Reading Challenge - The Doomsday Conspiracy (6/52)

This book was the first that I bought with my own pay. It was purchased from a small bookstall in Kuala Lumpur sometime back in 1993. At that time, I was attached to a garment company, doing odd job while waiting for a reply from colleges and varsities. I had lots of free time. In addition, I was bored with Barbara Cartland's novels and inasmuch the Mills & Boon's. Yes! I was reading them till I was 20.

I told myself to try out something new. With a lot of resistance, I opened the first page of my first Sidney Sheldon's which was also my first thriller, The Domsday Conspiracy! 

A few days ago, while I was rummaging through my treasure chest, I stumbled upon  the thriller by this Academy Award-winning American writer. It beckoned me to reread it for the second time.

Ok! Ok! That's about all and here is the review...

The first thing that strikes me about this book is the fast paced story line. It is a page-turner and very difficult to keep it down once you start this.

The characterization has been excellent. Commander Bellamy as a person with phases of toughness and helplessness about him dominates the story line. His continuous devotion for Susan and the devotion of Pierre towards him are also portrayed well.

However, the climax is a big let down. When I read it, I was shocked to discover who the bad guy was. I mean graduating from Mills & Boons, I never expected such a climax. But as I read more Sheldons, and of course other authors, I realized that it was a highly predictable person.

And the way the book ends has been even worse. Such an excellent build up sputters out in the sorry climax.

Reading Challenge - As the Crow Flies (5/52)

This book was a present from my fiancé back in 1993. It took me days to finish reading it then as I savoured every  morsel of the novel. I read it again recently for the Reading Challenge.

This story revolves around the protagonists, Charlie Trumper, Becky, Daniel and Daniel's fiancée while the antagonists are Guy and his mom, Mrs Trentham.

As the Crow Flies starts out as a rags to riches novel. We see Charlie start with a mere wheelbarrow and end up with one of the most successful businesses in all of England.

On top of that, this story portrays a side plot involving good versus evil. The Trenthams are real bad, and the saintly Trumpers are not afraid to put up a fight for what is right. Jeffrey Archer offers a fair dose of suspense here, as Daniel, Daniel's fiancé, and Charlie all try to uncover the dark secret that Mrs. Trentham is keeping. If the truth prevails, Charlie can destroy the evil Trentham fortune once and for all and save Trumpers from falling into the wrong hands.

This novel was on the New York Times bestseller list for 4 months when it was released in the early 1990's, and it justly so. This is an interesting book that spans many generations of a single family. Through their eyes we see a changing English society.

This book is a good read, despite its weight which is about 13.9 ounces (paperback) with 800 pages. And it has an interesting format, too. The story line is broken down into years, and the sections are told from the perspective of the different characters. For example, Charlie tells the story as it is from 1900-1919. Becky elaborates on Charlie's story from 1918 through 1920. This format continues through 13 sections with the final words described by Becky from 1964-1970. It is an interesting way to narrate a story. Mr. Archer succeeds in narrating the saga so that the characters see the same events differently.

As the Crow Flies  is suitable for those who like a rags to riches story. The English humor and slang can be a bit eccentric, but it just adds to the charm of this bestseller by Jeffrey Archer.

Happy reading!

Reading Challenge - Almost Heaven (4/52)

Book 4

I first read Almost Heaven in 2008, and early this year I read it again for the second time. Most probably I’m the only one who read the same book twice. I’ll tell you the reasons why I reread this  historical romance by Judith Mcnaught.

It made me laugh and cry with the two main characters, Ian and Elizabeth. Ian was not the usual romance hero. Yes, he's arrogant, tough,stubborn, indomitable, ruthless and unable to trust, but he possessed other things that made him stood head and shoulders above other historical romance heroes. He's a genius who could calculate in his head and read a book faster than lightning. He taught the heroine, Elizabeth what love was all about. He loved Elizabeth shamelessly and unconditionally from the very beginning.

Elizabeth, Countess of Havenhurst, was too, a very special heroine. Beautiful, intelligent, proud, stubborn, sweet, free-sprited, optimistic, adventurous and has an extraordinary ability in bargaining. Like the hero, she's strong and possessed qualities that endeared her to me. She's Ian saving grace, and watching Ian falling deeper and deeper in love with her and struggling towards her love and warmth sent chills up my spine.

They fight fate to be together. They had overcome many obstacles that I loved them so much the first time I read their book. I loved them more the second time I read it. Almost Heaven is a book with multi-dimensional plot. I would definitely recommend this to everyone, especially to non-historical romance readers.Treat yourself to Almost Heaven and it's romance at it's absolute best. Judith, thank you for bringing me into the lives of Ian and Elizabeth Thornton.

Reading Challenge - Tender Triumph (3/52)

Book 3

Tender Triumph is the only contemporary novel by Judith Mcnaught that I have ever read. I prefer her historicals  to contemporaries. I picked up this novel due its Spanish-rich contents and picturesque settings of Puerto Rico countryside as I've a passion for all things Spanish and as expected Miss Mcnaught didn't fail me.

Katie Connely might be wealthy. She had rich parents and everything that life could offer. But, her past kept haunting her, holding her back from surrendering her heart to Ramon Galverra, a mysterious gentleman who came to her rescue when she was being harassed by her ex-hubby. The proverb, lightning doesn't strike twice didn't seem to appease the turmoil in her mind.

Katie and Ramon happened to be complete opposites in nearly every imaginable way. Katie was  wealthy, independent, contemporary and also a successful career woman. On the contrary, the Spanish male chauvinist, Ramon Galverra was domineering and deeply traditional. He had nothing to be proud of, except for an old ramshackle truck.

Nonetheless, with his urbane charm and passionate nature, Ramon gave Katie a love she had never known. The irresistible chemistry between them was rushing toward a commitment Katie could hardly deny but barely cope with. Surprisingly, things happened way too fast for Katie. She had to make the toughest decision ever, leaving everything behind and followed him back to his farm in Puerto Rico in a week's time.

Katie was not a perfect character and she almost lost everything due to her fears. However, she is forced to learn that flaws could be overcome. As for Ramon, he was strong, willful, secretive, sexy and kept the romantic tension high. All in all, Tender Triumph is a wonderful novel. Its light, heart-tugging, and passionate romance churned my insides until the climatic finale.

Reading Challenge - When Daylight Comes (2/52)

Book 2

When Daylight Comes is a fantastic fiction by Lyn Andrews, published on January 9, 2003 by Headline Book Publishing.

I discovered this book at a second-hand bookstore some where in June when I was in the midst of attending a new curriculum course in Penang. Being  a not-so-patient reader, I scrambled through and completed reading this fiction in less than 48 hours. 

The main character, the young but strong-willed Jessica, fondly known as Jess has captured my interest indefinitely. Adversities spread over her like mold. They struck again and again, and again and again. 

Jess was just 19 years old when her world fell apart. Her father, Martin Brennan who owned a fleet of trading ships, lost at sea when a terrible storm blew the ships off course. Jess' mother, Maddy was in for not one but two shocking news. Aside from losing her hubby, their house was also mortgaged and the family's finances were in a hazardous state. With too many things on her mind, Maddy carelessly stepped in the path of runaway horses and lost her life, leaving Jess to fend for herself all alone in the cruel world.

Having stripped of her wealth and properties, Jess struggled to make end meet. She was even reduced to living with only the bare necessities in a shack on a  red light street.
She persevered and managed to pull through it, though.

From near destitution, she launches a business of her own, supplying coloured bird feathers to milliners. Thanks to a guinea given by an old lady who took pity on her in front of a hat shop. She earned back the prosperity and respect her mother had once lost.

Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge - Teaching Outside the Box (1/52)

I stumbled upon this challenge as I was blog walking. I trailed Kim to her place after seeing her at Amy's place. While checking out her postings, I came across this interesting challenge. 

Since reading is my passion, I'd love to take up this challenge. Though completing this challenge seems far fetched as August is approaching, I'd like to Link Up. I'll try to make full use of the remaining 20 weeks.

Five books are still lying idly on my bookshelf. They beckon me to savour them from page to page. Hence, I would grab this opportunity to speed up my reading. I'm positive that I would be able to accomplish this mission if the challenge administrator would be kind enough to relax certain rules as I just signed up. Hope I would be allowed to review and post more than just a book a week.


Book 1

As I was browsing through the Net some where in May 2011 for the fresh new ideas in tackling young minds, I stumbled upon this book, Teaching Outside the Box: How to Grab Your Students by Their Brains. This indispensable book is authored by LouAnne Johnson, my favourite author who penned My Posse Don't Do Homework. It's quite a long wait and it has just arrived on my shore not very long ago. Now, I'm the proud owner of Teaching Outside the Box .

Teaching Outside the Box offers practical strategies that will help both greenhorns and seasoned teachers create dynamic classroom environments where students enjoy learning and teachers enjoy teaching. This  book is filled with no-nonsense advice, checklists, and handouts as well as practical suggestions for arranging classroom, talking to students, avoiding the misbehavior cycle, and making school a place where students learn and teachers teach. And also step-by-step instructions for introducing Shakespeare to reluctant readers.

Teaching Outside the Box  is indeed a good read and every teacher should own this book.