The Friday 56: Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus

Hi! Happy Friday! The moment u read this post, I'm already at home doin' nothing. I have two months long for holidays. Awesome!! Haha! I write this post yesterday actually because once I'm at home, no internet is available. OK, here's for the Friday 56, Men Are from Mars , Women Are From Venus by John Gray.

A man's deepest fear is that he is not good enough or that he is incompetent.


Just as women are afraid of receiving, men are afraid of giving.

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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..

Martian & Venusian

Hi, guys!! What a gloomy Thursday here. But, I'm really in a good mood right now 'cause I'm going'out for lunch with my girlfriend. Well, I'm reading Men Are from Mars,Women Are from Venus by John Gray right now. My girlfriend introduced me to this awesome book a year back but I couldn't finish it because I lost it. So, started from the moment I lost this book, we, my girlfriend and I, just simply called it "The Lost Book" haha! But, a few months before I bought the same book again and gave it to my girlfriend. And the funny thing is, we still calling it as "The Lost Book" instead of the real title. Last night she gave it to me cause I want to reread the book and want to finish it. Though it is a non-fiction book, it is a page-turner and I really enjoy reading it. By, reading this book, I really hope that I can improve our relationship, have better communication, and to understand each other very well. Why? Because I love my girlfriend so very, very much. 

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Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus

Synopsis [from cover]: Once upon a time Martians and Venusians met, fell in love, and had happy relationship together because they respected and accepted their differences. Then they came to Earth and amnesia set in: the forgot they were from different planets.

Using this metaphor to illustrate the commonly occurring conflicts between men and women, Dr. John Gray explains how these differences in communication can come between and prohibit mutually fulfilling loving relationships. based on years of successful  counseling of couples and individuals, he gives advice on how to counteract these differences in communication styles, emotional needs and modes of behaviour to promote greater understanding between partners. 

Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus has helped millions of men and women to understand each other better. it is a valuable tool for developing deeper and more satisfying relationships.

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This is such a great book. It's fun and enjoyable and yet full of tips and guides. I really love this book and I recommend it to all of you. have a go, and you won't regret reading this book. I can assure you. That's all for now. Oh, yes! I'm goin' home for a long semester break. You'll rarely see my post here from now on. Well, have a nice day!! Ciao........

The Movie: The Time Traveler's Wife

Title/ Year: The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)
Director: Robert Schwentke
Writers: Bruce Joel Rubin (Screenplay),Audrey Niffenegger (Novel)
Starring: Eric Bana (Henry DeTamble), Rachel McAdams (Claire Abshire)
CoffeeNCrackers' Meter: 5 cups of Coffee




Hi guys!! CJ's back!! Haha.The Time Traveler's Wife is one of the greatest books that I've read in 2009. I read it twice already and I'll read it for the third time when I feel like reading it. Now, I'm wondering when I'll get to watch the movie version of The Time Traveler's Wife? I also don't know...hahaha!! But I really want to watch this movie. Here's the trailer. Pretty cool!!!

Haha, that's all for now. Till next time. 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....

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....

Ghosh and Edwards

Hey guys! Check 'em out what I got from the library shelf this time. The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh and The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards. I hope that, after two thriller books that I borrow last time, these will calm me a little bit. Family relationship, nature, humanity and a bit of history. I think, this week might be a good week for these kind of books.

The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh

Who's Amitav Ghosh ?: He was born in Culcutta in 1956. He studied at The Doon School, St. Stephens College, delhi University, Oxford University, and the faculty of Arts at the University of Alexadria (Wow...he sure loves study, isn't he?). Began his first job at Indian express newspaper in New Delhi, Ghosh was then earned his doctorate at Oxford before he wrote his first novel, The Circle of Reason in 1986.

The Hungry Tide:

(from the book cover) Between the sea and the plains of Bengal lies an immense archipelago of islands. Here, for hundreds of years, only the truly dispossessed braved man-eating tigers and crocodiles that rule there, to eke out a precarious existence from the mud.

The settlers of the Sundarbans believe that anyone without a pure heart who ventures into the watery labyrinth will never return. it is the arrival of Piya Roy, of Indian parentage but stubbornly American, and Kanai Dutt, a sophisticated delhi businessman, that disturbs the delicate balance of settlement life. from this moment, the tide begins to turn.

Praise for this book:

"An intricate book, tinged with a melancholic and fragile beauty....it is a sense of place that dominates this novel - and what an extraordinary place it is." - Economist

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The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

Who's Kim Edwards ?: She grew up in Skaneateles, New York. She graduated from Colgate University and the University of Iowa, where she received an MFA in Fiction and an MA in Linguistics. After completing her graduate work, she went with her Husband to Asia, where they spent the next 5 years teaching, first on the rural east coast of Malaysia, then in a small city an hour south of Tokyo and finally in Phnom penh, Cambodia. The Memory Keeper's Daughter , was selected for Barnes and Noble Discovery Award and won the Kentucky Literary Award for fiction in 2005.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter:

(from the cover) This stunning novel begins on a winter night in 1964, when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy, but the doctor immediately recognizes that his daughter has Down Syndrome.

For motives he tells himself are good, he makes a split-second decision that will haunt all their lives forever. He asks his nurse, Caroline. to take the baby away to an institution. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child as her own. Compulsively readable and deeply moving, The Memory Keeper's Daughter is a brilliantly crafted story parallel lives, familial secrets and the redemptive power of love.

Praise for this book:

"In the Memory Keeper's Daughter, Kim Edwards has created a tale of regret and redemption.. of characters haunted by their past. crafted with language so lovely you have to re-read the passages just to be captivated all over again....simply a beautiful book" - Jodi Picoult

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OK guys! those are all for now...Have a nice day, and share with me your story and books. Until next time, Ciao....

Man and Boy

Hey everyone! It took me so long to update this blog. Haha! Loads of thing to handle, but never mind. I'm here now! Between your pop and your mom, which one is closer to you? which one do you prefer to share all your dirty little secretes with? your mom? your dad? Haha.....just answer it silently OK. This book by Tony Parson is a story about the relationship between the father and son and I really love this book and the story told! Some part it makes me wanna cry but I didn't. And most of the times it just makes me laugh! Haha...what a beautiful story it is.

Man and Boy, is a story about Harry Silver. Harry, approaching his 30, has it all. A beautiful wife, Gina, a young and beautiful child Patrick and a good work in the media. But, approaching the big 30 figures make he feel likes he's bringing extra luggage. No more fun, but all responsibilities. Until one night, he's having one night stand with Soubhan, his colleague and throw everything he own. Harry thinks that he can get away with that, but he's dead wrong. Gina finds out about that and make a strict decision. She can't forgive this stupid man! She feels like cheated and of course she is. Gina leaves harry and bring along little Pat with her to her father's. Harry's alone right now. Yes, he's alone.

Then,the story continues with Gina going to Japan to claim her ambition that she gave up long ago because of Harry. Leaving her beloved Patrick behind, Gina comes into an agreement that Harry will look after little Pat, the things that she thinks that she's done alone before. One after another, harry is then lost his job whilst he's struggling to take care of Pat by his own. But this is the turning point of his life. The new episode I would say. Most of the time this unemployed Harry spends the time with his son, and they become very close to each other. He try to be a best parent to his son. With the full support from both his parents, Harry is standing up on his feet again. Life becomes much better for him. Get to know his son better, re-unite with his parents and getting a new job. But not until Gina comes back and wants to bring Pat with her. Harry can't accept it. He loves Pat so much. He wants to fight for custody but he stop. He realize that " to love someone is to be able to let him go". He knows, Pat is happier with Gina.

My opinion: I think the story is just an average. Nicely written but a bit predictable and sometimes the story become flat at some parts. I wonder why. This is not an awesome book and it's not a bad book either. It's just good because the story is easy and too straightforward. It's supposed to be about the relationship between Harry and Pat but Mr. Parsons more focus about other plot such as the relationship between Harry and his old man and Harry with his new girlfriend Cyd. But to tell you the truth I love the cover more than I love the story. Haha!! That's all guys..Ciao...