Bames Live

Celebrate Small Things

2013-05-23T22:14:00-07:00

One of my favorite blogs, VikLit's Writing Blog, has decided to have a new feature on her blog that celebrates small things. I have decided to join her :)

It involves having a weekly post, specifically every Friday, that contains a list of things achieved or to be done in that week, which I wish to celebrate. And to congratulate others who have joined the program.

Because today is a Friday, it means I should have my list of things to celebrate... :) And those things are:

1. Lucky (our Yellow Labrador) looks like he has gotten rid of his allergy.

2. My stepmom had not had a single asthma attack all week! (yay!)

3. Having fewer powercuts that what is normal in our village. (major yay!)

No matter what you have achieved this week, be it mastering a new recipe or getting to finish reading that book or simply being able to enjoy a delicious tub of ice cream... CONGRATULATIONS! Let's do the dance of joy. Yes!

So what are you celebrating? :)

The program is a blog hop

Proud to Accept Some Great Awards

2013-05-23T11:30:00-07:00

Bames Live is proud to accept some great awards and to pass them on, too.

Nancy LaRonda Johnson has somehow included me in her list of nominees for four awards. Yay! Well... Actually she gave me the choice to accept one or all of the four. Being the fallible human that I am, I have decided to accept three ... bwahahaha (beri, beri greedy laf!)

I have decided to somehow condense all three awards in this post. My nominees for the awards are at the bottom of this post and I am nominating them for all three though they may decide to accept one, two or all three :)

Awarded to Bames Live by Nancy LaRonda Johnson

Very Inspiring Blogger Award Rules:

1. Display logo in your blog to show you've been nominated!
2. Link back to your nominator.
3. Share 7 things about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.
5. Notify your nominees.

Here are 7 things about dear ol' me:

1. I used to be a corporate trainer for ages
2. I love my canine babies and spoil them as much as I can
3. My chain reading is driving me nuts
4. Getting really impatient waiting for George R.R. Martin's "Winds of Winter" (the next book of the Song of Fire and Ice series)
5. Just got my Dad some great gardening tools for his birthday
6. Love Grey's Anatomy and Supernatural
7. I am dreaming of being able to buy my stepmother an oxygen concentrator

Awarded by Nancy LaRonda Johnson

Sunshine Award Rules:

1. Include the award’s logo in a post or on your blog.
2. Link to the person who nominated you.
3. Answer 10 questions about yourself.
4. Nominate 10 bloggers.
5. Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.

The 10 questions & my answers are:

1. Favorite color? Blue
2. Favorite animal? Dog
3. Favorite number? Seven
4. Favorite non-alcoholic drink? Coca-Cola
5. Favorite alcoholic drink? Vodka Tonic
6. Facebook or Twitter? Facebook
7. Passions? Reading
8. Prefer getting or giving presents? Both
9. Favorite City? Makati (Philippines)
10. Favorite TV Shows? Grey's Anatomy, Fringe (too bad the series has ended), Game of Thrones, and Supernatural

Awarded by Nancy LaRonda Johnson

Liebster Award Rules:

1. The Liebster Award is given to bloggers by bloggers.
2. Post 11 facts about yourself.
3. Answer the 11 questions that are asked by the nominating blogger.
4. Choose 11 new bloggers to nominate for the Award and link to them in the post.
5. Create 11 new questions for your nominees.
6. Go back to their pages and tell them they've been nominated.
7. No tag backs.

Here are 11 facts about myself:

1. I need to lose weight (lots of weight)

2. My favorite flavor of almost anything is chocolate

3. I am terrified of cockroaches and spiders

4. Me thinks my Dad is the greatest Dad in the world

5. I believe that people who are cruel to and abuse animals deserve a kick in the ass (honestly, they deserve to get the cruel and abusive treatment they gave the animals they maltreated)

6. More than cake, I love ice cream (chocolate of course)

7. My Kindle has more books than I can ever hope to read

8. The car of my dreams is a Honda CRV

9. My greatest crush is George Clooney

10. My eyes are very dark brown

11. I am craving for some delicious pancit palabok.

Here are my answers to Nancy's questions:

1. What’s your best quality? My patience

2. What celebrity would you want to kiss, say if you nor he/she were married? George Clooney (or Keanu Reeves... hehehe)

3. You have to create a TV show, any kind. What will it be about? People who love and rescue abused animals

4. What’s one thing you wish you totally understood? Math

5. What human condition/emotion do you wish you had more control over? Anger

6. If you could be any animal, which would it be? A wild Mustang

7. You have to relive one of your past years. Which one will it be? My 20th year

8. Captain Kirk or Mr. Spock? Both (I had crushes on them for years)

9. Deliciously evil or boringly good? Ebil! Ebil! LOL

10. What language do you wish you spoke fluently? German

11. You have one day to do whatever you want. What will you do? Ride a hot air balloon

My questions for my nominees are:

1. What is your favorite book?

2. If you could have a single wish come true, what would it be?

3. What color of clothes do you believe suits you the most?

4. If you won a million dollars, how would you spend the money?

5. Dogs or cats?

6. If you could go on holiday to any country in the world, where would you go?

7. What was your favorite food when you were a kid?

8. What are three things that you are grateful for today?

9. What made you start blogging?

10. Which book would you really like to be made into a mini-series or movie?

11. Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings?

My nominees are for one, two or all three awards are:

Oh Hello Heart Strings

Peanut Butter and Whine

Reading Teen

To Be Thode

The Bathroom Monologues

Emily Unraveled

Not Just Another Mother Blogger

Musings of a Penniless Writer

Just Another Blog

Leelou Blogs

Book Review: The Last Hour (Thompson Sisters Book #3)

2013-05-22T21:50:00-07:00

The Last Hour by Charles Sheehan-Miles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit that reading this particular book took me more than the usual amount of time it takes for me to read a book. The reason for that is simply because the book made me cry buckets full and I had to stop reading for a time. Suffice it to say, The Last Hour by author Charles Sheehan-Miles is one hell of a tearjerker. A box of tissues won't cut it -- you will need a beach towel!

It is part of the Thompson Sisters series, specifically the third book. The book is about the love between two soul mates. Ray Sherman and Carrie Thompson share a love that is incredibly devastating but also wonderful. The Last Hour is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Although it is the third book in a series, you can safely read this book without reading the previous ones in the series though having to read them will allow you to have a better understanding of the characters and the way the story has grown. Having said that, I am giving my perfectly honest opinion here that I enjoyed reading this book though I totally abandoned the first book in the series after reading several pages and have not read the second one yet.

I would have given the book all five stars, but, I do not appreciate books that reduce me to copious tears. Ergo, only four stars. That does not mean it is not a great book.

All in all a great read -- just make sure you have a glass of water and a beach towel ready to deal with those tears.

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Tips to Help You Stay Cool This Scorching Summer

2013-05-22T00:27:00-07:00

Lemonade with Mint (Nimbu Pani or Shikanjvi)

When daytime temperatures soar and the heat becomes tough to deal with, you need to take certain measures to help you deal with it. Here are some tips to help you stay cool this summer.

Wear natural fabrics -- Cotton and linens are the best fabrics for summer. They help the skin breathe and are able to absorb sweat. Unless you have athletic clothes that have special technology, stay away from synthetics.
Drink the right type of fluids -- During scorching summer days, the best cooling fluids are plain water, juices, or lemonade with mint. Steer clear of drinks that contain alcohol because they can dehydrate the body. Make sure you drink lots of these fluids to keep your body hydrated. Please do not wait until you actually feel thirsty.

Mint leaves. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mint is your friend -- The active ingredient in mint, menthol, helps to give you a "cool" feeling. Make the most out of mint by adding it to your drinks, use dusting powders that contain mint, or get cooling some menthol gel onto your skin before you go outside. Although mint will not lower your body's temperature, it will help you feel cooler.
Frequent showers -- One of the best ways to help your body temperature is to take a cool shower or bath. If you have access to cool water (there are times when soaring temperatures mean that water from the taps are about as cool as boiling water), take a shower when you begin to feel uncomfortable with the heat.

Umbrella (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Use an umbrella or cap -- Being under direct sunlight can be very harmful. For one, it means you get maximum UV rays. Plus, your skin gets burned because of the heat. Try your best to avoid being under direct sunlight by using an umbrella (who cares if hardly anyone else is using it -- take care of yourself first) or wear a hat or cap to shade your face.

This summer, make sure that you protect yourself as much as you can from the searing heat.

Book Review: Untraceable

2013-05-20T23:24:00-07:00

Untraceable by S.R. Johannes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Untraceable by S.R. Johannes is an exciting young-adult thriller that combines generous dashes of romance and suspense. The story revolves around a 16-year old young lady, Grace, who is desperately trying to look for her missing father.

She refuses to accept what people around her say regarding what might have happened. Every single day, she takes her trusty bike Luci and goes into the vast expanse of woods to try and find any sign that might lead her to her Dad. It does not matter that she finds much but she continues her search. While searching, she meets Mo who introduces himself as a geology student out to collect rocks for a study.

Her father was a forest ranger -- a really good one. Grace knows that her father could not have gotten lost within the woods. She refuses to believe that the search for her father should be stopped even if there has been no trace of him for over three months. She uses all the skills her father taught her about how to search, track, and survive in the woods in order to find him. And even though her efforts are beginning to wear her down physically and mentally, she refuses to stop.

The small town she lives in appears to be struggling to survive and more and more businesses are closing shop. Life is hard but there are some who are able to find a way to make things work. While on her lunch break from her job at a small shop that sells fishing equipment, she overhears two men talking amongst themselves. Her curiosity is aroused and she decides to follow them. What follows is a thrilling series of events that will leave the reader hooked.

It seems that people are not who they appear to be and there are terrible secrets. Grace becomes caught in a web of lies and deceit that promises to change her life forever. Untraceable is a very exciting story that ends in a way the reader would have never imagined. It also promises more exciting stories to come.

S.R. Johannes writes very well and her characters are strong and solid. She is able to capture the attention of the reader and weave into her story, some amazing yet very disturbing facts that need to be highlighted. Untraceable is a great read.

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Book Review: Inferno (Robert Langdon #4)

2013-05-19T21:28:00-07:00

Inferno by Dan Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Inferno is the latest novel by writer Dan Brown. The story's main character is Robert Langdon, a professor of Religious Iconology and Symbology at Harvard University. He has also been the main character in Dan Brown's previous novels Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and The Lost Symbol.

The focus of Inferno is on the work of Dante Alighieri. There are so many references to the painting of Dante's Inferno by renowned painter Botticelli, Dante's travel through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise in the Inferno, and even features Franz Liszt’s Dante Symphony. The clues that help Langdon solve the very complicated and seemingly convoluted puzzle lies in Dante's most famous work.

Dan Brown's Inferno (Robert Langdon #4) begins with a man jumping off a tower in Italy. Robert Langdon wakes up from a nightmare in a hospital room with a major headache and is unable to remember what has happened and why he has stitches on his head. He is told by his doctors -- Dr. Marconi and Dr. Sienna Brooks -- that he may have amnesia. He seems to be having visions of a terrifying scene where there are dead bodies all over the place and a veiled lady asks him to "seek and find."

However, as Langdon is starting to come to terms with what the doctors are telling him, a woman enters the hospital and tries to kill him. Robert is able to escape with the help of Dr. Sienna Brooks. And that becomes the beginning of a very dangerous and deadly chase between Langdon and his pursuers.

Dan Brown (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A man called the "provost" (the head of The Consortium) needs to find Langdon fast. The provost has a very important client who has paid The Consortium a lot of money to make sure that he is able to do his life's work in secret. Because The Consortium is known to keep its promises to its clients, the provost is trying to do everything in his power to make sure the client's wishes are fulfilled.

The client is Bertrand Zobrist is a very famous biochemist and is an ardent believer in Transhumanism which is a philosophy that states humans should make use all of the available technologies in order to engineer their own species stronger. It basically means survival of the fittest. Zobrist believes the dramatic rise in the human population will lead to the extinction of the human species in less than a century unless there is a way to control the growth. Too many people to feed means a drain on resources until there will be nothing left and humans will die out. Bertrand is of the belief that the Black Death (the plague), responsible for the deaths of countless people in medieval Europe, paved the way for the birth of the Rennaisance. Thus, a newly-designed plague will be the best solution to the problem.

Zobrist's ideas make the head of the WHO very nervous and uncomfortable. Dr. Elizabeth Sinskey knows he must be stopped at all costs. But Zobrist has disappeared and Sinskey needs help to find him and to thwart his plans.

All these characters, and more, come together to help weave a very fascinating and exciting story. Dan Brown is able to put together an intriguing book. Inferno is "unputdownable." There are numerous and totally unexpected twists and turns that will surely keep readers glued to the story. I find the book totally absorbing.

Inferno is a must read and I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.

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Book Review: The Forgotten (John Puller Book #2)

2013-05-17T11:30:00-07:00

The Forgotten by David Baldacci
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Forgotten by David Baldacci revolves around Special Agent John Puller who works within the US Army CID. His paternal Aunt, Betsy, sends his father a letter wherein she says that there are problems in Paradise, Florida where she lives. John Puller's father is retired commander Lt. Gen. John Puller who is now a patient at Virginia's VA hospital for his Alzheimer's.

As John comes home from his previous assignment, he learns that his father has become rather upset since receiving the letter. John decides to visit him. Because of his Aunt Betsy's letter, John Puller goes to Paradise,Florida. But, upon reaching there, finds out that his Aunt Betsy is dead and he feels that it was not due to an accident. Then there are a few more deaths -- and they were people who knew his Aunt. John Puller does not believe in coincidences and he becomes more determined to find out what is going on. Add to that, there are two men in a car that appear to be following him.

As he conducts his investigation, he comes across a giant of a man named Mecho who helps him out when there were 8 men determined to beat him up. His friend Gen. Julie Carson -- a one-star general -- also decides to help him out. Together they uncover a human trafficking operation that spans several countries.

The book is full of action. It also delves into the human trafficking world where people are simply "taken" and then sold as slaves -- women and pretty young boys are the most profitable because they earn a lot of money for their owners as prostitutes, people who can be used as drug mules are second in earning potential, and those who can work as laborers are the lowest rung of the profit ladder. David Baldacci does a good job in his exploration of human trafficking.

All in all a really good book.

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Book Review: Harry Potter: The Prequel

2013-05-16T11:30:00-07:00

Harry Potter: The Prequel by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The book is more like a really short story but it is a joy to read nonetheless. I love JKRowling's Harry Potter series and this book as well. The story revolves around Sirius Black and James Potter. They were really great friends and could be compared to Weasley Twins during Harry's time at Hogwart's School.

The story is a mere 800 words long but it is a great collection of 800 words. It is funny, witty and fun to read. Harry Potter fans would enjoy reading Harry Potter: The Prequel even of it is rather mega short.

I would have given it 5 stars if only it was a bit longer because I really enjoy reading Rowling's stories on Harry Potter :)

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Being Kind

2013-05-15T11:30:00-07:00

Among the many things that I truly admire about my Dad is that he is a very kind person. He tries his best to help out others as much as he can. Though I try to be kind to others as well, my Dad is a tough act to follow.

Today, my Dad went with my stepmother and I to the dentist's office. My stepmother needed to have a tooth extracted. With us was an old lady who is a good friend to my Dad and stepmother since their childhood. I fondly call her Bhua (meaning paternal aunt).

Bhua helping my stepmother cut some carrots

When I first came to India in 1997, Bhua would often drop by our home. She would always help us out when we needed an extra hand -- like when we needed to deal with the chickpea or the turmeric harvest. Bhua would work tirelessly with us. Every time my stepmother got sick, she would be among the first people to run to our home to help out in any way she can.

However, after her daughter had gotten married, the daughter abandoned her and she started living alone. She has never been rich to begin with -- she earns some money by doing odd jobs for other people. Her home has just one room. There is only one lightbulb, one stand fan, and one old radio (which I had given her as a gift many years ago). She gets water from a hand pump and she cooks using firewood. Her life has become more challenging as she lives alone and is now getting old.

A few months back, while using the hand pump, there was a small accident and the handle of the pump slipped from her hand and bounced up so fast that it hit her in her chest and chin. The blow was so hard, almost all her teeth came loose. It became hard for her to talk and to eat.

A short time after that, Dad asked me to take Bhua to the dentist as I was already planning to go to have my molar checked. I was going anyway so I had no problem taking her along. Dad had decided that he would take care of Bhua's dental treatment because it was hard for all of us to see her having such a painful time.

Since then, I would take Bhua to the dentist and back once a week. The dentist extracts a tooth or two each visit to get rid of all the teeth that just can't be saved. She has several more weeks to go until all the bad teeth would be extracted and she can be fitted with dentures.

Through it all, Dad makes sure that Bhua gets to have lunch with us after she comes back from the dentist and my stepmother makes something soft for her to eat. It is not easy to take care of all the expenses that come with dental treatments even if they are less expensive here in India than most places. That is especially true for a man who has retired from being a farmer. Yet, Dad is taking it on and making sure that he takes care of the childhood friend who is always there for us.

I salute my Dad. He is the epitome of being kind to others.

Happy Birthday, Dad

2013-05-14T11:30:00-07:00

Today is a very special day for our family. My Dad is celebrating his 81st birthday.

Happy Birthday, Dad

and may you have many more happy birthdays to come

Book Review: The WItch SIsters (The Taker Book #2.5) by Alma Katsu

2013-05-13T11:30:00-07:00

The Witch Sisters by Alma Katsu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Alma Katsu's The Witch Sisters is a short story that is a part of The Taker series. It is a stand alone short story meant to whet the reader's appetite for the next book in the series.

The story revolves around Adair travelling around England and finding himself in a rather forbidding wood late one evening. As he was making his way through, he meets a young woman who convinces him to stay the night at their home. Adair, being the man that he is, considers the idea to be a good one especially after he learns that the woman lives with her sister.

Penthy and Bronwin are very cunning women. They live alone in the woods and Adair becomes their very willing guest, lover, and at one point in time, their prisoner. Adair is not as violent in this story as in the other "The Taker" books and that fact makes the story more interesting.

Although it is unclear just what part the sister's will play, if any at all, in the series, the story is an enjoyable read. I just wish it was more than just a "short story." :)

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Book Review: The Hit by David Baldacci

2013-05-12T22:11:00-07:00

The Hit by David Baldacci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Hit is David Baldacci's latest novel and it is one of his best works. Once you start reading it, you will not be able to put it down until the very last page of the last chapter.

The story revolves around two of the US government's top assassins, Will Robie and Jessica Reel. It starts when an assignment to assassinate a Middle Eastern politician ends in the death of the man who is supervising the entire operation. The suspected killer is the agency's only woman assassin -- Jessica Reel. The agency now considers her a rogue agent and a murderer. To find Reel, the agency ropes in its best operative, Will Robie. But as Robie goes about his new task of finding Reel, he learns that she is one of the very best and that he has his work cut out for him.

Jessica knows that she is being hunted down and that she has very little time to complete the task she has set out for herself. She needs to make sure she "takes care" of all the people in her "list." And after she manages to target the agency's number two, things are getting extremely difficult for her. Plus, she knows she may not stand a chance against the best of the best -- Will Robie.

Robie finds out that tracking down Jessica is not going to be easy. To make things more difficult, it seems the files the agency has given him are incomplete. He begins to feel that there is more to the case than meets the eye. Jessica must have her reasons and he intends to find out what they are. As Will is about to catch a break, the person he is meeting gets attacked and is shot before she could give him more information. As Will tries to save her life and his own, he gets help from someone he suspects to be Reel. But why would Reel help Robie? There is definitely something going on and Will finds that he cannot trust anyone.

David Baldacci has gotten his groove back with this novel. There are so many unpredictable twists and turns which will leave the reader hooked. Although the way things were going with Robie and Reel, I could almost see how the book was going to end, the last chapter leaves the door open for another book in the Will Robie series. I can't wait for that next book to be published.

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Peacock on the Loose

2013-05-11T11:30:00-07:00

Peacock on the Veranda

One of the major perks of living in a small farming village in Punjab, India is that I get to see a lot more varieties of animals moving around freely. In the city, there is just too many things going on that one does not get to notice much of the wonderful creatures that co-inhabit the Earth with us.

In our village, there is more than one party of peacocks. Just some trivia... It appears that a flock of peacocks with peahens is called a party, a group of peacocks with no peahens is called ostentation, a group of peafowl of whatever age and sex is called a bevy -- I learn more everyday :)

Peahens

The peafowl move around freely from rooftop to rooftop or from a roof to a tree of pole. They seem to enjoy being in high places. The peahens love to travel in groups and I have noticed that young peafowl move in a group supervised by a number of adult peahens. They can be fun to watch.

Most villagers make sure that they throw a handful of grains on their roof for the peafowl to feed on. We do the same. Every morning, I make sure that I scatter grains of wheat on our veranda for the peafowl and pigeons while I leave small pieces of roti (flatbread) or white bread for the crows and mynahs. I also keep a large bowl of water filled to the brim.

Peacock

Today, there was a peacock who needed a drink of water (the summer becoming way too hot to handle) and I decided to take some pictures while he was just relaxing.

Although I have always wanted to take a picture of a peacock with his tail on display, I have not had the chance because they are pretty shy creatures. They try to stay away from humans as much as they can -- which is a good thing because there are some people who would want to harm them.

Book Review: Infinity (Numbers #3) by Rachel Ward

2013-05-10T11:30:00-07:00

Infinity by Rachel Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the final book in Rachel Ward's Numbers series. In the first book, Numbers, Jem, a teenage girl, could see numbers when she looked into people's eyes. The numbers were actually dates; the dates people will die. Her gift or curse changed her life dramatically. There is a tragedy and many have died. The police finds some footage that shows two teenagers running away just before the incident and believe they may have something to do with what happened.

In the second book, The Chaos, Jem's son Adam inherited her ability to see numbers. Except that he could also see and feel how they will die -- their final moments. It nearly drives him mad. Sarah, a troubled teen has recurrent nightmares of a scarred demon stealing a baby she is carrying while being trapped in a fire. To make things more difficult, Sarah sees the demon in her new school. Adam, on the other hand, has problems too. So many people have the same numbers that it is almost impossible for him to leave it alone -- he knows he must do something. The two teens are drawn together by circumstances that change their lives in ways unimaginable.

With Infinity, Adam still has his ability though Sarah's nightmares have stopped. Together, they take little Mia, the baby in Sarah's previous nightmares, and Sarah's brothers and try to make a life for themselves after the chaos. They are a family of sorts. In one camp, they were invited to stay and, with the kids needing stability and Sarah pregnant, they accept the invite. However, they find that there are some people looking for Adam and those people are up to no good.

Infinity is a great way to end the Numbers series and, in my opinion, is the best among the books. The story is gripping. There are so many unexpected twists and turns that it is extremely difficult to figure out how the story ends without reading through each and every single page.

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Book Review: The Chaos (Numbers #2) by Rachel Ward

2013-05-09T11:30:00-07:00

The Chaos by Rachel Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Chaos by Rachel Ward is the sequel to Numbers. In the first book, Jem is a girl who saw numbers whenever she would look people in the eyes and that, for her, was more of a curse than a gift. The numbers represent the dates of when people will die. This has always made her life difficult.

In The Chaos, Jem's son, Adam, inherits her ability to see numbers. But, the gift has also further developed because Adam can also see and feel how the person will die. His childhood is just about as difficult as Jem's was. It is a terrible thing to know when and how someone will die. Like his mother, Adam faces a situation where too many people have the same numbers and it is taking a heavy toll on him.

Sarah suffers from recurring nightmares which make her life a living hell. That and another secret she is keeping. In her dream, she sees the scarred face of a demon who tries to take a baby she is carrying away from her while there is fire everywhere. The nightmares are terrible and frightening. To make things worse, she starts attending her new school and she sees the face of the demon that haunts her dreams.

Adam's and Sarah's futures become intertwined and they find themselves having to face so many challenges that threaten to change the world forever.

The Chaos is one good book. I was unable to put it down the moment I started reading it. The story is gripping and Rachel Ward really shows off her great writing talent. The characters are just so alive and realistic that it is easy to imagine myself in their situation.

I cannot wait to read the next book in the series, Infinity.

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Book Review: Numbers (Numbers #1) by Rachel Ward

2013-05-08T11:30:00-07:00

Numbers by Rachel Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a pleasant surprise. It starts off slow and it does take some effort to keep reading but things become more interesting and by the time it ended, I wanted to read the next book, The Chaos. There are very realistic elements within the book like the way society tends to view and treat those who are in the lower strata of society. I find myself introspecting about how I view those who are not at all privileged.

The main character, Jem, is very interesting. She is a child who has been born with a gift, or a curse, of seeing numbers when she looks into people's eyes. At first, she did not understand what they meant and thought everything was normal until she realized that those numbers were actually dates -- dates that people will die. Because of the "darkness" of her gift -- it can hardly be a wonderful thing to know when people will die -- Jem avoids people as much as possible. It is during her attempts to hide from people that she meets her one and only friend.

During a visit to the London Eye, Jem notices something very disturbing. So many of the people within the queues had the same numbers. She becomes frightened and convinces her friend that they should run away. That becomes the beginning of a very big change in their lives which forces them to flee.

Rachel Ward writes a very good story. She is able to take the reader into the mind of the characters and to understand what they are going through. Although the book may start off pretty slow, the story evolves into something very interesting. Elements in the book reflect reality rather well though I have no idea about how true the things are in London as I live in India where the divide is clear and something no one can miss (at least not those with actual eyes).

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Book Review: City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare

2013-05-07T11:30:00-07:00

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

There are several books within the "Mortal Instruments" series. I have managed to read and review the first three. They were okay though there is a noticeable unsteadiness with the way Cassandra Clare writes and I had been hoping that the improvements I have noticed between books 1, 2, and 3 of the series will continue with the fourth book. Unfortunately, it does not.

Since City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1), the main characters of Jace and Clary have not really solidified. I was drawn to reading the books because of the other characters -- I was more interested in them and what happened to them instead of the main two. It somewhat improved with City of Ashes and had improved further with City of Glass only to fall by the wayside with the City of Fallen Angels.

The thing that I find almost irritating is that, with book 3, the main villain was dead and the two main characters were finally reunited with their seemingly incestuous relationship all sorted out. It appears that all was becoming as they should be though there are some aspects of the story that needed further explanation or expansion. However, this book makes me feel that Cassandra Clare is merely trying to find ways to stretch and milk the series for all it's worth.

In this book, Jace and Clary are now together in New York. Clary is training to become a shadowhunter and her mother is finally about to marry Luke who has been in love with her for a long time. Simon, Clary's best and closest friend is coming to terms with his life as a vampire.

As with the earlier books, I find the characters of Simon, Alec, Isabel and Magnus more interesting than either Clary or Jace. Honestly, I am getting so sick of their on and off thing -- I am wondering just how far Cassandra Clare will keep them like that because I am ready to barf.

The story is not so great although Isabel's character shines bright. The ending was predictable (at least for someone who reads as many books as I do). I am keeping my fingers (and hands, arms, toes, legs, and even eyes) crossed that the next book will be less excruciating to read.

Frankly, I am regretting the decision to include the books on my reading list because that alone, and my interest is finding out what becomes of Isabel, Simon, Alec and Magnus, forces me to keep reading. Though a lot of people may like the book and disagree with me, this book is as good as dead in the water.

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Book Review: The Reckoning (The Taker #2) by Alma Katsu

2013-05-07T00:39:00-07:00

The Reckoning by Alma Katsu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alma Katsu's second book of The Taker series is an exciting read. To be perfectly honest, I liked it a lot better than the first book, The Taker. The story flows much more smoothly and the twists and turns are exciting, engrossing and gripping.

In the first book, Lanore's life in rural Maine is made much more lively by her friendship with the son of the town's founder, Jonathan. However, their relationship is more one-sided with Lanore caring much more for him than he does for her. Somewhere down the line, Lanore has to leave her home and is being sent to Boston. There she is met by Adair and his group of "friends" who introduce her to a very different life. As much as that life is full of opulence and riches, Lanny is not so happy with the way things are going. Especially when Adair forces her to bring Jonathan to him. But Lanny finds out that Adair has plans for Jonathan and she is afraid of losing the love of her life so she entombs Adair alive.

In The Reckoning Lanny is able to live her life free from Adair and his influence. She is happy and has found a new man to love until she suddenly "feels" that Adair has gotten free of the prison she had made for him. As it happens, Adair has gotten free and is out for revenge and he wants to make sure that Lanny pays for what she did to him. Lanny has to flee and try to stay alive. She also has to sacrifice her new love to protect him and those he cares about.

On the other hand, Adair finds the world has changed so much since he was imprisoned by Jonathan and Lanny. He now has to "learn" so much about the new world he finds himself in. He enlists the help of an old "acquaintance", Jude. And Adair will stop at nothing to find the woman who betrayed him.

Lanny knows she may not be able to hide from her pursuer so she tries to get in touch with the people who had been close to Adair. She needs their help though she is also afraid they may deliver her to the very man she is fleeing from.

The book is about how people can change -- some for the better, some for the worse, and some not too much one way or the other. It is about greed, selfishness, ruthlessness, and wanting redemption.

Alma Katsu tells a great story. She is able to articulate complex feelings and thoughts clearly and simply. The Reckoning is definitely a cut above The Taker and I have to admit that I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

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Book Review: The City of Glass (Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare

2013-05-05T11:30:00-07:00

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

City of Glass is a definite improvement from the first two books of the Mortal Instruments series. Although I still find myself unable to appreciate the two main characters still (maybe there is something wrong with me, can't really say).

In this book, the shadowhunters of New York are all set to visit their home, Idris, the City of Glass. Clary is all set to go with them because she wants to find the only person who can help her make her mom all better. However, not everyone wants her to tag along.

At the appointed time, the shadowhunters find themselves under attack by the Forsaken and they have no choice but to fight the monsters and rush to Idris. Inadvertently, Jace takes a vampire, Simon, along with them which causes all sorts of problems for the group. Clary finds herself left behind and has to resort to her skills though she has not yet received any training.

The story now focuses on what happens within the city of the Nephilim. There is a lot of political wrangling, personal jealousies, selfish intentions, and pure evil. The whole shadowhunter way of life is now in doubt and there must be some changes made if they want to continue on.

This third book is exciting and there are many twists and turns. Still, I am enamored more with Simon, Magnus, Alex and Isabel. Valentine is definitely more evil (if that were possible) and there is now a new twist is truly unexpected.

Cassandra Clare finally provides good depth for the characters of Jace and Clary. I enjoyed reading the book and will definitely read the next one in the series.

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Book Review: The Taker by Alma Katsu

2013-05-03T11:30:00-07:00

The Taker by Alma Katsu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Alma Katsu's book The Taker is all about immortality and the price people pay if they want to live forever. The story revolves around a girl named Lanore and the challenges she had to face in her life. She is madly in love with Jonathan, the son of the richest family in their small village, who just can't seem to stop himself from getting involved with women. Although they become close friends, Lanny finds herself loving Jonathan more than he could ever love her.

The story is divided into 2 parts where Lanny has been caught by the police for murdering a man and the Lanore of her distant past. She is narrating her story to Luke whom she befriends. The two of them find themselves drawn together by major events in their lives.

One of the reasons why I liked this book is that the immortal characters have no superpowers. They are people who have found themselves in situations that made them into what they are. Although there is some sorcery or necromancy within the story, it does not involve magic wands or other fantastic feats. The characters find themselves changed after being made immortal but the changes are not that major which can be a relief.

There are also elements of sex and sadism woven into the story but they are not too graphically described as many other books though there are some readers who may feel a bit put-off. There are also descriptions of cruelty which may not go down well with many readers. Having said that, the story is engaging and has twists and turns that can only be described as unexpected.

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Book Review: Everville -- The First Pillar by Roy Huff

2013-05-03T11:30:00-07:00

The First Pillar by Roy Huff
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The First Pillar by Roy Huff is a young adult fantasy novel. The story is about a young man named Owen Sage. He has just started college with his two friends, Anika and Dante. However, he finds himself transported into the world of Everville where he meets the Keeper and the Fron who need his help to fight off Them. The Keeper had previously brought balance back to Everville while he was still a young Fron named Caerwin.

The story is somewhat exciting if it were not so clipped and seemingly disjointed. Most of the twists and turns are rather predictable and even anticlimactic. There are times, while I was reading the book, that I felt there were things missing. The characters also seem to be underdeveloped. It is however, a good first attempt and I am hoping that the sequel will be more exciting with more developed characters.

The book will appeal to a lot of people who enjoy reading teen fantasy novels. I, though, can only give it two stars. That is not to say that the book is bad. It is an okay read but at times I felt it was more of a children's book that one meant for young adults.

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Book Review: City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments #2)

2013-05-02T11:30:00-07:00

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Surprisingly, City of Ashes is a lot better than its predecessor, City of Bones. I was pleasantly surprised. Cassandra Clare managed to improve the pace of the story.

As for the Clary and Jace thing; well, what can I say? I enjoyed reading the book but it was not because of the lead characters... Does that make any sense? The thing is, their relationship is being revealed as something that is incestuous. Although I do have the feeling that there is a twist somewhere along the series that will reveal that they have no reason to be so tortured about being "related," I just can't seem to be drawn to those two.

I continue to like the character of Simon and Isabel. And Magnus the warlock is just impossible not to like. His friendship with Alec is quite interesting. Again, it is because of my curiosity as to what will happen next vis-a-vis the supporting characters that are leading me to read the next book in the series. That, and the hope (more like a fervent wish) that the quality of the lead characters will improve.

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The A to Z Reflections

2013-05-01T18:30:00-07:00

I survived the A to Z Challenge! It has been a very interesting month (April, 2013). The challenge involved writing blog posts regarding a subject that begins with a letter of the alphabet every day except Sundays.

Before I joined the challenge, I was lucky to have had more than one blog post a week. I found it difficult to find something to blog about and felt that readers would find my random thoughts boring. The moment I found out that there was such a thing as an A to Z Challenge, I just threw caution to the winds and joined. I figured it was the best way to force myself to post every day.

The first few days before the start of April (the challenge was to start on April 1st), I was browsing through the different pages of A-to-ZChallenge.com and found a comment made by someone regarding how to effectively create blog posts. The gentleman commented that he had already had all his posts scheduled for publishing on his blog. That gave me an idea.

You see, it is not easy for me to be online everyday. There are times when responsibilities at home eat up most of my time. There are also days when power cuts make me want to throw my laptop against the wall (in our village, powercuts can last as long as 10 hours or more). So I decided to write as many posts as I could well in advance and simply schedule the publishing of those posts. That helped me a lot.

During the challenge, I learned that there are letters of the alphabet that are not so easy to find topics for. For example, the letter "X" left me sooooo desperate that I had to beg my Facebook friends to offer suggestions (they took pity on me and made wonderful suggestions). One of the most interesting suggestions was from my friend Chona who suggested I write about "X-men" and she meant those people who used to be men. Her suggestion was genius! But I thought it might be controversial (that or I might get in trouble for using "X-men" in the post). So I went for a tamer topic -- xylophone.

Being part of the A to Z Challenge also allowed me to find some wonderful blogs. It was great to find such interesting bloggers out there like Maui Jungalow, Peanut Butter and Whine, Scribbler's Sojourn, and many, many more.

It has been a really enjoyable month. And I hope to join the challenge again next year (if they will have me... hehehe).

Book Review: City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1)

2013-05-01T11:30:00-07:00

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Reviews for the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare have been mixed. To be honest, there were more negative ones than anything else. I was not too keen to read the City of Bones but I decided to give it a chance.

The writing is pretty good. The story revolves around a young girl named Clary who had gone out with her best friend Simon to a club where she discovers that she can see people no one else can see. She meets a group of Nephilim (human demon hunters who have angel blood running in their veins) called "shadowhunters."

The problem with the book is that Clary's character is not as strong or as solid as the other characters. If you decide to read the book, you will notice that most of the other characters drown Clary out. Her love interest, Jace, is more evolved than she is. His character is oozing sex appeal, too. However, their relationship is facing challenges. Clary's best friend Simon is a boy I can't help but feel sorry for because he loves Clary so much but she does not feel the same way about him.

Clary's mom, Jocelyn disappears and she wants to look for her. The shadowhunters help her along with Simon and her mom's long time friend, Luke (though Luke initially appears to be one of the bad guys). They encounter a lot of bad beings along the way.

Jace's siblings are pretty cool characters too. And, truth be told, I find myself drawn to Isabel. She reminds me of Kate Beckinsale's character in the movie Underworld. And their warlock friend Magnus is quite a guy. The villain, Valentine, is suitably mean and evil. There are vampires, werewolves, and many other supernatural beings.

It is my curiosity as to what happens to Jace's siblings, Magnus, and Luke that drives me to read the next book in the series. I can honestly say that I did like the book but it could have been written much, much better.

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It's a Birthday -- Bames Live is Turning Two

2013-04-30T12:00:00-07:00

Bames Live was born on the 7th of May, 2011. When it started, I was totally ignorant as to how a blog should work. I posted only when I thought I had something interesting to share and I constantly worried that things that were interesting to me may not be for anyone else.

Slowly (emphasis on the word "slowly"), I learned to make improvements -- some of which worked, and most did not. It took me a long time to figure out that there were certain things that need to be done if I wanted people to read my blog.

Two years on, Bames Live is still learning. It is a far cry from those famous blogs that have millions reading and following them. But, it has also become much better than when it started.

To celebrate turning two, Bames Live is having a giveaway. It is my way of thanking all you readers whether you regularly visit my blog are just clicked something by accident and found yourself here. :)

The giveaway is open to all readers worldwide (gosh, that makes it sound like I got a real following -- hehehe). It ends on May 7, 2013 so you only have a few days to join. The winner will be announced the following day.

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Congratulations, Jodie.
I have sent you an email. Please reply as soon as possible.

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