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Tuesday, April 29, 2008

A book review: My Family and Other Animals (Gerald Durrell)

This is long overdue. Oh, well. Here goes.

This book is purely wonderful. I'm a lover of animals and any tale involving animals usually do capture my interest and my good opinion. However, this book is more than that. It tells the story of Gerald Durrell during his childhood stay on the Greek island of Corfu and the many animals he met, discovered and kept as pets. Woven into the story is the various antics and eccentricities of his family that really made the book such fun to read. Indeed, the book is full of wit, satire and sarcasm that livens up the story in so many ways, making it all really laughable.

I got the book at the weekend flea market at Amcorp and it was really such a steal. I forgot how much I paid for it but it was only a few bucks. Gerald Durrell wrote various other books and I'm currently searching for them. I'm hooked.

Yeah, they even made a television series based on the book. I can't seem to find a download so I guess I'll have to purchase it.

Finally, I'll leave you with an excerpt that really made me laugh and I feel that was a wonderful ending to the book. He managed to capture the sorrow of leaving Corfu but yet manages to make light of the event by injecting a little humour into the scene, making it a perfect closing to a great tale.

As the ship drew across the sea and Corfu sank shimmering into the pearly heat haze on the horizon a black depression settled on us, which lasted all the way back to England. The grimy train scuttled its way up from Brindisi toward Switzerland, and we sat in silence, not wishing to talk. Above our heads, on the rack, the finches sang in their cages, the Magenpies chuckled and hammered with their beaks, and Alecko gave a mournful yarp at intervals. Around our feet, the dogs lay snoring. At the Swiss frontier our passports were examined by the disgracefully efficient officials. He handed them back to Mother, together with a small slip of paper, bowed unsmilingly, and left us to our gloom. Some moments later Mother glanced at the form the official had filled in, and as she read it, she stiffened.

'Just look what he's put,' she exclaimed indignantly, 'impertinent man'

Larry stared at the little form and snorted.

'Well, that's the penalty you pay for leaving Corfu,' he pointed out.

On the little card, in the column headed Description of Passengers had been written, in neat capitals: One traveling Circus and Staff.

'What a thing to write,' said Mother, still simmering, 'really some people are peculiar'.

The train rattled towards London.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

On the moon with Armstrong



It is finally out. I've waited for this so so so so long. Why does it take so long for a book to be published in paperback?

These money grubbing publishers should be rounded up and made to eat their own hardcover books. Then let them use all that money earned from forcing people to buy these hardcover editions of books to get their stomach cut open and the books removed.

I'm rambling. Shouldn't be rambling when there's such a nice nice exciting wonderful book to be read.


Can't wait to read about my all time favourite necromancer.

Ciao!

Monday, April 21, 2008

Celebrating Gaia


And your homework today is to go read up on the Gaia Hypothesis. It's a very interesting read. Do your little part and be more aware of our earth.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Blogosphere's 50 Most Unknown Bachelors

I'm late again. Whoops. Forgive me Sam?

BACHELOR NO : Err....What's my number again?

NAME : Zyklon22

OCCUPATION : Writer :)

AGE : 23

ZODIAC : Dual Cancer/Leo ( born on the cusp) with Scorpio on the rising

FAVE HANGOUT : A bedroom with an internet connection, telly, chips and books.

TALENT : To be a stoic temperemental.


Three things you can’t live without?

My wit, my confidence and my innate ability to be evil.


What is the sweetest thing a girl / guy has done for you?

A sweet, self written poem sms-ed to me on my birthday that put a smile on my face. I shall not elaborate. I'm still keeping it in my hp.


The most daredevil thing I’ve ever done is...

Trekking in a bloody cave full of bleeding bats without a fkin guide, but of course - with wacky friends. :)



What’s one thing you’re glad you’ve outgrown?

I'm glad I've outgrown being dependent on having company around me constantly.


Your biggest mistake is...

Not having the courage to break out from the mold shaped by social obligations and personal expectations earlier in life.


Which actor would play you in a movie about your life?

Tobey Maguire? LOL


Why do women / men...

Why do women feel that they should have everything in their favour? Gender equality comes with both the bad and the good. Take it or leave it I would say.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

And I write

It is official. I picked up my letter of appointment today, got it signed and now, I'm officially employed. I am gonna be a writer! Woot!

My thoughts? It is surreal. Never would I imagine that I could be writing for a living. Even saying that sounds unbelievable. There is something dreamlike about it all. It will take a while to fully sink in I guess.

My feelings about the whole thing? It's all excitement and thrill washed down with a smattering of apprehension and flavored with a tiny dash of self-doubt. You can't blame me. I'm taking a big leap out of my field of study to do something I've always dream of doing - something I never thought I could and would be doing. I think in this case a little self-doubt is permissible. Don't you think?

I'm going to be starting in June but I have been asked do to some pieces for the magazine on a freelance basis at the moment. So I'm gonna be in print for the June issue. Weeee.

Anyway, one bad thing is that my plan to menganggur one year is seriously dashed. Sigh, I so need a holiday. I guess I can't have my pie and eat it at the same time.

Now before I end I need to say this one more time for it to sink in.

I'm gonna be a writer.

There, that's three times now. Third time's always the charm.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Life!

Yeap, all that hard work paid off. My mock-up of a magazine of choice has been printed and submitted for my magazine publishing class I took. The result? I'm damn proud of it. It is amateur work I admit but I'm proud of it all the same. I have very little experience with graphics work but I think I managed to pull it off completing the layout and all the best I could.

Hey I managed to land myself a job when I printed and brought a few of these to the interview the other day and what more can I ask? :) It was worth it being editor-in-chief despite all that death-defying work.



Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Sourpuss?

Would I say I'm sour? Probably yes.




You Are a Lemon



You have a very distinct personality. And if you're not being sweet, you're a little hard to take.

You're a bit overpowering, especially in one on one situations.



And while you are very dominant, sometimes your power is needed and appreciated.

You can liven up a dull situation, and you definitely bring a fresh outlook.



You are a bit of an acquired taste, and you tend to grow on people over time.

People feel refreshed and rejuvenated after spending time with you.