Secrets of greatness

Title : Secrets of greatness

Author : Editors of FORTUNE (2006)

Publisher : Fortune Books

Genre : Non Fiction

One word for the book : Inspiring

One of the reason I borrowed this book is because I'm jealous. I'm super jealous of these super freaking rich peoples with their super sports car, super jakuzi bath, super humangous mansion and super personal jet. Hence the reason I wanted to dig out their formula in creatig such wealth.

Summary: Do not read this if you hate spoilers.

I kind of like some of the stories especially on popular people I know like Bill Gates, Dell and others. To be frank I didn't finish reading it but I did what the art of reading state; skimming. But still, I like some of the same characteristics these popular people work. They all woke up as early as 5 am in the morning (who says CEO can laze around?), go jogging and eat breakfast at 5.30am before going to work. Work? Their work is to sit there replying tons of e-mails or looking at stocks exchange board for hours. Then at 7pm they go home for a rest before continuing till late at night. Crazy huh?

Best quotation:

• Keep retiress in the labor pool (Intel).
• Paper isn't a big part of my day (Bill Gates).
• I recommended that your models be dead (Rick Warren).
• Why have I survived all these years? First of all, I'm having fun (Michael Dell).
• Staying focus is one issue; that's the problem of information overload but the other problem is information underload (Bill Gates).

Thanks for the memories

Title : Thanks for the memories

Author : Cecelia Ahern

Publisher : Harper Collins

Genre : Fiction

One word for the book : Taste like movie

I had to thank my cousin who introduced me to one of Cecelia's popular book; P.S I love you. Starting from that moment, I search her book and magics in real life. Her books are a must read. I just can't believe that I didn't know about her books before. She's awesome, simply mesmerizing! She captured me most with her book entitled; A place called here. I read it all night and finish it in one day; I can't stop myself. I don't know what to call it, addiction? Her books are more to reality but as the story goes on, she sprinkle her magical dust along the way. Funny that she always try something new in her writing and she always succeed in cheating me (what I meant was her style of writing is dynamic and its amazing how she managed that). I was so engrossed with her books that I thought it was a movie! Lovely feelings, now I'm aching to read her books again. Her books feels like bringing back one big chocolate fudge cake for free. You know you're into one good desert.

Summary: Do not read this if you hate spoilers.

This book I kept close to my bed as a bed time story. I like how she transform something as scientific as a blood transfussion into a romantic read. I remember most about the woman's relationship with her father which felt so real, so hillarious and so vivid. How, after she had divorced because of her miscarriage, her life changed as she stayed with her father who had always been there strong as an old oak. Fate also played a big part in the book. It's funny how fate seems to be at Cecelia's fingertip as she woven her story and captured her reader's heart. Some of the jokes in the book, I just can't stop laughing till brimming with tears! Speechless. I don't know how to explain the feeling of finding her books in the library and going home with it or finding her latest book on the mall's book shelf but not having enough money to buy it (poor me!).

List of Cecelia's books:

• P.S I love you
• Where rainbow ends
• If you could see me now
• A place called here
• The gift
• The book of tomorrow
• The time of my life

The last lecture

Title : The last lecture

Author : Randy Pausch (2008)

Publisher : Hyperion

Genre : Non-fiction

One word for the book : Insightfull

Funny that I found this book at the education book section (IT section to be precise!). Well I really like the cover and the size of the book is really small and easy to hold. First thing first, I would flip and toss the book, like shopping at the shopping malls for a Gucci handbag. Then I would read the summary and usualy I would read a little at the introductory page. In this book I saw something special which attract me; “With thanks to my parents who allowed me to dream and with hopes for the dreams my children will have.”And I knew I had to read this book.

Summary: Do not read this if you hate spoilers.

Its like a memoir when I thought about this book. Randy the professor was dying of cancer, leaving a wife and three small kids around 3 to 7 years old (I guess). He was assign to give his last speech at a seminar which his wife reject but the ever determined Randy insist to do it. His wife didn't want him to waste what little time he had in this world but what can't a wife sacrifice? He talks about his childhood's dreams and how he got to achieved them one by one. One of his dreams is to win big stuffed animals at a carnival and carry them around like trophies. Other 'bigger' dreams he had is to work hand in hand with NASA and he especially want to feel the floating in the air feeling (zero gravity room). There are many more dreams he had and it reminds me of my own; to travel the world with a backpack full of painting tools and white big canvas with either worries or cares for the world. For me its a very personal speech but he wants to share them to his audience and of course to his kids when they are big enough to understand them. Its like a bottle message for keepsake until the right time comes. Well I guess everyone is selfish so let the guy do his speech before he dies.

Best quotation:

• 
  Keep a crayon always in your pocket to remind yourself your childhood dreams.

Jacky Daydream

Title : Jacky Daydream

Author : Jacqueline Wilson (2007)

Publisher : Doubleday and Lorgi Yearling

Genre : Fiction (Children's book)

Illustration: Nick Sharatt

One word for the book : Happy ending

It was my parents who's also avid readers despite different genre, that gave my little sister a Jacqueline's book; The Cat Mummy. To be exact my little sister read it on the plane and cried because it was about a cat that died of old age. Mind you, my little sister was only in her primary school that time (barely ten years old, if my memory doesn't falter me). From there, we start reading Jacqueline's book. She loves all of them and so do I.

Summary: Do not read this if you hate spoilers.

The stories always focused on a little girl ranging from age of nine to twelve with their different personalities (brave, funny, timid, shy, twin and tomboys) and their upside down life. And despite every problem from divorce parents, get bullied, peed in pants, or run away from home, they always find happiness in many ways. That's why at this age (not so young!) I found it hard to read her books. I love it once. So it could be bias to write about them now. But what I do know, its very comforting that such positive and warm books still exists for kids these days. They need hopes and dreams while they still can before they grow and become adults right?

List of Jacqueline's books:

• Bad girls
• Bed and breakfast star
• Burried alive
• The cat mummy
• Cliffhanger
• Diamond girls
• Double act
• Jacky Daydream
• The lottie project
• Mum minder
• Secrets
• Story of Tracy Beaker
• Dustbin baby
• Lola rose
• Lizzy Zipmouth
• Suitcase Kid

These are just some of her books that I've read so maybe there's more.

A series of unfortunate events

Title : A series of unfortunate events

Author : Lemony Snicket (2003)

Publisher : Harper Collins

Genre : Fiction (Children's book)

Illustration: Brett Helquist

One word for the book : Juicy adventure

It's quit unfair actually (for the book), because I've watch the movie first before reading the book. In my humble opinion, if I watch a movie, the fun off reading the movie's book would be zero and it'll be bias if I have to comment the book. But nevertheless for this book, both are equal fun and exciting! After watching the movie, I saw or the perfect word would be; acknowledge (bet the book had been there years) the book at the library and was shock to found it had lots and lots of series. Lovely! I did some jigsaw puzzle (mind you, I did this in the library; running here and there like a little mouse) and found almost all ten books of them! Then and only then I read the summary at the back of the book; it amuse me. Funny and threatening at the same time! The writer himself warns his reader to put the book away. Why? Well of course because the storybook isn't of fairy tale with beautiful princess and tall pink glass castle.

Summary: Do not read this if you hate spoilers.

Three children with the name of Violet, Klaus and Sunny Bouldelair who lose their parents in a fire had to live by themselves and despite being rich they had a nasty uncle who wanted to steal their wealth. Not forgetting their bad lucks and whatnot but thanks to their brilliant brain, they managed to wiggle their way out alive from each and every unfortunate events. Its funny, hilarious, Gothic and also classic. The way the story reveal itself is also amazing. Well I've only read the 10^th book; The Slippery Slope, so I don't think I have the right to judge the book but I look forward to read them all. What kind of name is Lemony Snicket anyway? Extremely interesting isn't it?

Tuesdays with Morrie

Title : Tuesdays with Morrie

Author : Mitch Albom (1997)

Publisher : Doubleday

Genre : Non-fiction

One word for the book : A page turner!

Well, this is not the first book of Mitch Albom I've read but this book is AWESOME! As stated above, its a non-fiction book so its as true as can be. I didnt realized that at first so I was cheated all way long (almost half way of the book anyway) but I love the tugging feeling of the ambiguoness. Oh and did I tell you I cried reading the last part of the book? It's so real and felt so close to myself especially about death itself.

Summary: Do not read this if you hate spoilers.

The writer (Mitch Albom) goes to visit his favourite old professor; Morrie who is dying because of Amyotropic Lateral Selerosis (ALS). Mitch learn life's greatest lesson then. He went every Tuesdays, hence the title. The subject discussed? The meaning of life and death. Morrie's life in the last few months was captured forever in Mitch's funny and light writtings. For me, it made me reminisce about my good old days in the university with close friends, carefree life with no commitment and the hard-to-win relationship with the lecturers. But among the many lecturers and professors, there's always one who would leave footprints on your path. So go and find your own Morrie! I bet everyone have one~

Best quotation:

• A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops (Henry Adam).
• A teacher to the last (on Morrie's tombstone).
• Love each other or die (Morrie's mantra)

A start...

Reading means a lot to me. It is my pleasure, my delicious cake of indulgence, my sweet smelling secret hidden garden and the most mysterious dark-flavored-chocolate lover.

As a child reading was my way of stumbling into the mysterious jungles with bear, ridding the back of the friendly dolphin and meet evil wizards on the way home. But as I grew into the phase of rebellious stage, I was more enchanted by romance. Well, call me clise but I had to blame my hormones for that.

Then, the me now (I would like to think myself as pre-adults!) am proud to say I'm a book addicted; I would do it to any book! Hahaha (sweaty palm). Some nights after the “hard-office-work” I have to staples my eyes open just to fill my reading addiction. It's intense, the fight between time and leisure.