Library Time: Lauren Weisberger

Howdy readers!! I watched The Devil Wears Prada the movie starring the winner of Academy Award, Meryl Streep and a hot chick, Anne Hathaway a few years back. The movie is fashionably fantastic. Thus, when I started reading books at the end of last year, I decided to read the book version of The Devil Wears Prada. And today, I found it on the library shelf!! Yeah..! Ain't I lucky? Yeah....I also picked the second bestselling novel by the same author, Lauren Weisberger, Everyone Worth Knowing. Wohooo..!!! Double happiness...Well, lets read the short synopsis bout the books.*smile....*

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The Devil Wears Prada
"High fashion, low cunning - and the boss from hell"

When Andrea first set foot in the plush Manhattan offices of Runway she knows nothing. She's never heard of the world most fashionable magazine, or its feared and fawned-over editor. Miranda Priestly. Soon she knows way too much. She knows it's a sacking offense to wear less than a tree-inch heel at work-but there's always a fresh pair of Monolos in the accessories cupboard.

She knows that eight stone is fat. that you can charge anything - cars, manicures, clothes- to the Runway account, but must never leave your desk, or get Miranda's coffee get cold. That a 3 am, when your boyfriend's dumping you because you're always working and your best friend's just been arrested, if Miranda phones with her latest unreasonable demand, you jump. Most of all, Andrea knows that Miranda is a monster boss who makes Cruella de Vil like a fluffy bunny. But this is her big break, and it's all going to be worth it in the end. Isn't it?

Everyone Worth Knowing
"Betty gets paid to party........."

And she can hardly believe her luck. Running with celebs, gaining VIP access to Manhattan's hottest club meeting 'everyone worth knowing' is a million miles away from her old banking job. When she turns up in the gossip columns with notorious British playboy, it delights her publicity-mad new boss. But her family and her friends want to know what happen to the girl who love bad novels, 80's music and always had time for them.

can Betty says goodbye to the glamour and Gucci and step back into the real world? And where will she find her own prince charming.

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Haha!! welcome to the world of fashion, glam and fame!! I'll surely love these books. Haha!! I dont know when i'll finish 'em, but I promise you all that i'll review 'em once i finish the reading. OK. Then the third novel by Lauren Weisberger, Chasing Harry Winston goes into my wishlist. Haha!!OK guys!! thats all for now. Have a great day....Ciao..

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

Hi guys!! CJ's back!! Haha...it has been awhile since I wrote something here. Lots of thing to be taken care of, besides I just finished a week of Chinese New Year hols. Haha!! So, home means no internet connection. But, it doesn't matter actually. I'm here now and again!! Coming back with a pretty fabulous stuff....Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, a novel by James Patterson.

Me not goin' to spoil everything. So, I won't tell to much bout the story. Though most of you knew it already. Briefly, Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas begin with Katie chap where she got dumped by his boyfriend Matt. But, Matt leaves a diary called Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas to her, to understand why and for what reason he's leaving her. Everything's in the diary, each of every single thing. The diary of Matt's happiness, pains, love and lost. Who's Suzanne? Who's Nick? Where's Matt? What will Katie do? What's the content of the diary? These will all remain as mysteries until you read it yourself. (wink...wink...)

I love this book so very, very much and honestly saying this is one of the greatest books I ever read. I really love the way Mr. Patterson telling the story. Simple yet really amusing and utterly fantastic. There are parts that will make you smile from ear to ear, make your heart pounding (thump..thump...thump...), make you fly to heaven (owh this is to much..haha!!), make you lough out loud and most of the time this book will make you cry a bucket....no..no....a river!! So, get ready with your tissue boxes..haks!! Now my friends, these are my favorite phrases from Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. Check 'em out!!

Imagine life is a game which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends,and integrity. And you are keeping all of them in the air. But one day, you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls - family, health, friends,integrity - are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of balance in your life. (page 24)

I never used to be able to cry, but now I cry all the time. I keep thinking that I'll run out of tears, but I don't. I used to think it wasn't manly to cry, but now I know that isn't so. (page 252)

I do a nose to nose, gently touching my nose to yours. I do another nose to nose and you smile gloriously. One of your smiles is worth the universe to me. That's the truth. (page 255)

Awesome!!! Isn't it? This book is worth 5 stars and I without any doubt and hesitation recommend it to all of you!! You won't regret it. That's all guys. See ya!! Ciao....

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

Hello everyone! CJ's here again. Hmm....it has been awhile since I post something on this blog. It's not that I stop writing, but lots of works need to be done. So, it can't be help. Well, today I would like to write a review of The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards. I picked up this book weeks ago from the library shelf because I thought that the storyline of the books is interesting.

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In the middle of blizzard in 1964, Dr. David Henry help his wife Norah to deliver their first baby with the help of his nurse Caroline. His first born is a boy, a perfect little boy but then shockingly, the blessing doubles: there's another baby. A girl. But, before he can even rejoice, David knows that something is wrong with the baby girl. An extra copy of 21st chromosome, "Down Syndrome". Haunted by his past, David believes that this lil' girl will bring sadness to the family. Her future offers nothing but grief. Then, without his wife notice, Henry asks the nurse to take away the baby to an institution and he declares death of his baby girl.

Caroline, the nurse who secretly in love with David, takes the baby away. But, she can't just put the baby in the institution since it's not a better place for the baby. Thus, she takes the baby in as her own and lives far away from David. Since the incident, the world around David start s crumbling apart. Lies after lies, and his marriage is doomed. His boy is foreign to him. His family become colder and smaller. Caroline, in the other hand work so hard to give her everything to make sure that Phoebe will get a better place in society.

Despite being a profoundly moving novel, The Memory Keeper's Daughter have a few obvious flaw. The most obvious flaw is the characters are not well developed and sometimes, they are out of characters. Next flaw is the time-line of the story. In order to cover the 25 years timespan of the story, Edwards begin to gloss over thing. Years in the lives of her characters are summed up in only a few big ticket events. This makes me really unsatisfied. I also think that Edwards is trying to much with the languages where she uses too much beautiful words and metaphors that make it difficult for me to catch the meanings. I also don't like the ending of the story which I think it's a boring conclusion with little emotion. I expect the ending will be a nice and heart-warming ending. Maybe a lil' bit tear-jerking ending would be nice. Haha! So..3 stars for this book and that's all for now. Till next time!! Ciao....

The Friday 56: A Prisoner of Birth

Hey, it's Friday!! A very beautiful Friday. The sky is cloudy, but the great Mr. Sun shining happily, smiling to the world. Yeah! Hmm.....lets see what I've today. Owh, it's Jeffrey Archer's A Prisoner of Birth. An awesome book I'd say, though I haven't finish it yet. Ahh...never mind. So, here's the 5th sentence (and several others) from page 56 of the book. Have a great Friday guys!!

"Thank you," said Beth. (5:56)
"You can't be convicted for a crime you didn't commit," responded Beth sharply. (17:56)

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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.
  

That's all. Happy Friday...Ciao..

Give-Away Contest I : Teddyree

It's February!! People called it as a month of love though it's just a very short month. OK, now..now.. this would be my first giveaway contest, and thanks to Teddyree of The Eclectic Reader for such a great opportunity given to her blog readers. Trying my luck...without any hesitation i joined this giveaway contest. Yeah!! The lucky winner can choose one of these great books!! Check 'em out!!

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Ecstacy Unveiled by Larissa Ione
Captive of Sin by Anna Campbell

Awesome!! For those who want to join me in this giveaway contest, here's how to enter. Very easy. You've to be the follower of The Eclectic Reader, then leave a comment together with your email add and which book you'd like to win on the post of the giveaway contest by Teddyree (Click here). For extra entries you can post about this giveaway on your blogs (like what I'm doing right now) and link to Teddyree (+2 entries), post the comp on your blog sidebar (+1) and you also can tweet about this give away and link to Teddyree (+1). Done!! This comp will end on February 28, 2010, so don't miss it guys!! Join now and be my rivals! The more the participants the more fun it will be, Yeah!

For further info just visit The Eclectic Reader. May luck be with you (me too). Ciao..

3rd On My Wishlist

Today's Wednesday! Haha! Time for weekly meme On My Wishlist hosted by Book Chick City, thank you. This time I wish to read the trilogy series by Dave Pelzer. I went through some reviews from the fellow blogger about these books. The first part of the series is A Boy Called It. thanks to Shy of The Bibliophile's Journal for a great review on this book! the next two parts of trilogy series are The Lost Boy and A Man Named Dave. So, without further bla..bla... here are the short reviews of the trilogy series. From Dave Pelzer's website.

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A Boy Called It

A Boy Called "It" is the unforgettable story of a child whose courage and unyielding determination enabled him to survive extreme life-threatening odds. as a child, dave was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstabled, alcoholic mother: a mother who played tortuous games, games that left dave nearly dead. with only his willpower to survive, dave learned how to play his mother sinister games in order to survive because she no longer considered Dave a son but a slave, and no longer a boy but an "It'.

The Lost Boy

The sequel to A Child Called It, The Lost Boy is the compelling story of young Dave, who is rescued from his abusive, alcoholic mother and placed in the hand of foster care system. Having been subjected to years of extreme physical and psychological suffering, Dave fights for a stable setting. but finds himself moving in and out of five different homes, while continuing the fight to cope with his past. Throughout Dave's journey, social service personnel, educators,counselors, and foster parents give their all to ensure Dave's well being and protection from his vindictive mother, who, at one point, wishes to have dave committed to a mental institution.

A Man Named Dave

This would be the last book of the series. A Man Named Dave is the gripping conclusion to his inspirational trilogy. With stunning generousity of spirit, Dave invites his readers on his journey to discover how he turned shame into pride and rejection into acceptance. how a lost, nameless boy finally found himself in the heart and soul of a man who is free at last.

I wish to read this trilogy series. I knew that my campus' library have all these three in only one book entitled My Story by Dave Pelzer. Since it's available and all those books are not really thick, I'll go and borrow My Story and enjoy reading it!!! Yeah!! This would be a great reading time..Cool!! That's all guys...have anice day. Ciao...

2nd On My Wishlist

Hey guys!! It's Wednesday! Means that my second week of Weekly Meme, On My Wishlist hosted by Book Chick City! This week i'm going to wish for some love books. Haha! Who say man don't like love stories?? I do love 'em!! Up until now I've read three books with the love theme. And all the three were by Cecelia Ahern: P.S. I Love You, Where Rainbows End and If You Could See Me Now. The way she write love stories is sweetly gorgeous!! So, this time I put one of her books, Thanks for the Memories in my wishlist together with Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride.

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Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

The book cover really caught my eyes! Very nice! I knew that Dessen is the author of the international best seller Lock and Key, and most readers said that Lock and Key is awesome! Though I never read any books by Dessen, I know that they are great. But if I ever get an opportunity to read her novels, Along for the Ride would be my first choice!! Yeah..So, here's in short about this book: From Sarah Dessen official site.

It's been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents' divorce or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talks, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then, she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests : for Auden to experience a carefree teenage lies she's been denied and for Eli to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

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Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern

And here comes another book from one of my favorite author, After Holly and Gerry ( P.S. I Love You), Rosie and Alex (Where Rainbows End) and Elizabeth and Ivan, (If You Could See me Now), Joyce and Justin would be my next favorite couple. Haha!! So here's the short synopsis of the book: From Cecelia Ahern's official site.

How can you know someone you've never met? Joyce Conway remembers thing she shouldn't. She knows a bout tiny cobbled street 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. And 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 deja vu overwhelming her and she can't figure out why..

I wish..I wish...with all my heart. To get these books and be torn apart.... Haha!! Awesome!!! Ciao....

One Republic, Owl City

Howdy guys! I'm pretty tired rite know. Tired of assignments, lab reports, and tired of my valley practice. The match is just around the corner!! Yeah! OK...i don't want to strain myself anymore ! Just wanna share with all of you, two songs that can make myself relax a bit! Haha! It's OK to write bout something other than books sometimes rite? So...here are the songs!

All the Right Moves by One Republic

Writer: Tedder

Lenght: 3:58

I'm listening to this song for quite sometimes now. I still remember last year that I was addicted with One Republic's Apologize song and this All the Right Moves is utterly fantastic. the music is brilliantly composed and the lyric is very catchy, nicely written, and have a really deep meaning. All the Right Moves is the first single from the latest album of One Republic titled Waking Up which is published on November 17, 2009. Here's the lyric's snippet!

Do you think I'm special? Do you think I'm nice?

Am I bright enough to shine in your spaces?

Between the noise you hear and the sound you like

Are we just sinking in the ocean of faces?

It can't be possible, the rain can fall

Only when it's over right here

The sun is shining everyday but it's far away

Over the world they say, they got, they got

. . . . .

Fireflies by Owl City

Writer: Adam Young

Length: 3:54

I accidently downloaded this song last month, and the first time I listened to this song I just simply fell in love with Fireflies. At first, I wonder, who the hell is this Owl City? But then I know, it's not a who but it's a what. Owl City is synthpop musical project by Adam Young, who started making music in his parents basement and then following through his MySpace profile before he's being assigned by Universal Republic. And Fireflies is the no. 1 hit from his second album Ocean Eyes released in 2009. With the soothing and easy listening voice, music composition and arrangement with the touch of electronica influenced beats as well as the beautiful lyrics this song is horribly awesome!! Here's the lyric snippet!!

To ten millions fireflies

I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes

I got misty eyes as they said farewell

But I'll know where several are

If my dreams get real bizarre

'Cause I saved a few and keep them in a jar

I'd like to make myself believe

That planet Earth turns slowly

It's hard to stay awake when I'm asleep

'Cause everything is never as it seems

When I fall asleep

Awesome!! Isn't it?? If u don't trust me...go and download the songs and listen 'em yourself. then, u'll have to abediently agree with me!! Hahaha!! Now listening to Haven't Met You Yet by Michael Buble and Replay by I.Y.A.Z, nice!! =) Ciao...