How Will I Know | Saturday, April 08, 2006 @11:25 PM
Book 10: How Will I Know
Author: Sheila O'Flanagan
Recommended For: Anyone who has a lot of free time to read Reviewer: Etsu
Now it is my turn to write. Muahaha. I shall be writing reviews of chick lit books mostly, although I might change to something else. This is the first fiction book I have read in a long time. I was attracted by its tittle and this was truly bought on impulse.
I am afraid the tittle is the most interesting part of the book. The story is basically about Claire Hudson, a single mother raising a 15 year old daughter by herself. The opening part of the book is addictive. The book reveals that Claire's husband, Bill Hudson was killed in an accident when all three of them were on holiday. As a result of that, Claire finds herself stuck in that zone where she feels she cannot move on in her life.
What I find almost unbelievable is how Bill and Claire came together. Apparently, they were childhood sweethearts and they were each others' first love. I am rather cynical about this. How many of us actually end up being together with our first love? Anyway, since Claire is so used to being only with one man, she has problems answering her daughter's questions about boys, since she have no experience with other boys.
Therefore, for her daughter's sake, Claire signed up for an online dating thingy called 'How Will I Know'. Its really too bad that the author did not derive Claire's love interest from here. It would be intresting to see how people who met on the internet can be together in reality. However, this online dating thingy was not further explored. Instead, Claire experienced with the not-so-suitable-guys via this online dating thingy.
Also, it was apparent that Claire never really wanted to date anyone, she was only doing it for he daughter's sake. To research men, as she mentioned it. Little did she know that her Mr Right has always been around in her own house.
I must say that I read the first half of the book pretty quick, but in the middle and towards the end, the story got a little draggy for me. There were too many flashbacks to the time Claire and Bill met with the accident.
Overall, this book comes across as average to me. Its mainly about getting over your loved one, once they leave this world. Its also about opening your heart and giving others a chance into your heart. The ending was unclear, almost mysterious but not enough to keep me coming back for more.
The Friendship Factor | Monday, April 03, 2006 @7:19 PM
Book 9: The Friendship Factor
Author: Alan Loy McGinnis
Recommended For: Anyone who do not know how to be a friend
Again I have had these book for ages only now I have started to read it. I heard this book being recommended by one of the diamonds in the tape. This is why you gotta listen carefully to the tapes, they give messages between the lines.
Anyway, a very interesting book. In fact it was so good that I finished it in less than 2 weeks. This book talks about the real deal on how to be a friend. Not acquaintance, but a friend. There are many rewards in a friendship because friendship in the model for all intimate encounters.
You see, God made each and everyone of us unique and there is vast mystery and beauty surrounding the human soul. Therefore, not extroverts can have the ability to have many friends, introverts too can. If they follow these guidelines to deepen their friendships:
1. Assign top priorities to your relationships: Most people are just lazy to make the effort to keep in touch, or even call once in a while to say hello. To make a relationship work, you must assign a priority to it. If not you will be drift away doing something else. 2. Cultivate transparency: We like people who reveal themselves to us. It is only then we feel like we can open ourselves to them too. When people take off their masks, others are drawn to them. 3. Dare to talk about affection: Locals are not too good at expressing their feelings. We do not usually say 'I like you.' 'I admire you.' However deep in our hearts we do feel that way..its just we refuse to say it. Why keep it to yourself? Say it, you might make the other persons day. When we say it, you are getting closer to that person and that person feel close to you too. I have experienced this myself. The feeling is like on top of the world when somebody says they admire you for your capabilities. 4. Learn the gestures of love: One of the best ways to deepen friendship is by eating together. Another way is by helping him / her with some task. The bond is create even when there are few words exchanged. 5. Create space in your relationships: Accept people as they are. Do not try to make them like you.
This book is excellent especially for married couples. It helps them to understand the other party better. This does not mean that singles should not read it. This book helps uncover the powerful tool on dealing and having strong relationships with the people around you.
Life is to be fortified by many friendships.
To love, be loved, is the greatest happiness of existence
- Sydney Smith
This site was created by Etsu and Noi,self proclaimed bookworms. We have created this site to share what we have learn from books. We only review positive books that we feel can help the individual reading it. Each book that we review consist of our own opinions. We do not represent any book, author or publishing companies. Feel free to leave your comments or recommended any great links of books site or authors site.
