Giving Reading a Chance

Dear All,

noreply@blogger.com (иidhi S) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:43:00 +0000

Hi Everyone..!!

Its really sad to tell this, but this blog has been lost.

Veena's google account got deactivated accidentally.

We have been trying to retrieve it badly, but not getting any help. Even left a help message at the forum, but did not receive any help from there too.

And, the worst thing is being just a member, I don't have rights, otherwise I could have added her up :(

Please, if you can help us on this, we would really be greatful.

Love,

Nidhi

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Girls of Riyadh - Review

noreply@blogger.com (иidhi S) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 09:09:00 +0000

'Girls of Riyadh'

Authors: Rajaa Alsanea
Illustrator:
Publisher: Penguin (5 Jun 2008)
Paperback: 320 pages
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0141030615
ISBN-13: 978-0141030616

A mail is doing it rounds in the city of Riyadh, a Yahoo Groups user sends a mail, after every Friday Evening prayer, to many users in Riyadh. The mails soon become the talks of the society and gets under the scrutiny of political parties, media and literature critiques.

I completely loved the writing style of the in the book, in portions of mails.

'Girls of Riyadh' is based in Riyadh. The storyline revolves around the lives of Four friends, who want to lead a life on their own terms, who have their own dreams and aspirations and want them to come true. Who believe in Love and even after knowing that their society sees it as a sin, still want to fall for it. Their every step taken for themselves is a fight against the society. Where expressing love openly is shameful. Where even guys do not stand up for their love, rather fall for the societal norms.
Its a story set in present times, but their lives are still set in the times where even today girls are mere keepsakes, they have to be primped up only for their husbands, without whom there's no life for them. Where even today you cannot fight for the love of your husband. Where you are there just to satisfy someone Else's egos and needs. Where your whole life is to be passed a judgment upon and every action is put under scrutiny.
But, the strong point still remains when even after failing love, and shattered dreams they stand up, as their dreams are still alive, and love will come eventually.

Rating: 9/10.

Remember to,

Love,

NIDHI

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Book Shopping..!!

noreply@blogger.com (иidhi S) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:55:00 +0000

This weekend I went out with 2 of my friends at CP (Cannaught Place).

There's this place called Cha-Bar ('Cha' means Tea in Hindi), at the Statesman House building, which actually is a cafe inside the Oxford book House. So we went there for a cup of tea and to spend some time in relaxation.

Walking inside that place made me go mad. There were books books and books, and I so so so wanted to live there forever. After entering the place i dint even notice where my friends were I just headed straight towards the love of my life books. The ambiance is amazing and trust me once you walk into that place and being a book lover you would never want to come out. I was just going round the shelves and taking in all the positive energies I could grasp.
I just wanted all of them for myself, but yeah keeping in my mind the hole that would make in my pocket I chose two of them, one was what I wanted to Read and one that was a must buy for my Book shelf.

I got 'Girls of Riyadh' by Rajaa Alsanea and of course the second book was out of pure love and sheer temptation for The Harry Potter, I got for myself the new in the collection 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard'.
And trust me how contented i felt after that, and elated to get my hands on the 'Tales of Beedle the Bard', its an achievement for me at least.
I have already started reading the Girls of Riyadh, and will update the review once i finish, but as of now, I already have a feeling that its gonna be good.

Remember to,

Love,

Nidhi

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Hello Everyone!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:23:00 +0000

I said I am back and then again went off. I know that's so silly! But well the new life is taking up all the time that I had for blogging and reading; but I am not complaining; in fact I am loving the new life BIG TIME!

Yep! So this small post is to thank all the people who have been kind enough to shower me and my blog with awards! Thanks to you ALL, I am back on the blog.
I have missed reading about books and all.

I will begin posting soon, and I am really missing out on the fun of challenges :)

Bethany, I am in for the OT 2009! and am yet to decide as to which one to join for!

Thanks to all!

I will shortly visit all of your blogs :) to remind you of my humble presence ;)

Take good care,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

I am back

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:06:00 +0000

Yah! I am back after my vacations :) :)
Married and all... happy... tired and going on a holiday again :) ! to get him and me registered :) :)
So how's all of you guys feeling?

Thanks to YOU ALL, for dropping by and saying Hi, congratulations and thanks for the lovely wishes :)!

Thanks for the lovely awards as well :)

I am so overwhelmed and happy that you guys rememebered me :) :D

So I am BACK.. and I will be slowly dropping by your blogs to LET you know of my existence :) :)

love you ALL!

Love,

A Prisoner of Birth : Review

noreply@blogger.com (иidhi S) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:37:00 +0000

I have not read much of Jefferey Archer, but I have loved every book of his, i have laid my hand on. This one has become my second love (by his) after The Prodiigal Daughter (sequel of The Kane & Abel).

I got this one by chance. Was out with my sis and Father to get books for the 48 hours long journey on Train...( well.. for the people who dont know - My family including me were going off to Kerala, to attend sweet Veen's wedding. ) I took up 'Like a Flowing River' by Paulo Coelho & My sis took up "This One".
So the journey starts and after settling down making sure that its a window seat- ever thought why we have a love for the window seat....??/, I take out my book to read on....I go as far as the first chapter and my focus shifts to the world outside... Delhi running out of my site and instantly villages start poppin in and out of my view of the window. Finally I conclude that Paulo Coelho is not for journey and is for serious reading and i cant keep my focus on with the Train moving. My sis too busy listening to songs on her cellphone's FM had clearly ignored her book, and what more I grabbed it to just have a look and dint even realise, when i got so involved in it. It only occured to me when my sis started eating my head out, asking for her book, and well - I would just say - " Its not that easy to make me stop from reading a book, once i have started off...", so it was all in vain.

'A Prisoner of Birth' is yet another novel which will engross you, as it did in his past works, so much so that you would start relating with the characters and fall in love with Danny Cartwright and Nick, even Big Al.
The book is about Danny - who in his lawyers' words is a Prisoner of Birth, but arn't all of us prisoner of births in some way or the other?

Danny who gets caught in, the murder of his Best Friend, Bernie. the day he proposes Marriage to his long time girlfriend - also Bernie's sister.
The story is about Danny's fight with the powerful men in their fields to avenge his friend's murder, for which he's sentenced to serve 22 yrs of his life in Jail, for a crime he did not commit.

The climax totally turns the story around, and well the book is full of surprises - Need to add this one up in your TBR's if you like this genre.

Will he ever be able to avenge his Friend's murder?
Will he ever be able to bring the real murderer's to their downfall?
Who will believe him?

Will he Ever be able to free himself from being a Prisoner of Birth...??

Remember to,

Love,

Nidhi

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Blog Holiday!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:42:00 +0000

Giving Reading a Chance and Veens are going on a Blog Holiday :)
And many of you know the reason right?! :)

So pray for me folks! and don't forget me in these days :) :) I will be back after 10th Jan ;) :) :)

You all Take Care!! Have fun!!
Have a very lovely New Year!!
and
Stay Safe :)

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:30:00 +0000

A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens
93 Pages

Well, what should I say about this wonderful book?! That I absolutely loved it.. will be the use of the same boring words over and over again :)
I remember Little Veens had this as one of her chapters in her school classes. Big Veens had totally forgotten about it :)! She was reminded of it by her lovely friend Bethany :)
I picked up the eBook to read, and was so Surprised to remember Scrooge :) ! As I was browsing I found a lovely audio book of the same :)! I have not heard any audio books yet ... so I went ahead to hear it... and the experience was lovely!

It is one of those little tales which has a lot of things packed in it! Christmas time is the time, you would love to read it :)

So, if you have NOT! you better read it :) It is a classic in true sense of the word. Love it!
5 on 5 :)
PS - Want the eBook?! Mail me :)

A Merry Christmas to you ALL!

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Orbis Terrarum 2008 Challenge survey!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 06:40:00 +0000

Bethany has asked some survey questions :) and here are the answers!

1.) What did you like about the challenge?

Well the best thing I liked about the challenge, was visiting so many places! :) YES! I would have never dared march on grounds I was not sure, but then I did. And I am proud of myself, because it was a lovely experience.

2.) What would you like to see change for next year?

I don't think there could be any changes, except... read different countries than what you read, maybe!

3.) About the rules, or the non-existent rules...did you like that?

What Rules?! I didn't think there was any problem with the non-existent rules!

4.) Are you going to join us next year?

oh You Bet! I am collecting books already ;)

5.) Pretty please give me any suggestions for changes, the betterment of the challenge, or just anything that you would like to see changed for next year.

I think as it is , OT is a fantastic challenge :) I offer no suggestions, but I would surely participate!

6.) Would you like the challenge to be more involved? What if we read books together sometimes? Would that interest you?

Sure Indeed! That would be fun too :) On the basis of book availability, I would join you as and when I can!

7.) would you be interested in helping somehow next year? How would you like to help?

You tell me Bethany! I would love to help :) Whatever way I can! Let me know, it would be a great pleasure to be part of OT2009!

I have already done this wrap-up post w/o the questions :)
Here are the completed books-

The kite runner by Khaled Hosseini - Afghanistan
Witch of Portebello by Paulo Coleho – Brazil
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri - India
I did a Bad Thing By Linda Green - England
The Gathering by Anne Enright - Ireland
The Road to lost Innocence by Somly Mam - Cambodia
The Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzioni – Halevy - Austria
Like water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel - Mexico
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery - France

So hope you guys who have not joined OT 2008, would want to do it too :)
And hope you guys who were there, would be looking forward to OT 2009 ")
I am looking forward to it :)

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Sam's Quest for the Crimson Crystal by Ben Furman

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:43:00 +0000

Sam's Quest for the Crimson Crystal
by Ben Furman
192 pages
Published on April 16, 2007 by Black Hawk Press

First of all, thanks to Anna of Diary of an Eccentric for hosting a lovely giveaway where I won this book, and thanks to Ben Furman for sending me signed copy! I was really looking forward to reading this cute book... and I did! And I am glad that I did!

Samantha Mae Costa is one of those normal kids with glasses and asthma, and she is your super-hero! Yes, and you will love her because she was there in you and me when we were kids ;)! Sam's parents are archaeologists who are always on trips to different places and are most interested in looking for the lost City of Atlantis ,and before one of these trips, they leave Sam at her Granpa's farm. She wants this holiday not to be boring.. but to find some adventure... when she and her beloved dog Patch meet Prince "Buzz" Buznor from the Innerworld. He has been looking for Sam, for she is the only one who can find the Crimson Crystal and save the Innerworld from an attack by the Zogs of the Bottomworld who were suppressed by the Awokians [ people of the Innerworld]! Sam finding herself in this unusual world, is very nervous about her responsibilities to the whole new world :)
How Sam, Buzz and Patch find the Crimson Crystal and how the hell does Sam realize her powers ... is for you to read!
This is an interesting tale and the best part is that it is a fast paced book for our teens :) And it is fun to read book! Sam is you normal girl, and it is heartening to feel there is one in you and me too! To believe in yourself and your intuition and think of good and move forward is what makes you a hero in your own lives!
Sam understood herself! And we had he most enjoyable read!
You have teens/kids at your place?! Give them this gift this festive season :) and I am sure they will love it :)
A definite 4 on 5!

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

aww! Guess what came in my mail?!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:13:00 +0000

Yes! The lovely Girl Priya has graciously send me this lovely gift and I am most humbled... and Happy to receive it!!!!!!!!
Thanks a LOT Priya.. for your lovely words inside the book as well... I am so glad!

And Yes, I hope to read it soon and love it the way you did too :)!
Thanks a LOT Priya... it was a great surprise! and I loved it :)

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Did you know?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:50:00 +0000

Georgette Heyer published a book under a different name...what was that name?

Answer - Stella Martin

Now you know :)

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

King's Fool By Margaret Campbell Barnes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:49:00 +0000

King's Fool, A Notorious King, the six wives anf the one Man who Knows their Secrets
By Margaret Campbell Barnes
Published By SourceBooks Landmark
290Pages.
Publishing on April 1st, 2009.

First of all, many thanks to Renne from ijustfinished.com to send me a book of my favorite genre, Historical Fiction :) to review.

From the back cover,

When country lad Will Somers lands himself the plum position of jester to the mercurial King Henry VIII, he has no idea that he has just been handed the front-row seat to history.

With a seat near the throne and an ear to the floor, Somers witnesses firsthand the dizzying power struggles and sly scheming that marked the reign of the fiery Tudor King. Somers watches the rise and fall of some of the most enigmatic women in history, including the tragic Katherine of Aragon, the doomed Anne Boleyn and Mary Tudor, who confided in the jester as she made the best of the fragile life of a princess whom everyne wished was a prince...

History is my favorite, but I am illiterate as far as I can see and I am making up for it, by reading Historical Fiction. To begin with, this story is narrated by Will Somers, who was born in Shropshire. Will's mother died when he was 4 years old due to the plague that infected those parts of the world and his dad was a teacher. He was not attached to his dad, but he was brought up well-versed in Latin and with an interest in music[ which was attributed to his mother's lineage]. Will as a young man goes about to work for his Uncle Tobias where, with favorable luck he meets his first and beloved master Richard Fermor. Fermor takes him to Easton Neston where Will is employed as a clerk, meets some of the most warmest people and where he lays for the first time his eyes on the very beautiful Joanna, the youngest of Fermor's kids. Joanna being the kind-hearted soul helps him gain a kind of visibility in front of his masters, and soon Will is running around doing important work for the master and his beautiful daughter.
Fermor in one of his visits to London takes Wills along to meet the Cardinal. And there in London Will and his master see the King himself, the tall atheletic Tudor, King Henry VIII. The King is playing the last round and the tension grows up, but in the end the King wins the game. In the excitememnt that follows and to the wide cry of support for the King, Will unconsciously jumps out and imitates Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, Herediatry Earl Marshal of England! The King notices him instantly, and the fun-loing Tudor laughs and says,

"By the Holy Rood, Will Somers, I like you for a witty, impudent knave! By your master's leave, who brought you here, we will keep you as our jester"

And thus WIll Somers becomes the King's Fool, his jester, his companion, his confidant, his friend... and served him for 20 long years!
Will Somer's saw the rise and fall of the King's 6 wives , their influences on the King, and the thoughts of the commoners and the Court of the King about them and the King's passion for a legitimate son! His cruelty, but undeniable kindness. His weaknesses and his strength. Will got the King's undisputable love, and was most loyal to the King himself!
Will Somers knew all of the 6 Queens, but loved only one - Queen Katherine, King's first and the most loved wife! His love and affection for Princess Mary, daughter of Queen Katherine and the King is heart-warming. His affection and loyality for the King, despite some of his cruelties is also a great thing to see.
There is so much packed in this small book, that you will have a royal ride in and around the lavish court life at the times of the most popular King Henry VIII! The author does an absolutely fantastic job is sketching out each and ery person in the book, the queens are mentioned beautifully in the order they seeked the King's attention. Not just the Queen's, but the other men who ruled the country under the King, Wolsey, then Thomas Cranmer.; their dominance have been etched beautifully. The cruelty of Thomas Cranmer, had me in so much vengenece against him! The ties and issues with neighboring countries, the plague in London, the trade, the way the common men lived and their issues and much more!
In the end, you have no harsh or hard feelings about the King himself, inspite of the cruel killings of 2 Queens he orders! Inspite of letting Cranmer have his way and inspit of him being so driven to marry for just a son, inspit of him marrying milady Anne of Cleves and then making him his sister! Inspite of everything you just love the King, for more reasons than I can put here!
It is a must-read for anyone who would love to know about King Henry VIII and his rule. To know about that era in the history.
A definite 5 on 5!

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Dear Santa,

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:30:00 +0000

I don't know why I never got around writing a letter to you. Well, thanks to Jill, now I am! :)! SO I hope, you let Jill have all her wishes, as you are getting my first letter :)

I have been feeling blessed this year :)
It is an year, I will NEVER in my life forget :)

I got to book blogging this year, and you know what Santa; it was such a fun thing to do! So yep, I want you to let me have more books ok?! And of course, make my reading a little more faster and a tiny bit more time for reading would be great too!

I got to meet my fiance this year! And we are now happily engaged to be married on Jan 1st 2009! Yes, I am Santa... so I want you to bless him with all the patience that he needs to put up with me... h is doing a good Job! but I am afraid the patience might wear off :D :D

And yep, I want you to also gift me the special ability to make our lives together awesome ;)
And for all of my friends and family, i want you to grant them..whatever they wish for Most!
I know it is a taxing work for you :) but you know I believe, u can do it :)
Do u think traveling to India will be too much for your reindeers :) ... I will have refreshments ready for you all! :)

And yes, in all this gift-giving.. I will want you, to have what YOU wish for too :)

A lovely Christmas to you my dear lovable Santa... Love you :)
PS- this coming year.. please knock some sense into my dog V too :) that would be icing on the cake ;)

With loads of love,
Veens
====

Have you written your letter to Santa? I need the link :)
And you can enter to win by writing a letter at Jill's place :) :)

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

BTT asks about my Treat and Gifts :)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 04:30:00 +0000

It is a bonus kind of thing :) we have 2 BTT's for a single Thursday :)

- What is the best book you ever bought for yourself?And, why? What made it the best? What made it so special?

As you already know, I buy my books :) all of them are special to me :) ALL! because I think it is a blessing to have a passion for reading ... and a joy to travel places... I would never dream I would... and a privilege to have a sneak-peak in to our world's glorious past and the not-so glorious future :)

- Do you give books as gifts?To everyone? Or only to select people?How do you feel about receiving books as gifts?

Well, to very select people I give the gift of books :) It bugs me BIG time... if they don't end up reading it :(! And so, if I am really sure they will appreciate the gift, then ONLY I think I give them the gift :)! For e.g. I gifted Priya, my copy of Matrimony [ that I won at Alea's place] as I knew she would appreciate it... and well she commented that she couldn't get it here anywhere :)! I couldn't think of a better Matrimonial gift for the girl :)
I love love love getting books as gifts. As I am not too picky about books :) I am always heartened by them :) it is just awesome! Though I prefer fiction over non-fiction :)

Thanks Deb :)

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Winter Reading Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 03:45:00 +0000

The Winter Reading Challenge runs from December 21st, 2008 through March 20, 2009. There are 13 weeks in Winter and I will probably end up reading one to two books per week. Some of the books may cross over into challenges that begin 2009.
This is going to be a very casual challenge much like the Fall Reading Challenge, so please join me.

The rules are very flexible:

1) Choose any number of books you would like to read and post them on your blog.

2) They can be fiction and/or nonfiction including e-books and audiobooks

3) They can overlap with other challenges.

4) To sign up, click here. (Hosted by My Two Blessings)

This is going to be easy [I Hope!], there are 13 weeks and if I read 2 books a week, I should be able to do 26 books :) BUT! what if I can't??
So here is my list :)

~~King’s Fool by Margaret Campbell Barnes~~
~~Sam’s Quest for the Crimson Crystal by Ben Furman~~
~~Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens~~
Jane Eyre - started Reading
Hogfather
Thank You, Jeeves
The Reluctant Fundamentalist
The Healing
The Broker - reading
Sam's Letters to Jennifer
Blood Memory
Mosaic

That should be it :)

Thanks to J Kaye and Beth F, that's where I got my info :)

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Great Blog Buddy :)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:28:00 +0000

I am the Great Buddy of J Kaye :)! Yes! And it feels good to have a such a fine girl to be one's loving buddy... doesn't it?!

And now to pass it on :) To all my lovely blog Lasses... whose blogs I am following :). Here is my List, I am naming your blog names :) :)

God! that was a lot of hard work :))
And now, if You guys read me, you will come here.. to thank Me :) :) NAH! No Need.. u guys are my buddies :) so I would love to get some cookies.. and Christmasy delicacies ;) that will do .. for sure :D :D

Love you all :)

Thanks J Kaye :) I heart you :)

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

I am the Friendliest and Enthusiastic Blog buddy of yours :)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 05:40:00 +0000

Michele, the lady behind the absolutely Hilarious and amazing blog, A Reader's Respite AND Alea, the lady behind the fun and the happening blog, Pop Culture Junkie have bestowed on me the award of being the Friendliest Blogger on the Planet AND Enthusiastic Blogger

[It is because of you all that I have so many friends... only the heart that accepts, is accepted :) ! SO I am accepted by u all... and well that makes me so HAPPY :)]

Veens @ Giving Reading a Chance is soooo HAPPY! and so HAPPY!
Yep really Happy!!! [ ok stop saying Happy, the readers get it!]

I heart Michelle and her lovely blog :) and same is the case with Alea's awesome blog... I heart your blog too Alea :)

Michelle is just so cute :), and you know she comes up with these quirky titles in her segment - "Diversifying My Bookshelves"! If you have NOT read this segment, you are very well Missing out on the laughs and Giggles that all her reader's have :) So head on there to read some of the weirdest titles and some of the funniest books :)
Awesome funny reviews and lot more!
Thanks Michelle for all the laughs and all the great reviews! I love your blog [ and what an awesome template... with the weirdest color.. I would have never gone for the color actually... but I must admit it looks goooooddd]

Alea, on the other hand the most amazing and fun feature - Look Alikes.. that's my favorite segment of ALL! :) And it is not really surprising that she has Scott Westerfeld mention her for this segment :)! Yes! She is Famous ;) !! I have a famous friend :) She has some of the best YA recommendations! And a very friendly attitude! She is so NICE! I remember when I won Matrimony at her place, she was kind enough to follow-up with the author as he didn't reply for me :) She is such a warm person to know!

Here comes the part where I list six values or characteristics that are important to me:

Loving with an open heart. To Love and to be loved is a Big Blessing :)
Being kind and friendly and nice to everyone! I believe everyone deserves a chance!
Loving Animals. I am a pet-o-maniac...especially dogs... and I love all type of animals... OK! I don't "love" every animal.. but I think I like them all.. including Cats :)
I am what I am, and I don't change for anyone; and I don't ask you to change either!
To be able to respect one's choices and their ideals and likings.
And to be able to accept the fact that I can go into a quiet world at times, and please do not torment and irritate me then! :) :) I am Human, I have my phases!

And six values or characteristics that I find hard to tolerate:

Selfishness
Cruelty to any living being [ esp animals] esp Dogs. I could kill people if no one could find out about me :)
Haughtiness/ Pettiness
Rude behavior.
Insulting my friends/family/anyone I love - I can't Take that!
Back-biting
Not respecting others preferences and mocking them for it! I hate such people!

And so on...

:) :) o_0
This was fun.. I met myself Again ... it was hard to write all that down :) ! It is been long I have thought about these things :)

Now to pass this on :) [ All my friends have got it :) but still!!!!!!]
I would love to also give it to J Kaye [ Most encouraging person] , Alea [fun person ], Beth F [ awesome blogger] Michelle! .. but they already have it ...

So here you go -
Bethany - The Most Human Blogger - She reminds me of my social responsibilties, and is such a warm and encouraging soul. I rememeber, Bethany and J Kaye used to be my first readers.. and they inspired me a LOT! I heart You, Bethany :)

Jill aka SoftDrink - the most kick-ass coolest blogger! Oh My, I wish I could be like her... I just heart her... not beacause she sent me a book.. but because she is so frank and solid about the things she says..! I loved it when she said[ on Honest by BTT ] -

Almost all of the books I review are books I've bought. Some I've won in contests and a few have been mooched through BookMooch. But the majority are books I paid for. As I commented elsewhere today, my money, my thoughts.

jeez! so right :) I love the sarcastic humor and all.. and I sometimes wish I could do something like that :) I heart You, Jill

Dar @ Peeking Between the Pages - of course I am Sure Dar has already got it... but she one of the MOST-Warm~est-kindhearted blogger out there! I heart You, Dar :)

Meryl @ My Bit of Earth - The most awesome pic taking Girl! Darn! All I do is oggle at all the pics she posts! Damn GOOD! I don't always comment their... but I make sure I see ALL her posts :) I heart You, Meryl!

Gautami @ Reading Room - The reason I am here! This is the FIRST book blog I saw! And she still motivates me :) The fact that now, I have found a very nice and warm friend in her, is so awesome! Thanks for everything Gautami!

Now for the last one! S. Krishna has already got it **sigh** from Alea, or else she was to be nominated as the most voracious reader known to me :)! umm! then Ramya?! Has she got it Yet?! She is a lovely soul too :( and what about... umm !! all my blog buddies, choosing 6 is so difficult! what now?!

ok I have decided!!

Ramya [ I hope no one has given it to u :)] - for the most sincere-est reviewer and warm blogger :) Love you Ramya and your blog :)

Bonus Mention -

Mish @ Ruined by Reading! I just love her tastes in books :) :) Love it!
And some mentions as well!

Dewey, remembering you for this award - the person who brought us all together into one big blogging community :) !
And all other blogging friends I visit regularly :)! if not for your blogs... I would be really bored :)

Thank u all :)
A very Merry Christmas to one and AlL - may all of you be blessed with more love and happiness... the unparlleled company of loved ones and the beauty that surrounds this blessed ambiance :)

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

2 International Giveaways you don't wanna MISS :-)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:11:00 +0000

Yep, the very famous and riveting read - Tomato Girl :0)
Who else, but My sweetest Blogger friend Dar is giving Her Own Copy Away :)! Of course it is international giveaway just for ME! OK! You can go enter if you don't already have it ;)!
This Girl Is SO Awesome :) Don't you think?! I think so... I feel so utterly cry baby kinds... when I see such acts of kindness and love :)! I wish I was physically there and could give her a HUG :) ; ok and a bonus Hug for you too :)

As I am blogging about giveaways, 2 of them are going on at Anna's place [ she has some of the most awesome-est Giveaways ] ,

[Click on the covers to go to the Giveaway posts :)]

Some people say, it is easy to make friends :) but I say it is NOT
Definitely difficult, but I am so lucky to have found some of the most best [ sorry about the superlatives ;) that are wrong, right know I just don't care :)] people of the book blogging community :)
It is Christmas time :) and so I would like to Thank You for your soooooper kind Hearts so ready to help me and love me as I am :-) I can't be Lucky Enough :) I am feeling so so so Happy :o)!

I hope you all have the Best-est Christmas time :-) with your loved ones :)
Blogging Community is the Best :-)
Thanks to one and ALL :) And thanks to You for reading this and commenting here! You guys make my day :)
Love you ALL.

PS- Did you notice I have stopped blogging about giveaways :)! I now blog ONLY about the giveaways held by my friends :) [ that is if you get a pathetic comment every time from milady Veens, then you know you are stalked by this girl and she thinks u r really stalking-worthy ;0] ]

Thanks to one and ALL :)

**muaahhhh**

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

#5 Standoff By Sandra Brown

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:11:00 +0000

Tiel McCoy is a hardworking Journalist, who will do anything to get a news worth all the TRPs and get them rolling. She finally[ after great pushing from her boss] decides to go on a vacation to New Mexico. On the way she hears a news-bulletin about the kidnapping of Sabra, the daughter of a Fort Worth's richest power-players Dendy. She immediately calls up her boss, who hints that the girl has runaway with her boyfriend rather than been kidnapped. Her boss, Gully also tells her that the boyfriend [Ronnie's ] father lives nearby to where she is now.
Tiel McCoy immediately decides to interview the father, but on route she loses her way at Rojo Flats. She enters a store to call Gully up and to refresh when a young boy and his pregnant girlfriend barge in to demand money and gasoline. What happens later, is for you to read an find out!

This is the basic plot. Well, it is an OK romantic suspense thriller [ if I am right about the sub-genre]. I got this book from one of my friends, she didn't recommend it of course but I picked it up for my suspense-thriller challenge[ and it was free to take-away :)].
Well first things first, I hate journos like Tiel. I hate journos who are not sensitive to people in trauma and go on asking stupid questions and going on showing hateful scenes of a mom grieving her son's death. I always thought, there should always be a limit to such things. So Tiel McCoy was obviously not my fav character. This book is a bit boring of course and sometimes tiring too. It is just 200 odd pages, that's an advantage.
Maybe I read "The Girl with Dragon Tattoo" just a while back is the reason why I thought it lacked the "page-turner" thingy that these kind of novels have!
If you have not read this author before, I suggest not to read this one first. But I would definitely give another book a try.
2 on 5 is my rating!

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Dewey, It is such an awesome pile of books you had!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 06:48:00 +0000

In Dewey's honor, everyone is doing this challenge :-)

Of course I am going mad, so I thought Why NOT! At least I will have recommendations this time, from a genuinly awesome blogger :-)
So, here we go!

Click here for the main page.
Rules:

There are two ways to join this challenge:

1. Pick one book from each of the 6 years that Dewey has archives of. You can access her archives by clicking on the archive link in the sidebar of her website. It’s a dropdown menu. For instance, you would read one book that she reviewed in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 for a total of six books.

2. The other option is to read 5 books that Dewey reviewed. These can be from any year and I’m guessing that each of us has at least 5 books on our TBR list because of Dewey!

And the rules:

1. Choose either option 1 or 2 from above.

2. Commit to read your books (either 5 or 6 depending on which option you choose) throughout 2009. The challenge will end on December 31, 2009 but we’ll go ahead and unofficially start it right away! We’ll officially start it on January 1st, 2009.

3. Check back to the challenge blog that we’ve created, Dewey’s Books, often as I’ll put up Mr. Linky’s for reviews and I’ll mention prize giveaways!

Option 2 is the one I think I will do! I will read 5 from the list below!
I have gone through her archives till Aug, 2006 - and here is my list so far [ i will add upto this books as and when I go back to her blog ok?]

Into the Forest by Jean Hegland
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Property by Valerie Martin
Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
Saturday by Ian McEwan
The World According to Garp BY John Irving
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson
Kindred by Octavia Butler
The Little Women by Katharine Weber
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Looking for Alaska by John Green
East of Eden by John Steinbeck

=========================================
The above list of books are my fav recommendations from Dewey, and so they will remain for me to choose my next books!
But I have decided on the 5 books I am going to read!

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie
Just Listen by Sarah Desses
Atonement by Ian Ewan
Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky
Purple Hibiscus by Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

BTT says Times is of essence!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:30:00 +0000

Deb asks,

1. Do you get to read as much as you WANT to read?

Of course NOT :)! I don't! I get an hour or two around bed time. And that's about it :( !! Well!! I am glad anyways, think about the amount of money I would spend if I read more ;)

2. If you had (magically) more time to read–what would you read? Something educational? Classic? Comfort Reading? Escapism? Magazines?

Comfort Reading. I like to read different genre after I finish a book. Like I read The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo, which is mystery/suspense novella; so I start reading Sam's Quest which is a YA FanFiction. I read what I like, and what I hear is good :)!

This is for BTT and YOU! :)

This pic is from my Garden ;)

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

999!! I am crazy .. it is alright I know!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:00:00 +0000

I must be a crazy dumb-headed! I have an issue and I thought I will discuss it here.
I have compulsive obsessive disorder attack when I see challenges. All my practical/ analytical nature goes down the drain when I see one I really want to do :(
Yah! You guessed it right, Now I want to do one More! This is the Last ONE I promise!!!
9 months, 9 categories, 9 books :D
81 books!
Yah that's the original thingy!
BUT Veens knows she can't possibly be reading so many ;)
So she is going to read 9 categories, and 1 book each category :D and more if I can manage THAT!

So
9 Classics/1001 list

Silas Marner [ my thoughts]
Jane Eyre
Persuasion
Vilette
no
no
no
no
no

9 Historical Fiction

9 Suspense/Thriller

9 from Women Author's

9 Young Adult

9 Authors I have read and loved

Khaled Hossieni
Dan Brown
Sarah Dessen
Charles Dickens
Jane Austen
Charlotte Bronte
JKR
James Patterson
Steig Larrson

9 Romance Books

9 Man Booker/ Award Winning Books

White Tiger

I AM joking Myself :D
But plsss.. I am crazy! I can't HELP IT :D :( :D

I forgot, J Kaye ;) you will be like..I am crazy No?!

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

How to Find Winter Skin’s Rescue without Breaking the Bank

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:30:00 +0000

This book is like EVERYWHERE!
And well I am posting this here, not because I have read it of course, it is because I read How to Find Winter Skin’s Rescue without Breaking the Bank

By Julie Gabriel

Author of THE GREEN BEAUTY GUIDE
on Redlady's reading room, which features 10 tips for Winter Skin Care, everything is so nautrale! Awesome! So if you have not checked it out already, read it and make note of some really awesome tips :)

How to Find Winter Skin’s Rescue without Breaking the Bank

Remember to,

Love,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Review : -Brida ~ The Witch of Portobello ~ Veronika Decides to Die

noreply@blogger.com (иidhi S) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:00:00 +0000

Paulo Coelho, yet again weaves magic through his words, and leaves me pondering over, all that he has to offer, his words comfort me and take to a para physical world and make me to look over my life and think about everything I have done, every step i have taken... Has it been worth it? But then its not about what happened in the past its about how we make our present and future.

Brida is a tale of unending passion and desires. Passion and desire for Love, for that love we crave for and desire more than anything in the world. Coelho as always, strongly emphasises on Love and breaks the age old fable of Soulmate as the romantics take it. He says a soul mate is what but a person with whom you have shared the same soul, in your past births and nullifies the fact as romanticized to be a beloved. Love rules the world of Brida, still she sets out to find the real meaning of her life which was in Witch crafting (not in all the negative sense, as we take it). Still on being asked, if given an option of choosing her "motive of Life" and "Love", she chooses Love above all. And that would find her ways to get to her soulmate.

The Witch of Portobello, projects the strength of a woman to leave everything behind and follow the path that God has set her for. The attempts made to realise that real meaning and chosing the right path to reach her destination. Coelho, experiments a new style of writing in this book, The book is a set of interview excerpts of people who knew, influenced or were influenced by Athena, the protagonist, as she liked to be called. The plot revolves around How Athena matures physically and mentally in the search of the real meaning of her life. She choses different paths to find that out and finally achieves it with her strong belief and never give up attitude. The society however, as it does to everything that comes up new, thruns her attempt to teach the world - the meaning of life, and at the end her Love for her son takes over her love for that path.

What if you knew how many days you are left with on this earth, and you have to make most of those days, will you be strong enough to forget everything and accept the truth or give up on life. Veronika Decides to Die is one book that make you realise to give life one more chance. Veronika at the peak of her youth, decides to end her life, thinking that nothing has left of it. She takes that step to end it. And is it her good Luck or Bad that, her attempt fails and leaves her under medical surveillance in an asylum, where she has her days numbered, and under such circumstances, is it a sin to desire to live again. A final wish to live again and what if you realise that the love you were searching for all your life has finally come across.

I loved all the three, and hope u'll love them too. All three of them touch different aspects of life and yet touch you the same way. I would just say, Coelho Inspires and touches you while leaving you to think your life over.

Love,emember to,

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.