BookReview#3

Lirael

Written by Garth Nix
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 527

Blogger’s Note:
This is an amazing book. It might be real boring at first, but it’s real exciting in the middle! It’s one of the best books I’ve read. Kindda have some suspense, this one. I find it really nice and thrilling. Like there is danger at every turn. And there is. Of course, it might not be a match with horror stories, but I can say it’s really well done. WARNING: Not really a lot of humor in this book, but something in it keeps you reading on. P.S.: Part Two of the old kingdom series. There are 3. Book one: Sabriel; Two: Lirael; Three: Abhorsen.

Synopsis:
Lirael is a Daughther of the Clayr, who are all gifted with the power to see the future, the Sight, all except Lirael. Lirael, who had been orphaned and never really knowing who her fater was, never really felt like a true daughther of the Clayr. However, as thing s turns out, the destiny of the world was in her hands,, while Abrosen Sabriel (necromancer) was engaged somewhere else. As an evil casts it shadow-one that opposes the Royal Family, blocks the Sight of the Clayr, and threatens to break the boundary between life and death- Lirael undertakes a mission with only the Disreputable Dog, whom accidentally created from charter magic and free magic, Sammeth the prince and Mogget the cat, which is very alike to the Disreputable Dog, and comes face to face with her own fate, as seen hundreds of years ago.

Zip’s Apollo

Written by Philip Ridley
Publisher: Puffin
Pages: 301

Blogger’s note:
This is one of my very, very most favorite books. Ridley has an extraordinary way of writing and I really thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Maybe many of you would think it is crazy beyond words, but I must say it is pretty creative! P.S.: What’s more to say? I really LOVE it!

Synopsis:
Zip Jingle, with his mother and little brother, Newt, have just moved to Newtown. Where everything is new and new. Even the trees are made of plastic. Then, one regular day, Zip and Newt were at the supermarket, just when they accidentally awakened the trolley and it speaks to them. Then, they met Nabil with his pet ferret, Roz and finally Memphis, a boy who is actually a girl. Then, suddenly, there are people hot on their trails, wanting to destroy Apollo (the trolley) , but why? Why? And can Zip and his gang save all trolleys before it is too late?

The Starlight Conspiracy

Written by Steve Voake
Publisher: Faber and Faber (ff)
Pages: 388


Blogger’s Note:
A very inspiring and delicious story. Round and juicy and makes you woozy. Ok. May be I’m exaggerating. But, really, Gee, one of the best books I’ve met-the Starlight Conspiracy. I really enjoy reading it. Just READ IT!!!

Synopsis:
Alone and running from social services, 14 year old Berry has nowhere to go, until she mets an old man who handed her a mysterious item that he claims to have remarkable powers and gave her a hundred dollar bill and asked her to deliver it to New Mexico. Then, her life changed forever. Suddenly, the old man, Joseph Mitchell was murdered and killers and FBI agents were hot on her trails. And soon, Berry and Elliot, a fellow outcast found themselves in a desperate race across Atlantic to America. Berry must find the owner and return the package before being captured and killed. Whatever and whoever it is. The time is ticking

For Younger Readers:

The Tale of Despereaux-A winner of the Newberry Award

Written by Kate DiCamelo
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pages: 269

Blogger’s Note:
This is a sweet little story and I find it refreshing. I kindda like it. Hope you find it enjoyable, ‘cause I didn’t. HA, Ha!

Synopsis:
This is a tale about an unlikely hero, Despereaux, the weakling and only surviving mouse of his litter. Despereaux wasn’t like any other mouse. He has alarmingly large ears, and is constantly sick. He doesn’t even act like a mouse. He doesn’t scurries, he doesn’t constantly thinks about food. He loves music and reads. He was the weirdo in his parents’ eyes. One day, he heard music, sweet like honey, flowing through corridors and walls to his large ears. He follows it and found the King of the castle strumming his guitar and singing to the human princess, Princess Pea. Princess Pea was lovely and Despereaux, the mouse, fell in love with the human princess immediately. Then, he broke the ancient law of all mouse, he spoke to a human, namely Princess Pea. He is then sent to the dungeons and to be eaten by the rats, away for m the lights. But then he met a man with a red cloth, who was also a prisoner. The man told Despereaux stories, which lighten up the mouse’s world. Just then, Princess Pea fell into the dank prison with Meg, a servant girl and was ambushed by the rats. Could Despereaux be the knight in the shinning armor and save Princess Pea? Can his love be enough to brave through the rats?

A talk about theories

Hello, guys. Nice to see you reading this. Yeah. I guess, for a change, I'll be polite. Anyway, today's topic is a theory of life. Those who dislike them, skip them. Dun care, scroll on.
In Buddhism, everything is impermanent. Everything that existed is because of a certain condition, and so they exist. So, in short it is the theory of randomness. Which means that everything happen because it just did. When there is as certain condition, things just happen. Unlike a opposition theory which states that everything happened because it should. Everything happened has a meaning to it, not just by chance, by luck. So as you see, things changes. Everything does. Since dinosaurs and ice ages than human evolution then we have the technology. It's just like you know, the evolution of writ ting tools. First, there was the quill and ink. Then, it ceases to exist, evolving into pens. Then, (ok pens are still used these days, I'm just trying to find an example) , there were the typewriter. Which then, ceases to exist and change into computers. Then, PDA(s). The point is, things evolve. If the end of the world is tomorrow, then let it be. As you see, the nature has a certain law to it. A sequence that we can't alter. Like the four seasons, day and night, that the tree must grow from a seed and not tree to seed. (I hope I'm not confusing you). But in this recent years, humans developed. They civilized. Industrial activities blooms. Pollutants are in the air. What happens? When humans cross the laws of the nature. Natural disaster occurs. Volcanic explosions. Typhoons. Global warming. Every single act we take, affects the nature. We are the culprits and thus, natural disaster occurs before us.

Before I go any further, I would like to make something clear. Everything around us is formed by atoms, tiny little particles. And in that, it is formed by all particles like...well, I forgot. Then, inside it, there is the energy. Everything in the world is made up of energy. Whether it is living beings or non-living things. Energy. That's what we are made of. Where does energy comes from? You asked. I don't know. There is no beginning on when does energy starts to exist nor do they end. Energy don't cease to exist. they just change. Transformed into another form of energy. In the law of Nature, there is the action and the reaction. if there is no action, there is no reaction. Every little thing we do have its counter attack, and the consequences that we must bear. Let me assert it this way: There is this bobby head jack-in-the-box that you have. you're staring at it. If you're just stare at it. Nothing happens. But if you push it hard to the right, the bobby head will swing back to the left than right then left, hitting you, until the energy is exhausted. Used up. And thus, the kinetic energy you apply on the bobby head is changed into potential energy and with the momentum within, it changes into kinetic energy and hits you back. So, that is the law of nature.

Its the same thing with natural disasters. One way or another, nature will still have its way. WARNING: DO NOT TRESPASS THE NATURE. THE NATURE HAS ITS LAWS.

My pa said that nature is always trying to keep itself in balance, balancing things out. you don't need to tell the nature to do this or that, it will do it, naturally. The sequence of life that should not be altered, or not destruction. This 'balancing theory' can be seen through a few phenomenons:

1) The water. The streams, flowing to the sea.
2) The seasoning wind. In the nature, air particles always flow to the place with less of them and thus forming seasonal wind.

So, do not alter the balance and harmony. But what have we got to do? We already crossed the line.

In Buddhism, energy can be radiated. We believe that in doing meditation, in gaining peace and happiness and sending out the positive energy, channelling it out of the body and spreading it, we might have a chance to channel it to the Earth's core and reduce the negative energy.

However, there is something I would also like to say about, I know I'm jumping from topic A to C then B then A then D, but I'm just writing what am I feeling, Ok?

The Dhama speaker had said, we look at the world not through a window, we look it through our minds. I s that not right? When you're unhappy, you're practically generating negative energy. And that, effects your sense of judgement and the way you see things. If you're feeling ugly, all the things around you are ugly. When you are feeling happy, the things around you seemed so nice. Even things that you would get you mad usually would make you laugh. Some people call it mood swings. However, there is always a way to change the negative energy to positive ones, right? These are the 4 steps to take to cease your unhappiness.

1) First, you must understand unhappiness.
2) Find out what is the cause of your unhappiness, there must be something bugging you.
3)To cease the suffering that cause the unhappiness.
4) the path to cease your unhappiness has been fulfilled.

Then, you can cease to be unhappy. Not being unhappy is happy, right? Don't worry, be happy. Easier said than done.

Back to the main topic. This is kindda like the Law of Attraction. You radiate positive energy, you get positive. You do negative, you get negative. Just like you sow bad seeds you get bad crops. Its in a way kind of like Karma. It runs in a cycle. So, stay happy, be happy. Positive. Positive. However, when someone does a bad thing to us, we should do good to them. In this way, the cycle of the bad chase bad and bad chase bad will be ended. But that is very, very hard.

Anyway, we should always think that every little act we do might have bigger consequences. So, keep in mind. be careful on your choices.

However, please keep in mind. No matter where you are, there are those who care for you. And you care for. If you care for the end of the world, we should start recycling, reducing, reusing things and doing what we should do. If everyone's doing what they should do, this world would have been a better one. However, please don't think that you are the only ones out there, doing things that won't change anything. Nothing matters if you recycle or not. However insignificant or small a thing you did was, it still meats a lot. To me. To everyone. After all, one little drop of water can change the sea.
One more thing to those who are suffering from economy crisis and share markets. Where there is a rise, there is a fall, where there is a fall, there is a rise. Just like the sea. When a wave rushes in, reaching its climax, then it starts to retreat. But the momentum of the pushing back of the waves, forms another waves rising again. Like the share markets. the W shape. Ha. Don't worry. One day, economy crisis will be over and shares rising up again.

So, DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY.
LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH.

My special thanks to Uncle Charlie, the speaker of the day at SJBA.

May you be well and happy always. SADHU, SADHU, SADHU!

Quiz

1. Write the name of a person of the opposite sex.
2. Which is your favorite color out of red, black, blue, green, yellow?
3. Your first initial?
4. Your month of birth?
5. Which color do you like more, black or white?
6. Name of a person of the same sex as yours.
7. Your favorite number?
8. Do you like California or Florida more?
9. Do you like the lake or the ocean more?
10. Write down a wish (a realistic one).
Are you done? Sure~If so, scroll down(don't cheat--)
THE ANSWERS1. You are completely in love with this person.
2. If you choose:Red: You are alert and your life is full of love.
Black: You are conservative and aggressive.
Green: Your soul is relaxed and you are laid back.
Blue: You are spontaneous and love kisses and affection from the ones youlove.
Yellow: You are a very happy person and give good advice to those who aredown.
3. If your initial is:
A-K: You have a lot of love and friendships in your life.
L-R: You try to enjoy life to the maximum and your love life is soon to blossom.
S-Z: You like to help others and your future love life looks very good.
4. If you were born in:
Jan.-Mar.: The year will go very well for you and you will discover that youfall in love with someone totally unexpected.
Apr.-June: You will have a strong love relationship that will not last long butthe memories will last forever.
July-Sept.: You will have a great year and will experience a major lifechanging experience for the good.
Oct.-Dec.: Your love life will not be too great, but eventually you will find yoursoulmate.
5. If you choose...Black: Your life will take on a different direction, it will seem hard at the timebut will be the best thing for you, and you will be glad for the change.
White: You will have a friend who completely confides in you and would doanything for you, but you may not realize it.
6. This person is your best friend.
7. This is how many close friends you have in a lifetime.
8. If you choose...
California: You like adventure.
Florida: You are a laidback person.
9. If you choose...
Lake: You are loyal to your friends and your love. And you are very reserved.
Ocean: You are spontaneous and like to please people.
10. This wish will come true only if you RE-POST THIS BULLETIN in one hour and it will come true before your next birthday.

Notice for EVERYONE

Yellow! From today onwards, anybody is welcomed to suggest a book/make a book review in the comment box. I'll update every Friday. So, if you've got anything to share, books, anime, movies, your feelings, your problems, my problems, comics, stamps, history, science, knowledge, technology, politics or anything! Just feel free to express it in the comment box. Kk? Shanks. (You can comment about my faulty in my spelling/grammar if you want.)

READ AN EXTRACT--THE WESTING GAME

1 Sunset Towers

The sun sets in the west (just about everyone knows that), but Sunset Towers faced east. Strange!
Sunset Towers faced east and had no towers. This glittery, glassy apartment house stood alone on the Lake Michigan shore five stories high. Five empty stories high.
Then, one day (it happened to be the Fourth of July), a most uncommon-looking delivery boy rode around the town slipping letters under the doors of the chosen tenants-to-be. The letters were signed Barney Northrup.
The delivery boy was sixty-two years old, and there was no such person as Barney Northrup.

Dear Lucky One:

Here it is- the apartment you’ve always dreamed of, at a rent you can afford, in the newest, most luxurious building on Lake Michigan:

SUNSET TOWERS:
· Picture windows in every room
· Uniformed doorman, maid service,
· Central air conditioning, hi-speed elevator
· Exclusive neighborhood, near excellent schools
· Etc., etc.

You have to see it to believe it. But these unbelievably elegant apartments will be shown by appointment only. So hurry, there are only a few left!!! Call me now at 276-7474 for this once-in-a-lifetime offer.

Your servant,
Barney Northrup

P.S. I am also renting ideal space for:
· Doctor’s office at the lobby
· Coffee shop with entrance from parking lot
· Hi-class restaurant on entire top floor



Six letters were delivered, just six. Six appointments were made, and one by one, family by family, talk, talk, talk, Barney Northrup led the tours around and about Sunset Towers.
“Take a look at all that glass. One-way glass,” Barney Northrup said. “You can see out, nobody can see in.”
Looking up, the Wexlers (the first appointment of the day) were blinded by the blast of morning sun that flashed off the face of the building.
“See those chandeliers? Crystal!” Barney Northrup said, slicking his black moustache and straightening his hand-painted tie in the lobby’s mirrored wall. “How about this carpeting? Three inches thick!”
“Gorgeous,” Mrs. Wexler replied, clutching her husband’s arm as her high heels wobbled in the deep plush pile. She, too, managed an approving glance in the mirror before the elevator door opened.
“You’re really in luck,” Barney Northrup said. “There is only one apartment left, but you’ll love it. It was meant for you.” He flung open the door to 3D. “Now, is that breathtaking, or is that breathtaking?”
Mrs. Wexler gasped; it was breathtaking, all right. Two walls of the living room wee floor-to-ceiling glass. Following Barney Northrup’s lead, she ohh-ed and ahh-ed her joyous way through the entire apartment.
Her trailing husband was less enthusiastic. “What’s this, a bedroom or a closet?” Jake Wexler asked, peering into the last room.
“It’s a bedroom, of course,” his wife replied.
“It looks like a closet.”
“Oh Jake, this apartment’s perfect for us, just perfect,” Grace Wexler argued in a whinning coo. The third bedroom was a trifle small, but it would do just fine for Turtle. “And think that what it means of having your office in the lobby, Jake; no more driving to and from works, no more mowing the lawn or shoveling the snow.”
“Let me remind you,” Barney Northrup said, “the rent here is cheaper than what your old house would costs in upkeep.”
How would he know that, Jake wondered.
Grace stood before the front window, where beyond the road, beyond the trees, Lake Michigan lay calm and glistering. A lake view! Just wait until those so-called friends of hers with their classy house see this place. The furniture would have to be reupholstered; no, she’d buy ne furniture—beige velvet. And she ‘d have stationary made—blue with a deckle edge, her name and fancy adders in swirling type a cross the top: Grace Windsor Wexler, Sunset Towers on the Lake Shore.

Not every tenant-to-be was quite as overjoyed as Grace Windsor Wexler. Arriving in the late afternoon, Sydelle Pulaski looked up and only saw the dim, wraped reflections of treetops and drifting clouds in the glass face of Sunset Towers.
“You’re rally in luck,” Barney Northrup said for the sixth and last time. “There’s only one apartment left, but you’ll love it. It was meant for you.” He flung open the door to a one-bedroom apartment in the rear. “Now, is that breathtaking, or is that breathtaking?”
“Not especially,” Sydelle Pulaski replied as she blinked into the rays of the summer sun setting behind the parking lot. She ahd waited all these years for a place of her own, and here it was, in an elegant building where rich people lieved. But she wanted a lake view.
“The front apartments are taken,” Barney Northrup said. “Besides, the reants too steep for a secretary’s salary. Believe me, you get the same luxuries in here at a third price.”
At least the view from the side window was pleasant. “Are you sure nobody can see in?” Sydelle Pulaski asked.
“Absolutely,” Barney Northrup said, following her suspicious stare to the mansion on the north cliff. “That’s just the old Westing house up there; it hasn’t been lived in for fifteen years.”
“Wee, I’ll have to think it over.”
“I have twenty people begging for this apartment,” Barney Northrup said, lying through his buckteeth. “Take it or leave it.”
“I’ll take it.”
Whoever, whatever else he was, Barney Northrupwas a good salesman. In one day he had rented all of Sunset Towers to the people whose name were already printed on the mailboxes in the alcove of the lobby.
Office Dr. Wexler
Lobby Theodorakis Coffee Shop
2C F. Baunbach
2D Theodorakis
3C S. Pulaski
3D Wexler
4C Hoo
4D J.J.Ford
5 Shin Hoo’s Restaurant


Who were these people, these specially selected tenants? They were mothers and fathers and children. A dressmaker, a secretary, an inventor, a doctor, a judge. And, oh yes, one was a bookie, one was a burglar, one was a bomber, and one was a mistake. Barney Northrup had rented one of the apartments to the wrong person.

READ AN EXTRACT--DARKSIDE: LIFEBLOOD

Prologue

The envelope had arrived for him seven days ago. He had returned to his desk late one evening to find it sitting there waiting for him, a large black rectangle elegantly tied up in red ribbons. No name had been written on it, nor was there any indication that it had been travelled through post. Looking back, he supposed that he should been more cautious about opening it, but he had assumed it was one of his colleagues playing a prank on him. Policeman were like that sometimes.
So Sergeant Ian Shaw wasn’t worried when he untied the ribbons and carefully slit open the envelope. Curious, yes, but not worried. It was only after he’d seen what was inside – flicked through the photos, read the sculpted, handwritten note telling him precisely what he had to do and precisely who was going to see the photos if he didn’t – that his hands began to shake, and he slumped down in his seat and put his head in his hands.
Seven days ago: he had barely slept since. Shaw had so much to lose. Ever since he had been drafted in to investigate the kidnappings of two boys, the policeman’s life had been turned upside down. He had been able to reunite one boy with his mother, and the second – well, although technically Jonathan Starling remained missing, Shaw knew where he was, and that he was happy and safe. The solving of the case had taken place in a blaze of publicity, and Shaw had been at the very centre of it. A promotion and several high-profile newspapers interviews had quickly followed. His colleagues looked at him with a newfound respect (and no little jealous), while his wife spoke of him with a pride that \he had never before heard in her voice.
So instead of alerting his family and his superiors to what was happening, or telling the blackmailers to go to hell, one night Sergeant Shaw crept down to the station basement and began rooting through old case files. It didn’t take him long: the Starling case was very recent, after all. After that, things were relatively simple. He put one phone call through the lab, ordered one test, and received one batch of results. The technician had sounded surprised to be ordered to carry out the test, but he did it anyway. Ian Shaw was a name that carried some weight around the force these days.
Now, he was in Rotherhithe, standing on the Thames Path and looking out over the south side of the river. The envelope had given him the precise instructions of where he was to wait. Staring out over the choppy waters, Shaw thought glumly to himself that this location was the perfect setting for shady deeds. Even in the bright sunshine tourists rarely ventured to this far east, preferring the wide, bustling walkways near Blackfriars and Waterloo. At nearly ten o’clock on a biting December night, this part of the town was deserted.
He had travelled to the waterfront on foot, as instructed, past the cavernous old wharf house that had once been the British Empire, which criss-crossed the oceans in search of a profit. Now the wharf houses had been converted into plush apartment blocks, and decorated with window boxes, satellite dishes and burglar alarms. Even so, Shaw felt he could almost hear the echoing cries f long-dead sailors and dockhands.
The waves down below him began to lap more insistently against the waterfront. He checked his watch again. Given the preciseness of the instructions, he had a feeling of whoever was coming to meet him would be prompt. Not for the first time, the thought occurred to Shaw that he had placed himself in danger by coming here. The note had told him to come unarmed, but it was n unnecessary instruction. He had never fired a gun in his life, and didn’t intend to start now.
The current was picking up, foam bubbling on the crests of the waves. Shaw saw a movement in the darkness over the Thames, and suddenly realized why he had been told to wait here.
A low barge was cutting through the waves towards him with a speed and sleekness that Shaw could not have believed possible from such a craft. It was steam-powered, yet the engine hummed rather than roared, and the steam rose out of the funnel in soft rings. The barge was painted entirely black, and had it not been heading directly for him, Shaw doubted that he would have seen it at all.
The boat pulled up dangerously close to the side of the waterfront, somehow maintaining its position of the rolling waves. There was a movement form the back of the barge, and a hand beckoned Shaw to jump aboard. The policeman took a look around and, seeing that no one was watching, swung of his legs over the bars and planted his feet on the edge of the walkway.
Even though the barge was keeping remarkably still, it was far enough from land to make the jump a difficult one. Shaw hesitated, only for the hand to move again and a voice from somewhere shout, “Damnit man, come on!” Reacting instinctively, the policeman sprang off the side of the waterfront, landing with a heavy thump on the wet prow of the barge. Immediately, a hand reached down and dragged him up, and as the barge moved away from the waterfront, Shaw was marched briskly into the cabin. His unseen guide closed the door behind him, preferring to stay out on deck.
Two men were standing for the policeman in the cramped quarters of the cabin. The first was a huge walrus of a man, who rose to greet Shaw with a beaming smile, as if he were meeting an old friend. On a plate in front of him, a pile of chicken legs had been devoured, leaving only the bones and a few scraps of skin. The walrus’s tall companion could scarcely have looked more different. In his pressed suit and top hat, he seemed to be heading to a tea dance rather than a clandestine meeting. His features were twisted into a perpetual curl of disdain that helped jam a monocle in his left eye. When he raised his hat in greeting, Shaw was surprised to see that his silver hair rose up into the air in stiff peaks, like dried paintbrushes in a pot.
“Sergeant Shaw!” the second man said in a nasal voice. “I recognize you from the photographs. I’m glad that you could make our rendezvous.”
“I suppose you’re not going to tell me your name,” Shaw replied icily.
A look of scorn crossed the man’s face. “Why should I care whether you know my name or not? It’s Nicholas de Quincy, not that it will do you any good. You won’t find me in your files.”
Sergeant Shaw’s heart sank. Ever since he had received the envelope he had hoped against hope that his blackmailers were ordinary, run-of-the-mill hoodlums and thugs. During the Starling case he had taken glimpses into a different, darker world that he hoped never to experience again. In vain, it seemed.
“Humphrey Granville,” said the first man, helpfully. “Pleasure to meet you, sir.”
He wiped a greasy hand on his shirt and proffered a handshake. Still dazed by the turn of events, Shaw accepted it. De Quincy looked on with a look of undisguised contempt. He turned to Humphrey.
“Is that idiot Rafferty sober enough to be left in charge of the barge?”
Humphrey shrugged. “Probably not. But he’s been driving these boats since he was able to stand up. I think he’ll be all right.”
“Excuse me…” Shaw tried. “But what the hell’s going on here?”
“A typical policeman – cutting straight to the point!” smirked de Quincy. “That will make things so much easier. I presume that you received the envelope I left for you exactly one week ago?”
“I did, and I have to tell you now that those photographs –“
De Quincy held up an elongated hand. “I don’t care,” he said starkly. “Given the fact that you are here, I am guessing that you followed my instructions? Because we both know what will happen to you if you haven’t…”
“You even think about sending those photographs, and I’ll --!”
“Anger…excuses…blustering threats,” said de Quincy. “I have heard it all a million times before. Did you follow my instructions?”
Shaw nodded again
“And what did you discover?”
The policemen reached into his pockets and drew out a piece of paper. “Well, I went vthrough the Starling case files and found the fluorescent hair—the on taken from the female bounty hunter Starling identified as Marianne. I sent it to the lab with the piece of hair you gave me, and told one of the technicians to run a DNA test on them both.”
Both Granville and de Quincy leaned closer.
“And?” Granville said, with breathless excitement.
Shaw consulted the piece of paper. “Obviously, the boys in the lab can never be definite about this sort of thing, but having analysed the DNA, they’re ninety-nine percent sure that these people are closely related.”
Granville whooped and punched his fist into his palm in glee.
A thin smirk spread across de Quincy’s lips. “Well, well, well. That is decidedly interesting news.”
“Thank you so much for your help, Sergeant,” Granville enthused. “We are most grateful.”
“It’s been an absolute pleasure,” Shaw said sarcastically. “Now give me the photographs!”
De Quincy sighed delicately. “I’m afraid I can’t quite do that just yet.”
“You promised!”
“I promised not to show them if you did what I told you to. And I won’t. You have been very helpful. And if I need some help in this part of London again, I know who to call on.”
With a shout of rage Shaw made for de Quincy, arms outstretched, only t se Granville raise an old flintlock pistol and point it straight at him.
“Regretfully,” the small man began, “I have to ask you to step away from my colleague. If you do move any closer, I will be forced to shoot you. I know you are accustomed to slightly different weapons, but let me assure you that this gun fires real bullets and I’m a fine shot.”
Breathing heavily, Shaw backed away from de Quincy, who sneered at him.
“You’re just pathetically predictable as the rest of them. Now get out of here! Rest assured I will be in contact with you again.
Granville gesture to the door and ushered Shaw out of the cabin and the back into the icy night air.
“Edwin!” he cried out to the pilot, still hidden away at the stern of the barge. “Drop the sergeant off, and then take us home.”
The barge change d course instantly, cutting back towards on e side of the river. Confused and disorientated, Shaw couldn’t even tell whether it was the north or the south bank. As the barge purred up to a small wooden jetty, Granville gestured with his gun again.
“I’m sure you can make it home from here,” he said, still cheery. “Farewell.”
Shaw alighted back on to dry land, tears of frustration welling in his eyes at the brutal unfairness of his situation. From the dark prow of the barge, the two men watched him turned on his heel and head back into London.
“Ninety-nine per cent certain!” Humphrey Granville chortled.
“Yes,” mused Nicholas de Quincy. “Marianne’s a Ripper, all right. Time to start the bidding.”

ＲＥＡＤ ａｎ ＥＸＴＲＡＣＴ-THE SUMMONING

READ AN EXTRACT--THE SUMMONING

Twelve Years Earlier…

MOMMY FORGOT TO WARN the new babysitter about the basement.
Chloe teetered on the top step, chubby hands reaching up to clutch both railings, her arms shaking so much she could barely hand on. Her legs shook, too, the Scooby Doo heads on her slippers bobbing. Even her breath shook, puffing like she’d been running.
“Chloe?”Emily’s muffled voice drifted up the dark basement. “Your mom said the Coke’s in the cold cellar, but I can’t find it. Can you come down and help me?”
Mommy said she’d told Emily about the basement. Chloe was sure of it. She closed her eyes and thought hard. Before Mommy and Daddy left for the party, she’d been playing in the TV room. Mommy had called, and Chloe had run into the front hall where Mommy had scooped her up in a hug, laughing when Chloe’s doll poked her eye.
“I see you’re playing with Princess—I mean Pirate Jasmine. Has she rescued poor Aladdin from the evil genie yet?”
Chloe shook her head, then whispered, “Did you tell Emily about the basement?”
“I most certainly did. No basements for Miss Chloe. That the door stays closed.” When Daddy came around the corner, Mommy said, “We really need to talk about moving, Steve.”
“Say the word and the sign goes up.” Daddy ruffled Chloe’s hair. “Be good for Emily, kiddo.”
And then they were gone.
“Chloe, I know you can hear me!” Emily yelled.
Chloe peeled her fingers from the railing and stuck them in her ears.
“Chloe!”
“I c-can’t go in the basement,” Chloe called. “I-I’m not allowed.”
“I’m in charge and I say you are. You’re a big girl.”
Chloe made her feet move down one step. The back of her throat hurt and everything looked fuzzy, like she was going to cry.
“Chloe Saunders, you have five seconds or I’ll drag you down here and lock the door.”
Chloe raced down the steps so fast her feet tangled and she tumbled into a heap on the landing. She lay there, ankle throbbing, tears burning in her eyes as she peered into the basement, with its creaks and smells and shadows. And Mrs. Hobb.
There’d been others, before Mrs. Hobb scared them away. Like old Mrs. Miller, who’d play peek-a-boo with Chloe and call her Mary. And Mr. Drake, who’d ask weird questions, like whether anyone lived on the moon yet, and most times Chloe didn’t know the answer, but he’d still smile and tell her she was a good girl.
She used to like coming downstairs and talking to the people. All she had to do was not look behind the furnace, where a man hung from the ceiling, his face all purple and puffy. He never said anything, but seeing him always made Chloe’s tummy hurt.
“Chloe?” Emily’s muffled voice called. “Are you coming?”
Mommy would say “Think about the good parts, not the bad.” So as Chloe walked down the last three steps, she remembered Mrs. Miller and Mr. Drake and she didn’t think about Mrs. Hobb at all…or not very much.
At the bottom, she squinted into the nearer darkness. Just the night lights were on, the ones Mommy had put everywhere when Chloe started saying she didn’t want to go downstairs and Mommy thought she was afraid of the dark, which she was, a little, but only because the dark meant Mrs. Hobb could sneak up on her.
Chloe could see the cold cellar door, though, so she kept her eyes on that and walked as fast as she could. When something moved, she forgot about not looking, but it was only the hanging man, and all she could see was his hand peeking from behind the furnace as he swayed.
She ran to the cold cellar door and yanked it open. Inside, it was pitch black.
“Chloe?” Emily called from the darkness.
Chloe clenched her fists. Now Emily was being really mean. Hiding on her—
Footsteps pattered overhead. Mommy? Home already?
“Come on, Chloe. You aren’t afraid of the dark, are you?” Emily laughed. “I guess you’re still a little baby after all.”
Chloe scowled. Emily didn’t know anything. Just a stupid, mean girl. Chloe would get her Coke, then run upstairs and tell Mommy, and Emily would never babysit her again.
She leaned into the tiny room, trying to remember where Mommy kept the Coke. That was it on the shelf, wasn’t it? She darted over and stood on her tiptoes. Her fingers closed around a cool metal can.
“Chloe? Chloe!” it was Emily’s voice, but far away, shrill. Footsteps pounded across the floor overhead. “Chloe, where are you?”
Chloe dropped the can. It hit the concrete floor with a crack, then rolled against her feet, hissing and spitting, soda pooling around her slippers.
“Chloe, Chloe, where are you?” mimicked a voice behind her, like Emily’s, but not quite.
Chloe turned slowly.
In the doorway stood an old woman in a pink housecoat, her eyes and teeth glittering in the dark. Mrs. Hobb. Chloe wanted to squeeze her eyes shut, but she didn’t dare because it only made her madder, made everything worse.
Mrs. Hobb’s skin rippled and squirmed. Then it went black and shiny, crackling like twigs in a campfire. Big chunks fell off, plopping onto the floor. Her hair sizzled and burned away. And then there was nothing left but a skull dotted with scrapes of blackened flesh. The jaws open, the teeth still glittering.
“Welcome back, Chloe.”

Book Review #2

To read all the extracts, please select the correct post for the extract from book wanted. Each extract one post. Thank you. P.s. Hyperlink not working.

The Summoning

Written by: Kelley Armstrong
Pages: 390 pages
Publisher: Orbit, Little Brown Book Group

Read an EXTRACT!!!

Blogger’s Note
On the 2nd of October to the 17th of October, there is a book sale in Newtown, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. So, as you can see, being the book-aholic-shopping-for-book-maniac, I immediately went to that warehouse and grabbed some books. Wow, they are so CHEAP!!! I had a great day picking the books! Anyway, this book written by Kelley Armstrong is really GREAT!!! I give 5/5. The tone in this book is quite serious, but she really has a great talent and spun out this story very well. Though this story is pretty much quite serious, it still has its own way of humor and I simply enjoyed it. If you love Magician’s Guild by Trudi Canavan or even Wicked, you might like this one! Ciao! P.S. Just want to let you to know, this is the first book in the trilogy.

Synopsis
Chloe Saunders is a normal fifteen year old girl who was still waiting for various body parts to come. All she wants is a normal life, with friends, to get through school and maybe even a boy. But that all changes at the day she hit puberty. Which was the day she started seeing ghost, again.
Soon, ghosts are everywhere, demanding her attention. Then, she freaked out at school and was sent to Lyle House, which is a special house for special kids. Soon, she meets friendly Simon; cheerful Liz; Rae, who is crazy over fire; stuck up Tori; ominous and unsmiling Derek. Then, Chloe soon realizes that they weren’t there by chance, there was something even more darker and sinister beneath the cheerful walls of Lyle House. And the ghost in the basement who was demanding her attention, something about Lyle house. Then there was Liz, who was transferred to another special house because of her lack of improvement. Why is Chloe starting to see her ghost? Is she dead or can she astral travel? What is the mystery behind Lyle House and is Chloe just schizophrenia or is she really seeing ghost? There are so much things she needed to fingd out with so little time. Well, just read the book!!!

Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian

Author: Rick Riordan
Pages: 361 pages
Publisher: Puffin publishing

Blogger’s Note
I only have three words for this book. I. LOVE. IT! Well, there’s nothing much to say about this book except that its totally AWESOME!!! I give 6.5/5. Yo man. PERCY JACKSON ROCKS!!! Now, a short note to a someone out there, specifically Tan Beng Jin. Never, ever, ever, dare you criticize Percy Jackson before you read the book. I mean you just logged on the Internet, find the synopsis, read it and say it SUCKS!!! I can’t believe it but I respect you. I respect your opinion. However, what I want to say that the synopsis might be what you think as dumb but the way the author write is really cool and don’t judge a book by it cover!!! I practically yelling internally over here. Anyway, err hem, sorry about that little note to my classmate. Back to the writing, got a little carried away, sorry. Anyway, just to let you know, the book above is the fifth and latest book in the Percy Jackson series. I think it was a perfect ending but who knows? Maybe Rick Riordon will write more books about Percy and I’m sure I’ll get me hands on it as fast a I can. Why am I thinking in Texan slang? Never mind. Just say, I enjoy the book very much and love it. I’m a totally Percy Jackson fan, so if you don’t like the book., don’t blame me, ‘cause it jus my opinion. P.S, this writer has a heck of a style and he really could write! The books are always very humorous. So readers who love not-that-much-of-a-humor, I guess you won’t like it. I luv you Percy Jackson, and Rick Riordon for penning him down. Anyway, I’m blaberring away now and I guess I should go back to the point. P.S.2: However, I still have something to tell you. Rick Riordon has a tendency to make elevator jokes. After you read book 1 and book 5, you get what I meant. Anyway, bye!

Sypnosis
“Most people get presents for their 17th birthday, I get a prophecy that could destroy or save the world.”
Percy is a half-blood, the son of Poseidon and a common human, Sally Jackson. This is a story which entwines Greek gods, New York, technology and half-bloods. And now, Titans. Kronos, the Titan of Time is regenerated (literally regenerated/restored) and he was even more powerful than before. Lord Kronos is back and he begins his attack upon New York. His aim is: Destroy the Olympus when it stands virtually unguarded. Can Percy and the rest of the members of Half-blood camp stand up against the Kronos and a whole army of other Titans, demons and beastly beings and defeat him. The prophecy will come true, whether they like it or n ot. The decision is in Percy’s hand. Could he save the world or destroy it? Let the battle begin. :P

Darkside; Lifeblood

Author: Tom Becker
Pages: 279

Publisher: Scholastic Books

Read an Extract

Blogger's Note

This book is really nice and pretty much enjoyable. Its opretty dark, but not so. Infact, the darkness of it ,makes it more...real. This author, Tom Becker, use really good words and seemed to give live to everything I read. He could describe things so well I could imagine all the scenas in my head. And I don't oftenly picture scens in my head. ITS REALLT GREAT!!! I love it! P.S. its the sequel to Darkside, winner of the Waterstone's Children's Book Award 07. There are four books now. For more info, log on to www.welcometodarkside.co.uk.

Sypnosis

When Jonathan and Carnegie, Darkside's premier wereman Private Investigator, start to investigate a series of murders they find themselves embroiled in Darkside's most dangerous secret - and its most dangerous family. Then, Jonathan discovers that his mother seemed involved in this situation, in a way or another. Could Jonathan find his disappeared mother? Could they find the culprit and stop it in timebefor it kill another Ripper? Who is the culprit?
Solving the mystery is a lot less important than staying alive.



The Westing Game

Author: Ellen Raskin
Pages: 216
Publisher: Scholastic

Read an Extract

Blogger’s Note
It was REALLY NICE. What I meant is that the idea was new and the storyline was great. Personally, I really like people who act down right weird in stories and so this book had been pretty enjoyable for me. Hope you guys love it. I give it a 5.5/5. YEAH!!! Though I know that the book is quite…old but its still really nice. P.S.: The writing style was quite nice, nothing crazy but it sure has a way that keeps you reading on. Man! I love her writing style! P.S.2: It’s a Newbery Award Book. And its super nice, you have gotta read it!

Sypnosis:
This story is about 6 tenants who are given an opportunity to live at Sunset Towers, nearby the Michigan Lake and also the Westing House. Mr. Westing had been lost for years, and the Westng House was believed to be abandoned. But on a chilly October night, they saw smoke rising from the Westing House. Turtle(One of the tenant’s daughter) took a bet and decided to stay in the Westing House as long as possible. Then, she discovered the cropse of the famous and wealthy owner of Westing Paper products, Mr. Westing dead in his bed. Turtle fled. The next day, 16 out of the 6 tenant’s family and including a doormsan and a servent lady were called upon to the hearing of the will of Mr. Westing. They were requested to play the Westing game; the winner shall be the heir of Mr. Westing’s wealth. But why are they chosen? And should they stay or leave? The money was too big to resist, let the game begin.