JoV's Book Pyramid
Author / Writer Spotlight
Becoming by Michelle Obama
They say behind every successful man there is a woman (so is his downfall!). This woman that I’m reading about is successful in her own rights but faced many of the same dilemma women with children often feel, between their career and family, between self-fulfilment and also fulfilling the duty and love to their children. Except Michelle Obama, born Robinson, was born not with a silver spoon nor a head start in life, but was born into the impoverished South Side of Chicago. She held on to her ambition and dream, with the support of her parents, mentors and husband, emerged at the pinnacle of the eyes of the world as the First Lady of the United State (FLOTUS). Continue reading
The Weekend Before Orange Prize Winner 2011 Announcement
The Orange Prize Winner 2011 will be announced this Wednesday on the 8th June 2011. For past years, I have not been ardent in pursuing and reading all the shortlists. I chose instead to read the prize winner after the announcement is made. This year, however, I have a change of tune. I started reading the … Continue reading
In the Country of Men and Anatomy of a Disappearance
On a white-hot day in Tripoli, Libyra, in the summer of 1979, nine-year-old Suleiman is shopping in the market square with his mother. His father is away on business – but Suleiman is sure he has just seen him, standing across the street in a pair of dark glasses. but why isn’t he waving? and … Continue reading
Man Asia Literary Prize Winner 2010 Announced
On the 17th March, the winner of the the 2010 Man Asian Literary Prize 2011 was announced. The winner is Chinese Author Bi Feiyu, for his published first novel “The Three Sisters”. Bi Feiyu almost didn’t attend the awards ceremony Thursday. “When I was on the shortlist,” Mr. Bi said last night when he accepted … Continue reading
Soho and Leicester Square (and James Patterson)
London always amaze me. Just when I thought I see it all, there are always something or somewhere I haven’t been. Staying close to this city (approx 80km, 60 miles) does make me tend to take things for granted. I don’t read a guide book or bring a map or plan an itinerary in my … Continue reading
Reflexion
Paul Coelho “We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It’s one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it’s another to think that yours is the only path”. – Paul Coelho
Midnight’s Children Read-along
Many people told me this book is difficult to read. Three of Rushdie books sit now in my pile waiting for the right moment to be picked up, except the moment hasn’t come for 2 years. Perhaps now is the time. I am curious about this novel because it has been honoured as Best of the Booker and … Continue reading
Daphne Du Maurier Collection
Today I got off work early and went browsing into charity shops near my workplace. I walked into Thames Hospice charity shop and found this lot sitting on the top shelf. The first thought that came to mind is that I love Rebecca and would like to read other Du Maurier titles, but not sure … Continue reading
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee
While I was holidaying in Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, on a Chinese junk with several red sails, breaking the waves of the turquoise sea and negotiating between the lime stone islands and grottos, I met a South African young lady on board. Her sister lives in London and she told me about the danger … Continue reading
Joanne Harris interviewed
photo credits Today the UK Metro newspaper 60 seconds column did a feature about Joanne Harris and her latest novel The Blue-Eyed Boys. What’s the book about? It’s a thriller written in the form of two first-person blogs. My protagonists are members of an online crime fiction writing community. It becomes clear they know each other … Continue reading
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Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking. - Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)
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