Wassup on Monday?!

Past Week, I started Footsteps in the Dark, but then also started Nefertiti and got so submerged into it that I didn't finish Georgette Heyer's book!

So this week I am back reading,

Footsteps in the Dark~~

The Priory may be ramshackle in appearance, but Peter, Margaret and Celia, who inherited it from their uncle, love it for its rambling charm. But there's more to this house than is at first apparent: for years hardly a single person has set foot in the place, and even their uncle chose to live in a different house, far away from this particular property.
Local wisdom says that the house is haunted. And when things start going bump in the night, it certainly seems as if something ghostly is walking the Priory's halls. Then a murder is committed. Does the key to solving the crime lie in the realm of the supernatural? Or is the explanation much more down to earth?
Blurb from Arrow books paperback edition (2006)

The Red Tent~~

The red tent is the place where women gathered during their cycles of birthing, menses, and even illness. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insider's look at the daily life of a biblical sorority of mothers and wives and their one and only daughter, Dinah. Told in the voice of Jacob's daughter Dinah (who only received a glimpse of recognition in the Book of Genesis), we are privy to the fascinating feminine characters who bled within the red tent. In a confiding and poetic voice, Dinah whispers stories of her four mothers, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, and Bilhah--all wives to Jacob, and each one embodying unique feminine traits. As she reveals these sensual and emotionally charged stories we learn of birthing miracles, slaves, artisans, household gods, and sisterhood secrets. Eventually Dinah delves into her own saga of betrayals, grief, and a call to midwifery.

"Like any sisters who live together and share a husband, my mother and aunties spun a sticky web of loyalties and grudges," Anita Diamant writes in the voice of Dinah. "They traded secrets like bracelets, and these were handed down to me the only surviving girl. They told me things I was too young to hear. They held my face between their hands and made me swear to remember." Remembering woman's earthy stories and passionate history is indeed the theme of this magnificent book. In fact, it's been said that The Red Tent is what the Bible might have been had it been written by God's daughters, instead of her sons. --Gail Hudson

Head over to J.Kaye's to know what everyone is reading!!

Wordless Sunday

Last week, I said about my visit to Shivanasamudra, Mysore. And here is a pic of the luxurious waterfall. It is a marvelous view. Luckily, it is not far from where I live. If you are in Mysore and that too in Monsoon season, this is one place you should visit.

It is beautiful and it was a Sunday that we went there!

Challenge update post ~~ What's in a name? Challenge

I had joined What's in a name 2? Reading challenge sometime back. I have read books that fit this one, but never updated the stats.
This post is for that, just to be on track ~~


About "What's in a Name 2" reading challenge --

*This is a challenge that anyone can join, no matter what types of books they like to read. You should be able to find books from any genre that will work.

*Dates: January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009

*The Challenge: Choose one book from each of the following categories.

1. A book with a "profession" in its title. Examples might include: The Book Thief, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Historian

2. A book with a "time of day" in its title. Examples might include: Twilight, Four Past Midnight, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

3. A book with a "relative" in its title. Examples might include: Eight Cousins, My Father's Dragon, The Daughter of Time

4. A book with a "body part" in its title. Examples might include: The Bluest Eye, Bag of Bones, The Heart of Darkness

5. A book with a "building" in its title. Examples might include: Uncle Tom's Cabin, Little House on the Prairie, The Looming Tower

6. A book with a "medical condition" in its title. Examples might include: Insomnia, Coma, The Plague

*You may overlap books with other challenges, but please don't use the same book for more than one category.

*Again, there will be some small prizes scattered throughout. No set schedule, so just be sure to check in once a while. There will also be a prize awarded at the conclusion to one participant who completes the challenge.

*You don't need to decide exactly which books you will be reading ahead of time, though you're certainly welcome to. Either way, I'd love to see your lists of possibilities, and I'll bet everyone else would love to read them as well. To join in, simply leave a link here. Or, if you don't have a blog, simply leave your name (and feel free to share your list in the comments if you'd like).

My progress so far --

Profession -- When I was a Soldier
Time of day -- Twilight
Relative -- Cleopatra's Daughter
Body part -- Footsteps in the Dark
Building --
Medical condition -- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows


5 of 6 done!

Come Join

Challenge Update Post - Orbis Terrarum -09

I am from ~~and welcome to ~~

I had participated in this challenge hosted by the lovely Bethany! And I completed the challenge .. yoohoo~

So this year for OT -09, my progress so far ~~

1. Mosaic by Soheir Khashoggi - Egypt, the book is based in New York and Jordan
2. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden - the book is based in Japan
3. When I was a Soldier by Valerie Zennati - France, the book is based on Israel
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling - England
5. Nefertiti by Michelle Moran - Book is based in Egypt
6. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini- Afghanistan
7. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe - Nigeria
   
8. Heidi by Johanna Spyri
   

Other Books I am considering ~~

Pirate's Daughter by Margaret Cezair-Thompson - Jamaica, West Indies

Half of a Yellow Sun - Nigeria

My name is Red by Orhan Pamuk - Istanbul, Turkey

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid - Pakistan

8/10 - Done!

Challenge Update ~~Book Awards 3 Challenge!

Another challenge that I am joining!

Last time I didn't get around finishing 10, but did 7 (I think)!

I am again going to do this one and try to complete it this time!

Lasts for 5 months, from July 1 through December 1, 2009. That is because Book Awards 4 will be from February 1 through December 1, 2010.

Rules:

1. Read 5 books from 5 different awards during July 1, 2009 through December 1, 2009.
2. Overlaps with other challenges are permitted.
3. Choices don't have to be posted right away, and lists may be changed at any time.
4. 'Award winners' is loosely defined; make the challenge fit your needs.
5. SIGN UP using Mr. Linky below -- please use a SPECIFIC post link.
6. If you'd like to be a contributor on this blog, email me at 3m.michelle at gmail and reference your blog address if you have one. (I must have your email address, so comments to this post won't work.)
7. Have fun reading!

I will update this space soon with my book choices and reviews and change of book choices and then there reviews and so on! :)

A tentative list - 

1. Half of a Yellow Sun - Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction (2007)
2. My Name is Red - International IMPAC Dublin (Winner, 2003)
3. The Remains of the Day - ALA Notable Books (1990) (1990)
4. The White Tiger - Booker Prize (2008) 
5.  
   

Are you joining me people? Click on the link to join!

RIP IV!!

Carl V. at Stainless Steel Droppings is hosting the R.I.P. (the fourth) Challenge
I am blaming Melody, VioletCrush and lastly Iliana - for me joining another challenge :D! I couldn't resist joining any longer!
These girls made me do this :D
I am promising not to join another challenge :D

I will be doing ~~



My list will be up soon!

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

Nefertiti
By Michelle Moran
Published 2007
420 Pages
5 on 5

Nefertiti is one of the world's great legendary beauties. Seen through her sister's eyes, she is vividly brought to life in this heartbreaking story of celebrity, ambition, love and loss.
At the tender age of fifteen, Nefertiti marries Akhenaten, the Prince of Egypt, her dreams coming true as she rises to fame and fortune. Bathed and decorated by a team of body servants, her natural beauty is enhanced until she becomes mesmerizing. She is soon the darling of the people and her husband's closest confidant.
But when her husband breaks with a thousand years of tradition, defying the priests and the military, it will take all Nefertiti's wiles to keep the nation from being torn apart. She's prepared to sacrifice her sister to strengthen her power and this act will lock the two women in a feud that only death can break...

Nefertiti means the Beautiful Has Come, and true to her name she is the most beautiful women in the whole of Ancient Egypt. She is also the daughter of the Queen of Egypt's brother, who himself is a great Vizier to Pharaoh, and thus she knows her destiny is to be the Queen of Egypt herself.
This is the story of 2 sisters, Nefertiti and Mutnodjmet one of whom is destined to be the Queen and another a slave to the throne.~~

'Be careful here, my lady. Let history forget your name. For if your deeds are to live in eternity, you will have to become exactly what your family wants you to be.'
'And what is that?', I demanded
'A slave to the throne.'

When Tuthmosis, the eldest son of the reigning Pharaoh and Queen Tiye dies, their younger and the least-loved son Amunhotep is crowned the King of lower Egypt. On Queen Tiye's insistence and being utterly smitten by Nefertiti, Amunhotep marries her and names her the Chief Wife and in short the Queen of Lower Egypt. With her, Nefertiti's whole family moves to the palace. Amunhotep is far more ambitious and is a striking contrast to the perfect Tuthmosis.The new King makes sure, all things followed by his father and his elder brother are changed. He goes so far as to ask Egypt's people to forsake the God's that they have bowed to for many years and start paying their obeisance to a new God that only the new King and Queen understand and believe in, Aten. He banishes Amun worshiping and destroys all the temples inclined to his worshiping. He erects a new temple to the glory of Aten, the sun!
Queen Tiye's hope that Nefertiti would show Amunhotep the correct path, and bring him to see his parents ambition all fail. As time passes much to the disappointment of her family, Queen Nefertiti becomes her husband's ally and soon big Tombs of her husband and her are erected everywhere. She alongwith her husband seeks to live eternally in them. She is the Goddess that people want to see, she is the person that people look upon. Nefertiti has no choice though, if she has to has power she has to support her husband or he will turn to his 1st wife Kiya, which she will never allow!

'Even so, I have no image of her [Nefertiti's mother] in Egypt.' Her gaze grew determined. 'I will never let that happen to me. i will carve my image in every corner of this land. I want my children to remember me until the sands disappear from Egypt and the pyramids crumble to the earth.'

As with Tuthmosis, their Father, the Pharaoh also takes to bed and soon he also dies. Like Tuthmosis's death, Pharaoh's death came faster than was expected but no one talks against the new Pharaoh.
What happens next is something you will have to read and know. In this gripping tale you will see how one man's hunger for power and eternal glory.
I assure you, all historical fiction lovers will not be disappointed in this one and you will sit still till you know, what finally happens to Amunhotep, Nefertiti, Mutnodjmet and the whole of Egypt! I now why I love this genre so much. The read is both thrilling and the anticipation of what next gets to you! We are shown a whole new breed of women who can be calculating, loving but extremely dangerous -- women with ultimate powers!
If you have NOT read this one ~~ High time you go buy it!
I am waiting eagerly for my next shopping spree, when I get the 2nd installment The Heretic Queen

Keep an eye on this blog as there is a super giveaway coming soon just for you :) **Surprise Surprise :)**

Historical Cover~~

Today's cover attraction is to book I have in my hands right now ~~

Nefertiti is one of the world's great legendary beauties. Seen through her sister's eyes, she is vividly brought to life in this heartbreaking story of celebrity, ambition, love and loss.
At the tender age of fifteen, Nefertiti marries Akhenaten, the Prince of Egypt, her dreams coming true as she rises to fame and fortune. Bathed and decorated by a team of body servants, her natural beauty is enhanced until she becomes mesmerizing. She is soon the darling of the people and her husband's closest confidant.
But when her husband breaks with a thousand years of tradition, defying the priests and the military, it will take all Nefertiti's wiles to keep the nation from being torn apart. She's prepared to sacrifice her sister to strengthen her power and this act will lock the two women in a feud that only death can break...

It is a compulsive read, and I have been reading it whenever I get a chance :)
All other books have to wait till I finish this one!

What are the covers you are attracted to this week?! Find out about others at Marcia's

Teasers Tuesday!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Today's Teaser ~~

'One is glad to see the Priory occupied once more,' he said. 'Alas, too many of our old houses are spurned nowadays for lack of "modern conveniences."'
'We were rather under the impression, sir, that this particular house has been spurned on account of ghosts,' Peter said
- p. 13, “Footsteps in the Dark” by Georgette Heyer.

Dark Monday!!

Last week I finally finished The Girl who played with Fire by Steig Larrson and what an amazing read it was! Highly recommended!

This week I am again reading suspense - thriller book but this one is written in the early 19th century by an author I have been wanting to read for such a long time...




Yes I finally got this one from a bookstore in Bombay where I had been 2 weeks back on vacation!

Here is a little something about the book ~~

The Priory may be ramshackle in appearance, but Peter, Margaret and Celia, who inherited it from their uncle, love it for its rambling charm. But there's more to this house than is at first apparent: for years hardly a single person has set foot in the place, and even their uncle chose to live in a different house, far away from this particular property.
Local wisdom says that the house is haunted. And when things start going bump in the night, it certainly seems as if something ghostly is walking the Priory's halls. Then a murder is committed. Does the key to solving the crime lie in the realm of the supernatural? Or is the explanation much more down to earth?
Blurb from Arrow books paperback edition (2006)

So has anyone read this one yet?
Head over to J.Kaye's to know what everyone is reading!!

Wordless Sunday~~

My first Wordless Wednesday post!
This was taken last month when we had been to Shivanasamudra, Mysore. It is a beautiful waterfall and Monsoon time is the best time to visit there!
Will post more pics every Sunday of places we visit!

If you didn't know Wordless Wednesday is now open all week long, you can post your pics whenever you want :)

The Girl Who Played With Fire (Millenium, #2) by Stieg Larsson

The Girl Who Played With Fire (Millenium, #2)

by Stieg Larsson
Published on January 8th 2009
569 Pages
5 on 5!!

From GoodReads.com ~

The electrifying follow-up to the phenomenal best seller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ("An intelligent, ingeniously plotted, utterly engrossing thriller" –The Washington Post), and this time it is Lisbeth Salander, the troubled, wise-beyond-her-years genius hacker, who is the focus and fierce heart of the story.

Mikael Blomkvist—crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium—has decided to publish a story exposing an extensive sex trafficking operation between Eastern Europe and Sweden, implicating well-known and highly placed members of Swedish society, business, and government.

On the eve of publication, the two reporters responsible for the story are brutally murdered. But perhaps more shocking for Blomkvist: the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to Lisbeth Salander.

Now, as Blomkvist—alone in his belief in her innocence—plunges into his own investigation of the slayings, Salander is drawn into a murderous hunt in which she is the prey, and which compels her to revisit her dark past in an effort to settle with it once and for all.

I read the first installment of this amazing book last year in one night's time. Yep - it kept me up and happening till the early hours. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was definitely the best book that I read last year and this one is again one of the best books of this year!

This book starts off one year after the last book ends. Michael Blomkvist has become very famous after the publication of his book on the Wennerstrom affair. After an year Blomkvist was stll invited to TV talk shows.
A journalist who has been working on the sex trade business for the past 4 years contacts Millennium's Berger and Blomkvist regarding a feature on sex trade in there upcoming monthly magazine issue. But there is a catch, the journo wants his book on the same topic to be published by Millennium who published the book by Blomkvist on the Wennerstrom affair. The book is going to expose a number of people in high positions. Just as the time for publication is nearing, the Journo named Sevensson starts work on a very high - profile bad guy, about whom no data is available.
On the night, the same day when Sevensson tells Blomkvist about this guy, Blomkvist finds both Sevensson and his girlfriend Mia dead in their apartment. It is a big blow to him and the fact that Lisbeth's fingerprints are found on the murder weapon baffles him the most. Next they find one more person murdered and now Lisbeth is been hunted for 3 murders.
As the story progresses, we get to know more about Lisbeth's dark past and how she must find the one person responsible for the triple murders.

She sat still for a long time staring into space. Nobody was innocent. There aer only varying degrees of responsibility. And somebody was responsible for Salander.
-p. 552

Blomkvist's undying faith in the innocence and Armansky's drive to prove her innocence, Lisbeth soon finds out about people who believe in her. And the most amazing is the support of her previous guardian, a previous boxer friend and her girlfriend - all trying in one way or other to prove her innocence.

There are facts that will AMAZE you and you will find connections that you didn't know existed. Lisbeth is the tainted - imperfect heroine you will sure feel for and love.

I cannot recomend this trilogy enough. And I am sad that the author didn't live to write more. May his soul rest in peace!

Need some input!

My husband has just thought about a wonderful plot. I mean, I am the only person who knows about it [ of course :)] and I love the idea.
The other day, he decided that it would be a compelling story and that's when I asked him what he thought would be best title for his story. After much thought and speculation he has decided on

Yesterday is Coming

And now my question to you is -

Do you think you can "guess" the plot from this title?
Any vague idea as to what the story could be about?

I would love to know your inputs! I am persuading him to write, but let's see.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7)
By J.K. Rowling
Published July 21st, 2007
607 Pages
4 on 5!!

From GoodReads.com,

Readers beware. The brilliant, breathtaking conclusion to J.K. Rowling's spellbinding series is not for the faint of heart--such revelations, battles, and betrayals await in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that no fan will make it to the end unscathed. Luckily, Rowling has prepped loyal readers for the end of her series by doling out increasingly dark and dangerous tales of magic and mystery, shot through with lessons about honor and contempt, love and loss, and right and wrong. Fear not, you will find no spoilers in our review--to tell the plot would ruin the journey, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is an odyssey the likes of which Rowling's fans have not yet seen, and are not likely to forget. But we would be remiss if we did not offer one small suggestion before you embark on your final adventure with Harry--bring plenty of tissues.

The heart of Book 7 is a hero's mission--not just in Harry's quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man--and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself. Attentive readers would do well to remember Dumbledore's warning about making the choice between "what is right and what is easy," and know that Rowling applies the same difficult principle to the conclusion of her series. While fans will find the answers to hotly speculated questions about Dumbledore, Snape, and you-know-who, it is a testament to Rowling's skill as a storyteller that even the most astute and careful reader will be taken by surprise.

A spectacular finish to a phenomenal series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a bittersweet read for fans. The journey is hard, filled with events both tragic and triumphant, the battlefield littered with the bodies of the dearest and despised, but the final chapter is as brilliant and blinding as a phoenix's flame, and fans and skeptics alike will emerge from the confines of the story with full but heavy hearts, giddy and grateful for the experience. --Daphne Durham

2 weeks back Hubby and me went to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince movie, and I liked it. Of course over a period of an year, I had forgotten most of it, and it was a refresher when I sat wide-eyed through out the movie. Hubby has not seen or read any other Harry Potter movies/books. So he was not interested, but for my sake came with me to the theater. Ain't that sweet of him?! Well I tried to explain a little, but I couldn't even get the order of the books correctly... **sigh**. Back home, next day we ended up seeing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which he liked much better. He is not generaly interested, but he might end up watching the other parts as well, for my sakes! Well we need to see the final installment together!! :)
So that's how I embarked my journey into the last installment, and well I loved it. I couldn't put it down. It was stuck in my hands, till I finished it. I knew how it will end, BUT that's not the best part is it? It is the journey.
** spoilers up ahead **
There was just one thing I disliked and after talking to my sister [ who also had read this one and from whom I got this book] I know she didn't like the part where Harry starts disliking Dumbledore. He actually **almost** believes what Reeta Skeeter writes. But then I think it had to be like that.
But other than that everything was just perfect!
I finally don't really know how I feel about Snape. He definitely was never the bad guy. Maybe I feel a little pity for him. Especially just before he died, he asked Harry to look in his eyes. I didn't understand that at once, but when I saw his thoughts, I felt so sad for the poor boy Snape.
Question ~~ I didn't understand the crying baby which was lying in the station, where Harry meets Dumbledore, do you know of any significance at all?
** spoilers end **

The last chapter was cute, and every little question/ doubt I ever had [ not many though!] were answered/ explained!

This marks the end of the Harry Potter series and I feel so sad that there is no more left. I am sure Rowling is working on something else, any ideas what she working on next?
Have you read this one? What are you thoughts?

Cover Attractions!

This weeks book cover has been stolen from Tricia's blog i.e. saw it first there!
You can read Tricia's review here!

Another cover that I liked this week is a black and white one from Passages to the Past

I have never seen a black and white cover! So this definitely is unique one!

What are the covers you are attracted to this week?! Find out about others at Marcia's

Dull Boy by Sarah Cross

Dull Boy
By Sarah Cross
Published May 14th 2009
308 pages
5 on5!

From GoodReads.com,

What do you do if you can deadlift a car, and you spend your nights flying to get away from it all? If you’re fifteen-year-old Avery Pirzwick, you keep that information to yourself. When you’re a former jock turned freak, you can’t afford to let the secret slip.

But then Avery makes some friends who are as extraordinary as he is. He realizes they’re more than just freaks—together, maybe they have a chance to be heroes. First, though, they have to decide whether to trust the mysterious Cherchette, a powerful would be mentor whose remarkable generosity may come at a terrible price.

I won this one from TravelingToTeens.com. I read it in flat 2 days :) It was amazing.
Avery is the Dull boy who knows that he is different. Well he is very strong, so strong that he lifted the car off a small boy whose mother accidentally backed up on him. And well he can fly. He had a lot of friends, with whom he can't hang out anymore, as he is afraid of his own strength and roams in dark alleyways, so that he can help others in distress, so that he can put his super-hero skills to use!

Love the way the author has described Avery. This book is basically narrated by Avery, which is also great, I love the simple, humor-full depiction of the hardships of being different.
And of course there are others who have different powers. I felt the most for Nicholas [ read the book to know his powers :)]. When Avery finds others, they start training to be a gang [ like X-Men??], which is just nice. Darla [ the super brain] is the one who arranges these sessions. I love Catherine too!

And then there is Cherchette, who has her own set of poweres and who wants to help the one's who are blessed with these powers. She wantes to train them, to control and use there on powers. Is she good or evil? Read the book to find out!

There is another awesome review by Alea from Pop Culture Junkie! Go read it! She also features an interview with the author Sarah Cross!
I just have a few questions for the author Sarah Cross ~~

• Have you started on the 2nd installment of this book, which definitely has to be a series!?
• When is coming out, I need to grab a copy ASAP :)

Does that make you want to read the book? It must, it is a definite must-read!

PS - I didn't like the book-cover though!

Aug 15th

At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance….. We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again.
~~This is the famous part of the speech given by our first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

We are celebrating today India's 62nd Independence year!
Happy Independence Day to all Indians!
Jai Hind!

Cover Attractions

Today I have 2 covers for you :) ~~

Synopsis

In this new novel, beloved bestselling author Elizabeth Berg weaves a beautifully written and richly resonant story of a mother and daughter in emotional transit. Helen Ames–recently widowed, coping with loss and grief, unable to do the work that has always sustained her–is beginning to depend far too much on her twenty-seven-year-old daughter, Tessa, and is meddling in her life, offering unsolicited and unwelcome advice. Helen’s problems are compounded by her shocking discovery that her mild-mannered and loyal husband was apparently leading a double life. The Ameses had painstakingly saved for a happy retirement, but that money disappeared in several large withdrawals made by Helen’s husband before he died. In order to support herself and garner a measure of much needed independence, Helen takes an unusual job that ends up offering far more than she had anticipated. And then a phone call from a stranger sets Helen on a surprising path of discovery that causes both mother and daughter to reassess what they thought they knew about each other, themselves, and what really makes a home and a family.

And this one ~~~
Amazon.com Review

Amazon Best of the Month, April 2009: A man who's not quite young anymore, his relationship trouble, and his iPod: at first glance Arthur Phillips's The Song Is You sounds like strictly Nick Hornby territory, but it turns out to be a lot closer to The Red Shoes, a story of love and art in which the two are confused and jealously compete. And as in The Red Shoes, but so rarely in other works of art, it's the art-making that carries the most power and mystery. Julian Donahue is a "creative": a skilled director of commercials who has come to know his limits. Cait O'Dwyer is a singer, and a bit of a comet that Julian somehow catches the tail of. Their courtship--as Julian evades a marriage split by an unbearable loss and Cait shoots single-mindedly toward stardom--is an intricately constructed pas de deux that is both surprising and convincing throughout. It's Phillips's first novel set in the present since Prague, and in its artful structure, style, and heart it's a match for that smart and charming debut. --Tom Nissley

I am a little more attracted to the first one. What do you think?
Which one is your favorite this week?

Thank You Marcia at for hosting this event!

1408

Synopsis:

Mike Enslin, bestselling author of "true" ghost stories, decides to spend the night in New York City's most haunted hotel room. But he must live to write about it without the help of his ex best-friends, his trusty smokes.

I had a choice, I could say "no" to watching this one...but I decided to be brave and watched it.
Verdict - I am not ever going to read the book! It was so scary, Period.

This movie was based on ~~

My Book Saga Challenge...!!!

I am Taking up a Book-Series Challenge. I have summed up a list of Book Series, depending Upon their popularity, Reviews and Suggestions.

The highlighting factor is, I have completed most of the books in these Series and I have made it up. Its open for anyone, who wants to take it up.

Harry Potter Series - By J.K. Rowling

7 / 7 Books. 100% done!

Twilight Saga - By Stephenie Meyer (will update once 5th book comes)

2 / 4 Books. 50% done!

Lord of The Rings - By J. R. R. Tolkein

.5 / 3 Books. 17% done!




The Chronicles of Narnia - By C. S. Lewis

7 / 7 Books. 100% done!




The Bourne Series - By Robert Ludlum (Will update if a new comes up)

1 / 8 Books. 13% done!

Replica - By Marilyn Kaye

7 / 24 Books. 29% done!

• Anyone can take up this challenge
• Suggestions of Book Series are welcome
• Please Leave acknowledgments in the comments section.
• The Challenge Finishes... 11 Jul'09
• Have Fun...!!! :))
  

Potter's Tuesday!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
  

Today's Teaser ~~

Dear Padfoot,
Thank You, thank you, for Harry's birthday present! It was his favorite by far. One yearold and already coming along on a toy broomstick, he looked so pleased with himself. I am enclosing a picture so you can see. You know it only rises about two feet off the ground, but he nearly killed the cat and smashed a horrible vase Petunia sent me for Christmas (no complaints there).
- p. 149, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” by J.K.Rowling

I am actually enjoying it!

Wassup? It's Monday!

If you will remember I was reading The Girl Who Played with Fire last Monday! But then during this week, hubby and me went and saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, the movie... and zoom! it all came back. Funny how much I had forgotten about it. So, as expected I had to read the 7th installment of this series and you know I ditched Lisbeth and went for Harry :D

So, I am reading ~

From GoodReads.com ~~

Readers beware. The brilliant, breathtaking conclusion to J.K. Rowling's spellbinding series is not for the faint of heart--such revelations, battles, and betrayals await in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that no fan will make it to the end unscathed. Luckily, Rowling has prepped loyal readers for the end of her series by doling out increasingly dark and dangerous tales of magic and mystery, shot through with lessons about honor and contempt, love and loss, and right and wrong. Fear not, you will find no spoilers in our review--to tell the plot would ruin the journey, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is an odyssey the likes of which Rowling's fans have not yet seen, and are not likely to forget. But we would be remiss if we did not offer one small suggestion before you embark on your final adventure with Harry--bring plenty of tissues.

The heart of Book 7 is a hero's mission--not just in Harry's quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man--and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself. Attentive readers would do well to remember Dumbledore's warning about making the choice between "what is right and what is easy," and know that Rowling applies the same difficult principle to the conclusion of her series. While fans will find the answers to hotly speculated questions about Dumbledore, Snape, and you-know-who, it is a testament to Rowling's skill as a storyteller that even the most astute and careful reader will be taken by surprise.

Head over to J.Kaye's to know what everyone is reading!!

Deception Point by Dan Brown

Deception Point
By Dan Brown
Published March 28th 2006 (first published 2001) by Pocket
557 pages

From the back cover,

A shocking scientific discovery.
A conspiracy of staggering brilliance.
A thriller unlike any you've ever read....

When a NASA satellite discovers an astonishingly rare object buried deep in the Arctic ice, the floundering space agency proclaims a much-needed victory -- a victory with profound implications for NASA policy and the impending presidential election. To verify the authenticity of the find, the White House calls upon the skills of intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton. Accompanied by a team of experts, including the charismatic scholar Michael Tolland, Rachel travels to the Arctic and uncovers the unthinkable: evidence of scientific trickery -- a bold deception that threatens to plunge the world into controversy. But before she can warn the President, Rachel and Michael are ambushed by a deadly team of assassins. Fleeing for their lives across a desolate and lethal landscape, their only hope for survival is to discover who is behind this masterful plot. The truth, they will learn, is the most shocking deception of all.

Dan Brown's more famous Da Vinci Code and Angels & Daemons were some of the great suspense- thriller books I had read, so I had to pick this one up! High Expectations often fall flat, and that was the case here. It took me a long time to finish this one.
Elections are about to happen and the President Zach Henery sees himself losing as his oponent Senator Sexton gains popularity. The reason being his announcement of the ludicrous fundings of NASA and he claims that it is a brutal waste of every American's money which could be used for education and other things. At this point, NASA does an astonishing discovery of a meteorite buried under the Arctic Ice. The White House to validate NASA finds, employs many civilian scientist, one famous oceanographer and a famous TV personality Michael Tolland and White House's NRO Data Analyst Rachel Sexton, who incidently is the daughter of Senator Sexton.
Everything is perfect when all the scientist, Tolland and Rachel give their thumbs up to the discovery! But moments later, one scientist disappears and an illuminacence in the water surrounding the Metorite leads the pack of civilan scientists, Tolland and Rachel to redo their assessment of what they had endorsed and thus end up finding a deception that no one could have thought ab0ut. With highly specialized assasins on the trail, all they want to do is get the proofs of this deception to the President.

The storyline is good. The only problem was the first part of the book was very boring for me. Not until they find out that the meteriorite is all made-up stuff does it get interesting. Then there is lot on Senator Sexton as well, which is good but then I didn't find it interesting. I liked the character of Gabrielle Ashe who is the adviser of Senator Sexton.
I don't know, I was not sure whether I liked it or not. I mean I found, there was something missing. But I really liked the way, one by one they found out about the deception - how they got proofs and all that. And of course, who was behind the deception, took me by surprise too. I really didn't guess that one :)

It is an OK read not one of his finest!

Mosaic by Soheir Khashoggi

Mosaic
By Soheir Khashoggi
October 1st 2004 (first published 2003) by Forge Books
320 pages
4 on 5!

From GoodReads.com,

Set against the bustling backdrop of New York City and the exotic splendor of Jordan, Mosaic is a story of love and betrayal, of a clash of cultures and traditions---and one woman's struggle to rebuild her life.Like many working mothers, Dina Ahmed has become adept at juggling her family and her work. She's the owner of Mosaic, a thriving floral design business, and has been blessed with success, beauty, and, most important, a happy family.But when she returns home one day to discover that her six-year-old twins have vanished, Dina is forced to admit that her life and her marriage were not as perfect as she'd once believed. After many desperate phone calls---and anxious hours spent piecing the puzzle together---Dina accepts the terrible truth: Her husband, Karim, has taken the twins to his homeland of Jordan to raise the children with his family there.The authorities can do nothing to bring Dina's children back, and even her father's contacts in the U.S. State Department are of little help. Karim's family is wealthy and powerful, and even though Dina is half Arab herself, her options are limited.Distraught, but determined to fight, Dina travels to Jordan to confront her husband and to enact a desperate plan to get her children back---but at what risk?

The blurb above gives you a fairly good idea about the family-saga. This book depicts the problems that are faced by Dina and Karim who live in New York. About the time of their marriage, Karim is more modern and has the modern views we link, but as years pass, his Jordanian values and ideas of family become more and more prominent. Dina on the other hand, even being half Arab herself is born and brought up in US, giving her the culture and attitude that most people admire. She painfully juggles between work and home. Everything looks perfect until one day when she returns home, her 6 r old twins, Karim and the kid' Nanny are missing. Karim has taken the twins home to Jordan, so as to give them more traditional outlook and a "good" way of living. Dina's first-born Jordan, feels it's because of him this has happened, which is partly true. Dina and her 2 close friends try hard to formulate a way to get the twins back! Dina has not divorced Karim which makes it impossible for her to get the twins back, the fact that his family are a powerful politically in Jordan doesn't help her cause wither! She employs "special" people to get her babies back, what special people? What special plan? Does it work? it is for you to find out.

One thing I liked about this book was that the author was not biased on showing just the mothers pain and desperation. What makes Karim take the step that he takes, what are his thoughts...everything is detailed in a beautiful manner. Another good thing about this book is a beautiful peek into Jordanian culture! I know while reading the book, I hated the family, but that doesn't mean that I was not intrigued by their culture, their bonding and how women were generally treated down there.

All in all a delightful read!

A Book Blogger Appreciation Week Meme!

Head over to Book Blogger Appreciation Blog on more info if you still feel you have NO idea about BBAW :)
I doubt anyone here doesn't know about BBAW :D

Do you want to participate in the meme? Go ahead!
Here are the questions for people who didn't participate last year ~~

1) What has been one of the highlights of blogging for you?

It definitely has to be meeting so many other book-bloggers. Getting to know them, reading their thoughts and be able to talk about books. It is a great pleasure to talk about your passion!

2) What blogger has helped you out with your blog by answering questions, linking to you, or inspiring you?

Well I think when I started I have done a HUGE post on this. It goes without saying that the book blogging community is the most generous lot of bloggers. They invariable help you out if you are a newbie! I started blogging because of Gautami :). I really need to mention Bethany, whose was one of the first blogs I discovered and who was kind enough to come back and comment on my stupid posts back then. Then I got to J.Kaye's blog. Anyone here would agree with me on the fact that J. Kaye is the most friendliest and the best blogger here. She showcased my blog on her's [ how very enthralling] and there were bloggers who came and congratulated me :) :) I was most touched with her generosity! Then there are other bloggers, who came and commented on my blog... and encouraged me to do better! Somehow I have come to love many of the girls behind the blogs, it will be injustice to name a few :) and I will feel bad if I don't mention Sandra, Beth F, Dar, Trish, Jill, Nely, Alea, Nicole, Anna, Serena, S. Krishna, Meryl, Iliana, Tricia, Joanna, Devourer of books, RuinedbyReading, VioletCrush and many more.
When I got married in Jan this year, I had to go off action for almost 6 months! In that time I lost my blog, my email id everything. And when I was back with a new blog, I felt so good! These people still remembered me! and they came back to my blog, to encourage me more! Special thanks to Beth F and Sandra for being one of the first to comment and make me feel like top of the world!
More recently I have discovered so many more blogs ~~ Melody, Amy @ Passages of the Past, Naida, Bermudaonion, Melissa ~~ I can't name them all right! And it goes without saying that if I comment on your blog.. I most definitely think your blog is great!
I take this time to personally thank each one of you and you too, Amy! Thank you for doing BBAW!

3) What one question do you have about BBAW that someone who participated last year could answer?

None right now! If I have I know there are you guys to help! Thank You!

Attraction to Movie Posters!

I was blog hopping as usual, and came to Devourer of books post Time Traveler’s Wife Chicago Advance Screening Tickets! so, if you ar ein Chicago you might love to see the movie. :0)

But what I loved was movie poster. And as I surfed the net, I saw one more! Here they are ~~

And this is the 2nd one, though in a different language, the cover is still beautiful! ~~


I really need to get to reading the book first :)

Now for the book cover that caught my sweet attention this week is from Mary's Bookfan - Mary ~~


Here is Mary's review, which wants me to get this book as soon I see it here :-)

Thank You Marcia at for hosting this event!

Tuesday Thingers

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
  

Today's teaser is from ~~

On the other hand, she disliked personal discussions, which always led to snooping around in areas she considered private. How old are you? Guess. Do you like Britney Spears? Who? What do you think about Carl Larsson's paintings? I've never given them a thought. Are you a lesbian? Piss off.
- p. 30, “The Girl Who Played with Fire” by Steig Larsson

If you have read the 1st installment the Millennium trilogy The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, you will know this is about Lisbeth Salander, one of the main protagonist in Larrson's Novel.

I really wanted to blog about this Giveaway.. It is Awesome

Yep! That's like an awesome giveaway!
Open Internationally!
Seriously!
All you need to do is

1) Competition is only open to followers of Alaine's only. So if you're not a follower then just click on the follow button in the column on the right.

2. For an extra entry post about this give-away on your blog.

3. For another extra entry follow me on Twitter and post the comp on Twitter.

4. You must leave your email address in the comments section otherwise you won't be eligible. This competition is International and will be drawn on August 31st and the winner will be announced on this blog.

Like that? Go ahead now! Don't wait ;)
I am entering for the last 2 books :)

Things I Want my Daughters to Know - By Elizabeth Noble

Things I Want My Daughters to Know
by Elizabeth Noble

Paperback, 448 pages

September 4th 2008 (first published 2007) by Penguin


From Amazon.com product description,

How do you cope in a world without your mother?

When Barbara realizes time is running out, she writes letters to her four daughters, aware that they'll be facing the trials and triumphs of life without her at their side. But how can she leave them when they still have so much growing up to do?

Take Lisa, in her midthirties but incapable of making a commitment; or Jennifer, trapped in a stale marriage and buttoned up so tight she could burst. Twentysomething Amanda, the traveler, has always distanced herself from the rest of the family; and then there's Hannah, a teenage girl on the verge of womanhood about to be parted from the mother she adores.

But by drawing on the wisdom in Barbara's letters, the girls might just find a way to cope with their loss. And in coming to terms with their bereavement, can they also set themselves free to enjoy their lives with all the passion and love each deserves?

This heartfelt novel by bestselling author Elizabeth Noble celebrates family, friends . . . and the glorious, endless possibilities of life.

I found this one, really intimidating. A heart warming and heart breaking book, all at the same time. Its all about, the things you want, people you love to know when you are gone. Things they would otherwise have never gotten the chance to know.
The book isn't too gripping, yet is a great read. I would give it 3/5. As you go on with the book, and get to know the characters better, you start relating to their passions, insecurities and beliefs. Its all about the the special bond and love shared between mothers and daughters, and a mother's undivided love for all her children. As you tread through, you initially start falling in love all over again and star treasuring the secret bond you share with your mother and daughters.
A must read for all women, share it with your mother and daughters and sisters, to let them know, how much you love them and celebrate the relationship you share. Enjoy Reading :)

Monday and a long overdue update!

**Update - LT didn't work **sigh****

Hi ALL!

How's the week for you all? Hope all's well with you guys :-)

I told you guys that I have been out on vacation and I was supposed to write a post on that, but I never was able to do it. The vacation was superb, went to Bombay to meet m parents and we had lots of fun! We watched Transformers[ and one more regional language movie] there, and my God! it was gooood!


Then we went around to many places but we had jsut 2 days so we rushed back. Of course, I got enough time to sneak into a bookstore and get myself some goodies. So without much ado, here are the books I was able to snag ;)

By my standards that's a HUGE number :-)
I am pretty excited about all of them, and I have started on



From Amazon.com,

The girl with the dragon tattoo is back. Stieg Larsson's seething heroine, Lisbeth Salander, once again finds herself paired with journalist Mikael Blomkvist on the trail of a sinister criminal enterprise. Only this time, Lisbeth must return to the darkness of her own past (more specifically, an event coldly known as "All the Evil") if she is to stay one step ahead--and alive. The Girl Who Played with Fire is a break-out-in-a-cold-sweat thriller that crackles with stunning twists and dismisses any talk of a sophomore slump. Fans of Larsson's prior work will find even more to love here, and readers who do not find their hearts racing within the first five pages may want to confirm they still have a pulse. Expect healthy doses of murder, betrayal, and deceit, as well as enough espresso drinks to fuel downtown Seattle for months. --Dave Callanan

Last week I also received,This one I won at Travelling to Teens! Wow! I was so excited when I saw this in my mailbox on my return from my vacation!

So I had an awesome vacation, and a very awesome book-buying time! Here is a pic that's for Dar, she asked in one of her lovely Sunday posts, whether any dog lay on it's back like Buddy[ her cute li'l one] does :-). I am proud to present Vava -

Hope you all have a great week ahead!

Head over to J.Kaye's to know what everyone is reading!!