Hi all,

because of my busy schedule, I have not been able to update the blog with new reads and reviews.

Will be back soon.

Thank you!

A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

A Tale of Two Cities (1859), Dickens' greatest historical novel, traces the private lives of a group of people caught up in the cataclysm of the French Revolution and the Terror. Dickens based his historical detail on Carlyle's great work - The French Revolution - and also on his own observations and investigations during numerous visits to Paris.

'The best story I have written' was Dickens' own verdict on A Tale of Two Cities and the reader is unlikely to disagree with this judgment of a story which combines historical fact with the author's unsurpassed genius for poignant tales of human suffering, self-sacrifice, and redemption.

***

When I first read this book, I couldn't understand or piece the parts together at all. I strained to read and understand and when I finally do, I got why this piece is so well-liked.

Dickens talked about the French Revolution in a very subtle way. He did not lay out all the things about the French Revolution right out for the readers. Instead he chose to bring out the pain through the characters, and about how cheap life was to the extend that people only gain freedom and heaven by dying. The ones who live on are the ones who had to keep on with their struggles.

Prisoners, so wronged, were to be put to death. Family reunions remained an empty wish. People pay for the sins of their ancestors. Everyone lived in a sea of hatred (Alright, not all). This story is more than just the bad vs the good, or the living vs the dead. It has a deeper meaning to that.

One voice isn't enough to bring out the goodness of this book. Read the reviews here.

No regrets, read it.

Have your Cake and Kill Him Too - Nancy Martin

Heiress-go-lighly Nora Blackbird is teetering on the brink of losing her job as the city's most talked-about society columnist. Her sisters, desperate housewife Libby and fiercely independent Emma, are exploring their animal natures, with dangerous results. And even as two hot men vie for a long-term place by Nora's side, she learns she's in a delicate condition....

What's a sophisticated girl to do?

Murder is always distracting. Especially when the victim is the tycoon owner of Cupcakes, a spectacularly tacky sports bar known less for its hot wings than for its hot waitresses. Nora trails a secretive politician, a shady former rock star doubling as a pastry chef, and a dangerous aristo-brat on the verge of stardom. She's got a personal life to untangle, and a killer to slap behind bars, before her grandmother's couture gets so snug that the Main Line gossips take notice.

***

The reason why I read this book was totally coincidental. I was at the library to kill some time and I randomly picked up a book from the shelf, and this is it. I read the introduction at the back and when I caught the word "murder", I decided that this book should interesting enough. I usually love this genre.

Martin didn't take long to go into the murder part, and after introducing the part, the story goes on to talk about how Nora goes about investigating. She's not a detective, just a social columnist, but I don't know why she was involved, or asked to help when the murder happened. I did not read the other Blackbird series. Perhaps Martin explains it there. Other than the investigation issue, Nora also had a personal problem to worry about. She is pregnant, but it came at the wrong time. she broke up with her boyfriend, the father of the unborn child. Also, to mention, her ex-boyfriend is some wanted man on the list.

Back to topic - the murder case. I was disappointed with how the story progresses. I couldn't see the climaxes in the investigation at any part. In fact, I was more interested in Nora's personal life than to know who's behind the murder. I don't feel the extreme urge to read on and find out the truth, but I finished the book anyway. I'm not totally saying that this is bad though. I believe there should be something good about this Blackbird series, considering this is a series. (I mean, if people don't like it, why would Martin write a series?) I guess I'm more interested with something more thrilling, more frightening, something that would probably scare the hell out of me?

I like Dean Koontz, and I remember reading Judith McNaught's Someone to Watch Over Me, and say, I love it!

This is My Story - Kasandra Kong

Before you flip those pages, I want to say a BIG thank You for purchasing this book; This is My Story... You are not only buying a book, you are also facilitating a CAUSE that I am advocating strongly to all ladies out there - That is, "To protect Yourself from Guys Who Just Want to Have Sex with you." To spread this message, I know I'll have to open myself up and share with you my deepest & darkest secrets; which I believe no "sound-minded" ladies will do, not to the point of showing her real face on a book cover, photos in all Chapters, and revealing her true identity, like myself...

In this true story of mine, I'll reveal to you what a guy WILL do just to get you to bed, and how they can transform completely after they've gotten you. Learn from my mistakes & experiences, and DON'T let the same thing happen to you like how it had happened to me; to the point of driving me to end my own life willingly; but yet unconsciously.

ONE "wrong" guy is all it takes to shatter & destroy your whole life in just 6 - 18 months... They are the male-predators on ground searching for female=preys you never knew about, or are aware of; till you are captured. Learn to watch those signs, watch over your little sister, and dear friends of yours, or even your own daughter, and educate them against such guys; they exist.

Together, let's prevent more ladies from getting into such plight & dilemma when all they were looking for is ONE Genuine Love. Should you like to meet, share, and interact with me further AFTER reading my book, kindly register yourself at http://www.KasandraKong.com/MailingList.htm; you have no idea how much this means to me...

May The Good Force Be With You.

Kasandra Kong - Message extracted from her book.

***

I bought this book because I was curious. Curious about this story that happened to a (then) 18 year old girl, a life that revolved about betrayal, love, sex, deceptions, anger, and hatred. Many people thinks that she made up this story to earn money. Some believes this is true, but slams the girl for being "cheap" for telling the world of her failed relationship just to make money. My view? I believe this is true, because there is no point making up such a story, putting up her pictures, and at the end of the day, risk getting bad feedback from people. I also believe when she said that she first felt the need to write this book because she saw her youngest sister walking her old path.

History has a good way of repeating itself, and at that point of time, I would say that what Kasandra did was admirable. In the book, Kasandra talked about how her ex-boyfriend cheated on her, how her friend and sister betrayed her, and also how this failed relationship almost ruined her whole life and killed her when she went for pills to numb herself from all the pain. She experienced miscarriage; the last thing that any pregnant ladies who love their unborn child would wish for, and she went through abortion because she believed that the child came at the wrong time. She experienced everything that anyone else would hope to avoid, and she was only eighteen. Think about what you will be/are/were doing when you are eighteen. Many of us are still schooling, still new to the society, and the world out there.

18 year old to a lot of us might be the merry year, a lot of us are still immature and still trying their luck with the unknowns out there. This girl, however, had her life almost ruined. Having read the book, we all know what she went through, what we do not know what it was like. It was so dramatic, as if it came out from a drama.

Can we all understand it? Kasandra wrote this book because she wanted to spread the message across to everybody out there that they are bad guys looming around, where we don't know, or, would never know. She wants the girls out there to be prepared, and to avoid situations that she herself didn't know how to avoid. As she wrote in her book, she is very willing to meet up with people who wants to meet up with her after reading her book. I believe she would be more than happy to share her past experiences with anyone in need.

Get the book and read it. Spread her cause.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (An Eclipse Novella) - Stephenie Meyer

I watched his body change. He crouched on the roof, one hand gripping the edge. All that strange friendliness disappeared, and he was a hunter. That was something I regconized, something I was comfortable with because I understood it.

I turned off my brain. It was time to hunt. I took a deep breath, drawing in the scent of the blood inside the humans below. They weren't the only humans around, but they were the closest. Who you were going to hunt was the kind of decision you had to make before you scented your prey.

It was too late now to choose anything.

***

The short second life of Bree Tanner is an addition to the third book of the Twilight Series, Eclipse. Stephenie mentioned that she wrote this book because she felt the Bree is an important character in the story and she couldn't let her die off just like this. I had my reservations about this. I didn't know how a newborn vampire like Bree could be so important that Stephenie needed to write a book from her perspective. Although I didn't know what to expect from this book, I didn't need to consider twice about getting it. Twilighters alike.

After I read this book, I get why Stephenie said Bree is important. From her perspective, we see how vampires, not the vegetarians, but the carnivores survive and fight among one another just to survive. We also get to see the picture from the other side of the fight, besides mainly from the Cullens. We get to see what's exactly happening on Victoria's and Riley's side. How they plan to attack the Cullens and kill Bella, how they create their newborns, and what exactly are going through their minds as they plan their attack. I was a bit different from what I expected though. I did not expect that all the newborns, Bree included were all clueless about the attack, and that Victoria would be in the back scenes leading the vampires through Riley. Through Bree, I got to see how they were like as described by Japer in Eclipse, to be blind to fights and attacks, and were only thinking about feeding. I did not expect that the newborns would be pictured as pawns. As in real pawns. They did not know what to expect and the only thing they could do was to follow Riley's instructions.

From Eclipse, I always pictured Bree as a very weak and insignificant character. But after reading the book, I realised that she has a strong character and she has a thinking of her own. She has her own dreams that she wants to pursue and she did not like the life that she's leading now. She is even more clever and clear-headed than most of the newborn vampires. From her, we could feel the hatred of Victoria, we could feel that Riley was being played afool by Victoria, we could see the dark side of the Volturi (which was certainly not what I expected), and we could feel the kindness of the Cullens.

Though I still don't get why Stephenie chose Bree, I believe this novella has served its purpose in feeding us the necessary details into the dark side of the vampire world. It makes me want to read the four books again, and makes me want to read something from Riley's, Jane's and Edward's perspectives. Cool!

Recommeneded for people who enjoy the Twilight Series!

Falling leaves - Adeline Yen Mah

Born in 1937 in a port city north of Shanghai, Adeline Yen Mah was the youngest child of an affluent Chinese family who enjoyed rare privileges during a time of political and cultural upheaval. But wealth and position could not shield Adeline from a childhood of apalling emotional abuse at the hands of her Eurasian stepmother. Determined to survive, Adeline struggled for independence as she moved from Hong Kong to England and eventually to the United States to become a physician and writer. A compelling, painful, and ultimately triumphant story of a girl's journey into adulthood. Adeline's story is a testament to the most basic of human needs: acceptance, love and understanding.

***

I read the children version Chinese Cinderella before reading this adult version. It was heart-wrenching and beyond imagination, the things that Adeline encountered and lived through when she was a child. The misfortunes did not end even when she has grown up and continue to love with her throughout the rest of her life. Right from being a child, she was different from her siblings, because she's the youngest, her mother died two weeks after giving birth to her, she dared to go against her fears to stand up for her siblings, and she does well in school. The list could go on and on.

What really changed her (and her family's) life was not really the death of her birth mother, but the marriage between her father and a Eurasian young lady Jeanne Prosperi, whom they all called "Niang". She was a domineering woman who slowly planned her way through to beat her way through Adeline's grandmother, grandfather (Ye Ye), and lastly her father in becoming the real "master" and decision-maker in the family.

Adeline became a target of abuse after she openly spoke up for Susan (her half sister, then two years old) when her Niang slapped her. Offended, her Niang told Adeline that she would "never forget of forgive her insolence! Never! Never! Never!" From then on, whatever Adeline does, or not do, she was blamed and punished. Adeline grew up feeling unloved and deeply bruised. No one truly cares about her besides her Aunt Baba (her father's sister), her grandfather and her third brother, James, who always advise her to forget it when things happen. She grew up trying to get the attention from her parents, trying to make them proud by her great achievements in school. She hated it when her Niang was around, but that did not stop her from trying to be accepted and loved byher one day. This continues into adulthood.

Things did not go well though. When she thought her Niang was slowly softening, and finally able to accept her, she later realised after her parents' death that everything her Niang did, there was a plot behind to hurt Adeline. What hurts most was when her favourite brother James, the only sibling who stayed with her and consoled her, and of whom shared the same dreams as her, changed and become someone she hardly knew. He even told her something that hurt her a lot. "Your problem, Adeline, is that you're always transferring your own feelings and reasonings into others. You wanted to believe that we all shared your dream of a united family. In fact, no one cared except for you."

To know what truly happened in Adeline's life, read this book. It contains experiences that none of us would ever experience in any parts of our lives. Very unforgettable, indeed.

Have a little faith - Mitch Albom

"Will you do my eulogy?"

With these words, Mitch Albom heralds his long-awaited return to non-fiction. Not since his own Tuesdays with Morrie has any write so movingly tackled the central questions of life. No one can fail to be deeply touched and uplifted by this extraordinary book.

Have a little Faith begins with an unusual request: an 82-year-old rabbi from Mitch's old hometown asks him to deliver his eulogy. Feeling unworthy, Mitch insists on understanding the man better, which throws him back into a world of faith he'd left years ago. Meanwhile, closer to his current home, Mitch becomes involved with a Detroit pastor - a reformed drug dealer and convict - who preaches to the poor and homeless in a decaying church with a hole in its roof.

As the world struggles with hard times and people turn more to their beliefs, Mitch and the two men of God explores issues that perplex modern man: how to endure when difficult things happen; what heaven is; forgiveness; doubting God; and the importance of faith in trying times.

In the end, as the rabbi nears death and a harsh winter threatens the pastor's wobbly church, Mitch sadly fulfills the last request and writes the eulogy. And he finally understands what both men had been teaching all along: the profound comfort of believing in something bigger than yourself.

Have a little faith is a book about a life's purpose; about losing belief and finding it again; about the divine spark inside us all.

It is one man's journey, but it is everyone's story.

***

This is Mitch Albom's latest work, and his second non-fiction. This book was inspired by two men whom he met in his life, both true to their religion and serving the people with no second thoughts.

In this book, Mitch talks about how he visited the old rabbi and talked about his life and beliefs and all, and most importantly, how faith works for people. In the book, there is a lot of religion issues in there, like, God. However, he was not trying to convince people into believing the religion. He wanted to tell people, through this story that, everyone has a chance to life, to second chances, to free will, and everything is up to us to choose. As long as we do not give up. Hope and faith is what he is trying to bring across to us readers.

In the story, there is this person called Henry. He was hooked on to drugs, to crime, has been to jail, and was everything close to being a bad guy. Every time he lost himself, he begged for a second chance from God, but always, when he got out of trouble, he turned back to trouble again. Until the last time, when he was almost caught, he begged to God again to be given one more chance. That was the last time he got into trouble. He started to believe in God, and he became a pastor years later, His church was dilapidated, with electricity cut off. But he said that these are all material things, which would not affect people's love for God. He wants to teach people through his own wrong doings, want them to learn from their mistakes.

Have a little faith, in yourself, in the things that happen around you. Be not afraid of making mistakes, for it is in the mistakes that we made that moulds us into what we are, stronger and taller.

Have a little faith.

Chicken Soup for the Couple's Soul - Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Mark Donnelly, Chrissy Donnelly, Barbara De Angelis

The Chicken Soup series, as many knows, consist of many inspiring stories gathered from many parts of the world. This series talks about love and relationship. It teaches us how to love, how to accept love, how to take and how to give, and most importantly, what love really is.

The stories talk about the simple and sweet relationship shared by people.

Out of all the stories, I found this quote which I thought is so true and meaningful. It comes from the story, "The Greatest Gift of all".
"We struggle to teach others how to love us. In that struggle, we often forget how to appreciate the love they already give us as only they can
give it. There are two parts to a gift the giving and the accepting. Neither can be dictated."

How true. Sometimes we just forgot that we had to give more and ask for less.

I guess I don't need to say more. Everyone knows how good Chicken Soup is. Read it, be it you're young, or old, or single, or attached.

For one more day - Mitch Albom

Charley Benetto is a broken man, his life destroyed by alcohol and regret. He loses his job. He leaves his family. He hits rock bottom after discovering he won't be invited to his only daughter's wedding. And he decides to take his own life.

Charley takes a midnight ride to his small hometown: his final journey. But as he staggers into his old house, he makes an astonishing discovery. His mother - who died eight years earlier - is there, and welcomes Charley home as if nothing had ever happened.

What follows is the one seemingly ordinary day so many of us yearn for: a chance to make good with a lost parent, to explain the family secrets and to seek forgiveness.

***

This is yet another inspiring book by Mitch Albom. It talks about this guy, Charles "Chick" Benetto's life on a summarised scale.

Chick is a professional baseball player and nothing means more to him than playing baseball. Not his mother, not his wife, not his daughter. At least, that was what he thought. Notice I did not mention his father. That's because his parents were divorced when he was young, and he did not know the reason. His father just didn't come home one day, and never did in future.

That's not the key though. The main thing in this story is that Chick gave up on his life, after divorcing his wife and after knowing that he was not invited to his daughter's wedding. He felt unwanted and useless, and he decided to end his life. He returned to his old home, the one he lived in when he was still a kid. He wanted to die there. However, he survived his suicide attempts, and unbelievably, saw his mother, who actually died eight years ago.

It was a weird feeling, though unreal, it seemed like it was really happening. His mother welcome him home as usual, and it was like nothing has happened. Throughout his short encounter with his mother, Chick learned a lot of things that he didn't know of in the past, and that includes how his mother once worked as a house cleaner to pay for his college fees, the true reason behind his parents' divorce, and many more. But what he really learned, was how to live life, and treasure it.

In the story, Chick keeps lists. One talks about "Times my mother stood up for me", and the other, "Times I did not stand up for my mother". From there, we could see what really other people did for us willingly and silently, and how we reciprocated the love with impatience and nonchalance.

Although it is just a story, and Chick is just a fictional character, everything in the story seemed so real. Perhaps because everything is so close to us. We all talk things around us for granted, especially the love from our parents. We often overlooked the point that no matter what they do, no matter whether we accept the things they do, they love us. Chick wanted to stay longer with his mother, but he knew it is was impossible. It was just a thought, as his mother claimed. He thought of her, that's way she appeared. The people we love, sometimes, unknowingly love, stays in our hearts. We never knew they existed until something happened, or until we understood the love we had.

Read the book. It has too much to offer.

If we hold on together by Diana Ross.

That was the graduation song for my Secondary School back then and it left a very deep impact and memory on me. The lyrics is amazing, and of course, inspiring. Telling us not to give up hopes, and believe in our own dreams. Adding on to the wonderful tune that comes with the lyrics, this song is definitely my first choice for a theme song for my middle of high school years.