The Palestine - Israel Conflict, a basic introduction by Gregory Harms and Todd M. Ferry

Well written. The book gave me comprehensive basic knowledge and history of Israeli - Palestinian conflict. I love the way the authors provided explanatory information after all the uncommon names of places, persons, positions, important events, etc., most of which are Arabic. The story was throughly written according to the time sequence, obviously giving me an idea of how the past impacts the present. Perfect for students or those new to the subject.

FDR and his song 'happy days are here again'

FDR: a biography of President Franklin D. Roosevelt by Jean Edward Smith - never thought one book would change me

Thank God for giving me this book to read during my hard time in life. I never expected a biography of the greatest president of the United States in the 20th century would heal me way faster than any selfhelp books or psychiatrists in the whole world would do. I don’t believe one book could intensely influence me and change my thoughts.

The book is so informative and insightful. The author did a lot of researches and went over almost every detail of incidents in relation to the life of Mr. President, including WWI, WWII, important elections, etc. 

In a week the book became my most favorite nonfiction. It's the only book that ever made me cry in Starbucks. Mr. President’s story tells me to fear nothing, whenever I feel insecure, and reminds me, whenever I feel upset with something nonsense, there are millions of far more important matters in the world to attend to. 

Despite some criticisms on him (e.g. great depression prolonged by the New Deal, secrete military aid to England, and Pearl Harbor attack), in my humble view, he did all the great jobs a great leader of one nation could possibly do in such difficult situations.

The only thing I sadly regret is he never had a chance to see the surrender of Germany a month after he passed away, the formation of the United Nations, and how powerful the United States has been after the end of WWII - all of which he had laid the groundwork for and worked real hard to make them happen. 

I once believed those who failed to take good care of their own families or small little things were definitely incapable of handling any situations more important whatsoever. But today I have been convinced by President Roosevelt that a man who somehow fails to save his family relationship may be excellently capable of saving the world.

I love you Mr. President!!

my nonfiction shelf

Around the World in Eighty Days

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne was first published in 1873. 

The around the world travel story of Mr. Phileas Fogg, a rich English gentleman, and his French servant Passepartout is absolutely adventurous and fun to read. Along the path of the journey Mr. Fogg and Passepartout are secretly followed by Detective Fix who mistakes Mr. Fogg for a bank robber. Of course, he is an important character who constantly put the master and the servant in trouble. It’s enjoyably exciting to keep my fingers crossed that they would make it around the world in eightly days and earn £20,000 upon return. 

Another interesting part I haven’t heard anyone talk much about it is when Aouda, a young Indian widow, is forced to be burned alive along with her husband’s body according to local religious customs. It shows us how beliefs and religions affected rights and status of women in the past. I believe up until now poor treatment and violence against women still exist in many parts of the world. 

One last thing, I love the tricky ending. The author was incredibly brilliant to come up with it.

Bridget Jones's Diary

Bridget Jones’s Diary is my most favorite comedy chick lit.

Bridget Jones, a 32 years-old single woman working for a publishing company in London, finds herself alone while being at her marriageable age. Realizing she was past her prime, Bridget starts writing her diary to set up some strong resolutions to lose weight and meet Mr. Right. Then, two nice guys who have nothing in common, Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver, happen to come to her life. So, it’s time for Bridget to decide who would be the right one for her.  

The novel reveals an anxiety hidden deep down inside subconsciousness of single thirty-something women. The story is simple but humorous and witty, presenting thoughts and preferences of most women who are irresistibly passionate for one of those cool, sexy, and tricky guys with sense of humor. But eventually when they want to settle down with someone for the rest of their lives, this kind of person may not be the right one.

It’s a feel-good and light-reading comedy reminding me if something bad heppends then soon good thing will come. Anyway, don’t compare the book with the movie, as they are different media and each of them is the best of its kind. 

The Host

Romantic science fiction with fascinating plot and compelling storyline. 

The story was told through a female alien, the wanderer, whose soul was inserted into the body of a human girl, Melanie. 

Upon the insertion, Melanie’s mind was so intensely resistant that she didn’t easily give up her own body. As a result, the wanderer found herself fighting with Mel’s interrupting thoughts and old memories every once in a while.

The novel makes me wonder what it feels like to share my body with another girl and each of us was in love with a different man. That must’ve been pretty torturing and awkward.  

The book was another masterpiece of Stephenie Meyer after the popular teen romantic fiction Twilight Series. So far as I know it will soon be a movie. Some changes might be made as necessary to fit the story into another different media. Hopefully, it won’t much differ from what we have read and imagined from the book.