The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton

Synopsis :

Lavish wealth and appalling poverty live side by side in Victorian London—and Edward Pierce easily navigates both worlds. Rich, handsome, and ingenious, he charms the city's most prominent citizens even as he plots the crime of his century, the daring theft of a fortune in gold. But even Pierce could not predict the consequences of an extraordinary robbery that targets the pride of England's industrial era: the mighty steam locomotive. 

Based on remarkable fact, and alive with the gripping suspense, surprise, and authenticity that are his trademarks, Michael Crichton's classic adventure is a breathtaking thrill-ride that races along tracks of steel at breakneck speed.


The Great Train Robbery is a rather great book and exceeded my expectation.  I actually thought that it would be rather dry and factual but it turned out to be pretty interesting and captivating.

The novel is actually based on an actual train robbery of gold that occurred in 1855.  The protagonists in the actual robbery were William Pierce and Edward Agar; in the novel their names were changed to Edward Pierce and Robert Agar.

One word of advise for those intending to read this - if you can, do not read the Introduction chapter until you have completed the whole book. The Indroduction Chapter is a bit dry and might give you a false impression about the book.  You would appreciate the intro better after devouring the whole book.

Other than that, enjoy the book :)

In The Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith

Synopsis :

Precious Ramotswe, the owner of No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency finds herself overly beset by problems. She is already busier than usual at the detective agency when added to her concerns are a strange intruder in her house on Zebra Drive and the baffling appearance of a pumpkin. And then there is Mma Makutsi, who decides to treat herself to dance lessons, only to be partnered with a man who seems to have two left feet. 

Things are also not running quite as smoothly as they usually do at Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. Mma Ramotswe’s husband, the estimable Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, is overburdened with work even before one of his apprentices runs off with a wealthy woman. But what finally rattles Mma Ramotswe’s normally unshakable composure is a visitor who forces her to confront a secret from her past. . . .

Delightful and charming would be two words I use to describe this book.  It is one of those books that makes you feel relax and comfortable after reading it.

Life is slow and steady in Precious Ramotswe's world. She finds time to appreciate a cup of bush tea and cakes too and takes time off if she felt that she has done enough for the day.  She rewards her staff immediately if an exception piece of work has been delivered.  She doesn't believe that one needs more than 1 pair of shoes at any one time and she loves her old white van to death.  She is wise and funny but gossipy at the same time but you can't help but to like her.

I always enjoy my encounters with Precious Ramotswe and this is not different. Since the first book I read till now, the culture and traditional value of respect and being kind to others really wowed me. On the frivolous side, I discover that Mma Makutsi has a thing for shoes and although I doubt her taste for shoe, I know that she loves shoes!  Hahah...I guess that doesn't change wherever you are in the world.

This is the sixth book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series.  You can search from my "Index' page for review of the other books.

Split Second by David Baldacci

Synopsis :

Michelle Maxwell has just blown her future with the Secret Service. Against her instincts, she led a presidential candidate out of her sight to comfort a grieving widow. Then, behind closed doors, the politician whose safety was her responsibility vanished into thin air.

Living a new life on a quiet lake in central Virginia, Sean King knows how the younger agent feels. He's been there before. In an out-of-the-way hotel eight years earlier, the hard-charging Secret Service man allowed his attention to be diverted for a split second. And the presidential candidate Sean was protecting was gunned down before his eyes.

Now Michelle and Sean are about to see their destinies converge. She has become obsessed with Sean's case. And he needs a friend—especially since a series of macabre killings has brought him under suspicion and prompted the reappearance of a seductive woman he's tried hard to forget.

As the two discredited agents enter a maze of lies, secrets, and deadly coincidences, they uncover a violence that shattered their lives were really a long time in the making - and are a long way from over.

Hi....are you a fan of David Baldacci?  If you are, are you a fan of the duel, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell?   I am neither so I wasn't aware that this is the book that units and introduces these two characters of David's.  David must have liked them a lot as he went on to write another four more books which features Sean and Michelle.

This is the second book by David Baldacci that I read.  The first was Saving Faith which I read two years ago.  I will not call myself a fan of David Baldacci but I don't mind reading his book once in a while since I quite like Split Second.

Split Second is a thriller and a rather straight forward thriller.   There wasn't much bother with character development or plot development but a simple exciting story of what happened and why the events happened and what made them happened.  The story progressed on a rather nice and easy pace.  It's not a page turner but you do want to get back to the story so it is captivating in its own way.

Not highly but still recommended if you enjoys thriller.

Good bye Tom Clancy

From Wikipedia :

Thomas Leo "Tom" Clancy, Jr. (April 12, 1947 – October 1, 2013) was an American author best known for his technically detailed espionage and military science story lines that are set during and in the aftermath of the Cold War, along with video games which bear his name for licensing and promotional purposes. Seventeen of his novels were best-sellers, with over 100 million copies in print. His name was also a brand for similar movie scripts written by ghost writers and many series of non-fiction books on military subjects and merged biographies of key leaders. 

I read a lot of Tom Clancy's novels years ago.

I started with Patriot Games and then I went back to The Hunt for Red October and Red Storm Rising.  From there it's The Cardinal of the Kremlin, Clear and Present Danger, The Sum of All Fears, Without Remorse, Debt of Honor and I stopped at Executive Orders which is my favourite as that's when Jack Ryan became President of the United States.

I really do not know where those books are now and I have stopped reading Tom Clancy's book for many years now.

However, I do have two of his books with me which I bought quite a while ago with the intention of reading them but I never started.   The Bear and The Dragon is over one thousand pages long so I wasn't that keen to start it. Splinter Cell which is written with David Michaels is only three hundred pages long so I will either be reading it or putting it up for sale.  I have not decided yet on what I'm going to do.

In the meantime, good bye Mr Tom Clancy. Thank you for your wonderful legacy to the world.  Rest in peace.

The Seeds Of Time by Sharmini Flint (Preview)

I received from the post, a complimentary copy of The Seeds of Time by Sharmini Flint.

The Seeds of Time is a story for young adults on the environmental challenges from climate change to species loss facing our planets.  The book started with a foreward written by Dr Isabelle Louis, Director, Asia Pacific Region for WWF.  This is what she wrote :

There is an urgent need for humankind to respond to the rapid changes that are having a negative impact on our environment and our very future as well as the future of our children and grandchildren.

The Seeds of Time captures the spirit needed by all of us, adults and children alike, to respond across the world collectively.  It is a call for global action across all nations, all professions and all ages.  We can all be Animal Talkers and change makers!  The Seeds of Time, delightfully and wth a spirit of bold aventure, inspires us to believe that, whether young or old, we can save our beautiful planet Earth.

The Seeds of Time is available for purchase from sunbearpublishing.com.

 I must find time to read my copy.  Review coming right up! :)

Announcement : Flea Market Sept 2013

Green Heights Mall in Kuching will be organising a flea market this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday which is 28th and 29th September.  It will take place on the ground floor of the mall from 10 am to closing time.

I will be taking part again and here's a preview of some of the books available for sales at the market.

Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger - I have two copies of this book so one will have to go. Would you know that I bought one of the copies just last week? 

Man and Boy by Tony Parsons - I thought I lost this book and I actually read the last chapter in a bookstore as I didn't want to buy it just for one chapter.  Anyway, found the book in the most unlikely places at home recently while doing spring cleaning.

Memoirs of A Geisha by Arthur Golden - I read Memoirs many years ago. Should I read it again? I am still thinking if I should withdraw this from the sales!

Lovers & Players by Jackie Collins - I am very sure I wont be reading this ever again.  Perhaps if it's the Lucky Santangelo series then I might hold on to it.

 Angels Fall by Nora Roberts - This is my favourite book by Nora.  Maybe I should hold on to this.

The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton - another wonderful book, the greatest hustle ever but that's just my opinion only.

 Fans of fantasy, world of wizards and warrors, there's something for you too.  Among others, I will bring with me  The Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh Eddings, The Wish Wong of Shannara by Terry Brooks and probably another dozen of so titles.


I am looking forward to the flea market and would be bringing about 80 titles so do come by and check them out if you're in the neighborhood.

Voice Of The Heart by Barbara Taylor Bradford

Synopsis :

Youth taught them how to love. Betrayal taught them how to forgive.

Katherine Tempest, world-famous actress and star - a dark haried beauty with a volcanic temperament.

Francesca Cunningham, blonde, cool, distance - the aristocratic writer of bestselling historical romances.

Yet, their loves were inextricably intertwined over two decades and more.  Voice of the Heart is the spellbinding story of two unique and brilliant woman - and the charismatic men whom they loved and lost, and to whom they ransomed their hearts.

I first read this books many, many years ago.  At one time, I was rather hooked on the A Woman Of Substance Series of which Barbara Taylor Bradford is known for.  To be honest, I only read the first 3 books of the series and post the 90s, I was quite tired of Barbara's heroines.  I must have read Voice of The Heart sometimes in the 90s as well.  I can't really remember as Katherine Tempest somehow wasn't as captivating as Emma Harte.  As for Francesca Cunningham, I can't even place her at all.

Classified as a romance novel, the book is 900 pages long. That itself might deter some from even starting the book.  I must admit that I was quite reluctant to start it.  Having started it and not being one to leave a book read halfway through, I have no choice but to complete it.  There's no regrets.  I quite like the ending although I find it rather cheesy.

Reading Voice of The Heart is a bit like watching a mini series.  There's so many characters in involved and so many sub-plots and if it is rather easy to be confused as well.  It can get rather draggy at times and certain discussions between characters can just go on and one.

If you find the book rather draggy, persevere on, it's actually quite nice if you are keen on romance. It's somehow quite captivating.  Spanning over 20 years, readers will follow the story and the secret behind the lives of these characters that started in the glamorous 50s and ended in the 70s. 

There is actually a made for TV show based on this book which stars Lindsay Wagner and James Brolin.  I am not sure if it's any good as I have not seen it and I have no idea how close the movie follows the plot in the actual story.  You can check it out if you're interested but if I were you, I'll just go for the book.