Seven pounds is a story of redemption. It’s reference somewhat taken from the Merchant of Venice, the director skillfully takes the audience through what the main character is feeling and at the end, tells us why. It’s pace may be a little prodding along at times but it is by no means slow. Besides making me think about what it means to be a “good” person and it also is one of the shows that moved me to tears. Excellent!

This is fantasy translated to modern terms. Surreal and fantastic.

Peter Iiych Tchaikovsky’s most famous work known to me is his 1812 overture. This documentary takes us to the important landmarks in his life, including his school and his residence and tells us the story of his life through the music he writes.Illuminating!

Royston Tan has a knack for storytelling and it shows in 4:30 which is a story between father and son. For the uninitiated the beginning may be a little on the slow side. Long moments of darkness don’t really help with the momentum of the story .Eventually though, it becomes clear the relationships in this movie are far from simple and when the camera frames the little boy’s face in what must be the most touching moment of the movie, that moment lingers on, long after the movie ends, like a bitter aftertaste.

It is a simple story no doubt, but the stunning images of underwater life and the spalshes of beautifully rendered colours really hit home. The Soundtrack that accompanies the movie is no less than awe-inspiring. That said, this movie is best experienced not described.Marvellous!

Ender’s game and Ender’s Shadow should be read back to back. Both have the same plot, the same basic premise – Battle school for children – but with two different viewpoints. One from Ender and the other from Bean. This book completes the universe of Ender and in so doing, makes it more real, more tender. It drags a little with too much rhetoric at the middle but the finale does the book justice. If you ever wanted to know how some things came to be in Ender’s game, this book is definitely for you.

Jeffrey Archer used to be one of my favourite authors. His short stories are quick witted and his novels, in particular, Kane and Abel set him apart from other authors I’ve read. It is with Kane and Abel too, that “A prisoner of birth” most resembles, with the wronged finally acquitted at the end of the day. Not terribly satisfying but those who loved Kane and Abel would find no fault with this new offering from Archer.

I first read Ender’s game in Secondary School , on the recommendation of my English teacher. The reason I’m revisiting this book again is so that I know what’s happening before progressing with the second book, Speaker for the Dead, which I did not quite get at that time.

I’ve read it two times and it remains one of my favourite novels.

I’ll admit after Jodi Picoult’s disastrous outing in the tenth circle I started this book with little expectation. It is, fortunately,much better than I imagined. The beginning drags a little with flashbacks and what-nots but the ending in true Picoult-ish flair ends with a dramatic court room scene which somehow finds it’s mark. Nicely done but My sister’s keeper was better.

I read this book on recommendation of amazon.com’s readers and am not afraid to say, is one of the best sci-fi fiction I have read. Even if you are not a fan of sci-fi the imagination of Dan Simmons will not fail to impress.An outstanding book.