Under The Dome by Stephen King

This is a thick book by Stephen King (and its been many years since i read any of his book). I stopped reading his book after 'The Girl who loved Tom Gordon'. Used to be a faithful follower of him when i was younger. 

In his notes at the end of the book, he confessed that, this book should be thicker than it is if his editor didn't interfere (i'm not sure if i'd read this book if its thicker than this). I spent more than a week to read this book. (and Mr. King spent more than 30 years mulling over the story). So, yeah, we both ended up well. 

I watched the TV series (same title -- Under The Dome) and was hooked on the story. My sister, Linda is a DVD hoarder and i watched the first season while having a break in KK, earlier last year. I initially planned to buy the book at Popular bookstore, but, its quite pricey and the thickness was overtly intimidating. I saw the book at BBW last december, sold at RM10. (Linda bought her copy from Harris- she said she cant wait for the DVD to know the ending of Chester Mill's fate).

My favourite character in this book is coincidentally named 'Linda' (i  think my sister will approve of that other Linda). I rooted for her and she's my motivation to read on till the end (just curious to see if her little family survived to the end). 

If you can imagine being trapped inside a glass (like an aquarium, but in this case, its like a glass capsule) and be curious as to how that would be, this book might be for you.  The story of this book started with the appearance of  'the dome'. encapsulating a little town, named Chester Mill. The story then proceed to the town's struggles under the dome, up until their doomsday.

People reacted differently under pressure. The best way to know a person is to see them behaving /reacting under pressure. Work on a big project with crushing deadline, that's how we know instinctively (at our work place) who to trust and who to ignore. Or, for friends/ loved ones, try travelling with them. A week travelling together might show sides, you've never seen on them before.

Under The Dome makes me realize, that time is of essence in telling how precious we value our friends and families. You love them? show them by giving your time. And make the most out of it.  

First book done! 7/10

How to be Good by Nick Hornby

This book is good, it needs a post on its own. Yeah, i'd mentioned this book in my previous post. I still have 2 books by Hornby in my TBR list for this year, so i might write another post on yet another Hornby's book read soon.

My family generally talked when we're together. gossiping, discussing mundane matters. sometimes, when we're up to it, we discussed matters that matter (but, because most of us are hard-headed, we usually ended up arguing and pointing at each other as 'budu' which is not a super valid argument, usually settled over dinner). No. If you imagined my family talked politely, no, we don't. We shout and out-shout each other. Polite is the face for public.

There was this one time, we were discussing the matter of doing good (charity). Our point of argument/ discussion was on the merits of doing good, based on Matthew 6:1-4.  Do we, Christians, in all our humility and desire to do good, do good deeds with the idea of rewards from God? (i'll continue with this after i tell you about the book)

I laughed a lot reading this book. How can i not? It started with a divorce proposal over a telephone. A wife called her husband asking how's their children are and ended up in a proposal of divorce. I remember reading a FB post over a woman gotten a talak 3 over a phone conversation between her husband and his friends (the husband jokingly told his friend that he's divorcing his wife with talak 3). However, because this happened in England and they're Brits, of course the unfortunate divorce on FB didn't happen to them.

There must be something rotten in a marriage if one party asked for a divorce, no?. In this story, narrated by Katie Carr, a GP, brought the reader to know her little family (husband David and their children Molly and Tom). David was a stay-at-home dad. He wrote column at a local newspaper as "the angriest man in Holloway". 'Angriest man' is not a term of endearment. David was obnoxious. when Katie mentioned divorce and started an affair with another man (not because she really wanted to, but because she can), David wont let her off (just to pissed her off, more). Their relationship became hostile until David met a stranger (DJ Goodnews), a spiritual healer that he suddenly became calmer, different David. Katie, who thought she's a good (better) person now seems to be the baddie.

The story turned to be more bizarre when Goodnews moved into their house. More funny things happened and the 'trying to do good' increase, only to succumbed to a 'not so good' results.

I particularly liked it when David finally remembered the Latin word caritas: "sometimes its translated as 'charity' and sometimes its translated as 'love'. 

Love and charity shared the same root word.

My brother and I agreed on doing good for the sole purpose to make our heart light (happy). Do good only if it'll make you happy. If you're hoping for any other rewards, you're up for a big disappointment. And if you try to do good to change the world, i'd say "good luck". You're shitting yourself. (O! the little faith in me). But, then again, you can argue, some people can only be truly happy if the deeds are made known to public. Yes, i'd met many people like that. By all means, if that's how you'd be happy, please do. (The Bible however, don't recommend this approach)

My brother pointed out, this idea wont sell good for reward-of life, heaven-seeking-folks. because then, whats the use of doing good? 

May all of us (in our own ways) strive to be good (by doing good), for whatever reasons we bring our self to believe.  

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moksin Hamid

I read the book Sunday afternoon (Dec 20th, 2015) in under 2-hour duration in between preparing, cooking and sipping a hearty onion soup. The afternoon was dandy and cool (a real treat to our usual hot, humid tropical weather).

I should be cleaning up the house. Its been 4-week delay from my usual schedule for a thorough clean up. but, meh! let the clutters, cluttered (and me weep when the new year, new hectic life begins, when i will have no time even to change the rolls of paper in the toilet)

For now, let me bask in the proud moment of finishing the book in 2-hour (with distraction). Well, okey. so, the book was lean. very engaging. This is a book (rarely i found) with less words but carry a hefty bulk of value. 

Its opening para was "excuse me, sir, but may i be of assistance? Ah, I see I have alarmed you. Do not be frightened by my beard: i am a lover of America.."

So, the story began at an open market of Anarkali, Lahore. The above person met a stranger (probably an American). Then, the story unfold as he narrated his younger person's story at Princeton to his employment at a very prestigious finance-analyst firm in NY and his relationship with an American girl, Erica.

The flashback story was narrated in a clear first person voice. Realistic enough for a person like me, who never set foot at Princeton/NY/Chile/NJ/Lahore. Somehow the narration give a glimpse of the cities/places and its inhabitants (maybe watching too much Hollywood movies helped constructing  some of the visions too).

I like the way the story turned at the end. Especially, because i didn't see it coming. 

Living in a world where everybody's blaming somebody else for misfortunes and worse still, pointing fingers at a certain religion/race to blame, this book gives the idea of the 'inside' person's perspective. and being an 'outsider', we'll never fully understand the weight (the gravity and meaning) of being an 'insider'. But, at least we can try. 

I'm not sure if this should be the appropriate outcome after reading this book, but, i feel strongly about shouldering our own burden in life. Nobody else will. Burden sharing is just an expression, in reality, to each, their own. 

This realization is so bleak for a brand new year post. Mull over it, will you? 

Book Read 2015

The list of my Book Read 2015

1. Lethal by Sandra Brown

2. Backcast by Lou Ureneck

3. Sunnyside Blues by Mary Carter

4. Not Another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson

5. Slam by Nick Hornby

6. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

7. A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

8. How To Be Good by Nick Hornby

9. The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar

10. Diagnosis by Dr. Anwar Fazal, Dr. Aizzat & Dr. Azah
11. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moksin Hamid

I am pretty sure i read a bit more than the listed books. But, i'm too lazy to dig up. However, I also have no doubt i didnt manage to reach my reading target of 52 books last year. 

I managed to write some posts for the book read. It's linked to the title, so feel free to click on them. its not much, just a little note to myself and a bit of reflection after read. I will try harder this year to write a more constructive post (ahhh..iya *sigh*) for each book read. 

2016 will be a challenging year to all of us. Challenges that will make us keen to be better and stronger. Cheers!! to a brand new year. 

I'm not  a big fan of a Mollywood Bollywood (!) movie, but of Dilawle's Gerua - thats a wicked number.