Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer

What it's all about? [Goodreads.com]

Jeffrey Archer is at his captivating best in this, his first novel, an intricate tale of deceit, dishonor, and sweet revenge. What can an Oxford don, a respected society physician, a chic French art dealer, and a charming English lord have in common? Very little, except they've all been swindled out of every cent they had by Harvey Metcalfe, the man who wrote the book on international stock fraud. They haven't a prayer of ever seeing their money again. Or have they?

My Thought

I knew that Jeffrey Archer is an amazing storyteller based on the two newest novels that I've read, Paths of Glory and A Prisoner of Birth. And I knew that, Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less was his very first novel published. So, I keep on comparing this book with the other two.And yes, of course there are lots of improvement in his writing. OK, the very first time I picked this book from library, the seasoned cover and the old pages make me think, is this book really good? But, don't judge a book by it's cover. When I start reading this book, I just can't put it down. The story is brilliant! After they've been cheated, Stephen, Robin, Jean-Pierre and James teamed up to swindle back what they've lost. Each of them comes up with a brilliant plan and they themselves play the roles in each of the plan.They disguised, they cheated, they acted and they did things that they've never done before. The friendship grows between this four, and everything went as planned except for James' final plan,. The plan most crucial plan of all plans. That time I thought that their cover was blown up but I was wrong. They managed to steal back their money and reduces the debt to $1.24, though Stephen sulks on the plane home about the missing money. This book is full of suspense and surprises and it makes me keep on thinking what will happen next. I really enjoy this book. Well done Jeffrey Archer!!

Favorite Quote

"Making a Million legally has always been difficult. Making a million illegally has always been a little bit easier.  Keeping a Million when you have made it is perhaps the most difficult of all."

CoffeeNCrackers' Meter

4 cups of Coffee
3 creamy Crackers

6th On My Wishlist

Hey guys! It's Saturday and it's time for My Wishlist. I'm adding two more books to my wishlist. First is The Alchemyst, book #1 of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel written by Michael Scott. I came across this book while browsing the goodreads.com and got attracted by it's story line Second is the book #1of the Mortal Instruments Series, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. This book was recommended by Shy of The Bibliophiles Journal during our conversation at Shelfari. This is also a great advanture!

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

He holds the secret that can end the world. The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life. The records show that he died in 1418. But his tomb is empty. The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it. Sometimes legends are true. And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time. [Shelfari]

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder. Much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with odd markings. This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons-and keeping the odd werewolves and vampires in line. It's also her first meeting with gorgeous, golden-haired Jace. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in an ordinary mundane like Clary? And how did she suddenly get the sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .[Shelfari]

Hmmmm.......wondering when I can get these books. =b That's all for now. Have a nice weekend guys! Ciao...

The Friday 56: Magyk

It's Friday! Time for the Friday 56. I'm reading the first book of Septimus Heap Series, Magyk by Angie Sage. I really enjoy it so far. Here's the sentence for this week's the Friday 56:

"Then the big black Heap door had unwillingly creaked itself open, and Jenna was whisked away from the only home she had ever known."- Magyk 56

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The Friday 56 Rules

• Grab the book nearest to you. Right now.
• Turn to page 56 and find the 5th sentence.
• Post that sentence (or plus one or two others you like) along with this instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Story Time With Tonya and Friends.
• Post a link along with your blog post back to Story Time with Tonya and Friends.
• Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the closest.

The Movie: Wishlist #1

This is the movie adapted from book that I would like to watch:

Title/Year: The Kite Runner (2007)
Director: Marc Foster
Writers: David Benioff (Screenplay), Khaled Husseini (Novel)
Genre: Drama
Cast: Zekeria Ibrahimi (Amir), Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada (Hasan)

Plot

Based one on of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory, THE KITE RUNNER is a profoundly emotional tale of friendship, family, devastating mistakes and redeeming love. In a divided country on the verge of war, two childhood friends, Amir and Hassan, are about to be torn apart forever.  It’s a glorious afternoon in Kabul and the skies are bursting with the exhilarating joy of a kite-fighting tournament.  But in the aftermath of the day’s victory, one boy’s fearful act of betrayal will mark their lives forever and set in motion an epic quest for redemption. Now, after 20 years of living in America, Amir returns to a perilous Afghanistan under the Taliban’s iron-fisted rule to face the secrets that still haunt him and take one last daring chance to set things right..

The Kite Runner Movie Trailer 

What movie adaptations do you want to watch? Share with me here. =) Ciao......

A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer

What it's all about? [Back Cover]

If Danny Cartwright had proposed to Beth Wilson the day before, or the day after, he would not arrested and charged with the murder of his best friend. And when the four prosecution witnesses are a barrister, a popular actor, an aristocrat and the youngest partner in an established firm's history, who is going to believe his side of the story? Danny is sentenced for twenty-two years and is sent to Belmarsh prison, the highest security jail in the land, from where no inmate has ever escaped. But, everyone has underestimated Danny's determination to seek revenge and Beth's relentless quest to win justice.

My Thought

"Brilliant!". That's the word best to say about this book. The main character in this book, Danny is well developed . He's doing everything to seek for justice and to prove that he's not guilty. From an illiterate guy he becomes a highly educated person. From someone who knows nothing to a mastermind who knows everything. The story becomes more interesting when Danny breaks through the prison and live a life as Sir Nicholas, his best friend in prison who is mistakenly killed by his enemy. So, he proceeds with his revenge as Nick. This book is so great from the start until the end. I love the arguments during the trial in court. Alex, Danny's lawyer and his father are two great characters that I really love in this book. Not only the protagonist characters are well developed, the antagonists also have a strong effect to the story. But, not everything is perfect with this book. Beth has nothing much to do with the story and I wonder why. I don't really see her relentless quest to win justice because there's not much story bout her except on the beginning and the end of the story and several in between.  I also think that, Danny has too much to do with Nick's family problem rather than his revenge. But, I realized that, it's a part of the plan and it doesn't change anything because A Prisoner of Birth is utterly GREAT!! I'm satisfied.

Favorite Quotes

"We all suffer in our different ways from being prisoners of birth." 

"When will the Home Office realize that when judges retire, not only are they sent home for the rest of their lives, but the only people they have left to judge are their innocent wives.'

CoffeeNCrackers' Meter

5 cups of Coffee
5 creamy Crackers

Teaser Tuesdays: Magyk

Title: Septimus Heap Book 1: Magyk
Author/Illustrator: Angie Sage/ Mark Zug
Details: Hardcover, 564 Pages

"Just because you're the ExtraOrdinary Wizard, Marcia, you think you can just walk in here and mess up our lives like it doesn't matter." -46

"Silas," sighed Marcia, "she is not safe with you. Not anymore". -46

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Teaser Tuesdays' Rules

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Movie: Dear John

Title/ Year: Dear John (2010)
Director: Lasse Hallstrom
Writers: Jamie Lindon (Screenplay), Nicholas Sparks (Novel)
Starring: Channing Tatum (John Tyree), Amanda Seyfried (Savannah Curtis)
CoffeeNCrackers' Meter: 3 1/2 cups of Coffee

 Plot:[imdb.com]

Special Forces Army Sergeant John Tyree (Channing Tatum) is home on a two-week leave from Germany. He meets Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried) after he dives into the ocean to retrieve Savannah's purse that had fallen off the pier. John is smitten by Savannah and falls in love at first sight. Savannah is a college student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is on spring break and is helping build a house for Habitat for Humanity. John joins in with Savannah to help build the house. Along the way a budding romance occurs, and Savannah falls deeply in love with John. As she is about to go back to college, she promises to write John overseas during the next 12-months until he returns to her after completing his enlistment. Their love is put to the test when John reenlists after the 9/11 attack.

Movie Trailer

My Comment

This is not a bad movie. But it's not a great film either. I didn't think it was going to be one of the best romance movies ever and it definitely wasn't. It is touching, okay acting and definitely a sweet one. I wish that there are more scenes between John and his father Mr. Tyree, 'cause it will make me cry a bucket. Haha! Well, it's a love story Savannah and John after all. For those who love to watch sad romantic story, have a try!

OST: Little House by Amanda Seyfried

A Place Called Here by Cecelia Ahern

What it's all about? [Shelfari's Summary]

The book is about Sandy Shortt who has an obsession with finding things. She spends her life looking for lost people. She used to work for the garda but now, runs her own private company. Her obsession started when her neighbour, Jenny May Butler, went missing when she was ten. Then Jack Ruttle appears, looking for his younger brother, Donal, who went missing the year before. He asks Sandy for help - and she agrees, but doesn't expect to become lost herself, stumbling upon a place where every missing thing seems to be, along with her own belongings from the past. In the book, all the lost things are described as unwanted things and all just left here The book was titled "There's No Place Like Here" for release in the United States. "Here" refers to the name of the place where missing things, like Jenny-May Butler and Sandy Shortt, as well as objects end up.

My Thought

I bought this book because I really thought that it is an interesting story, because all the previous novels by Cecelia Ahern didn't disappointing me.  But, when I read several comments and reviews from the readers out there, stated that this may be the worst book by Ahern, I got scared. I put it on my shelf for quite a long time before I picked it up again during the semester break. The moment I read the first page of A Place Called Here, I just hooked up and can't stop my reading. This is really a page turner from Cecelia Ahern. Where the missing things went to when they got missing? I never thought 'bout that myself. But, Sandy Shortt keep on figuring out, where all this missing thing go and she become obsessed with finding the missing things and even missing person. But, one day she herself went missing and found herself in a strange place that the people there called it "Here". So, this is where all the missing things and persons came to. Now she found what she searched for and time to search her way back home, where she belongs to.  It's true that, this story is quiet difficult to comprehend but it has a great philosophical aspect of life with the twist and surprises here and there. It was a fun reading with a little bit of tear-jerked part. Well, missing yourself is far more scarier than missing your beloved person or things. 

Favorite Quote

"At moments when life is at its worst there are two things that you can do: 1) break down, lose hope and refuse to go on while lying face down on the ground banging your fist and kicking your legs, or 2) LAUGH." - page 310

"As humans, we are the epitome of life, in life there is always balance. Life and death, male and female, good and bad, beautiful and ugly, win and lose, love and hate. Lost and found." - page 359

CoffeeNCrackers' Meter

5 cups of Coffee

4 creamy Crackers

That's all for now. Till next time..Ciao..........

5th On My Wishlist

By the author of Who Moved My Cheese?, Dr. Johnson Spencer, Peaks and Valleys is the latest book that I put on my wish-list. I enjoyed Who Moved My Cheese? so much, [read my review] and this book is definitely a must-read book for me.

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Peaks and Valleys by Dr. Johnson Spencer 

Peaks and Valleys is a story of a young man who lives unhappily in a valley until he meets an old man who lives on a peak, and it changes his work and life forever. Initially, the young man does not realize he is talking with one of the most peaceful and successful people in the world. However, through a series of conversations and experiences that occur up on peaks and down in valleys, the young man comes to make some startling discoveries. Eventually, he comes to understand how he can use the old man's remarkable principles and practical tools in good and bad times and becomes more calm and successful himself. Now you can take a similar journey through the story and use what you find to your advantage in your own work and life. [Goodreads.com]

Reader's Comment

Peaks and Valleys is a wonderful book. A very quick read - I read it over one of my lunch hours. I have always liked Who Moved My Cheese and repeatedly had brought that book out to re-read when I am feeling a little stuck. Peaks and Valleys encourages me to look at things differently - I may get stuck in a valley occasionally, but it all depends on how I look at it. What maybe a valley, could actually be a peak - it's all in my focus. I encourage everyone to read it and can't wait to start sharing it with my family - Bill @Goodreads.com

Why I want to read Peaks and Valleys?

• I loved Who Moved My Cheese?
• To get motivated and improve myself.
• The story is interesting and meaningful.
• Dr. Johnson Spencer is a great writer.   

That's all for now. Have a great weekend. Ciao... 

The Friday 56: The Choice

Hi, guys! Happy Friday. I'm reading The Choice by Nicholas Sparks and this is my first reading from his collections. I'm glad that I have the chance to read his novel because I heard lots of good things bout 'em. Well, it's still early to give out my opinion 'cause I'm just on the first part right now. But, I do hope  that I'll enjoy The Choice as much as the readers out there enjoyed it. So, here's for my Friday 56 this time. Check it out!

She had no other choice. What on earth could she says to Travis? She'd made a fool of herself, and he'd compounded the matter by being so forgiving, which obviously meant that coming and going required a new set of rules, one in which avoidance was Rule #1. -The Choice, 56-

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The Friday 56 Rules

• Grab the book nearest to you. Right now.
• Turn to page 56 and find the 5th sentence.
• Post that sentence (or plus one or two others you like) along with this instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Story Time With Tonya and Friends.
• Post a link along with your blog post back to Story Time with Tonya and Friends.
• Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the closest.

Have a pleasant Friday guys...Ciao..

Book Xcess Bookstore

Book Xcess Bookstore, "read more for less". With just RM64.70 I bought three books and all in hardcover version. Cheap and in good quality. The three books are The Choice by Nicholas Sparks, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel and The Collectors by David Baldacci.

This bookstore is awesome! For those who're really passionate to read books but don't have big budget for 'em, this will be your solution. Visit www.bookxcess.com for all the details. Read More For Less!! Ciao...

Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr. Spencer Johnson

What it's all about? [Goodreads' description]

Change can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective. The message of Who Moved My Cheese? is that all can come to see it as a blessing, if they understand the nature of cheese and the role it plays in their lives. Who Moved My Cheese? is a parable that takes place in a maze. Four beings live in that maze: Sniff and Scurry are mice-nonanalytical and nonjudgmental, they just want cheese and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Hem and Haw are "littlepeople," mouse-size humans who have an entirely different relationship with cheese. It's not just sustenance to them; it's their self-image. Their lives and belief systems are built around the cheese they've found. Most of us reading the story will see the cheese as something related to our livelihoods-our jobs, our career paths, the industries we work in--although it can stand for anything, from health to relationships. The point of the story is that we have to be alert to changes in the cheese, and be prepared to go running off in search of new sources of cheese when the cheese we have runs out.

What I Learned?

With just 98 pages, Who Moved My Cheese? really teach me a lot of things and it's really worth my time reading it. In this book, Dr. Spencer motivates the readers with just a simple story that can even make you lough but the true message can be easily absorbed. This book makes me aware that, even though you are successful and achieve what you want in your life, it doesn't mean that it will be long lasting. Because lots of thing may happen. In a blink maybe your career or whatever you have will shatter into pieces. Do not feel too comfortable because we don't know what's waiting us in future. In this book, Hem is the character which is too comfortable with what he has. But when what he has is all running out [the changes] he sit idle and hoping that everything will turn out all right again. He afraid with the changes, and even worst he afraid to change himself. Haw in the other hand, even though he is at first also acts like Hem but, he realizes that nothing will change if you just sit idle. So, he goes out to journey into the maze to find the opportunities. And of course in the maze of life, most of the times we will find the dead end but it's worth it. You gain experiences along the way and you'll try harder. So, if you fail in your life, never give up because there's a lot more opportunities out there. Just make a move. And who am I in this story? I think I'm still a Hem but trying to be a Haw. How bout' ya?

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?

Thumbs Up!!

• Not so much pages. Can finish it within hour.
• Interesting and fantastic analogy and fun to read story.
• The easy to understand language.
• Most important, the message of the author is successfully delivered. Well done, Dr. Johnson!

CoffeeNCracker's Meter [new]

5 cups of Coffee

5 creamy Crackers

That's all for now, I highly recommend this book to all my friends out there who're in the hunt for their "Cheese". Bye guys. Have a good day. Ciao...

I'm Back!!

Hey everyone! This is going to be my first post after two-months-long holidays. I'm so sorry for those who expected some news from me. But, rest assure, here I am again willing to share with you what I've read during that period. I managed to finish 10 books and it's such a fantastic achievement. It's a new record!! Well, I'll try my best to write the reviews and post 'em here later in time. I'm really glad that I get the chance to share my opinion and interest with all of you again.*smile*

These are the books waiting to be reviewed:

• The Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer
• Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer
• Shall We Tell the President? by Jeffrey Archer
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger 
• A Place Called Here by Cecelia Ahern
• The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin S. Sharma
• Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr. Spencer Johnson

Wow!! For me. it's such a tough work to do. But, I'll try my very best to review all of 'em. We'll see what will happen. *grin*. And for now, I'm reading a horror thriller novel, A Dark Dividing by Sarah Rayne. It's progressing very well. And there are several other books waiting to be picked up on my to-read list. Here they are:

•  Fever by Christine Feehan
• The Magicians by Less Grossman
• Sepulchre by Kate Mosse

Now, since the new semester is starting. My reading will become much slower. But, I really glad that I'm back. Looking forward for your feed-backs and opinion on anything. Not only concerning books, you also can share your life experience with me and you can tell jokes also cause they'll for sure make my day. That's all for now. Ciao...