Bohemian Thinker

Blankets

2011-09-05T23:08:00.007+08:00

I bought this book from Bookdepository for half the price it is sold in Kinokuniya. Though it is a really thick book, It is a real page turner and I completed reading the book within two hours.

A very simple story. However, certain portions struck a raw nerve and caused me stop and ponder. I guess it is because the christian fundamentalist environment he grew up in strongly echoes mine and I can truly identify with the struggles he faced as an individualist, trying to survive in an environment that demands constant conformity to the norms, to often arbitrary but dictated standards... and worst of all... conformity to the crowd.

Really love the recollections that he conjured about his childhood days, spent with his younger brother.

Here are some portions that I identified with:

This is a struggle I face constantly in the church or with a group of Christians. I find myself struggling intellectually to nod to the same line and unquestioningly repeat the jargon that are broadcasted at the pulpit and circulated Bible studies and repeated during sharing. It is only recently that I realized that I have never been part of the crew. Through it all, I am not a herd animal.

Another portion that struck a raw nerve:

My brother and I used to sleep in the same bed, snuggle together in some air-conditioned room and talk nonsense before we slept.

But I guess... inevitably as we grow, that became inexcusable. And we developed our own set of ideals, dreams and worries. Somehow, we emerged further than we ever had been... even though we started off well. This panel was followed by a panel which featured the protagonist saying, "Now he's really a stranger to me." Sometimes, I feel that way too. But oh well... I have lost my sense of nostalgia along the way.

The last portion of the book moved me inexplicably.

This book speaks to my soul.

Rating: 4/5

2010-12-28T02:09:00.004+08:00

Laughable Loves by Milan Kundera

I thought this was a strange Kundera book...in terms of its style and preoccupation with sexual relations.

But as i read it in the quietness of spirit. I began to identify with it. And understand slightly the philosophical basis of the literature.

I was particularly intrigued by the last story "Eduard and God" mainly due to my identification with his occupation, sense of adaptation and art of concealment. I like the brief discussion of religion being the tool of one's own inclinations. An expression of one's own heart. Though i have to admit i do not really understand the ambiguous ending. Did Eduard in his search definite and essential meaning found God eventually? That sounded kinda absurd. if not..what can we imply from the vision he sees. Is that a ironic manifestation of faith or a hypocritical mockery at faith?

Anyhow, i enjoyed the consistent preoccupation with the ideas of communism and the rigidity of the communist regime. I guess these themes are to Kundera, not some lofty ideas of philosophy. but living reality.

There was also a recurring theme of sex vs. soul which i find immensely interesting. I wonder if this is an exploration of the male psychic? An outcry of the antithetical combat of the male species between the flesh and the soul? Men are just screwed up in that way. They cannot decide what they really want.

Currently STILL reading: Brothers Karamazov *faints*

Going to start reading: Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance. by Noam Chomsky

2010-12-28T01:51:00.002+08:00

A Long Walk to Freedom

Bought this book in Sept. And was forced to stop reading it when things got really busy in school.

Finally sat down and finished the book.

And gosh! at the end of it, i felt like i have vicariously lived the life of a freedom fighter. Who paid harsh prices for his beliefs. An honest and humbling account of spending more than 25 years in prison.

The wondrous thing about the book was...it was never a platform of self-praise and justifications. Mistakes made were admitted. Regrets were sounded. The recognition of the contributions of others continually echoed throughout the book. It was consistently reiterated that NM was no super human. but a person put in position through circumstances and the struggle of those before him. Such a humble and wondrous thing for a politician to say! that he was in power not out of his own strength but through circumstances! the thought of it... just befuddled me a little...and increased my sense of admiration for this person.

There were moments in the book where things get a little droning..with the methodological reports on prison life and trials.

But the last chapter of the book made it all worthwhile.

I sat there. relishing in the power of it.

"It was during those long and lonely years that my hunger for the freedom of my own people became a hunger for the freedom of all people, white and black. I knew as well as I knew anything that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed. A man who takes away another man's freedom is a prisoner of hatred, he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else's freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity."

And somehow this gave me courage. personal courage to face the woes in life.

God Bless Afrika indeed!

2010-12-20T01:27:00.002+08:00

17. How to Get Ideas

Hmm..i will not say it is revolutionary. But it gave me some brilliant ideas about how i could come up with better ideas.

18. Hunger Games.

Completed this in ONE DAY. It was mad exciting ok. MY GOD. Minus the romance and lovey dovey...this would have been perfect.

19. Resident Tourist 4
Breathtaking. Keeps me awake on nights.

STILL READING: Nelson Mandela, Brothers Karamazov.

Book No.16 Has Christianity Failed you?

2010-09-26T11:44:00.001+08:00

Has Christianity Failed You? is an intellectually stimulating and comforting read for christians that are struggling with faith. It addresses issues whether rational or emotional ones in a logical yet empathetic fashion.

At the same time, It rationally expounded on the logical concerns of Christians in a complex world founded concurrently on existentialism, materialism and rationalism. Some of the perspectives explored were highly intriguing and thought provoking.

I think Ravi Zacharias is the medicine for any christian person fighting their trolls of unsubstantiated reason and battles of the relativist society that permeates so readily into the spheres of education and philosophical inquiry.

I will not say that Ravi has solved all my immediate questions. But at the very least, he prevents me from drawing premature assumptions and judgments on a faith i am not completely acquainted with.

2010-09-23T20:16:00.002+08:00

My first comprehensive encounter with Nietzsche.

I had been an admirer of Nietzsche's existentialist ideologies for a long time.

But hadn't got around to reading any of his works.

Because

1) I had so many books on my shelf that i have yet to finish

2) I tried reading it on the iphone and found it to be extremely dense.

My encounter with Introducing Nietzsche however, stirred my interest in Nietzsche again.

Once i get my Amazon Kindle, i will make sure i download a couple of free Nietzsche books.

I am particularly interested in the following titles mentioned in the book

Genealogy of Morality

Beyond Good and Evil

Thus Spake Zarathusa

I have yet to read enough of philosophy to give a critical evaluation of the book.

But overall, the book has been enjoyable.

Some philosophers to explore:

Jean Paul Sartre

Freud

My first non-fiction book of the year: Superfreakonomics

2010-09-19T17:27:00.002+08:00

This book reads like a fresh breath of air. It puts complex economic concepts and relations into a forms of simple analogies, interesting solutions, diverse perspectives.

I will not say that it is an intellectually enriching book. But it is definitely a book that widens one's understanding of the world and one that allows people to consider alternative solutions to long-standing problems.

Outstanding for its fun, humor and rich range of well-researched facts and knowledge.

Ratings: 4/5

No. 12 and 13

2010-09-03T12:00:00.002+08:00

No.12 and 13

Mere Christianity: Interesting arguments and insights in the beginning. but gets droning towards the end... when it shifts its position to one that is fully theist and christian.

The Girl with Dragon Tattoo: WHOA WHOA WHOA! this book brought me a hell of a ride. This is thriller at its best. Rather unexpected murder motive.

As of now...

2010-08-27T07:49:00.004+08:00

Let's track my progress..

My aim is to read...

35 fiction. 15 non fiction. 5 Chinese novels.

As of now i have read...

9 Fiction

1 Non Fiction

1 Chinese Novel

Currently Reading:

1) Mere Christianity

2) Philosophy: 100 Essential thinkers

3) First Days of School

4) The Brothers Karamazov

5) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Quick Update: 11/55

2010-08-27T07:45:00.002+08:00

Short and simple yet dynamic activities for revision, enrichment and enhancing creative thinking.

:) Interesting book.

10/55 第21页

2010-06-29T02:41:00.003+08:00

10/55: 第21页

This book reminds me of an inspiring JC teacher, Mr.Larry Lee.

The one that always points us to the plight of people we do not see or think about daily.

The plight of the poor, the oppressed and the ones deprived of an education.

A page turner. Easy to read and often thought-provoking.

This is so even though the theme of the articles remain consistent: Caring for the disadvantaged in our world.

Valuable quotes from the book：

"王教授有一次到印度去开会，特别去了那里，他这一辈子从来没有看过这么悲惨的世界。有一天，他看到一个人和一只鸽子同时在垃圾堆里找食物吃，他当时难过之至，他没想到人会穷到如此地没有尊严。所以，他从此以后不太敢看到大批鸽子吃东西".

"王教授告诉了我所看到的事，他大概不知道我一夜未眠，我想起了圣经里的穷人，他靠富人桌上掉下的面包碎过活，那是两千年前的故事，两千年过了，世界上却有人靠猴子吃剩的食物过活，时代真的在进步吗？”

“世界上有没有仍在卖火柴的小女孩呢？我们应该告诉下一代，这种可怜的女孩不仅存在，而且还多得不得了！一旦我们的下一代知道了这个现实，他们自然而然的就会有悲天悯人的情怀了。”

“德雷沙修女说的话，我们应牢牢记住。她说：“爱的反面，不是仇恨，而是漠不关心”

I think this book is especially good for teachers. The purpose of education after all, is not merely the acquiring of knowledge, but also the attainment of virtue and empathy towards human kind. A teacher that is passionate about the furthering of the welfare of the destitute will be in the best position to inspire empathy in their students.

Please feel free to borrow this book from me. Even for people that are not well-acquainted with the chinese language, this book will not be a trying read.

The Unbearable lightness of Being

2010-06-24T23:19:00.004+08:00

The unbearable Lightness of being 9/55

Have you ever read a book that make you heave a sigh of amazement and say "If this is the only book i ever read in my life...it is enough."

This is it.

this book flows like a poetry ringing in the dawn of spring.

The cry of a wretched revolutionary.

The tinkle of laughter from the child's gleeful luscious lips.

The blood shed of young soldiers on the bullet-sweeping battle-field.

It is MUD and it is Flamboyant Flowers right at the same time.

The philosophy and the depth of it overwhelms me as a person.

Reading this book...I feel overwhelmingly anachronistic. like people of another era or space of existential goodness...i walk on the space on this earth like the players of a Shakespearean play. We all have our entrances and exits. We exist for 7 acts. Sometimes for a shorter period of time.

This book leaves me speechless.

It is a tool of escapism as well as a tool of realism.

Ratings: This book is beyond ratings.

Picture of Dorian Gray 8/55

2010-06-14T18:07:00.004+08:00

Picture of Dorian Gray 8/55

Tragically beautiful.

Stirs the senses. Touches the mind.

Love it.

4/5

wondrous book to savor.

Chicken with Plums 7/55

2010-05-28T18:48:00.004+08:00

Chicken with plums 7/55

I came upon this graphic book after watching the movie Persepolis (City of Persians).

Picking it up from the library shelf, i noticed that the graphics were similar to the ones i saw in the movie Persepolis. Looking at the author's name. author of persepolis. Indeed.

This book is exceptional. With few words, it conveyed deep emotions...feelings of loss. of dislocation. of regrets. And it talks only about the last 9 days in the protagonist's life.

The end of the book unveiled some surprisingly realization. And at once, one understood why the protagonist acted as he did.

Upon finishing this book, i laid in bed with a confounded form of depression.

Life.....

Ratings: 5/5 It's been long since i was as moved from within by a book.

Audrey Niffenegger: Her Fearful Symmetry

2010-05-20T20:20:00.005+08:00

Audrey Niffenegger: Her Fearful Symmetry 6/55

The second Novel by Audrey Niffenegger. Naturally, expectations were high.

This book however, did not disappoint. Even so, the sentiments and style used were vastly different from her first book: the Time Traveller's Wife.

The characters in this story were queer but rather interesting. An Old man suffering from Compulsive Obsessive behavior. A man writing a thesis about the Highgate Cemetery. A ghost. A pair of mirror-imaged twins.

Character development was sufficient. Even though sometimes characters engage in seemingly out-of-character behavior. But i guess this heightens the notion of the complexity of human kind.

The Plot however was at best interesting....not really the fantastic...eye opening plot we have in Time Travellers' wife. The concepts and ideas contained in the story were interesting. But even so, I thought the plot was not sufficiently developed to meet its fullest potential.

The poignant ending was a thumbs up though it leave audiences with quite a number of questions hanging.

The Perspective Switching Technique was done in a fairly slick fashion even though at times..this technique seems to break the flow of the story.

Do i ADORE this book? Well....No.

Do i find this interesting? Yup. I could say so.

Does it match up to Time Travellers with its fiery touch on the human strings of emotions? Sadly, No

But I guess...

This still deserves a 3/5

For its good character development... Given that at the end of it...we came to understand the characters rather well. There was also a number of peculiar twists at the end.

5/55 Sputnik Sweetheart

2010-05-12T13:49:00.003+08:00

Haruki Murakami: Sputnik Sweetheart 5/55

Not one of Murakami's best.

But not bad too. >.<

3/5

Haruki Murakami: Norweigian Wood 4/55

2010-05-03T05:26:00.007+08:00

Haruki Murakami: Norweigian Wood 4/55

Murakami does it again.

Reading this book left me feeling like an open wound raw under the harsh summer rain.

The person of me in the past would wished that it is not as sensual. what's with the oral sex, lesbian inclinations, sleeping with random people...

Yet somehow the person that embodied me today found the sensuality of it it quite a beauty... and quite incomplete if left without.

Somehow i find that i connected with this book at a deeper level than any of Murakami's books. Perhaps apart from Wind-up bird.

This book however is more rooted in reality and painfully shrouded with silence.

People that reads Murakami and appreciates his works often agree with me when i say that when you read his works...you find yourself enclosed in a vacuum space. Silent.

""Where the road sloped upward beyond the trees, I sat and looked toward the building where Naoko lived. It was easy to tell which room was hers. All I had to do was find the one window toward the back where a faint light trembled. I focused on that point of light for a long, long time. It made me think of something like the final throb of a soul's dying embers. I wanted to cup my hands over what was left and keep it alive. I went on watching the way Jay Gatsby watched that tiny light on the opposite shore night"

Dance Dance Dance! by Haruki Murakami

2010-02-12T19:05:00.008+08:00

DANCE DANCE DANCE by Haruki Murakami 3/55

This is a must read for all murakami fans.

Definitely one of his best. I guess...it can definitely rival The wind up bird chronicle.

It is a crazy page-turner, thrilling and rather melancholic i would say.

Sends my blood and heartbeat rushing all the time.

I feel that the protagonist in Wild sheep chase and Dance Dance Dance is also one that i can identify with the most.

the silent rebel. The person that is fighting himself within more than anything else. the disillusioned fellow. the one shovelling cultural snow. Eccentric. Empty.

aren't we all? In one way or another Shovelling snow? Shovelling Academic Snow?

one of the most thrilling and bone-chilling tales of Murakami.

Tight plot. Very interesting characters. The Psychic Girl. The forgettable one arm poet. The serious receptionist at the Hotel. The sheepman. No glamour. No dramatic stories. Just in your face forgettability. How some people just disappear from the face of the earth or worthy memory after a while.

The notion that one can be perfect yet longs to be simple. to lead a "normal life"

That perfection can be a cage that serves as a tight bondage to all within in.

It happens. just like in The Great Gatsby, the glamour passes away. A funeral in the rain.

somedaywewilljustbethelastskeletonintheroom.

Wish the Sheepman survived.

Thousand Splendid Suns

2010-01-25T19:30:00.007+08:00

Thousand Splendid Suns 2/55

A heartbreaking tale.

That speaks of courage, love and sacrifice.

And of deep regrets... and the potential cruelty of human systems.

shocking at certain points.

Heart breaking. Heart Breaking. Heart Breaking.

Compared to Kite runner which had a more subtle, held-back expression of emotions...

Thousand splendid suns is poignant...jarring... and disturbing... and IN YOUR FACE.

I won't know which one i really like better. Both had its charm.

But this one touch a cord within me deeply.

4.5/5

Love this book.

Stardust 1/55

2010-01-05T03:42:00.005+08:00

Stardust

First book of the year. Stardust.

An exciting and fast-paced book that plunges people into an entirely different world.

I guess this is the power of fantasy... escapism and wild adventures beyond those that one can ever experience in their mundane lives.

Things i don't like about the book?

The villians die too easily and quickly. The fact that Tristan gave up his heart's desire so easily.
Feels more like a fable with a moral to tell than a real story.

Hmm..

Enjoyed it but well... not really my kind of book.

Ratings: 3/5

Next book: The Mortification Of Sin by John Owen

First post

2009-12-18T20:27:00.005+08:00

101 wishes

101 wishes for self-actualization