29
Dec 2007

The Usborne Book of Art Projects by Fiona Watt

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I bought this book yesterday at Popular as I was looking around the bookstore for any book that will have any artsy ideas for making greeting cards and other arty stuff. My friends were at the Chinese section of art and craft books and unfortunately, I can’t read Chinese so I wandered over to the English art and craft book section.

Now why didn’t I ever go to that section before? Whenever I enter a bookshop, I always head to the Fiction books section. Well, I used to visit the revision books section too but not anymore.

This book captured my interest right from the very first page. The instructions for each art project are simple and that’s why this book is suitable for kids who want to make fun stuff. Like greeting cards, for example. Instead of buying one card for around RM2.90, why not make one yourself? There’s the personal touch too and the receiver would be so happy to know that you made the card yourself!

In this book, there are interesting art tricks that you can use if you’re designing anything from cards to photo frames. You don’t need too many expensive materials to get you started on your art projects. You can even create a masterpiece from a piece of eraser!

Also, colourful pictures are included so you will know exactly what you are making. Pictures with instructions, everything is laid out for you. All you need to do is find the materials, which are easy to find and then you can embark on your project.

I’ll try one of the projects in this book later, then I’ll show you how it turned out!

Buy The Usborne Book of Art Projects (Miniature Editions)

Popularity: 4%

Categories: Authors W, Genre - Non-fiction, Titles U
31
Mar 2007

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

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Wouldn’t you like to be a high-powered lawyer at one of the most prestigious law firms around? To wear black suits all day and constantly check your e-mails every thirty seconds?

Welcome to Samantha Sweeting’s world. She’s one of the brightest lawyers at Carter Spink and never had any weekends off. She works all day and only arrives home late at night until she had to depend on her ever-caring neighbour to receive her mails and other things for her.

Samantha worked at Carter Spink for a good 7 years, giving her all. All she ever wanted was a partnership there. When she finally got it, she finds something unexpected among the piles of papers on her messy desk, which will ruin her entire career. Feeling shocked and more stressed out than ever, she leaves her office in a hurry and somehow ended up at an unfamiliar place.

When she stopped at a house to ask for a glass of water, she’s mistaken for a housekeeper arriving for her interview. Before she knew it, she made up incredible stories about her ‘housekeeping experiences’ to her would-be employers, Mr. and Mrs. Geiger. They were so impressed that they hired her immediately.

This is the first Sophie Kinsella book that I’ve read and I really enjoyed it. It is the book to read if you are looking for something light and hopelessly funny. I also cannot believe that Samantha can’t iron a shirt or even sew on a button! But, the part where she was trying to figure out how to use the washing machine was hilarious. I’ve never come across any washing machines with complicated pre-wash programs like A3-E2, H4, whatever.

Besides that, I don’t understand why she kept insisting that she likes being a housekeeper although she silently retaliates each time orders were being thrown at her. She obviously doesn’t like being bossed around. I mean, who would?

Samantha also falls in love with the gardener, Nathaniel. Initially, she was not sure of the mixed signals coming from him and was about to give up trying to get him interested. But, soon, things turned out well and Samantha started feeling happy being where she was.

While reading, I simply could not wait for the part where her employers and their obnoxious niece will find out who she really is! Samantha thought she was able to keep things a secret but things are not as easy as she thought they would be.

It’s a funny book, though I doubt there can be a real-life Samantha Sweeting somewhere!

Buy The Undomestic Goddess

Popularity: 42%

Categories: Authors K, Genre - Women's Fiction, Titles U Tags:
21
Mar 2007

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

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I used to watch The King and I movie every day when I was little and Anna introduced Uncle Tom’s Cabin to the King’s wives. That’s when I first heard of the book. Well, now I have finally read it after so many years!

There are so many characters in this book but no worries, as I will write about them as best as I can. My favourite character would be Uncle Tom, of course. He is the slave of Mr. and Mrs. Shelby. Uncle Tom has a wife, Aunt Chloe who’s a very good cook, and some kids. He and his family are also close to the Shelby’s son, George.

Mrs. Shelby has another girl slave too, Eliza. Eliza is married to George Harris and they have a son. George Harris is a hard worker and intelligent but unfortunately, his master does not approve of his ‘easy’ life. He takes George away from the factory where he used to work and made him work like a dog. This makes George very bitter and he plans to run away to Canada.

Meanwhile, Eliza overhears her master and mistress’ conversation about selling her son, Harry, and Uncle Tom away to a trader, Haley, because her master, Mr. Shelby is in debt with him. Eliza panics and takes her son to Uncle Tom’s cabin and told him the bad news. However, Tom refuses to leave with her and Eliza set off alone. Tom remains faithful to his master and eventually, got sold off to Haley.

After that, he found a home with the kind Mr. St. Clare. Mrs. St. Clare would be one of my most disliked characters in this book. She’s selfish, always complaining, and is jealous of her own daughter, Eva. Eva is a lively little girl who becomes Tom’s best friend.

This is a very sad book because a few good people had to go to heaven. I won’t tell who died. You will have to read it yourself to find out. I also felt sad and furious about the way African slaves were treated back then when slavery was common. The masters had the idea that they were God or something and were always degrading the poor slaves, who had no freedom, no rights, no anything. This book is somewhat similar to Roots by Alex Haley, which is about slavery in America too.

Anyway, I felt for Uncle Tom very much. Mr. St. Clare promised him his freedom and Tom was so happy about it. He looked forward to being finally free when something unexpected happened and he was then sold to the evil Simon Legree.

But, no matter how Legree tormented and criticized him, Tom still prayed fervently to God and was always faithful to Him. This made Legree even angrier. Even his other tortured slaves kept asking Tom to tell them more about God.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin would be an insightful read about faith, kindness, and courage.

Popularity: 25%

Categories: Authors S, Genre - Classics, Titles U