Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Top Ten Genre Books: Top Ten Love Stories


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week, we get a theme to list our top tens. 

This Week's Pick:  Top Ten Genre Books

I am listing Top Ten Love Stories of all times. Those are in no particular order:

1. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
2. Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
3. Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
4. Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
5. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
6. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
7. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
8. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough 
9. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
10. Love Story by Erich Segal

The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly


There it gets a little hinky. At first they put out that he’d been shot because an employee who was on another level of the garage told responding police she had heard two popping sounds, like shots.

Title: The Fifth Witness
Author: Michael Connelly
ISBN: 9781455510313
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing/2011
Pages: 448

Micky Haller known as The Lincoln Lawyer has started to take cases on foreclosure and is successful in that. Mortgage loans bought by third party creditors impacts the home buyers and Haller can help them beat the system by charging a much less fee. One of his clients, Lisa Trammel, is arrested for a murder of a banker and he has to defend her. 

Lisa, a former school teacher, has a small son, her husband has left her. She is leading a protest group, in streets and online too with lots of similarly placed people. Lisa is not a likable person but Micky has to fight for her to save her skin.

I loved the court scenes, the way Haller's mind works and how bigger people involved in foreclosure situation. Everyone wanting a piece of the pie! There are mobsters and Bikers gangs to enhance it. It is one perfect court case legal drama. In this recession hit times, one can understand Lisa's situation and sympathize with her. I think I will pick up more novels with Micky Haller.

I took a long time to finish this novel due to a massive reading slump but was very satisfied with the end result!!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Mondays: Mailbox/What Are You Reading?/Musings

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at A Girl and Her Books. This month it is hosted by Anna of Diary of an Eccentric.

I received one book, thanks to the publicist.

The Book Of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose: Jac L'Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances--and of her mother's suicide--she moved to America. Now, fourteen years later she and her brother have inherited the company along with it's financial problems. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing--leaving a dead body in his wake--Jac is plunged into a world she thought she'd left behind.

Back in Paris to investigate her brother's disappearance, Jac becomes haunted by the legend the House of L'Etoile has been espousing since 1799. Is there a scent that can unlock the mystery of reincarnation - or is it just another dream infused perfume?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey

Finally I finished reading: 

The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly

What book do you wish you were reading right now? Where would you take it to, if you could go anywhere to read for a while?

My reading is VERY slow right now. I wish I could just about pick any book and read it at one go. The time and place are irrelevant in a massive reading slump.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Saturday Snapshot: March 10, 2012





At Dilli Haat with my niece Kanika today. It is the first visiting place for any tourist who visits Delhi . The pictures speak for themselves.

Posted for Saturday Snapshot, hosted by Alyce of At Home With books

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Booking Through More

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Which non-series book would you most like to read the sequel to? Do you have any wishes for what might happen in it?

The first book that comes into my mind is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I am not going to speculate but would like to leave that to the author how he wishes to take it further.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

The Litigators by John Grisham

Wally tricked her into signing a contract for legal representation, promised her the moon, sneaked out of the room as quietly as he’d sneaked in, then proceeded to butcher her case. She netted $40,000, which her husband drank and gambled away in a matter of weeks, which led to a divorce action filed by Oscar Finley.

~~~The Litigators by John Grisham

David Zinc is sick of being in a big time law firm. He is tired of the work and one day he walks out of it and lands up with Finley & Figg, which is a non-descriptive law firm. They mainly deal with divorce cases and are ambulance chasers. They don't really need David but he offers his services and they just accept him.

Finley & Figg land up a big case, where they take on a very big drug company, which has produced a wonder drug for cholesterol control. But it is also supposed to cause heart problems. They think they are going to make a lot of money without much work. David is skeptical but he goes along. In the way he pursues another case on his own. 

Small time lawyers going for big time keeps the story line in a good pace. Grisham can still keep our interest intact. I couldn't put it down once I started it. I recommend it all those who love legal thrillers.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Mondays: Mailbox/What Are You Reading?/Musings

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at A Girl and Her Books. This month it is hosted by Anna of Diary of an Eccentric.

I received one book, thanks to the publicist.

The Land of Decoration by Grace McCleen

In Grace McCleen's harrowing, powerful debut, she introduces an unforgettable heroine in ten-year-old Judith McPherson, a young believer who sees the world with the clear Eyes of Faith. Persecuted at school for her beliefs and struggling with her distant, devout father at home, young Judith finds solace and connection in a model in miniature of the Promised Land that she has constructed in her room from collected discarded scraps—the Land of Decoration. Where others might see rubbish, Judith sees possibility and divinity in even the strangest traces left behind. As ominous forces disrupt the peace in her and Father's modest lives—a strike threatens her father's factory job, and the taunting at school slips into dangerous territory—Judith makes a miracle in the Land of Decoration that solidifies her blossoming convictions. She is God's chosen instrument. But the heady consequences of her newfound power are difficult to control and may threaten the very foundations of her world.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey

I am still in the midst of reading: 

The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly

When you walk into a bookstore — any bookstore — what’s the first section you head toward (what draws you)?

I usually gravitate towards Crime Fiction section. After that I go to the literary fiction section. I also sometimes check out the world fiction. It depends on my mood. 

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Sunday Salon: Massive Reading Block!!

I am undergoing through a massive reading block. I am unable to read anything at all. At least I could read slowly before this year started. I could manage to read 5-7 novels even in a block. Now that too is not happening. I don't know how to deal with it. 

I managed to read two novels till date from 1 Jan, 2012. 

 The Litigators by John Grisham (Jan)
Gods and Fathers by James LePore (Feb)

That speaks volumes, doesn't it?  I would also like to state that I am unable to write poetry too. Writing and Reading, both gone, I feel kinda lost. If anyone has any advise/suggestion, I welcome those.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Saturday Snapshot: March 03, 2012



Nowadays I am into collecting precious stone jewellery. The first one is Amethyst, and second is Turquoise. I love both!

Posted for Saturday Snapshot, hosted by Alyce of At Home With books

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Booking through Different Kind of Romance


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Have you ever fallen in love with a fictional character? Who and what about them did you love?

I have not fallen in love with any fictional characters as such but I have loved quite a few while reading the books. For their knowledge, acumen and empathy. Not all those in one person!!