MUST-WATCH CARTOON

Grave of the fireflies (1988)

A tragic story based on semi-authographyof an author, Nosaka, dedicated to his little sister who passed away in WW II due to malnutrition. The story depicts the strong relationship between these two orphans in their struggle to survive duing the war.

Spirited Away

An Academy and Oscar Winning Animation, Spirited away, is a story about a 10 years old girl in her uncanny journey to save her parents.

You can get the movies from me if you would like to watch them.

My Dad's Hands

Bedtime came, we were settling down,
I was holding one of lads,
As i grasped him so tight, i saw a strange sight:
My hands...they looked like my dad's!
I remember them well, those old gnarled hooks,
there was always a cracked nail or two.
And thanks to a hammer that strayed from its mark,
his thumb was a beautiful blue!
They were rough, I remember, incredibly tough,
as strong as a carpenter's vice.
But holding a scared little boy at night,
they seemed to me awfully nice!
The sight of those hands- how impressive it was
in the eyes of his little boy.
Other dads' hands were cleaner, it seemed
(the effects of their office employ).
I gave little thought in my formative years
of the reason for Dad's raspy mitts:
The love in toil, the dirt and the oil,
rusty plumbing that gave those hands fits!
Thinking back, misty-eyed, and thinking ahead,
when one day my time is done.
The torch of love in my own wrinkled hands
will pass on to the hands of my son.
I don't mind the bruises, the scars here and there
or the hammer that just seemed to slip.
I want most of all when my son takes my hand,
to feel that love lies in the grip.

By : David Kettler

A book a day keeps the bore away... (i know someone is going to kick my butt)

These are the books that i have read and i think are suitable for readers of all ages.




Title: Escape
Author: Carolyn Jessop
Award: -
Genre: Novel (based on real life story)
Movie: -


Summary:

At the age of 18, Carolyn Jessop was forced to marry a 50-year-old stranger and religious cult member. She became one of the 6 wives and bore him 8 children in 15 years. when the cult strated preaching death and destruction, she knew she and her children has to...

Feedback: 5 stars, I was fully obsessed by the story, touching and harrowing, actually a little bit of cultural shocked for it is explaining the norms of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints which is more to patriachal society and practices poligamy. You should read it....



Title: Island Trilogy
Author: Gordon Korman
Award: -
Genre: Adventure
Movie: (i think there is)


Summary:

They didn't want to be on the boat in the first place. They didn't want to be stuck at the sea with a bunch of strangers. But when a terrifying storm hits, what they want doesn't matter. It's all about survival on the desert island. No food. No shelter. No rules. They're on their own. Or are they?

Feedback: 3 stars. Storyline is quite interesting and unexpected ending. Recommended for secondary school students.



Title: The Kingdom Keepers
Author: Ridley Pearson
Award: -
Genre: Fantasy
Movie: -




Quotes:

" They are coming closer!" Willa shouted. Finn heard little thuds as the dolls of It's a Small World connected with the hull of the boat.

"This isn't happenning," Maybeck said, trying to sound calm. "It's part of a collective dream, a collective nightmare....."

"Shut up!" cried Charlene. "Paddle!"

Feedback : 5 stars. I couldn't stop reading the book. The first fantasy book that i ever read before the Thief Lord. The storyline was unexpected...their enemy will shock you... the danger they face will only increase your heart beats and the velocity of your eyeing...believe me....Recommended for all...

p/s : The solution for the quotes will really shock you till....! Creative way of resoving the conflict!

Title: A corner of The Universe
Author: Ann M. Martin
Award: Newberry Honor Book
Genre: Novel
Movie: -


Summary:
Hattie Owen has never really thought about the world outside her samll town. Her Family's boarding house is where she feels most at home, with its eccentric tenants and predictable routines. But there are secrets in Hattie's family, and the biggest one is her young uncle Adam. Hattie doesn't know he exists until he shows up in her town right when she's about to turn twelve. suddenly the place she thought she knew so well begins to feel different. Her family and neighbours aren't ready to deal with Adam's mental problems...so Hattie gets caught in the middle. Hattie will know how small a small town can be, how big the world outside is and how far our hearts and minds can go...


Feedback: 5 stars. A mixure of sadness and sympathy. To read this, one need to be in the characters's shoes. Characters analyzing is important to fully enjoy the whole story. Recommended to those who like literature...





Title: The Thief Lord
Author: Cornelia Funke
Award: The International Bestseller

Genre: Children's Fantasy Novel

Movie: Yes

Summary:

Two orphanced children are on the run, hidding among the crumbling canals and misty alleyways of the city. Befriended by a gang of street children and their mysterious leader, the Thief Lord, they shelter in an old, disused cinema. On their trail is a bungling detective, obsessed with disguises and the health of his pet tortoises. But a greater threat to the boys' new found freedom is something from a forgotten past - a beautiful magical treasure with the power to spin time itself.

Feedback from me: 4 stars, good book to be read by youngsters, unexpected plot and storyline...i highly recommend it to my friends if they are interested

Title: My Name is Brian

Author: Jeanne Betancourt

Award: -

Genre: Short Novel for youngsters

Movie: -

Summary:

Brian's friends think a lot of the things he does in school are really funny like writing his name as "Brain". But he is not joking around. Brian tries hard but nothing comes out right. He feeld just plain dumb. He thinks school i only going to get worse after he finds out what the problem is. Brian needs extra help, and he has to think and learn in new ways. But that is not as hard as getting called 'teacher's pet' by guys he thought we his friends. Brian knows that what makes him different won't change who he really is. But will it change who his friends are?

Feedback: 4 stars. Although short, interesting. A new idea and information for teachers regarding students ability. Remind me of Gardner's Multiple Intelligence. Recommended for all especially teachers.



Title: Ways To Live Forever

Author: Sally Nicholls (young author, 23years old)

Award: Waterstone's Children Book Prize 2008

Genre: Children

Summary:
Sam,a 11 years old boy who has leukemia, is writing his diary on things that he faces in his life together with his friend, Felix who also has the same sickness. The diary contains lists of his dreams and lists of questions nobody answers....

Quotes:

QUESTIONS NOBODY ANSWERS NO.2
"why does God make kids get ill"

Feedback: 5 stars, I couldn't even put the book down, very touching and have invaluable lessons that we should learn from it. Highly recommended to everyone especially my friends. The moment i read the quote, my tears almost burst out...a question that raised by a boy who is only 11 years old....imagine....

Title: Kira Kira (meaning: glittering)
Author: Cynthia Kadohata

Award: John Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American Literature For Children

Genre: Novel

Movie: -

Quote:

My uncle was exactly one inch taller than my father. But his stomach was soft. We knew this because we hit him in i once the year before, and he yelped in pain and threatened to spank us. We got sent to bed without supper because my parents said hitting someone was the worst thing you could do. Stealing was second and lying was third. Before i was twelve, i would have committed all three of those crimes.

Feedback: 5 stars. It is hard for me to put down the book. Story almost similar to real life situation - the surroundings, environment, the hardship of life, and the naivety and innocence of a child of below age 12. Highly recommended for all.


I am still on my progress to read the rest of the books. I have a lot of new story books that i bought but have not read. If you are interested in reading those books and have no place to find them (i have gone to the Popular in Bintulu- You couldn't find them except for the book 'escape' cause i bought there), please do borrow from me....i am very delighted to share...

Silent Bliss

Shush.

The silent is oppressive.
Embellished by the sullen despairing sun,
The yellow fecund ground
Lost its utmost sheer of bravado,
Rendering the streams to loneliness,
A No place for the fantasy land.
Still,
This is a silent bliss.

My strong legs marched enigmatically,
To their combustible home sweet home,
Outmost; cunning, innermost; dulcet,
A monstrosity of haven, off our imagination,
Still,
This is the silent bliss.

Children dashed, the men relieved.
Joyous force fortified
The greatest camaraderie of strangest love,
Shinning the smiles of naives
To see their “Santa” came true.
A pen and a paper,
Supplant the moment
Of simplicity to complexity
Yet, still,
This is a silent bliss.

The network hand greeted,
With genuine wrinkled of tiredness
Only replying ,
“I’m in good fettle”
The only self-denial option
In the barren,
Arid earth of silent still.
The preamble of the ample life
Superfluous, they need no more
For this
Is the silent bliss.