Husband Material by Maeve Haran

Synopsis :

What makes a good husband material? Someone who’s kind? Someone who’s brilliant in bed and puts the rubbish out afterwards?

After 16 years of marriage to the charming but unfaithful Giles, Amanda’s sure of one thing : she isn’t going to make the same mistake twice. So when she, literally, bumps into charismatic property developer Angus Day in his cobait blue sports car there’s no way she’s going to fall for that charm baloney again - even if he does offer to pay for her damage.

This time she’s going to choose someone suitable. Like the delightful Luke Knight, a caring, sharing new man who helps old ladies across the street – rather than throwing them into it. Amanda is smitten and despite the misgivings of her daughter Clio, she wants him to be her very own knight in shining amour.

Amanda is in her 40s and she is looking into dating again after her divorce. Her 16 year old daughter encourages her to and even put a singles advert for her in the paper. She finds herself attracted to Angus Day but is he too charming for her? Then she was introduced to Luke Knight and is attracted to him too. She now has a choice between Knight and Day (night and day), get it? Haha...:)

The book is quite enjoyable if taken at face value and not to be analysed too thoroughly. The characters are lovable especially Clio and Isobel (Angus’s mother) and the whole book does take on an air of fairytale like which is pretty unrealistic. Having said that it does touch on a few social issues like what might happen when a single mother takes on a new man, the danger when a mother brings a new man into her life and into her home. It also brought to light the concern and struggle of single mum in trying to give the basic to her family while not able to offer them treats and holidays and how devastating it can be to her and her children when her ex-husband has a new family.

First time reading Maeve Haran. I bought Husband Material in a warehouse sales quite a while ago. I quite enjoy it. I think I will keep it.

Love, Honour and O’Brien by Jennifer Rowe

Synopsis :

She stared into the speckled mirror, wondering how she had come to this. How could she, Holly Love, apple of her parents' eye, competent manipulator of invoices in Gorgon Office Supplies, have ended up alone and starving in a dead man's flat?

How indeed? Most reluctant heroines would throw in the towel at this point. But Holly Love is made of sterner stuff. She's sworn to track down the cheating swine who ripped her life apart, and make him pay. But as she tries to keep her head in the face of a bizarre mystery, a gloomy old house, a hearse driving Elvis impersonator and a gang of vengeful thugs not to mention a garrulous and possibly possessed parrot Holly is forced to come to terms with a great truth. However bad things seem, they can always get worse.

This is a rather refreshing book. First, it was set in the Blue Mountain in Australia and not in any towns or cities in the United States that you would come to expect. For the fact that I have been to Blue Mountain certainly added some interesting charm to the whole story.

Anyway, no matter where the setting is, Love, Honour & O’Brien is very delightful. I feel sad for Holly Love as she gets ready to start her new life being a married woman. Unknown to her, her ‘knight in shining amour’ is really a ‘crook in rusted tin can’. He promised to marry her but has ran off with her money. Knowing that she’s in for such disappointment makes me feel sad for her. At the same time, I sense some gumption from her and kind of know that she would be ok after she got over the shock. Somehow, I knew that Holly has the strength to get up and move on.

Get up and move on she did after her private detective died on her and she ended up taking over his practice and his talking parrot and finding herself some true friend in the person of a psychic and an old lady who watches detective shows every night.

I enjoy this book and all that the characters bring with it. Although some of the characters are just too quirky and rather lame and some of the plot too coincidental to be real but it’s amusing and fun to read and rather entertaining thoroughly. I would love to read the second book and see how Holly fares as a detective. Very well, I’m sure.

Love, Honour and O'Brien is due for released by Poisoned Pen Press on 15th January 2012. I review this for NetGalley.com.

An Interview with Carlos Parra Diaz, author of Hope Underground

Have you read Hope Underground?  Are you inspire by the stories of the miners?  Here's an interview with Pastor Carlos Parra Diaz that was sent to me by B&B Media Group.  May you be further inspired.

Q : In Hope Underground, you mention several instances that suggest God’s intervention. Did you personally experience God’s presence while there and, if so, how did it affect you?

A : This recognition of divine intervention throughout the entire process of the rescue has been the consistent perspective of the miners, their families, the rescue personnel and millions around the world. For myself, I had always believed that God is real, a living God who chooses to be close to those who love Him. But during my weeks at Camp Hope, I experience for myself just how real God is and how deeply He loves the human beings He has created. And how directly involved He is in the daily lives of His children.

Q : Through no fault of their own, all 33 miners were thrust into the world spotlight. Since then, how have their lives been altered?

A : The miners have moved on with their loves. Some have taken new jobs. Others have retired from mining completely. Many of them have travelled extensively since their rescue, sharing their experiences with audiences around the world. While their lives have returned to some semblance of normalcy, they have all experienced a profound change, so that none of them will ever return to the lives they lived before.

Q : You made the decision to present the miners with a special gift while they were trapped in the mine. Could you tell us a little about that?

A : Yes. I had already presented Bibles to each of the families at Camp Hope, but I wanted to do more. In my mind was the thought that a Bible would be one way I could help the miners in the prolonged wait facing them. The comfort of God’s Word and His promises could help the miners bear up under the various physical, emotional or spiritual difficulties that were bound to appear.

Q : After visiting with the miners following the resuce, which of these visits do you feel had the greatest impact on you?

My visit with Jose Henriquez, the ‘pastor’ of the trapped miners, was a special pleasure for me. He was among those I’d been able to speak with while they were still underground. He’d shared with me about their difficult survival during those first 17 days when they had no contact with the outside. It was Jose who, from the beginning, proposed to the group that they set aside a certain time each day for prayer. All had accepted and when they came together to pray he would recite certain Bible texts he knew from memory. But his repertoire of memorized verses were soon exhausted. The group longed for a Bible so they might read more of God’s Word. Like all their other needs at the time, this seemed like a wish that would not be fulfilled. Then four days after they’d been found alive, the miniature Bibles arrived below. A direct answer to their prayers. Jose told me their communal prayer time at midday and 6 pm were greatly enriched because they were all able to read God’s Word for themselves at any moment of the day they felt a need. An those moments, he added, were many.

Q : What lessons in faith can be learned from the mine collapse?

A : God was able to get our attention and call humanity back to Himself. Through the miracle of the San Jose Mine resuce, witnessed by people all over the world through the media, God has issued a call to his creation, every human being, to make a decision while there is still time to do so. Jesus Christ laid down His life on the cross as a substitute for sinful humanity, as a guarantee of salvation and eternal life, free of charge, to anyone who will receive this precious gift. By reminding the world of His reality and His love, even in the depths of the San Jose Mine, God is once again offering every human being the opportunity to make a very simple decision : Will you follow God? Or will you reject Him?

For most people, this spectacular rescue is already yesterday’s news. However, for the millions who prayed for a miracle, this event has become a spiritual heritage for the whole world, a stirring reminder that God listens to the pleas of His children.

http://www.hopeunderground.com/.

Four Blind Mice by James Patterson

Synopsis :


On the verge of resigning from the D.C. police force, Detective Alex Cross knows he can’t refuse this case. His partner John Sampson has a friend who has been framed for murder and is facing the gas chamber. His accusers? The United States Army.

As a new woman in Cross’s life brings him hope in the face of a devastating loss at home, Cross and Sampson go up against codes of honour and silence and three ruthless killers. But a bigger threat lies in wait : their controller, a lethal genius who will introduce Cross to new depths of terror...the last of the FOUR BLIND MICE.

It always gives me the quiver to share my opinion on books by such mega author. It gives me extra quivers if I don’t like the book. James Patterson has more books under his belt than most authors. He’s practically a brand rather than a person. Four Blind Mice is part of the Alex Cross series and it was first published 9 years ago.

What can I say, it’s as expected as can be from an Alex Cross thriller. Fast paced with short chapters. The urgency is there as they raced against the clock to solve the murder. But the murder is just the top of the iceberg. The real terror dates back to the time of the Vietnam War and the horror that comes with it. The past cannot be changed but can Alex change the future? If he does it, will he ever be the same again?

I dind't really like it but fans of Alex Cross and James Patterson would certainly be happy with Four Blind Mice.

Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer

The following review was done last year but got lost in the draft folder (the irony of it!). I’m posting it as I wrote it last year. The book belongs to an ex-colleague. I have since, returned the book to the owner. Thank you, dear friend for lending it to me. :)

Sypnosis 

In April 1992, a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked into Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burnt all the cash in his wallet and invented a new life for himself. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a hunter….

With anticipation from such an intriguing synopsis, I ‘delved’ Into the Wild about 6 months ago. 6 months later, I am still In the wild and it looks like I might not make it out. The book is only 200 pages, so no, it wasn’t the thickness, the prints were small but it wasn’t un-readable. So, what happened?

It’s a story of a man who seems to have lost his mind, give up life in society and civilization and decided that it would be a better choice to live in the wild and especially in the Alaska wild. What was he thinking? Did he seriously think that he’ll survive the unfriendly terrain? What about his family? I can’t imagine that he doesn’t think of the pain that he is causing his family?

I never finished reading the book. Maybe another time, another season but for now I don’t think I want to. It's too depressing.

A few days ago, I caught the tail end of the movie which was also based on this book and also entitled Into The Wild. The movie ended with a shot of school bus where Chris was found and then penned across the vastness of the wilderness. I can’t help but be in awe of the majestic abandon wilderness of Alaska, the freedom it represents and for a moment there…I caught his vision, for a moment I saw what attracted Chris to do what he did. But only for a moment. And then it’s gone.

Bookfest @ Singapore 2011

Do you remember my wish in this post?

Well, talk about being at the right place at the right time :).  While in Singapore over the weekend, I made it a point to drop by Bookfest @ Singapore 2011 which is currently being held in Suntec Convention. It opens daily from 10 am onwards.  Admission is free.

Entrance to the hall

I reached there around 11 am on a Sunday.  It wasn't very packed.  The event felt more like a huge bookstore rather than book festival. It is very well sectioned and systematic with English language books on one side of the hall and Chinese books on the other end. The whole set up reminded me of Popular Warehouse Sales that I have attended but without the discounted books.

There’s a huge range of books and stationeries available but unfortunately, the books were not very cheap and the most discount given was around 20% only. For example, I bought a Geromino Stilton book (for YA) at 20% discount but the same book is being retailed at 15% cheaper in Singapore Intenational Airport and purchases of 2 books will get a further 20% discount. This wasn’t even in the departure lounge. Just at the check in area which is assessable by the public.

There were talks scheduled throughout the days on various topics but I wasn't paying any attention to them. 

Good selection of Chinese books

Anyway, it was a good experience and although I didn’t buy any books for myself, I bought a few YA books and some tools for craft works.

The event is conveniently located in Hall 601 – 603 of Suntec Convention Centre. The nearest MRT Station is via Esplanade Station, Exit A. 

Their official web is at : http://www.bookfestsingapore.com/about.htm.

Hope Underground - The 34 Chilean Miners - A Story of Faith & Miracles by Carlos Parra Diaz

Synopsis :

It was the longest underground entrapment in history. For 10 weeks the faith and endurance of a group of Chilean miners, their families and rescue workers were severely tested as the miners reminded trapped 700 meters below the Atacama Desert. Many feared the rescue effort would be merely a body-recovery process.

Yet instead of abandoning hope, the miners’ families chose to place themselves at the mercy of the elements and camp around the mind – in what later became known as Camp Hope – uniting in their prayers for a miracle.

The Chilean Government and the rescue team, despite several major setbacks, never gave up. On the contrary, President Pinera reaffirmed his country’s commitment to saving the miners while at the same time acknowledging that only God could help them succeed in this impossible mission.

For their part, the trapped miners clung to the belief that this was not to be their end, and with faith and hope fought against almost certain death.

And God didn’t disappoint. Ultimately all the miners were found alive and their rescue was watched live by a billion viewers.

Hope Underground is the personal account of Pr. Carlos Parra Diaz about his work as chaplain of Camp Hope. Pastor Parra is perfectly placed to share with us exclusive details of his daily interaction with the miners and their families, as well as how God manifested His presence in this truly amazing story. Hope Underground is a most-read for anyone who seeks a deeper spiritual insight into this trilling and unique real-life drama.

Can you remember where you were on 5 August 2010 and what you were doing? What about 13 October 2010?

While these might be pretty insignificant dates to you as you go about your day to day stuff, these are very important dates for 33 miners and their friends and families. For 69 days from 5th August to 13th October, the miners were trapped about 2,000 feet underground and with the 1st 17 days without any contact with the outside world and without any knowledge if they would ever get out of their nightmare.

Hope Underground is the story of these miners and their families, how they cope with this disaster and their unshaken faith in God. Told from the perspective of Pastor Carlos, it’s very captivating and encouraging to read about the strong faith these miners and their families have.  Readers will get to know their stories through Pastor Carlos interaction with their families and the notes that they sent up to him after they have been discovered.  It's so touching to read that as people gathered to pray for their safety, they themselves also gathered and prayed everyday at 12 noon.

I read the rescue itself with 'frogs in my throat' and eyes glued to every words. It's really a victory for the heavenly realm as they emerged safety and with greater faith in God having gone through such challenging experience.  In the midst of  the world's tragedies, Parso Carlos has a few questions - why does the story of San Jose Mine stand out in such contrast? Why did God permit this disaster to happen?  Why focus the eyes of the world on this single incident.  In the end, the answers came to him is both simple and profound (his own words).  It is for God to show the world that He exist and that He hears the prayers of His people whom He created.  It is the unambiguous message of God's love and for the entire world who needed to hear God's voice and see His caring hand on Human lives and that Our God is a God of love. And He allowed all this to happen to get our attention. To call humanity back to Him.

Hope Underground is available Winter 2011.  You may pre-order the book at http://www.hopeunderground.com/. Thank you B&B Media for sending me this book.