306. Nosepicking for Pleasure: A Handy Guide by Roland Flicket

 

BOOK REVIEW: Nosepicking for Pleasure - A Handy Guide by Roland Flicket

As a child, I'm sure all of us would have allowed a finger to stray up our facial orifice. Our mums would give us an earful for this disgusting habit. But this book may change her mind to allow you to pick it! 😂

Let's face it, nosepicking is a hole way of life (pun intended!). It unites continents and binds nations. More popular than football or even fishing, nosepicking is the sport of choice for today's man-about-town.

The author is a world authority on nosepicking and strikes a blow for nosepickers everywhere in this essential guide to the history and technique of picking through the ages.

With special sections for advanced pickers and expert advice for beginners who want to learn to roll their own, the author offers a blow-by-blow introductions to the joys of the daily poke.

Be a bit cautious though. Most of it is fiction and not fact. Laughs abound as I read this book and I even grossed my mum out by showing her the book. A fun book to have in your collection!

305. Life's Eternal Change by Flora Tan Phek Yee

 

BOOK REVIEW: Life's Eternal Change by Flora Tan Phek Yee

This is the most cringe book I have ever read. I'm sorry I had to start off with such a bad statement but I never knew a book could be this bad. Malaysian writers are good from what I have seen with Tunku Halim and Tan Twan Eng. After this book, I have such an adverse reaction I'm seriously beginning to doubt the writing capacity of Malaysian authors.

The story is supposed to about the relationship between Shane (CEO of Wallace Holdings Co.) and Ruby (Shane's newly appointed PA). There were elements of romance, bitterness of unfulfilled love and even ancient relics. But then it all crashes to hell with too many cringe factors.

First is the continuous inner monologue by all the characters. They seem to talk less to each other and more to their inner alter egos. It got so annoying at one point that I almost threw the book to one side. If you read this book you will get what I mean.

The next thing that irritated me to the point of insanity was the amount of making out throughout the story. I know the author was trying to create romance but continuous kissing and PDA??? I slapped my head in frustration whenever Shane and Ruby started their so-called "romance". 

All in all this shouldn't be a read at all but casted aside. I have never left any extremely bad review and I hope this will be the first and last. Sighhhhh.....

304. The Feminism Book edited by Hannah McCann

 

BOOK REVIEW: The Feminism Book edited by Hannah McCann

Being a woman is never easy. The world is fraught with dangers for the fairer sex. Gender discrimination, domestic abuse and gender pay gap are some of the issues faced by the women of today. As a woman myself, I have come to realize that being a feminist of utmost importance to be empowered in a society where females need to be protected.

Women have been challenging the male domination of society for centuries. Yet it was not until the 1800s that feminism truly began as a movement, fighting for equality between the sexes and against the oppression of women and girls. 

Since that time, feminist activists, writers, and organizations have campaigned for women's rights, from securing the right to vote to creating the first birth-control pill. And with current and ongoing issues such as the wage gap and sexual harassment, feninism is as important now as it has ever been.

Divided into 6 major sections that chart the chronology of the movement, this book examines more than 100 of the most significant events, campaigns, and ideas that have shaped feminism the world over. This book profiles many remarkable and influential thinkers, from early pioneers like Mary Wollstonecraft and Betty Friedan to prominent contemporary feminists, such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Malala Yousafzai.

It gives the reader a thorough overview of the feminist landscape across different countries and historical periods, covering leading ideas such as sexual double standards and the definition of female beauty.

Packed with inspiring quotations, bold graphics, and accessible text, the book is the perfect introduction to the groundbreaking ideas behind one of the most important movements in history.

303. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

 

BOOK REVIEW: The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

I watched the movie and was bowled over by the magical world brought to life on screen. I have to admit sheepishly that I have just read the book. I have always wanted the full chronicle to read, from the very first book, ever since the movie but now I have set my mind to get a hold of it by year's end.

If you are an adult and found fairytales slowly ebbing away, this story will definitely make you believe in them with a renewed vigour. With the whole set of characters from the creatures of the night (spirits, werewolves, shapeshifters) to the beings of the golden rays (unicorns, driads, naiads, centaurs), this book will leave you spellbound and wanting more.

The Pevensie children (Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy) are sent away to stay in their uncle's house. Little did they know that a wardrobe would open a door into a world called Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and a country waiting to be set free. 

These four adventurers step into a land enslaved by the power of the White Witch, which binds the land into eternal winter with Christmas never in sight. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change and a great sacrifice.

As a newly assigned reading teacher in an international school, I finally realize the importance for children to read quality books as this. Firstly, language is perfect and British-y throughout. Secondly, moral values are strewn throughout the story such as patience, being just, honesty and so on.

It is a womderfully magical read and I do hope that my kids love this book as much as I did. Reading is an escape into a whole new world!

302. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

 

BOOK REVIEW: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Due to my profession, I was given a chance to relive one of childhood classics by Roald Dahl. Considered to be one of the most influential children's writer of all time, his stories weave the unimaginable with the mundane to give two shades of contrast to make the reader be awed. This book is no exception. 

Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is open at last! But only 5 lucky children will be allowed inside. The winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, the story's hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life.

These 5 children are to meet Mr. Willy Wonka for a tour of his chocolate factory. Run by pint-sized Oompa Loompas, the decadently erected factory churns the sweetest delights but will the children be able to enjoy the wholesome experience or be kicked out before the tour is over? 

This book intrinsically instills values of honesty, moderation, respect, truthfulness and bravery. It also teaches kids the consequences of greed, rudeness, disrespect and dishonesty. The story was fun with rhyming funny songs throughout that gets child (and adult) readers to jump on the bandwagon.

The only downside was the constant mouthwatering issue due to vivid descriptions of candy and chocolate throughout. Tiny tummies will be rumbling in no time. So make sure you have a few nibbles by your side to satiate that hunger! Happy reading!

301. Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo

 

BOOK REVIEW: Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo

Alright, so all of you might be asking why am I reading a children's book? As a reading teacher in an international school, I need to know the content beforehand to teach my kids. With that in mind, I dived into this book only to come off with a healthy respect for the term humanity and environmental responsibility. No wonder this book was chosen to be taught.

I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book and did feel emotional at certain parts of it. Despite it being a children's book, adults who read this will definitely have a wider viewpoint on the world and respect old age as a time to reflect and enjoy the peaceful moments in life.

Michael disappeared on the night before his 12th birthday. Washed up on a desert island, Michael struggles to survive on his own. With no food, no water and only his dog Stella Artois for company, he curls up to die. 

When he wakes, there is a plate beside him of fish, of fruit, and a bowl of fresh water. He soon comes to realize that he is not alone. An old man named Kensuke is shipwrecked on the very same island. An odd friendship develops between a Japanese man and a British boy which will set the scene for an education on humanity, parental love, environmental protection and honesty in friendship.

From the author of War Horse comes this remarkable tale of survival against all odds, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Pacific and recalling memories of the Second World War. 

I hope my kids in school enjoy this book as much as I did. Books like these are the omes children should read as they grow. Even government schools should start a class specially for reading to encourage the love for books and literature which is truly beneficial to the younger generation.

300. The Green Mile by Stephen King

 

BOOK REVIEW: The Green Mile by Stephen King

Have you ever came across the weird and wonderful articles about healers possessing powers beyond the human imagination? In the Phillipines, healers are able to operate without slicing into the human body. Healers such as these individuals are few and far between, sprinkled across the globe to give respite to the living. Stephen King has taken the theme of an innocent healer turned into a murderer sentenced to death in this book.

Those who walk the Green Mile do not return, because at the end of that walk is the room in which sits Cold Mountain Penitentiary's electric chair. In 1932, the newest resident on death row is John Coffey, a giant of a black man convicted of the brutal murder of two little girls. 

But nothing is as it seems with John Coffey, and around him unfolds a bizarre and horrifying story. Evil murderer or holy innocent - whichever he is - Coffey has strange powers which may yet offer salvation to others, even if they can do nothing to save him.

As the Master of Horror, the author has to inject some macabre scenes but overall it came of as highly emotional to me and I even shed a few tears. That was how sad this story was. For those of you who want to see a different side to Stephen King, this may very well be the book for you to pick up.