Shanghai Baby

Type: Prose
Genre: Fiction
Author: Wei Hui
Year Published: 1993
Publisher: Robinson Publishing UK
Main Characters: Nikki or Coco - a Shanghai woman who works as a waitress in a cafe
Tian Tian - Coco's boyfriend; an artist who frequently uses drugs
Mark - a married German businessman whom Coco got involved with.



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Summary



Coco, a young woman working in a cafe has always been struggling to become a writer. During her struggles, she met a young artist named Tian Tian who encouraged her to reach for her ambition. She fell in love with him, moved in with him and left her work. They lived together as they try to fulfill their dreams. However, one day, Coco met another man named Mark. The two became intensely attracted to one another. Tian Tian somehow sensed something's wrong and started to use drugs. Confused of what she feels for the two men, Coco became torn between conflicting emotions.



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A semi-autobiographical book, Shanghai Baby exposes a different face of the society. A woman blinded by love and lust.


Actually, this book was banned in China in April 2000. An estimate of 40, 000 copies were even publicly burned. However, a different reaction came when the book was brought to the West.


Shanghai Baby possess an aggressive voice that some people even don't want to hear. It's views on life, love and sex have never been so realistic. It was no doubt that the book became a bestseller.


If you want to have a feel of how complicated love is and how it is different from lust, then read Shanghai Baby.



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Memorable Lines from the Book



"Death is the expression of exhaustion, a solution arrived at rationally once one has known the deepest depths of tiredness." - TianTian (Coco's boyfriend).



"Life is like a chronic illness, and finding something interesting to do is a kind of long term cure." - Coco

Twenties Girl

Type: Prose
Genre: Fiction
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Year Published: 2009
Publisher: The Dial Press
Main Characters: Lara Lington - a twenty-something lady who just started with her business; frustrated over her break up with her boyfriend; and got visited by the ghost of her great-aunt
Sadie - great-aunt of Lara who seeks help in finding her necklace



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Summary


Lara has been undergoing the gloomy days in her life. Everything has been going beyond her control from her relationship with her boyfriend to her newly-launched head-hunting business. So she thought that because of these stress, she has been starting to see things like a ghost. But, she's wrong. Sadie, her great-aunt has come to seek her help. They have to find a necklace who has been in Sadie's posession for more than seventy-five years. Sadie said that she couldn't rest without it. And so, the hunting and haunting began. As they go into the journey in finding the necklace, they started to discover things about love, about each other and most important, about their family.



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Ever tried laughing over a ghost story? Well, now you would with Twenties Girl.


Unlike any other ghost stories, this one is filled with humor and amusing scenes from two girls who came from two different timelines. One of them alive and one is a ghost.


At first, one would have the impression that this is just another boring novel about a ghost who wants to play some more nasty stuff before he rests. But, as you go on with the book, you'll definitely be hanging onto it until the necklace has been found.


This novel is really a breakthrough for Sophie Kinsella. Not only did she make a good ghost story but she was also able to add humor to it.



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Memorable Lines from the Book


“People break up. It’s just the way things are.And you can’t dwell on what might have been. You have to look at what is." - Lara Lington


“Life is like an escalator... It carries you on regardless." - Lara Lington


“The worst thing a girl can do is trail after a boy when a love affair is dead.” - Sadie Lancaster

The Lost Symbol

Type: Prose

Genre: Fiction

Author: Dan Brown

Year Published: 2009

Publisher: Doubleday

Main Characters: Robert Langdon - a Harvard professor and symbologist

Peter Solomon - head of the Smithsonian Institution; a wealthy man who is a dear friend and mentor to Robert Langdon; a Freemason with the highest degree

Zachary Solomon - Peter Solomon's rebellious son

Katherine Solomon - a Noetic scientist; sister of Peter Solomon

Mal'akh - the villain who has his body covered with tattoos of diferent symbols

Warren Bellamy - friend of Peter who is also the architect of the Capitol

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Summary

Robert Langdon, the famous Harvard symbologist has received an invitation from his friend Peter Solomon to deliver a lecture in the National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol. Since Peter is his friend and mentor, he went to Washington D.C. without any idea that his trip is not just an ordinary visit. When he arrived, he was more than shocked by what greeted him. There were no audience at all for the lecture and the severed right hand of Peter is there at the place, tattooed and transformed as the Hand of Mysteries. From there, a series of events took place and a lot of puzzles surfaced. Will Robert Langdon be able to solve the mysteries and save his friend? And who is this tattooed man who kidnapped Peter?

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After years of waiting, at last, here's another Robert Langdon novel created by Dan Brown. And just like the other two previous Langdon stories, this one is again filled with mind-boggling mysteries and astonishing facts.

Yep, prepare to be hooked as you read this novel. Because once you start reading it, you won't notice that you're almost done with it. The mysteries will have you glued to your seats and the book.

This novel brings us interesting facts on history, arts and sciences. It gives us access to some undiscovered facts on Washington D.C. and masonry. And, readers will surely try solve the puzzles in this book by themselves too. Well, that's certainly expected.

Yet, apart from the trivias and puzzles, what makes this novel captivating is that it tells a story about family, faith and friendship. The tragedy of the Solomons teaches us the values that every family and person should have. What are they? Now that's for you to find out and realize as you read the book.

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Memorable Lines from the Book

"In the correct hands, fire can provide illumination . . . but in the wrong hands, fire can be highly destructive" - Robert Langdon

"Wide acceptance of an idea is not proof of its validity." - Robert Langdon

"Wealth is commonplace, but wisdom is rare" - Peter Solomon

"Transformation requires sacrifice." - Mal'akh

"God is plural because the minds of man are plural" - Katherine Solomon