My Sisters Keeper, Review By Uli Vuma

I watched the movie before I read the book. It's a travesty of epidemic proportions, I know, but this was practically force-fed. You see, my chum and I were given a ginormous wad of cash (that is, if you are like me who lives in Poverty Lane and considers R200 (+-$30) to be ginormous) to hire movies. We have this law that we don't watch certain movies of the same genre. To deviate from this law, is to accept a wedgie that will be hoisted over your head. So you can basically imagine what punishment would be like if I disobeyed. The rules are: Per R200, you are permitted;
1x Gutty Action Movie
1x The Latest Slap-Stick Event
1x Taste-of-Thy-Salty-Tears Drama
1x Horror

The latter was another force-feed. I'm the girl that get's queezy at the sight of blood. Anyway, My Sisters Keeper was our Drama Movie. Here were some of the setbacks that we faced; We had a Kleenex shortage. This was nothing short of blatant carelessness on our part. I mean,to walk into this unarmed, well, I haven't seen The Office Idiot do worse. We substituted premium tissues(that were designed for these such events, mind you) for cheap 1-ply toilet paper. Big Mistake. In fact, the mistake was so colossal that we ended up looking like one of those angsty, suicidal teenagers who tried killing themselves by rubbing sandpaper against their cheeks. Our cheek-pores were on the verge of trickling with blood. Thank God for Petroleum Jelly.

Okay, so that was the fixed up thanks to Vaseline, but Vaseline did nothing to stop the repercussion the film left us with. The movie was a tear-jerker to the nth degree and it took us time to actually come to and exit our haze of devastation. But we did, at least I did. Until I read the book.
And guess what?
THE BOOK WAS WORSE!
Before the book, before I knew about the magnificent Jodi Picoult, I didn't know that tears could run in all directions. I didn't know how much salt water that hails from your eyes can make your face itch in ways that you can't imagine. I didn't know, that after hanging on to every word, and making it through the end in one piece, would make your eyes dilate in deeper understanding of the world. That after reading this, everything from there-forth would be shone in a new light.
If there are words to describe how daunting this book was to me, I don't know them. And I am the person who makes it a religious event to read segments of the dictionary everyday. I don't think I will come across a sizable amount of words that equate to the boggling complexities of this book.
It's the kind of book that makes you resent the writer a little bit. Not because you are mad at yourself for not thinking of it first, but because the piece was woven into a stunning, heart-wrenching piece of work that leaves a mark. She does this thing where, once you really delve into this book, you cannot help but be stuck in this elaborate knot that can only leave you mentally stained once you manage your way out of it. It is a beautifully conceived book. The relation between you and the characters is very tangible. I personally had a deep connection with Sara and her emotional struggle to make right in her family. And it was a tough venture, the family is pretty messed up. It was a sore realization when I found out the truth: that she couldn't have both her daughters in the end. But that was the nature of it all. You could only have either, or. Which is quite relevant to the Real World and a good lesson learnt.

I think that out of all of it, the one thing that I really appreciated about this book is that it made me realize how good I actually have it. And be happy that my life is nothing close to theirs. This was a real eye opener.

Lastly,
But this book, some Kleenex and read it. It is time to be thankful for what you have.

Artemis Fowl and The Lost Colony, Reviewed by Wakhe Mhlanga

In the beginning I was gob smacked by the fact that my uncle suggested we form a book club. I used to hate books, let alone the idea of people sitting down and discussing them. Since this whole thing, reading books and discussing them, was mandatory, I chose to read Artemis Fowl and The Lost Colony. It is the most splendid book I've ever read. And that is saying something, because my reading stock-pile included Beckham books. And Beckham books only. I took one glance at this book, and it already seemed too thick. So that put me off for a few seconds until I read the description at the back. I bought the book and that was history as they say. Let me just say that I've been attached to it the entire week. It was like eating ice-cream, all-season round, without the "brain-freeze". This was really, an unbelievable book.

I would like to thank Eoin Colfer for helping me enjoy my first proper book ever.

The Great Gatsby, Review by Uli Vuma

First off, I didn't even know that this book exists. I was destined to come across it through a little site called IMDb. You see, I was mischievously checking Leonardo DiCaprio when I found out he was given the "prestigious" role of Mr. Gatsby for the remake of some american classic written years before they invented "The Credit Card." So naturally, I was uninterested. But because i am i die-hard fan of Mr. DiCaprio, and quite honestly, a little obsessed with anything and everything he does, I checked out this "American Classic." Might I just add, thank goodness for Wikipedia, it gives you a mouthful for free. In this mouthful of information, I discovered everything there is to know about "The Great Gatsby." That is, of course, if you exclude a concrete description of the books plot, characters and how it ends. I blame "spoiler alert".  Anyhow, besides its hackneyed name and its ancient appearance, I found this book to be nothing short of awesome. In point form, I will elaborate on what I thought of it.

1. Boy, was I wrong for adding quotation marks on the word American Classic. This book, is hands down one of the best books I've read.
2. Wow, the affairs and what-sort that go on in this book. I say again, Wow.
3. East Egg, West Egg. Those are weird names for places.
4. Even I got combat-fatigue from all the falling-outs that took place in this book. Who knew Mr. Bunchanan can punch like that. And shootings taking place in swimming pools? Can i just mention how very original that was. I was floored by the ghastliness of that particular situation.
5. I feel a deep and overwhelming sorrow for Nick Carraway. His eyes must have itched and burned. My eyes itched and burned. And I was only reading. 
6. I don't think that everyone can enjoy this books capriciousness. This book is up and down, left right and center. You need VALOID for this one.
7. I will forever imagine a person called "Myrtle" to be an obnoxious home-wrecker. My apologies to all the future "Myrtles" that I will meet.
8. I must remember what "the wedding cake of a ceiling" is.

This is just a select few of the things that i questioned, pondered about and discovered while reading what must be the Holy Grail of American Classics. The only thing I need now, is for Mr. Fitzgerald to rise from the dead and explain more to me.

Artemis Fowl and Atlantic Complex Review by Khangi Vuma

Artemis Fowl, is really a fabulous book.Sure it had its bad moments(spelling & grammar).It still kept me blocked  out from the rest of the world. The book plot wasn't as good as Eoin Colfers best, but he sure did keep the action and excitement in. Before I read this, I loathed books and anything that involved me reading, I could easily have been in Iraq than pick up a book. This book kept me enthralled in Artemises bipolar tendency and crazy adventures. I am looking forward to reading more of Eoin Colfers books soon.

To Eoin Colfer congratulations on a splendid job.         

First meeting of the carrot cake and stick book club

Sunday the 7th of August heralded the kick off of our book club whose aim is to encourage a culture of reading in my children. Primarily, this blog is about reviewing books that we have read each week. Furthermore, we will use the blog to review visits to museums and art galleries or similar cultural happenings. The book reviews for the current week will be up shortly.