A Book under the Sun

by Bill Slavicsek Flipping through the browning books on my bookshelf, I found this long buried guide to that galaxy far far away, reminding me of my long lost interest in Star Wars. A Guide to the Star Wars Universe  is a must have for die-hard fans like me in an era when internet is not as pervasive, and you just wanted to know a little bit more about that character or planet which you just read off the latest Star Wars novel.

by Antoine de Saint-Exup éry No, I am not French, nor could I communicate in French, but I am reviewing a French novella, or at least one written by a French. You do know that the famous The Little Prince  is actually written in French, right...? Well, at least you do now. Although I have heard of the novella for a long time, I have never thought of seeking it out. No one around me seemed to be able to tell me what the story is about either, or why it is so famous. So a little while ago, out of boredom, I sought the English version out and read it, and was captivated.

I wandered into the bookstore when I was loitering in the mall as usual, and would have completely missed this if not for my girlfriend who usually spent her times among the magazines section. Exploring History is a new magazine from National Geographic, and with its issue stated as "Premier Issue" and a published date of "Fall 2011" there is no indication of whether this is a one-off or a periodical. Funny thing is that although everything I searched online showed a different cover, the one I purchased was of another cover. Exploring History  covered a wide range of historical topics, and most of them are adapted from articles published in National Geographic's other publications. What differed this magazine from the usual National Geographic  magazines is the fact that the latter is too varied, covering topics from geography to politics, whereas the former dedicates itself fully to historical topics. 

by Michael Crichton The Terminal Man was actually published before Jurassic Park , another book in my previous article, but I did not get to finish it until recently. Unlike the dinosaur-filled action-packed thriller that is Jurassic Park , medical science and computers played a major role in this novel. Plotting the Terminal Although he is not the protagonist of the story, the whole event revolved around Harry Benson, a patient suffering from a violent seizure known as Acute Disinhibitory Lesions, or ADL (not sure if it is a real syndrome). Harry's seizure came and go, and was so violent that a police guard was required to escort him into the hospital in case his epilepsy occurred. During the course of the seizure, Harry would have no control over his actions nor his behavior, and would act violently towards anyone in his immediate surrounding.

Calling all book lovers! Ever thought that you could get the book which you always wanted but constrained by your monthly budget? Fear not, the Big Bad Wolf is here! Hopefully you ain't wearing any red riding hoods...  The Big Bad Wolf book sales will commence in Serdang, Selangor from Oct 7 to Oct 16, a whooping 10 days of book sales with 75-90% discounts on 1.5 million books, and that's more discount than any other thing you could expect! Their website, www.bigbadwolfbooks.com , has more information and there is a list of classified books looking for their potential readers to bring them home as well, so do check it out and be delighted by the discounted price.

by Michael Crichton There was the novel before there was the movie, but I was captivated by the movie before I read the book, and even then, the novel itself still managed to enchant me. When the title Jurassic Park appeared on TV ads, I was filled with joy, for I was the ultimate fan of those thundering beasts that once roamed the face of our planet. The ferocity of T Rex frightened me and the craning necks of Brachiosaurus ensorcelled me, and before long, I was begging to watch them on the silver screen. The Story Everyone knows of the concept of safari, with wildlife roaming beyond the safe confines of the vehicle and participants marveling at life at its own natural habitat. Jurassic Park is that kind of theme park, combining the concept of safari and zoo along with recreation of extinct dinosaurs to enchant families and kids, while earning big bucks at the same time. The original story in the novel is slightly different from that in the movie (or should...

by Theoni Pappas After sharing Calvin and Hobbes - Weirdos from Another Planet! , it got me thinking of another book which I find very suitable for kids, especially those in preschool education or who had just started their schooling years. Many of my friends are married with children of their own, or at least expecting one in the coming months;  Math-A-Day  is my dedicated gift to every one of them to explore the world through the fun-filled activities in this book with their growing child in the coming years. The Author Truth is, she (yes, Theoni Pappas is a she ) is not within my list of known authors until I decided to write this blog. There is a biography page in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics site dedicated to her, and that shows how important she is in the field of education, especially on mathematics. She may not be the next Pascal or Leibniz, but she may well be training the next of them. It is quite obvious that Pappas is not sat...