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Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett

Discworld lives on in Unseen Academicals, the latest novel from Terry Pratchett. Delivering the trademark insight and humor readers the world over have come to expect from “the purely funniest English writer since Wodehouse” (Washington Post Book World), Unseen Academicals focuses on the wizards at Ankh-Morpork’s Unseen University, who are reknowned for many things—sagacity, magic, and their love of teatime—as they attempt to conquer athletics.

The wizards at Ankh-Morpork’s Unseen University are renowned for many things—wisdom, magic, and their love of teatime—but athletics is most assuredly not on the list. And so when Lord Ventinari, the city’s benevolent tyrant, strongly suggests to Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully that the university revive an erstwhile tradition and once again put forth a football team composed of faculty, students, and staff, the wizards of UU find themselves in a quandary. To begin with, they have to figure out just what it is that makes this sport—soccer with a bit of rugby thrown in—so popular with Ankh-Morporkians of all ages and social strata. Then they have to learn how to play it. Oh, and on top of that, they must win a football match without using magic.

Meanwhile, Trev (a handsome street urchin and a right good kicker) falls hard for kitchen maid Juliet (beautiful, dim, and perhaps the greatest fashion model there ever was), and Juliet’s best pal, UU night cook Glenda (homely, sensible, and a baker of jolly good pies) befriends the mysterious Mr. Nutt (about whom no one knows very much, including Mr. Nutt, which is worrisome . . .). As the big match approaches, these four lives are entangled and changed forever. Because the thing about football—the most important thing about football­—is that it is never just about football.

9780786868728

Out of the 50 over entries that we received, only 15 qualified. The answers to the questions posted up are:

1. Spain
2. Pastor / Rev.  Henry Covington

The lucky winner that has been picked is Mark, who will be receiving his copy of Mitch Albom’s Have a Little Faith (ISBN 9780786868728, valued at RM 69.95) in his mailbox soon.

ps. to Mark: an email will be sent to you if not by tomorrow, then next Monday.

The book is given, courtesy of MPH Distributors Sdn Bhd.

I remembered that blogged back in November last year, a little about reading Mitch Albom’s book. Here’s a snippet of the blog about this book on our right: “The chapters alternate between Albom’s visits to his family’s church rabbi, who has asked him to deliver his eulogy, and a Detroit pastor who preaches to the poor and homeless in a hole-in-the-roof church. These two starkly different men of God has the same hunger and faith in believing in something bigger than themselves. This inspirational book is about our life’s purpose, about losing our faith and finding it again.”

And by the way, for fans of Spain, if you’re thinking of visiting the homeland of the 2010 World Cup (and Euro Cup) champions someday, here’s a travel guide I’d recommend you:  Lonely Planet’s Spain, 7ed (9781741790009, RM 99.90).

Here’s a little excerpt of the guide book:

“Geographically, Spain’s diversity is immense. .. There are endless tracts of wild and crinkled sierra to explore, as well as some spectacularly rugged stretches of coast between the beaches – many of which are far less crowded and developed than you might imagine. Culturally, the country is littered with superb old buildings, from Roman aqueducts and Islamic palaces to Gothic cathedrals. Almost every second village has a medieval castle. Spain has been the home of some the world’s great artists (too). The country vibrates with music of every kind…”

What’s not to love?

Learn to spell with everyone’s favorite B-i-g R-e-d D-o-g in Clifford: Let’s Spell!

There’s no denying that kids love Clifford. The Big Red Dog has been a favorite since Norman Bridwell created him over 40 years ago. “I was working as a commercial artist in New York City. There wasn’t much work, so I made some sample pictures and took them to several publishers. They all rejected my work. But one editor suggested that I try writing a book of my own to illustrate. I had done a painting of a little girl with a big red dog. That seemed like a funny idea, so I made up a story about them. I increased the dog’s size from as big as a horse to as big as a house. My wife named the dog Clifford, and we named the little girl Emily Elizabeth after our daughter. In three days I had written the story and drawn the pictures for Clifford The Big Red Dog. When Scholastic called and said they wanted the book, I was stunned.” Bridwell, who grew up in Kokomo, Indiana, lives now on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, with his wife, Norma.

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

Non-fiction

1. Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times by Barry Wain

2. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

3. Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: A Practical Guide for Improving Communication and Getting What You Want in Your Relationships by John Gray

4. Citizen Singapore: How to Build a Nation (Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew – Giants of Asia Series) by Tom Plate

5. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

6. Have a Little Faith: A True Story by Mitch Albom

7. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey

8. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

9. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: A Fable About Fulfilling Your Dreams & Reaching Your Destiny by Robin Sharma

10. What the Dog Saw And Other Adventures by Malcolm Gladwell

Fiction

1. The Last Song (Movie Tie-In) by Nicholas Sparks

2. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson » Read the rest of this entry «

The Usborne Pocket Artist is a chunky, pocket-sized guide, superb value for money and has over 100 free downloadable pictures.

With The Usborne Pocket Artist, you will feel more confident to draw, colour and create all your favourite subjects by following the simple instructions and fun step-by-step examples. Hundreds of ideas combined with expert advice on technique and materials ensure professional-looking results. Includes over 200 Usborne-recommended Web sites for further inspiration.

In a world where products are out as soon as they are in, where communicating without wires doesn’t come without strings, where even our accessories require accessories, we need simple tools.

Keel’s Simple Diary helps us look inside even when we are overloaded outside. The book offers structure for those who don’t have time to wonder, making it easy to record life’s moments. It gives the pleasure of a quick response and the sense that no matter what’s wrong, more is right.

What is Simple Diary? An assistant for life, a book for any occasion, for any person at any age. On every page you will discover a taste of philosophy, a pinch of psychology and a twist of insight.

Here are three things Simple Diary can do for you: 1. Entertain the mind. 2. Help you focus. 3. Keep you company.

Simple Diary Volume One, The Cloverleaf Edition, comes in six colors: red, orange, yellow, brown, royal blue, lime green. Simple Diary Let it happen.

Rev your jet pack and prepare to fly to infinity and beyond with Complete Toy Story Collection…

Toy Story

Woody and Andy’s other toys must face up to the fact that there’s  a new toy in town – Buzz Lightyear. Can the gang learn to accept the space ranger as one of their own?

Toy Story 2

Woody’s been toy-napped! It’s up to Buzz and the gang to find Woody and bring him back home. Read this thrilling adventure and discover whether they succeed.

Toy Story 3

Andy has grown up and is too old for toys. But what’s to happen to Buzz, Woody and the gang? Find out this easy-to-read re-telling of the hit Disney Pixar movie.

Plus

• Over 50 awesome stickers
• Over 100 pages of mega fun activities
• Original tale little lost sheep
• Your favourite toys to colour in
• Brand new, amazing fun from Toy Story 3

This toy-tastic companion is an essential for any Toy Story fan!

Torres: El Nino: My Story by Fernando Torres

Non-Fiction

1. Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times by Barry Wain

2. Citizen Singapore: How to Build a Nation (Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew – Giants of Asia series) by Tom Plate

3. What the Dog Saw and Other Adventures by Malcolm Gladwell

4. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

5. Speeches That Changed the World edited by Emma Beare

6. Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: A Practical Guide for Improving Communication and Getting What You Want by John Gray

7. Torres: El Nino: My Story by Fernando Torres

8. Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell

9. The Case for God by Karen Armstrong

10. The Party: The Secret World of China’s Communist Rulers by Richard McGregor

Fiction

1. The Last Song (Movie Tie-In) by Nicholas Sparks

2. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson

3. A Rogue of My Own: When Hatred Turns to Desire by Johanna Lindsey » Read the rest of this entry «

Kembara Kehidupan: Dari Atap Rumbia ke Gedung Diplomat

Autobiografi ini merakamkan perjalanan hidup seorang anak kampung yang membesar dengan persekitaran sawah bendang sehingga membawanya ke dunia akademik dan akhirnya dunia diplomatik. Benar seperti yang disebut pujangga lama, “jauh perjalanan, banyak pengalaman”.

Pengalaman suka duka merentas tujuh dekad yang dilayari dikongsi oleh Dato’ Dr. Ismail Ibrahim yang boleh dimanfaatkan oleh semua.

Ke Arah Umat Hadhari

Ke Arah Umat Hadhari menghimpunkan 22 artikel yang membincangkan Islam Hadhari secara rasional, dan bukannya emosional; secara ilmiah, dan bukannya retorik; serta berlandaskan andaian dan prasangka. Himpunan artikel yang terkandung dalam buku ini mengupas 10 prinsip Islam Hadhari dari pelbagai sudut pandangan.

22 bab yang dipaparkan menyentuh pelbagai dimensi pendekatan Islam Hadhari yang dikaitkan dengan pembangunan ekonomi dan tamadun. Antara dimensi-dimensi yang dihalusi dengan akwakenegaraan, penguasaan ilmu pengetahuan, pembangunan ekonomi dan tamadun, kehidupan berkualiti, hak-hak golongan minoriti, keutuhan budaya dan moral, pemuliharaan alam sekitar dan sumber asli, dan pertahanan negara. Buku ini diharap dapat menjadi sumber rujukan yang berguna kepada masyarakat dan memperkayakan khazanah ilmu negara.

Sekilas Pandang

Buku ini bukan sekadar memaparkan cetusan pendapat Profesor Dato’ Dr Ismail bin Haji Ibrahim. Malah koleksi artikel yang pernah tersiar dalam akhbar Jawi, Utusan Melayu Mingguan, boleh dijadikan sebagai rujukan kepada peristiwa-peristiwa yang berlaku di dalam negara antara tahun 2004 hingga 2005. Setiap peristiwa semasa yang berlaku dalam tahun-tahun berkenaan dikupas secara mendalam dengan diiringi oleh pandangan dan pendapat penulis yang begitu kritis serta memberangsangkan minda.

Secara keseluruhan, buku ini menyentuh hampir kesemua aspek kehidupan seperti bahasa, pendidikan, masyarakat, agama, politik dan dunia. Pendek kata, himpunan artikel yang terkandung dalam kompilasi ini berbentuk berita yang disampaikan secara separa ilmiah dan santai. Oleh itu, buku ini amat sesuai bagi bacaan pada waktu senggang di samping dijadikan bahan rujukan bagi peristiwa-peristiwa semasa yang berlaku pada julat waktu artikel-artikel ini disiarkan dahulu.

Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

(Just to make this more interesting, I’ve decided to put up all your answers on Friday, 9th July 2010)

Previously, in the last round, I threw a contest at the start of the World Cup 2010. Now, many matches later, my question this round, points towards the end. We all know that the four teams that have made its way to the semi-finals are Holland, Uruguay, Germany and Spain.

My first question is this: Which team, do you think, will win 2010′s World Cup?

Simple enough? Here’s an even easier one. It is based on the book,  Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom (ISBN 9780786868728, valued at RM 69.95). This book basically tells us, that in whatever we chose to do or become, we should have a little faith or belief  that things can work out for the better and that we are capable of surviving challenges that are sometimes, beyond us.

Second question: What is the name of the Detroit pastor, in Mitch Albom’s book, who preaches to the poor and homeless in a decaying church with a hole in its roof?

**

I have one copy of the book to give away.

You may only enter this contest once. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Do type your answers at the comment column below. ** Please press ’submit comment’ once only. Only those who live in West Malaysia are eligible to participate and win the prize.

Contest ends, this Friday, July 9th 2010.

Winning entries will first be determined based on the results of the World Cup Final on July 11th 2010 (July 12th Malaysian time) and the correct answer to the second question.

If there is only one person who picked the winning team and the correct answer to the second question, the prize will automatically go to him/her.

If there are more than one entry for the choice of the winning football team and correct answer to the second question, then Book Galaxo will faithfully, do its little ritual and draw the eventual winner through a mini lucky draw.

If no entries has the winning team on it. The book will be snowballed to a future contest.

Hmm.. go pick a team now and toss a coin, yes – no? …