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10 years of FIF
Most Important MemberYeah, let's talk about all the books that you have read, is reading or gonna read. 
I am a late boomer when it comes to reading books as I started this year only but I am already reading my 6th book. So, here's a mini review (ratings are out of 5) of all the books that I have read. The list is from the first book I read to the last.
1) The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown ****
I think most of you would have at least heard of the phenomenon that is The Da Vinci Code. There hasn't been a book that captures the audience's attention since Harry Potter. It's truly a page-turning book and you will spend hours reading this book at one go. The story is about a Harvard professor who has to solve riddles after riddles, after he was somehow caught in a murder scene. He is assisted by the victim's granddaughter in his search for...The Holy Grail, yes you heard it right. Dan Brown also managed to throw in a helluva controversial conspiracies in this book.
2) Angels & Demons by Dan Brown *****
After reading Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, I was intrigued by the rest of his work and read this book right after I finish The Da Vinci Code. The setting of the story took place a couple of years before the events in The Da Vinci Code but both books are not related so feel free to read whichever one first. The story is about the everlasting battle between religion and science. The setting took place in the Vatican City in Italy. Combine this with the fact that I am interested in Italy's culture, the book was truly a magnificent read and so far, the best that I have ever read!
3) Tuesdays About Morrie by Mitch Albom ****1/2
Mitch Albom is a renowned sports journalist in America. In this short book, he spent every Tuesday in his life with his dying former teacher-cum-mentor-in-life. They talked about issues like death, wealth, love, about life itself. I believe this book is a non-fiction. The story was touching and it was a great success. It has since made the silver screen. I finished this book in just 2 days, although if it had not been my busy schedule, I would read it in one go. Fantastic read that can really change your views in life & death.
4) Deception Point by Dan Brown ****
Yet another Dan Brown work! This time, the story is about the presidential election in the United States. The current president is trying to boost off his campaign by announcing a major discovery made by NASA, an organisation he has stood by proudly over the years yet made more losses than gain (Moratti - Inter, anyone? ). His competitor, who was basing his campaign on the failure of NASA, was shocked at the discovery. But there is something really deceptive about the discovery and ironically, the senator's daughter, who didn't see eye to eye with her father, is part of the team sent to verify the discovery. There are some plot holes in this book but nonetheless, it was still thrilling.
5) The Godfather by Mario Puzo *****
If you haven't heard of the movie or book already, please go to your kitchen, take a knife and stab it right to your heart. The movie trilogy was a masterpiece and perhaps the best ever. Mario Puzo truly poured his soul here and the result was an absolute icon that continues to stand out as 'the' mafia book. The story is about underworld of the Corleones and it talks mostly about Don Vito Corleone & Michael Corleone. Both characters are perhaps my most favorite characters of all time, alongside Lex Luthor from the TV series Smallville. Below the intriguing mafia story, lies a moral lesson of friendship, patience, reasoning and loyalty. The Godfather has been considered by many as the best book of all time. Lie, cheat & steal it if you haven't read it.
6) Digital Fortress by Dan Brown *
This is the 4th work by Dan Brown that I read and I found it to be completely predictable and similar to his previous books. The puzzles were incredibly easy and the final riddle was so ridiculously simple that I am confident my 10 year old brother would be able to solve it. Dan Brown's books have the same flow, plot & twist. The first few Dan Brown books that you read are good but by the time you reach the 4th, you would have been able to guess the plot, ending and villain of the story by the first read. The only reason I manage to finish this book is because I didn't wanna waste the US$10 that I spent on it. If you have never read a Dan Brown book, this won't be so bad though.
7) The Sicilian by Mario Puzo ***1/2
Yes, I was hugely intrigues by Puzo's works after my unforgettable experience of reading The Godfather. I went to Amazon.com to check the readers' reviews on his works and this book was rated the highest so I got this first. It wasn't a bad read at all but it is definitely not as good as The Godfather for me. There were too much descriptions about Sicily's spectacular sceneries to my liking. Also, the ending disappointed me a lot although it was certainly very cool. The book was supposed to be Michael Corleone's return to America after his exile to Sicily and he was supposed to bring a bandit called Salvatore Guiliano. But it mostly dealt with Guiliano and there was too little of Michael. Nonetheless, Guiliano's character is very likeable and that is the thing that keeps me going on.
Books that I plan to read in the future, in order of which one I'm gonna get first:yo
I am a late boomer when it comes to reading books as I started this year only but I am already reading my 6th book. So, here's a mini review (ratings are out of 5) of all the books that I have read. The list is from the first book I read to the last.1) The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown ****
I think most of you would have at least heard of the phenomenon that is The Da Vinci Code. There hasn't been a book that captures the audience's attention since Harry Potter. It's truly a page-turning book and you will spend hours reading this book at one go. The story is about a Harvard professor who has to solve riddles after riddles, after he was somehow caught in a murder scene. He is assisted by the victim's granddaughter in his search for...The Holy Grail, yes you heard it right. Dan Brown also managed to throw in a helluva controversial conspiracies in this book.
2) Angels & Demons by Dan Brown *****
After reading Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, I was intrigued by the rest of his work and read this book right after I finish The Da Vinci Code. The setting of the story took place a couple of years before the events in The Da Vinci Code but both books are not related so feel free to read whichever one first. The story is about the everlasting battle between religion and science. The setting took place in the Vatican City in Italy. Combine this with the fact that I am interested in Italy's culture, the book was truly a magnificent read and so far, the best that I have ever read!
3) Tuesdays About Morrie by Mitch Albom ****1/2
Mitch Albom is a renowned sports journalist in America. In this short book, he spent every Tuesday in his life with his dying former teacher-cum-mentor-in-life. They talked about issues like death, wealth, love, about life itself. I believe this book is a non-fiction. The story was touching and it was a great success. It has since made the silver screen. I finished this book in just 2 days, although if it had not been my busy schedule, I would read it in one go. Fantastic read that can really change your views in life & death.
4) Deception Point by Dan Brown ****
Yet another Dan Brown work!
This time, the story is about the presidential election in the United States. The current president is trying to boost off his campaign by announcing a major discovery made by NASA, an organisation he has stood by proudly over the years yet made more losses than gain (Moratti - Inter, anyone? ). His competitor, who was basing his campaign on the failure of NASA, was shocked at the discovery. But there is something really deceptive about the discovery and ironically, the senator's daughter, who didn't see eye to eye with her father, is part of the team sent to verify the discovery. There are some plot holes in this book but nonetheless, it was still thrilling.5) The Godfather by Mario Puzo *****
If you haven't heard of the movie or book already, please go to your kitchen, take a knife and stab it right to your heart. The movie trilogy was a masterpiece and perhaps the best ever. Mario Puzo truly poured his soul here and the result was an absolute icon that continues to stand out as 'the' mafia book. The story is about underworld of the Corleones and it talks mostly about Don Vito Corleone & Michael Corleone. Both characters are perhaps my most favorite characters of all time, alongside Lex Luthor from the TV series Smallville. Below the intriguing mafia story, lies a moral lesson of friendship, patience, reasoning and loyalty. The Godfather has been considered by many as the best book of all time. Lie, cheat & steal it if you haven't read it.
6) Digital Fortress by Dan Brown *
This is the 4th work by Dan Brown that I read and I found it to be completely predictable and similar to his previous books. The puzzles were incredibly easy and the final riddle was so ridiculously simple that I am confident my 10 year old brother would be able to solve it. Dan Brown's books have the same flow, plot & twist. The first few Dan Brown books that you read are good but by the time you reach the 4th, you would have been able to guess the plot, ending and villain of the story by the first read. The only reason I manage to finish this book is because I didn't wanna waste the US$10 that I spent on it. If you have never read a Dan Brown book, this won't be so bad though.
7) The Sicilian by Mario Puzo ***1/2
Yes, I was hugely intrigues by Puzo's works after my unforgettable experience of reading The Godfather. I went to Amazon.com to check the readers' reviews on his works and this book was rated the highest so I got this first. It wasn't a bad read at all but it is definitely not as good as The Godfather for me. There were too much descriptions about Sicily's spectacular sceneries to my liking. Also, the ending disappointed me a lot although it was certainly very cool. The book was supposed to be Michael Corleone's return to America after his exile to Sicily and he was supposed to bring a bandit called Salvatore Guiliano. But it mostly dealt with Guiliano and there was too little of Michael. Nonetheless, Guiliano's character is very likeable and that is the thing that keeps me going on.
Books that I plan to read in the future, in order of which one I'm gonna get first:
- Digital Fortress by Dan Brown - Done
- The Sicilian by Mario Puzo - Done
- Omerta by Mario Puzo
- Fools Die by Mario Puzo
- The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
- The Bourne Supremacy by Robert Ludlum
- The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum
yo
