Sushi for Beginners

By Marian Keyes.

This is my first experience reading of Keyes' work. I guess it's as interesting as the praises said it would. And the fact that I have actually finished every page means that it's still my type of drama. Then again, for some reason, I don't feel so lifted by it. I think I had this excitement of absorbing every page hungrily probably somewhere in the first quarter of the book. Can't really remember now. But I think it has something to do with Ashling's story. She is definitely my favourite character.

Oh yes, I found Clodagh's way of escaping her wive-y sexual obligations very funny and totally familiar. I went "what"...I thought only I do that!".. So yes, I found Clodagh quite interesting in the beginning of the book. I totally dislike her past knowing of her very bad-and-not-naughty in any way, disgusting in fact or just plain stupid, choice to be unfaithful to Dylan. Well her doing it with Marcus I think is just out of bad taste...but her not feeling guilty about it with Ashling and Dylan makes me sick with disgust. Then again, I still can associate with her on this....and that's because I know for a fact that I have not been so un-ridiculous myself.

Lisa is a character I have the least feeling for. But I kind of still like her for her loyalty and deep love for one man, Oliver....for a beauty with brains and lots of ego, I think that is admirable... I guess she has mellowed down in between which is good for her and she gets what she deserves in the end which is great.

I think I've somehow been misled to believe that the three leading ladies would become best of friends in the end when in fact it is almost the opposite but not in a bad way, for Lisa and Ashling, yes though for Clodagh. She totally deserves it. And the title "sushi for beginners" I think only explains Ashling's experience...I don't see it related much to Lisa and definitely not with Clodagh...

All in all, I'm glad to have found this book. Yes, I've always been interested to read more about the people, the culture, the ways of people in Ireland, they seem such romantic and interesting features, I think this I see after watching Cecilia Ahern's......

in between books

Happy mother's day all Moms all around the world.

image from www.techhug.net. TQ

It's been some time since I last posted in this blog. Truth is I'm in between books, never seem to be able to finish any of them; Ready, Fire, Aim by Michael Masterson; Sushi for beginners by Marian Keyes; Quiet by Susan Cain; The One Minute Manager by Rana Muhammad Abbas....

now that's not very nice of me yup...guilty as charged

Have been too busy doing this and that...will try harder to finish at least one in the next week or so.

till then

visit this page for books at fair price

yes this link

And, for little gifts for beloved Moms, you could probably find one or several here

image from mamanyc.net. TQ

Gone with the wind

One of the thickest books I've read no doubt. No regrets what-so-ever though. Scarlet O-Hara is a vision, at the beginning and in the middle. Towards the last quarter, I am not her big fan any more. I like her strong willed, ruthless but too much over her head being selfish, wanting richness above all else, including the love of her children, and her devoted husbands, nope. Can't really agree. No matter how much suffering she was made to go through because of the war and everything that goes with it.....Well, then again, come to think of it, maybe her slightly rotten attitude is justified. I don't know...Anyways, I love the character of Mr Rhett Butler. Irritating but loyal, subtle but strong opinionated, gentlemanly and most importantly for me, he is a father figure, for Scarlet's children and especially so for his own daughter. I must admit one more thing, the way the wars are described or the setting is narrated, I kind of not like the Yankees. I find it very easy to understand why the Southerners should be left alone with their so-called-slaves. In this book, from my understanding at least, they are more companions and right hands of the white people. Of course, this is a romantic story, always told from one side's perspectives. I'd not want to delve into this issue though. That's definitely the opposite reason why I read this book in the first place; to forget the serious stuff, the never ending boring conflicts and get lost instead with mushy love story. I am not happy with the ending.

Wild Designs by Katie Fforde

My first comment is that the synopsis offered on the back cover did not do much justice to this wonderful book. I read with much skepticism actually, just committing to read the novel since it is English based in England. The first few pages were to me quite mundane and uninteresting. I just continued reading and to my delight, come Chapter two, the book became so very lovely. It started when Althea first connected to Patrick Donahugh. Firsdt description of him is rather plain. Well and good though. So he's not like many leading men in love stories. What happened in the episodes following Althea's meeting with Patrick are simply lovely in a funny way. Really glad I decided to read 'wild designs' as my first of Katie's work. Yes, will definitely try to read her other books. This is the first time I read a novel which makes being a less than perfect past 28 year old gal sound so appealing. The praises are well justified though. This is a really good example of a feel good read especially for us women in the early forties. Do read if you feel like feeling warm and loved ladies!

The Witness by Nora Roberts

Very nice over-the-weekend read. Simple story line yet contains rather interesting twists here and there. Romantic guy. And I really love the name Liz chose for her identity; Abigail. Complicated yet sweet. Very fitting. I just wish that in the end, there is closure between Liz and her mom.

Oranges of Dubai

I am so very glad to have come across this original novel by Cristina Costa. It is beyond awesome. I wanted to rate is 10 stars. A fantastic read to start my new year, bringing me the taste of sweet refreshing orangy bliss. The book is translated from Italian, about the memories of a group of Sicilian children now 50years old. Actually more from the narration of Paolo son of village reknown pharmacist, who left Sicily when Italy decided to sell this small southern Mediterranean haven to the Sheikhs of Arab. Paolo went to Boston to master his chosen career of pediatric heart surgeon, and then lives un Paris for most of his life. His perfect lovable other half Teresa who is also his high school sweetheart, with the help from her best friend Anna arrange for Paolo to return to Palermo Sicily for his 50th birthday, to walk again the streets of his childhood, to breathe again the air of his roots. What he experiece during his few days vacation in Palermo is just delicious self discovery amidst small things which further define him as a worthy man. The narration is almost poetic, seamless with beautiful expressions and wonderful descriptions of feelings, thoughts, observations. In a way the story says, your politicians can betrsy you, sell you off yo the Arabs, put you at risk of losing your heritage, culture and identity, but only you can decide if they can succeed. Sometimes life can proof you wrong, the world can choose to let your light flicker off, but only you can decide if you want to live a beautiful live worth living. Does this make sense? Is this reasonable or realistic? Probably not often so O:-) Whatever... I totally love reading this book. Let me know if you'd like to read too, I'll send you a link. Happy hopeful new year friends!

Sycamore Row by John Grisham

Oh Dear I loved this book...reading it has been a breeze. I was telling my hubby that I just "needed" to get lost in the pages every free time I get. It's a story of a young lawyer Jake Brigance, how he was named as the inheritance administrator by a rich man just days before he hung himself. Jake is kind of a guy one would like, with good looks without being too overwhelming, speak his mind well, not a complicated life with a nice and pretty school teacher wife and one little daughter. He is though one with a high morale, great commitment and motivation, sticking to his believes and to the trust of the dead man all way through. I think the story line is just nice, fast paced, bringing with it some kind of light thrill. I like it and would definitely consider reading another Grisham's lawyer material.

The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall

I am thankful for the chance of reading this book. It is short and sweet, easy to read and grasped my attention from the first page. I thought it's a non fiction but upon completing and searching on the book's background, found out that it's the best of both genres; fiction written so close to the reality of life. My most favourite is the gift of learning. I dream of being with enough resorces one day to open up libraries to enrich the lives of many people. Reading and learning from merely living our lives meaningfully, are for me some of the best "simple things we can all afford and should enjoy before we die". I truly wish that my children would one day want to read this book, at least out of curiosity, ...then let nature take its course. I wish for the same for you :)

Arabian Nights selected and edited by Andrew Lang

Yes, I have finally completed this piece which I registered as 'want to read' on Goodreads more than 2 years ago. :-) Was also reacting this alternately with The richest man of Babylon, so a lot make sense. It's like Persian theme reading :-) :-) Well, had to go back to the first page to remember how it started. But more interestingly reread on the background of the book. I am not in the best of mod to write from what I remember this time around, so I will just copy and paste it. ...or not. This story of the people mostly in Iraq / Persia?? I'm not sure, must check later, is according to Lang, part of the Fairy Books, fable I suppose. It began with a Sultan who has been very deeply hurt by his cheating wife, chose to blame all women for his own shortsightedness. He marries a maiden and kills her the next day. Until, a daughter of his grand vizir who is pretty and pretty smart, came out with a plan. To tell a story a few hours before she is supposed to be killed, a story which will entice the Sultan to know if the ending, that he delays the instruction to have her killed. With that, the so many very interesting and probably 'out of the world during those days stories were narrated.

The richest man of Babylon

I read this wonderful little finance handbook upon completing Rich Dad Poor Dad. It is amazing that such wisdom imparted from this book is written based on the lives of people who live during the anxient civilisation of Babylon. I truly enjoy reading this book and appreciate the simple yet profoundly relevant Five Laws of Gold towards a more meaningful and financially independent journey on this earth. I started the first rule; save one tenth of thy salary for thyself many years ago not knowing who actually promoted it. Unfortunately for me, I have stopped this exercice couple of years back, not because I stopped believing, the outcome has been great I'm telling you. I stopped because at my new job, I could no longer get the convenience of part of my salary deducted to "pay me first". I must start again soon. Better a little caution than a great regret. This is advice of Mathon the gold lender to Rodan on his intentions to lend his gold to his beloved sister for her to give them to her husband so that the husband can start a business and be a rich merchat one day. Man are generally naturally destructive. Is that right? I can't say. But one thing I am sure of, man would do lots, for self interest. Remember The Lone Ranger starring Johny Depp, the bad cavalry/military, shooting the red indians shrieking "For God....for our Land", when in actual fact, they (especially the lead, the common man probably do it out of loyalty), do it because of wealth expected from silver. End of the day, we are all entirely responsible for the way we live, the way we write our thoughts and the way we interpret other's ideas. Let's read more good books and choose wisely.....

Rich Dad, Poor Dad

By you definitely know who....What? I just read this? Yup, my bad :) This book should be read by me and (I humbly suggest) most if not all parents when they are still in their 30s, if not as soon as they can. From the perspective of a mother, the thought train of Mr Kiyosaki is truly something I wish I have or I've had some time ago during my youth. But then again, I suppose that's what make him the star that he is. I found wisdom shared in this book very easy to absorb and surprisingly not that difficult to follow. Most importantly, the lessons learned from his experience as shared in this book are headsmackingly relevant, then, now and likely forever... From one of my newsletter subscriptions, I read today about "the Zero Line". I am certainly no expert in wars or financial or geopolitical matters, but I do think that this info is going to be very useful for investors. I bought the packages sold via the video promo, and I truly believe that it's worth my money. I hope you would take time to search info on this potential breaking-news-which-will-decide the direction of your investment portfolio soon. Here's the link to the video sharing if you like http://pro.moneymappress.com/EADZERO39/LEADQA74/?h=true