Monday, June 26, 2006
Ticktock – Dean Koontz (Silly)
Teenagers would probably find “Ticktock” appealing. But don’t knock it. Some people may love the book. It just wasn’t for me! The start of the book was kind of serious then the plot just changed! And it became (utterly) silly. I wouldn’t put this in the horror section.Tommy Phan drives his piece of the American dream, a newly purchased Corvette, to a diner and opts for two cheeseburgers, fries, and a chocolate milkshake. After berating himself for not being a more traditional and obedient son, he returns home to find a strange a doll on his doorstep. Bringing this doll into his home, it quickly morphs into an evil monster. Tommy and Del (the blonde waitress turned savior) battle for their lives and hope to survive until dawn, when the danger is over.
The book was a disappointment. It almost seems as if the author has written this book just because he was getting bored and did not have anything better to do. The plot is so juvenile that it makes you want to say “What the…!” So save those bucks and your precious time!
Friday, June 23, 2006
Rich Dad, Poor Dad – Robert T. Kiyosaki, Sharon L. Lechter (Incredible)
This was my first successful attempt at reading non-fiction “advice” book and I LOVED it! I have been seeing this on the best-seller list for so long now but I never thought I’d read it. When I started reading it, I did not have the slightest idea about its contents. “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” is an excellent book for everyone in their 20’s and 30’s. It is a MUST read. It is not so much the knowledge but the way he puts across the simplest things where you want to go “Duh-uh”! It is common knowledge which most of us either lack or often overlook. Many may disagree with a lot of his points since he is very blunt in a few places. However, I think that is his whole point – he wants controversy and he enjoys it. I really liked the way he dispensed advice and talked about why “saving” and “investing” is vital in this day and age. There were many things that I understood and agreed with but there were also a few things that I can never see myself doing. As for example he says, “Always pay yourself first”. By that he means that pay your bills last because if you don’t have enough money, that may challenge you to look for ways to earn that money. I could never do that! I would always pay my bills first come what may.“Rich Dad, Poor Dad” is a story of how Kiyosaki grew up learning from his real dad (the poor dad), and his friend Mike's dad (the rich dad). Poor dad was well educated and had a good job, but retired poor as he did not learn how to effectively grow his wealth. Rich dad was not well educated academically, but learned how to use money to build a great fortune through owning businesses and investing.
Take this book with a pinch of salt. Try and learn what may be relevant to you and disregard things that you don’t see yourself doing. I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to continue to enjoy this era. As Kiyosaki rightly says “we are living in the best time” and so we need to make the most of it!
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Lightning - Dean Koontz (Thrilling)
I bought “Lightning” a few days ago at a book sale. The book is more than 15 years old and it talks about time travelers. Even though it was a little weird to read about a time where the “hero” literally drags a desktop for calculations, I loved it.The book tells the story about Laura Shane born during a mysterious lightning storm, who is twice saved from being murdered during childhood by a mysterious stranger (Stefan) whose arrival is connected to the lightning. She grows up to become a famous writer, marries, has a child and attempts to live a normal life, but is again attacked by a killer and rescued by the stranger. She later discovers that her rescuer is from another time, and that her survival is tied in to the fate of the free world.
The characters are fleshed out well and are very likable. Koontz explains these "rules" for the reader to make Stefan’s behavior more understandable and his plot more exciting. Filled with unexpected and unique twists, the plot features nicely developed characters that inspire sympathy. It is an interesting read.
Monday, June 19, 2006
A Wedding In December – Anita Shreve (Beachy)
As expected, "A Wedding In December" was a perfect beach book. I have been waiting to buy this book for sometime but I was waiting for paperback because the book was pretty expensive (for a chick-lit). I carried this book with me to a beach resort we went to last week and it was just good enough for that.The book is about a school reunion (sort of). A group of friends, who spent their school days at Kidd Academy, share a weekend at an inn in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts. The seven former classmates have gathered for the wedding of two of their number - Bill and Bridget. Nora, the Inn owner who is also one of the seven is playing the hostess to their wedding. All these years later, the combination wedding-reunion is still shadowed by the premature death of one of the friends: Nora’s high school boyfriend, Stephen, who died before graduation. Agnes is now a teacher at the prep school. Agnes is writing a novel based around the explosion during World War I. The book also has her story intertwined with this novel. I personally did not enjoy that bit. I would have enjoyed the book even more if the book did not contain the “installments” of a historical fiction story that Agnes is writing. Harrison has entered the publishing world in Toronto, but marriage and two boys he adores have not extinguished the flame that still burns in his heart for Nora. This is one part of the book that left a bad after taste for me. The book almost makes adultery seem “okay” (you’ll understand what I mean when you read this book).
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book. I am glad I waited for the paperback because 20$ seems unreasonable for this book. I recommend this book if you have time to kill at the airport or if you are chilling at a beach resort because it does not involve any thinking.
