The 39 Steps

Book Name : The 39 Steps
Author : John Buchan

What is it about : A bored-with-life London city dweller chanced upon an international conspiracy of gigantic proportion (WW 1,2 and 3 and the end of human race as we knew it, etc.), when a shady neighbor paid him a visit and subsequently died through a stab wound. Our hero was left with a notebook full of cryptic signs and clues and he decided to run for the Scottish border where he thought he would have a better chance of breaking the codes and save his country and the world.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Readers would first have to believe in the power of co-incidence, then move on to have full faith in the kiss of Lady Luck. Basically our man from London would meet up in the Scottish highlands and villages (around a 50 miles radius, I had imagined), all the villains, saviors, old chums, well-intention-ed, no-questions-asked villagers and subsequently ducking out from a few bombs and hairy situations; and then even meeting up with the British ministers in charge of defense, military intelligence and the head of Scotland Yard and they all sat up and would listen to our man as he almost single-handed-ly deciphered the mystery of "the 39 steps".

Would I recommend this book to you : The book was written in the days when at a seaside promenade in the south of England, "donkeys padding homewards...". Readers could experience a really good vibe about the ways and life of England and Scotland in the days of 1915 when the book was written. The style, tone and texture of the written text would also bring the readers back to a bygone era. Beautiful !

The Prince

Book Name : The Prince
Author : Niccolo Machiavelli

What is it about : A 14th Century statesman from Florence outlined the strategy, psychology, theory, scenarios, conduct and craft required to rule and govern an empire. The Author peppered his (in)famous book with vivid illustrations from near and afar in both geography and time from Alexander, Roman Caesars, French kings and Italian dukes.

Some thoughts after having read the book : "The end justifies the means" had probably been the first and most famous maxim from Machiavelli's book of statecraft, anyone would have heard of and talked about. Was he simply stating the obvious in human nature, or was he well ahead of his time or perhaps he was the first to simply put down on paper the cunning,  ruthlessness and charm required to be a modern day politician ? At least all of the above would be my answer - present day examples abound with countries taking profit through war mongering, apparent people-elected leaders still ruled by fear or diplomacy had simply been a matter of "truth lies where the shell of a canon would land". I fancied that the long history of China with its many emperors, ministers, premiers, warriors and strategists would be an equally educational arena for would-be rulers.

Would I recommend this book to you : A fascinating book detailing the obvious, darker or the natural side of human behavior. Readers would perhaps gain clearer insights into the field of modern-day politics, diplomacy and the gaming between nation states in our present world of increasingly multi-tiers political theaters. A must-read for would-be students in politics and history.

Fletch

Book Name : Fletch
Author : Gregory Madonald

What is it about : A Californian reporter went undercover as one of the many drifters (Hey Dude...what's up, man...yeh right, whatever, man...), to investigate the drug dealings in the beach areas and found himself being offered a large sum by a wealthy man to commit murder instead.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Clearly a book written in the early seventies, when "real" people were more trusting and "real" readers were less demanding. Basically, this twice-divorced reporter conned, bluffed and drank his way around his subjects and just spun little make-believe stories to gain the inside track and his subjects of interest were just so ignorant and forth-coming with voluntary information that his job of breaking the case was just a walk in the park - never in a million years could that happen, in the present day atmosphere of privacy-consciousness and ID thefts !

Would I recommend this book to you : An easy read to while away a few lazy days; perhaps on the beach, by the pool, plane journeys or over a glass of wine - yeh right, whatever, man...

Anthropology

Book Name : Anthropology
Author : Dan Rhodes

What is it about : A collection of short passages, each no longer than, perhaps a hundred words but all on the subject of Love. Generally written from the a man's or a boyfriend's point of view that love sucks, love hurts, love pains, love kills, love gratifies, love humours, love maddens, love emboldens, love embarrasses, love purifies, love ruins ...

Some thoughts after having read the book : A gem of a little book but big on the ideas of Luv. After reading each passage, I would be left, without exceptions, with a wry smile on my face and a knowing nod in agreeing, understanding and enjoying the different aspects of this "ancient" subject and felt thoroughly entertained and humoured by the author.

Would I recommend this book to you : Try to read a passage each day and think of it like a Far Side (Gary Larson) cartoon in one of those, turn-a-page-each-day calendars, then you would start your day with a wry smile and a humourous mood.

Little Hands Clapping

Book Name : Little Hands Clapping
Author : Dan Rhodes

What is it about : The after-hours happenings in a unique museum where the caretaker participated in a sinister conspiracy with a local doctor. The unraveling of their dark scheme came about when the doctor's beloved hound choked up a massive male organ during a run in the park and both the doctor and the caretaker met their fateful ends.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The plot sounded sinister enough, but the story was written with such emotional detachment, morbid humour, compassion and apathy even, that such sickening subject as cannibalism was made to look "necessary", "understandable" and seemingly no-big-deal. A slice of baby-love gone sour was thrown in with good measures when the girl involved almost ended up on the doctor's dinner plate. The story was peopled by such wonderfully odd characters that would already make interesting reading, a spider crunching museum caretaker to start off with. By the way, the interrogation of a Frau Klopflock by the local policeman produced one the many highlights and laugh-out-loud set-pieces I had ever read; the subsequent scene involving the same policeman chasing after the butt-naked doctor would complete the most hilarious twenty pages of any book !

Would I recommend this book to you : A resounding Yes ! The book ticked all the right boxes - police chase, dark plots, sickening humour, lively conversations from colorful characters and the unique story would be a like a breath of fresh air to any jaded reader.

Simplicity

Book Name : Simplicity
Author : Edward De Bono

What is it about : The expert on Thinking Clearly presented the what, how, why and when on the subject of Simplicity. Philosophy for Life, working manuals for corporations, teaching materials for kindergartens and a DIY self-help course all rolled in one neat book. The details were presented in a simple fashion (or he would have shot himself in the foot), with an all-but-simple message - how many of us make hard work of our simple lives and how to go about simplifying the concepts, targets, processes and results.

Some thoughts after having read the book : I had been a great admirer of the Author since reading his book : Lateral Thinking. The Author's style of presentation and clarity of thoughts and objectives gave the readers meaningful handle bars to latch on, to easily turn words into practice. The book was peppered with numerous day to day examples on how to make your life, company and thinking processes simpler. His humour in quoting these examples and his turn of phrases always hit the mark, to enlighten the readers by illuminating blind corners in our daily lives.

Would I recommend this book to you : Overwhelmingly Yes ! We all should keep this book on our book shelves under the category "Books to turn to for solving problems quickly". I would particularly recommend turning to this book whenever fork roads or confusion arose and you needed a clear voice. Read the book every other month to become better organised and comb out the cobwebs in your muddy thinking.

The Outsider

Book Name : The Outsider
Author : Albert Camus

What is it about : A middle-age man received the news of the death of his mother from the nursing home but felt and showed no sadness at her funeral. Life went on for Meursault thereafter as normal as before until a weekend of drama turned his life into a nightmare. The story climaxed as he sat in his prison cell and contemplated life as the "outsider".

Some thoughts after having read the book : It was gut-wrenching to read the ending of the story where the court passed judgement not on Meursault 's crime (per se) but on his character and how he behaved. One could not help but realised that everyone had, on his/her day been an "outsider" - one who refused to conform to social norms, not paying attention to cultural traditions, not putting on the appropriate emotional mask for the occasion or simply, one could be "an outsider" for being brought up in an "outsider" family. I felt totally sympathetic towards the plight of Meursault as the prosecutor won over the jury for his depiction of Meursault as a heartless son who "went swimming in the sea and watched a funny movie the day after his mother's funeral ..." and successfully turned the trial into one of morality and not about the actual murder. Infamous cases in point kept popping up in my mind as I read, think of the trials of O.J. Simpson, and you would get the gist of the idea. 

Would I recommend this book to you : Yes ! A book written with a clear story line and build-up and the writing style was under-stated in tone and texture - no big statements, no heroic actions. The reader would be taking a ride along side the days of Meursault during the course of a year or so, and you would be rewarded with thumping climax at the end !

No One Writes To The Colonel

Book Name : No One Writes To The Colonel
Author : Gabriel Garcia Marquez

What is it about : A "novella" set in a South American township/island, about the daily life of a retired colonel - edgy exchanges with his asthmatic wife, finding scrapes of foods to feed his treasured bird before the next cock-fighting season, figuring out where the next Pesos would be coming from and most eager of all, waiting hopefully at the dock every Friday (for the past fifteen years) for the news of his delayed pension money.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Despite the book being the length of a short essay, the author showed his masterful pen strokes and painted an intense and colorful story packed with interesting characters together with a taut plot. The readers would feel that they too lived in a shanty town where nothing much ever happened other than placing a tin can under a leaky roof, watching the Friday boat-docking, the wait of the start of the cock-fighting season or a very un-appetizing lunch of mush corn. I would guess the author managed to conjure up such intense imagery in such a short space, by focusing each character into just "doing" or "performing" just one task - the colonel "being optimistic", the wife "being worried", the postman "being un-caring", the cock "just surviving" and the rich land-owner "not being bothered". A good method of writing a short novel.

Would I recommend this book to you : Yes ! If you have a few hours to spare, or wanting to immerse as a bystander in a dream-like South American township or you would like to learn how a "Pro" applied his writing methodology - go get this book out !

Orient Express

Book Name : Orient Express
Author : Graham Greene

What is it about : Not the Agatha version with a detective on board, but a slightly more real life drama with a Jew hoping to close a deal on his business, a chorus girl wanting a part in an Istanbul show, a dogmatic political exile returning to his roots, a fugitive running away from his crimes and a dogged journalist determined to grab the headlines. Their stories, ideals and passion all inter-played out along the different legs of the famous train journey with high dramas culminating towards the end of the book.

Some thoughts after having read the book : On my train journeys, I would never have guessed that there would be a murderer in the midst or a committed socialist on his death tour, or even a fine-figure performance artist romanced by a wealthy Jew making out in the compartment next door; well, it's all happening here in this book. Between these characters on this journey "of a life time", they went through harrowing car chases, fired and dodged bullets, were interrogated by dubious army generals in a make-shift court and amazingly a few of them made it to Istanbul alive. But yes, under the pen of the masterful story teller, everything and anything was possible and all came to life.

Would I recommend this book to you : The reviewer stated in the Introduction of the book that Orient Express was classified as an "entertainment" by the original author. Indeed, the book was entertaining in the sense that it read like a black and white Bogart, Hepburn and Cary Grant matinee. So if that's your thing, this would be an ideal book for your Christmas and New Year indolent days and nights, all curled up warm with a mug of hot cocoa and having a jolly good read.

透過錢眼看中國歷史

Book Name : 透過錢眼看中國歷史
Author : 波音

What is it about : The rise and fall of Chinese dynasties through the lens of monetary matters were described and analysed in this book. Monetary matters included such resources like silver, silk, salt, porcelain, land and much more; the book aimed to show for instance, the scarcity or abundance of these resources affected the fortunes of emperors past, more than any political intrigues or the allegedly "wisdom", "greatness" or "stubbornness" of those famous emperors or ministers.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The author successfully illustrated that the bigger picture or background of "money" which dictated the actions, limitations and strategies which the dynastic emperors/officials could deploy when it came to war, trade and keeping the citizens generally happy.  Take for example, the building of the Great Wall - the objective was to be able to keep some form of peace with the northern neighbors (The Huns); the solutions could be (i) build more walls; (ii) attack and destroy; (iii) pay The Huns off with money, deer skins, beautiful Chinese women; or (iv) set up trade centers to mutually benefit each area's residents. Some clever dudes (Emperors) decided that all (i) to (iv) took time and money, but the last choice (iv) would involve the least expenditure in terms of loss of lives and loss of resources but with the longest possible period of peace. A case in point that the emperors had to balance the books.

Would I recommend this book to you : I found the book to be most rewarding and easy to read and I had gained major insights into the inner workings of the money minds of dynasties past. I would highly recommend this book to readers of any background, to take this book out and look at history from a totally new and fresh perspective.

The Extended Phenotype

Book Name : The Extended Phenotype
Author : Richard Dawkins

What is it about : The ideas that genes could act beyond the boundaries and vicinity of the organism in which they resided, were explored and illustrated with numerous examples from cuckoo and snails to bees and beavers. The effects and manifestations of one' organism's genes to influence and modify other organisms and the environments at a distance covered a range of activities including behavior, hormone excretion, re-structuring the environment such as dam building by beavers etc.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The author painstakingly set the scene in the first three-quarters of the book, in my opinion, to build the case for a water-tight argument and to avoid any misunderstandings from his peers and experts in the field. As such, the book took some tough reading, as the first three-quarters of the book had few direct relevance to Extended Phenotype and it was a drag to plough through pages after pages of fully-versed arguments about such topics as "Fitness", Group Selection and detailed Genetics. I would be far happier to read more about illustrations on examples of Extended Phenotype.

Would I recommend this book to you : Tough going and by no means a lay person's book to get acquainted with the interesting topics of Evolution. Unlike the author's many other books which were less technical, cumbersome and scholarly and written more for the general public, this book was really written for those in the field. I was just thankful that a lay reader such as myself had the opportunities to read his many other mega-interesting books before gaining a bit of a foundation to also cover this book.

Orlando

Book Name : Orlando
Author : Virginia Woolf

What is it about : Set in the 18-19th Century, this story followed the fantastical journey of love and adventure of a "person", as he traveled from London to Istanbul and back and on his way, transformed himself to a woman who experienced altered and warped viewpoints on society and peoples around her.

Some thoughts after having read the book : My attempt in having a go at reading a "Modernist"'s production and for all intents and purposes, I was far from succeeding in gaining an inch of ground. In a nutshell, way beyond me in terms of literary standards and my own interests; it was just good to make an effort. that's all.

Would I recommend this book to you : This book could not have been my "lonely island" book for pleasure and leisure; the book could only be one for intense Literature classes where the reader had to do homework and preferably a good teacher should be nearby to explain the ideas and guide the discussions.

外交十記

Book Name : 外交十記
Author : 錢其琛

What is it about : The official journals of the one of the top diplomats in China - 錢其琛 , detailing his years of service and the dramatic upheavals he witnessed and took part, during the Cold War, the breakup of the Soviet Union, the Handover of Hong Kong and Macau as well as his dealings with political giants such as Mandela and Castro. The journals covered his career over a span of almost forty years as well as containing a few lectures he presented after he retired, covering topics which were of importance then and still very much the flavor even today - globalization, wars in the Middle East and China's role in the world.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Having read the book, one would immediately and without doubt, be awed by the size of task, the un-predictability, the re-occurrence of strikingly similar events taking on new forms, patterns and players, the patience, wisdom and vision required to solve historical tight knots, the clarity of objectives to be achieved, of international diplomacy at the highest levels. It was of much interest in gaining a view from the top (the book) and relate to those people who were in the position to guide the (mis)fortunes of international relationships with the actual events that happened. One thing for sure, it was no easy job to travel over a hundred countries and still be in command of one's brief each time a diplomat faced another President, another Prime Minister, another Foreign Secretary; considering in those days, it took 4 changes of flight just to get from Beijing to Cairo !

Would I recommend this book to you : Do not take this book to the beach or ride the Metro, the book required seriousness, focus and insight while still being very readable. Recommended to anyone interested in international relationships or wishing to embark on a career as a diplomat.

The Beach

Book Name : The Beach
Author : Alex Garland

What is it about : The story of a bunch of curious backpackers receiving by chance, "The Map" to a legendary beach (turquoise lagoon, endless supply of dope and Sunday football came as standard) in Thailand which had been folklore in their realm. "The Map" turned out to be authentic and they found themselves living amongst a community of similarly young-ish no-where men/women whose sole purpose on the beach was to protect its secrecy, live a life on fish, rice and vegetables, smoke dope and basically enjoy life in paradise all day. Such idealistic lives took a complete turn, when fellow "beachers" were attacked by a shark and the local drug lords became nasty, leading to a climatic escape.

Some thoughts after having read the book : A superb backpacker's version of "paradise found and paradise lost". The tension just steadily built up as to when the secret of "paradise" would become instead a "paragraph" in Lonely Planet Thailand, completed with map and route instructions and so on. The looming sinister shadows of the drug lords and their guns and dope added to the tension as to when they would be fed up with this "farang" community in their vicinity; all this came to a boil when the three Swedes were attacked by a shark, resulting in death, fatal injuries and insanity. The reactions from the community gave a vivid demonstration of human fragility, cruelty, selfishness and in the end a wake-up call to what's right and wrong.

Would I recommend this book to you : Take this book with you when you next visit Southeast Asia and let your imagination go wild and live out the fantasy, even though you last saw your backpack all those years ago. Don't know about you, but I would probably last a maximum of three weeks, may be a month in such an environment and in such company, before I would be crying out for clean clothes, a different diet, a change of scene and head homeward-bound.

The Black Tulip

Book Name : The Black Tulip
Author : Alexandre Dumas

What is it about : The story was set in the days of the Dutch "Tulip-Mania" when tulips of all colors, shapes and sizes, exchanged hands at huge sums of monies and assets, without even leaving the soil they were planted in. In one instance, a farmer bought a much sorted-after tulip with "2 carts of wheat, 4 of rye, 8 fat pigs, 4 oxen, a dozen sheep, 4 tons of butter, 1000 pounds of cheese, some furniture and clothes and a silver beaker...". So a tulip in the color of black velvet took centre stage in this classic of love, greed, mayhem, political intrigue and finally justice served.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The story read like a play where you could imagine the theater curtains rising and falling after each set-piece. The style was light and breezy, the story line was entertaining, each scene was purposefully set; so as such, however much pain, betrayal, hardship and injustice the heroine experienced along the way, you could feel it was gonna be alright at the end. The great author was well-known in the way that he filtered out the dull bits of history and liberally embellished an epic based on the remaining colorful bits of historical facts (or otherwise), thus achieving the effects of pace, entertainment and drama.

Would I recommend this book to you : When I took out the book from the local library, I initially approached this Classic with a little bit of apprehension, thinking that major concentration and a big effort was gonna be required here, assuming it to be another formidable read like "War And Peace" or something. But as it turned out, I was like attending a play or musical (think Les Mes) and I was totally amused and the time spent on reading just flew by. I would put it down to the skills of this great author in the way he structured the plot and the witty dialogues he peppered throughout the book. Highly recommended.

And Thereby Hangs A Tale

Book Name : And Thereby Hangs A Tale
Author : Jeffrey Archer

What is it about : Another collection of short stories by one of my favourite authors; geez, he must have known a lot of people or attended many dinner parties to bag all these tales. In this case, fifteen intrigues for the readers to savour.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Up to the author's usual superb standard, these stories delighted a dull afternoon, invited a smile to your day and at times, caused the reader to plainly laugh out loud. If I had just one tiny negative comment to make, it would be the fact that the author was so good at his work, that the endings seemed a bit abrupt at times (a short story writing technique, I'm sure), when a bit of lingering sentiments and melancholy would go a long way to make that story more memorable.

Would I recommend this book to you : Please see my other comments on this author. In this instance, I would recommend the following books which I had enjoyed in the past by the same author. First Among Equals, A Matter Of Honour, A Quiver Full Of Arrows, A Twist In The Tale, Twelve Red Herrings, To Cut A Long Story Short and Cat O'None Tales.

Across The Pond

Book Name : Across The Pond
Author : Terry Eagleton

What is it about : A Manchester-born university lecturer summed up his insights, experiences and philosophies on all things American - from politics, religions, media, literature to wilderness, will power and obesity. The author placed himself in a unique position to make such calls as he has an American wife and lived in Dublin and being an expert in Literature stood him in good stead towards a good understanding of the American English-ness.

Some thoughts after having read the book : A much-needed introduction from the word "go" on the necessity and validity of "stereotype", somehow eased my mind about : how could a book generalize a nation so large and consisted of peoples from such diverse backgrounds from previous slaves with history on their backs, newly arrived immigrants with hopes in their dreams, elites from Wall Street who had nothing but dollars and dividends in their heads or politicians who cared nothing but their rise to power through all these people's votes. From then on, I enjoyed reading the Author's observations on the differences and idiosyncrasies "across the pond" from the point-of-view of an Englishman. However, I was for most of the time, puzzled by the lack of a clear structure of the narrative as the various topics and lines of logic seemed recurring, never fully completed or perhaps the world being so flat these days, that there could not be cliche which I had not previously come across about the Americans. Besides, I have lived and worked in New York and the fact that I have siblings living in California already allowed myself to gain a personal insight about certain aspects of this (relative) new found nation.

Would I recommend this book to you : The readers would find the book to contain amusing observations, fair commentaries and the readers would gain a first hand and first level understanding of this nation.

Sex, Lies And Handwriting

Book Name : Sex, Lies And Handwriting
Author : Michelle Dresbold

What is it about : The science and methodology of "reading" hand-writings was presented together with numerous examples taken from notorious figures including the likes of Ted Bundy, Hitler, Capone as well as ex-Presidents and well known businessmen. There was also a section devoted to layman readers who, instead of having their palms read or talking to their psychiatrist, they sent in their hand writings, asking the Author for help. The case study of identifying Jack The Ripper underlined the profiling methods as a way of providing supporting "evidence" .

Some thoughts after having read the book : The book to me, opened up a new avenue for self-analysis and self-improvement. Without treating the subject matter of the reading of hand-writings as gospels, the "reading" nevertheless did offer a certain amount of common sense. For instance, I would imagine that in general, an out-going person to have big hand-writings and a shy person to write in tiny letters. On a parallel and similar note, the practice of Chinese calligraphy had long been known for those in the field, to improve one's patience and instilling the attitude of constant improvement - the "go-get" character, if you like. The chapter on identifying Jack The Ripper was as riveting a piece of crime-solving as any detective novels I had ever read. The Author pulled together all the tell-tale signs from the dots on the "i"s and the crosses on the "t"s and pointed out the most likely suspect !

Would I recommend this book to you : It's always good to know yourself better and from a totally different perspective and this book could help you achieve that and delivered much more. You might improve (hide) your true temperament by actually changing the way you write. The book also made fun reading as you discovered more from analysing the hand-writings of your loved ones.

An Essay On The Principle Of Population

Book Name : An Essay On The Principle Of Population
Author : Malthus T.R.

What is it about : The first version of this classic work on the many aspects, theories and practical "checks" on the topic of human population was published in 1798. The all-round philosopher, economist and politician presented his views on labor, social welfare, agriculture, industrial ventures and his rebuttal to the many on-going economics-thoughts and philosophies that were in vogue at the time; these fashionable ideas included  the "perfectability" of the human species, conjectures concerning the progress of the human mind. The ideas, theories, arguments and government Bills, put forward by the likes of Pitt, Adam Smith, Godwin, Condorcet were torn apart mercilessly. The Author established himself as a giant in this field as hereafter, Malthusian concerns had been often debated whenever plague, famine and endemics ran wild on our fragile Earth.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Truly an all-time Classic with the capital letter C. This version of the book was presented in a style of English that was prevalent almost 300 hundred years ago, so it was tough going for the readers to grasp the sheer English-ness of the essays. The essays were peppered with examples and illustrations taken from far afield of China, the United States of America as well as cases coming from closer to home, of the introduction of the Poor Bill, the Adam Smith's scenario of industrial revenue against the trends of labor movements. Interestingly, when viewed from our standpoint of the modern world of Genome, space exploration, gene therapy, organ transplant, Malthus might have been too short-sighted (or perhaps not enough qualified in the field of general Science) when he argued against such ideas as "organ perfectability", "indefinite prolongation of human life". What would he think now ? Of a particular note - I thoroughly appreciated the style of how Malthus constructed his attack and defense in his lines of arguments.

Would I recommend this book to you : Be prepared for a tough ride as the readers would find the English impossibly painful, the arguments almost irrelevant to our modern age of iphone, speed dating and mass consumerism. But also be prepared for the reward of having struggled through this "Malthusian" monumental works and having the satisfaction of knowing a totally different world and society that existed 300 years ago; and also the fact that the Malthusian concerns, arguments and debates would still strike a chord this very day, when the human societies could still not find adequate solutions to food crisis, the spread of virus and social (un)fairness.

The Accidental Mind

Book Name : The Accidental Mind
Author : David J. Linden

What is it about : Brains, brains, brains ! All you had ever wanted to know about what actually went on upstairs. The book would present the on-going quest to understand how come human childhood took so long, how come our dreams almost always depicted fear and anxiety and how our brains made up stories in its automatic ways. The book started off with hard balls biology on the neurons and whats-not which were constantly being fired around in our grey matter; the book would then move on to depict our brains as scoops of ice cream layers with the bottom-most, sharing common grounds with the likes of frogs and dolphins; the final chapters contained explanations of how the brains affected our behavior in sleeping, dreaming, sexual orientation, religion, memory and learning.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The parts of the book explaining the nuts and bolts of neurons and stuff were way beyond my league but I did gain a certain level of comprehension of the goings-on by reading between the lines of what the Author was trying to put across. The Author did brilliantly in covering topics related to human behavior as a result of our brain's functions and these coverage were all enlightening and interesting; I was particular fascinated in how the brains constantly "made" things up, so as to help us to make sense of this world. The Author stressed that the "Middle Thing" was still missing - on a molecular level, things had been cleared up a bit with the technology making progress on DNA, Genome and so on; on a behavioral level, psychiatrists and scientists made great progress in analyzing our dreams, memory and general intelligence; BUT the "Middle Thing" linking these two levels were still very much unknown before a more complete picture could be made out, on the detailed functioning of our brains.

Would I recommend this book to you : The biology parts were pretty hard going but overall the book was well presented and many interesting topics were succinctly covered. I enjoyed the read and was fascinated by the insights and I would recommend the book to readers of all levels.

Cat O' Nine Tales

Book Name : Cat O' Nine Tales
Author : Jeffery Archer

What is it about : A collection of short stories, most of which are embellishment of the tales he came across from other prisoners during the author's own time spent at HM Prison.
Some thoughts after having read the book : I first read JA's works in 1990 (First Among Equals) and was gratified by this author's excellent command of "straightforward" English as well as the interweaving plots and clever use of inter-dependencies. I have since read many more (to be covered later in this Blog) of his works and I have always found them fun and enjoyable. This book however, perhaps due to the author's own sentiments (he was in prison), I felt a certain darkness and subdued-ness (as if the author was not in a very good mood when telling us these stories) which were quite unlike the previous ones I read. I still derived much enjoyment out of this book though.
Would I recommend this book to you : Yes. Bring the book on a plane, to the beach or over a glass of chilled white wine alone on a long evening by the fire. With this author, you know you are going to be reading some slick, excellent and straightforward English. I would recommend this author's book to any learner of this language, just to read some good English. Of course, REAL people just don't talk as clearly as the characters in his stories.

The Museum Of Dr. Moses

Book Name : The Museum Of Dr. Moses
Author : Joyce Carol Oates

What is it about : More memorable and original psychological thrillers from this author. This time around, an over-polite jogger did not see what was coming for him; a creepy museum in sparsely populated upstate New York; the tale of an Irish boxer who almost fought to the top; a grisly discovery from a divorcee on a hot hot day - just a few of the interesting stories to keep you from going to bed.

Some thoughts after having read the book : A roaring good read from this dependable author. Please see my other review of Joyce Carol Oates.

Would I recommend this book to you : Satisfaction, fascination and just pure pleasure in having enjoyed this book ! Please see my other review of Joyce Carol Oates.

Flying In To Love

Book Name : Flying In To Love
Author : D.M. Thomas

What is it about : This work of fiction combined the likely facts, populist myths and the author's liberal imagination to generate one helluva of a story of the events before and after the assassination of JFK. JFK the visionary, the womaniser, the politician were all on show here in amongst the hangers-on, the compliant wife, the president-in-waiting (LBJ) and the layman's view from the crowd - the standpoint of a nun. The book did not attempt to present a.n.o.t.h.e.r. conspiracy theory, but more a fictional dissection of the characters involved. BTW, the "Love" in the title referred to the airfield in Dallas, Love Fields, where JFK landed for his fateful visit.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The book threw me off from the word go when apparently JFK passed through downtown Dallas without a shot being fired ! This part of the book soon turned out to be "the alternative" which many at the time had hoped and dreamt - a way or a sense of denial of the inevitable tragedy which we knew too well. The book spared no blushes in describing JFK's rampant sexual desire where every dame was game and LBJ was depicted a suave political animal as the winner who took all. The author demonstrated a deft hand in mixing apparently known fact, popular myths and other old wives' tales, as in his other works (check out The White Hotel); and the readers were taken on board a fast and furious ride through the unfolding events, often from a fly-on-the-wall perspective.

Would I recommend this book to you : Absolutely YES ! The readers would gain an intimacy with the fictitious, half-truth characters and their lives at the end of the book. I found immense satisfaction in "knowing" that "an alternative" was out there where these famous peoples resided. But if you had all along worshiped the central characters (JFK, LBJ, Jackie et al), beware, you might find the book did cut them down in size, just a bit.

Marcovaldo

Book Name : Marcovaldo
Author : Italo Calvino

What is it about : A series of short stories of the lives of the family members of Marcovaldo taken through the seasons of the years - their urban adventures, rural exploits, their fascination of the modern age and numerous episodes at Marcovaldo's workplace; all set in an industrial city in northern Italy where man-made modernity infringed upon Alpine forests with Marcovaldo et al caught in the middle.

Some thoughts after having read the book : I felt totally enchanted with the seasonal lives of this Italian family. Their stories were told with wit and humour and the actions and consequences were depicted skillfully - making soap bubbles, helping plants grow, herding cattle along city streets or destroying neon-sign adverts - most amusing ! Think episodes of Mr Bean without Rowan Atkinson's over-the-top rubber-face expressions !

Would I recommend this book to you : Definitely a feel-good book; having read one of the enchanting stories at the start of your morning (on the bus, in the Metro, instead of the morning TV news), you would be in a good mood for the rest of the day and would be looking forward to reading more of Marcovaldo and Co.'s hilarious mishaps, odd adventures and wonderment on the nature of nature as well as the almost disastrous consequences of their good-will and well-intention actions. Really a book for all ages, all seasons and all moods.

The Female Of The Species

Book Name : The Female Of The Species
Author : Joyce Carol Oates

What is it about : A series of psychological thrillers based around a female of different age, generation and background and the short stories settings varied from holiday resorts in the American Northeast, an American hospital to the high class shops of New York Upper Manhattan. Basically there were the attentive nurses performing dubious acts, audacious toddlers getting lost on the roof, mum with a bit of a wild past, an unfaithful yet indecisive wife and there could even be a murderess in the midst.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Each story gripped my attention right from the word go and never let loose of my focus, right till the very suspenseful endings. The author was masterful in creating the tension by drawing you close to the characters' thoughts until you could feel their heart pound, pitied their dilemma, condoned their actions, inherited their weaknesses and consumed by their passion.

Would I recommend this book to you : A most resounding YES ! I would even say that this author had become one of my favourites in the "suspense and thriller" genre. It was just pure pleasure, leisure, all-round entertainment and an immense satisfaction at the end of the unforgettable stories, having been taken for a roller-coaster of a ride. What are you waiting for ?

The White Castle

Book Name : The White Castle
Author : Orhan Pamuk

What is it about : Set in the days of the Turkish Sultan, the story of an Italian merchant/scholar who was kidnapped by the pirates and ended up a slave. Yes, slave-trading in those days was as common as buying a loaf of bread down the road. Incredible events began to take shape in the Italian's life - his master and the Italian joined/connected in myriads of emotional crossroads and knew each other's thinking, past life, guilt, habits, quirks and aspirations so well and thorough that eventually they became "one and inter-changeable" ! As master and slave marched into battle under the command of the Sultan, only one made it back to Turkey, but who was he ? Read on.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The Noble prize-winning author sure knew how to spin an unlikely tale; but I found the character-building of the main roles to be cumbersome, repetitive and at times, frustrating ( I went - yes yes I get it !); what could have been said in a few pages was dragged on and on and on till I was so looking forward to the end of the book; not exactly eager to reach an exciting climax, more hoping to get it over and done with. Interesting story it might be, long-winded it sure was.

Would I recommend this book to you : Either the translation was under-whelming or trying too hard to be "literature" or the story itself was just not engaging enough - I found it very difficult to get interested and stuck-in; maybe I was just short of patience during this hot Summer and expected to read something fast and furious. So if you want to have an idea of what this author is capable of, go for it; else, pass.

圖說元朝

Book Name : 圖說元朝
Author : 龔書鐸、劉德麟 主編

What is it about : The book detailed the rise and fall of the Mongols - a few humble tribesmen/herdsmen minding their own business near the present borders of north-east China and Eastern Russia, raising a few cattle farms, shaving a few sheeps to make woolly jumpers, roasting mutton on a spit every now and then, and may be even a sing-song after dinners around the camp fire and then they would sleep peacefully under the big night sky. And voila, one day came the great Chinggis who would unite these tribes and these fearless and fearsome horsemen would struck fear across much of Asia and Europe and had a bit of a bash. Their empire extended to present day Poland, Syria, Austria and would help shape and administer China and Russia into their present mighty States, more or less. And at the end, the empire was just too big not to fall apart - feuding brothers and cousins at the royal courts as well as the oppressed locals who had had enough of administration corruptions, incompetence and whats-not. This book focused mostly on the Mongols' influence and history on China, namely the Yuan Dynasty (元朝) that the Mongols established.

Some thoughts after having read the book : I particularly enjoyed reading the good coverage of the various characters involved in this mighty dynasty which included the usual suspects of Chinggis, Kubali etc; but also the able "prime ministers" and the queens who had such a big hand in making Yuan Dynasty and the Mongols such a formidable force in the days when they ruled most of the known world. I also appreciated very much the numerous photos, maps and diagrams which made the book that much readable and interesting.

Would I recommend this book to you : An excellent introduction to the characters, incidents, battles and psyche of the Mongols; especially for us, as we would be visiting Mongolia in a few week's time ! Of course, the present-day Mongolia would be a very pale version of this once proud and mighty empire.

Katherine Mansfield Selected Stories

Book Name : Katherine Mansfield Selected Stories
Author : Katherine Mansfield

What is it about : A selection of about 30 short stories from this well traveled writer who was born in New Zealand and had sojourned in various parts of Europe; she died at the age of 35. This book covered her work spanning her productive years and the topics she wrote varied tremendously from moody ship voyages, busy garden parties to marital tension and class prejudice. Most of the stories covered an amazing 5 to 10 pages only.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Each story read like an episode from different long-running TV Classics soap opera and the reader just happened to sit-in and viewed one of these episodes. Once I had accustomed to this aspect and perceptive, I quite enjoyed each story, even without knowing anything about the "previous" episodes such as the plot line, the characters, the settings etc. and the reader would just dive in to the environment framed up by the author and just "watch a bit of soap". However, one had to bear in mind that the reader would be left in mid-air at the end of each story as there is really no beginning and no end.

Would I recommend this book to you : Read a bit of "literature" for a change; good for your spirit, improve your English and get to know the style and prose of one of the famous writers of a century ago.

Dead Eric Gets Virus

Book Name : Dead Eric Gets Virus
Author : Nury Vittachi

What is it about : Eric The Teenage Nerd accidentally loaded his brains onto a military-grade computer via his PC from home. His only friend Min, tried her best to save him by beating the countdown of the start of a massive world-wide computer virus attack, that would, emm, REALLY kill Eric.

Some thoughts after having read the book : I had read on numerous occasions this Author's contributions to Asian Newspapers columns and I found him to be witty and to-the-point about daily hot topics, mainly dealing with current affairs. Within perhaps the space of one thousand words in these newspapers columns, this Author could really excel with that quick killer punchline. However, writing a short novel of this length was, in my mind, pushing his capabilities. Horses for courses really, think athletes who could be good at 100M and 200M, others good at hurdles, and still others specialize at marathons, but seldom you would meet an athlete winning at short put as well as the steeple chases.

Would I recommend this book to you : Read for a quick fun ride and re-live those teenagers' days.

When The Wind Blows

Book Name : When The Wind Blows
Author : Cyril Hare

What is it about : A WhoDunIt written in 1949 when the murderer dialed a 4-digit telephone number for a cab and the currency in circulation was the Crown. The story revolved around the murder of a famous violinist hours before she was to play solo in a concert held in a fictitious suburban town in the Home Counties of England. Our reluctant (aren't they all ?) detective was the retired legal expert in the form of the cuddly Francis Pettigrew, helped along the way by the whisky-swilling Head of Police and the ever-sober Sargent in charge.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Written all those years ago had not diminished the class, sophistication and the tension of the plot. The book did not read like a now-a-day WhoDunIt top seller, conjured up by an ever-predictable commercial recipe. If anything, the book was tinged with nostalgia of the days of the good helpful citizen,  as well as delightful interplay between the innocent bystanders, the guilty ones and the charming local police force.

Would I recommend this book to you : Not exactly a tour-de-force in crime-solving with a stunning wrap-up, but read the book for its old-time English-ness and appreciate the suburban landscape and characters. All in all, a mild, gentle and amusing read.

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 !