Losing My Virginity

Before I go any further, NO! it is not about that! It is about the book that I just finished reading. And no, it is not a book about journey into adulthood. I don't need a book to find out what adulthood is all about. I have all the knowledge that I need for that, hehe...'Losing My Virginity' (see above) is a book by Sir Richard Branson, who is the owner of the Virgin Group. Basically it is his memoir of his upbringings and how he drive the rising of the Virgin empire. He may not be famous here, but back in the UK you can see 'Virgin' name almost everywhere. From video stores to mobile service carriers to airplanes to trains to broadband! You can't help but wonder if all these 'virgins' are of the same company. And the answer is YES! You can see the list of his business ventures here

He started off his venture into business by setting up a magazine, 'Student' when he was only 16. His academic intellignence may be lacking (he suffered from dyslexia back during student days), but his tenacity for business is undeniable. He then set up Virgin as a mail order record retailer. Funny thing how he and his team came up with the brand name. Apparently, during that time all of his colleagues are basically new, naive into business ventures- hence the word 'Virgin'. From retailing company, 'Virgin' went to recording, undergone sheer amounts of struggle before emerged as one of the top recording companies in the world, signing up big names during that time like Boy George, Rolling Stones, and the Sex Pistols.

From there onwards, the branch of the Virgin tree keeps growing further and further. He expanded into airline travels (setting up and running Virgin Atlantic was probably the biggest challenge of his life, fighting against the ruthless British Airways who have been monopolizing British air travel business), rail business (setting up Virgin Trains), to the media business and currently, space travelling by setting up Virgin Galactic. All of his journeys have not been smooth sailing, and the heat can be felt reading this book. The way it was written is just so exciting.

Aside from business, he is also a sucker for adventures. He went for a boat trip attempting the fastest Atlantic Ocean crossing, hot air balloon challenge crossing the Atlantic & the Pacific...Goshh, only God knows what is going through in his mind, attempting all this dangerous attempts. But then, it is this sort of attitude which makes Branson exciting and admirable. He approached his life and business ventures with zest, exhiliration, and more importantly passion.

Upon reading this book, you can't help but to be green with envy towards Richard Branson. He has been living an exciting life (you will if you have two private Islands in the Carribean), his ventures have been going well, and he has the family to be there with him all the time! Woww, what a life he is having, and certainly this is one of the best books I've ever read. I highly recommend all of you to read this book.

My Sister's Keeper

I have finally finished reading this book! Yeayyy. I came across this title as I was browsing through the upcoming summer flicks. Watching the trailer, and finding out that it was an adaptation from a novel of a best selling author, it managed to keep me interested. Anyway, thanks to MPH I came across the novel and I bought it. Rest assured, I had a blast reading it from the start to the very last page. Let me share with you some dirt of what it is all about.

Basically we have Kate, who has suffered from a rare form of leukemia at an early age, struggling to keep herself alive. Then comes Anna, her younger sibling who was somewhat genetically engineered to help her sister fight the disease. Being family, an at such a young age, does not have much of a say of to the extend of her helping her sister, undergoing countless transfusions and surgeries. That is until one day, she decides to file for a medical emancipation for a legal right to her body; for her to be able to decide on her own of what she wants to do with her body. A decision that for most would be unthinkable, that will tear her family apart, and perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. Author Jodi Picoult has put a microscope examining this controversial topic, finding out what it means to be a good parent, a good sister and a good person; putting a fine line between legal and moral compass in doing absolutely anything to save a child's life.

I must say, I'm not sure how to begin with commenting about this book. Yes, it is a heavy subject, but at the same time, this book managed my attention and interest to read it through. It's packed with human emotions, human values, not to mention medical jargons. I also liked the way the story is presented, i.e. switches from the eyes from various characters including the parents, and the lawyers. It makes you see the things playing around each character's minds. Reading this (although it's fictional) can't help me but wonder what would have happened if I were in Anna's shoes. I can't say that I'm surprised with the ending (let's just say I kinda saw it coming along the way reading it), but then it's just woww. I spent about 10 minutes just reflecting on what had happened after finding out the ending. The pages during the trial scene was just suspenseful. I literally had to switched off the TV just to focus. Luckily hacing a great view from my hotel room helps me to get the to the bottom of the story with peace, huhu.

Bottom line, it's been a while since I last read fiction, but this is just awesome! Worth the money paid, worth reading, worth recommending it to someone else. I so so enjoyed the storyline and the characters. I can imagine Abigail Breslin being Anna in the movie. It will take a while till the movie arrives here in Malaysia, so just go and get this book! How I wished that back in my college years we were asked to analyze the idea of this book. Perhaps the Theory of Knowledge classes will not be so dull then...All in all, this book is indeed a keeper:)

Waiter Rant: Thanks For The Tip - Confessions Of A Cynical Waiter

I happened to catch a few minutes of Oprah, and she was then recommending this book 'Waiter Rant' which she thinks is a good read. Basically it is based on a highly acclaimed blog of the same name, which basically...is about the raves and rants of the writer, living as a waiter. The blog apparently won an award for best writing in a weblog in the 2007 Bloggie Awards (I never know such award exists). Anyway, I thought that it might be an interesting read. So, I went to MPH, found the book and bought it!

I kinda enjoyed his style of writing. He is a little bit comical, but definitely a no-nonsense when it comes to speaking his mind. It gives an everyday person like me an insightful view of how restaurants are managed and how tough it actually is to be a waiter. In the book he addresses things like how people suddenly turned into their very own Anthony Bourdain when it comes to scrutinizing food, how dependable restaurant staffs are to tipping by customers, working your levels up in the ranks, not to mention the very basic question; why be a waiter? His writing is as if we are writing a blog, no proper formats, language structure like in those higher end literature, which managed to keep me reading till the last page.

Another thing, he incorporated simple phrases in Spanish which he learnt and conversed with his fellow immigrant colleagues throughout the years working (including pendejo, which I think is another word for butt-hole). I did learn some Spanish then! (if that counts as one). Also, reading this book tells you that the writer, although a waiter (which some might say is not decent job to be proud of) is actually a very observant,insightful and definitely knows his stuff well. He even shares 40 tips on how to be a good customer, and not some pain in the ass which only is waiting to get kicked out by the manager

So there you go, another book read and much-less reviewed. Feel free to check it out at MPH or other leading bookstores, if reading this sort of book is your cup of tea, although I think it is worth recommending (hey, even customers @ Amazon gave great reviews on this book, just in case you need a second opinion). Next, I might try reading the now-crazed Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. My sister has all of her series, I might just took it from her. We'll see...Roger and out!

Honk! If You're Malaysian

I am telling this in my most humble, honest opinion; literature is not my thingymajiggy. Magazines, newspapers, comics; now that's a different story. Reading has not always been my regular cup of tea. But once in a blue moon, I do get caught on reading some interesting stuff. And so in this post, I would like to introduce a book about Malaysians, written by a Malaysian..simply said, it is uniquely Malaysian. I'm talking about 'Honk! If You're Malaysian'.

"Lydia Teh, the observer of the absurdities of Malaysian life, returns with more absurdities of life and oddities of human behaviour. Everything in life is grist for her mill; there's always something in the nothingness of everyday life that does not escape her pin-sharp eye. In this collection of anecdotes, she brings on more trenchant observations that capture the variegated textures and nuances of Malaysian life as it is lived." Eric Forbes

It is a simple, light reading on how Malaysians live and work, the culture, the language..basically the core fundamentals of being Malaysian. I have enjoyed reading this. The author has been spot-on observing Malaysians in her everyday life. I have to admit, reading it makes me proud of being a Malaysian.

The book is available at all major bookstores. So, feel free to check it out!