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.