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My Fave Books

"There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written."-- Oscar Wilde

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Irish Catholic Childhood and America Dream-- I like the way Frank McCourt depicted his poor Irish Catholic childhood.So vivid,heart-whole and sorrowful make me empathize with him. He showed the bitter-sweetness of his younger days in Limerick, Ireland. Frank McCourt shared his life story with compelling narration and a great sense of humour.All the reality and poverty his faced. As the eldest son,he beared extra responsibilities and was less happier as compared to his cute,cheerful brother Malachy and many other brothers. He had irresponsible but pathetic parent, poor living conditions but a great hunger for knowledge and a dream to go to America. His memoir filled with dramatic twists and intriguing events such as his days as a postman and his troubles with his sore eyes.... He made a great impression for a debut work. He wrote with sensibility and sincerity. This page turner shines in depicting the genuineness of humanity. It set a great example of the success of following your heart and to strike for your goal in life. If there's a will,there's a way.

Tuesday With Morrie by Mitch Albom
14 unforgettable and fruitful Tuesdays--This is a special tribute to Morrie Schwartz, a teacher who taught Life's greatest lessons. The author,Mich Albom's 14 classes with his old profeesor were inspiring and extraordinary.Every Tueday was the date to meet. The subject was "The Meaning of Life". Even this book title was named by Morrie. Mitch did an excellent job to recollect his thoughts, the lessons he learnt and wrote this book.Morrie was a wise man,a dying man.Those lessons were not solely based on his academical knowledge but with his vast experiences from Living. Every meeting they talked and shared Life and many things. Those Tuesday classes touched on:-World,Yourself,Regrets,Love,Death,Fear,Aging,Greed,Marriage,Family,Society,Forgiveness,Emotions,Money,A Meaningful Life and many more..... I find this book touching,educational,compelling,truthful and most importantly taught me some valuable lessons.

84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
An Unspoken Love--I must admit I saw the movie first. Very literary unique and bitter-sweet true story which touch my soul. I found the book and it is even better with detailed description and sincerity. I particularly enjoyed reading the letter-format of it. It is so warm hearted and just like reading letters from friends. In fact I even felt a little guilty as if I am reading other people's private letters... This excellent book shines in drawing out the cultural and social differences between London and New York during the period of Frank and Helene letters correspondence. 84 Charing Cross Road changed their lives.They developed special friendship,an unspoken love and care for each other without even seeing each other.This is truly amazing! I think "84 Charing Cross Road" is one of the best book I had read. Easy to read, great story line,literary educational and most importantly touches my heart and soul.

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff
A sequel to "84 Charing Cross Road" Helene Haff long overdue visit to London. Like her diary, this is a collection of her accounts, thoughts and emotions when she finally stepped foot on London,her feeling for the book store-Marks & Co. and her meeting with Frank's wife,Nora and daughter,Sheila.An enchanting book filled with Helene's passion for London.

Sophie's World by Joestein Gaarder
Comprehensive Guide to Western Philosophy--I find "Sophie's world" like a comprehensive guide to Western Philosophy.It sort of gave the whole picture. Presented in a more approachable and more 'easy to digest' format. It provided a general understanding of ethics and reality. Jostein Gaarder transformed elaborate philosophy into an intriguing puzzle game. Maybe Socrates and Plato would be proud of this too. Before this my knowledge are scattered and incomplete. It gave a briefing to Western Philosophy. Although there're several DRY parts. What I love about it is the way Sophie discover that she is actually a character in "Sophie's world". That's a groundbreaker to read the character finding out that she is fictional. That make me wonder who i am and just like the first note Sophie found in her mailbox...."who are you??".. I felt that Jostein Gaarder merely created Sophie as a bridge...linking one end(readers) to the other side(great world of complicated Philosophy). Sophie did help to ease the dryness at times. Using a 15 yrs old to ask questions and raise awareness of western philosophy, the character has a vast imagination and dare to ask anything on her mind and things presented in more interesting manners, that's benefiting readers since the subject is so serious. What's so enchanting is that sequencing of events and the linkage of the entire universe through unfolding events. There're so many things and people to relate. Practically everything under the sun were covered.From garden of eden to renaissance plus a touch of modern days.... With many educational examples and little stories of life being depicted...they all have morales and double meaning behind them like my fave--example of letting go---that one about the centipede great at dancing but with a few comments from an envious tortoise(asking how she did it with so many legs?),centipede began questioning itself and doubting, never being able to let it go and stop dancing altogether. Philosophy is such a huge topic involved almost everything in the universe. It can be break into many areas. This book help to raise awareness to it. In-depth reading can be obtain through intensive reading by individual era like either early Greeks or Plato , John Locke or the more contemporary Bertrand Russell. Plato's philosophy is a must for Philosophy reading. His thoughts and dialogues were authentic. All in all,Jostein Gaarder did a marvelous task to summarize history of Western Philosophy into a 500 over pages book.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Monumental,True spirit of Christmas--One of the greatest contribution to Literature and Life. A must-read for everyone,regardless of age. Although Dicken wrote it back in December,1843,It still very much related to this very day. This book suits every era and even more now into the 21st century. It showed a great example what's is Christmas all about. Sharing,loving and giving... Charles Dicken's timeless classic about a miser,Ebenezer Scrooge whom couldn't understand the true spirit of Christmas. However with helps from 3 Spirits(ghosts) namely Ghost of Christmas Past,Ghost of Christmas Present and Ghost of Christmas Future,each showing him envisions of his past,present and what will happened if he continue being mean and a miser. He came to face up with his pasts, realised his mistakes and turned a new leaf and became grateful to life and learn to be loving and giving. He also learnt to be appreciate people around him and learnt to share his life with his nephew and helped less fortunate people like Tiny Tim. Eventually he honour Christmas in his heart. May Dicken's brilliant prose always be remembered. I quote: "I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it." CD

Around the World in Eighty Days by Michael Palin
Michael Palin re-traced Phileas Fogg's footsteps in this delighful and informative travelogue.Amazing journey around the world,in 80 days. Palin added a modern touch to the classic. With some magical dashes too, with colourful photographs.

Pole to Pole By Michael Palin
An unique journey from the North Pole to the South. Along the 30 degree East line of the longitude. Palin recorded all his exciting encounters and experiences in this remarkable travelogue.Provided great entertainment for arm-chair travellers.

A Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler
I'm impressed with Anne's conscientious writing style. Empathic description of human's feeling and behaviours... It make you feel for the characters especially Barnaby. He is so pathetic but so real. Barnaby is an average low achiever. He has an indifferent prospective of Life. But there's something sparking about him. I think it's a great achievement for a female writer to voice out a man's woe and thoughts so vividly."A Patchwork Planet" shines in depicting the genuineness of Barnaby. This book is different. I think it's filled with sincerity and sensibility.

If Morning Ever Comes by Anne Tyler
Engaging and Realistic--Anne Tyler wrote this novel with circumstantial details of the Hawkes. Specificity is always her strong point and her ability to depict the genuineness of human's emotions and actions. This novel shines in breaking down relationships between people,love,kinship and friendship. Ben Joe Hawkes,her protagonist is a chronic worrier who left home to study law in New York. He proclaimed himself as reversible and his bizzare habit of reading up-side-down. One day he made a phone call home and found out that one of his 6 sisters whom he haven't seen in 7 years returned home with a child. Apparently she left her husband... Being the sole male member (after his dad passed away)in the family of 8 women including his eccentric mother and grandmother,he felt responsible when such 'crisis' occurred. Ben Joe decided to make the trip back home to look into this matter plus he also have an unfinished business to attend to. Things began to unfold,he also learnt a few valuable lessons and even caught up with his old flame,Shelley from this fruitful trip home. Ben Joe eventually realised that his family are independent and each have a life of their own and he should to. I always admire Anne Tyler's conscientious writing style.This time she created a engaging and compelling family drama that illustrated the importance of family bonding, sharing,love and care,also finding your true self and the significance of what is leaving your family spread your wings and get your own life and not forgetting your root.

The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux
An unique travelogue--A journey through Asia by trains. Theroux shines in his detailed narrations and vividly depiction of interesting people he met and all his fascinating encounters throughout his long trip. He travel by trains. For examples, He took the Rajdhani Express to Bombay,The North Star Night Express to Singapore, The Hikari Sper express toKyoto and many more. He observed their cultures and even made friends with some of the locals on the trains.

The Lost weekend by Charles Jackson
It's about a struggling writer's weekend. Everything happened over a weekend.The story began with Don pretend to pack his luggage with a bottle tied to a string hanging outside his window.Don's life and fate changed. Don Birnam has writer's block, he is also a alcoholic. He is aware but unable to kick it.He even trade his typewriter for drinks.He been through a lot in a few days and forced to face up to his problem. Luckily he has love and support from his brother and girlfriend.

The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye: Five Fairy Stories by A. S. Byatt
Refreshing collection of eccentric fairy tales..for adults--A.S Byatt's has this ability to intrigue readers. Five stories with different settings and morals but share a common theme-Fantasy. With interesting characters like humans,creatures,black magic, super power genie ,etc.... Their Fate and destiny were decided or affected by magical or mystical intervention.At first I thought I was reading a children book. After further reading those stories fascinated me and they have double-meanings depending on which aspects and prospectives we have. I have my own interpretion to those tales which were purely my subjective views... Beside having a fun time reading fairy tales, I also learnt a lesson or two... This book consists of 4 short stories and a semi-long one namely "The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye". Each story entertained and amazed me in a certain way. "The Glass Coffin" is a tale about a little tailor's adventure journey in a forest. To me it's about making choices in Life.... "Gode's Story" is a tragic love story about a young sailor and a miller's daughter. It's illustrate the importance of having Faith and self-believe... "The Story of the Eldest Princess" is about a princess's quest to restore the blue sky. The moral of the story to me is to set the standard and bearing consequences of own doings. "Dragon's Breath" is a story about bravery, own survival and fear."The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye" showed me what is finding yourself, learning from your own experiences and not losing imagination and follow your dream. All in all I found this book entertaining,meaningful and a good attempt for the idea of adult fairy tales which were not all had happy everafter endings....

Emma by Jane Austen
A timeless classic--Emma Woodhouse tried to matchmake friends around her namely Harriet Smith. The outcome showed she clearly not quite cut out to be cupid however things seem to turn out well and merry eventually--thanks to the crafty works by Jane Austen.

The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
Discovery of the Beauty of English Literature--At first I was forced to read "The Mayor of Casterbridge" in school more than 12 years ago. Reading it slowly made an impact on my life. This book always served a special purpose in my life. It introduced me to the wide world of Literature. It sort of enlighten my interest and liking for English literature. Now re-reading it not only brought back fond memories of my yester school days but also renewed my liking to one of the greatest writer of all time Thomas Hardy. Through this novel I came to the understanding of Irony and oxymoron. Hardy totally wrote with a sense of awareness of human characteristic and he had a amazing style of mixed humour with tragedy. His protagonist,Michael Henchard's life was under the microscope of Hardy. I love the way the story began I quote:"ONE evening of late summer, before the nineteenth century had reached one-third of its span, a young man and woman, the latter carrying a child, were approaching the large village of Weydon-Priors, in Upper Wessex, on foot. " I love the Englishness and the sense of intriguing events that would follow... In brief, Michael Henchard was a drunk who sold his wife and daughter at the fair. Later he realised his mistakes he work real hard and eventually became the mayor of Casterbridge. His life took another twist 20 years later when his wife and daughter came back to his life plus a few more other characters adding on the complexity of his life.Soonafter events unfolded and many things became to go against his way and then came his downfall. Indeed Michael Henchard's rise and fall were filled with compelling details and his encounters with numerous intestering people. What I love most about this novel was the way Hardy depicted Henchard's behaviours and thoughts and totally enhanced his weak character and irresponsibleness with dashes of ironies. His sardonic literary style were brilliant and at the same time he also vividly described the scenery and situations. Another greatest of Hardy was his ability to create innovative characters still account for in modern contemporary days and he was a pioneer in analysising human's weakness and blended it into his creation. It's a vintage classic,psychoanalytic and intriguingly written ,a must read for all books lover.

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Orinigal and oxymoronic-- The great thing about this book is it's a legacy. J.D.Salinger was a mystery.His creation was a groundbreaker. I read and re-read this book several times. I still remembered this first time I was still in my teen,It came like a breath of fresh air. Never before I'd read such unique character,Holden Caulfield. Salinger's narrative style was charismatic,bewitching and truly remarkable. Now I'm in my late-twenties I still find it amazing each time I'll read it..I see things from a different level or perceptive.I'm sure in the years to come, at different stops of my life,my views may vary but I will certainly read it for a long time, this book will withstand the test. This book was about Holden,17. Salinger took readers to see and experience a few days of Holden's life through Holden's preceptive. Holden's going through a phase which was realistic and compelling. Showing the true meaning of life and psychological reality of people. What is human nature? Who's truthful and who's a phony? This book filled with ironies and highly debatable social and physiological issues. It also drawn a foggy line between maddness and genius. One of the best contribution the Literature and Life.

Saint Joan By George Bernard Shaw
The classic tale of Saint Joan of Arc,how she was accused of being a witch and was burned. She showed great courage, wit and fearless in the face of danger.

A Primer of Freudian Psychology by Calvin S.Hall
A concise and informative book on Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis theories such as personality,the instincts,anxiety,repression,defense mechanisms,etc. Also with brief bio of Freud. Explore the mysteries of the Mind.

Two Short Accounts Of Psycho-analysis by Sigmund Freud,Translated and Edited by James Strachey
A collection of Freud famous 5 lectures on Psycho-Analysis and The qustion Of Lay Analysis. In September 1909 Freud delivered five lectures at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. His 5 lectures touched on his theories on psychoanalysis. The second part was The Question of Lay Analysis. Lay Analysis is Layman Analysis = non-doctor, the question is whether non-doctors as well as doctors are to be allowed to practise analysis. The question whether laymen may treat patients by psychoanalysis has a practical sense. Freud had developed his theory of the structure of the mind. What's Ego? WHat's "Id" James Strachery also included a Freud's chronological table,very informative and summarized his life and works.

The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks
Dramatically and Intriguingly written-- Russell The Sweet Hereafter is a book filled with events and surprises. His style of relating the story or I should said stories as there were inter-linked events and situations revolving all the 4 main characters. This novel started with a tragic school bus accident on a snowing morning. Fates changed and questions asked. Who to blame? The bus driver? The weather? Or other factors? A lawyer was brought into the picture to investigate. He began the search for the truth. He never anticipated that his perspective of life and living would alter too. This novel is uniquely written in a way which readers can see from different sides of the story. Aftermath of the accident was multi-dimensionally written. Every victim had his/her own perspective. The novel was divided into various parts whereby I could hear from people involved directly or indirectly to the accident. Revealing many dark secrets and details.. From Dolores, the bus driver to a young girl 's viewpoints showed how people react differently and what they do when the same thing happened. Amazing discovery of human nature's complexity and authenticity.What a cruel world! Banks created intrinsic characters and vividly sequenced the events. Also had a touch of irony and realistic. It's cleverly concluded with justification. Quite a remarkable attempt!

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Unconditioned Love--Shel Silverstein illustrated the importances of giving and sharing and the true meaning of unconditioned love and care. A touching and compelling tale of a tree and a boy. The boy may seem ungrateful at times but there's the cruelty of Life and Living. With a few simple pictures and words, Shel Silverstein showed the depth, complexity and the genuineness of humanity. Truly amazing! This is a special and educational book. Reminded us what is love and gratitude. Shel Silverstein was exceptional. He made distinguished contribution to Literature and most importantly to Life. A priceless treasure.

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway's Pulitzer Prize winning novel about a lonely old Cuban fisherman's went out to the sea, attempt to catch a big fish.The quest however lasted longer than he expected. A touching story which illustrated the meaning of great determination and one should never give up.

The Story of Painting-From The Renaissance to The Present
Great guide to Painters & paintings from 1300 to 1995. It provided insights and explainations to various famous and great paintings of all time.Like Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa,Vincent Van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night and Edvard Munch's The Scream and also modern day visual art by Andy Warhol.

The Drowning People by Richard Mason
Just like telling an old story.....intriguing with flaw-- I'm impressed with Richard's style of telling his story, just like a little boy narrating an old story way before his time. There're bits of flaws and loopholes here and there. It's like someone relating a past incident and sort of neglecting some little justification logically. All in all,a tragic story well-written.It's a page-turner.Totally intriguing,make me want to why, how and what happened.... Richard Mason being a young and novice writer shines with his conspiring plot filled with mystery,guilt,dark secrets(literally drawer secret),death,scheme,unlawful acts and lies,etc... The disposition of his protagonist's past with his love,wife and all those life events and eventually to his discovery of "the dark secret" were creditable well-versed. With maturity and experience,Richard Mason will be promising. I'm looking forward to his next piece of work.

The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery
A colorful, poetic tale of an airplane being forced to land on a planet. How the French author met a little prince and thus began an extraordinary journey of discoveries. Through various pictures and objects revealed the philosophy of Life,Love,Peace and many more.

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
The painful yet realistic diary entries of a teenage Jewish girl,Anne Frank's life during the World War II. It recorded from a tennage girl point of view about the War,Holocaust. She and her family and another family hid in an attic for 2 years. This bittersweet dairy revealed Anne's feeling,emotions and also the horrors of the War and Nazis. It would always served as a reminder to everyone.

The Atlas of Literature by Malcolm Bradbury (Editor)
An A to Z comprehensive guide through the long road of Literature.Almost everything about books and authors were covered in this atlas.From Austen to Zweig.Categorized into various notable sections.Namely,The Middle Ages and The Renaissance, The Age of Reason, The Romantics,The Age of Industrialism and Empire,The Age of Realism, The Modern World,After the 2nd World War and the World Today. Each part were comprehensively arranged and illustrated with famous examples and represented by the authors from that era. It covered almost all the important events and people in Literature. I enjoyed this atlas because each part was unique yet vitally contributed to the whole. It's handy to get all these Literary information compressed into a single book. It also gave a brief biographies of authors and showed their birthplace and journeys through their life and their famous works and contributions to the society. Well-done with great pictures and informative maps,notes,facts and figures. It showed the trends of Literary world and how it shaped our lives and affected our thoughts.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull : A Story by Richard Bach
Self-believe--Richard Bach(Writer)and Russell Munson(Photographer)superb with this book, brilliant creation. Timeless classic about a seagull named Jonathan. Jonathan is a seagull who is not contented with his normal life. He want to try out new flying techniques.He strike for the best in himself, seeking perfection,set a higher goal and show a good example for all to learn. How it yearn to learn the art of living. Jonathon wants to learn to fly perfectly. It's goal is striving for the best. The moral of the story is that we must believe in ourselves in things we do and the importance of seeking a higher purpose in life.

"What is written without effort is read without pleasure."-- Samuel Johnson

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