My adolescent novel revisited

I remember reading Julie Garwood's the Bride when I was 19. It was during the Taaruf Week (the first introductory week that all new students had to experience) which was full of briefing and other boring activities. So, instead of listening to the talks, I was so busy reading the novel.

Like Judith McNaught, Julie Garwood is another great story-teller in the romance genre. Most of her novels deal with the romance set in the previous centuries, the time when love emerges after marriage. So, the Bride pictured a young beautiful girl who was very innocent and naive forced to marry a wealthy handsome man who did not even like her the slightest. Somehow, the girl managed to make the man fall in love with her eventually. I'd say it's entertaining and suitable to teenage readers who dream of having a romantic fairytale love story. Anyway, where else can an ideal character be found other than the novels and movies. So, read Julie Garwood's novels and have fun with the dreamy world.

My current reading

My niece's encouragement influences me to read James Patterson's novels. I've known her for not really enjoying reading so much. So when she insisted that I read his novels, I could not say no. She was even willing to borrow the novels from the university library though they were thick and bulky. To check her claim that Patterson's novels were as good as Sheldon's, I picked one myself. I used the OPAC to get the details of the novels. Then, I borrowed ALL of these novels from the university library here.

The first novel that I've finished reading was 4th of July. It was thrilling to turn the pages as the murderers were only known as the watcher, the seeker and there's another one that I could not remember. The main character was Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer who was going through a trial after she had shot the suspects of a crime that she was working in. She had suffered poor image of a police officer who was then given a break from her duties. So, as she spent her holiday at her sister's place, brutal killings followed her. When she realised that the killings looked similar to one of her cold cases, she began to be the prime target of the three murderers (the watcher, the seeker etc). The revelation of these murderers caused excitement and surprise.

Overall, I'd say that James Patterson's novels are thrilling and captivating, but it's no match with Sheldon's. However, it's worth reading them and I can't wait to read the next Patterson's novel.

Best Product of the Week

Last week, I had an ice-breaking session with my BMD1GA students. My objective was that the students will get along with one another well since they have to cooperate to complete their assignments and homework. In that session, I asked them to create a new product or service that can benefit the society and bring profit to their newly founded company. Their product or service has to be of something totally new that it has not yet existed. To my surprise, their ideas of the product were so good. I had a tough time deciding who should be the winner. I had to consider its practical aspect, specification and target buyers.

The winner of the Best Product is GROUP 2:
KHAIRUL ALIF AIZUDDIN
MOHAMAD MAHADZIR
MUHAMMAD REDZUAN
MUHAMMAD SYAKIRIN

Their invention was ALL-IN-ONE LAPTOP: KERIS TECH MFL 1.0V which can scan, print, photocopy and fax. It is light, mobile and equipped with internal broadband device. So, with this product, there will be no need to spend extra RM to buy a printer or a scanner. It is practical and targeted as bestseller.

My fav authors of all time!!!

When I was 18, I started to rent books from a bookstore at Central Market. I read various novels from various authors - Danielle Steel, Jude Deveraux, Julie Garwood, Nora Roberts, among others. I came across 'If Tomorrow Comes' by Sidney Sheldon one day and decided to read it. My sisters always talk about Sidney Sheldon - how they really love his stories. The moment I read the first line of the novel, WOW! It's so amazing. I was more like watching than reading. The plot moved so fast that I had not had time to stop and think. I was so full of curiosity that I realised that I had to read it to the end. After a sleepless night, I finally came to the end. It was one of the most satisfying reading I have ever experienced in my entire life. After that wonderful experience, I decided to read all of his novels. Other than 'If Tomorrow Comes', I'd rate 5 stars to 'The Naked Face', 'Are You Afraid of the Dark', 'Tell Me Your Dreams' 'Master of the Game' and so many others.

Other than Sidney Sheldon, I really love Judith McNaught's novels. Unlike Sidney Sheldon's, she's into romance. Her best novels are 'Whitney My Love', 'Almost Heaven', 'Until You', 'Paradise' and many more. I'd love to read these novels over and over again.

Sidney Sheldon's and Judith McNaught's novels are available at MPH Bookstores and Kinokuniya, KL.