Book Monster

Diary: Jan 23, 2006

2006-01-23T23:41:00.000-08:00

I've read at least 6 books after my last entry.... I was just stupid enough to pack up the books before wirting my comments on them... oh well... I will get back to that.

I just had a very memorable Weekend. Some friends and I dined out at a very nice restaurant by Still Creek....@9:00pm..... Kinda late, but the food is just so good!! But, the best is yet to come. One of the friend stayed at my place and we played Scrabble with my roommate until 4AM!! We did manage to use all the tiles TWICE!!! Never happened before! ( We are really not that good!) And ended up chatting til 9:30am. Didn't catch much sleep, but hey, that's a GREAT weekend!!

Cheers Everyone! Happy Lunar New Year!!

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

2005-12-13T22:58:00.000-08:00

This is a facinating classical novel. I really love this story, compare to War and Peace (which I am still stuck at Bk. 2 of Vol. II)
Anna is so much like me, always pessimistic. It is absolutely scary!!! Her bravey in pursuring her love is something I can never compare.... The courage in her is just unbelievable considering the century she lived in.
It really is a tragic that she ended up taking her live just to make her lover remember her....... What a shame.

Do read this book!! I enjoy this as much as I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.... Brilliant Novels!!!

Pandora by Anne Rice

2005-11-27T22:22:00.000-08:00

I have bought this book quite a while ago..... Haven't had the chance, or mood to read it.
Once I started, I couldn't let go. I dosed off a few times when I was reading right before bed time.... hehe...

This is a very good add on to the Interview with Vampire Chronicles. Through Pandora, Anne Rice descrpited the evil of the Queen and elaborated on the viewpoint towards Christianity. The love and hate between Pandora and Marcius, to me, reflected the relationship between logic and emotion. How could you tell which is more important?

I would recommend everyone to read through the entire Chronicles..... it is too good to miss!!!

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

2005-11-13T12:41:00.000-08:00

Oh well, where should I start?? This is a great Mystery Novel! Although the author stated 2 "facts" on the first page of the novel, it doesn't change my opinion that this is but a fiction. He should consider giving references to the "facts".

The details and logical explanation to the clues and acient practices captured my imagination. I cannot put the book down. I would recommend this book to anyone who is logical enough to realize that this mystery novel is just a FICTION!!

Heard Dan Brown's other books are equally good.... ..... >_~

Catherine de Medici by Leonie Frieda

2005-11-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

Catherine de Medici is probably the most well known Queen of France in the Valois Dynasty. Similar to Marie Antonette, Catherine de Medici is known not for the suffering France caused her, but the supposed civil wars and trouble she brought to France. Born a Merchant's daughter, she was often looked down at by the court. She endured the court's insult, her husband's mistress meddling in caring for her children, and showed no favorites between the two powerful house in the court. She lived to be consort to 3 of her sons as King of France. Successfully protecting the country for her unappreciative sons.

She is also known as the mother in law to Henry of Navarre, the first Bourbon King of France; and Mary Queen of Scott.

This book is very lengthy and gives much information on the "current" political situations. I most appreciate the author's translation of the various passage in French.

A great book that shine a new light on the Queen character.

The Real Queen of France : Athenais & Louis XIV by Lisa Hilton

2005-09-30T19:33:00.000-07:00

It seems that I always read history backwards. I started with Louis XVI, this is Louis XIV and the one I am reading now is Louis XIV's ancestor..........OH Well!!

The book is swarm with details, but amazingly half of the book is not about Anthenais. It could be about our SUN KING, her rivals, or some royalties. Since this is her first book and I am interested mainly in the historical background, this is a good book that fit my purpose. It gives the readers a very vivd picture of the political, cultrual, and psychological trend in the court of Seventeenth Century France.

I would recommend this book to those who didn't want to know just about Athenais. You can probably find a better biography, but history-wise... go for it! Also, if you don't know French, better take out a dictatory from the local library. Cuz most of the quotes in French were not translated!!!

The Good Husband by Gail Godwin

2005-09-14T16:26:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe this book. 460 pages long, but it took me 2 1/2 weeks to finish......... So many times I just want to throw it away. The only thing that kept me from doing it was the hope that it will have a great ending. Sigh! Up until the last page, I don't have a clue as to the theme of the book. It got nothing to do with the "Good Husband" in the story!!!

For those who haven't read this book: AVOID IT AT ALL COST!
For those who read this book: Care to shred some light?

Intermission

2005-08-15T16:33:00.000-07:00

Currently on a break from intellectual books. Reading of the day...... Romance Novels!! He he!!

Children of The Storm by Elizabeth Peters

2005-08-14T20:07:00.000-07:00

This book belongs to the Amelia Peabody series which is intriguing as usual.

Once again, the Emerson family spend their season in Egypt adding out knowledge to the lives of Ancient Egypt. As usual, villain(s) attack the family, prompting Amelia Peabody to play the role of a detective, revealing the conspiracy. Although a veteran in investigation, the seemingly unrelated "accidents" clouds Amelia's detective mind. Adding to the stimulating plot, a few new members of the well known family are introduced for the first time.

I am totally addicted to the Amelia Peabody series..... What can I say? This book is GREAT!

Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser

2005-08-09T20:30:00.000-07:00

This is the autobiography of the Eighteenth Century Queen of France's tragical life. From the day that she was born, a princess of Austria, Marie Antoinette was destine to be used by various people. First, her family married her off to France to secure their treaty, Then, the French King to bore children. Lastly, the Revoluntionist to kill as a scapegoat. It is amazing how blind people could be by a name. All the good deeds done by this loving queen was dismissed, alone was the tales of her evil-doing remembered.

The Author goes into detail of Marie Antoinette's upbring and quote of her correspondence gives much insight to the Queen's tragic life.

I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Politics or History.

The Seventh Sinner by Elizabeth Peters

2005-08-08T22:22:00.000-07:00

First of all, I love the Amelia Peabody series by her. This book is one of the 3 that I own that doesn't belongs to that series.

This is about 7 foreign Postgrad. Student in Rome competing for a limited scholarship. The death of a student known to these 7, followed by a series of accidents on one of the 7.

I found this book to be exceptionally boring. I have to admit that Peters is very good at writing Mysteries in the Egyptian setting, but outside of that, I really wouldn't recomment her books.

If any of you love Mysteries and things related to Ancient Egypt, then the Amelia Peabody series is definitely the book to read.

The Man Behind The Iron Mask by John Noone

2005-08-08T22:05:00.000-07:00

This book present various account of the Iron Mask, a State prisioner during the reign of Louis XIV. Each chapter of the book present a couple of speculation of whom the Iron mask could be. By giving the details of each account and rebutal the claims, the Author managed to point out the evidents towards the disclaim of each account.

I would suggest you to familiarize yourselves with the important figure during the reign of Louis XIV and be prepared that this book is written, rather than in a story format, like a research papre.

Personally, I prefer the author's lay out which descript the account then disclaim each point with individual evident(s). Even though, I do found this book at times to be quite boring, only my curiousity keep me reading on.

In the last chapter, the author finally provide his own explanation to the possible identity of the Iron Mask, which I found to be quite interesting.

If you don't like to read research paper, I would suggest you to read through the first 2 chapters, then skip to the last. Since the middle just disclaim the various identity of the Iron Mask

Instead of buying this book, really you should just check if there is a copy in the nearby library!

Lord of The Vampires by Jeanne Kalogridis

2005-08-07T09:29:00.000-07:00

For anyone who love Dracula by Stoker, this is the perfect reading!

Lord of The Vampires is written from Van Helsin's & Zsuzsanna's point of view where the story overlapes with Stoker's. This gives insights to detail information on how Dracula was found and destoried. It also comes with a twist at the end that I especially like.

The book is part of a series of 3 that prequel Dracula. Unfortunately, I still couldn't get my hands on the other 2 books.

Titles for the other 2:
1. Covenant with the Vampire
2. Children of the Vampire

Harry Potter

2005-08-05T19:30:00.000-07:00

One more to go! The most recent book is, in my opinion, much better than the 5th one (Took me weeks to read through)... This only took me 2 days to finish. Much more exciting, but still incomparable to the first two books.

Main events within the 600 something pages:
1. HP dates Ginny!!!
2. Ron and Hermione are not an official item!!
3. Dumbledore is dead.
4. Hogwarts will be closed.....forever??

My only question: Did J. K. Rowling forget the book is for young readers??

Where should I start?

2005-08-04T21:20:00.000-07:00

Oh well! I just love BOOKS!! Too bad I am not persistent enought to even keep a diary.... My poor diary is still covered with dust, sitting at my parents' place. Hopefully, this will be different..........