Castle in the Pyrenees- Jostein Gaarder

I haven't been able to find much books by him in Singapore. Loved Sophie's World and Solitaire Mystery. Fascinating read if you like philosophy. I wanted very much to review this book as it touched on some of the things I'm interested in. For instance, the big bang, and how we are all, interconnected in some ways. We are made of the same material that started this world- stardust. Like many other people in the world., it questioned the existence of one earth, which I feel is rather improbable, given the number of galaxies and planets and stars in existence. How could it be out of the billions of stars/planets out there, only one planet in one galaxy had the right conditions to create life? The probability is 1/100,000,000? Imagine that?! There are two main characters in the book, one (Solrunn) who believes in the spiritual world, and the other, a professor (Steinn), who believes only in science. I am not a deeply spiritual person but neither do I believe that only science is able to explain things. And just because you can't prove something now, doesn't mean that something doesn't exist; it could mean that you just havent found what you are looking for. Anyway both Solrunn and Steinn believed that they had killed an old lady while they were travelling on a highway. However, the old lady appeared to them, making Solrunn believe that the lady was someone from the afterlife, while Steinn believed she was just a figment of their imagination. This split in their beliefs caused them to drift apart. They each later married someone else and had kids, and somehow reunited at the place where they had stayed in, before they killed the old lady. What was chilling at the end of the story was that Solrunn thought she heard the old lady say to her when she appeared to them,"I am what you will become", while Steinn heard the old lady say,"you ought to get a speeding ticket, young lad". And strangely, Solrunn did end up being like the old lady. She wore a pink shawl that the old lady was wearing at the time of her death and was later, killed in an accident on her way to meeting Steinn. In essence, yes, she did become the old lady. Could it have been a vision of herself in the future? Had she somehow managed to glimpse her own destiny? This is an intriguing read although Sophie's World is still better.

Catching up on books

Had read a couple of books recently..as usual my failing memory might not be able to recall the full spectrum of what I had read but here's what I remember:

as the title suggests, the story tells us about the lives of 2 immigrants, Ananda and Nina, who had moved from India to settle in Canada. I've read pretty similar books by other Indian authors, which basically also revolved around the same theme of Indian migrants in North America. All of them had been great reads, and this book was no exception. Ananda desperately tried to integrate into the North American's way of life, and to some extent, I think he despised his own status as an Indian immigrant. His insecurities about his sexual abilities and perhaps, even his own nationality, drove him into an obsession of bedding white women. Not knowing all these about Ananda, Nina, seduced by a better life in Canada,  agreed to marry him. It sounded much like Nina had won a good lot in life, as Ananda was a dentist, and seemed to be relatively well-off. And so she moved to Canada, and was instantly bored by her life there as a housewife, with barely any friends. In India, she had been an English teacher with a profound love of books. After years in Canada and not being able to fulfil her dream of being a mother (largely due to Ananda's impotence), she finally decided to take up a degree in Library Science and subsequently had an affair with a married man. She had also found out about Ananda's affair with a white woman. In the end, she lived her life independently of any men.

Had also read Jostein Gaarder's Castle in the Pyrenees; Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook; Jeanette Wall's The Glass Castle, etc. I will continue my reviews on those at a later time.

Richard Paul Evans- The Last Promise

This was a rather corny and run-of-the-mill read. It reminded me a little of Nicholas Sparks but without a dose of passion. Eliana, a small town girl from Utah, married a handsome and rich Italian man (Maurizio), and moved to Tuscany, one of the most beautiful regions in Italy. Most would think her life was a fairy tale. Really, who doesnt love the idea of handsome italian men, a beautiful wine region, and an old and large villa to boot. Eliana, shortly after marriage, gave birth to a son, Alessio, who suffered from frequent and severe asthma attacks. Her life wasn't all that great as Maurizio turned out to be a selfish, philandering boor, who was hardly ever home.
Then came a good-looking American, Ross Story, who rented an apartment in her estate and they soon fell in love with each other. But it was not an easy journey of course (there would be  no story otherwise!). Maurizio refused to let Eliana leave and threatened custody of Alessio. But of course all ended well in this story, with Maurizio becoming a changed man after almost losing Alessio, while he was in his care. Maurizio and Eliana divorced and she returned to Utah with Alessio. Ross was gone because Eliana had told him to when Maurizio threatened to take Alessio away from her if she leaves with Ross.
Years later, they met again and well, they lived happily ever after.
Sorry to say, it's quite a boring read. A great disappointment to The Sunflower. I remembered The Sunflower was quite a touching and sweet read.

Tony Parsons-Men from the Boys

Wanted to do this review for a while but just couldnt find the time to. Alas, I've again forgotten most part of the story. But I will try to the best of my ability to recall the story, while in the midst of trying to write up a seminar critique for school.
Although the book did not get off to a good start, after a few more turns of the pages, it turned out to be a wonderful read. I wouldnt say it is an exciting book per se, but it does make you want to read on. It gives you a glimpse into the leads' lives that were beginning to fall apart. After Harry's divorce to Gina, he was married to Cyd, a gorgeous woman with a thriving food catering business. Harry had custody of his son, Pat, now a teenager, who was being constantly bullied in school and who had had a crush on one of the popular girls. Things got a little complicated when Gina, the MIA mother decided to return to town, and build a bond with her son. It was then that Harry met an old veteran, who had been his father's platoon mate during the "Italian" war. Not long after, Harry lost his job, and his life began to unravel. Cyd eventually left him coz he was not bringing home the bacon and was squandering away on horses (taught by the veteran; i forgot his name unfortunately!). I cant really put my finger on it but I find the story bittersweet. Harry felt somewhat obligated to the veteran and perhaps, was also trying to find his father in the veteran. To perhaps make up for what had been lost between him and his father. Pat grew close to the old man as well, and was there for him, at his deathbed. Pat gained a grandfather.
I find this scenario very close to heart and rather heart-wrenching. There were times when I see an old lady and was reminded of my late grandmother. And I would feel as if I should do something for this old lady to make up for what I had not done for my grandma.
It is not a good feeling living with regrets but sometimes, we tend to forget the consequences of our actions whilst we are performing them. So easy to forget. So easy to be slipshod with ourselves and others around us.
I have been thinking a lot about the elderly these days, especially those with no kin and are not able to support themselves due to poor physical health. I feel we should do more for this group of people that most have neglected because they can no longer contribute economically to the society. This is a very sad and hard truth that most of us can only see values in materialism. I ought to do more..

If Craziness Had a Name

If craziness had a name,




What would it be?



If love had a face,



How would it be?



Would it be your name,



I see in the wind?



Would it be your voice,



I hear in the waves.



Rejoice, I could not,



Seeking that face in the dark.



Blinded by those tears,



No one could see.



A little stabbing of the heart,



A little sob escaped my lips.



All these you could not feel,



All these you could not hear.



Like them,



You had gone deaf,



Ears frozen in the cold winter night.



Eyes wide shut,



Beneath the moonlit night,



We had missed the millions of twinkling lights.



Under the stars,



We used to lay.



But they had all gone out.



Like me,



They had burnt out.



Like me,



They had fallen like those shooting stars.



A falling star,



Hit the soft, damp earth.



A fallen heart,



Buried,



In the darkest corners of the earth.

Sometimes you need to be fearless...

Time

Haven't gotten much time to read these days. Instead of books, I spend most of my time reading journal articles now... Perhaps I should do article reviews instead of book reviews. Ahh... Sounds like a very exciting plan.....NOT! Currently reading tony parson's new book men from boys. Doesn't seem to be off to a good start. Prefer his older books like my favorite wife .. Anyhow more reviews in June coz it's the school holidays after the 13th! Finally some reprieve from work.