 It's been a long time since we put up a review. And this is a 'heavy' book to go with. But I guess it's time to do something different around here :P
First of all, I know that a lot of people who read contemporary and just laid-back novels think that reading Paulo Coelho is a lot of work - trying to get through it, understanding the symbolism and just the depth of feelings and emotions he weaves through the whole story and characters - I do admit, it is hard.
Secondly, some people are like 'I want to read his books - I mean they're on the best-selling list! But I just can't continue after a few pages.' Well, here is the perfect book for you.
Like the Flowing River is a collection of Paulo Coelho's short stories, thoughts and experiences, some of which had been published in Brazil's newspapers. And may I say that reading this book was a whole new experience in itself. The best part is that every story is completely new and fresh - you'll feel a different feeling after each one. All the reflections together help feeling good about ourselves and make us realize how important it is to make the most of the one life we have. He shows us how we can learn some life lessons in the most unusual experiences.
Want to go on a spiritual journey? Great way to start!
 Like the Flowing River is an intimate collection of Paulo Coelho's reflections and short stories written from 1998 to 2005. These are powerful tales of living and dying, of destiny and choice, of love lost and found. Sometimes humorous, sometimes serious, but always profound, this book, like all of Coelho's work, explores what it means to be truly alive.
I can't help but rate this 4 hearts. We've heard about books that take us to another world when we read them - this is the best example.
Feeling spiritually blessed :)
Dawn <3
 A work of pure genius. For the people who think Cecelia's stories are too sweet and stuff, this book is completely OUT OF THE BOX. And for people like me who like mysteries but don't want to read the normal 'murder-in-the-dark-alley' books, this story is for you ! I mean, the best combination of mystery and magic, There's No Place Like Here makes sure you keep on wondering about it long after you finish reading it. I love the way Cecelia combines humor with the serious and mysterious situation. I couldn't keep it down after I started reading it - the mystery haunted my mind so much that I just HAD to know what's going to happen next ! I read it a month ago and it still haunts me. It does get a bit boring in a few places but the mystery keeps your mind going on - so that's negligible. Cecelia's done it again - but in a different way :)
Oh, and it has one of my favorite cliched lines -
"Where are we?"
"We're dead."
Another favorite line - "I've been expecting you." :P
Read the book to calm down the curiosity :D
A very fresh read. 4 hearts :) It deserves it - it's absolutely different from what Cecelia's ever written.
Still haunted :S
Dawn <3
 Since Sandy Shortt’s childhood classmate disappeared twenty years ago, Sandy has been obsessed with missing things. Finding becomes her goal- whether it’s the sock that vanished in the washing machine, the car keys she misplaced or the graver issue of finding the people who vanish from their lives. Sandy dedicates her life to finding these missing people, offering devastated families a flicker of hope.
Jack Ruttle is one of those desperate people. It’s been a year since his brother Donal vanished into thin air. Thinking Sandy Shortt could well be the answer to his prayers, he embarks on a quest to find her.
But when Sandy goes missing too, she stumbles upon the place – and people – she’s been looking for all her life. A world away from her loved ones and the home she ran from for so long, Sandy soon resorts to her old habit again, searching. Though this time, she is desperately trying to find her way home…
[ A different picture for a different book ] :D
 For all the Nicholas Sparks fans out there, this novel is a must read. The Notebook is a great piece of work and s major tear jerker. Sparks has done it again - even though being a love story, 'he uncovers the secrets of the human heart' with the ongoing background of war, family issues and friendship. The best part about the book is that it really makes us believe that true love can last forever. The starting is a bit confusing since we don't know how the love story starts from the hospital, but it encaptures the mind of the readers anyway. I love each and every part of this story - the romance, Noah's deep love, Allie's confused-what-to-do mind :P and of course, the way Allie asks Noah to keep a 'notebook'. What is it about ? Well, you'll have to read and find out. But I'm sure you'll love it :)
4 Hearts :) You can't find a flaw in Spark's writings :)
Romantically happy :)
Dawn <3
 Every so often a love story so captures our hearts that it becomes more than a story-it becomes an experience to remember forever. The Notebook is such a book. It is a celebration of how passion can be ageless and timeless, a tale that moves us to laughter and tears and makes us believe in true love all over again... At thirty-one, Noah Calhoun, back in coastal North Carolina after World War II, is haunted by images of the girl he lost more than a decade earlier. At twenty-nine, socialite Allie Nelson is about to marry a wealthy lawyer, but she cannot stop thinking about the boy who long ago stole her heart. Thus begins the story of a love so enduring and deep it can turn tragedy into triumph, and may even have the power to create a miracle...
Let's just say - THIS BOOK IS WORTH READING. I wholeheartedly disagree with some critics calling it a "peice of literary trash" or "not entertaining in a way that it is too full of drama". Kkrishnaa's Konfessions is a hilarious tale that would keep you on the edge of your seat and will leave you craving for more. I love the spunky character of Kkrishnaa, our 20-something protagonist, the scriptwriter of a leading soap opera and the way her mind works. Smita Jain captures her character perfectly in this book which she has expressed so vivaciously. It may be a bit "too-much" for those who prefer peaceful reads, but for readers like me who simply LOVE some drama, humour and a fast paced read, this book is a go-to for sure. The reality check of behind-the-scenes of Indian soap production houses, Indian Police and the daily goings-on of the un-typical indian households is hilarious! I reccommend this book to all those seeking a concentrated dose of laughter and pure entertainment :)
Full-of-laughter-ly yours,
Kira ;)  “Since I had had the misfortune of laying my hands on the cursed telescope my life had gone berserk, I thought miserably. I had witnessed a murder, been shot at (by a supari killer, no less), spent a night in the slammer and seen a man killed right in front of me. But having my story and screenplays stolen — that really took the cake.”
How far would you go to get what you want?
a) Steal b) Scam c) Seduce
For Kkrishnaa, the 20-something, impulsive, gutsy and unapologetically ambitious scriptwriter of television soap operas, the answer would be d) all of the above.
And what she wants most right now is to retain her long-running, hugely successful primetime show Kkangan Souten Ke. Unfortunately for her, she has writer’s block and knows it. What is worse, her Creative Director knows it, and is threatening to hand over the pen to Kkrishnaa’s erstwhile love and current adversary, Dev Trivedi.
Kkrishnaa must find inspiration if she wants to keep the show. So she decides to spy on her neighbours, a decision that unfortunately leads to her witnessing a murder. And thence ensues a rambunctious, rollercoaster ride as Kkrishnaa desperately attempts to keep her job, resist Dev Trivedi’s charms – and oh yes – avoid getting killed….
Wow. What. A. Book. It was kind of life-changing. Well, figuratively speaking, that is. It's a simple story of a boy who unexpectedly falls in love with a girl who's diagnosed with leukemia. The protagonist, Landon Carter, tells us the story from his point of view and does the time travel thingy - you know, tells us of the past incidents. He is an average guy with no special qualities and he's known Jaime Sullivan - the daughter of the reverend - for a long time. But due to the normal 'cliques' tendency, he never talks to her and just considers her a weird girl who wears the same brown sweater everyday and keeps her bible with her always. Everything changes when he becomes the school president, takes her to a school dance and takes up drama and he gets to know her. He walks her back to her house and she asks him to do the lead role in the play. After the play, he wonders how he could fall for her, but by then, she was all he could think of. When he confesses that he loves her for the first time, she tells him that she has leukemia. His whole world seems to fall apart but she gives him hope and confesses that she loves him too. She says the only way she was able to hold up so long was because of him. He spends more time with her, but feels like there was more he could do. Then he realizes that he must fulfill her wish - to get married in a church full of people and for her father to walk her down the aisle. On the day of the wedding, the church was bustling with people and her father says that he can share the happiness his daughter gave to him with another person too. The story ends with Landon, who is 57 years old, ending the story by telling us that he still wears his wedding ring and saying the miracles do happen.  The whole story is a complete package of some humorous lines coupled with the confusion inside the narrator's mind. The change in the narrator can be sensed by the reader. Also, the background of the story - the school with cliques, peer-pressure, etc. - is also something we all can easily relate to. It leaves a great impact on the us and left me teary-eyed. I would give it 4 hearts. A lovely book all in all and recommended to all romance-lovers. :)
Love,
Dawn ^_^
This is a compelling, if disturbing, story of the protagonist, Betty's struggles to escape the captivity of an increasingly violent and tyrannical man. Her husband, Dr. Sayyed Bozorg Mahmoody 'Moody', brought her and their daughter Mahtob to his homeland Iran for a "two-week" vacation, at the end of which he turned Betty's worst fears into reality - they were here to stay. In a land of viscious men, and where women were no more than slaves, Betty cannot imagine a future and starts to arrange an escape. But all those plans meant seperating her from her daughter forever..
This extraordinary, heart-wrenching story takes us through one womans suffering in the war-infused, patriarchial society of Iran, and her treacherous journey to freedom. It narrates of one person's fortitude, courage and revives our faith in the human spirit.
It shook me to the core and touched my heart. I'm sure all of you would enjoy too. :)
With love,
Kira  'You are here for the rest of your life. Do you understand? You are not leaving Iran. You are here until you die.'
Betty Mahmoody and her husband, Dr Sayyed Bozorg Mahmoody ('Moody'), came to Iran from the USA to meet Moody's family. With them was their four-year-old daughter, Mahtob. Appalled by the squalor of their living conditions, horrified by what she saw of a country where women are merely chattels and Westerners are despised, Betty soon became desperate to return to the States. But Moody, and his often vicious family, had other plans. Mother and daughter became prisoners of an alien culture, hostages of man of unstable sanity.
Betty began to try to arrange an escape. Evading Moody's sinister spy network, she secretly met sympathisers opposed to Khomeini's savage regime. But every scheme that was suggested to her meant leaving Mahtob behind for ever...
Eventually, Betty was given the name of a man who would plan their prilous route out of Iran, a hourney that few women or children had ever made. Their nightmare attempt to return home begins in a bewildering snowstorm..
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