The Secret of Secrets released!

Finally, Dan Brown's latest novel, "The Secret of Secrets" has been released! After 8 years of waiting since his last novel, "Origin," I can now slip into his world of mystery, science and religion, and follow Robert Langdon once more, this time around Prague, where the novel begins.

No spoilers here, I'm just 6 chapters in, let me enjoy this novel and I'll post my review once I'm done.

What a beautiful looking novel, great jacket art, lovely black and white photos of Prague on the inside front and back cover, and a lovely front cover with Dan Brown's signature on it. This is the Bantam publishing copy of the novel.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The fifth installment in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the longest of the seven books, at 800 pages of absorbing reading.

You can notice from the picture that the title of the book has completely disappeared from months of reading!

It's not easy writing a long story (and reading one too!). There are a number of challenges involved which I picked up on while reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix:

* keeping each character unique to him/herself

* not allowing individual characters with specific traits and personalities to become too similar to each other

* maintaining a page-turning power to the story

* not giving chance for the reader to become bored mid-way through

* having a big enough story line with sufficient sub-plots

* connecting sub-plots to the main plot but not allowing sub-plots to become too lengthy and consuming the main plot

* knowing which significant circumstances/events/details to include and which irrelevant ones to omit

* getting the right balance between prose and dialogue

* everything must lead to the grand finale

* being able to transition neatly through time and smoothly switch to later time throughout the story

For all of these reasons, I thoroughly enjoyed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. For the first time, we read about real friction between Harry and Dumbledore which simmered through the novel and boiled over at the end. We also see Professor Dumbledore duel with Lord Voldemort, and cringe at the awfully irritating character of Dolores Umbridge in her brief and ignominious stint as High Inquisitor and Headmistress of Hogwarts. Harry also learns for the first time of his destiny as related to Voldemort. One of them must kill the other. 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix represents a highly emotional and difficult time for Harry as he loses his only remaining living family member, Sirius Black, who was killed by Bellatrix Lestrange, in addition to coming to terms with the prophecy of his destiny. We are left with the impression that it can't really get any worse for Harry.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

I have finished reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the 4th in the series of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter collection.

As a side note, I do absolutely love the artwork of the covers on these Bloomsbury Harry Potter books!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was another highly enjoyable read. It was definitely another page turner as the story kept developing nicely. In particular, this book heralded the re-birth of Lord Voldemort, detailing how he managed to come back to a body and power.

Of course, it was the final few chapters where the story was pieced together like a jigsaw, making previous chapters and their contents fall into clear perspective. The death of Cedric Diggory was a shock to all, as well as Harry dueling with Voldemort and managing to escape with the help of apparitions of his dead parents.

As intriguing as the Triwizard Tournament was, the Goblet of Fire marks the return to power of Lord Voldemort and worrying times ahead for Harry and all at Hogwarts. Despite the sombre mood it creates, and the tendency to cover up harsh truths as Cornelius Fudge seemed so determined, Professor Dumbledore reminds, 

"Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery." and,

"It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies." and,

"I say to you all again - in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open." and,

"Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right, and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory."

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third installment of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. It is a page turner as Rowling keeps the story going tirelessly. 

Harry learns how to create a 'patronus' from Professor Lupin which combats the frightening dementors who love nothing more than to suck out every last ounce of a person's soul and happiness. When in trouble, Harry conjures a powerful patronus to scatter a host of dementors.

Quidditch is the sport of choice at Hogwarts and Harry helps the Gryffindor team to victory. He also learns more about his family history, discovering who are enemies and who are friends to him.

Dumbledore sets the rules of Hogwarts and also relaxes them when the breaking of the rules (almost always by Harry, Ron and Hermione) are put into context by the Professor's sagacity. As always, Dumbledore steals the show at the end with his words of wisdom:

"You think the dead we have loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don't recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble? Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him. How else could you produce that particular Patronus? . . . So you did see your father last night, Harry . . . you found him inside yourself."

Alex Ferguson's autobiographies; Teaser Tuesday

Alex Ferguson's two autobiographies

Perhaps the greatest British football manager ever, Alex Ferguson managed Manchester United for the best part of 27 years, an unparalleled feat of longevity in our time. Coupled with huge and continuous success, Alex Ferguson restored the glory years to this illustrious club, elevating it above Liverpool as the most successful English team in history.

"Managing My Life" is the first of his autobiographies beginning from his early days growing up in Govan, his days as a player in Scotland, his seasons as a manager in Scotland, and his spell in charge of Manchester United up until the famous Euorpean Cup final triumph on that magical night in Barcelona in 1999.

"One Year On - Fully Updated Edition" is the second of his works and covers his time from his first European Cup success up until his retirement, and beyond as the club moved forward under new management.

These two books provide the avid sports fan with a fascinating look into the world of football, the management of human beings, the daily hard work that it takes to be successful, behind-the-scenes intricacies involving players and coaches, transfer policies and transactions, balancing family life with work, while also looking back in some detail on momentous and significant matches which shaped Manchester United.

A thoroughly enjoyable and intriguing read, and rather unique of its kind. There will probably never be a manager again like Alex Ferguson who can stay for 27 years at a club the stature of Manchester United.



Here's a teaser from 'Alex Ferguson, One Year On,' by Alex Ferguson, in conjunction with Teaser Tuesday which is held by MizB at Should Be Reading:

"He was such a brilliant long passer that he could choose a hair on the head of any team-mate answering the call of nature at our training ground. Gary Neville once thought he had found refuge in a bush, but Scholesy found him from 40 yards."

Ok, I thought that was hilarious, but I guess you have to be a football fan to really appreciate it!

Around the World in Eighty Days Book Review

I finished reading Jules Verne's "Around the World in Eighty Days"  around a week ago and so I've had some time to gather my thoughts on it. This is a REVIEW so if you don't want to know what generally goes down in this book, stop reading now.

Phileas Fogg is the lead character, the Englishman who sets off on a journey circumnavigating the globe after a bet with friends who suggested it was impossible to be done in 80 days. He is the sort of character who is not troubled by anything, remains unbelievably positive in every situation, and somehow always finds a way around the tightest circumstance.

Personally, I don't like such characters, they are almost too good to be true, and as you read on, you just know that whatever happens, Mr. Fogg will come up with something to continue his journey around the world on schedule.

On the contrary, I can much more relate to those who have their frailties and human pitfalls. Passepartout, Mr. Fogg's French servant, is by far and away the star of the novel for me. He demonstrates passion, fight, ecstasy and despair. The reader can understand his emotions and actions. It was Passepartout who came up with the genius idea that saved Mrs. Aouda from certain death, and ultimately, it was this servant who realised at the end that they were in fact, one day ahead of themselves, a result of their eastward trek around the globe.

Around the World in Eighty Days gave a couple of interesting insights into Indian culture (the train and elephant journey across the country) and the Mormon religion (the train ride across Utah and the Mormon missionary's discourse). However, there were many parts of the story that seemed to pass by in a blur, which could possibly have been described in a lot more detail. Mr. Fogg and his accomplices did move on from one country to the next, one continent to the next, with alarming rapidity.

The best part of the book, however, was saved for the end, and for the first time, it showed emotion in the cold Mr. Fogg. Mrs. Aouda asks his hand in marriage, to which he replies with these legendary words:

"I love you. Yes, in truth, by everything most sacred in the world, I love you, and I am entirely yours!"

To say that was unexpected would be a gross understatement! It was a little masterclass from Jules Verne. The journey around the world didn't make Mr. Fogg much money in the end, but it did open his heart and he found true happiness and love.

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

So I'm devouring my way through Jules Verne's "Around the World in Eighty Days" and enjoying it, but not as much as his "Journey to the Centre of the Earth." Not yet.

Phileas Fogg is the Englishman who talks very little and has a devoutly specific routine to his life. Until he takes on a challenge to travel around the world in just 80 days. 

Set in London in 1872, Verne continues his ahead-of-time storytelling as Fogg sets off by train, boat and elephant to accomplish his bet with his trusty servant, Passepartout.

Passepartout devised a plan to rescue an Indian lady who was about to be sacrificed, but it happened with minimal fuss or trouble, unlike the trials of life and death contained under Mount Sneffels in Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

Perhaps the more dramatic stuff will be coming soon . . .

Book Review: "A Journey to the Centre of the Earth" by Jules Verne

SPOILER ALERT!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure of Jules Verne's "A Journey to the Centre of the Earth."

A very well-written book, told from the point of view of Henry, Professor Hardwigg's nephew. They embark on a journey which sees them enter the crater of Mount Sneffels in Iceland, roam around in the interior of the earth, before exiting out of another volcano crater in Italy.

The story revolves almost exclusively around three main characters: 1) Professor Hardwigg - mineralogist, obstinate, determined, maybe a little crazy but ultimately right; 2) Henry - the Professor's nephew, analytical, level-headed; 3) Hans, the Icelandic guide who accompanies the Professor and Henry on their journey. Hans is perfectly disciplined, reserved and an immaculate handyman.

The characters compliment each other nicely and the narrative and dialogue flows smoothly throughout the story.

The three characters endure a few fascinating encounters with different sorts of weather and environment conditions below the earth, along with huge plants and animals and seas. The most interesting part of the story for me also turned out to be the most frustrating. 

Professor Hardwigg and Henry discover a cemetery of human bones and see in the distance another HUMAN living in the interior of the earth. Disappointingly for the reader, they freaked out and ran away and nothing more was mentioned of this. It seems that Jules Verne had this immense idea and then kind of backed out of it, and didn't quite know what to do from henceforth.

After that encounter the story rapidly closed up right at the time when I was just getting in to it and expecting the three of them to find a way to the very centre of the earth.

One more thing that irritated me was their exit from underground to ground level. Henry kind of passed out as they were accelerating on a man-made raft balancing on rushing lava, so as he is the one telling the story, he wrote how he didn't remember anything after passing out until they were lying on the side of a volcano in Italy! Man, that frustrated me so bad!

But nevertheless, it was a great read, very worthwhile and I definitely recommend this classic if you haven't as yet opened up its pages and joined the great adventure it is.