Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon

My Review: 4/5

Jamie:

All his life, Jamie has only one ambition; to be able to buy every good thing he and his family desire. In a hope of becoming rich, Jamie travels to Klipdrift, South Africa from Scotland in search for diamond. Initially, he gets tricked by his own to be father-in-law, Salomon Van Der Merwe but as faith would have it, he comes back stronger, boiled in vengeance. As he starts destroying Salomon, he becomes richer and richer every day and eventually forms a company, Kruger-Brent Ltd. 

Kate and David:

After an unfortunate and sudden death of Jamie, it's his wife, Margaret who takes over the company. His daughter, Kate grows up seeing her mother working so hard. The work ethic her mother showed makes a huge impression in her life and because of that, she loves the company from the very early age. Although it was her father, Jamie who created the Kruger-Brent, it is Kate who has all the determination to create a dynasty. All her life, Kate has only one thing on her mind: the Kruger-Brent. It gives her everything: money, fame, life style, life satisfaction and love of her life, David. 

Tony:

The problem occurs when Kate's own son, Tony has no interest on working for Kruger-Brent. He wants to paint and lives the life away from his mother's limelight but things doesn't go well for him. Kate is desperate to find someone reliable to pass the company after her but after Tony steps down, her next hopes are Tony's beautiful twins daughters: Eve and Alexandra.

Eve and Alexandra: 

The eldest twin, Eve is evil and wants to destroy Alexandra since she looks like her and is half heir to Kruger-Brent. Eve is shown making plans to kill Alexandra over and over but on the other hand, Alexandra is shown adoring and supporting Eve. As someone says there is 'Karma', it is the goodness that wins at the end. 

Overall, a magnificent book by Sidney Sheldon about courage, revenge, love and betrayal that runs for 5 generations of one family. Everyone has their own life and story but there is one common thing between them that determines their faith: Kruger-Brent. 

At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks

                                                   My Review: 1/5

*Warning: Contains Spoilers*

Normally, I like Nicholas Sparks' books but WTH happened here? Seriously, I am tired of reading tragic deaths of Mr Sparks' characters in his novels. 

This book is the sequel of the True Believer. Now, I am guessing that he decided to write this book because he didn't kill anyone in its prequel and may be he was feeling really uncomfortable about that. So, decided to write this book just to kill someone. I never liked True believer anyway but I thought may be this one will be good. Once again, I was wrong.

The story made no sense to me. The characters Jeremy Marsh and Lexie Darnell were really annoying. Actually, Lexie was even more annoying. Within one week of meeting, Lexie becomes pregnant and they decide to get married. One thing that was beyond annoying was, Jeremy sacrificed so much for Lexie. He left his town, family and friends, and moved to her place to be with her. Even his career is in danger. He is so much in love with her that he gave her everything she wanted but she kept lying to him. It turns out that in the past, she dated a guy called Rodney, who is now dating Lexie's best friend, Rachel. Rodney and Rachel are having problem because Rachel thinks that Rodney is not over Lexie yet. Do you want to know what Lexie does to solve this problem? She meets Rodney alone and holds his hands. Another time, she goes to his house alone to consult with him. For God shake Lexie, you are Rachel's best friend, not Rodney's. You should be comforting her, not spend time alone with Rodney. Even when Jeremy asked Lexie about sneaking out to meet Rodney, she blames him instead saying he is the reason that she has to sneak out. Oh, my holy God! I think if I was Jeremy, I would have slapped her hard and left her immediately. Who actually holds hands with their ex-boyfriend and still have guts to say she was comforting him because he is having problem with his girlfriend (who is actually her best friend)? C'mon, get some sense! What is more annoying is she doesn't tell Jeremy what she is being doing on his back. I just can't believe that Rachel still agreed to become her bridesmaid after all those dramas. Jeremy's best friend, Alvin keeps warning Jeremy that he is rushing into this marriage but as a result, Alvin gets removed out of their life completely. If I was Alvin, I would have said the same thing.  

So, despite everything, Jeremy is still by Lexie's side and they have the best possible wedding. Up to that crappy drama, 50% of the book is done and now, Nicholas Sparks introduces something that will end the story tragically. So, he chooses Jeremy and Lexie's unborn baby. It occurs that the unborn baby suffers from Amniotic Band Syndrome. So that mean, the baby may die unborn or even if she is born, she will be handicapped. There is very little chance of going everything alright. After uncountable visit to hospitals regarding this problem and too much tensions and stresses, shall I tell you what happens at the end? That baby is born perfectly alright but Lexie dies in giving birth. 

WTH

WTH

WTH

Nicholas Sparks clearly wanted to make it heart breaking story and may be hoping to bring some tears on his fans' eyes but this didn't work on me. I was rather so annoyed at the end that I just wanted to get drunk and pass out for a while (and I hate drinking). The funnier thing is, if you haven't read True Believer, you won't understand how the story started and most of the time, you end up frowning. I have read True believer but still it was a torture for me. Huge disappointment indeed!! 

Seto Dharati by Amar Neupane

                                                                      My Review: 5/5

यो  उपन्यासको जति प्रसंशा गरे पनि कम हुन्छ जस्तो लाग्छ। कथाको मुख्य पात्र तारा अनि उनको साथीहरु यमुना, पवित्रा अनि गोविन्दकोको कहानी सायद अब म जिन्दगी भरी भुल्न सक्दिन।   

७ वर्षको उमेरमा बिहे भएर ९ वर्षको उमेरमा बिधवा भएकी ताराको कहानी सुन्दा, बिधवा भए पछि उनले बेहुर्नु परेको समस्या, समाज अनि परिवारको हेला हुनु परेको कहानी पढ्दा साच्चै आफुलाई नै घटेको जस्तो महसुस भयो। छोरी मान्छेको जिन्दगी कति गारो हुन्छ, है? यस्तो कथा हाम्रो देशमा कति छोरीहरुले भोगे होलान, अझै भोगी राखेकै छन्। किताबको रूपमा भए पनि यस्तो जिन्दगीलाई हामी सामु लेइदिनु भएकोमा धन्यवाद छ अमरजी तपाइलाई ।   

यो उपन्यासले मलाई धेरै कुरा सिकायो। मानिसहरु हेर्दा एउतै देखे पनि उनीहरुको जिन्दगी एउतै हुदैन, सबैले आ-आफ्नो भाग्य अनुसारको कर्म गर्नु पर्छ । साच्चैनै, ताराको जन्मे देखि बुढेसकाल सम्मको कहानी सुन्दा लाग्छ, जिन्दगी कति छोटो छ, तर जब उनको दुख सम्झिन्छु, लाग्छ कति लामो छ यो जिन्दगी। यो लामो जिन्दगी उनी सेतो धरती भएर एक्लै बिताउनु पर्यो। कति दुख भोग्नु पर्यो। आफ्नो मन परेको मान्छेसंग जिन्दगी बिताउने, छोरा छोरी बनाएर सुखी संसार बनाउने, ताराको लागि सबै कुरा सपनामा मात्र सिमित रहयो । उनले रोजेको जिन्दगी उनले पाउन सकेनन। अरु कसैको भुलले गर्दा ताराले सजाय भोक्नु पर्यो। यस्तो जिबन पनि जिउनु पर्छ मानिसले तर आज आफुलाई निकै भाग्यमानी महसुस गरि राखेको छु, धन्न म तारा जन्मेको युगमा जन्मिनु परेन।  

बालविधवाको जीवनलाई संगालेर लेखेको यो उपन्यास, मलाई लाग्छ मैले आइलेसम्म यस्तो मन छुने किताब पढेकै थिएन।  यो उपन्यासमा सजिएका नेपाली भाषाको मिठास देख्दा आफु नेपाली भएकोमा गर्ब लाग्छ, अनि त्यो भन्दा पनि धेरै गर्ब लाग्छ यो किताब पद्न पाएकोमा। फेरी पनि धन्यवाद अमर नेउपानेजी तपाइलाई। भबिस्यमा यस्तो किताबहरु अझै पढ्न पाउँ र यी किताबहरु नेपालमा मात्र नभएर संसार भरिनै छाउन पाउन। यही छ शुभकामना।

Zakopane, Poland

It was not the perfect weather but perfect time. With first year done, working throughout the Christmas and New Year, I desperately needed an escape. With limited time, we decided somewhere near Germany would be perfect. So, Welcome to Poland.

This is one of the times I chose not to visit the capital but some other beautiful places. Krakow and Zakopane are very popular for tourists in Poland. Actually, Zakopane is even more beautiful. I totally fell in love with that place but whether you like it or not, to go there, you have to fly to Krakow first because there is no airport in Zakopane. It was good for us because we were going to Krakow anyway. 

So, first destination was Krakow but we reached there at night so that we could head to Zakopane early morning next day. Somehow, I found Krakow similar to Manchester. Similar houses, atmospheres, church. Kind of nostalgic feeling. The temperature was 0 degree but still I wasn't that cold. I was very excited. I told you, it was just a perfect timing for international gateway. I could have waited for summer for this trip but Nah!! 

Next day early morning, we headed towards south, about 100 km from Krakow. The place which looks like a heaven in the earth, the home of Tatra mountain and where the temperature can range from -32 degree in winter to +32 degree in summer:- Zakopane.

Passing Chocholow village on the way to Zakopane

Krakow is at the height of 230 m from sea level. As we traveled to the south, we started going higher and higher. Once we reached the altitude of 500 m, Carpathian mountain came in vision, which is known as the second longest mountain range in Europe. It's the mountain full of forest. From far, it looks deadly jungle but very popular for trekkers. Apparently, this jungle has a wildlife reservation. There are wild cats, eagle, deer, bear (human friendly). It is known that Poland has more bears than Scandinavian countries together. Interesting right?

Poland was formed in 966 AD.  During that time, Christianity came along and now, 90% Poles are catholic. In Golden age, Krakow was the capital of the country because it was the most happening city. Every main event happened there. On the other hand, Zakopane also carries an interesting history. Zakopane means place buried under the snow. People started settling down here in 15th century. They chose this place mainly because of timber because high quality and quantity timber can be found here.  Right in this place, they started new life. Even though there were not many people, they made their own dialect and dresses, and remained happily for 400 years until end of 18th century when Poland was attacked.  In Golden age, Poland had a royal family until one time when the king died and there was no successor. After that, the King was chosen democratically. Now, you can imagine what could have happened there. Disagreement ruled over and they started fighting and arguing a lot. People were more powerful than the King. Then guess what happened, Poland was attacked from three sides and the attacking countries were: Prussia (Now Germany), Austria and Russia. Poland was then divided into three parts and ruled by respected countries. That was the end of 18th century. Then Poland completely disappeared from the map for 123 years until the end of First World War. After First World War, Poland was independent again. Just so you know, 11th November 1918 is the Independence Day of Poland. After that distraughting time, they decided not to come back to Monacy. Now they have prime minister and president. During that 123 years, Zakopane and Krakow were part of Austria. Boy, isn't history interesting? I just love history. 

During Communism, government wasn't interested in promoting the mountainous area but people didn't want to move to city area because they were tired of migrating too much due to war. So, they started making living by selling things in cheap. That influence is still there and because of that, Zakopane is about 30% cheaper than Krakow. Taking Zakopane's beauty into an account, they started focusing in tourism. Now Zakopane gets 67% of its income from tourism. They run guest houses, mountain hiking tour, 30 spa centres. My God, yes, you read that alright, 30 spa centres. Tatra mountain, which is situated at 2600 m from sea level is the main attraction in Zakopane. The area is actually doing great as a tourist area. There are maps and signs everywhere making it easy for hikers too. In high season, the total population of Zakopane raises from 30000 to 300000. Now you can imagine how popular this place is. 

Once you are at the bottom of the Tatra mountain, you can take funicular rail to reach 300 m high opposite the mountain from where you can see the whole Tatra mountain. This ride takes 2 mins only and look at the technology, in that 2 mins, we were at 1123 m from the sea level, facing beautiful Tatra mountain. Here is the view:

After spending some time admiring Zakopane and Tatra mountain's beauty, we headed towards to see the most romantic church in Zakopane. While heading down, we decided to take a chair lift. For that, all I can say is 'wow'. I mean I was little bit scared in the beginning but when you see the mountain, beautiful valley and people skiing underneath you, you will actually regret for getting scared. 

The most romantic church in Zakopane is hidden inside the dense forest but I tell you, that Church my friend, is a beauty. Mass prayers and weddings are held there regularly. I actually wouldn't mind getting married there :D. It is really beautiful. 

Romantic Church hidden inside the forest

Fifty shades of Grey by EL James

My Review: 1/5

From: PC
Subject: Why I give your book 1/5 
Date: February 4 2015 11:55
To: E L James

Madam, I can't actually believe people write these kind of books and more interestingly, people do read it and like it. Oh well, what can people do? They have to read it (like me) once its out in the market.

So Madam, let me clarify my disappointment about this book. The book is full of sex. Was it meant to be a 'Kamasutra' book? I should have read the reviews before.

Other thing I don't understand is why Mr Grey is the way he is? Why does he have to punish the girls? Why he couldn't be a normal boyfriend for Ana? How come we readers are not informed about his strange past? Wish there were better things. Wish the book was nicely written. I have to confess here, it was as boring as hell. Oh, the ending, My God! could it be more confusing and dull? and I hate it when the ending is like this, like keeping it for the next series. This is what people want to read? Bless them!

Once, I used to wish to read every book that has been published but now, I am having a second thought. May be we don't have to read everything. If books are coming out like this then I should change my hobby from reading to something else. The book was very uninteresting and boring. Mr Grey was as annoying as hell but boy, he surely knows how to pamper his girl but why so harsh in loving though? Anyway, this so called book written about Mr Grey and Ana is full of shit and just reading it was very tiring for me. I decided to take a week break from reading after I finished this book. It did provoke me to listen to spem in alium the 40 part motet by thomas tallis though. The music is great. I give credit there.

PS. I have this bad habit that once I start a book, I have to finish it no matter how bad it is but my inner goddess says don't read the 2nd and 3rd series. Oh hell, who was going to?

PC x