nikki

• Rated 5 stars

“What an amazing read!! All I can say is, I would recommend this book many lifetimes over. So grab a copy and enjoy!”

nikki wrote this review Saturday, February 14 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“I absolutely loved this book written by Time magazine's Asian correspondent, Aravind Adiga. You will find yourself immersed in 'modern India', a place where there are two castes - "Men with Big Bellies, and Men with Small Bellies." And no matter how deceitful and murderous he is, you couldn't help but be captivated by the main character, Balram Hagwai aka the White Tiger. He is self-deprecating, half-baked, street smart and very cunning. Through his seven letters to the Prime Minister of China, you will discover how he escaped the "rooster coop" and left servitude as a driver/servant to ultimately become a rich entrepreneur.

This is a brilliantly written rags-to-riches story that's hard to put down. Overall, a very enlightening portrayal of India. Kudos to Mr. Adiga for his first novel.”

nikki wrote this review Saturday, February 7 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Death (sans sickle or scythe) narrates the story of the "book thief", a 9 yr old girl named Liesel, as she arrives in her new foster home in a Jewish neighbourhood just outside Munich, Germany before the start of the Second World War. I was completely absorbed in this novel. It's such a wonderful book and who knew Death could be so sentimental? Personally, I enjoyed it better than the "The Diary of Anne Frank". I give it two thumbs way up!”

nikki wrote this review Saturday, February 7 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“This book is beautifully written and the prose lyrical (Adamson is a poet) but for a story revolving around a woman being chased in the woods by revenge-seeking brother-in-laws, I thought the suspense was lacking. I got bored. The thrill just wasn't there for me at all.”

nikki wrote this review Wednesday, January 28 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“John Perkins, a former NSA agent and chief economist at Chas T. Main (bought by Parsons Corp, which, by the way, has won contracts worth millions of dollars to rebuild Iraq), was persuaded to stop writing this book many times by threats and bribes. His decision to begin again was influenced by the US invasion of Panama in 1980, the first Gulf War, Somalia and the rise of Osama bin Laden. He argues that the American empire, the most poweful empire in the history of the world, has been built primarily through economic manipulation, cheating, fraud, and seducing people into its way of life.

As the chief economist, Perkins' job was to arrange to give huge loans to poor countries (through IMF or the World Bank) much bigger than they could possibly repay with the condition that they would give a huge percentage of that loan to US companies to build infrastructures for them. Those companies would then go in and build highways, dams, etc, which would basically serve just a few people (ie. the wealthy ones). It's the poor people in those countries who would ultimately be stuck with this huge debt. Eventually, the US government would go in and say "you are not able to pay your loans, therefore give us your oil, etc".

Economic hit men or EHM is a tongue-in-cheek term that Perkins and his colleagues called themselves. One of the many things Perkins talked about was Iraq and how the US tried to implement a policy with Saddam Hussein that was so successful in Saudi Arabia (the deal was for the Royal House of Saud to invest its petro-dollars in US securities which interest the US Treasury then use to hire US companies to build Saudi Arabia new infrastructures. In return, the House of Saud would agree to maintain the price of oil agreeable to the US government). Saddam Hussein didn't buy this.

According to Perkins, when the EHMs fail to cut a deal with a country's leader, the US government calls in the Jackals (CIA agents) to try to foment a coup or revolution. If that fails, they try to perform assassinations. If both EHM and the Jackals fail, they send in young men and women soldiers in an invasion. Much like what's happening now in Iraq.

Another "confessions" I strongly recommend is the Nobel Prize Winner in Economics "Globalization and Its Discontents" by Joseph Stiglitz, former Senior VP and Chief Economist of the World Bank.”

nikki wrote this review Monday, September 3 2007. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“This is a historical novel/hard-boiled detective story set in 18th century London. Liss wrote this book while he was writing his doctoral dissertation on 18th century British literature and culture. It's fully detailed and well researched but not in a dull kinda way like most historical novels.

Benjamin Weaver, a British Jew and a former pugilist (boxer), becomes a thief-taker and returner of lost properties after an injury forced him from the ring. The story begins when Weaver is hired to investigate the death of a stockjobber, and simultaneously his own father's death and the mystery behind false stock certificates. The book is loosely based on actual account - some characters are real historical figures like Jonathan Wild (an Al Capone of his time), and real events like the South Sea Bubble (the first stock market crash in the English-speaking world).

If you're interested in stock trading and have a taste for mystery and historical novels, then you'll likely enjoy A Conspiracy of Paper.”

nikki wrote this review Monday, August 13 2007. ( reply | permalink )

2 of 2 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 5 stars

“When I read reviews on the cover of books I usually wonder how much the authors/publishers had to pay in order to generate a positive marketing or publicity. Often I see the words 'gripping', 'amazing', 'compelling', etc. to describe the author's work. Sadly and often times, however, the book hardly grips, amazes or compels you.

As an avid and long-time reader, I've learned not to pay too much attention to the words of people inside the world of reviewing (ie New York Times Book Review, San Francisco Chronicle). Professional reviews have become overrated. Ultimately, what matters most is my opinion.

What does it have to do with this book?

Well, seldom do I find a book that turns out exactly what the reviews on the cover say. This time, I agree with the critics. "Over the Edge of the World" is truly 'gripping', 'highly readable', 'wonderfully written' and a 'first-rate historical page-turner'. It is arguably the best historic account of the first-recorded circumnavigation of the globe. Bergreen relies mostly on primary sources which are carefully structured so that it flows beautifully through and through. He takes you on board with Magellan and his crew as they explore, battle, mutiny, suffer, and die across the seas in search of - not gold, not treasure - but spices. If you love history and adventure, you will definitely love this book. It will simply amaze you!”

nikki wrote this review Friday, August 10 2007. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“I have been catching up on my reading and give myself a pat on the back for having already finished three books this month. For three days I found myself engrossed in Erik Larson’s “The Devil in the White City” – a real life tale about architecture and murder in 1890’s Chicago. The great thing about this non-fiction book is that Larson perused his research materials and documentations by interweaving facts into a story so compelling that you find it almost impossible to put down (it reminds me so much of Capote’s “In Cold Blood”). The book’s main characters are Daniel Burnham, the chief architect of the White City (Chicago’s World Fair), and H.H. Holmes, the sociopath killer who preyed on women coming to see the fair. Although the two men never met, their stories work so well together and their contrast – beauty and evil - makes this book very well written. The fact that it is also informative is an added bonus, and lets not forget the cast of characters – Buffalo Bill, Thomas Edison, Susan B. Anthony, Mrs. Astor, just to name a few. I have to admit however that if it wasn't for the murder story, the book wouldn't be as intriguing. Overall, I was mesmerized by the world Mr. Larson had recreated. A must read. I recommend it.”

nikki wrote this review Saturday, July 21 2007. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." - Jonathan Swift

This is a story about Ignatius J. Reilly and his (mis)adventures through New Orleans during the 1960s. He is self-absorbed, pompous, odd, condescending, egocentric, lazy, farts shamelessly in public, deluded, a behemoth with "paws", and who, at 30, still lives with his mother. He is repulsive in every way but is also very articulate and well-educated. The reader follows Ignatius as he stumbles from one ridiculous situation after another -- organizing a workers riot, selling hotdogs, etc. He could very well be the biggest literary buffoon ever conceived and yet, you cannot help but love him. Even the supporting characters are also enjoyable, especially the floor-mopping Jones (Whoa!).

There is a lot to be said about this novel as it is without a doubt a work of comedic genius, but I'll just say this -- PICK UP A COPY AND READ IT. It's hilarious!

PS: John Kennedy Toole commited suicide partially perhaps as a result of failing to get this book published. After his death, his mother provided a copy of the manuscript to the great southern classic writer, Walker Percy (The Moviegoer, The Message in a Bottle). The book was published, became a cult classic, and 11 years later, won a Pulitzer. Great story.”

nikki wrote this review Monday, July 16 2007. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“WATER immerses you in the fascinating customs and traditions of Indian culture while delving into such unconscionable degradation and oppresion of women of its past who wanted nothing more than to regain their dignity and freedom.

This novel left me in awe. I can not emphasize enough how greatly I enjoyed reading it. I read a lot of books but not many of them evoke such strong emotions. It is absolutely beautiful.

”

nikki wrote this review Monday, July 16 2007. ( reply | permalink )