The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold, begins by introducing the protagonist, Susie Salmon (like the fish, she reminds us), who is dead, murdered by a neighbor who’s made smalltalk with her parents a few times. As her community searches for her killer, and finally come to terms with her death, Susie watches from heaven.

Heaven, in The Lovely Bones, is a non-religious afterlife where everything is just as you want. Susie encounters a heavenly intake counselor, a former non-profit caseworker whose heaven is working for people who thank and appreciate her, and a heavenly roommate, a Vietnamese girl whose heaven includes speaking accentless English and having an American name. Unfortunately for me, Susie’s own heaven was the least appealing one described, involving a townful of dogs (I think this proves I have no heart but I can’t really get into all the maintenance required for slobber machines), but the details here, like the 14-year-old reading of Seventeen or the smells she most loved on earth, make any reader imagine their own heaven, without harps and angels, but perhaps the smell of new plastic and endless brand-new scenes in the Harry Potter movies. At least for me.

Via Simpson’s Paradox » The Lovely Bones

Often quoted and recommended, this self-help guide for depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and similar problems is easily the best I have ever read. That’s quite an achievement, coming from a greedy devourer of the self-help genre. The treatment avenue it introduces is cognitive therapy, also known as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). However it is also a very good general guide to many of the other treatment options available, and the proposed causes of the problems discussed.

One of the biggest challenges with depression is motivating the sufferer to keep an open mind when it comes to treatment options. This proves no great challenge for Burns, who is an extremely engaging and witty writer, on top of being one of the leading professionals in his field. Reading a nonfiction work like this, which simply oozes the passion, professional knowledge, and talent of the author, is a rare joy.

I think that must be what the unique appeal of this book is – there’s nothing more convincing than a verifiable sales pitch from a sincere and credible person, who truly believes in what they are offering, with all their heart. Burns easily grabs just enough trust and hope from the reader, so that despite the personal challenges and inertia they are currently suffering, they are willing to just try some of the techniques and principles of cognitive therapy. Like taking a needed gasp of fresh air, most readers grab on with both hands after the first thrilling moment when they discover that cognitive therapy truly can change the way they think and feel.

This work has been hailed as one of the most significant books to appear in the last third of the 20th century, and is still available from most bookshops without having to place a special order. Research shows that this book is just as likely to improve depression as taking an antidepressant medication. It comes recommended by me, and by almost everyone I have ever recommended it to.

The story deals with a deadly virus originating in remote China, a virus so deadly that the entire future of mankind is at stake. A top secret US government sponsored undersea lab conducts biomedical research based on a rare jellyfish known as the Blue Medusa, and this lab has the solution to contain the deadly virus. Howevewr, the lab is hijacked and towed off to an undisclosed location by a group of Chinese criminal gang who wants to monopolize the cure for themselves so that they can take over China and eventually the world. Simultaneous with the hijack of the undresea lab, a bathysphere containing Joe Zavala of NUMA is also attacked and Kurt Austin manages to resue the occupants from the jaws of death. Sensing a connection between these two events, Kurt Austin gets into the act and tries to retrieve the lab and secure the cure for mankind.

Medusa is not one of Cussler’s best work. The plot is hackneyed and too predictable. The characterization, something that made Cussler famous in the first place is hollow and even the description of events and the style leaves much to be desired.

I was amazed at the many vampire books that are not only available but are also on the best seller list. Has our society really gone that vampire crazy?

I’ll be the first to admit that I enjoy well written vampire fiction. I read The Last Vampire by Christopher Pike many years ago and was thrilled. I’ve also read all of Anne Rice’s vampire series, which are in a leage of their own. Plus, I read the Twilight Series too.

I’ve already written a semi-review of the Twilight series, in which I claim that even though the books are interesting, they cannot be considered academic or well-written novels by any means of the word.

With that being said, I cannot imagine any of these other thousands of vampire books can be a whole lot different. Have we not yet reached the point where the vampire theme is overused? Am I only the one that is tiring of authors jumping on the vampire bandwagon?

Set in New Orleans, the backdrop of the city provides the perfect front for the modern Victor Frankenstein (now Victor Helios). In Prodigal Son, we learn that Mary Shelley’s novel was based on a real and true situation. In addition, we meet Victor’s first creation, a hulk of a man, created from body parts of autrocious criminals.

Though a traditional book review gives a plot summary, I hesitate to give any thing away about this first book. It really is a good read, and because Book 3 is out and available now, I highly reccomend reading the entire series.

Izongoud is portrayed as a evil vizier, quite in tune with the steriotyped version of medieval plots and cabals. Iznogoud’s schemes usually end in failure and in many occassions backfire on Iznogoud himself.

The story of Izongoud is written by Goscinny – Buhler, the author of the famous Asterix Series. The illustrations are by Tabary.

The famous books in the Izongoud seriescare
Iznogoud and the women
The return of Iznogoud
Iznogoud: Caliph at Last
The nightmarish birthday of Iznogoud
The nighmares of Iznogoud
More nightmares of Iznogoud
Some more nightmares of Iznogoud
Iznogoud: The ancestors mistake
Iznogoud: Who killed the Caliph
Iznogoud: The trap of the siren
Iznogoud: A likeable monster
The accomplice of Iznogoud

These stories appeal to the youth and they could relate the character of Izonogoud to their own clumsiness or a likeable alls well that ends well mystery in a far way land of the mystical orient that captures one’s imagination.

Hercule Poirot is featured as crippled with arthritis and the plot starts with him reuniting with his old companion Captain Hastings, who is now a widower. They receive a letter from Styles Court, the place where they solved their first murder together, and set out to solve a murder mystery. Poiroit however identifies a seemingly harmless guest as a dangerous serial killer and people start doubting the capability of his once renowned ‘little grey cells’, and Poirot has to work against time, putting not just his reputation, but also his life at risk to unmask the killer.

The Curtain is one of Agatha Christie’s last novels, but nevertheless delivers a clever and interesting plot. The characterization remains pallid as it is with a typical Agatha Christie novel. The book is widely renowned not for the plot but for Poirot’s exit, and in the words of critics “an unputdownable swansong” not just for Poirot but for Agatha Christie herself.

The Neo Nazis have set up a mountain hideout in the remote Hausruck Mountains of Austria from where they have surely established a strong network across Europe. The American agent Harry Latham manages to infiltrate to their secret hideout but is discovered. His brother Drew Latham, a special officer for Consular Operations in Paris sets out to bring the secret organization to light.

Jean Pierre Jodelle, a member of the French Resistance during the Nazi occupation of France during World War II was sent to a concentration camp and had his family murdered when a traitor exposed him. Having survived the concentration camp, he has kept his identity secret from his only surviving son, now a popular actor. He tries to assassinate the traitor, who is now a high ranking officer in the French government and how has links to the neo-Nazi movement. Having failed in his assassination attempt, he commits suicide in front of his son. His soon soon understands the dark and hidden secret of his life and sets out to find the identity of the traitor who had ruined his family.

The way in which the two streams of plot interposes itself and combines in a terrific thriller makes this Robert Ludlum novel a must read.

The Mickey Mouse and Friends comic book series first appeared in 1939 and has an unbroken run till date, with many sub-series featuring related characters like Donald Duck having successfully branched off. The only hiatus was between 1990 and 2003 when the series was not published in the United States. The present publishers are Boom! Studios.

The protagonist of the Mickey Mouse and Friends comic series is Mickey Mouse, with Goofy, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Morty and Ferdie Fieldmouse playing the major supporting cast. Peg-Leg Pete, formerly “Black Pete” is the antagonist and is portrayed as a criminal and Mickey’s rival. Other adversaries include Emil Eagle, Eli Squinch, Sylvester Shyster, Dangerous Dan McBoo and the Phantom Blot, all of who make an appearance at some time or the other.

Mickey Mouse is presented as a hero who makes it his mission to crush the forces of evil. Minnie Mouse, his girlfriend is a bar dancer. Goofy is presented as a clumsy sidekick to Mickey Mouse.

The plot starts with an unknown American found with a shot in her head near a convent in Burgundy and nursed back to health by the nuns. On being nursed back to health, the girl, christened Eve suffers from amnesia and now tries to find out about her past. On her return to the convent, she however finds all the nuns in the convent murdered, except Sister Heloise. The assassins were apparently looking for the American, but for what purpose, she does not know. The only clue she receives is a stub of the Tangier-Algiers Ferry. Knowing for certain that the assailants will returns, she runs, and while she is anyway on the run, tries to find out the secret.

Eve sets out to Tangier under the identity of one of the deceased sisters. She is naturally paranoid about everyone until she meets a fellow American, Brian Haverman. Who claims to that she was her brother’s lover. The due proceed to Marrakech where they encounter villains after villains who believe she possesses something they desperately want.

The past placed plot and stunning characterization make this novel a real thriller and a must read.