MPH

Most people write because they have something to share. For some authors, it is a form of creative expression. Thus, it is rare indeed to come across an author so prolific that he has expanded his horizon from writing for adults to children, all with the objective of trying to get more children to read. Of course, critics will be quick to dismiss his effort as profit-minded but what does James Patterson have to say?

It’s 1919.  Tristan Sadler is on the train from London to Norwich. World War I has ended, and he brings letters from the front, presumably unsent, written by his friend Will Bancroft. The letters are addressed to his sister Marian, and there may be a reason why he’s delivering the letters himself.

Tristan and Will met at the military town of Aldershot three years earlier, where they trained with other young men – boys, some of them – and formed a bond that strengthened as they faced death and desolation in the trenches during the war.

As the days on the battlefield wear on, they keep a depressing count of their comrades-at-arms who died, deserted or went mad. One day, Will lays down his arms and declares himself an “absolutist” – someone who refuses to contribute even an iota of effort to the war. To the rest of his comrades, he is just another coward. Will is executed as a traitor for his decision, shaming his family’s name.

Read the rest of the review here.

Viola in Reel Life is a 14-year-old snarky girl with dreams of being a famous film-maker one day. When her documentary parents head to Afghanistan to film a movie, Viola ends up “marooned” and “abandoned” in a boarding school in Indiana. Pretty soon she discovers Indiana is not as lifeless as she thinks.

For more suspense, check out The Lying Game. Emma discovers she has an identical twin named Sutton. She sets out to look for Sutton only to find out her twin sister is dead and the killer is at large. Emma takes on Sutton’s life in hopes of uncovering the truth and learn that Sutton may have made more enemies then friends in her short lifespan.

Read the rest of the review here.

Non-Fiction

1. A Doctor in the House: The Memoirs of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

2. Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo;Lynn Vincent

3. Life Coach: Become the Person You’ve Always Wanted to Be by Pam Richardson

4. Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going by Han Fook Kwang; et al

5. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive – 101 Inspirational Stories about Counting Your Blessings and Having a Positive Attitude by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Amy Newmark)

6. Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock (Second Edition Revised and Updated) (The Book That Shock Singapore) by Alan Shadrake

7. Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

8. A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard

9. How to Think Like Einstein: Simple Ways to Break the Rules and Discover Your Hidden Genius by Scott Thorpe

10. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Fiction

1. Family Ties by Danielle Steel

2. A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One (Movie Tie-In) by George R.R Martin

3. Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

4. The Confession by John Grisham

5. The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obréht

6. Insatiable: The Stake Have Never Been Higher by Meg Cabot

7. A Dance with Dragons by George R.R Martin

8. Transformers 3: The Official Novel by Peter David

9. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender

10. Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie

Local Author

1. Hadis 40 Imam Nawawi by Zahazan Mohamed & Muhammad Zakaria

2. Ensiklopedia Solat: Kombinasi Fakta Hukum dan Sains (Fiqah, Falsafah, Sejarah, Saintifik) (Ilustrasi & Foto Menarik) by Datuk Haji Md Hashim Yahaya

3. Di Mana Dia Di Hatiku? ALLAH itu Hampir Tapi, Kenapa Aku Masih Meminggir? Akalku Alpa Berfikir, Hatiku Lupa Berzikir... by Pahrol Mohd Juoi

4. 101 Rekreasi Hati: Buat Diri Ku yang Mudah Lupa by Dr Zahazan Mohamed, Nik Wafdi Nik Jaafar

5. Beduk Diketuk by Pahrol Mohd Juoi

6. A Doctor in the House: The Memoirs of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

7. Anakku Brain Tumour: Hikmah 5 Sebelum 5 (Kisah Benar) by Isyah Radhiah Idris

8. Bogel Menuju Tuhan by Zahiril Adzim

9. Tuhan… Terimalah Aku by Dato` Hj Md Daud Che Ngah

10. Batu-Bata Kehidupan: Tidakkah Sudah Tiba Masanya Kita Bergerak Membina Kehidupan Berlandaskan Arahan-Nya? (Tarbiah Rohani) by Hilal Asyraf

Weekly list compiled by MPH Bookstores, Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur

WATCHED by horrified onlookers as well as the world’s press, a man throws himself to his death from an old citadel in the fictional historic city of Ruin in Turkey – and sets in motion a series of events that seem headed for an apocalyptic denouement. As gun-toting fanatics jump into action, so do charity worker Kathryn Mann and her friends, who know that according to an ancient prophecy, this is a vital time in history. Crime reporter Liv Adamsen also finds herself caught up on this terrifying journey that has her questioning everything she thought she knew, including her identity.

Ant colonies have inspired programmers to come up with solutions for streamlining factory processes and telephone networks. The US military modelled robots on the behaviour of schools of fish. Termites have been used in studies for climate-control solutions.

It seems that we have much to learn from the instinctive behaviour of animal swarms.

This book discusses how collective intelligence in the animal kingdom can teach humans how to organise and solve problems more effectively, whether it is in the business sector, politics, design or technology.

Read up on other books here.

Jack Armstrong, who hasn’t even reached his mid-30s, is dying of an unnamed disease. His wife struggles to raise their children and take care of Jack. On Christmas Eve, she heads to the pharmacy to pick up medication – and is killed in an accident.

Read the rest here.

When we first saw the title, we thought, “What a weird entry”. But we passed them on to the judges anyhow and they probably had the same reaction as we did. Still, no single judge determines the result and seeing how each one of them do not know how the other is rating, this one does come as a surprise winner to us.

Congratulations to Nur Amalina Binti Mohd Amin for your entry “OMG!” You’re our Main Prize Winner for June’s Read & Reap Contest.

Well done too to our Consolation Winners:

• Mimi Chang (The Flower Pot)
• Azira Binti Mohamed (Selentik Jari)
• Kasmah Mohamad (A Chat with Jews)
• Kellyn Khoo Theng Sim (MPH – Malaysia Pricing Hub)
• Nazihah Mohd Yusof (My Name Is Chubbina)

We will be contact in one to two weeks’ time for your prize collection. If you’ve given us your home number, do alert your family members to expect a call from us. In the event that you do not hear from us two weeks from today, drop us a line with subject MPH Read & Reap Contest together with your name and contact number at contests@mph.com.my

Winners are being determined by:

1. Purchases of RM 50 and above (in the same month of purchases) in MPH Bookstores or mphonline.
2. Correct Books Count submitted.
3. Most Creative Book Title determined by panel of judges.

Panel of judges comprises of representative from MPH Bookstores, Samsung Malaysia Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd, Managing Director of Suzuki Malaysia Automobile Sdn Bhd and Ms Tan Gim Ean (experienced editor from local newspaper).

He’s been described as the best living humorist in America. Author Bill Bryson thinks he’s the funniest American writer since SJ Perelman. But he has neither appeared in a sitcom or a film. What other people think as dark and despairing, he calls it funny. Who is David Sedaris really? Find out here.

Congratulations! Here are the winners for ‘A Mother’s Love – Nurtures the World Art Competition’ organized by STAEDTLER & MPH Bookstores.

STAEDTLER will contact the winners to attend the prize giving ceremony happening this Sun (24 July 2011) at MPH Mid Valley, 1.30pm.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

Briefly, here’s what you should know about women investor: women trade less than men, exhibit less overconfidence, shun risk, are more realistic, do more research, are more immune to peer pressure, learn from their errors and are less prone to taking extreme actions.

Still want to know more? Go here.