The Lost Symbol – by Dan Brown

To live in the world without becoming
aware of the meaning of the world is
like wandering about in a great library
without touching the books.

The Secret Teachings
Of All Ages


How will I start my story of Dan Browns new novel? Hmmm… The Lost Symbol somehow .. lost me. Well, compared to The Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, this last sequel didn’t come up with something new. When I say new, it’s not just new, I was kind of expecting big and spectacular. It did however kept up with the usual suspense and fast phase thrills of the two previous novels. There was a moment there that I thought Dan Brown has killed the character of Robert Langdon. I was saying to myself… the lead character is dead already and I still have several chapters to go through. Don’t be alarmed… Robert Langdon is not dead. Surely another sequel is in the process.

Robert Langdon has found himself involved in another adventure (traumatic in the most frightening way). He was summoned to Washington DC presumably to be a guest speaker when he found himself in the middle of a severed hand and an annoying assistant director of the CIA. In one night, he was tricked, harassed, fled, kidnapped, tortured, killed, re-born, and found the lost symbol. If I was in his shoes…I would be catatonic by the time I was re-born. How can one person go through those experiences in one single night? The trauma is just too great.

Anyway, the story is about the obsession of one man to find the lost word of the Ancient mysteries that is guarded by the brotherhood of masons. It was written that it was buried somewhere in Washington DC. It was complicated by the involvement of CIA claiming some sort of national security. As expected, only Robert Langdon has the capability to decode the many secret code that protects the treasure. With the involvement of Masonic brothers, he unravelled the truths behind the secret codes which some were really hard for him to accept being a non-mason himself. There were new technologies added to the story like the Noetic science, the breathable liquid, the thermal imprint thingy…hehe.

What is the lost symbol??? Should I reveal it? Nah… I will only ruin the suspense to those who are reading it or about to read it.

Laus Deo – praise God

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

Victoria Vetra: "Religion is like language or dress. We gravitate toward the practices with which we were raised. In the end, though we are all proclaiming the same thing. That life has meaning. That we are grateful for that created us."
'
Robert Langdon: "So you’re saying that whether you are a Christian or a Muslim simply depends on where you were born?"

Vittoria Vetra: "Isn’t it obvious? Look at the diffusion of religion around the globe."

Robert Langdon: "So faith is random?"

Vittoria Vetra: "Hardly. Faith is universal. Our specific methods for understanding it are arbitrary. Some of us pray to Jesus, some us go to Mecca, some of us study subatomic particles. In the end we are all just searching for truth, that which is greater than ourselves."

This is an excerpt from the book which I find true. In the book, Victoria is a scientist and Robert is a Historian. Robert Langdon is the main character ( he reminds me of Indiana Jones!!). This novel of Dan Brown is intriguing to the max as he uses verifiable places and historic events. This makes the story one of a kind. It places the reader in the fine lines between fiction and reality. It breads a vague impression of ‘what if’ this is really true? ‘What if’ this can really happen in the future? What better story is there than one that allows the mind to think and wonder.

The story was about the age old conflict between science and religion. It started with a death of a scientist (which turned out to be a priest too) who happen to discover the antimatter. The death also leads to stolen antimatter big enough to annihilate an entire city. The head director of the scientific company contacted Robert Langdon, a professor of religious iconology at Harvard. Why a professor and not the police? The dead scientist was also branded on his chest the word “Illuminati” which falls under the specialty of the professor and at the same time, the director needs to keep the death at low profile due to the technology involved. Hence, started Robert Langdon’s adventure to the search of the stolen antimatter. He met Victoria Vetra, the adopted daughter of the murdered scientist and together they tried to solve the mystery behind the Illuminati. Their search led them to Rome and the Vatican City where an enclave is currently in progress. From here on was an action pact adventure that includes kidnapping of 4 cardinals, the heinous death of these cardinals on the hands of the Illuminati assassin, the controversy over the untimely death of the Pope, the involvement of the Swiss Guards, the death of the director scientist, the antimatter being located somewhere in the Vatican city ready to explode at 12 midnight and all these while the world is watching. This explosion will evaporate the whole Vatican City together with all the cardinals congregated to elect a new Pope. I especially liked the speech of the camerlengo. How did it ended? Did the anti matter exploded? Were they able to catch the assassin? Who won? Was it the Illuminati or the church? The anti matter did explode. The assassin was stopped. ... and the mastermind revealed (not to the world though). The rest of the story I leave to you guys to read.

The lesson? Why must we be thorn between science and faith? Don’t they come hand in hand? I do admit when we began to study the big bang theory in school, I was confused for a while. I learned very early in life that God has created everything. He made Adam and Eve. But then, at school they were telling me that man came from apes. Did that changed the perception of my faith? No. A lot of things can be explained now through science, but these answers breads new questions. And while waiting for answers, we rely on our faith, on our God, to someday reveal it to us. Let science be the child, curious and hungry for knowledge. Let God be the parents, providing tools and guidance for the child to grow and learn from its mistakes.

Let me end this with another excerpt from the book:

"Mr. Langdon all questions were once spiritual. Since the beginning of time, spirituality and religion have been called on to fill in the gaps that science did not understand. The rising and setting of the sun was once attributed to Helios and a flaming chariot. Earthquakes and tidal waves were the wrath of Poseidon. Science has now proven those gods to be false idols. Soon all gods will be proven to be false idols. Science has now provided answers to almost every question man can ask. There are only a few questions left and they are the esoteric ones. Where do we come from? What are we doing here? What is the meaning of life and the universe?"

Bisingr by Christopher Paolini

"Atra gulia un ilian tauthr ono un atran ono waise skoliro fra rauthr."

(Ancient Language that translate to --- “May luck and happiness follow you and may you be shielded from misfortune”)

Isn’t the ancient language cool?? I just finished reading Bisingr, the third book in a series by Christopher Paolini. If the title does not ring a bell, then I might as well mention the first book which was made into a movie recently... or not so recently. The first book was entitled Eragon. I first saw the movie before I read the book. The book cover displays a blue dragon and by the time one finishes the book, it would be obvious that the dragon is Saphira, the blue dragon of Eragon. The first book tells about how Eragon and Saphira met.

Then the second book was the Eldest. The cover is a red dragon. A new dragon hatched on the dark side. This book is about Eragons training with another rider and his dragon. It described the Elves kingdom. I am specially drawn to the elves way of life in the forest. In this book also that Eragons cousin Roran begin his saga to fame and valor. What’s with the title? The Eldest pertains to the oldest living dragon rider and his dragon.

And then the third book... Bisingr. After a year of waiting, it came out last September 20. The cover is a golden Dragon. A very handsome golden dragon. I remember a golden dragon from the second book. His name is Glaedr. He is the golden dragon of the elf rider Oromis. He and Oromis have trained Eragon and Saphira.

Hmmm.... what do I expect of the third book in the first place? I expected that Eragon and Saphira will finally destroy Murtag and Galbatorix. I expected him to recover his sword Zar’ roc from Murtag. But as most good stories goes... the third book has managed to weave its way around my expectations. Nonetheless, the story has disclosed a lot of revelations. Revelations that made everything clear to Eragon. Eragon was not able to face Galbatorix but was able to fend Murtag and Thorn away from the Varden. Eragon were not able to get back his lost sword but was able to get one for himself. The rest of the story I leave for everyone to read. What’s with the title? Bisingr is the ancient language term for Fire. It is also a name bestowed to a sword.

I should say that I was saddened by this book. I did not expect something like that to happen. But I leave it at that.

The story will continue and conclude in Book Four. Suspense, Suspense! Hopefully in the fourth book, everything will come into place.

From the ancient language..... “Eka elrun ono.” (I thank you).

Knock, Knock? Who's there? Brisingr!

My copy of Brisinger came knocking at my door the other day. It came out September 20 and I have to wait a while because Amazon has to mail it to me. So there were five days that left me longing specially when i pass by the bookstore at the mall and see them calling on me and saying ... "I'm here.. I know you want me... I know you need me... come get me..." Oh! Sheer torture! hehe

But it's here now... my new baby. I took some picture before I ruin it from reading. Can you see how handsome the dragon is? I still don't know who this dragon is but he (yes, i'm pretty sure or I wanna believe it's a HE! Indulge me for now...hehe) sure looks powerful and wise.

I am just starting to read. If I could just take a leave of absence from work just to read this. I am just so tired after work these days. I don't know when will my boss see that I need more resource so I can have a life. Maybe he needs more sleeping Ems at meetings...hehe.

Let's go back to my current obsession. This handsome dragon looks so cool on any background! I can't decide which one I like best.

K.. enough playing around. I should go and read to know about this Dragon.

I know what you're thinking Share! I know you read this book already and you're probably raring to tell me who this handsome dragon is but hold your horses! I waited five days for this book, I can definitely wait some more to get acquainted to it in a first hand basis.

*rubbing hands together* come here now Bisingr... we're going to bed! Let's get acquainted! ;)

The Kite Runner --- Poignant and Thought Provoking

“ I'm going to find a boy. His father meant a lot to me.”

I saw the movie last night. I told myself I will not watch movies that would made me cry but I was so curious about the story that I braved it anyway. And i deserved the tears I shed and all the discomfort associated with it. The story is so emotional, emotional in the saddest way. I could have run (like what my son did when the scenes are getting too uncomfortable) but I stayed glued on the scenes, of course, with a tissue in hand.

The story is about friendship. Friendship of two young boys in a land destined to undergo tumultuous challenges. The most interesting is the friendship of Amir and Hassan. Amir is rich and Hassan is their servants’ son. Both of them does not have a mother and Amir although has everything has longed for his father’s appreciation. Hassan on the other hand is so loyal to Amir. He cannot read and write like Amir but he is strong and brave. Their friendship is truly exceptional. Amir would read and tell Hassan all his stories and Hassan would never tire of listening. They loved flying kites. There is nothing Hassan will not do for Amir. But Amir and his fears has caused him to betray Hassan. Three bullies has doubted and taunted their friendship to the extent of hurting Hassan. That is the point where i started crying because Hassan has valiantly demonstrated his loyalty to his friend and at the same time Amir has failed him immensely by not coming to help him. That incident has changed their friendship. Hassan has to stay away for a while to nurse his hurt and Amir seemed to have taken this the other way. He hurt Hassan and provoked him to hurt him back but Hassan would rather hurt himself than hurt his friend. Amir went as far as setting his friend up for stealing his watch. This made Hassan and his father leave their household. I was really feeling so upset with Amir at this point. How can he be soooo blind?

Then the Russians came to Afghanistan. Amir and his father have to get out of their country. They went to America and never returned. He graduated, became a writer and got married. His father died without seeing his country again. Until a call came and it was his father’s friend from back home. He was called to come and visit him in Pakistan. He came back to visit and learned that Hassan has died in the hands of the Taliban. He died protecting the house and properties they left behind... and left a son. He also learned that Hassan was his brother. His father’s son from one of the servants. This revelation has added a thousand fold to the guilt he has. He has a nephew alone in a place that is never kind to orphans.

He received a letter from Hassan who since learned by self-taught how to read and write. The letter was sooo touching ... that’s it... I cried again. An excerpt of his letter goes like this:

“I dream that my son will grow up to be a good person, a free person. I dream that someday you will return to revisit the land of our childhood. I dream that flowers will bloom in the streets again... and kites will fly in the skies!”

And there he has decided...he need to find the boy. He needed to be brave this time and do the right thing. Stand up to something he holds dear in his heart. He will go back to face the Taliban and find his nephew. He was told that he’s in one orphanage but when he went there, the boy was already taken by an evil man. He went to find this man only to find out that this man is one of the bullies that have hurt Hassan and now he is slaving Hassan’s son too. He is determined to get the boy and got hurt in the process but they were able to get away. With bruised face and body he was able to get the boy out and brought him to America. The boy was broken but Amir knew that he will do his best to protect him and make him feel safe. That experience has made him brave and finally understood how to stand up for what is right and just no matter what danger lies ahead.

Lessons!!! Oh! How my eyes hurt! Even writing this has made me shed some tears again. Friendship is such a delicate thing. What is the problem? The problem is that Amir has kept a secret, a guilt that was rooted from his fear. This has prevented him from being truly happy. How can he release his soul from such torture? He said he was done with forgetting, he needs to face his fear and he did. A chance to redeem himself came and he grabbed it.

Book of the Moment

I am pretty used to being in the passenger side. Looking at all the nice things areound me, mind wandering to other places and occasionally napping while travelling to my destination. I am so comfortable that way. I don't want to stress myself with focusing on the road and on the traffic around me. But... and the big BUT! Driving in Canada is almost like a necessity. And being independent means I don't have to rely on people to drive me to where ever I want to go. I haven't heard any complaints from the persons who offers me a ride but I can't be forever asking and taking advantage of their kindness. So! With a heavy heart, I am embracing the road to being a responsible driver.

Getting a drivers licence in Toronto is a lengthy process. They use what they call Graduated licensing. If one has a licence to drive a car, it doesn't mean he can also drive a truck or a bus or a motorcycle. You need another kind of license for those vehicles. Since I only need to drive a car or a van, I am required to get the Class G Licence. Class G is composed of 2 levels namely G1 and G2. G1 being the lowest (and most restriction) and G2 (minimum restriction). Everyone getting the Class G will have to start with level G1.

Graduated licencing lets new drivers get driving experience and skills gradually. The two--step licensing process takes at least 20 months to complete. To apply for a licence, I must be at least 16 years old, pass a vision test and pass a test of my knowledge of the rules of the road and traffic signs. Hence, I need to read the above pictured drivers manual to help me get acquainted with the rules of the road and traffic signs. After I pass thses tests, I will enter Level One and get a Class G1 licence. Level one lasts 12 months and I should take an approved driver education course to help me learn proper driving skills . Class G1 license holder must abide by the following rules:

1. Your blood alcohol level when driving should be ZERO.
2. You must not drive alone. An accompanying driver with a valid Class G (with at least 4 yrs experience) must accompany you.
3. each person in the vehicle must have a working seatbelt.
4. You must not drive on roads with a posted speed limit over 80km/h.
5. You must not drive between midnight and 5 AM.

Wow! Talk about restrictions! But after a year on G1 license (and following the rules), I can now take and pass another road test that will allow me to move to Level Two. At this time I will be given a Class G2 license. I still have to adhere to a few restrictions during this level. After 12 months again, I can take another road test to qualify for full licence priviledges. I must pass this test to get a full Class G license.

Just hearing about road tests from relatives who went through it gives me the creeps. It is not an easy test. The examiner is very strict. It's not surprising to hear about failing and getting the road test twice to pass. Nonetheless, I have to go through it as much as anyone. Unless .... I win the Lotto and hire my own driver!

Note: at the moment i'm still on page 39 of the drivers manual. 161 pages more.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho -- Magical!!

“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it…..”

I finished this book in two weeks. It’s a nice change from the two Neil Gaimans books that preceded it. Paulo ( I should mention they have the same first name as my son ) Coelho is such a breath of fresh air. The Alchemist is the first Paulo Coehlo work that I have read and I’m very satisfied with it. Each page tells me a lesson about life and about faith. I still have one more of his books for reading and I’m already excited on what I can find and learn. I am partial to magical stories because they make my dreams more real and it makes me feel hopeful and happy.

The alchemist tells about the adventure of a shepherd boy named Santiago. He had decided to be a shepherd so he could travel and learn about places and people. He loves his sheep, his book and his own time under the sun. His life was simple and in predictable pattern until he had a dream. A dream that happened twice and made him wondering. From then he met a King disguised as a pauper who told him to follow his Personal Legend. He realized that his personal legend is to find his treasure in Egypt’s pyramids. In following his Personal Legend he was able to go to Africa, to the dessert and to Egypt. Through this travel he learned a lot from the people and from nature. He learned the language of the world. Through his travels he met good and bad people. He met his love in a oasis in the dessert and was challenged more than ever to go and further pursue his dream. He met the alchemist and learned from him. He was able to communicate with nature. Until at the end he came finally to the pyramids of Egypt. There was a twist at the end though. The pyramid was only able to give him the location of his treasure.

The dilemma of the story is about following Personal Legends. For some dreams maybe too big or just too hard to achieve that we just give up and turn our back to it. But by turning our back we begin a life of misery and a constant nagging of “what-ifs” in the back of our minds. The boy in the story went for his dream even though the dream is bigger that him. He believed that if he wanted something very bad, the universe will conspire to help him achieve his dream. It sounded so easy, one might say. But I had my share of the same story. One of my biggest dreams before was to be able to go and live in Canada. I have seen through my relatives’ stories how good it is to live there. But I have a good job, a family and we live fine. It’s just too hard and expensive to go there. Until the biggest challenge of my life happened. My dream of going away has returned and it’s all I wanted. I prayed and I cried thinking of how and when. Maybe I have wanted it enough that the universe did conspired to help me achieve it. My aunts in Canada called and promised to help me. My colleagues at work asked me if I wanted to go to this agency for immigration. But it wasn’t that easy…it is also true that as you near your dream, the harder it takes to reach it. It has caused me nights of sleeplessness, constant crying and praying. I was already in the land of my dreams and I still have to establish my right to live here. It was hard starting from nothing. Hoping for the kindness of other people to trust me and give me a chance to prove myself worthy of being a part of this new world.

Here in the land of my dreams…. I am happy and content. I can continue dreaming… and maybe… if I wanted it bad enough……magic will happen.

American Gods ---- by Neil Gaiman

“ I am not scared of what tomorrow might bring, because yesterday has brought it.”

American Gods is a fiction fantasy story. It’s more like a birth or a beginning of a future super hero. I can smell a sequel in the future.

The story revolves around a man named Shadow (see…the name itself sounds like that of superheroes). He was in prison for three years for aggravated assault and is about to be released. Two days before his release, he received news that his wife had an accident and is now dead. To make matters worst, he also found out that his best friend died with his wife and that they are having an affair. The same best friend who will give him a job after prison. He was left with nothing, all his plans thwarted, nowhere to go. Until he met a man named Wednesday (hehe…good idea, I’d name my future dog after a day of the week in French!). He was hired by this man to be his driver, bodyguard and gofer. Thus began his saga to the world of magic, of Gods, of legends, of myths, of monsters and undead. As the story progresses, Shadow found that Wednesday is a God. He is an embodiment of the God Odin, god of wisdom, war, battle and death. He is also attested as being a god of magic, poetry, prophecy, victory and the hunt. It was hard for him to believe at first but circumstances have proven otherwise. He also learned from Wednesday that there were other Gods around. Old ones and new ones. Gods brought to being by the peoples belief and faith. Seemingly ordinary people with power and secrets behind them feeding on peoples adherance to their devotions and sacrifices. There were old Gods and new Gods. People who came from distant places have brought their Gods with them when they reached America and as time passes they move on to newer Gods leaving behind the old Gods unloved and forgotten. Old Gods that were mentioned in the book was Loki (God of fraud), Thor (God of Thunder), Anansi (Folklore God of Culture), Leprechauns (Irish folklore, men of mischief and wealth) and Kobolds (German folklore, spirits who does domestic chores) and Banshees (Omen of death), Kubera (Hindu God of wealth) and Fraue Holle (Lake Godess) and Ashtaroth (prince of accusers and inquisitors). Unfortunately, these Gods are facing obsolescence for less and less people belived in them. No sacrifices were done on their name and they are getting weaker and older. People are now believing in new Gods. The God of credit cards, of freeway, of internent and telephone, of radio and hospital and television. The new Gods has their own leader called Mr. World. Wednesday has this belief that the new Gods will completely throw them in oblivion and that he must stop them before it is too late. So he is recruiting old Gods to join him in confronting the new Gods. In the end, shadow realized that Wednesdays plan is a trick to get all the Gods go in battle and in the process all death arising from that battle will serve as a sacrifice to him and his conniving partner Mr. World (turned out to be Loki, the God of fraud) and they will be both once again powerful for the blood of sacrificed Gods are far more superior than ordinary people.He also learned that Odin is his father. He tried to stop the battle and prevent Wednesdays plan to be completed. He was able to learn that he has qualities and capabilities to play on peoples memory and to be completely hide to the real world…thus giving meaning to his name. At the end…all Gods have accepted their faith and learned to live together the best they can. As for shadow, he preffered to live behind the curtain, trying get things right when they are going wrong.

Okay, that was the story, as short as I can re-tell it. Typical of any fantasy stories mostly found in comic books, it creates this other world existing only in my mind. Although at times I would occationaly look over my shoulder for possible truth. You know, hey, maybe we do have some Odin in our midst, or a Banshee or a shadow. I’m a sucker for a superheroes I must admit. I have a crush on Superman, an infatuation with Batman….lol. There were momments in the story that completely creeps me out..like how they do the sacrificial rites or the description of the zombie Laura. All in all, it is a good story. I should mention it did gave me a nightmare one night after reading it before bed. After that, no more bed time stories like that for me.

Lessons! Problem in the story is survival of the Old Gods. And Shadows part in it. Was it solved? The solution is acceptance and not war. Acceptance that in this world, change is inevitable. We may try not to change but eventually change will overtake us. New things will come and becomes old and they go. Good things may last more than the bad things but they will succumb to time as we all do. Greed is never good, as well as thrickery and they never suceed.

Shall I recommend this book to my friends? Why not?? With a warning not to read it before bed…

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

Finished another book! It always made me feel good when I come to the end of any book I read. Well most of the exciting parts are usually around the end anyway. And it’s always nice to look back and assess the entirety of the whole story. What emotions it has roused in me, what was the lesson and overall impact as an entertainment tool.

So what about the book by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett?? It’s a very funny book! It is like a spoof of the 1976 horror story/movie entitled “Omen”. So many characters intertwined together and converging at one point. If you have seen or read about the “Omen”, this story would be a piece of cake to follow through. It basically revolves around the birth of the antichrist, an angel, a devil, a witch and a witch finder. All intertwined towards the coming of the worlds end. It was a perfect plan until the switching of the two babies, one of which is the antichrist. The true antichrist having been switched and lost grew up to be a boy of eleven years old, his true powers undeveloped and suppressed. So in the end, he was more human than the son of Satan. I guess you can very well presume that the end of the world did not take place as planned. In between these events is the tandem of an angel named Aziraphale and a devil named Crowey. Having been assigned so long on Earth to oversee balance or unbalance of good and evil has made them understand humanity and thus became friends. They are the ones who do not believe that the great plan isn’t sounding so great at all. Then there is this witch who is a descendant of a well-known witch whose prophecies tend to become true in the weirdest way. It has been prophesized that the worlds end through an antichrist is coming.

Lessons! Although the story is riddled with funny and eccentric characters, beneath it speaks a lesson on humanity. The problem in the story is the coming of the anti Christ and the end of the world (human) and how to stop it. In the execution of the plan, something went wrong… amusingly wrong to be exact. The antichrist was left to his own devices while growing up that he was influenced more to became human instead of the devil he is. Hence, humanity endures.

This story almost had its chance to be a movie. And I read from wikipedia that it was planned to get Robin Williams to play the character of the angel and Jonny Depp for the devil. WOW! That would be so cool!! I hope it will get through. Some of Neil Gaimans stories that were able to make it to movie versions were “Stardust” and “Beowulf”. I’ve seen both movies and true enough, the Gaiman style prevails.

Eat Pray Love by E. Gilbert – Not my Cup of Tea

Finally! After 3 months, I was able to finish this book. I'm sorry but I sort of lost interest right where she's treating herself with ice cream in Italy. I don't know, the review was great or maybe I was just paying attention to the promise of humor and of travel to Italy, India and Bali that I did not bother to find out what it is really about. Unfortunately it did not meet my expectations. This is of personal opinion and nothing else.

I have learned something from my daughter. Whenever we watch a movie, she would ask at the end, “What is the problem in the story and how was it solved?”. That is the way they were taught on how to appreciate any story. Any story would always have a problem and a solution. From then, I started to ask myself the same question after reading a book or watching a movie. It’s not just what it made me feel that matters anymore, it was also how the dilemma was resolved. This book made me laugh, that is good. I, however was not impressed when I saw what's behind the humor.

When I started to read this book and as I go in further and further, the problem started to form in my mind. This is about a woman who is struggling in a marriage because she does not want to have children. Struggling went to depression and then the divorce. Plus, an affair that did not help at all. She was totally blaming herself and in need of self-assurance in what ever form. She decided to go out into the world to renew herself. Being a writer, her boss has agreed to finance her travel only if a book can be written out of it. She first went to Italy to indulge herself with pasta and ice cream. Then she went to India to seek faith. She learned how to meditate and discovered yoga. Then she went to Bali and found love. A new love in one years time. Someone who, like her, does not need children and enjoy the luxury of travel.

As hard as I try, I can’t find any empathy towards the writer. The problem was really shallow and the solution is giving mixed ideas. She is indeed a very fortunate woman and quite a spoiled too. Not all divorcee can go out in the world and reinvent themselves. Most of them were forced to end their marriage because they were abused or mistreated. Most of them have children to think about even before they can think about themselves. Most of them are not lucky enough to have a job, much more a job that will finance all expenses traveling the world. If I’m a divorcee or have a problem that consumes me and I’m looking for answers, should I hop on a plane and go to Italy to gorge myself full? Journey the holy lands of India so I can find God? And then off to Bali because the answer is there? If i can't, does it mean that i'm doomed?!!

But I’m not as lucky as her or as spoiled. But then if I should take all of these as a big metaphor, then probably the basics would help. I would follow the same pattern. Step one is Eat, this does not mean gluttony but to take ones attention to oneself. Take care of yourself because no one will, give it nourishment and ask it to rest. Listen to it and make it stronger because it's all you have. You don't have to go as far as Italy to enjoy a spaghetti or an ice cream. Second step, Pray, - one does not have to go far to find faith. God is never too far, He’s forever near, you just have to let Him in. In the quietness of your mind (anywhere in the world, even in the noisiest part), you can let him in to your heart. Share your burden with Him and trust in His love. Third is Love --- this is the last… open your heart and let love come to you. You need not seek it to the ends of the Earth for it will come willingly and in full surrender in God’s time. This I think, makes more sense.

SILMARILLION by JRR Tolkien

OH! After a month and 12 days I have finally finished Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien. It was the longest time I’ve ever spent on a book. Probably brought about by the fact that it was a big and heavy book, my reading was confined to only one place. I couldn’t bring the book with me anywhere unless I want to have a sore arm at the end of the day.

Anyway, I think the book is brilliant…with a few setbacks, which I admit is due to my brains inability to grasp rich, robust and complicated scenarios. I guess half my brain still yearns for visual illustrations or its just tired at the end of the day to fully imagine the world that is being described in front of me. When the book talks about Elf, the picture of Orlando Bloom suddenly appears in my mind (which is quite annoying since whenever this happens, I just melt away in my own thoughts..hehe). I really love his character in the movie, not to mention and over emphasize on his good looks. OKAY! Back to the book… see how distracted I was??

I consider the book in the likes of the old mythology where it describes when the world was made and there’s this one creator called Iluvatar who had made Gods who would prepare the world (apparently Earth but on a different name--- Arda) for his children the Elves who are immortal and Men who are mortals. The villain (as all stories have) was a God named Morgoth who rebelled and has desires to be the most powerful of all the Gods. When the Elves arrived, the Silmarillion was created for them. This apparently was the only source of light then. The sun and the moon were only meek replacement of this light when it got stollen. Yes, this light was stolen by Morgoth and was the source of all battles between Gods, Elves and Men. In the end, the Silmarillion was lost and never recovered; they were buried in the depths of the earth. Morgoth was seized and imprisoned but was later replaced by Sauron. Most Elves and Men fought side by side. Men having created last has resented being mortal and have envied the Elves for their immortality. It is also evident that Men were more materialistic having the desires to acquire wealth rather than wisdom that the elves have valued more precious. Thus, they have lived apart. Some men with lust in their heart would head Saurons calling. So men are divided for some of them are weak in mind and strong in greed. But they are also strong in will and body (even only short lived).

A few warnings before reading this book. Read when your mind is fresh to envision all the images that are described. Keep up with names because they are always changing. Keep the map open for they will aid in visualization. Most of my frustrations were not finding the place mentioned in the Map and there are a few of them.

That was it! I have to put closure before I start on another book. I am aware that I still have to be fully exposed to such stories in order to fully appreciate its beauty. So, I will definitely read more stories in the line of JRR Tolkiens version of mythology.

I guess winter is coming...

I was surprised by how much new books I have to read. Hmmm… how I managed to accumulate all these is a mystery to me. I guess winter is really coming. A few visits from Amazon and viola! I’m all set for winter reading. With hot chocolate, a warm blanket, beside a fireplace (if I have one) is now flashing in my mind. As it is very well known how winter is like here in Canada, with temperatures way below freezing and neck deep snows, people were left with only two options. Option one, to go outside and shovel snow (which we do anyway) and option two, to stay inside and die of boredom and depression. Since I don’t want to die of boredom or depression… a good read always saves the day for me.

I am currently reading two books. A paperback entitled, 'Eat, Pray, Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert, which I take with me to work everyday. I read while waiting for the bus, while I'm in the bus and during breaks at work. There is this thick hard bound book entitled 'The Silmarillion' by JRR Tolkien, that I cannot bring with me to work because it's so big and heavy. This I read at home.

Bookworm signing out.....

Children of Hurin - Oh My … Such Ending!!

If anybody would see my face after reading the book ‘Children of Hurin’ by JRR Tolkien, they would say I looked like a child whose candy was taken away. I was not smiling, really. Rather, I was pouting. It’s not that the story itself is bad; it’s the emotion that the story has left me when it ends. It’s not really what I’m expecting and not a clue was said in the reviews! I was cheated out of my own fault…hehe. Such tragedy!!!

The book itself is brilliantly written. The setting was well introduced. I just hoped that the map was placed in front and not at the back. It took me intense headache visualizing in my mind the places and geographies that was described therein. Only to find out in the end that there is a map that I can refer to. I was tricked again. As much as possible whenever I read any book, I do not go checking the last pages. I do not want to stumble into the ending and be temped and ruin the whole experience. There was purpose of having the map at the back and I realized that. It should’ve been mentioned in the beginning that there is a map folded at the back of the book. Or perhaps the English is so deep, I completely wheezed through it.

The language is also something to get used to. The names are not only hard to read but at the same time it’s always changing and remembering is difficult.

So I started my saga to the unknown… weed through the pages of battles, of journeys to distant places (on foot and horse!), of encounters of men, elves, dwarves, orcs, dragons and creatures unknown. I’ve seen the strength of curses, of black magic.

This story tells of Hurin, a man, his allegiance to the Elves. It tells of his battle with the Evil Morgoth and his Army. It’s about his capture and the curse that Morgoth has set to his family. Truly, in this story, evil has triumphed.

Thus, my only lament…

New Obsessions...

In my quest to find another book to read, i came across very good reviews about two books. They are written by the renowed author of 'The Lord of the Rings', J.R.R. Tolkien. I haven't read the Lord of the Rings books but I've seen all the film over and over. Because of the 5 star reviews, I am convinced that it's worth a try. I have such high hopes of having such a grand time reading, I hope I would not be disappointed.

So off to Amazon.ca and ordered the books "The Children of Hurin" and "The Silmarillion", both by J.R.R. Tolkien. After three days, they are knocking on my door (figuratively speaking). I preferred getting books in Amazon.ca because they offer cheaper prices and they are delivered free. The book 'Children of Hurin' costs $35, I got it $17 from Amazon. I need my order to be over $35 to avail of the free shipping, so I had the other book 'Silarillion' for $22 (regular price $35). It's really a good deal.

Ahhh... the smell of fresh books. I just love it!