 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
 Just finished gobbling up the marvy Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (yes, AGAIN) and plan on completing the whole series again this weekend. I just can't help it - Georgia's wisdomisity, the ace gang and the guaranteed hilariosity of it all just beckons to me when I'm looking for a laugh. Georgia Nicolson is, without a doubt, double cool with knobs on.
P.S. - Wondering what's up with the lingo? You have got to check out this fabitty fab series by Louise Rennison ASAP !
Ok, now getting on with the review - if you haven't already guessed it, this is my favoritest test test book series of all times ! Those of you who haven't already read it are missing out on a LOT !! Not only is the series ah-mazing, it is a surefire way to make you crack up like a loon on loony tablets ! It scores brownie points on all major girl young adult fiction - full on entertainment, humor, girlyness and enough whackiness to make you fall in luuurve with it ! So just jump onto this band wagon full of crazy loons and enter the groovy, marvy world of Georgia Nicolson. 5 HEARTS forever !!! :D Ttfn guys, With tons of luuurve Kira P.S. to check the synopsis of the other books in the series, go to this link: http://myweeklybookshelf.weebly.com/7/post/2011/07/book-covers-synopsis.html
 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...
 Talk about 'magical'. An absolutely unique story which just left me thinking and over-thinking every time I had to stop reading. [Yeah, I'm compelled to take breaks in between :P]. This story actually can make even a realistic reader believe that miracles can happen. As Cecelia says, that in her stories, the happy endings do not have to be about the heroine finding the 'perfect man' at the end of the day - it's about finding yourself through the path of self-discovery. In the starting, when Joyce loses her child, she finds her whole world to be crumbling around her. An acquaintance with an unknown man, which leaves her with a deja vu feeling, pulls her through. Little she knows that Justin has been thinking of that unknown yet familiar connection. Such an interesting story, packed with humorous lines, I must say that Cecelia has done it again. :)
 How can you know someone you’ve never met?
Joyce Conway remembers things she shouldn’t. She knows about tiny cobbled streets in Paris, which she has never visited. And every night she dreams about an unknown little girl with blonde hair.
Justin Hitchcock is divorced, lonely and restless. He arrives in Dublin to give a lecture on art and meets an attractive doctor, who persuades him to donate blood. It’s the first thing to come straight from his heart in a long time.
When Joyce leaves hospital after a terrible accident, with her life and her marriage in pieces, she moves back in with her elderly father. All the while, a strong sense of déjà vu is overwhelming her and she can’t figure out why …
 But sadly, I cannot rate it more than 3.5 hearts due to some reasons.
The stories of Joyce and Justin are woven but not quite well in the beginning. I literally had to make an effort to keep reading it, the starting few chapters. It caught my interest after one-fourth of the story, when finally they crossed paths.
Other than that, it's just magical. No other word.
With a magical feeling of fairy-tale happiness,
Love,
Dawn <3
 I never knew self-help books could be so funny. Before I recommend this book to anyone else, I would like to inform that it's a book written for the 'working-dating-women'. So it may not be of much help, but it's awesome-ly funny ! In this book, Greg and Liz unwind the so-seemingly-complicated-male brain :P Greg tells us that all those signs women have been discussing over coffee and cocktails just mean one thing - "he's just not that into you" - he also says that a guy who loves you will do everything he can. He says a lot more but you'll have to read it all :P
What I love about the book - how the chapters are arranged. They start with a title on what sign means he's not into you. They go on with Greg's explanation. They get really funny when Greg answers mail by different women, wanting to know the meaning of some sign. The chapter ends by Liz telling us why the particular sign can be hard to not believe and then a small exercise [really hilarious].
Another thing I loved - the guy's sense of humor ! I love the names he invents for the stupid women who ask him advice for obvious signs and the way he motivates them. [I'll post the funniest quotes in our quotes section].
A self-help book with an edge - it's a light-hearted, funny read - it sure made me laugh my head off. [Also, gave us the explanations to a particular guy behaviour :P ]. I rate it 3 hearts. :)
With a big laugh :D
Dawn <3
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….
 Best. Series. Ever. Period. :P
Literally, for me and Kira - we just luuurrrvvve all ten books. And everything about it ! The story, Mia's transition, her- oops, I think I'm getting a bit too carried away.
So, as of a review, The Princess Diaries written by Meg Cabot is a series of 10 books which take us through the story of Mia Thermopolis, a freshman in high school who has problems to deal with - a flat chest, no boyfriend and her mom dating her algebra teacher, a subject she tends to flunk. She is given a journal by her mother to record her feelings in and that's how the story starts. In the middle of the first book, she is told by her father that she is Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Princess of Genovia - and THAT'S where the story starts. The whole series deals with how she gets used to being a princess, doing her duties and still being with friends. Also, how she gets a boyfriend after crushing on him for half her life. Through the course of the story, we learn how she tries to achieve self-actualization, deals with high school problems and the pressure of being a princess. The laughs, tears, girl-info (you know what I mean :P ) and the advice - this series has it ALL.
 So, as for our views- the first was a ride on a roller coaster. One second she's a normal freshman, the next she's a princess. It was really interesting. The second was an awesome sequel - it had all the charm (and a lot more :P) of the first book. The third was one of my favorites ! The fourth was the first introduction of Mia as a princess - it tells us about all her duties and stuff. The fifth had some really funny incidents which made me laugh my head off. The sixth was a bit slow and boring since she talked about one thing in the whole book (a span of a few weeks). The seventh picked up pace again and a new character entry brought a whole lot of ups and downs. The eighth sped up like a train through a tunnel and left Mia (and me !) heart-broken. The ninth was an awesome rise - in Mia, her feelings and everything else about her ! And last but not the least - The Tenth Part. BEST BOOK EVER ! Everything changes and it's for the best. Mia and her friends graduate, the love of her life comes back and she achieves self-actualization.
Even though all the incidents in Mia's life are very funny and strange, even though she's a princess - we all can easily relate. The story feels very real - all the cliques, weirdness :P , sleepovers, obsession about crushes and everything else - everything is just so similar to our high school experience.
I could go on writing about the ten books the whole night.
I just love this series. So does Kira. We've read the other books by Meg too but this will ALWAYS be our fave. :)
If you're a chick-flick lover and you haven't read the books - Dude ! Stop living under a rock and read them ASAP !
5 Hearts forever. :)
Totally Mia-ish-ly yours :P
Dawn <3
 Flipped is a story that takes an unusual journey through the usual story of childhood love. This book is written in a he-said-she-said manner, with alternating chapters from the perspective of our two protagonists presenting their thoughts on the shared set of events. Personally, I found the book a bit gloomy. For me, it lacked that "sunshine" that books like those of authors like Meg Cabot, Louise Rennison or Jennifer Rardin possess. Although it is a well written story with a sweet "first crush", I do not find it as entertaining as I had thought it to be. It is slow and some parts seem to be dragged forever. I did complete it which means it's a good enough book, but sadly I can't rate it higher than 2.5 hearts.
 The first time Juli Baker saw Bryce Loski, she flipped. The first time Bryce saw Juli, he ran. That’s pretty much the pattern for these two neighbors until the eighth grade, when, just as Juli is realizing Bryce isn’t as wonderful as she thought, Bryce is starting to see that Juli is pretty amazing. How these two teens manage to see beyond the surface of things and come together makes for a comic and poignant romance.
 Where Rainbows End [ also published as Love, Rosie or Rosie Dunne ] was an epic win as far as epistolary novels go. I'd read a few of them before, but they always seemed to lack the continuity and made readers wonder about what happened. Not this one. Cuteness, romance, best friendship and hard lessons of life - packed in one along with humorous conversations - the best one could ask for ! :P It is a story that each one of us experiences themselves or sees it happening to a friend - that is, falling for your best friend, caring for them more than the rest and not realizing that they may be the one you're looking for [not that it's always love, but sometimes we may fail to see it before our very own eyes]. The story is presented through the eyes of Rosie, who is sitting in her hotel-turned-house, reading all those passed class notes, email printouts, saved texts, letters, invitations, newspaper articles and chatroom printouts, after her best friend Alex, admits his feelings for her, after being the best-est of best friends for more than 45 years ! I accept that it may be a bit slow for the readers who love the fast-paced reads. But for the people who just love the friendship-turned-love-stories, you'll love this one. What's best about the story is that it's very realistic - it seems as if the incidents could happen to you or any of your friends. The book made me laugh, made my heart melt at some places and the epilogue sure got me teary-eyed.
 From naughty children to rebellious teenagers, Rosie and Alex have stuck by each other through thick and thin. But just as as they're discovering the joys of teenage nights on the town and dating disasters, they're separated. Alex's family move from Dublin to America - and Alex goes with them. For good.
Rosie's lost without him. But on the eve of her departure to join Alex in Boston, Rosie gets news that will change her life forever - and keep her at home in Ireland.
Their magical connection sees them through the ups and downs of each others lives, but neither of them knows whether their friendship can survive the years and miles - or new relationships. And at the back of Rosie's mind is whether they were meant to be more than just good friends all along. Misunderstandings, circumstances and sheer bad luck have kept them apart, but when presented with the ultimate opportunity, will they gamble everything for true love?
All in all, with the happy ending, it leaves a happy feeling in the minds of the readers too. I wouldn't recommend it to the people who are looking for a literary classic or a serious book to critic. But - It's a fun read - funny and not too serious. Completely 'my' type of book. :P 3 hearts. Hope you enjoy it :)
Happily believing that miracles can happen :P
Dawn <3
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