho decides to kill the Emperor.

The novel is written in a very philosophical style. At times, it appears as a philosophical discourse of human history. This is expected, as the premise of this series is that all this takes place in the future, so their history at some point is the same as our history. Some impressive quotes from the book (and good lessons for management and government):

"All rebellions are ordinary and an ultimate bore. They are copied out of the same pattern, one much like another. The driving force is adrenaline addiction and the desire to gain personal power. All rebels are closet aristocrats."

"Radicals are only to be feared when you try to suppress them. You must demonstrate that you will use the best of what they offer."

"...the beginning of knowledge - the discovery of something we do not understand."

"The problem of leadership is inevitably: Who will play god?"

"Ignorance thrives on hysteria...The undeserving maintain power by promoting hysteria. the Atreides art is the art of ruling without hysteria, the art of being responsible for the uses of power."

"A leader tries to perpetuate the conditions which demand his leadership. Thus, the leader requires the outsider."

"Some believe that you must compromise integrity with a certain amount of dirty work before you can put genius to work. They say the compromise begins when you come out of your sanctus intending to realise your ideals. Moneo says my solution is to stay within my sanctus, sending others to do my dirty work."