If Today Be Sweet by Thrity Umrigar

Synopsis:

Tehmina is a 66 years old Parsi woman who have to make a tough decision in her life after the death of her beloved husband Rustom. That is whether to live with her son, Sorab and his wife, Susan in Ohio which meant to leave everything that she is familiar with or to live in Bombay.

Her hesitation causes a lot of tension between herself, her son and his wife.

Story is told from Tehmina point of view. She worries that she might not be able to change and grow accustome to living in Ohio as the way they do thing here is simply very different from what's done in Bombay.

My Comment :

I have fell in love with Thrity Umrigar works since the first time I got it from BookXcess and I was very happy to find this book at the last Big Bad Wolf Sale.

Some may not like this book as Tehmina seems to be dragging her feet in deciding what she wanna do. But for me it was interesting as many things are not black and white as ones may perceived.

We get to see thing from Tehmina point of view. I am sure each of us have things that they fear.

Anyway, I guess, you will have to read this book to understand it better. Not an easy read but it certainly is an eye opening read.

 

The Lost Daughter by Diane Chamberlain

Synopsis at www.goodreads.com

In 1977, pregnant Genevieve Russell disappeared. Twenty years later, her remains are discovered and Timothy Gleason is charged with murder. But there is no sign of the unborn child. CeeCee Wilkes knows how Genevieve died – because she was there. She also knows what happened to the missing infant, because two decades ago CeeCee made the devastating choice to raise the baby as her own. Now Timothy Gleason is facing the death penalty, and CeeCee has another choice to make. Tell the truth and destroy her family. Or let an innocent man die to protect a lifetime of lies.

My Comments:

I pick up this book from The Subang Jaya Book Exchange. Looks like somebody bought this book from BookXcess and donated it after finishing reading it.


I am glad that this person donated it out for I would have never found another good read. Why do I say that? It's because the font of this book is very small. Normally, this would deter me from buying the book. But the "kiasuness' overcomes this minor detail coz I got to read this book without cost.


The author is really awesome. She is versatile and able to write from a few perspective. She would raise an issue from one point of view. When I read the issue, I agree with her but a few pages later, she would gives the point of view from another person perspective which also s valid. Sorry I can't write so much as it would reveal the spoiler for you guys. 

It really pained me to read that CeeCee being duped into doing something that she feels is wrong. She tried so had to do the right thing but some how again and again fate was against her.

Some say her book will be a rival to Jodi Picoult. However. I feel it's just lacking of one thing which Ms Jodi has but she had yet to achieve; and that is the special twist at the ending. The ending of this book is pretty much straight forward. Not much of surprise to be had.

Mr Stink by David Walliams

I pick up this book from the Subang Jaya Book Exchange Programme last Sunday

It was a delightful easy read but with a lot of things to ponder about.

Briefly, Chloe is a little girl who sat a "wonderer" sitting alone at a Bench. Everyone called him Mr Stink and he has a dog with him.

Chloe being a kind hearted girl, approached this Mr Stink although she know that her parents especially her mother would be horrified by her action.

Being friends with Mr Stink changed Chloe and her family.

I love this book for being "educational" with out being too preachy. I know many would say yuck to the word "educational" but I think in this case, you can make an exception.

It teaches us on the importance of family, of giving each other space to grow and helping each other out.

I would recommend this book not only for kids but also for adult too.

Dead Head by Rosemary Harris

This is the 3rd book that I've read by Rosemary Harris, bought from The Big Bad Wolf Sale 2011.

I have reviewed "Pushing Up Daisies" and "The Big Dirt Nap" earlier. Both were wonderful books.

In this installment of Paula Holliday mystery, she was face with a fugitive mom which happens to be her friend for many years.

The quiet and peaceful, Caroline Sturgis, is not who she seems to be. She was revealed to be a wanted criminal.

Paula is seen to be the villain that betray this sweet lady and their friendship. She have to race against time to rectify the error and untangle what had happen in the past in order to help Caroline.

Hot on her tail was a mysterious stranger that seems ti bend on harming Paula.

This is a very suspenseful and thrilling novel for me.

It took me just a few hours to finish reading it. It's truly a page turner for me.

The author kept me wonde3ring till the ending. Plot were unpredictable.

Yes, I love this book

Flower Net by Lisa See

Synopsis from www.amazon.com

In Flower Net, Lisa See rips the veil away from modern China -- its venerable culture, its teeming economy, its institutionalized cruelty -- and highlights the inextricable link between China's fortunes and America's. This is a Gorky Park for our time, a complex, suspenseful, beautifully written novel in which a Chinese cop and an American attorney team up to uncover the deadly conspiracy of Chinese gangs, government and big business that lies behind a series of gory, high-profile murders.

In the depths of a Beijing winter, during the waning days of Deng Zioping's reign, the U.S. ambassador's son is found dead -- his body entombed in a frozen lake. Almost simultaneously, American officials find a ship adrift in the storm-churned waters off Southern California. No one is surprised to find the fetid hold crammed with hundreds of undocumented Chinese immigrants -- the latest cargo in the Chinese mafia's burgeoning smuggling trade.

What does surprise U.S. District Attorney David Starke is his discovery that among the hapless refugees lies the corpse of a "Red Prince," the name given to a child of China's political elite.

The Chinese and American governments both suspect that the deaths are linked and, in an unprecedented move, they join forces to solve this cross-cultural crime. Stark heads for Beijing to team up with Liu Hulan, whose unorthodox methods are tolerated only because of her spectacular investigative abilities. Their investigation carries them (and the reader) into virtually every corner of today's China -- from the glitzy karaoke bars where the nation's new elite cut deals, to the labyrinthine hutongswhere working-class Chinese have lived and died for centuries.

Here is China as readers have never seen it: a surprisingly strange nation at once admirable and frightening. Here too is an utterly original story more taut and timely than anything else on the fiction shelves today.

My Comments:

This is not the first book of Inspector Liu by Lisa See that I have read. Am pleased to say that this book did not disappoint me.

The pace of the story is just fast enough without readers having to lost track what they are reading.

Love the chemistry that shows up in Inspector Liu and her ex-boyfriend David Stark. I like the way how their relationship was reveal slowly in the story.

Food for thought : is there really such thing as  elite group of Red Princes and Princess in China ?

Well, be it real or imaginary, it was a good read for me.

Be Careful What You Wish For by Alexander Potter

For me this is a charming romantic comedy.

Do you ever wish for something without thinking? Maybe like when you go out of the house, you just wish the day be sunny and that the car would start properly?

Well, Heather Hamilton was forever wishing for things. Some she does consciously and some unconsciously. But luck doesn't seems to be on her side.

One day, things had gone pretty bad for her. She was drenched in rain when a gypsy peddler stopped her to sell he a lucky heather.  In order to get the gypsy woman off her back, she bought it.

And from that moment on, everything goes smoothly for her.

Cab stopped for her. She was able to find parking anytime she wish for.


The gorgeous man, James, that she had a crush for asked her out for a date. And he seems to be the Perfect Man that she had wish for. But how come even though things are perfect, she still feeling like somehow things are not complete?

And there is this handsome American came to rent a room at her flat.

I love this book. Reading it gives me a happy feeling.

The plot were smooth and light heart. Although the story does not have heavy emotional stuff, I find it not too sweet. Not like the plot is unbelievable.

I can see this book have good potential to be make into a romantic comedy. The character Heather and Gabe were fun and complement each other well.

Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer

This is the 4th book in the series. It was a bit hard for me to read as this book is linked to the second book.

From what I gather Opal Koboi was the leader of an uprising in the second book. Opal was defeated by the LEPrecon Unit with the help of Artemis Fowl. But as she was captured, she faked a coma. Currently she was held in asylum.

Opal managed to escape without anyone noticing and planned revenge herself against all who had foiled her plans.

First to go was  Commander Root and Captain Holly Short. Captain Holly was framed for something that she did not do.

Meantime, continued on with his criminal ways after he and his bodyguard were mind wiped. He was trying to steal a famous painting. Unknown to him , he was being watched by his nemesis, Opal koboi.
 Captain Holly Short came to his rescue just in time.

Despite not being able to recall who is Captain Holly, both of them teamed up against Opal.

And at one point of time, Artemis and his bodyguard, Butler, regained their memory.

At the end of the story, Holly Short was so frustrated that she didn't something unpredictable.

Overall it's an enjoyable book. I love the part where Artemis was very optimistic of everything eventhough they were in dire circumstances.

I hope this book won't be turning into a romance in the following instalments as there seems to be some under current going on between Artemis and Captain Holly. Maybe I just read the clues wrong.

Frankly am amazed that Eion Colfer put codes under each page of the book. It must have taken a lot of hard work and attention. Kudos to him.

It's not easy to write a fantasy novel let alone with an added excitement for readers.

I am sure there are plenty of die hard fans for Artemis Fowls Series who are delighted to dechiper the codes. Hence I cheated and read up the translation of the codes in www.goodreads.com.

Artemis Fowl : The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer

If I am not mistaken, this is the 3rd book of the series. Am quite pleased to say that despite missing book 2, I can still pretty much catch up with the story.

In this instalment, Artemis Fowl had invented device called C Cube that can do a million thing that current computer can;t do. If this device is released to the whole in general, the whole computer technology  industry now would be made obsolete.

He attempted to sell C Cube to Spiro a master criminal who also holds a very large share of the current world technology. Unfortunately, Spiro would not deal. Instead he took the C Cube by force. During the shoot out, Artemis trusty bodyguard whom he considered as his closest friend was mortally wounded.

Artemis had no choice but to seek help from the Underworld. And should come to his add but Captain Holly Short. But in order to gain the help he required, he has to make a hard bargain.


Like Book 1, this is an exciting and fast paced book. The plot were unpredictable hence keeping readers to their toes.

To me it's like reading Sherlock Holmes. At times I was unable to understand why he do a certain action for example agree to a mind wipe. But all will be revealed at the end of the book.

This books is not only about the action but also shows the importance of friendship and the bonus is that there is humor in the book. That is what I like best about it.

The Locust and the Bird: My Mother's Story by Hanan Al-Shaykh

Synopsis at www.goodreads.com

My mother wrote this book. She did not want my voice; she wanted the beat of her own heart, her anxieties and laughter, her dreams and nightmares. She wanted her own voice. 

Brought up in poverty in a village in southern Lebanon, Kamila never had the opportunity to go to school, although she longed to. 

She was nine years old when she moved to Beirut and only eleven when her brothers tricked her into getting engaged to a man - her uncle, eighteen years her senior. Kamila was expected to be stone-bearing donkey - to live a domestic life. 

But it is the sounds, stories and imagery of poetry and films, and a beautiful boy called Muhammad, that fascinate Kamila. Muhammad is enchanted by her spirited and wily nature and they fall in love. 

Despite scratching, screaming, biting and crying, Kamila's battle against her arranged marriage is fruitless. At fourteen she is forced to marry and share her husband's bed. That night, her first daughter is conceived. 

Her second, Hanan, is born three years later. 

What follows is an incredible story of love and loss, tragedy, community and strength.Risking their lives Kamila and Muhammad continue to see each other in secret, sharing ideas, poetry and laughter. 

It takes eight years before Kamila can bring herself to divorce her husband, as to do so means abandoning her daughters. Evoking the dusty streets of Beirut and the fabric of life in Lebanon this is a remarkable and moving memoir about an extraordinary woman told with heartbreaking insight and raw honesty.

My Comment :


I bought this book from the Big Bad Wolf Warehouse Sale 2011. In fact, I bought this book twice. Guess I just fell in love with the cover.


However, I am glad to have bought this book coz to me it is a good book.

Many books that I have read, the woman involve are from Royal family or some rich family who are forced to marry a brute. However, this is the story of a woman from a poor family standing up for what she believe is right for her.

It's really amazing to read of her life journey. She is not a Saint but she have a good heart. There are time where she is ruthless in chasing her love. 

The book makes me feel like I can relate to what she had gone through. Despite all the heart break and tough life, she managed to create happiness for herself.

Don't say I didn't warn you. Better get ready a box of tissue paper when you start reading this book.

Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom

Sorry, I have been silent for so long. It have been a very busy month. I have been busy going for book sales and whatnot. Grabbed a whole load of great books.


Have been reading average 4 to 5 books a week, so fast that I haven't had the time to post up any review.

This is one of the good books that I have pick up during one of the book hunting trip. This round it's from Bookalicious at Summit USJ .

What would you do if you are approach by your Rabbi,  Pastor, Priest or someone who is the Religion Leader of the community with a request to do his eulogy when he is gone?

That was what happen to Mitch Albom. He was request by the Rabbi. He decided in order to deliver the complete eulogy, he had to get to know of this old man more. At first he thought maybe it would takes 2 or 3 weeks to get to know him as a person but the weeks drag to months and then years. And pretty soon, friendship formed.

Simultaneously, the book also tell the story of another person. Henry Covington was introduced to Christ at a very tender age but again and again he fell away from the religious part. He become a thief, robber and a drug addict. How did he found his way back?

As Mitch understand more of these two men lives, he also understand more of himself.

I like this book but there are some parts which is hard to "process". Guess, ones have to have a calm mind to read this book.

This book promote religion tolerance. No mater what religion it is, all religion promotes goodness. It's men that twist and turn the thing.

Yes, I would certainly pick up this book again to read.

Engaged To Die by Carolyn Hart

 

Virginia Neville is a rich widow who holds the purse string of late husband family. It's no surprise that there are no love lost between her and her step family. She had always declared that she would return her late husband fortune to the step children after her death but fate had other things planned for her.

She fell in love with a young artist, Jake O'Neill who is half her age. Just imagine their surprise when she told them that she will announce her engagement to Jake O'Neill in a gallery opening.

Unfortunately, on the night of the gala, something happened. A murder prevented the announcement.

Annie Darling is a Bookstore owner and she has an interest in solving the murder and help her young store Assistant, Chloe. She have to do it even though she is to come up against her beloved husband, Max.

I am always game for a good mystery story.

The plot kept the pages turning till the very end. The ending was so unexpected that I had to pause for a moment to think. It was a clever twist. 

If there is anymore of her book, i would certainly pick it up. 

  

Tuesday Child by Louise Bagshawe

This is one of the Chick-lit that I managed to grab from the previous BBWS.

Lucy Evan was a Tomboy and she was happy with her life. She had a great job as reviewer of video game magazine although it pays peanuts. She shares a flats with her best mate, Ollie. And they have been the best of mate since they met. They shared almost everything.

Then things came crashing down. Ollie came home from a date one day and told her that his girlfriend, Victoria, had proposed to him and he had accepted. That is the good news. The bad news is that Lucy had to move out from the flat since Ollie is getting married.

Things got worse when the magazine that Lucy was working for was sold off and she finds herself without a job and no place to stay. She does not have qualification for another job.

Ollie pulled some string and got her a receptionist job. The only hurdle she had to go through is to makeover herself from a Tomboy into an English.

This is where the annoying and "vicious" Victoria comes in. She is the the perfect image of feminine. Her mission is to "help" Lucy to makeover herself. Would Lucy manage to do that? It came not without a price. Victoria also took the change to warn her off Ollie.

Lucy found herself with a gorgeous boss, Todd, who seems to have feelings for her. He lavished her with many splendid things. Branded clothes, lavish dining, great big rent free penthouse to name a few. But can Lucy accept him as her boyfriend and will Lucy chance who she is to be with Todd. Will her friendship with Ollie end just like that? 

I find that this one is a delightful read. The characters are well developed. The innocent ones are are pure a white rose, the bad ones stick like a bad egg.

It's really amazing how the events and things fell in place so comfortably.

There was also a rather unexpected ending in this book.

I noticed that there is a discrepancy in page 360 and page 428 whereby for the same scene, the former was said done by Melissa and the latter was done by Buffy.

It's a fun read if you happens to be down.

The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany

The story is set in Cairo. It's something like the Chinese movie "The 72 Tenants". It's about this grand building which once was one of the grandest building in Cairo. The richest and famous people stayed there. That  is till the war changes everything.

The building started to be occupied by the high officers and their family. It's still grand but some people from the lower class moved on to the rooftop of the building. It was like two different world.

Among those staying in the building were an aging playboy, a gay editor of Le Caire, the ambitious son of the door keeper and the beautiful daughter of an old widow.

At first I was apprehensive whether to buy this book or not as I have another book "Chicago" which is written by the same author. Have tried reading that book but kept getting stuck in the first few pages. Maybe will return to it later on.

Anyway, I found that I like this book pretty much. Love the author's sense of humor and the corruption that he revealed in this book. Makes me wonder if the world is as corrupted as that. Nevermind the said, it was still fun to read about how the way things works over there.

This book makes me feel happy and yet a bit sad at how some of the things ended in the story.  The author is brilliant and able to draw readers to feel the emotions that the characters are feeling.

Overall I give it 4 stars out of 5.

The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano

Alice and Mattia are both "prime numbers" destine to be alone in their life. When they were just kids, something happen and it changed their life forever.

When they met each other in their teens, they knew that they are kindred spirit. It was so natural for them to tell each other the deep hidden secret of their soul which they never told anyone before.

As they grew older, their fate tied them together and yet it forced them apart.

It was very interesting to see how the story developed. Wondering if the two of them will ever get through the barrier and become a couple.

In this story, it's not the ending that counts, its the journey itself. I love the way the author unfolds each chapters of Alice and Mattia's life. The flash back were not too frequent that I would loose track of the story. It's a book well written

Then only downside is I don't really understand the symbolic meaning of the ending of this book.

Water's Edge By Robert Whitlow

Tom Crane had a bright future. A great job. Any minute now he is going to be made partner of a high profile firm. A beautiful girlfriend.

Amidst all this, there is just one small matter of winding up his deceased father's law firm. His father was killed in a boating accident. He needs to go back to his hometown Bethel, to close down the practice before he can get on with his perfect life.

Then out of the blue, disaster struck. He was fired from his work and his girlfriend broke up with him through letter. At that time he felt real lost and was contemplating of taking his own life. He have nothing else to live for.

However, God works in a mysterious way. When Tom was in his lowest, Elias was there to advise him. Elias was a religious man.


Tom took one day at a time. While cleaning his father's stuff he found that there was a large amount of money in an account.

This roused his curiosity and he starts to dig deeper. It was like opening a can of worms. I won't spoilt your enjoyment of this book putting a spoiler here. It's better for you to read it for yourself.

At the beginning, I can't help to compared this book with John Grisham's "The Firm" or "The Partner". I guess most people would do this too as John Grisham had set a precedence to it.

However, I discovered that there is something special about this book. That is a hint of religion in it. Actually, it blends well with the plot and is a very good combination.

There are many books that are fill with suspense and actions in the market. And so far, this is the only book that I come across that also promote the believe in God without sounding overly pious.

In my opinion this is a great book for those who love to read suspense and thriller but does not like to be bombarded with those foul words nor ungodly messages. Great for teenagers and adults.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Ghost Writer by Robert Harris

One word comes to mind .."Scary". Bet you are wondering why I said scary when there is no ghost in the story.

I was finishing this book when my son asked me to change TV channels for him. While flipping through the tv channels, I came across this movie being aired.

Guess which part it was? Yup, it was very near the ending. Where the Adam Lang came down from the plane and subsequently the ghost writer figure out the truth.

Wondering what am blabbering about? Well, the story it's like this.

Adam Lang was former Prime Minister of Britain. After he stepped , down he was offered a large sum of monies to write his memoir.  A ghost writer, Mike McAra was hired to ghost write his memoir for him.

Then McAra died in a suspicious circumstances. Another Ghost writer was hired to replace McAra. But mysterious things start happening to this Ghost Writer when he decided to accept the assignment. He was mugged among other things. And the manuscript that McAra was working on before was held under unusually tight security.

More puzzling things crop up when the ghost writer researched. Things that might cost him his life.

It is a very fast paced book. There was enough suspense to keep the page turning and made me flip to the last page to read the ending.

This  book is indeed a good bargain for me. Got it from the Bargain Bin at BookXcess for RM5.

The Family Way By Tony Parson

The story of three sisters.

Jessica, wants a baby but she can't have a baby no matter how hard she tried. Her husband, Paulo would do  anything and everything to please her.

Megan, does not want a baby but she finds herself pregnant after  one night stand. She was at a crossroad. She is now a trainee doctor. Would she be able to handle a demanding career on top of a baby which require her constant attention?

Cat, doesn't know what she wants. At first she thought she don't want a baby but when she discovered that the option is no longer available to her due to something that her older boyfriend had done, she thought she should have the option in the first place.

All these add on with the story from their respective spouse/boyfriends, makes this book a great big pot of mixed emotions.

It's a very balance plot. To me, it practically covers most reason why people have babies and why some don't. It's very perceptive.

My only grouse is that the flashing from one character to another was too frequent. At times, it made me loose my concentration.

Nevertheless, this book is for keeps.

Three Weeks with My Brother by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks

I didn't know what to expect when I bought this book. Bought it just because "Nicholas Sparks: name was there.

I guess, I expected it to be book about him travelling with his brother. However, this book have a more serious tone to it. In fact, only a small portion is about their trip around the world. Major part of this book is about their life from small till now. They are the only two remaining person in their family of 5.

After reading this book, I now saw the influence of his life in the books that he wrote.

To me this book is worth reading.

Mao's Last Dancer by Li CunXin

This is a Memoir by Li CunXin. I nearly missed out this book coz I thought I had enough of those sobs stories about the hardship in China during Chairman Mao's era. I am glad I didn't.

Li was from a remote village in northeast China. The village was so poor that most of the time a bowl of white rice was a luxury. 

Nevertheless, his childhood have been quite good. His parents were a loving and gentle couple. Seldom fight and they were blessed with 7 sons. Li was the 6th son.

When he was 11 years old, a bunch of delegates from Beijing came to his village. They represent Madame Mao who wish to expand China Cultural dance. Li was chosen to go to Beijing and study ballet.

His parent though worried but they were quite happy that Li have the chance to escape the circle of poverty that engulf their life in the village. 

In Beijing, Li misses his family a lot during his first two years in Beijing. His dancing were just at an acceptable level. But it was his 2nd brother who made him realised how lucky he was to be given a chance to do something different. 

Thanks to Teacher Xiao who helped him a lot in the academy. Slowly his attitude changed and clawed to the top. 

In 1979 he was given the chance to go to Texas as part of the Cultural exchange group. He was prepared to show the enemy class how great the glorious China was. When he arrived in America, he was surprised by what he saw and experienced. It was not the "America" that he was told back home.

It didn't take long for him to realise the truth. By the time for him to return to China, he felt terrible. He wanted to stay on longer to learn more.

He was lucky as he had one more chance to return to America. This round he fell in love and got married to an American girl. He was desperate to stay on but at the same time worried about what would happen to his family if he should defect.

It was a very hard hurdle for him to cross as his sense of loyalty to his family and friends were very strong. He felt that he was an ingrate to his family and his America host, Ben. 

With Li's defection, Ben would loose all the goodwill that he had gain in China. And because of that the Chinese Government would surely refrain giving other dancers the chance learn dancing in America. 

In the end he did defect. However, his marriage failed. Hence he concentrated on his dancing. Soon his skill improved and he become one of the world greatest dancer. But still he misses his family a lot especially his mother.

There is a good ending in this story thanks to China new policy.

Yes, it's a rags to riches type of book. I am amazed at his strength facing up the bad whiplash due to his defection. It must have been an extremely tough decision for him considering that he came from China and the sense of responsibility and loyalty have been hammer into him since he was born. Never bite the hands that feeds you. Always be grateful and loyal. When he defected he cause considerable heartache to his family and his American host.

I am glad things turns out well for him in the end.

 

Stories : All-New Tales Edited By Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio

I went to BookXcess again last Wednesday. Saw this book prominently displayed at the front of the shop.

It's a compilation of 27 short stories by various authors. I had not intended to buy this book ..that is till I spotted the word "Jodi Picoult". Yes, she wrote one of the short stories in this book. Others talented authors include Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio(obviously), Jeffrey Deaver, Chuck Palaniuk, Lawrence Block, Joanne Harris and etc.

I think I have found a soul mate in terms of appreciation of books in Neil Gaiman. In his introduction, 4th paragraph  he said "Television and cinema were all very well, but these stories happened to other people. The stories I found in books happened inside my head. I was, in some way, there." Do you understand the meaning? If you do, it means that you know what I feel.

What I love about books like this is that it gives a variety. In it there are sure to be something which would suits me.

Surprisingly, I had not found Jodi Picoult story in this book to be something special. She is sticking to the theme which she wrote best - Love and lost.

I find that Joanne Harris's "Wildfire In Manhattan" to be delightful read with a hint of horror and fantasy. The old and the new blended well together.

"Unwell" by Carolyn Parkhurst and "Parallel Lines" by Tim Powers were also very good read about siblings rivalry to the death.

One work that goes well with me is "The Devil on the Staircase" by Joe Hill. Not only the story was well written.

The presentation was also very unique.

Yes, this book is a hit for me and am giving it 4 stars because of the magical four words which Neil Gaiman mentioned .... and they are "....and then what happened?". I found most of the stories in this book have this pull with exception of one or two stories.. It's not the fault of the authors but rather my poor brain would not accept the stories.