What A Wonderful World

Book Name : What A Wonderful World
Author : Marcus Chown

What is it about : All those topics (mainly science) that you dared not approach and were scared stiff when you first came across them before your O-Levels days, now reappeared in this book, explained in easy, straightforward and interesting layman terms. The Author cleverly peppered the contents with memorable stories and anecdotes from the inventors, scientists and various characters involved with that topic and the book was made that much more lively and readable.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Every now and then, one would come across a new friend or bump into someone in the cafe or something and you thought, hey presto, this guy could really explain things and I could understand everything he just said ! And what did he just explain ? Quantum Mechanics ? Capitalism ? Black Holes ? But, hang on, those topics now all made sense to me, un-believable ! Well, the author of this book was that guy in the cafe, crystal clear without loosing the essence and the core message of the topic. Basically, the ideal business consultant - digest the complex issues and then churn out information that "The Management" could understand.

Would I recommend this book to you : I would definitely recommend the book, especially, if you have the time to read one chapter each day to further make the complicated topic easier to comprehend - yeh, we're talking General Relativity, Neutrinos and stuff here ... you would need to take your time. Fun, nonetheless.

The Black Stiletto

Book Name : The Black Stiletto
Author : Raymond Benson

What is it about : Upon receiving a call from his mother's lawyer, Martin would discover that his senile mother, Judy, currently bedded down in an old people's home, was the Black Stiletto, the infamous vigilante wanted by the Mafia and the FBI back in the fifties. At the same time, one of her old enemies received parole and left prison intended to exact his revenge on Judy.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Em, yeh ... interesting idea if one day anyone would find that his or her mother was once upon a time, some ass-kicking, karate black belt and boxing tom-boy with a lethal expertise on the use of the knife (the black stiletto) who had gone about New York City dressed like Bat Girl, fighting crime, the Mafia, the Communists and was high on the FBI's wanted list ! That aside, the story was told in an under-whelmingly low octane tone and style which without boring the reader to bed, certainly lacked the flair and climax.

Would I recommend this book to you : A plain read to while away your Summer beach days or those lonesome Winter nights. Don't expect James Bond-like actions though.

The Double

Book Name : The Double
Author : Fyodor Dostoyevsky

What is it about : Set in the days of pre-1900s in St. Petersburg, one middle ranking government clerk found himself one day, coming face to face, living with, working along side as well as partying with an exact replica of himself; same name and same looks, only that our "Junior" turned out to be in character the exact opposite - smart, commanding, confident, witty, sociable and well-liked. The book centered on our "Senior" trying to work out what was going on - how come nobody was surprised, how could everyone take it so nonchalantly and what exactly was "Junior" up to ? Or was "Senior" going slightly mad where all he saw before him, were hallucinations ?

Some thoughts after having read the book : Man ! I would tell ya, reading 160 odd pages of a man's life turned up-side-down and trying to figure out "in his mind" what was going on, was not an easy feat ! I appreciated very very much the excellent translation from Russian, done on the original script, but I found as a result, the reading was made that much more cumbersome and tiring. The setting of the scene in St.Petersburg was difficult for a non-European reader who had not been well-versed in the intricacies of horse riding, man-servant, Russian government inner workings and the way a ball or party was thrown in those days. I persevered till the bitter end of the book and still could not make heads or tails !

Would I recommend this book to you : I checked out reviews performed by other readers and the comments ranged from "...A work of art...",  "...Students of literature, admirers of Dostoyevsky, and general readers will all be delighted..." to "...utterly unreadable..." ! Well, take your pick and think hard if you really have not better things to do.

The White Hotel

Book Name : The White Hotel
Author : D.M.Thomas

What is it about : The life story of a half Russian girl, Lisa, told along fantastical, multiple, intersecting, and psychological levels and dimensions. The first part of the book was Freud's (Lisa's psychologist) analysis and dissection of the origins of her physical pains and hysteria; revealing at last the deep, hidden root causes of her emotional scars. The second part of the book was an epic tale of her later life as a victim of the holocaust. The story ended with Lisa coming into contacts with lost ones, possibly during a transition state on her way to the Pearly Gates.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The very original (!) story was woven together by a master writer - such huge and diverse topics as the holocaust and Freudian psycho-analysis were put together with logic and ease in breath-taking, stunning and vivid images. The reader was left mesmerised and busy chasing symbols, clues and interpretations and came out not entirely sure what he/she had just read was, fantasy, real life, nut and bolt psycho-analysis or simply a story of epic proportions about a girl who was caught up in an identity crisis and met her brutal ends when she was swept up in the world's events. I felt overwhelmed by the savagery, fantasies (Certificate-18 stuff !), Freud's great intuition as well as the un-relenting pace of the book throughout.

Would I recommend this book to you : Be prepared to be made speechless, stunned and be ready to walk around in a daze for a few days after finishing the book. The relevant "adult" contents were essential for the development of the story and NOT some racy cheap thrills to get sales up. Be warned !

Revenge

Book Name : Revenge
Author : Stephen Fry

What is it about : A re-telling of the story The Count Of Monte Cristo. Set in modern day Britain where our blue-eye boy, Ned became the victim of childhood jealousy and subsequently by a fluke of bad luck, a further victim of corrupted government officials. Locked in a lunatic clinic on an island somewhere in Scandinavia, suffering un-bearable pain and torture, he met his saviour in the form of Babe, himself also a victim of the British government and there he plotted his comeback and revenge. By good fortunes, Ned transformed himself into Simon Cotter, a Bill Gates type of figure in the Hi-Tech world and relished in his role as "the avenging angel, the instrument of God".

Some thoughts after having read the book : I felt that the Author stumbled a bit at the start with depicting Ned madly in love with Portia and writing awkward letters to each other, declaring their un-dying love as teenagers would. But after may be ten pages, the Author got into his strides and stormed ahead and then there was no return - a roaring good read indeed which laid ahead. The readers would feel the pain and injustice dished out to Ned who happened to have done nothing wrong except being the secure, happy-go-lucky kinda good-looking guy with wit, brains and cricket batsman skills in ample quantity - nothing but just bad luck and sheer jealousy from the low and nasty people of this world. Look out for the ingenious ways in which Ned exacted his revenge.

Would I recommend this book to you : Definitely a major nod of praise from me for the book's barn-storming style; of course it helped tremendously that I had watched Stephen Fry on TV dramas, comedies, movie (lately in the role as Mycroft Holmes in the Sherlock Holmes series) and even adverts before in the U.K. and could relate to this author telling this story in his unique style of tone and pace. You could practically read this book anywhere, but do try not to finish it in one go !

Hannibal Rising

Book Name : Hannibal Rising
Author : Thomas Harris

What is it about : Set in the time of World War II in Europe, the story charted the childhood and upbringing of Hannibal Lecter (you know, that scary guy played by Anthony Hopkins) and how he was traumatised by the cannibalism of his captors. Our young Hannibal turned out to be an outstanding medical student with a talent for detailed drawing of human organs and had the ability to find novel ways of killing off his enemies. The book also described how a mysterious Japanese woman, his Aunt, made an impact on his early life.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The problem was that I didn't see "Hannibal Rising", just a troubled kid knocking bad guys out in cruel and ingenious ways. It was difficult for me to extrapolate and imagine this young dude would become THE Hannibal (think Anthony Hopkins wearing that menacing overall, waiting for and greeting Jodie Forster's visit to his prison cell in The Silence Of The Lambs). This book's make-up of the boy Hannibal felt hollow, with just a tiny glimpse of that chilling Monster inside and the actions and dialogues lacked psychological impact and depth. Also, the ease with which young Hannibal criss-crossed urban and rural Paris, seemingly knowing all the back lanes and short cuts felt implausible. Moreover, the slayings of the long-ago enemies were much James Bond-like - ducking bullets, him against the world, that sort of thing. The Japanese Aunt was a major distraction whose story thread, presence and contribution led to nowhere and did not add substance to our understanding of Hannibal The Monster and how he metamorphosed to become his sinister self.

Would I recommend this book to you : Good for a week's past-time and a quick thrill and kill; otherwise, the book fell short of the high standards set in the Author's excellent previous books of the same series and certainly never matched the chilling tale that was, The Silence Of The Lambs.

Breakfast At Tiffany's

Book Name : Breakfast At Tiffany's
Author : Truman Capote

What is it about : A twenty-something New York high society girl with a bit of a past partied her days away with models, rich friends and the elite - almost always a martini in hand. Her colorful and eventful life took a turn when she was visited by the past, in the form of her fifty-something ranch owner Texan husband; she faced more woes and uncertainty when her association with a crime boss surfaced on the FBI's radar.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The plausible tale was written with seemingly effortless pen strokes - this short story read like as if it was hot-off-the-typewriter at a flick of the author's fingers. I found the book to be an outstanding example of a novella - concise, precise, cut-to-the-chase conversations, brimming with charming characters and an intriguing plot. The readers would be enchanted by Ms Golightly in one of the parties she played host, would feel sympathy for her past and dilemma, would agonise over her naivety, would run away from her tantrums; and the readers would feel a sense of loss and nostalgia in her eventual absence (she ran away to Brazil from her predicament). All in all, you would feel for the girl.

Would I recommend this book to you : You could : 1. Use the book as a case study of how a novella should be written; 2. You could also study how the book was translated and transformed into the well-known film and won acclaims for Hepburn and Peppard; and of course, 3. You could read it (like myself) to enjoy the high drama, the entertaining dialogues and the peoples in Ms Golightly's life - a shy bar owner, an accidental friend and neighbour, a devoted and forlorn husband and more; or you could do all 1 to 3 and admire Capote's talents and the reasons behind his fame and what made him such a hit in his days. Highly recommended.

Captains Courageous

Book Name : Captains Courageous
Author : Rudyard Kipling

What is it about : A heroic tale about a rich daddy's  boy in his mid-teens who fell overboard during a storm in the middle of the Atlantic and was later rescued by a group of fishermen. The boy transformed from his old dependent ways to become an old deck hand as he learnt the fishermen's trade during his ten months' voyage. Oh yes, happy ending at last, as the delayed news of his rescue reached his parents (who literally owned much of the US) and full generous gratitudes were dispatched to the fishermen crew.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Most of the book was written in a new language - Fishermen Speak and as a result I could hardly understand half the conversations although of course I did get the gist of the idea. Such mind-boggling examples :

"sure, crews an'gear made no differ to her driftin'. She'll etch loose in a flat ca'am."

"she'a as stiddy as a haouse an' as dry as a herrin."

"Ef she's spewed her oakum he'd better git to his pumps mighty quick."

Also, reality check during my reading pauses and I found it very difficult to imagine a well-looked-after boy of fifteen (think comfy slippers, hot coco before bedtime, mummy giving approving nods to his every thought and action), who just fell off a cruise liner and ended up working and living with a bunch of stinking fishermen, speaking the Fishermen Speak, eating salted herring every other meal, sleeping in soggy bunk beds and did not cry once or expressed any form of home-sickness - that would be one logic-defying incredibly tough boy !

Would I recommend this book to you : A difficult one to recommend (or not) because although the book was seemingly targeted for readers in the early to mid-teens, the reading was tough-going and I definitely would not say that the readers' English would improve by learning the Fishermen Speak (accounted for about three-quarters of the book). You could of course argue that by reading bad English, one would learn the proper English. Nonetheless, if you are looking to gain an insight into the unique style and prose of one of the Greats - check it out !

Guerrillas

Book Name : Guerrillas
Author : V.S.Naipaul

What is it about : A fictionalised account of a true story set in the heady days of "Black Power", "Civil Radicals" and "Liberation" - the story of a British girl in her late twenties in search of life's meaning and spiritual adventures, landed into a "commune" on a Caribbean island and mixed company with her radical boyfriend's circle and her fateful encounters with the island's activist leader. Her personal journey was set against the backdrop of an island in turmoil (poverty, near anarchy and feeble governance), in an ex-pat community broiled in uncertainty where they "rum-punched" the day away and the book detailed the emotional interplays between the British girl and a whole cast of ideological figure heads.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Quite a struggle at first to get stuck into the book and to make heads and tails about the settings and characters as the story line appeared veiled and fogged out - hallmarks of another Nobel Prize Winner, may be ? Good thing the Author wrote a Preface and I did a bit of research half way through the book of Gail Anne Benson and her association with Michael X and the story of her eventual horrendous murder. Straight away, the story was illuminated and I followed with clarity of where the Author was taking the readers. The build-up to the climax and anti-climax towards the end was absolutely riveting and a master stroke as the disillusioned Brit approached her fatal fall and the subsequent simultaneous denial and acknowledgment of her existence and disappearance.

Would I recommend this book to you : Full of un-fathomable dialogues and drawn out accounts of ex-pat lives on a Caribbean island - rum-punching, strolling on a beach, being served dinner and generally lying around on Mexican hammocks in Bermuda shorts ... Exciting, interesting the book was not but the last 50 pages saved the day - the pace quickened, the plot focused and the story zero-ed in on the tragic end. It was a bit like having watched the first 2 hours of a lousy West-End Play but the scenes, actors and directors in the Final Act came together Big-Time and you walked out of the theatre thankfully satisfied - phew, not a waste of time after all.

The Vault

Book Name : The Vault
Author : Peter Lovesey

What is it about : A good old "whodunit" with a twist of the Frankenstein legend thrown in as an entertaining distraction. With all the suspects and red herrings at large and so our no nonsense Detective Peter Diamond ran around the blocks in Bath (!) to find the person(s) with the smoking gun. So who killed the art dealer and whacked a policeman unconscious ? Could it be the gentle American professor whose wife had gone missing and later found to have checked-in to The Ritz in Paris ? Or did the art-craze city councillor have a few skeletons in his cupboard ? What about the drug addict nephew who inherited a fortune from his deceased uncle who just happened to be the last person known to be present at the scene of the crime ? Caught between his family life, career prospects and being led down a few blind alleys, could our inspector figure it out ? Read on and take a ride with him and his British wit.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Tantalising clues they might have been, but I was not particularly led astray by those colorful, dubious, ignorant characters in the line-up. Perhaps it was just the thought that surely it had to be one of the "usual suspects", otherwise the whole book would have been a farce - a common "problem" in a whodunit. Nevertheless, the chases around Bath and the British humour jogged some fond memories and nostalgia about good old England ...

Would I recommend this book to you : Pick up the book for its wit, pace, English-ness and get taken for a ride through the life in a day of our inspector - enjoy.

Brief Encounters With Che Guevara

Book Name : Brief Encounters With Che Guevara
Author : Ben Fountain

What is it about : A collection of eight short stories, mostly on the theme of displaced Americans abroad in edgy countries ... For a change I would be giving a brief description of each story below.

Near-Extinct Birds Of The Central Cordillera - An American bird specialist became a hostage of the local guerrilla group in the Columbian jungle and was accidentally freed during a trip by the New York Stock Exchange executives.

Reve Haitien - An American Aid worker tried to do some good by throwing chess games away to the local Haitiens and ended up smuggling famous paintings out of the country.

The Good Ones Are Already Taken - An American Marine returned home after a stint in Haiti where he "married" a local voodoo goddess and his loving wife back home having a tough time trying to get to grips with these new arrivals (inculding a shrine and the whole shebang) !

Asian Tiger - A minor league golfer became a sensation with the Myanmar chiefs and got caught up with designing golf courses in war zones.

Bouki And The Cocaine - Haitien villagers figuring out ways to transport millions worth of cocaine out of their coastal village under the greedy watchful eyes of the local policemen.

The Lion's Mouth - An American Aid worker making good use of some "blood diamonds" in Sierra Leone and her diamond trader boyfriend was in for a surprise.

Brief Encounters With Che Guevara - A southern American recalled the different occasions the famous Argentinian revolutionist crossed path with him since childhood days.

Fantasy For Eleven Fingers - Two pianists with eleven fingers stunned the world during their different eras.

Some thoughts after having read the book : If I hadn't read the Q & A at the end of the book, I would not have known that (with the exception of Haiti) the Author actually had not been to these exotic countries and the stories were the results of his research. So it was no surprise that the stories took on a more cumbersome and mechanical tone and texture. What gave me these impressions ? Perhaps it was the over-detailed description of the flora and fauna of the Columbian jungle or perhaps the Author overcooked on the number and details of the piano symphonies. I did not feel the stories moved smoothly a la Graham Greene or La Carre (excellent writers on the theme of bystanders caught up in turmoils on foreign soils); but take nothing away this Author, he touched on great themes of irony, tragedy and the life of a lost soul abroad. It's just that the candid Q & A took away a certain degree of authenticity and credibility. By the way, the story " Fantasy For Eleven Fingers " had a definite feel of a Pushkin or may be a Chekov and this story gave me the feeling that the Author was experimenting with styles.

Would I recommend this book to you : The Author might not have the reach and depth of Graham Greene or La Carre on these topics (or perhaps he needed an epic-length novel to illustrate he is in fact on that level); but for now, I had been very content with this book as it provided plenty of food for thought regarding poverty, culture clash and  revolution. Great theme for the readers to actually consider writing a different ending for each of these good short stories.

River Out Of Eden

Book Name : River Out Of Eden
Author : Richard Dawkins 

Just for a change, I am not going to elaborate on the details of this book; other than to say that I read this Author's many books as part of my own personal "crash course" on Zoology and Evolution as a whole. I look at it like it is another massive thesis for the Author to expound his views on these topics and as per usual, he provided numerous colorful anecdotes, interesting examples and written with that irresistible logic and common sense. I in particular, liked the "African Eve" illustration of our genetic heritage, the Henry Ford "Efficiency" story of "let's make the strongest part weaker" and the "Bee Dance" series of experiments. You can read my other reviews on this Author's books by clicking on "Richard Dawkins" in the left hand column of this blog. Enjoy !

The Time Keeper

Book Name : The Time Keeper
Author : Mitch Albom

What is it about : The first dude who had a vague sense of Time (as opposed to his peers who thought the Sun - day time god and the Moon - night time god, each took turns to rule over them) and eventually discovered how to go about measuring Time, was banished in a cave for 6 thousand years by God for having made this discovery. During this time, he was made to listen to all human requests for "more time, faster, slower, sooner, later, delays, punctual, on schedule, out of time, spare time etc.); two voices stood out louder than the rest, a teenage girl who was in and out of luv and wanted to cut short her time on Earth by gassing herself to death; and a dying old man who wanted more time (another life) by planning on freezing himself for a couple of hundred years when medical science would raise him from such state and cure his many illnesses. These three characters were eventually to meet up and realize the true meaning of TIME.

Some thoughts after having read the book : As per the Author's previous books which I had the pleasure of reading - Tuesdays With Morrie and The Five People You Meet In Heaven, he wrote this book with the same consistent and characteristic approach, tone and style; basically, straight forward conversations, simple scenarios with ordinary people living next-door to you, over an IMPORTANT subject and delivering the BIG message. As in his previous books, the Author left much space and alternative scenes for the readers to imagine, interpret and conclude the message ourselves. This was done by exactly the way he had written this book - keeping it short, concise and not convoluted. The BIG Subject called into question was : TIME.  Of course, we all know why human had endeavoured for so long for precision and measurement of Time; just look at our GPS, high speed trains, stock markets and so on. But is Time a good measurement for feelings, emotions and experiences ?  Are we all enslaved by Time ? Why are we all making secret wishes so often for more time, faster, slower, sooner, later, delays, punctual, on schedule, out of time, spare time etc. ? Yes, the Author had successfully got the readers thinking.

Would I recommend this book to you : Despite the fact that the book lacked flair, high drama, one-paced and the ending predictable, I cannot give more credit to the Author because the readers were then left with enough breathing space to think over and reflect on the Subject (Time) - always the sign of a good book when the readers were made to think, interpret and learn - this book did all that to me.

The Greatest Salesman In The World

Book Name : The Greatest Salesman In The World
Author : Og Mandino

What is it about : A short and compact book set in the ancient Middle-East about two mega-rich men in their twilight years, recalling how they had achieved such riches through the learnings of some even more ancient Strolls.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Despite the dead-give-away book title, the book is much more than a Dummies Guide to becoming a successful sales person or a quick DIY hands-on manual on how to sell used cars or shower curtain rings; the book ultimately is more a philosophical approach to the bigger and more complex topic of Life Management. I found the "Scrolls" contents to be not dissimilar to what one expects a father would pass on to child; or any masters would impart their life's learning to followers.

Would I recommend this book to you : A quick read to boost your self-esteem and a reminder of how success in life can only come about, through the consistent application of good fundamental practices. Feeling lost, down, deflated, demoralised and in need of motivation ? Take this book out !

Gravity

Book Name : Gravity
Author : Brian Clegg

What is it about : Everything you have always wanted to know about Gravity and the characters and stories involved and here's a line-up of the usual suspects : Galileo Vs The Establishment, Newton's Apple, the un-compliant Einstein, General Relativity, String Theory, Quantum Mechanics, Anti-Matters, Black Holes, Time-Space Warping, Einstein Rings, Hawking Energy, Electrons, Positrons, Gravitons, Bosoms; they are all there. The book rounds up with the latest development and an encouraging message at the end - don't worry if you cannot understand how they (the bits and pieces in The Universe) all come together, they just do, otherwise we wouldn't exist !

Some thoughts after having read the book : Thought-provoking when the book details that the Earth is orbiting the Sun at a speed of 60,000 miles an hour and all creatures large and small manage to stay on to this rolling ball at this speed ! I found it amazing how the thirst of human curiosity had propelled our quest for knowledge on this topic through the centuries and yet more amazingly, human endeavour, experimental and theoretical scientists alike had persevered to come up with theories after theories and often had been proved to match up with experimental data ! I did feel, unlike the "Life Science" topics such as Evolution, Gravity would prove to be a bit of a struggle for most lay-person without a more solid fundamental groundings in this field.

Would I recommend this book to you : Tough going if you are not from this background; a bit dry if you are after a roller-coaster detective type story in unraveling the villain called Gravity but the book will do great for budding physicists as a fine introduction to this huge topic past, present and future.

Our Man In Havana

Book Name : Our Man In Havana
Author : Graham Greene

What is it about : Our man in Havana Wormold, was actually a boozing vacuum cleaner salesman who was recruited in a bar toilet by the British Secret Service as their man in Havana. Wormold subsequently conjured up his imaginary sub-field agents - a pilot, a naked dancer, an engineer, a waiter and the lot, to sort operation monies from London as well as enlarging and forging vacuum cleaner diagrams to be presented as the "secret weapons" deployed deep in the Cuban jungles by "the other side". Before he could say "Hey Presto, those fools in London ... ", his imaginary world collided with reality and found himself the assassination target from "the other side"; climaxing in a hilarious duck-and-dodge-the-poison luncheon, followed by his "triumphant" return (deportation) back to London and was subsequently knighted !

Some thoughts after having read the book : The Author peppered the book with sarcastic remarks of the cynicism that existed in the "Western" and "Eastern" worlds during the Cold War. These remarks still resonate in today's world as conflicts still abound the world over, albeit in different forms. But the book was all about the lighter and humorous side of arm-chair espionage, written with all the flippant flair and freedom and created such larger-than-life colorful characters - a Cuban Police Captain (The Red Vulture) whose cigarette case was upholstered with the skin of a former prisoner; the all-knowing Chief back in London who had assumed too much, exacerbated by his underling who gave partial answers and silent nods; and there was the whiskey-soaked long time friend of Wormold's, the German doctor who inadvertently became a victim of Wormold's sad comedy.

Would I recommend this book to you : Being a big GG fan, I cannot recommend this book more to readers, to view a snapshot of the world that was (Cold War) and that which has changed little since. A super fun read of the chaos caused by our man in Havana, code-named not Double-O Anything, but Agent 59200/5 who had trouble using a Shakesphere reference to encrypt messages and posted a poorly taken micro-dot (film) onto an unmarked stamp and threw into the post box, a further 250 letters (with identical stamps) to "confuse the other side". Yeh, it was so much fun to catch up with such hilarity ! Go Read !

The Selfish Gene

Book Name : The Selfish Gene
Author : Richard Dawkins

What is it about : Our articulate author tried to put across the ideas that living organisms had simply been "vehicles" formed by the genes (replicators) inside the organisms to carry out whatever tasks were needed to propagate and survive to the next generation. For instance (my own interpreted example), the genes responsible for the human's (or flies, or cats, you name it), acute smelling ability developed such a nose so that the "vehicle" had the best equipment to smell food, dangerous preys and so on in order to pass on the "nose" genes. Moreover, such genes exerted effects over a distance (or over close contacts) to other organisms to affect changes to best suit the gene's very own survival; such as beavers building dams and cuckoo babes mesmerising their bewitched foster parents. Along the way, organisms played out various Games (as in Games Theory) with friends, foes, group and non-group members, relatives, partners to best achieve the "Evolution Stable Strategy" and hang on to dear life so the genes themselves survive another day.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Needless to say, by now, Readers of this Blog would have noticed that I had been an arm chair Darwinian/Evolutionist for a very time - this Subject had indeed been my favourite past-time over the years. I loved the Zoo-wide (as in Zoology) examples from viruses, blood-sucking bats, pigeons, insect colonies as demonstrations for cases-in-points; I loved the debates and evolution analysis on human/organisms psychology involved in parent/child conflicts, battle of the sexes, group behaviours; I loved the way this Subject produced excited arguments or calm reflections over religion, Life and human interactions; I loved the way the Author effortlessly grabbed examples from real-life such as boat rowers, doves and hawks, ants, bacterium and breathe life into these examples, to illustrate and illuminate the areas of discussion - all in all, for non-fiction books, I could read Richard Dawkins's books day and night.

Would I recommend this book to you : A great big YES ! Because I had been totally biased and completely fascinated you might say; but looking at the book objectively, you would find humour, mega-interesting stories of the "Zoo" around you (great example: Royal beheading of an ant Queen by an invading Queen, geez!), witty presentation, the Games we (organisms) played (sometimes un-wittingly) at the bequest of our genes. I would say the book definitely will alter your mind set about the world we live in.

Night Train To Lisbon

Book Name : Night Train To Lisbon
Author : Pascal Mercier

What is it about : A Swiss professor in his late-fifties who specialised in ancient Greek, Hebrew and Latin Texts, met a Portuguese woman on his routine walk to school one rainy morning, an encounter which fired off his long-hidden desires and wishes - no, not an affair, but the desire to seek out life's many meanings. Our professor Raimund Gregorius, affectionately known to his students as Mundus, then stumbled upon a privately-published Portuguese book in an old book store, the book "A Goldsmith Of Words" set him off on a train journey to Lisbon to seek out and experience the Portuguese author, Prado's world of philosophies, emotions, and paradoxes as well as Prado's tumultuous relationships with his father, mother, sisters, friends, lovers, patients and Resistance comrades.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The book put together the lives of the two main characters - Mundus and Prado pieces by pieces as the reader gradually grew to understand their world. The structure and layers of the book was intricately wovened and constructed as we slowly explored the world of Prado, a brilliant medical doctor, philosopher and child prodigy who later became a Resistance co-operator under the era of the Portuguese dictatorship, almost 30 years Mundus's senior. This exploration was actually carried out by Mundus as he visited and conversed with Prado's many surviving friends and relatives in Lisbon - Prado died of a brain hemorrhage in his late fifties, some thirty years before Mundus's interest in his life. The book was beautifully written and stylistically composed - here's a description I personally liked most from the book : Quiet and elegant. Like dull silver.

Would I recommend this book to you : I cannot give the book more praise for its unique style, delicate touches and dramatic encounters. The book could be read as an adventure, a self-reflective philosophical debate or as a tool to understand human emotions towards families, friends, foes and religion. Before you head off to the local library, here are a few gems for your pleasure:

"Is the soul a place of facts ? Or are the alleged facts only the deceptive shadows of our stories ?"

"We leave something of ourselves behind when we leave a place, we stay there, even though we go away. And there are things in us that we can find again only by going back there."

"Life is not what we live, it is what we imagine we are living."

"Given that we can live only a small part of what there is in us - what happens to the rest ?"

Picking Up The Brass

Book Name : Picking Up The Brass
Author : Eddy Nugent

What is it about : A foul-mouth, spotty and alcoholic seventeen years old found himself enrolled to join the British Army. Attracted by the recruitment poster of sunny, balmy surfing, exotic overseas postings - our lad Eddy embarked on a few years of muddy drills, boot polishing, kitchen utensils scrubbing amongst laddies just like him, if not more pathetic.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The good points of this book were that Eddy really gave the readers the low-down of the years spent as an army recruit and his subsequent successful "graduation" and promotion. Tears, joy, puke, blisters all mixed in with the characters he met along the way. It was actually quite interesting to hear how the British Finest went through the hardships of being run legless, penalised to spend prison times for reckless drunken behaviour and his challenging encounters with his superiors and the Military Police. The bad points were of course, the readers had to endure the countless swearing by our Eddy, his mates and his Dad and coming off the book thinking, thank goodness I am not in the Army !

Would I recommend this book to you : Read the book for its genuine depiction of life in the Army, slap stick humour and be appalled by the senseless drunken incidents which initially cost him his promotion. You have been warned - lots of swearing, boys' talks and you might want to hide this book away from any prospecting Army teenage enthusiasts, as the contents of the book might put them off such a life style for good.

Close Range - Brokeback Mountain And Other Stories

Book Name : Close Range - Brokeback Mountain And Other Stories
Author : Annie Proulx

What is it about : Wyoming in the nutshell of these eleven short stories. The lives of the ranchers, ranchers' families and wives, rodeo riders, farmers with sinister secrets, cowboys coming out of the closet and the ways they interacted with each other, with the unforgiving lands and climate and with the even more unforgiving LIFE itself.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Darn ! Well, I would never have thought the State of Wyoming was so darn colorful and yet at the same time so brutal as the pavements, bars, and ranches were lined with so many crippled and dead folks. I was really taken for a ride by the author through this State where "Reality's never been of much use out here" said one anonymous retired Wyoming rancher. The author came up with (real life or story spinning) such charmers : Bad Girl Creek, Crazy Woman Creek, a ranch named Coffeepot, a Rodeo rider named Diamond Felts, a road called Drunk Road or even a neighbour called Coldpepper. But by far the most telling and touching story was of course the one which gave the modern definitive meaning when one had gone "Brokeback" - a story of intense emotions and immense sentiments. Having read these stories, I felt like I had lived in a Wyoming ranch over the past weeks.

Would I recommend this book to you : I could be seen with this book in the Metro, on a cross harbour ferry, on the plane or hey, even a research book for my visit to the State of Wyoming as I would imagine that the book would whet one's appetite to actually go and see a brutal rodeo show where cowboys break some noses and dislocate some shoulders, live in a ranch for a week where pretty much nothing happens for a month, have a beer with a Grandpa called Red, start a brawl in a bar called Gold Buckle and then fall into a creek named Pass Water. Yep, just let the author take you for a ride - you wouldn't want to leave this town.

London Observed - Stories And Sketches

Book Name : London Observed - Stories And Sketches
Author : Doris Lessing

What is it about : A collection of 18 short stories and "sketches", ranging from the goings-on in a side-walk cafe, a teenager giving birth next to a dirty slumdog on a rainy night, patients' interplays at a public hospital ward and a number of stories on relationships, love "lost and found" between mother and daughter as well as (ex and present)-husbands and (ex and present)-wives .

Some thoughts after having read the book : These short stories would not give the reader the "twist-in-the-tale" type of exhilaratinging finales; but having read each story in turn, I came away with deep thoughts - by the author's power of observation and insights into human relationships. I, in particular learnt a lot in how to come up with a "Sketch" of a situation, a weekend or even a stroll in the park; very much similar to how a painter would capture the scene of Autumn colors, a bowl of fruits or a passing bicycle race. I was constantly struck by the everyday settings - a park, the London Underground, a hospital ward, some road-side traffic or even gossipy sister talks at a Heathrow terminal; but the author "sketched" so well as the stories were rich in characters, full-blown details and points of views.

Would I recommend this book to you : You could pack this book with your travels, metro rides as well as a cosy Winter night before-bedtime read or as your Summer vacation extra-curricular reading - all in all, a book for all occasions.  Read the book to see a Master at work - effortless simplicity in scene-setting and presentation but powerful insights into human complexity in theme and nature.

The Fifth Miracle

Book Name : The Fifth Miracle
Author : Paul Davies

What is it about : A comprehensive collection of the latest information in the search of the origin of Life. The Author had gone to great length to define Life - a list and in-depth description of eleven pointers such as Autonomy, Organisation, Complexity, Information Content etc.; taking the readers to the bottom of the oceans where microbes lived happily alongside live volcanoes puking out lava; engaging the readers' imagination in the possibility of life on Mars from observing the erosion patterns on the red planet; entertain us with the thought that we could possibly be descendants from some bacteria from outer space, arriving on Earth from a meteorite.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Great authors in the field of evolution quite often shared these few traits : engaging, knowledgeable, all-rounders, Generalists with a capital G and very very exhaustive in their quest for a complete mastering of the argument at hand. Our Author here was no exception; the further I was into the book, the more topics were revealed and discussed : cosmology, thermodynamics, protein production, bugs and virus, genetic coding and a good old philosophical debate about Life : was there life afterall, at the very onset of the Big Bang ? What's the chance of finding you (reading this) and me (writing this) on the other side of some distant galaxy ?

Would I recommend this book to you : This book was by no means an easy Sunday morning snooze; more a book for those with a thirst for knowledge and un-bound curiosity about Life. The Readers had better surround themselves with reference books as they read on, as the Author would often explain his tracks of thoughts by going back to basics - thermodynamics, protein, RNA, DNA, Cosmology and the like. At once challenging and at the same time, the Readers are made to work hard. Fun ! Oh, by the way, should you wonder : the title of the book came from Genesis 1.11 " Let The Land Produce Vegetation".

Killer In The Rain

Book Name : Killer In The Rain
Author : Raymond Chandler

What is it about : A selection of short stories in the early days before RC became famous and master of this genre - the street-wise, chain-smoking, whisky-swilling, gun-always-at-hand Private Detective at your service. These stories could be seen as the Author's trial runs where he honed his skills in the creation of the ultimate Californian P.I. Philip Marlowe whom you had probably met in movies or stories alike.

Some thoughts after having read the book : It was the first time that I had really come across the formula writer - a writer so specialised in a genre and so prolific in his writing and creation that he churned out stories after stories using more or less the same structure and story line; almost like the hit TV series - think Miss Marple, Magnum P.I or the Colombo series. Here's the formula - P.I. bored to tears in his office as there had not been business for over a week, in came a thirty-something "dangerous" blond or a phone call from a police associate and related that a missing person needed to be found or contacted; P.I. then ran cross-country encountering all the nasty types, a few gun shots here and there, a few glasses (ponys) of whisky (rye) in between, 2 pages before the end then the (complex) plot explained through the P.I.'s acute observations; the bad guys went to jail and the P.I. got the cheque and drove back to his office downtown after a hard day's work.

Would I recommend this book to you : From what I have written, I might have sounded negative about this book but hey ! this was the master at work - you would get an action-packed story with an unexpected ending; PLUS an endless incredibly funny, cynical, observant one-liners (... a blond to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained-glass window ...) as well as American slangs up to your ears, so get your American Dictionary handy.

The Girl Who Played With Fire

Book Name : The Girl Who Played With Fire
Author : Stieg Larsson

What is it about : Our heroine, Salander, a gun-totting, axe-wielding kick-boxer, really kicked some ass out there - basically a Made-In-Sweden Lara Croft who got mixed up with some "national security" issues and had to confront not only demons from her past but also a steroid-pumped half-brother (honest...) who could not feel any pain (a rare form of muscle condition, again honest...) and a kick at his goolies would cause only minor irritations (but honestly...). Yeh, it's all in the book. Our hero Blomkvist, a journalist cum investigator came to her rescue right at the end when she survived a bullet wound in her skull and dug her way out of the ground after being buried alive. I gathered that she survived all this as there would be a sequel to this book.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Far fetched ?  Impossible ? Honestly, no way ! Hey Man, this was the land of Sweden where apparently our Blomkvist slept with just about all the females in Stockholm and we were led to believe that beneath that Swedish land of calm, green and laid-back facade, there laid sinister sex-slaves-trafficking, buried bodies and cold war spies aplenty ! I had to say - I loved it ! The almost-500 pages just turned effortlessly as I admired the author with his skills of holding the tension on multiple fronts; patient, pain-staking build-up of almost ALL the characters. I particularly liked the sessions describing the sentimental relationship between Salander and her mentor - now disabled and hospital-bound.

Would I recommend this book to you : When I first came across these guys in the first book (I watched the film actually) - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and found the film lengthy (2.5 hours) but patiently drawn out - an absolute ace which stood out from the run-of-the-mill thriller produced with the short-film-let's-make-a-quick-buck formula. The book would take you some time to get over but you would like it and I could not wait to read the last installment - The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest.

Drop The Dead Donkey 2000

Book Name : Drop The Dead Donkey 2000
Author : Hamilton And Beaton

What is it about : The crazy, funny and the un-thinkable which happened to the crew members of a TV Newsroom as we approached the end of the Millennium. Also thrown in were a government fixer (poo sweeper), a wide-eyed South African bimbo and a revengeful watch guard. Oh, did I forget ? and a lot of impotent Englishmen and a dozen or so squaddies who committed suicide mysteriously after a gala dinner. Intrigued ?

Some thoughts after having read the book : This book managed to achieve what a TV comedy (sitcom) should - never a dull moment ! From the characterisation of the 8 crew members of CEO, Editor, News Readers etc. (and the never-appeared Chairman of the franchise) to the sinister build-up of the biggest scandal of the century (even Millennium), the book never disappointed. Just pure hilarity scenes after scenes, witty conversations, acidic comments never stopped flowing. After I finished reading, I felt that I was part of the crew wanting to go back to that office for more of the killing laughters ! The front cover of the book and the fact that these were the actual actors/actresses of the TV show, made visualisation more vivid and the pace frantic and I ended up having sympathy for them all, working in this loony house !

Would I recommend this book to you : When was the last time you had a light hearted moment ? Or the last time you laugh till your belly ached ? Pick this book up and read on ! WARNING - this book can cause serious un-controllable laughing symptoms, avoid reading in public.

The Never Lonely Planet

Book Name : The Never Lonely Planet
Author : Martin R. Oliver

What is it about : An old-hand traveller recounts his many intriguing journeys from whence he was an apprentice in Conventry - the once car-maker of the world, falling in luv with the intoxicating Brazilian cultures (and women), enduring the British Immigration when he went back to the now-strange homeland, to his later "not quite the backpacker" boat trips down the Mekong; the Author tells the stories with the style and humour of the likely bloke who stood next to you at the bar, beer-in-hand, having a good-o chin wag. The Foreword was written with insight and wisdom about Life - now, that can only come from a man who has been around and has the ability to reflect.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Remember that witty Brit you met in the London pub, or that Aussie you met along the Pan-American Highway with the driest, couldn't-give-a-shxt slap-stick humour ? Well, that could be our Author of this book - he just kept me entertained throughout and I felt I almost became a friend, going down the local bar each night, to hear him out for yet another exciting story. I looked forward to continue reading every day when I picked up where I left off. Just non-stop humours and laughters.

Would I recommend this book to you : Really a book to take anywhere with you, mind you, the book is so entertaining that you might finish it too soon ! However, if you are not a frequent traveller or the adventurous type (a.k.a. boring old fart), you might not be in sync with the flow, idea or purpose of all that in the book; or the book might just inspire you to get that plane ticket and start packing !

Skin

Book Name : Skin
Author : Roald Dahl

What is it about : A collection of short (roughly 15 pages each) stories, all with a slight twist in the end. These stories ranged from a priceless piece of painting (in the form of a tattoo) on a poor man back and how it eventually went on show; a murder committed with a leg of your favourite lamb; an injured pilot out-smarting the nurse and hospital staff and a happy ending for a kind-hearted surgeon when he found his lost treasure in one of the patients.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The author demonstrated the full range of skills and techniques in good English story writing - telling these short stores from different stand points through first person, a fly-on-the-wall observer and the classic "once upon a time in Africa...". The story which deserved my pouring the most compliments was the one involving two men trying to drug down the whole wood full of pheasants with laugh-bursting (loud!) consequences ! This one (The Champion Of The World) would stay in my memory for a long time to come.

Would I recommend this book to you : You want a book to humour you, fascinate you, amuse you, this is the one. Read it on a short train ride, between sipping your martini's during a sunset relaxation or too eager to read through the whole lot in one sitting - take your pick !

Ripley Under Ground (And Ripley's Game)

Book Name : Ripley Under Ground (And Ripley's Game)
Author : Patricia Highsmith

What is it about : Our famous "amateur" villain hatched another unlikely murderous plot. This time Tom Ripley would commit the murder in his house in France ! All the hoo-ha was done to save the Derwatt painting franchise which was again masterminded by our Tom and carried out by incompetent accomplices in London. The franchise was essentially a scam of selling forged paintings by a non-existent recluse artist hiding out in a village in Mexico - yeh, apparently the paintings sold like hot cakes ... All was going well until an American collector spotted a "cobalt blue" which should not have been there in one of the paintings and suspected foul play, Tom finished him off after a drunken dinner.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The author wrote the book in 1970 where forensics were primitive and the minds of the detectives were slow. No, no Poirot, Miss Marple or Detective Columbo anywhere remotely in sight to make Tom a little nervous. Reading the book in 2014 and making comments would be un-fair as we are now accustomed to books running at much faster pace, CSI on TV and lightning speed Internet to crawl out any dirt from anyone - Tom just would not survive in these modern times.

Would I recommend this book to you : You might think I have a rather negative view on the book, but on the contrary, I enjoyed the book immensely for sheer class and elegance. It was a joy to learn that Tom was living a luxurious idle life (big house, fast cars, perfect servant, painting the occasional portrait of his wife, popping down the French village to buy some flowers, his maid cooking up delicious dinners and such like). With the exception of a few frustrating scenes which amply demonstrated how amateur Tom was behaving and even more amateur the local police was going about their work, the book was a joy to read and the pages just turned effortlessly.

Ripley's Game had a similar read and feel, so I would not elaborate further, except that Ripley's Game was equally amusing and readable.

The Greatest Show On Earth

Book Name : The Greatest Show On Earth
Author : Richard Dawkins

What is it about : A wide range of evidence are presented in this most readable book, showing that evolution is alive and kicking, and happening right here and now and in its many forms and ways. The book is an attempt by the author to plug the gap in his formidable series of books on this topic where he has already covered other aspects such as gene-centric view of evolution, arguments against intelligent designs and the application of probability to evolution and such likes. Numerous experiments have been presented which showed life forms evolving in a matter of weeks and months - the one that caught my eye was the jump in the population density of bacteria when it evolved and "discovered" how to digest citrus substances on top of its ability to digest glucose - extremely fascinating !

Some thoughts after having read the book : The author is well endowed with all-round skills and the power of communication to get the messages over. Not only the author presented the book like a persuasive TV presenter, but more valuable were the experiments and data he dug up. For example, the Appendix detailed that, a 2008 poll showed that 42% of Americans believed that all life on Earth has existed in its present form since the beginning of time ! Another poll showed that roughly a third (32%) of Italians thought the earliest humans lived along side dinosaurs !!! The Appendix alone was worth my time in taking this book out from the local library.

Would I recommend this book to you : A book for all occasions - enjoying it in the sun and on the beach, over a cup of morning coffee and contemplating on life, quick firing bullets to shoot down Creationists' dubious arguments or mulling over the BIG questions in Life, you know, where do we come from, where are we heading, is there anyone out there etc. The author's eloquence and the on-going astonishing experiments made this book read like, you are watching a mega-hit movie - a must-read for both enthusiasts and the casual reader !