Our Favorite Books
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My Recommendation:
1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon
Fifteen-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone is mathematically gifted and socially hopeless. He takes everything that he sees (or is told) at face value, and is unable to sort out the strange behavior of his elders and peers.
Late one night, Christopher comes across his neighbor’s poodle, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork. Wellington’s Christopher resolves to discover just who has murdered Wellington. He is encouraged by Siobhan, a social worker at his school, to write a book about his investigations. This book is written from his point of view.
2. Tuedays with Morries by Mitch Albom
In moments of Morrie’s final days as he lies dying from a terminal illness on his deathbed, this twinkling-eyed mensch manages to teach us all about living robustly and fully.
3. Outlier: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Why do some people succeed, living remarkably productive and impactful lives, while so many more never reach their potential? Challenging our cherished belief of the "self-made man," Gladwell makes the democratic assertion that superstars don’t arise out of nowhere, propelled by genius and talent: "they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot." Examining the lives of outliers from Mozart to Bill Gates, he builds a convincing case for how successful people rise on a tide of advantages, "some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky." -
Blobbi:
Hey, Blobbi. \"A Thousand Splendid Suns\" is a good book too. You shd try and read it if you can. Whilst \"Kite Runner\" discusses the relationship between father and sons and male friendship, \"Splendid Suns\" talks about mothers and daughters and female friendship.autumnbronze:
Also his next one entitled \"A Thousand Splendid Suns\"
How's this one, autumnbronze? Am quite tempted but during the Kino book sale, I bought so many, I better finish first.
Even tho I enjoyed reading \"Splendid Suns, my personal fave is still \"Kite Runner\".
Oh... and I saw the movie too. Managed to catch it on Starhub Cable. It was touching and followed the book rather closely. But I think I cried more reading the book!!!
:lol:
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Pen88n:
I cried buckets when I read this book!
2. Tuedays with Morries by Mitch Albom
In moments of Morrie's final days as he lies dying from a terminal illness on his deathbed, this twinkling-eyed mensch manages to teach us all about living robustly and fully. on MRT, at home, at the cafe... This is a really good book. It's not sad in a depressing sense. But it's very touching and inspiring. Touches me at a very personal level!
The other book by Mitch Albom that I enjoyed reading is \"Five People You Meet in Heaven\". Heart-warming! :lol: -
schweppes:
Hi Blobbi, Schweppes,Hey, Blobbi. \"A Thousand Splendid Suns\" is a good book too. You shd try and read it if you can. Whilst \"Kite Runner\" discusses the relationship between father and sons and male friendship, \"Splendid Suns\" talks about mothers and daughters and female friendship.
Even tho I enjoyed reading \"Splendid Suns, my personal fave is still \"Kite Runner\".
Oh... and I saw the movie too. Managed to catch it on Starhub Cable. It was touching and followed the book rather closely. But I think I cried more reading the book!!! :lol:
Never saw the movie .... always prefer reading the book.
Agree with Schweppes that its a good book. Can't say whether 1st one's better cuz I like them both
In the former, Hosseini writes about the cty he remembers during his childhood b4 the Taliban took over and 'ripped it to shreds' and to dispel some of the misconceptions that the world had of his home cty.
In the latter, he explores the role of women and also dispels the notion held by many that Afghan women were repressed/oppressed b4 the Taliban regime. Its the contrary. Its only after that the Taliban took over that the the story unfolds of these two women who not only had to endure the tyranny of their husband (though difference in age, but married the same man), but also the brutality of the Taliban. And it is their resilience that see them through.
Am currently reading 'Prisoner of Tehran', true story abt a girl who enjoyed freedom (literally) under the rule of the Shah of Iran until the Iranian Revolution toppled his rule and Khomeini took over. The lives of women were never the same again. And because she had demonstrated against the strict rule, she was arrested and doomed to be executed until ....
Well, if you are interested to find out if she survived and what happened to her, do go and borrow/buy the book
There is a poem by Emily Bronte before Chapter One:
And if I pray, the only prayer
That moves my lips for me
Is, \"Leave the heart that now I bear,
And give me liberty!\"
Yes, as my swift days near their goal,
'Tis all that I implore
In life and death, a chainless soul,
With courage to endure.
Believe the author chose it cuz it pretty much sums up what she felt during her years as a 'prisoner'. -
autumnbronze:
Hey, Autumnbronze. Yes - same same... Books are so much more vivid! Have you read Q & A by Vikas Swarup? The movie version is Slumdog Millionaire. In fact, the book version is different from the movie. I like how the authour weaved his characters, plot and theme into the story. Very interesting!
Never saw the movie .... always prefer reading the book.
However, found Vikas Swarup 2nd book, the Six Suspects a little confusing. Felt that he tried too much. -
schweppes:
Same same too :).
Hey, Autumnbronze. Yes - same same... Books are so much more vivid!autumnbronze:
Never saw the movie .... always prefer reading the book. -
2 weeks of school runs and I've finished listening to the audiobook - Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult.
Grace needs a heart donation to survive; would she/her mum accept the heart of the man convicted of killing her husband and daughter? As typical of Jodi's style, she explores the moral and ethical issues involved.
Wondered why the book didn't mention if June took any action regarding the coffin which both her husband and daughter were buried in after she suspected him of abusing her 11 years after their death.
Maybe I should email Jodi my qn.
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Synopsis below from http://www.jodipicoult.com/change-of-heart.html#synopsis
Shay Bourne - New Hampshire’s first death row prisoner in 69 years – has only one last request: to donate his heart post-execution to the sister of his victim, who is looking for a transplant. Bourne says it’s the only way he can redeem himself…but with lethal injection as his form of execution, this is medically impossible. Enter Father Michael Wright, a young local priest. Called in as Shay’s spiritual advisor, he knows redemption has nothing to do with organ donation – and plans to convince Bourne. But then Bourne begins to perform miracles at the prison that are witnessed by officers, fellow inmates, and even Father Michael – and the media begins to call him a messiah. Could an unkempt, bipolar, convicted murderer be a savior? It seems highly unlikely, to the priest. Until he realizes that the things Shay says may not come from the Bible…but are, verbatim, from a gospel that the early Christian church rejected two thousand years ago…and that is still considered heresy. -
Anybody here is into reading?
I used to really luv reading, but have since toned down due to time constraint.
Anyway, recently read this novel "Taste of Dreams" by Jason Lee. It’s very good. Anyone has read it too?
Or is there any recommendations you would like to read? -
we have a thread on fav books:-
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8127&start=0
mods merge? -
Started on Neil Gaiman’s books. Just finished Coraline and now onto Graveyard Book.
Excellent reads - although I do not recommend Coraline for pp who have to stay at home alone.
Coraline - made into animated show recently. It’s about a girl, pretty much left alone by her parents, who finds a way into an alternate dimension where there are her ‘Other Parents’ who wants to ‘love’ her forever. it’s about how she breaks away and saves the day.
Graveyard book - about a boy whose family was murdered and who was brought up by ghosts. Speaks of his adventures (usual disobedient stuff which leads him into trouble and how he’s rescued). Still in the midst of it, and slowly savouring the book cos I would be sad to see it end. Hopefully there’ll be part 2 and going on.
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