News That Made My Future

I got into LSBF. I got into LSBF. I GOT INTO LSBF. OMG ! I freaking got into LSBF. I, Sumaica Asad Piracha got into London School Of Business and Finance. Yes, I got into this prestigious school. Right now I am going crazy because I have no idea how to express my happiness. I got the news yesterday but somehow everything went crazy. I practically got killed by a stupid crazy taxi driver and everyone was leaving for Pakistan and stuff. So I didn't really get to celebrate my admission.

I do not even know what to say. Its something I have always wanted. I never thought that I would get such an honour. I am so thankful and humbled that I got in. Everything happened so fast and so smoothly. I applied, got a call, gave the interview, studied for the aptitude test, gave that and voila, I got a call. Everything happened within two weeks without a hitch. Alhumdulillah !

I just wish that my Nano was alive. He would have been the happiest man alive. This news would have made his day. He was always so proud of us and our achievements. And if there is one person I miss the most today, its definitely him. He would have given a huge party, bragged about my admission to all of his golf buddies and would have asked me to come to Pakistan immediately so he could truly celebrate this.

My mommy literally cried. And my friends, well I could feel the happiness in their voices. I am so glad that I fought for what I wanted and believed in and now I have it. I remember, every year I used to go to Makkah and I had a list of things that I prayed for. Becoming a Chartered Accountant was on top of it. And once I thought to myself that you know what, maybe Allah does not love me like he loves others. But yesterday I got to know that He loves every single one of us. We just do not know that. I am that lucky girl in this world who has always gotten whatever she wished for. And I am so grateful for everything.

...SAP...

Last Day Of School

June 25, 2013

Today was the last day of school. Well, my last day in school. And I kept thinking to myself about the place that has given mw so much. I have mixed feelings about leaving school. I mean I never wanted to come here and yet here I am, six years later ready to leave forever. It means the end of school, which is like the end of my childhood. 15 years of school just came to an end forever.

The past six years have been both good and bad. But I feel like I saw how the other side works in the world. I was always so contented in my own life, I never knew that people with such thinking even existed. 

Every corner of this school has some memory associated with it. Like the alley which connects Girls Wing to the Library. Back in 7th grade, that was our hangout place. We all used to be there together every morning and we used to look at the moon infront of us while the sun looked upon us. We used to wonder what we will be in 12th grade. Back then life seemed like a piece of cake but we learnt that even cakes can be burnt. 

Friendships changed and so did our hangout place. It became the ground near Arts and Culture Department which witnessed us walking in the mornings, gossiping and talking about the best books to the best band. 

I am glad that I am leaving. Because in the past two years, I came across people who were so cheap that I am amazed how can they manage such cheapness ? I met hypocrites, double faced b****es, people with such a high cheapness factor, bullies, people who harassed my friends, people who made us think that life has a whole other side, people who judged us without knowing us. And now when we will meet amazing people, we will be thankful for them. Because I know how it feels like to be surrounded by so much weirdness that you think to yourself, how the hell did I end up here ? Despite all that, I would never want to change anything because I learnt that this world has every kind of people in it.

But then I am reminded of the beautiful people I met. People who never judged me or my actions, people who believed in me, stood by me in everything, were genuinely happy for me, know me inside out, people that made me believe in the beauty of life again, people that are so amazing that I have no words for them. They all gave a whole other meaning to friendship. They all were a ray of sunshine in that depressing environment. They are the kind of people who would make plans about food and books first, if there is school the next day. 

I met both good and bad people, lived an awesome life, made memories and now its time to say goodbye. And honestly, I am saying goodbye with a smile on my face. Everything has to come to an end, whether good or bad. And this school was the best and worst in everything.

P.S. Goodbye P.E.C. I will miss my school life and you as well. But not the people you bear. Thank you ! For being such an awesome part of my life.

...SAP...

I dream - Poem

I dream

Of flying high

Of running fast

Of who I am

I dream

Of doing it

Of getting it

Of achieving it

I dream

Of soaring like an eagle

Of singing like a nightingale

Of fluttering like a butterfly

I dream

Of roaming the streets of London

Of climbing the Eiffel Tower

Of boating in the Venice

I dream

Of having riches of a king

Of having contentment of a beggar

Of having patience of a saint

I dream

Of being kind

Of being generous

Of being honest

I dream

Of beauty

Of integrity

Of hope

...SAP...

Author Review: Sidney Sheldon

Date of birth : February 11, 1917.
Date of death: January 30. 2007

Nationality: American

Sidney Sheldon is my moms favourite writer and she was the one who introduced me to him. Master of the Game was the first book of his that I read, given to me by a friend. I love the way he turns a simple, normal story into an  adventure but keeping it very real and true to life. His books always have a very strong story line and it is hard to find loopholes. His books are on my to make a collection list.

When I started reading Sheldon books, I realised that people have a very bad image of his books in their minds. They have this idea that his books are filled with explicit content. His books have been called 'trashy' and 'melodramatic'. I was accused of reading his books due to this reason. What people fail to notice is the fact that every author has nude scenes in their books. One example is Nora Roberts. She gets a free pass because of writing romance.

Honestly, I love the fact that he has written about women and from every angle. Even today women are underestimated everywhere in everything. He portrays his women as beautiful protagonists who are storng and charming. Moreover, they use their femininity as their weapon.

He is the seventh best fiction selling author of all time, selling over 600 million copies. He also holds the record of being the most translated author, his books being translated into 51 languages.

His Words:

"I try to write my books so the reader can't put them down," he explained in a 1982 interview. "I try to construct them so when the reader gets to the end of it, he or she has to read just one more chapter. It's the technique of the old Saturday afternoon serial: leave the guy hanging on the edge of the cliff at the end of the chapter."

"I like to write about women who are talented and capable, but most important, retain their femininity. Women have tremendous power — their femininity, because men can't do without it."

 "I love writing books. Movies are a collaborative medium, and everyone is second-guessing you. When you do a novel you're on your own. It's a freedom that doesn't exist in any other medium."

" If I write about a place, I have been there. If I write about a meal in Indonesia, I have eaten there in that restaurant. I don’t think you can fool the reader’.

Author of books:

The Naked Face (1970, novel)
The Other Side of Midnight (1974, novel)
A Stranger in the Mirror (1975, novel)
Bloodline (1977, novel)
Rage of Angels (1980, novel)
Master of the Game (1982, novel)
If Tomorrow Comes (1985, novel)
Windmills of the Gods (1987, novel)
The Sands of Time (1988, novel)
Memories of Midnight (1990, novel)
The Doomsday Conspiracy (1991, novel)
Nothing Lasts Forever (1994, novel)
Morning, Noon & Night (1995, novel)
The Best Laid Plans (1997, novel)
Tell Me Your Dreams (1998, novel)
The Sky is Falling (2000, novel)
The Other Side of Me (2005, memoir)

...SAP...

100 Book Challenge 2012

Last year things were a little hard and somehow I could not finish this challenge. My focus was somewhere else, in other things. But I did manage to read a quiet a few amazing books.

January:
1.Kiss The Girls. -James Patterson
2.The Double Eagle. -James Twining
3.The Alexander Cipher. -Will Adams
4.The Doomsday Conspiracy. -Sidney Sheldon
5.The Stars Shine Down. -Sidney Sheldon
6.Master Of The Game. -Sidney Sheldon
7.The Naked Face. -Sidney Sheldon
8.Sea Swept. -Nora Roberts
9. Chocolate Girls. -Annie Murray

February:
10.Slave. -Mende Nazir
11.Saher Aik Isteara Hain. -Umera Ahmed (Urdu Novel)
12. Rapture In Death. -J.D.Robb
13.Ceremony In Death. -J.D.Robb
14.The Worlds Greatest Secrets. -Allen Hall
15.SVU, He Is Watching You -Francis Pascal
16.The Worlds Greatest Crooks And Con men.
17.The Mcgregor Grooms. -Nora Roberts

March:
18.Chicken Soup For Teenage Soul.
19.Towards Zero. -Agatha Christie
20.Along Came A Spider. -James Patterson
21.The Devil Wears Prada. -Lauren Wiseberger
22.I Am Nujood, Age 10 And Divorced. -Nujood Ali/Delphine Minor

April:
23.In Her Shoes. -Jennifer Weiner
24.Refugee Boy. -Benjamin
25.Aik Daag E Nadamat. -Umera Ahmed (Urdu Novel)
26.Zindagi Gulzar Hain. -Umera Ahmed (Urdu Novel)

May:
27.The Thief Lord.
28.Bloodline. -Sidney Sheldon (Reread)
29.Bloodlines. -Rachelle Meade
30.Gossip Girl. -Cecil Van Zeigasar
31.Guilty Wives. -James Patterson

June:
32.My Feudal Lord. -Tahmeena Durrani
33.Digital Fortress. -Dan Brown
34.Picture Perfect. -Jodi Picoult
35.House Rules. -Jodi Picoult
36.The Golden Lily. -Rachelle Mead
37.7th Heaven. -James Patterson
38.Tell Me Your Dreams. -Sidney Sheldon

July:
39.Hunger Games. -Suzanne Collins
40.Catching Fire. -Suzanne Collins
41.Mockingjay. -Suzanne Collins
42.Rising Tides. -Nora Roberts
43.Inner Harbour. -Nora Roberts

August:
44. Bag of Bones. -Stephen King
45. Tess Of The D'urbevilles. -Thomas Hardy
46. Celebrity In Death. -J.D.Robb aka Nora Roberts
47. The Winner. -David Baldacci
48. South Town. -Rick Riordan
49.Lost In Time. Melissa de la Cruz (Blue Bloods 6)

September:
50. Tales Of Shakespeare
51. Amar Bail. -Umera Ahmed (Re-read)
52. F Is For Fugitive. -Sue Grafton
53. Chicken Soup For Teenage Soul 3.
54. Three Times A Lady. -Sarah Webb (re-read)

October:
55. It Had To Be You. -Sarah Webb
56. Total Control. -David Baldacci

November:
57. Sassy Cinderella and The Valiant Vigilante. -Sharon Dunn
58. Brida. -Paulo Coelho
59. Kiss Kiss. -Roald Dahl
60. Casual Vacancy. -J.K.Rowling
61. The Adventures Of Goodnight and Loving. -Leslie Thomas

December:
62. And Thereby Hangs A Tail. -Jeffrey Archer
63. King Solomons Mines. -
64. The Fourth Estate. -Jeffrey Archer

...SAP...

100 Book Challenge 2011

I never wrote down the names of books that I read or the amount. But I came across this thing in 2011 and decided to try it. It was my first time and I actually finished the challenge. Yes, I am lazy to the extent of uploading this after a year. Apologies.

Book Challenge 2011 

1. Master Of The Game. -Sidney Sheldon
2. Mistress Of The Game. -Sidney Sheldon
3. A Walk To Remember. -Nicholas Sparks
4. If Tomorrow Comes. -Sidney Sheldon
5. Accident. -Danielle Steel
6. Amazing Grace. -Danielle Steel
7. Bloodline. -Sidney Sheldon
8. Nothing Lasts Forever. -Sidney Sheldon
9. A Prisoner Of Birth. -Jeffrey Archer
10. Windmills Of The God. -Sidney Sheldon
11. Paths Of Glory. -Jeffrey Archer
12. Kane and Abel. -Jeffrey Archer
13. Honour Among Thieves. -Jeffrey Archer
14. Bygones. -LaVyrle Spencer
15. Sands Of Time. -Sidney Sheldon
16. The Other Side Of Midnight. -Sidney Sheldon
17. Romeo and Juliet. -Shakespeare
18. Vampires Academy. -Richelle Mead
19. Frostbite (VA:2) -Richelle Mead
20. Shadow Kissed. (VA:3) -Richelle Mead
21. Oliver Twist. -Charles Dickens
22. The Prodigal Daughter. -Jeffrey Archer
23. As The Crow Flies. -Jeffrey Archer
24. Angels and Demons. -Dan Brown
25. Eves Party. -Nick Turnbull
26. Fear Street. -R.L.Stine
27. The Winner. -David Baldacci
28. A Twist In The Tail. -Jeffrey Archer
29. The Simple Truth. -David Baldacci
30. Blood Promise. (VA: 4) -Richelle Mead
31. Spirit Bound (VA:5) -Richelle Mead
32. Last Sacrifice (VA:6) -Richelle Mead
33. Not A Penny More, Not a Penny Less. -Jeffrey Archer
34. Shaheen. -Naseem Hijazi (Urdu Novel)
35. Pride And Prejudice. -Jane Austin
36. Zero Point 3. -Javed Chaudhry (Urdu book, compilation of articles)
37. Memories Of Midnight. -Sidney Sheldon
38. To Kill A Mocking Bird. -Harper Lee
39. Gone With The Wind. -Margaret Michell
40. The Ravenscar Dynasty. -Barbara Taylor Bradford
41. Hush Hush. -Becca Fitzpatrick
42. Power Of A Woman. -Barbara Taylor
43. Third Girl. -Agatha Christie
44. Blue Bloods. (BB 1) -Melissa de la Cruz
45. Masquerade. (BB 2) -Melissa de la Cruz
46. Revelations. (BB 3) -Melissa de la Cruz
47. The Van Alen Legacy. (BB 4) -Melissa de la Cruz
48. Misguided Angel. (BB 5) -Melissa de la Cruz
49. Zero Point 4. -Javed Chaudhry
50. My Sisters Keeper. -Jodi Picoult
51. The Prince and The Pauper. -Mark Twain
52. Message In A Bottle. -Nicolas Sparks
53. House Of Night Series: Marked. -P.S.Cast
54. Bridge To Terabithia. -Katherine Paterson
55. Not Without My Daughter. -Betty Mehmoody
56. Fires Of War: First Team. -Larry Bond
57. 1st To Die. -James Patterson
58. Blasphemy. -Tehmina Durrani
59. Three Times A lady. -Sarah Webb
60. Shutter Island. -Dennis Lehane
61. It Had To Be You. -Susan Elizabeth
62. Sons Of Fortune. -Jeffrey Archer
63. A Quiver Full Of Arrows. -Jeffrey Archer
64. Kiss The Girls. -James Patterson
65. The Stars Shine Down. -Sidney Sheldon
66. Shopaholic. -Sophie Kinsella
67. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan. -Sophie Kinsella
68. Shopaholic Ties The Knot. -Sophie Kinsella
69. Shopaholic and Sister. -Sophie Kinsella
70. Shopaholic and Baby. -Sophie Kinsella
71. Mini Shopaholic. -Sophie Kinsella
72. Wild Prairie Roses. -Lena Nelson
73. Grace In Thine Eyes. -Liz Curtis
74. A Whisper Of Danger. -Catherine Palmer
75. Jane Eyre. -Charlotte Bronte
76. Knit For Love. -Beth Patillo
77. Nippy. -Elizabeth Waite
78. Slumdog Millionaire. -Vikas Swarup
79. Anne Of Ingleside. -L.M.Montgomery
80. Blue Bridge Brides. -Lauralee Bliss
81. Prairie Hills. -Susan May Warren
82. Little Women. -Lousia.M.Alcott
83. Good Wives. -Louisa.M.Alcott
84. Jo's Boys. -Louisa.M.Alcott
85. Little Men. -Louisa.M.Alcott
86. Lighting Thief. -Rick Riordan 
87. Sea Of Monsters. -Rick Riordan
88. Titans Curse. -Rick Riordan
89. Battle Of the Lybrinth. -Rick Riordan
90. Last Olympian. -Rick Riordan
91. Tair-e-Lahoti. -Riffat Siraj
92. Kidnapped. -R.L.Stevenson
93. Sea Swept. -Nora Roberts
94. Size 12 isn't Fat. -Meg Cabot
95. Size 14 isn't Fat Either. -Meg Cabot
96. The Last Symbol. -Dan Brown
97. The Da-Vinci Code. -Dan Brown
98. Murder On The Orient Express. -Agatha Christie
99. Hickory Dickery Dock. -Agatha Christie
100. The Murder Of Roger Ackroyed. -Agatha Christie

...SAP...

Book Review: Safe Haven, Nicholas Sparks

Katie Fieldman is a 27 year old woman, newly arrived in a small town called Southport. She seems like she is running away from something ? Katie is not even her real name. Than who is she ? And what is she running from ? Alex is a retired army officer, now operating a general store and bringing up his two children after his wife's tragic death three years ago. They both fall for each other but they cannot be together because of Katies' past. What is it ? What will happen when Katie's past will catch up to them ? Will they be able to survive it ? Will Katie be able to get over all the scars left behind by her past ? 

Published: 2010
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

Goodreads Review: Safe Haven

Middle East Shipping: Safe Haven

I am not much of a romantic book reader but this was one book that I wanted to read for a long time. But it was a disappointment considering how badly I wanted to read it.

I loved the way he has described Katie's feelings. How she used to manage everything so precisely and tried to be perfect around him. The fact that she loved him too much to just leave. Katie's character has been described as very strong. What she goes through and the way she still manages to hold her head high, looking at herself everyday in the mirror, wondering what she has become. Leaving him seems very simple. But its not so simple when you are in love and you keep hoping that it will not happen the next time. But that next time never really comes. Her belief in him was so strong.

I was looking forward to reading the reason behind Kevin's madness. But nothing was told. The focus was kept on Katie and I felt like the other characters were ignored. Especially Kevin's. Sparks did not explain why he did, what he did. Maybe there was no reason for it. But even that should have been told. And it took FOUR years for his Captain and colleagues to figure out that he drinks a lot. In the books, everytime he hit Katie, he was drunk. And he was a detective. Didn't everyday crimes, adultery, murders, blood that he saw had any affect on him ?

Another thing, Alex was an ex-army officer. I mean come on. I get the fact that Katie would want things to be left alone. But when  she knew that he was looking for her, then why the hell did not Alex do something about it ? He had contacts in the army, her neighbours the Fieldmans could have identified. He was in love with her, wanted to have kids with her but could not think of helping her. That kind of makes him an idiot.

Why? Oh, why did Nicholas Sparks had to create Carly as some sort of a ghost only seen by Katie ? I hated the fact that he created Carly as an illusion which helps Katie and is very much real to her. At first I thought that its a part of Katie telling her something. But Alex's dead wife giving Katie advice and eating dinner with her, that's a bit far fetched.

 

What I Learnt ? 

I was really thankful for the normal life that we have and that we at times take for granted. Knowing that we don't live the life where people hit each other or are sexually assaulted, beaten, even shouted at everyday, makes us sleep peacefully. We take normal as granted. But normal is really extra ordinary. Something that people wish and pray for everyday. 

Quotes From The Book:

"Little girls. They could melt the toughest hearts."

In the end, no matter how hard it is, acceptance helps people move on with the rest of their lives. But sometimes..."

"Everyone lies. Its part of living in a society."

"You see yourself as someone who couldn't get away. I see the courageous woman who escaped. You see yourself as someone who should be ashamed or guilty because she let it happen. I see a kind, beautiful woman who should feel proud because she stopped it from happening ever again."

 " I have come to believe that in everyone's life, there's one undeniable moment of change, a set of circumstances that suddenly alters everything."

 "Maybe I don't want to be defined by what I do. Maybe I would like to be defined by what I am."

 

...SAP... 

Book Review: 1, If Tomorrow Comes, Sidney Sheldon

The story follows Tracy Whitney, who is a happy women about to get married. But her world is turned upside down on hearing about her mother committing suicide. She promises to avenge her mothers death but instead she lands in jail because of the thugs who forced her mother into bankruptcy. After getting out of jail, she goes on the hunt again. Se tries living an honest life but to no avail. So she becomes a charmingly beautiful thief. Her adventures take her all over Europe making her a Baroness to a Lady at times. On her journey, she meets a fellow con artist named Jeff Stevens who is no less then her. What happens when their world collides with each other ?

Published: 1985
Author: Sidney Sheldon
Genres: Crime Fiction, Thriller, Suspense Novel.

Goodreads review: If Tomorrow Comes

Middle East Shipping: If Tomorrow Come


First of all, I love Sidney Sheldon and this book is definitely my favourite. I can read it over and over again. And I re-read this book. This is one of those books that hooks you on from the first word and does not let go till the end. I loved how everybody underestimates her and she proves everyone wrong. She avenges her mothers death not by killing the people responsible. But by using her brain and defeating them in their own game. Joe Romano, Orsatti, public defender Perry Pope and Judge Lawrence are left with nothing.

I really like the way things are describe in the book. Her whole jail experience. Everyone thinks she is a felon when deep down she is just a normal girl with dreams. I love the way Sidney Sheldon practically gave me a tour of Europe in a book. He told everything from places to different types of food. I also liked the way Jeff and Tracy like each other but do not trust each other because of who they are. There are certain moment in the book when I literally died laughing. I kept guessing the story till the end and lets just say I was surprised.

I also liked how Sheldon has shown Tracy from Daniel Coopers point of view, who is a detective on her trail. Because at the end of the day she is a criminal. All in all, I loved the way Sheldon told a story of a normal girl turned thief and her colourful adventures taking us through the history and creating an air of suspense.

Quotes From The Book:

" I will survive, Tracy thought.I face mine enemies naked, and my courage is my shield. "

"We are flimflam artists. But remember, sonny, you can't con people unless they are greedy to begin with. W.C.Fields had it right. You can't cheat an honest man."

"She was going to make them pay....Tomorrow, she thought. If tomorrow comes." 

 ...SAP...