You. Me. Us: 2009

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Between The Assassinations

By: ryan 4:35 PM Fiction - Aravind Adiga No comments

Title: Between The Assassinations
Author: Aravind Adiga
Publisher: Atlantic Books
ISBN: 9781843872073

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'Adiga...has boldly gone where few Indian writers choose to venture, casting his gaze beyond the complacent smugness of middle-class drawing rooms to the anger and squalor lurking in the underbelly of urban India.' Vikas Swarup, Guardian

'Between the Assassinations takes seven days in the life of a fictional Indian city called Lithur...Adiga's eye moves among the crowd with a restless precision, alert to the realities of each unremarkable existence. His subjects is the everyday frustration brought about by discrimination of status, class and religion...Adiga's sense of a great Indian comedy is never far away..A page-turner.' Tim Adams, Observer

'Wonderful.....With Between Assassinations, Adiga has demonstrated that he is an important literary talent, a writer capable of evocation without extravagance, a sensitive chronicler of modern India.' Stephen Abell, Daily Telegraph

'As in The White Tiger, the joy of reading Between The Assassinations derives from the life [Adiga] breathes into his characters..His small-time businessmen and cart-pullers are never walking metaphors of lifeless allegories..In these stories, Adiga displays the full range of his imagination. This is fiction at its most ambitious and incisive and every bit as impressive as his debut.' Ed King, Sunday Telegraph

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Hot, Flat, & Crowded

By: ryan 2:58 PM Non-Fiction - Thomas L. Friedman No comments

Title: Hot, Flat, & Crowded
Author: Thomas L. Friedman
Publisher: Penguin Books
ISBN: 9780141036663

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Thomas Friedman's phenomenal The World is Flat helped millions of people see globalization in a new way. Now he takes a fresh, provocative look at the biggest challenge facing us today, our hot, flat and crowded world.

Climate change and rapid population growth mean that it's no longer possible for businesses, or the rest of us, to keep doing things the same old way. We are going to have to change and fast. Here Friedman provides a bold strategy for clean fuel, energy efficiency and conservation that he calls 'Code Green'. It will change everything, from what we put into our cars and see on our electricity bills to how we live our lives.

Hot, Flat, and Crowded is fearless, forward-looking and rich in common sense about the challenge and the promise of the future.

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Movies - Best of 2009

By: ryan 9:14 AM Movies No comments

Every years, movies that produced are getting better and better, sequel after sequel and with much higher anticipations. Most of the movies produced or released in 2009 are sequels that top the box office. According to Yahoo, here are the top 10 movies that has made to the highest-grossing films in the box office.

1. Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen, total gross: $402,111,870
2. Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince, total gross: $301,959,197
3. Up, total gross: $293,004,164
4. The Twilight Saga: New Moon, total gross: $280,924,000
5. The Hangover, total gross: $277,322,503
6. Star Trek, total gross: $257,730,019
7. Avatar, total gross: $212,268,000
8. Monsters Vs. Aliens, total gross: $198,351,526
9. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, total gross: $196.573705
10. The Blind Side, total gross: $184,387,00

And this is my own top 10 movies list:
1. Up
2. Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen
3. Angels and Demons
4. A Christmas Carol
5. The Proposal
6. 2012
7. Caroline
8. Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince
9. Astroboy
10. Alvin and The Chipmunks 2

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

By: ryan 2:43 PM Personal Growth, Self-Help - Deepak Chopra No comments

Title:

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
Author: Deepak Chopra
Publisher: Amber-Allen Publishing
ISBN: 9781878424112

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This is a book you will cherish for a lifetime, for within its pages are the secrets to making all your dreams come true. In The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra distills the essence of his teachings into seven simple, yet powerful principles that can easily be applied to create success in all areas of your life.

Based on natural laws which govern all of creation, this book shatters the myth that success is the result of hard work, exacting plans, or driving ambition.

In The Seven spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra offers a life-altering perspective on the attainment of success: Once we understand our true nature and learn to live in harmony with natural law, a sense of well-being, good health, fulfilling relationships, energy and enthusiasm for life, and material abundance will spring forth easily and effortlessly.

Filled with timeless wisdom and practical steps you can apply right away, this is a book you will want to read and refer to again and again.
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Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction

Chapter 1 The Law of Pure Potentiality
Chapter 2 The Law of Giving
Chapter 3 The Law of "Karma" or Cause and Effect
Chapter 4 The Law of Least Effort
Chapter 5 The Law of Intention and Desire
Chapter 6 The Law of Detachment
Chapter 7 The Law of "Dharma" or Purpose In Life

Summary and Conclusion
About the Author

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Gurteen

The Secrets of A Young Millionaire

By: ryan 2:22 PM Business - Ray Ling, Self-Help - Ray Ling 3 comments

Title: The Secrets of A Young Millionaire
Author: Ray Ling
Publisher: Kanyin Publications
ISBN: 9789833789238

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How to build a successful multi-million dollar business from nothing. even during an economic downturn?

Youth implies opportunities, and the thought of opportunities excites enthusiasm, we know is a necessary ingredient in creating wealth and enhancing our life.

From fearless rookie to an entrepreneur, I have always had passion for my work. I love my work so much that it has always been my life. Every single minute I spend on my work. Simply put, I enjoy the happiness that working brings.

When we love our job, we are energetic, and can face challenges in a positive way. being hit by difficulties will not stop nor faze us. Instead we treat them as the positive impetus that pushes us to greater heights.
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For more info about the book and the author, visit the author's website RayLing and you can add him on his Facebook account

The Princess and The Frog

By: ryan 2:14 PM Junior No comments

Title: The Princess and The Frog
Publisher: Pelican
ISBN: 9789673206970

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get ready for a whole new spin on a classic fairy tale! Tiana is a beautiful, hardworking young woman who dreams of owning her own restaurant someday. She has no idea how far that dream will take her, but with the help of friends and the courage to overcome the greatest odds, Tiana learns what she really needs to make her dreams become a reality. This junior novelization retells the whole magical story of Disney's The princess and the Frog and features eightfull-colours pages of scenes from the movie.

Dreams From My Father

By: ryan 12:28 PM Biography - Barack Obama No comments

Title: Dream From My Father
Author: Barack Obama
Publisher: Canon Gate
ISBN: 9781847673510

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Before Barack Obama became a politician he was, among other things, a writer, Dreams From My Fatheris his masterpiece; a refreshing, revealing portrait of a young man asking the big questions about identity and belonging.

The son of a black African father and a white American mother, Obama recounts an emotional odyssey. He retraces the migration of his mother's family from Kansas to Hawaii, then to his childhood home in Indonesia. Finally he travels to kenya, where he confronts the bitter truth of his father's life and at last reconciles his divided inheritance.
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See Inside The Book
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The Christmas Carol - The Movie Storybook

By: ryan 11:37 AM Junior No comments

Title: The Christmas Carol - The Movie Storybook
Publisher: Pelican
ISBN: 978967323949

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Prepare To Be Visited By Three Ghosts...

The festive sound of holiday hymms, a blazing Yule log by the hearth, mistletoe dangling in the doorway, is there anyone whom would not find these things joy-filled and comforting?

Yes, a man named Ebenezer Scrooge, the feared, avaricious proprietor of the Scrooge and Marley countinghouse. But on the eve of Christmas, the infamous miser will be visited by three specters.

The first will mystically bring him back to Christmases past. the next will show him the Christmas of present-day. And the final, and most terrifying of all ghosts will present him with Christmas yet-to-come. But Scrooge is set in his miserly ways. And even these powerful spirits may not be able to melt the old man's ice-cold heart.

Merry Christmas!!

By: ryan 6:23 PM Random Thought No comments

We Wish You a Merry♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•¨•♫♪Christmas♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•¨•♫♪We Wish You a Merry ♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥¸¸.•¨•♫♪Christmas ♥ ♥ ♥We Wish You A Merry ♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥¸¸.•¨•♫♪Christmas ♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•¨•♫♪...And A Happy NewYear!♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•¨•♫♪

Christmas has becoming the largest celebration in Malaysia. Every years, the numbers of shoppers and the congestion's on the road has increased and it can be felt throughout the week, till today, the Christmas's eve.

Malaysian has the attitude of everything are on last minutes. So that's why the city is congested with cars and shoppers. Look it at the bright side, this might be a good also because of the large crowds, the jamming and the congestion only we can feel that the festive is in the air. Even though the jam is bad, but when you are in the shopping malls, the decorations and the Christmas's songs are played, it really bring out the warm and you just can't miss it, it's everywhere!!

During Christmas season, many people buy gifts, buy greeting cards, attend and organized Christmas parties, countdown and not forgetting attend church services.

For me, I just have a simple dinner with my friends and exchanges gifts.

So on here, I wanted to wish all my friends and their families a very happy Merry Christmas and happy holiday too since the holidays fall on weekend. Felt sorry for those who need to work on Saturday....cheers up leh!!

Christmas is the time for celebration!
Christmas is a time for salvation!
Christmas is the time for reconciliation!

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "

Gifts For Me

By: ryan 4:45 PM Gifts No comments

Many many thanks to Ms J, without your book's vouchers, I can't even manage to get these titles without having me have to burn my purse. So many books to read. Coincidentally enough all the holidays fall on weekend which I'm going to lay down the whole day on my bed (I wish). Anyway, thanks again for the gifts. Merry Christmas to you and to your family.

The Joy of Giving

By: ryan 3:38 PM Random Thought No comments

2 more days and we’re going to celebrating X’mas. Every year, on the week before this special day, I will go shopping looking for gifts and every year I did the same crazy thing and I reminded myself not to do the following year, but still…

The story is like this, on last year, when I went to shop for books as X'mas gift, I told myself that I must buy only for others but end up, I bought a lot for myself and these resulted I spend more that I had planned and it’s really make me poor the next month being needed to pay for credit card balance. And on this year, the same thing happened to me again. Can’t blame me actually as too many special promotions being held during this Festive of Gifts. Hello, where can we book’s lover stand as those books are calling you on their shelves. For example, Kino’s alone is having this Long Cool Glass promotion where 30% discount is given on those new and hot titles, same thing happens in MPH, Times, Borders and Popular Bookstore, where 20 % are given. Books like Wolf Hall (30%, Kino), Between the Assassinations (20%, Kino and Popular), Hot, Flat and Crowded (30%, Popular)….

But seriously, I think those who get X'mas present from me will get bored and furious as every year without fail, I'll giving them books.

So on this year, some changes are being made (I getting headache on X'mas gift actually). So I am going to get you’ll something that are edible from me. I’m doing this is for the sake of you all leh. You know why, next year sugar price will increase thus these thingy prices will soar too. So for the one last chance, enjoy the ~~cheap~~, nice and sweeties from me. Hey those sweeties that I bought are good from qualities and renowned brands.

Witch and Wizard

By: ryan 2:22 PM Fiction - James Patterson No comments

Title: Witch and Wizard
Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
ISBN: 9780446555661

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Your books, music, and art, banned by the new order!

You are holding an urgent and vital narrative that reveals the forbidden truth about our perilous times....

This is the astonishing testimonial of Wisty and Whit Allgood, a sister and brother who were torn from their family in the middle of the night, slammed into prison, and accused of being a witch and a wizard. Thousands of young people have been kidnapped; some have been accused; many others remains missing. Their fate is unknown, and the worst is feared, for the ruling regime will stop at nothing to suppress life and liberty, music and books, art and magic....and the pursuit of being a normal teenager.

"This is the story i was born to tell. Road on, before it's too late...."

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The Yellow-Lighted Bookstore

By: ryan 2:02 PM Memoir - Lewis Buzbee, Non-Fiction - Lewis Buzbee No comments

Title: The Yellow-Lighted Bookstore
Author: Lewis Buzbee
Publisher: Graywolf Press
ISBN: 9781555975104

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using his retail experience as a point of departure, Lewis Buzbee gives readers a guided tour of the book business from the ancients to today. As much a history of bookstores as a meditation on the reading life. The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop speaks to the book lover in all of us.

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I liked this book very much. It was one of my favorites for the year I read it. Fortunately, I managed to get the last copy from Kinokuniya KLCC. I've been meaning to buy my own copy ever since I read it from a book's review in a newspaper. This is my most favourite part from the book.

'It's not as if I don't have anything to read; there's a tower of perfectly good unread books next to my bed, not to mention the shelves of books in the living room I've been meaning to reread. I find myself, maddeningly, hungry for the next one, as yet unknown. I no longer try to analyze this hunger; I capitulated long ago to the book lust that's afflicted me most of my life.'

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The Hakawati

By: ryan 12:07 PM Fiction - Rabih Alameddine No comments

Title: The Hakawati
Author: Rabih Alameddine
Publisher: Picador
ISBN: 9780330469692

Back Cover text
Listen. Let me take you on a journey beyond imagining. Let me tell you a story......

The al-kharrats are a loveable, irrepressible family going through a difficult time. Osama has returned to Beirut after a long absence to be with his ailing father and join the vigil around his bedside, and since storytelling runs in the family's veins, his grandfather was a legendary hakawati. This is no peaceful, reverential scene. It is one of gossip and imagination, of tales remembered and tales invented, of love affairs and civil war, of myths and feisty heroines and warriors and music and not a little magic.

Crossing continents, spanning centuries, full of adventures, mischief and surprise, this glorious novel is a twenty-first-century Arabian Nights. Prepare to be enchanted.
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Total Feng Shui

By: ryan 11:57 AM Metaphysics - Lilian Too No comments

Title: Total Feng Shui
Author: Lilian Too
Publisher: Popular Book Co.
ISBN: 9781905695959

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Finally, everything you need to know about Feng Shui in one colorful, inviting book, internationally renowned expert Lilian Too gives you the tools to bring the power of Feng Shui into every aspect of your life. Packed with great information in an interactive, easy-to-use format, Total Feng Shui is the handbook for making your dreams come true.

Inside you'll find strategies and tips for:

career success, recognition, and promotion
friendship, romance, love, and marriage
wealth and financial growth
education and personal development
health and longevity

What I've Bought Today!!

By: ryan 10:13 PM Half-Broke No comments

1. Witch & Wizard, James Patterson
2. The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop, Lewis Buzbee
3. The Hakawati, Rabih Alameddine
4. Total Feng Shui, Lilian Too

The Vagrant

By: ryan 5:20 PM Fiction - Yi Yunli No comments

Title: The Vagrant
Author: YiYun Li
Publisher: BookArmy
ISBN: 9780007196636

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In 1970s China, a young woman, Gu Shan, is executed for her loss of faith in Communism. Her father is unable to accept what his rebellious daughter has become, while her mother is devastated by the loss of her only child.

The citizens of her own town, including seven year old Tong, crippled Nini, the idler Bashi and beautiful Kai, unite in protest over her death. But the thing that brought them together can also tear them tragically apart, and over the following weeks, they go through uncertainty, hope and fear, until the rebellion is brutally suppressed.

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The Secret Life of Bees

By: ryan 12:08 PM Fiction - Movie Tie In No comments

Title: The Secret Life of Bees
Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Publisher: Headline Review
ISBN: 9780755349814

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Lily has grown up believing she accidentally killed her mother when she was just four years old. Now, at fourteen, she yearns for forgiveness and a mother's love. Living on a peach farm in South Carolina with her father, her only friend is Rosaleen, a black servant.

When racial tension explodes one summer afternoon, and Rosaleen is arrested and beaten, Lily is compelled to act. Fugitives from justice, the pair follow a trail left by the woman who died ten years before. Finding sanctuary in the home of three beekeeping sisters, Lily starts a journey as much about her understanding of the world, as about the mystery surrounding her mother.

The Witch of Portobello

By: ryan 10:27 AM Fiction - Paulo Coelho No comments

Title: The Witch of Portobello
Author: Paulo Coelho
Publisher: Haper Collins
ISBN: 9780007251889

Back Cover text
How do we find the courage to be true to ourselves, even if we are unsure of who we are?

That is the central question posed by Coelho's riveting new work, The Witch of Portobello. It is the story of Athena, a mysterious young woman born in Romania, raised in Beirut and living in London. Her life is told by the many who knew her well. or hardly at all.

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What I've Bought!!

By: ryan 9:38 AM Half-Broke No comments

1. The Vagrants, Yiyun Li
2. Just After Sunset, Stephen King
3. The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd
4. The Witch of Portobello, Paulo Coelho

Shifting

By: ryan 4:03 PM Random Thought No comments

Recently, my current department which situated on 10th floor is going to be shifted to 8th floor. I'm a newly joined and heard that the shifting issues is being planned, talked and discussed since the beginning of the year and now it has been almost the end of the year. And yet, the shifting work is done in a very slow pace. So we just have to bear with the instruction from the higher management on when is our official moving date and it has been drag and drag till we, still occupying this very 1oth floor. But actually the due date was today. So I am wondering when is the actual date we can move to our new place.

So talking about this, we human are very weird creature actually. We like to hesitate on whatever decision we are going to made. Time seem to us nothing is call enough till we facing the actual due date or deadline or even press on by higher management. It may sound good and best that we planned and think before we act, but to me, after thinks and plans and then is no action taken is not called thinking, but it is called delaying or even so, forgetting. Often that we heard that we saying..."oh i forgot this and forgot that". It is a funny thing we never realized this till this happened on us. I might be mumbling here about the inefficient of some people get their thing done, but actually me myself is also one of these people too. There goes they saying, every human is not perfect after all...

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Best of 2009

By: ryan 3:06 PM Random Posts No comments

Another year is approaching. In just less than 2 weeks, we're celebrating Christmas and also 2010. And two more years we're doomed, cause of 2012 hahahaha...jokes aside. Well, according to Amazon, here are the list for some bestselling books in year 2009.
Here from
Amazon
Washington Post
AbeBooks
InkWell Bookstore Blog

Not forgetting my 10 favorite books of 2009

1. Between the Assassinations, Aravind Adiga
2. Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India, William Dalrymple
3. The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown
4. Have a Little Faith: A True Story, Mitch Albom
5. The Thing Around Your Neck, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
6. Never Been Better, O Thiam Chin
7. Say You're One Of Them, Uwem Akpan
8. The Glass Room, Simon Mawer
9. Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel
10. The Murder of King Tut, James Patterson

You. Me. Us