Book Review: The Camel Club by David Baldacci

Goodreads Review:

Existing at the fringes of Washington D.C., the Club consists of four eccentric members. Led by a mysterious man know as "Oliver Stone," they study conspiracy theories, current events, and the machinations of government to discover the "truth" behind the country's actions. Their efforts bear little fruit --- until the group witnesses a shocking murder ... and become embroiled in an astounding, far reaching conspiracy. Now the Club must join forces with a Secret Service agent to confront one of the most chilling spectacles ever to take place on American soil --- an event that may trigger the ultimate war between two different worlds. And all that stands in the way of this apocalypse is five unexpected heroes.

Published: 2005
Author: David Baldacci
Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, 

Amazon:


My Review:

I love David Baldacci. So obviously, I loved this as well. I am in awe of him. And my respect has increased so much more for him. I have read a lot of books that have written about Islam and Pakistan in relation to terrorism. And somehow even in books, terrorism and Jihad gets related to Islam and its teachings. This was the FIRST book that I read which was so true. I felt like my feelings were spoken out loud. I could tell how much research has been done by the author and how much knowledge he holds. I have never read or met a person who knows as much about Islam as a Muslim. And being portrayed right in a book for the first time, I was exhilarated. Salute ! 

He has explained Islam first and then terrorism. Not only that he has actually written the truth about USA. We were searching for a debate topic last year when I came to know that US actually has a debt of 3 trillion. And very few people are aware of that. He has explained everything in such an amazing manner that you are shocked to learn the actual facts from the garbage that is portrayed on TV. 

I am a conspiracy thriller lover, so I loved it. The build up of suspense in it, all the action going and than everything falling into place, it was all worth a read. 

I do have a problem with one thing though. And that is Oliver Stones age. He is 62 which is old for me. I get that its not considered old in US but its old. I loved the mix and match up of all the different personalities from the rare books librarian to the computer genius. I would love to meet Caleb and see the Library of Congress. 

After reading this book, I got all nostalgic and now I want to meet Baldacci. I want to tell him how big a deal it is for me to see someone write the truth for something I believe in. Everyone has faults, America is no saint. Than why is it that third world countries get blamed for most of the things ? This book gives you an insider to what actually happens and the fact that half of the wars are inflicted by US itself. We need to see the good and bad in everyone. We only see good in people or bad in the other. 

This was one informative book which I thoroughly enjoyed and I look forward to reading the rest of Baldacci. 

...SAP...

Book Review: Can You Keep a Secret ? by Sophie Kinsella

Emma is just like any other girl with secrets. She is not who she pretends to be. Like she does not know what NATO stands for.  Even her own best friend does not know her. And then she blabs all her secrets to a stranger on a plane ride. And that stranger turns out to be her handsome boss named Jack Harper, the C.E.O. Now, there is one person who knows all about her and every single embarrassing detail.  What will happen if the world comes to know about everything ? Will her life come crashing down onto her ? Or will she be able to survive it ? 
Published: 2003
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Genre: Fiction, Chick Lit
Review Ratings: ****

Goodreads Review: Can you keep a secret ?

I am not much of a chick lit reader. But I love Sophie Kinsella's books. I loved Shopaholic series. This one was also amazing in a different way. I am a blabber as well. Once me and my friends blabbed about a debate couch to a guy for like an hour and he turned out to be her brother, which lets just say did not turn out to be the best scenario for us.

I liked how the concept that every one of us has secrets was portrayed. The author turned lies into some of the secrets. But then, having and keeping secrets is another name of lying.

It was interesting to see how Jack teases her about everything and she is the only one who knows what he is talking about. There is a bit of a banter between them which is pretty amusing.

Overall this was a very refreshing humourous read, not just filled with romance and crappy love story but more of how a major weakness of everyone is secrets. And once they are out, there is nothing you can do about it. You have to live with it. And that is what Emma does.

Quotes From The Book:

"“She believes in love and romance. She believes her life is one day going to be transformed into something wonderful and exciting. She has hopes and fears and worries, just like anyone. Sometimes she feels frightened. Sometimes she feels unloved. Sometimes she feels she will never gain approval from those people who are most important to her. But she’s brave and good-hearted and faces her life head-on."

 "I’ve always had this deep-down conviction that I’m not like everybody else, and there’s an amazingly exciting new life waiting for me just around the corner.”

...Sumaica Asad Piracha... 

Top Ten Books I Wish Were Taught in Schools

This is actually very ironic. I remember reading What Katy Did, Oliver Twist, Robinson Crusoe, etc in middle school but when I moved to Qatar in 6th grade, class reading changed drastically. There was no concept of reading novels as part of a syllabus. Our books had excerpts from different classics which was very boring. So obviously, for me I would have loved to be taught books in school. Because I know how much fun it is, reading and having book discussions over a book. These are some of the books that I would have loved to read in class with the amazing English teacher I had.

Top Ten Books I Wish Were Taught In Schools:

1. The Count of Monte Cristo :



This is a perfect high school book. It is a classic. So all the teachers who are more into literature and classics will not oppose this. It is a story of revenge, betrayal, trust, integrity, patience, everything that one would want in a book. It took me about a week to read it and it is 1600 pages long. But it is worth the read. And this is my most favourite book.





2. Hunger Games:

Or any good dystopian novel. High school is like playing Hunger Games. Instead of districts, there are different groups from the most popular to geeks, drama queens etc. Its all about surviving in those four most important years of your life where you have to enjoy your teenage life while making a future for yourself. Reading such a book gives you the satisfaction that you are not alone in this fight of yours with the world. And it is not boring.

3. 19 Minutes:

This is such a perfect book. I read it after I finished High School this year and I truly understood what bullying does to a person. It breaks you. It destroys a person. This should be taught so students would know how it feels to be bullied. I know that not everyone is attentive in school, but even if you get the message across one person, that is all that matters.



4. Paper Towns:

When I finished reading this book, I so badly wanted to discuss it with
my English teacher. There were so many things I had a problem with and I thought to myself, damn, I wish I was taught this in school. It has a lot philosophy in it which needs class discussions and a teacher to make you go into the depth of things. I understood the story but I know I would have gotten much more out of it.





5. I Am the Messenger:

Aaaaahhhh. Markus Zusak. What should I say ? The message of this book is beautiful. At first you might not be into the book but it leaves a life lasting impact on you. After reading this book, Zusak shot up on my Best Author list. This is for all the lazy asses out there who instead of doing something in life, just lie around waiting for things to work out by magic.





6. Little Women:

I read this book when I was very young and I loved it. It is my mothers favourite book and I think this was the first classic she bought me. Its such a great story of love, family, friendships and so much more. Jo and Larry are my favourite characters and I was devastated when Jo says no to him. That was the first time I wanted to have a sister, looking at the fun that Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth have. I have read this book countless times, so obviously I know their names by heart.



7. The Book Thief:

Teachers want their students to learn something new everyday. What is a better way of learning what Nazi Germany was like than reading about it from a very different perspective ? I have read a lot about the era of Hitler and Nazism but this was such a different read on a very common topic. And its a book about a girls love for books and words. Nothing can be better for me.

...SAP...

What are you ? -Poem

Photograph by Saleha Jamil

What are you ?
A bitter truth
Or a sweet lie

What are you ?
The blues in the sky
Or the dark circles under my eyes

What are you ?
A good nights sleep
Or a bad mornings awake

What are you ?
A lipstick stain on my shirt
Or a sign that says I will be hurt

What are you ?
My inner demons
Or the angel I appear to be

What are you ?
My deepest desires
Or happiness that I require

...SAP...

Book Review: The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald

Nick Carraway narrates the story, he meets the rich and scandalous Gatsby who throws lavish parties in his huge and beautiful mansion on the East Coast but very little is actually known about him. But that was not the case, always. Five years ago, he was nothing but a poor lad in the army who made the mistake of falling in love with the rich and beautiful Daisy. Unfortunately life did not side with them. They meet in the present, Daisy a married woman, with a daughter and an adulterous husband. Gatsby, a very rich man, still in love and waiting for Daisy. What measures will Gatsby take to get his love back ? How will Daisy react knowing her lost love is back ?

Published: 1952
Author: F.Scott Fitzgerald
Genre: Fiction, Classic

Goodread's Review: The Great Gatsby

Amazon: The Great Gatsby

I had been wanting to read this classic for a long time and obviously had high expectations. But when I finally picked it up, lets just say that I wanted to punch Gatsby, Daisy, her stupid husband Tom, his mistress, Scott, pretty much everyone in the book.

Lets start with the adultery in the book. Daisy's husband is in love with a wife of a garage owner who fixes his car. Seriously ? Could not you have a little better taste ? At least have the decency to not fall of your standards. And Daisy knows about it. Yet she does nothing about it. Why ? Why would you let your husband do that to you ? That implies you are not interested in him anymore. Get a divorce for Gods sake and stop the drama. Then her husband is mad when she does the exact same thing he does to her. Something that is right for you becomes wrong for your wife in a second. Shoe salute !

And Gatsby. Lets just say that he is one of the most stupidest and ambitious man I have ever read about. He made Daisy the sole purpose of his existence which is saying something considering he is rich, handsome, has a huge library and a great car. I loved him and hated him. Loved for the hard work he does and the pain he goes to, to get Daisy back. His life was all about Daisy but somehow, he even made his end about her. Which deserves some respect, a lot actually. But it also deserves a hard reality slap to make him realize the obvious that Daisy does not stand up for her own self, let alone for anyone else.

Daisy, I hate her. I never really understood her character or why she does, what she did in the ending. Does not someone who died for your mistake deserves an attendance to his funeral ? I am pretty sure that even the most cold hearted person would have been blown away. So I am assuming that she never had a heart.

I hated the book in some ways and loved it in others. Nick was the only sensible one in the story. His character was brilliant especially his decision at the end. But I found the third wheeling a little creepy. Never have I ever respected a fictional character more. He literally brought sanity to the story. I hope the movie is better than the book because Leonardo DaVinci is in it. I hated the characters but somehow loved the story. Because it was very real. We only see one side of the society, fact is that the other side exists and it still is pretty much how Scott described it. All in all, I kind of had a love/hate relationship with this book.

One of the quotes I loved from the book:

“I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” 

...SAP...

Top Ten Tuesdays: Most Memorable Secondary Characters

I read about Top Ten Tuesdays on Pretty Books blog. But initially, this idea was started by The Broke and the Bookish. Both of these blogs are very awesome. I love reading other peoples "Top Ten Tuesday". It is so much fun. So I figured that I should do one as well. But the thing is I have read so many books that I do not remember each and every character even from the ones that I love. This actually makes it very hard because you are reminded of so many more things afterwards. So all the things I have written about are either from the books I have read recently or are things that have struck out for some reason. 

Top Ten Most Memorable Secondary Characters 

1. Hana tate, Delirium
I just finished reading the Delirium trilogy and that is the first one I remembered. I really liked her character. Especially her friendship with Lena. I loved her carefree spirit towards life and how she looses it. 

2. Jane Bennet, Pride and Prejudice: 
Who does not love Pride and Prejudice ? But I loved Jane. Not more than Lizzy ofcourse. But I realized that being prim and proper does not always makes you a stuck up. She was so beautiful in her own way, like a delicate flower. And you do not have to be defiant or different to have a story. 

3. Frank Kennedy, Gone With the Wind:
For some reason, he always remained in my head. Probably because I hated the way he was used by Scarlette. And I hate when someone takes advantage of you. And Scarlette did that on her sisters cost which was pathetic.

4. Hans Hubermann, The Book Thief:
He is one dedicated and honest man. And an amazing father. He showed the world how you achieve fatherhood in perfection even in the middle of a war.  Salute !

5. Magnus Bane, The Mortal Instruments:
I am actually reading this series right now and Magnus is the only character that is actually interesting and has some personality.  

6. Tarquin, Confessions of a Shopaholic
He was one weird character and the sole reason he stuck out. He called water "twitchy". Yup ! It was like he spoke baby language in adult form. And the weird thing is that he was a millionaire and one of the most sought out bachelours in his city despite wearing oddly shaped jumpers. 

7. Ejaz Ansar, Pir-e-Kamil

I read Urdu books as well. But now Pir-e-Kamil also has an English translation. Anyway, Ansar was one guy I doubt I will ever forget. There is nothing I despise more than hypocrites and double faced people. It is because of such people that the culture or things we believe in, tend to have a bad name. 

8. Rue and Finn, The Hunger Games

There is not a single person who would have cried for these characters. Both of them are so different yet so memorable in their own way. I still cannot get Rue's mocking jay song out of my head. It is beautiful, just like her.

These are the only people I could remember right now. My apologies for not being more sufficient but I am sure I will be more vigilant, once I get the hang of it. Fingers crossed.

...SAP...

All Answers Bookish

I wanted to do something really fun and interesting and because I have officially started book blogging as well. So I thought I will do this survey. I saw this on Pretty Books and loved what Stacey wrote. It was long and bookish, making it very awesome. This was originally made by  Jamie from the Perpetual Page Turner. I loved her answers as well. And I actually really enjoyed writing this. So here you go:

Author you have read the most books from:

According to Goodreads, its Sidney Sheldon (15), Jeffrey Archer (15) and Agatha Christie (13). But it is Enid Blyton as well. This one has to be countless because I do not remember how many Enid Blyton books I have read.

Best sequel ever:

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I think this was the one sequel that was so unexpectedly way more awesome than the first book.

Currently reading:

The Camel Club by David Baldacci, which I am already in love with.

Drink Of Choice While Reading:

I am not really big on any drinks while reading because that leads to spills and who likes that on their brand new books. But I do love coffee and almost all kinds of tea.

E-reader or Physical Book:

Definitely physical book. I get sick of e books very easily so I have to read a physical one with it as well to keep that flow and feel of physical books. But I have to say that e-books have made reading a lot easier and faster in terms of access.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Dated In High School:

Ummm...That is a very difficult question because there are so many awesome ones. But the one is Adrian Ivashkov from Bloodlines by Richelle Meade. I would have dated Fatty from the Five Find Outers series in middle school or whatever age he was, as well.  I used to be in love with all the disguises he pulled off and his humour.

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

I am not a Stephen King fan but I read The Running Man recently and it was moving to say the least.

Hidden Gem Book:

I would go with the Sidney Sheldon books because I feel like people do not give it a chance labeling it as trashy. If Tomorrow Comes is one awesome book.

Important Moment In Your Reading Life:

 It would probably be when I learnt to read. One of the moments was when I read Harry Potter because I remember my brother forcing me to read it and I completely refused. Than I read it as a bet and that has defined my childhood. And also when I found friends who turned out to be huge bibliophiles. I wrote about it here.

Just Finished:

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami which was such an accomplishment on my part considering how much I hated that book.

Kind Of Book You Will Not Read:

Horror. That is one genre I am not into at all. Somehow I do not feel that horror element and I end up mocking it. I am also not into major romance novels. If the story is set in modern times and is all about love, lust etc, that is a turnoff for me.

Longest Books You Have Read:

The Count Of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas (1476 pages) which is also one of my very favourite books. I love it. Its awesome. Also 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (924 pages).

Major Book Hangover because of:

The most recent book hangover was because of 1Q84 which was only because I meddled over all the flaws I kept finding in it. This was a very bad hangover. The good one I had when I finished The Fault in Our Stars. It was excruciating, just to think about Augustus Waters and all that pain.

Number  Of Bookcases You Own:

That is the sad part. A lot of my books are back in Pakistan. I took my books there on my dear moms suggestion. Yes I was naive and stupid enough to do that. But I was 12. So as of now I have only 1 bookcase which holds double the books it was designed for. Some of the books are in a carton as well.

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon and Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup. These are the books that I always end up reading while eating or if I am out of books for some reason.

Preferred Place To Read:

Car. Its really weird but car is actually an amazing place to read, ofcourse when you are not the one driving it. You can totally catch up on your reading. And my sofa which has a window over it, so I have the perfect lighting. Have a bag of Chilli Millie, a fluffy blanket around you in an intentional cold room and you are good to go.

Quote that inspire you / gives you all the feels from a book you have read:

There are so many quotes that I love, I do not even know where to start from. But there is one that has stuck with me, "Some people are beautiful. Not in looks, not in what they say, just in what they are." -Markus Zusak

Reading Regret:

I don't really have a major reading regret. But I do wish that I would have read more of Roald Dahl books in my childhood. I read him but not a lot. And a regret which is always with me is reading classics. I do love classics but I find them very hard and time consuming as well. So I always end up taking a lot of time for it. You can imagine that by knowing that I read The Great Gatsby 8 months after buying it.

Series You Started And Need to Finish:

Divergent by Veronica Roth. I have to start the second book but have no idea when that will happen. I am waiting for the third book to be out so I can read them together. The Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare. I just cannot get my head into the series. I am on the second book and its hard to finish it.

Three of your all time favourite books:

Only three ? That is a shame. Well, I already mentioned The Count Of Monte Cristo and If Tomorrow Comes. So these three are The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, Pride and Prejudice and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Hold on. I totally forgot Harry Potter and 19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult.

Unapologetic fan girl for:

Sidney Sheldon. For a very unreasonable reason, he does not have a good reputation in the literature world. But I love him. He was an excellent author.

Very excited for this release more than all the others:

The next Markus Zusak book actually. And Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead. It is the fourth book in the Bloodline series. I hate reading a series in this whole wait for it form.

Worst Bookish Habit:

Reading while you are eating. This is a very bad habit because you are so engrossed in the book that you end up spilling something on the book, ALWAYS. But I do not read my newest buys while eating. I usually read my brothers books so that I get to destroy his books and not worry about it.

X marks the spot: Start at the top of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Alex Cross's Trial by James Patterson.

Your Latest Book Purchase:

The Camel Club by David Baldacci.

ZZZ-snatcher book:

The Fault In Our Stars which I read in less than a day. And anyone who has read the book can imagine my condition. I literally cried on every single word. I had a headache from crying and all that feelings. And The Running Man.

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing this. And kudos if you read all of that.

...SAP...