READERS' CLUB

Gulliver's Travel

2011-02-04T02:33:00.000-08:00

A Book Review by Group 1 : Nur Fariha,Nasrin and Nur Syahnadz Zareith ( 3 Marikh )

There are tons of books that fill the shelves of the school library. They are organized by fiction and non-fiction and by their genre. Usually I prefer novels that I can relate to. Novels that have a realist plot usually garner my interests buts it is always nice to try something new. Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift's brilliant, satirical adventure, is a must-read. It is an appealing novel containing both, whimsy and wit. Swift seamlessly blends fact with fiction in this tale of an English ship surgeon. It pokes fun at the travelogues of this time period.

Lemuels Gulliver goes on four remarkable voyages across the globe and gets himself in several different situations. Symbolism, humor, and intelligence fill all two-hundred and thirty-eight pages. The reader gets a good laugh all through the book at the expense of the main character. Gulliver has no sense of humor and adapts to every single environment that he is in. The book is well written masterpiece full of details. It is impossible to lose interest while reading each eventful chapter. The reader can never really predict what is next for the adventurous, gullible Gulliver.

Gulliver's travels is a novel that anyone who has an imagination would find entertaining and appealing. On the other hand, some members of the book club will find this book to ridiculous. This novel is not the typical satire, drama, comedy or adventure. Most books that we book worms read are serious or sometimes dark but this novel is neither. It is a fun read that doesn't take itself too seriously. Gulliver's Travel's gets thumbs up from me because of its depiction of human nature. It is one of those rare gems that can be enjoyed by kids and adults for various different reasons.

The irrationality of human beings is a common motif in Jonathan Swifts, Gulliver's Travels. The author never came out and said that but he hinted around that. The author portrays human being as people who have two much pride to be considered rational.

Human beings have way to much pride to ever be considered rational. People are so consumed with themselves and how people look at them. Sometime individuals use common sense common sense and rationally before doing something. The size of the people in the first two adventures is a major symbol of the pride of humans. At first, Gulliver is literally looking down on the six inch citizens of Lilliput. It shows how real individuals look down on people and make them feel small. Some humans put themselves on a peddle stool and make themselves fell better by looking down on other people. When Gulliver ventures of into Brobdingnag he is looked down upon and treated like a circus and by the people there, who are sixty feet tall.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

2010-09-29T04:13:00.000-07:00

A book review contributed by Tan Yi Hui Carolyn (5 Marikh)

A companion novella to the popular Twilight series by the author, Stephanie Meyer, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is written from the perspective of Bree Tanner, a newborn vampire featured in the third book of the Twilight saga, Eclipse. This book brings the readers into the riveting story of Bree Tanner and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits, a world and life both different from the ‘vegetarian’ vampire family, the Cullens, which was portrayed throughout the series.

Bree was only fifteen, almost sixteen, when she turned into a vampire three months ago. She came from a broken family, and had run away from home. She lived in the streets, struggling to find food for survival when Riley asked her, “Want a burger, kid?” Hunger made her willing to exchange what Riley would want for the meal, and she was brought to “her” and turned into a vampire.

Living together with other ferocious and bloodthirsty newborns had taught Bree to be careful not to draw attention to herself, especially from Raoul, Kristie and their gangs. She never speaks to other newborns and hides behind “Freaky Fred”, a newborn who has the power to repel others, whom she develops a friendship afterwards.

Eventually, Bree finds an unexpected friend in Diego, a newborn just as curious as Bree about their mysterious creator, whom they know only as “her”. Diego is an eleven-month-old vampire, a close friend of Riley. They develop a close bond with each other, hunting together, sharing secrets and seeking refuge in a cave when all the newborns has been relocated after their hunting trip the night before.

Bree and Diego come to know that all the urban vampire stories and taboos that Riley told them are nothing but lies. They also realize that all newborns are pawns in a game larger than anything they could have imagined. Diego decides to talk to Riley after they eavesdrop on the conversation between Riley, “her” and some cloaked-figures one night, while Bree will go back to their home, acting clueless.

What will be the outcome of the friendship between Bree, Diego and Fred? What is the big game that is to happen to the vampire newborns? Who is that mysterious creator? Sink your teeth into Stephanie Meyer’s vampire novella for more answers and secrets, a truly thrilling story for adventurous readers, and of course, Twilight fans.

Perjumpaan Kelab Pembaca

2010-09-21T03:58:00.001-07:00

Perhatian kepada semua ahli Kelab Pembaca TIGS. Perjumpaan kelab akan diadakan pada esok. Butiran adalah seperti berikut:

Hari : Rabu

Tarikh : 22 September 2010

Masa : 2 ptg- 3 ptg

Tempat : Perpustakaan TIGS

Kehadiran adalah diwajibkan. Sesiapa yang gagal menghadirkan diri, tiada penambahan markah akan dibuat selepas waktu perjumpaan.

Sekian makluman dan tindakan, terima kasih.

Perjumpaan kELAB pEMBACA

2010-09-21T03:58:00.000-07:00

A Little Princess

2010-04-20T02:36:00.000-07:00

A classic children's tale popularized again by the Shirley Temple movie of the same title. The book is a riches to rags to riches tale that encapsulates the fine line dividing the haves and the have-nots in our society, sometimes separated by only a pane of glass.

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Lim Susin (5 Bumi)

"A Little Princess" is one of Frances Hodgson Burnett's most loved stories. It is the story of young Sara Crewe who while growing up in a well to do household suddenly finds herself impoverished when her father, Captain Crewe, dies penniless in India. Sara is forced to abandon her life of privilege for a life of bare existence at Miss Minchin's boarding school. To survive those hard times she imagines herself to be a little princess as she awaits her rescue from a mysterious benefactor.
About the Author
Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) wrote over forty books for children. Her books are still well-loved.

This book was wonderful. The characters and the plot were excellent. It's a very good book for 1st time readers as well as more seasoned readers. I recommend this book to anyone who just wants a fun book to read. It's wonderful.

The Time Traveller's Wife

2010-03-22T05:52:00.000-07:00

Ever heard of a film named "The Time Traveller's Wife"? Well, for those of you who are not in the know, it was actually a film adapted from Audrey Niffenegger's 2003 novel of the same name. The novel was nominated for and garnered several awards. Now, let's find out what makes "The Time Traveller's Wife" a compelling read.

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by Charmaine Tew Shu Yi

Using alternating first-person perspectives, the novel tells the stories of Henry DeTamble (born 1963), a librarian at the Newberry Library in Chicago, and his wife, Clare Abshire (born 1971), an artist who makes paper sculptures. Henry has a rare genetic disorder, which comes to be known as Chrono-Displacement, that causes him to involuntarily travel through time. When 20-year-old Clare meets 28-year-old Henry at the Newberry Library in 1991 at the opening of the novel, he has never seen her before, although she has known him most of her life.

Henry begins time traveling at the age of five, jumping forward and backward relative to his own timeline. When he leaves, where he goes, or how long his trips will last are all beyond his control. His destinations are tied to his subconscious—he most often travels to places and times related to his own history. Certain stimuli such as stress can trigger Henry's time traveling; he often goes jogging to keep calm and remain in the present. He also searches out pharmaceuticals in the future that may be able to help control his time traveling. He also seeks the advice of a geneticist, Dr. Kendrick. Henry cannot take anything with him into the future or the past; he always arrives naked and then struggles to find clothing, shelter and food. He amasses a number of survival skills including lock-picking, self defense and pickpocketing. Much of this he learns from older versions of himself.

Once their timelines converge "naturally" at the library—their first meeting in his chronology—Henry starts to travel to Clare's childhood and adolescence in South Haven, Michigan, beginning in 1977 when she is six years old. On one of his early visits (from her perspective), Henry gives her a list of the dates he will appear and she writes them in a diary so she will remember to provide him with clothes and food when he arrives. During another visit, he inadvertently reveals that they will be married in the future. Over time they develop a close relationship. At one point, Henry helps Clare frighten and humiliate a boy who abused her.

Clare and Henry marry, but Clare has trouble bringing a pregnancy to term because of the genetic anomaly Henry may presumably be passing on to the fetus. She subsequently gives birth to a daughter, Alba. Alba is diagnosed with Chrono-Displacement as well but, unlike Henry, she has some control over her destinations when she time travels. Before she is born, Henry travels to the future and meets his ten-year-old daughter on a school field trip and learns that he died when she was five years old.

When he is 43, during what is to be his last year of life, Henry time travels to a Chicago parking garage on a frigid winter night where he is unable to find shelter. As a result of the hypothermia and frostbite he suffers, his feet are amputated when he returns to the present. Henry and Clare both know that without the ability to escape when he time travels, Henry will certainly die within his next few jumps. On New Year's Eve 2006 Henry time travels into the middle of the Michigan woods in 1984 and is accidentally shot by Clare's brother, a sceneforeshadowed earlier in the novel. Henry returns to the present and dies in Clare's arms.

Clare is devastated by Henry's passing. She later finds a letter from Henry asking her to "stop waiting" for him, but which describes a moment in her future when she will see him again. The last scene in the book takes place when Clare is 82 years old and Henry is 43. She is waiting for Henry, as she has done most of her life, and when he arrives they clasp each other for what may or may not be the last time.

Love knows no boundaries and borders, what do you think?

The Undomestic Goddess

2010-03-14T07:17:00.000-07:00

Looking for a romantic comedy novel?Let's take a look at Sophie Kinsella's writing. Sophie Kinsella is a former financial journalist and the author of the bestselling novels Confessions of a Shopaholic, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Shopaholic Ties the Knot, Shopaholic & Sister and Can You Keep a Secret? She lives in England, where she is at work on her next book.

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by Amira Khairin bt Roslan (5 Bumi)

Samantha Sweeting is a successful 29-years old lawyer who works at Carter Spink, one of the most prestigious law firms in London. She is a workaholic woman with no home life, spent most of her waking hours at work and never had time to do domestic chores. She loves nothing except for her job. But all of this seems worth it, though, when she finds out that her biggest goal which is to become a partner at Carter Spink has achieved. But when she realises that she has made a horrendous mistake that is about to cost her law firm £50 million, she panics and decided to run away.

Terrified, she takes a train heading to a place where she did not even know herself, without thinking twice. She then ends up at a house, which belongs to Trish and Eddie Geiger, who thought that Samantha is a housekeeper who comes to apply a job. Samantha then agrees to become their housekeeper as she needs a place to stay and sort out her mind for a day. But when she finds out that her entire career is over, she decided to become a permanent housekeeper.

Unfortunately, she does not know how to cook, she never learns how to sew on a button and she never does her own laundry or cleaning.
Although Trish and Eddie are easy to fool, as they never thought that Samantha is a fake housekeeper, their handsome gardener, Nathaniel, knows so. Samantha then admits to him that she is not a real housekeeper. She then realizes she must cook and clean for these people and decided to learn things from Nathaniel’s mother, Iris. Eventually, the relationship between Nathaniel and Samantha becomes stronger. Samantha also begins to notice that her life is far more enjoyable than the life she had as a lawyer before, which full with tense.
But things are not going as expected when she realises that she had been betrayed by Arnold Saville, one of her favourite senior partners at Carter Spink. And after an investigation, Samantha was wronged. She is not the one who made the mistake back at Carter Spink. Samantha is then offered full- equity partnership in the firm which is the highest pinnacle. It is the most prestigious job in law. Samantha realizes she must choose between her old life and the new one. Should she put her career over love?

This book is definitely a thumbs up novel. Although I had read this novel for a few times, I never stop liking this story as it is greatly entertaining novel with cute romances and a generous sprinkling of humour. This novel also inspires me to be bold and responsible.

Reader's Digest (March 2010)

2010-03-08T04:21:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! We're back again with another review on Reader's Digest magazine. Reader’s Digest is a very well-known magazine among readers. It is suitable for people from all walks of life. What are the hot topics that will surely attract your attention in this issue? Let's check it out!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------‘MALAYSIA, WHO DO YOU TRUST?’ - March Edition of Reader’s Digest

by Nuraini Terjuni (5 Bumi)

What is trust?

Trust is a very complex behaviour where we allow ourselves to be subjected to another. It’s something we call mutuality when people realise that they are interdependent. Trust needs to run both ways to exist. If one party trust, the other can manipulate the trusting party. The higher the trust factor between people, the more efficient and solid is the relationship.By psychologist.
Based on the successful career, some of Malaysian was chosen as top trusted Malaysian. They have good career, high achievement and bring Malaysia to the international arena. Malaysia may be a small country but the person is very ‘big’. Among all top trusted, the most inspired in my opinion is Jimmy Choo, the international shoemaker. He is very well-known person especially in Hollywood. The celebrities are crazy over his shoes brand. The prize of the shoes is enough to be said as very ‘bling bling’. That is just one of those trusted. Which one in the list really inspired you? And do you really satisfied with the list? Do you think there is another person that is more qualified to be is the list or there is someone in the list that you think is not really qualified? Why? Let’s share about it.
Here, I attached Malaysia’s most trusted 2010. Can they keep their place next year?

The main article this month really get my attention. I really recommend this magazine to all my friend.
From real life stories to latest news, we can know almost everything through Reader's Digest. To get it from the bookstore, the price is RM15. However, I recommend you to subscribe it. RM148 per year is much cheaper than buying it monthly. What's more, you will get free gifts by subscribing. But, this is not the main point. It is essential in improving your English command and enhancing your knowledge, too. Well, this is my first review. I hope this will be a positive beginning. Reading is my passion. What about you? I hope all Malaysians cultivate the habit of reading, as well as I do.

p/s :
Well, who do you trust the most? Is it your family? Or between your friends?

3600 Saat

2010-02-02T08:26:00.000-08:00

Mari beralih angin pula dengan buku cerita menarik berbahasa Melayu. 3600 Saat tajuk yang menarik hati ramai pembaca dan pasti tertanya-tanya mengapa buku ini diberi tajuk sedemikian. Mari kita ikuti kisah selanjutnya.

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oleh Syafiqah bt Othman (5 Neptune)

Cerita ini mengisahkan seorang gadis yang bernama Sofea yang berusia 18 tahun. Sofea merupakan seorang gadis yang berbudi bahasa, hormat ibu bapa dan sopan santun. Dalam keluarganya, Sofea sangat rapat dengan bapanya, En Radi manakala ibunya Puan Marai sibuk dengan kerjanya di hotel yang baru dibukanya tetapi semua itu berubah apabila ibunya telah mengambik keputusan untuk bercerai dengan bapanya . Sejak daripada itu perangai Sofea yang dulu baik dan lemah lembut berubah menjadi gadis yang bermasalah . Sofea sering ponteng sekolah, membakar sekolah, merokok dan paling teruk sekali ialah dia sering bertengkar dengan ibunya kerana bercerai dengan ayahnya. Sofea sering mengurungkan diri di dalam bilik dan keluar rumah untuk mengelak drpd berjumpa dengan ibunya. Akhirnya, Puan Maria bercadang untuk menghantar Sofea ke sekolah swasta. Sofea terpaksa mengambil SPM untuk kali kedua di sekolah baru dek kerana perangai buruknya di sekolah lepas. Di sekolah barunya itu, Sofea tidak mempunyai kawan kerana perangainya yang menyebabkan rakan sekelasnya menjauhkan diri drpd Sofea sehinggalah pada suatu hari dia bertemu dengan seorang pemuda yang bernama Hadi atau lebih dikenali sebagai "Si Pemain Piano". Hadi mempunyai identiti dan perangai yang sangat berbeza dengan Sofea. Hadi merupakan seorang pelajar yang sangat disayangi oleh gurnunya dan merupakan tokoh pelajar sekolah manakala Sofea tidak selesai dengan masalah disiplin dan sering bertengkar dengan ibunya.

Namun begitu, perbezaan identiti mereka akhirnya membawa kepada persahabatan yang sangat akrab. Saya suka membaca buku ini kerana buku ini menerapkan pelbagai nilai murni yang boleh diterapkan dalam diri setiap palajar seperti tolong-mneolong, menghormati orang lain dan simpati. Saya amat mengesyorkan buku ini kepada rakan-rakan.

Lawatan Kelab Pembaca TIGS

2009-12-14T21:31:00.000-08:00

Perhatian kepada semua ahli Kelab Pembaca dan pelajar yang akan mengikuti lawatan Kelab Pembaca TIGS pada 19 Disember 2009,butiran lawatan adalah seperti berikut:

Masa berkumpul : 11.30 malam pada 18 Disember 2009
Tempat berkumpul : di hadapan Dewan Sri SMK(P)TI
Pakaian : Baju sekolah (bawa bersama baju TIGS Bestari)
Seluar : Seluar track bottom atau seluar slack sahaja
Kasut : Kasut putih atau hitam sahaja
Tudung : Tudung putih atau hitam sahaja

Sebarang pertanyaan sila hubungi Cik Hafizah.Terima kasih.

Lawatan ke Perpustakaan Tunku Bainun, UPSI

2009-10-31T22:35:00.000-07:00

Perhatian kepada ahli Kelab Pembaca!!

Kelab Pembaca SMK (P) Temenggong Ibrahim akan mengadakan lawatan ke Perpustakaan Tunku Bainun di Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Perak. Tujuannya adalah untuk menikmati kunjungan ke gedung ilmu yang lengkap serba serbi di samping menanam sikap suka membaca dalam diri pelajar. Selain itu, lawatan ini bertujuan untuk merapatkan hubungan sillaturahim antara ahli Kelab Pembaca. Butiran adalah seperti berikut:

Hari : Sabtu
Tarikh : 19 Disember 2009
Tempat yang akan dilawati : 1. Perpustakaan Tuanku Bainun, UPSI
2. Studio V, One Utama
3. Pertosains, KLCC
Bayaran : RM20
Bil. pelajar : 35 orang
Bil. guru : 3 orang

Sesiapa yang berminat untuk menyertai rombongan, sila serahkan nama anda kepada Carolyn Tan 4 Marikh atau Nur Syakirah bt Hamdan 4 Bumi. Sebarang perubahan akan dimaklmkan ketika taklimat kelak. Harap maklum.

Perpustakaan Tunku Bainun, UPSI

Studio V , The Star

Pertosains, KLCC

Ten Things I Hate About Me

2009-10-07T06:13:00.000-07:00

Another great novel from Randa Abdel-Fattah! TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT ME has a somewhat less positive tone. In case you couldn't tell from the title --- which, despite its play on a popular movie title, manages to convey some real self-loathing --- Jamilah spends most of the book feeling down on herself, her family, even her choice of friends.
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by Nur Syakirah bt Hamdan

After the sudden death of her mother years ago, Jamilah and her older brother and sister have been raised by their conservative Lebanese-Muslim father. Being the youngest is not easy, since her older sister, Shereen, is forever finding ways to irritate their father, and her brother, Bilal, is a constant disappointment. It's no wonder that Jamilah has begun to live a double life - one at home and another at school.

She has dyed her dark hair blonde and wears contacts to hide her dark eyes. At home she is Lebanese-Muslim, but at school everyone thinks she is just a normal Sydney-born Australian like the majority of the students in the tenth grade.

Unfortunately, things aren't going very well.

Jamilah loves her heritage - the music, the religious beliefs, the food, and the family, but she hates the rules that go along with all she loves. Her father believes in a strict curfew that requires her to be home by sunset. She dreams of having a boyfriend and going on a date, but that's totally out of the question. As a result, Jamilah finds herself trying to balance both lives. Her friends see one side of her and her family sees the other.

While at school, Jamilah observes members of the popular crowd viciously taunting any students from different ethnic backgrounds. To keep her own secret, she shamefully watches silently, afraid the cruelty could be directed towards her if she speaks up to defend the others. With her double life threating to crumble around her, she attempts to convince her domineering father that she needs more freedom than he is willing to allow.

TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT ME gives readers a glimpse into the Lebanese-Muslim culture and at the same time demonstrates that the true and honest path is not always the easiest to travel, but perhaps the most satisfying in the end.

The Lost Symbol

2009-09-19T20:11:00.000-07:00

Craving for some mystery novel by Dan Brown, the famous author of The Da Vinci Code? Well, if you're a huge fan of his, we're going to introduce Dan Brown's latest novel. After a 6-year drought of intriguing mystery novel, the prolific writer is back with his all-new work - The Lost Symbol.
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By Charmaine Tew Shu Yi

The Lost Symbol, formerly known as the working title The Solomon Key, is a 2009 novel by American writer Dan Brown. It is a conspiracy theory thriller, set in Washington DC.

The story takes place over a period of 12 hours in Washington, D.C., with a focus on Freemasonry. Langdon is summoned to give a lecture in National Statuary Hall at the United States Capitol, with the invitation apparently from his mentor, a 33rd degree Mason named Peter Solomon. However instead of an audience for his lecture, Langdon finds the severed right hand of Peter Solomon tattooed into a Hand of the Mysteries and pointing upwards, to the fresco The Apotheosis of Washington on the inside of the Capitol dome. This leads to a game of cat and mouse throughout the museums and architecture of the city. Langdon joins forces with Solomon's sister, Noetic scientist Dr. Katherine Solomon, while matching wits with Mal'akh, a tattooed, self-castrated and brilliant villain who is in search of an ancient source of power. Mal'akh has taken Peter hostage, and demands that Langdon unlock the Ancient Mysteries in return for Peter's life. Langdon is also apprehended by Director Inoue Sato of the CIA Office of Security, who demands that he solve the mystery since it is a matter of national security, as the villain is planning to release a clandestine video of Washington powerbrokers engaged in secret Masonic rituals. The chase and the clues to the puzzles lead through the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Museum Support Center, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Freedom Plaza, the United States Botanical Garden, and Washington National Cathedral. Some ciphers in the book use magic squares such as those in the 1514 work Melencolia I, and an Order 8 Square created by Benjamin Franklin. Processes of alchemy are also described to reveal some of the clues.

In the climax in the altar room on the top floor of the Masonic headquarters House of the Temple, Mal'akh reveals that he is in fact Peter's son Zachary. Unhappy with the way he was treated by his father, he faked his own death in a Turkish prison and experienced a religious epiphany, finding the need to learn the Word and complete his transformation into a godlike being. Trying to re-create the Biblical story of Abraham on the verge of sacrificing his son, Zachary tries to goad his father into killing him with a special sacrificial knife on the altar of the Freemasons. But Langdon intrudes, a CIA helicopter disables Zachary's laptop with a targeted EMP pulse to prevent the distribution of the video, and Mal'akh is killed when the helicopter shatters a skylight above him.

Peter then takes Langdon to the Washington Monument, saying that the Word that Mal'akh was seeking was actually in books such as the Bible, Koran, and Bhagavad Gita, and that the true Ancient Mystery is in fact the realization that people are not God's subjects, but in fact possess the capability to be gods themselves. Once they realize this fact, they will open the gateway to a magnficent future.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

2009-08-21T10:35:00.001-07:00

All the hype around Harry Potter and its latest silver screen instalment has propmted us to decide it was time for a Potter-fest! It has infected this blog (somewhat), but since everyone has probably read the seven books by now, we'll review a sort of 'branch' from the oh-so-popular series.
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By Norfaezatul Fazlina, Siti Mashairana bt Johar and Ummi Nazirah bt Abd Kadil

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a fictional book written by English author J. K. Rowling as a supplement to the Harry Potter series. In this book, you will find all the required details on the magical creatures found in the series. Rowling stated that she chose the subject of magical creatures because it was a fun topic for which she had already developed a lot of information. Unicorn, werewolf, dragons...do they sound familiar to you? Now, I’m going to introduce a few of them.

Centaurs in the Harry Potter universe are wild creatures with intelligence supposedly greater than humans. Although sentient, they have not requested assignment as beings, preferring to remove themselves entirely from human affairs. Any centaur who decides to associate with humans, such as Firenze, who agrees to teach Divination at Hogwarts, is violently attacked by the other centaurs and banished from the herd. The Ministry of Magic's Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures has a Centaur Liaison Office, but no centaur has ever used it. Centaurs are skilled in healing and astrology, and spend much of their time scouring the stars for portents. They live in forests, and their society consists of groups called herds. They do not appear to employ or need any technology more advanced than a bow and arrow. They are intensely proud and fiercely territorial, and one must be highly diplomatic in dealing with them. Not paying the proper respect to a herd of centaurs can have violent consequences, as Dolores Umbridge learned to her cost.

The werewolf is a creature that exists only for a brief period around the full moon. At any other time, a werewolf is a normal human. However, the term werewolf is used for both the wolf-like creature and the normal human. A werewolf can be distinguished from a true wolf physically by several small distinguishing characteristics, including the pupils, snout, and tufted tail. A person becomes a werewolf, when bitten by a werewolf in wolf-form. Once this happens, the person must learn to manage the condition. The 'Wolfsbane Potion' controls some of the effects of the condition; by allowing the sufferer to maintain their human mind in wolf form, it prevents them from harming others. Nothing discovered in the wizarding world can completely cure a werewolf. Most werewolves live outside of normal society and steal food to survive. At one point they supported Voldemort, whom they thought would give them a better life. Remus Lupin is the only known exception to this. There are only three known werewolves in the Harry Potter series: Lupin, Fenrir Greyback, and an unnamed character who was in the same ward as Arthur Weasley in St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

Hedwig is Harry Potter's owl. Hedwig is a Snowy Owl, which Rowling considers to be the most beautiful owl of all. In the story, Hedwig is a gift to Harry from Hagrid in the first book of the series, purchased in Diagon Alley while shopping for supplies for Harry's first year at Hogwarts. The name Hedwig is a name Harry found in his schoolbook, A History of Magic. Hedwig is used for delivering messages throughout the series. Hedwig could be considered an owl with a "formal" personality, and often has a habit of staring or hooting "reproachfully," cuffing Harry with a wing when miffed, and being far more vocal than the average Snowy Owl. She can act with hurt or anger due to Harry's sometimes innocently thoughtless actions or words. In the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Hedwig is intercepted by Dolores Umbridge and is hurt, but is later healed by Professor Grubbly-Plank. At the start of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Hedwig is killed during Harry's escape from Privet Drive by a stray Killing Curse. According to Rowling, Hedwig's death represented the death of innocence.

The Return of the Native

2009-07-26T10:22:00.000-07:00

Love stories and desires; will we ever get enough of it? This book by Thomas Hardy orbits around the said theme, and does not run far from it.

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by Celine Tan Jean Inn

The action of the novel takes place in a region that Hardy names Egdon Heath. Egdon Heath itself is based on an area in Dorset, in the south of England, where Hardy was born and spent his childhood. Hardy captures the society and its feeling at this time with the sharpness that only a man who has himself felt the inner tensions of change can.

Edgon Heath itself lies at the centre of 'The Return of the Native'. Its scenery dominates the novel, often being used to emphasise the emotions of the various characters.

The story is mainly concerns the fortunes of Clym and Eustacia, though the plot relies upon a number of other important characters. Eustacia is a local beauty, who, because both her parents are dead, is forced to live in an isolated house on the heath with her grandfather. Eustacia longs for escape and particularly desires to go and live in Paris.

Clym YeoBright is, in many ways, the opposite of Eustacia, and it is this difference which becomes the cause of the novel's tragedy. Clym has spent some years woking in Paris as a diamond merchant. He is successful but has become disillusioned with commerce.

When Clym arrives, the romantic Eustacia hears of him, and also that he has lived in Paris. She is in love with the idea of being in love, and quickly convinces herself that she loves him.
Eustacia and Clym marry each other and it is then that a series of misfortunes ensues.

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Will either of them realize their desires? Or will they fall hard for their rash decisions? Grab a copy of the book and take a peek!

Shanghai Girls

2009-07-12T05:37:00.000-07:00

There was a time when the Chinese people of mainland China migrated to other countries to try and change their fate. In keeping with the theme of experiences (as was found inthe previous book reviewed), this author also does a brilliant job in describing the struggles of Chinese immigrants in the United States of America.

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by Koh Jin Le

Shanghai Girls is a novel by Lisa See. The story is divided into three parts: Fate, Fortune, and Destiny. It centers on the complex relationship between two sisters, Pearl and May, as they go through great pain and suffering in leaving war-torn Shanghai and trying to adjust to the difficult role as wives in arranged marriages. They also struggle to keep their heads up as Chinese immigrants to the U.S. Here, See treats Chinese immigration from a personal view through Pearl's narration. America's mistreatment of Chinese immigrants is stressed in the novel.

The sisters' story is placed in the context of critical historical events, famous people, and important places -- the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Battle of Shanghai, internment at Angel Island, Los Angeles Chinatown, Hollywood, World War II, the Chinese Exclusion Act, McCarthyism, and so on. Historically significant people appearing in the novel include Madame Chiang Kai-shek, actress Anna May Wong, film personality Tom Gubbins, and Christine Sterling, the "Mother of Olvera Street."

In Shanghai Girls, See moves on to treat the loving yet conflicted relationship between two best friends who also happen to be sisters, especially in the context of their relationship to Pearl's daughter Joy. In speaking of Shanghai Girls, See has commented: "Your sister is the one person who should stick by you and love you no matter what, but she’s also the one person who knows exactly where to drive the knife to hurt you the most." That being said, in Shanghai Girls it is the love of Pearl and May for each other that prevails.

This novel is definitely worth-reading because it depicts the hardship and mistreatment faced by Pearl and May after the Battle of Shanghai. Touching and meaningful, I’ll give it a five-star rating.

Chinese Cinderella

2009-06-22T06:11:00.000-07:00

This is yet another book which leads readers into a world of a culture often foreign to the people of Malaysia. And it's a Cinderella story!

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by Tan Yi Hui Carolyn

Chinese Cinderella, a book by Adeline Yen Mah, the bestselling author of Falling Leaves, is the secret story of an unwanted daughter. This is also the true story of the author’s childhood up to the age of fourteen.

Adeline Yen Mah’s real name is Adeline Yen Jun-ling. Her family considered her to be bad luck because her mother died giving birth to her. They discriminated against her and made her feel unwanted all her life. After the death of her stepmother in 1990, she felt compelled to write her story.

Adeline is the fifth child of the Yen family. She has a sister, three brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister from her stepmother. Her own mother fell ill after giving birth to her and passed away two weeks later. Her siblings blamed her for her mother’s death, especially her Big Sister and Second Brother. When she was one year old, her father remarried. Her new stepmother, whom they called ‘Niang’(the Chinese term for mother), was a Eurasian beauty. One year after their marriage, they had a son followed by a daughter.

Naturally, Niang favoured her own children more than her stepchildren, especially her son, Fourth Brother. She disliked Adeline as the latter once tried to stop her from slapping Little Sister. Hence, Adeline received the poorest treatment among the five siblings from their stepmother. Adeline was taken care by her Aunt Baba since birth. She was separated from her aunt as Niang claims that Aunt Baba was a bad influence to Adeline. Since then, Adeline was always in boarding school and no one cared for her except her friends.

Despite the mistreatment by her family, Adeline worked hard in school as she wanted to make her father proud of her. She also loved her school and all her friends there because nobody despised her and made her feel worthless in school. She topped her class every year and was even elected as the class president and head girl of her school in sixth grade. She skipped grades when she was in boarding school due to her hard work. Finally, Adeline succeeded in winning the International Play-writing Competition in London and gained the recognition of her father, who agreed to let her further her studies in England with Third Brother.

This is really an unforgettable story for people who have read it. The author was a strong child, and she hopes that the other children will be as determined as her while facing problems and unjust. Plus, this book also contains some facts about the Chinese community, which is another interesting part of the story.

Reader's Digest (May)

2009-06-07T22:22:00.000-07:00

We're back again with another review, this time of a magazine instead of a regular book. Perhaps it could encourage you to pick it up?
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By Charmaine Tew Shu Yi

In the month of May, Reader's Digest published a feature on 'Bounce Back Chronicles', true and touching stories of ordinary people around Asia speaking their own experience of encountering failure. Sometimes life throws you a curveball, hands you a lemon, or knocks you for a loop. But knowing how to approach failure can be the first step to success. Even prolific author J. K. Rowling almost gave up in her writing career. But look, isn't Harry Potter a well-known character now? ''You might never fail on the scale I did,'' Rowling told her privileged audience. ''But it is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default. You will definitely find the inspiration you need to succeed by reading the tips provided in the article.

Are you constantly suffering from colds and flu? Here's the way out - 23 Ways to Avoid Colds and Flu. While colds won't kill you, they can weaken your immune system to the point that other more serious germs can take hold in your body. Just think how many times your cold has turned into bronchitis or a sinus infection. Given that the average adult suffers two colds a year, that's a lot of opportunities for serious illness – and just as many to prevent one! Some recommended ways include washing your hands and washing them often, getting smart about hand-drying in public toilets, getting a flu shot every year, changing your toothbrush every three months and more. Also, we have a featured story about Jimmy Choo's route to success. If you are craving for Jimmy Choo's brand of couture shoes, you might be interested to read about his personal experience of embarking on his career. Indeed, Jimmy Choo has made our country proud. His famous quote? "Nobody can take away 'Jimmy Choo' from me." He said that one must work hard and never say tomorrow - finish the work today - in order to achieve success. A lady at Jasper Conran once visited Choo and told him they wanted to use his shoes, but didn't want to use his name in the show. He insisted saying 'No way!' because if he'd accepted the offer, he wouldn't be here today as a successful businessman.

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And that's the review. Interested? You can always grab yourself a copy at newsstands. In fact, there are many other beneficial - and equally interesting - mags out there, just waiting for you to pick them up. So what are you waiting for?

Does My Head Look Big In This?

2009-05-14T06:25:00.000-07:00

This second review is on a relatively popular book that has managed to reach a fair amount of people, though not as admired as the Twilight series.

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DOES MY HEAD LOOK BIG IN THIS? by Nur Syakirah bt Hamdan

Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah is a must-read novel which the element of Islam is well-portrayed. It's a story about a girl named Amal - a Muslim girl living in Australia. Before school reopened, she decided to wear the hijab (a head scarf worn by Muslim women) and because of her own decision she gets varying response from her family and buddies. To make matters worse, Amal had recently transferred to a very white-bread prep school, where the environment is completely different and it's going to be hard for her to fit in with that environment. She is inspired to wear the hijab when her best friends Yasmeen and Leila from Hidayah School wear the hijab full-time. At the McCleans Grammar School she also has friends, Eileen and Simone who are really understanding and always support her at whatever she's doing.

Amal is just a normal teenage girl. She loves shopping, gossiping, giggling with her friends and sometimes having a hard time with her parents and getting annoyed with her friends, especially Tia Tamos, Claire Foster and Rita Mason. She has a strong debating side of her personality with a value of doing what’s right and what will make everyone happy. She also has a strong value for her religion and what she believes in. She is a religious Muslim who prays five times a day, but she is also a normal teenage girl who likes to hang out with her friends, shop, have a girls’ night out, and even has a crush on a boy named Adam. She hates the fact that she can’t have a boyfriend, but is still satisfied with the relationship she has with Adam.

There are still a lot of problems that she has to face other than dealing with people who think wearing a scarf is weird and not-up-to-date-fashion. Case in point is when her friend Leila gets fed up with her mother's marriage set-ups and runs away. Amal has to deal with Leila's frustration over the fact that her mother is not practicing her religion correctly and Leila's mother's beliefs. Amal also has an aunt and uncle that are totally "Aussie" and do not follow Amal's religion at all, and question her why she, herself, follows it. Amal must also deal with a cranky Greek neighbor who has stopped talking to her only son because he converted. Amal becomes good friends with her and tries to coax her to talk to her son, after so many years of silence. I really love this book and I give this book 5 stars. I would like to recommend this book to all students to read it as it has lots of moral values. Besides, you can learn a lot more about Islam.

Rating : 5/5

Twilight series

2009-04-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

This week's review is on the wildly popular "Twilight" series by Stephenie Meyer. The reviews are prepared by Sarvinder Kaur and Rebecca Ann Pereira who have both enjoyed the cult-status novels and feel that it is worth sharing with everyone else. The first book in the series is "Twilight", followed by "New Moon", "Eclipse" and lastly, "Breaking Dawn".

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TWILIGHT by Sarvinder Kaur

Twilight is the thrilling tale of a vampire romance at high school. It is an extraordinary love story that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page. Propelled by suspense and romance in equal parts, this story will keep readers madly flipping the pages of Stephanie Meyer's tantalizing debut novel.

Isabella Swan (Bella) moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, a boy unlike any she's ever met. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes and mesmerizing voice, Edward can run faster than a mountain lion and can stop a moving car with his bare hands. Edward hasn't aged since 1918 and like all vampires, he is immortal. But he doesn't have fangs and he doesn't drink human blood. Up until now, he has managed to keep his identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret. What Bella doesn't realise is that the closer she gets to him, the more she is putting herself and those around her at risk. And it might be too late to turn back...

Rating : 4/5
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NEW MOON by Sarvinder Kaur

Passionate, riveting and deeply moving, New Moon, the compelling sequel to Twilight, irresistably combines romance and suspense with a supernatural twist. New Moon will grab you and keep you reading well into the wee hours of the night. Poised for bestsellerdom, New Moon encapsulates perfectly the teenage feeling of alienation.

For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself : Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella could have ever imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realise their troubles may just be beginning...

Rating : 3/5
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ECLIPSE by Rebecca Ann Pereira

Eclipse is the third novel in Stephenie Meyer’s popular Twilight series. You really want to have read Twilight and New Moon (in that order) first before reading Eclipse, because the author doesn’t spend too much time expounding the story-lines of the previous novels but rather drops the reader straight in to the story. Eclipse carries on not long after New Moon left off. Bella’s high school graduation is approaching and she will soon be leaving Forks forever, presumably to go to college - but in reality she is planning to join her boyfriend in his vampire existence and will therefore be unable to return home, due to being dead and possessed by a terrible blood lust for the first few years.

This is only one part of the story though. Eclipse is primarily a romantic saga, so Bella and Edward’s relationship is the primary focus of the novel. Or as I should say Bella, Edward and Jacob’s relationship - because there is a love triangle in the plot of this novel. Bella and Jacob have always been friends, at least they were - right up until Jacob became a werewolf. Then the enmity between vampires and werewolves put a huge strain on their friendship. Besides which, Jacob is in love with Bella, who is in love with Edward so this is going to make things awkward between them. Bella has found her soul mate in Edward but Jacob is the soul mate she should have / could have / would have had if Edward didn’t exist. She loves him too but not as much as Edward. Why she loves Jacob is beyond me – he knows that she loves Edward but Jacob still tries to make her feel guilty that she can’t love him like he wants her too.

Eclipse is still a really good read. The book didn’t feel like it was over 600 pages long, I literally flew through the pages and had to make a conscious effort to slow down my reading so I didn’t finish the whole book in a couple of sittings. For teens already hooked on the series, Eclipse is another solid instalment of Forks goodness. Adult readers may be put off by the teenage relationship angst in this novel but if you have already enjoyed the author’s previous offerings I think there is still plenty here to entertain. This is romantic fantasy – enjoy it!

Rating : 4/5
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BREAKING DAWN by Rebecca Ann Pereira

Breaking Dawn is the fourth and final novel in Stephenie Meyer’s hugely popular Twilight saga. For readers who have read Stephenie Meyer’s previous offerings Breaking Dawn is the long awaited and highly anticipated end to the compelling tale of vampire Edward and human Bella’s impossible romance. This novel sees Bella coming into her own power and proving that she is more that capable of independent thought and action. While the Cullen family vampires have always been kind to Bella, it has been clear that she was no match for this talented bunch - but Bella’s character gains strengths that make her just as unique and talented as the rest of her new family.

Breaking Dawn is a weighty novel, weighing in at over 750 pages but it doesn’t feel like a long read. The story is well paced and well balanced, with a mixture of exciting supernatural action as well as good character development and romance. Breaking Dawn is a different novel to Twilight (and New Moon) and some readers may be disappointed by this but I’m not one of them. I don’t want to keep buying the same story over and over again just with a different title and cover picture – I enjoy seeing the development of the characters as well as seeing the development of the author’s writing. Breaking Dawn is more like Eclipse, Edward and Bella are sure of their love for each other but outside forces (this time it’s the Volturi) may tear them apart as the story reaches its thrilling climax.

The only small gripe I have about this novel is that in wrapping up the story every loose end has been neatly tied into a pretty bow - sometimes it’s good to leave something dangling in the breeze! Oh, and I don’t like the book's cover either. But apart from that, this book is all that I was personally hoping it would be.

Full of Forks' goodness, Breaking Dawn is recommended reading for any self-respecting Stephenie Meyer fan!

Rating : 5/5
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Itching to get your hands on those books yet? Doubtless, they would satisfy you greatly if you are a fan of fantasy, romance and action. A fantastic read, the books have been topping the bestseller charts since their release. To date, "Twilight" has been made into a blockbuster movie starring Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen), Kristen Stewart (Bella Swan) and Taylor Lautner (Jacob Black). The books are available at all major bookstores nationwide.

Groups

2009-04-21T00:59:00.000-07:00

The following are the groups required to publish their book reviews by turn, with Group 1 being the first group and the last group being the last to do the book review for this year.
Each group has two weeks to publish their post after the group before them has done so, i.e. Group 2 must publish its post within two weeks after Group 1 has posted theirs.
Please submit your original book review to your form representative.

(FORM 5)
Group 1
Joanne Tong Hui Shien
Loo Xiu Jing
Loo Xiu Ying
Rebecca Ann Pereira
Sarvinder Kaur a/p Sarjit Singh

(FORM 4)
Group 2
Nur Alia bt Mohd Sa’ad
Nur Diana Athirah bt Rusli
Nur Syakirah bt Hamdan
Syafiqah bt Othman

Group 3
Charmaine Tew Shu Yi
Cheong Wan Yi
Husna bt Zainal Abidin
Jessie Lim
Lim Susin

Group 4
Amira bt Khairin Roslan
Kerk Wei Min
Nuraini bt Terjuni
Sofea bt Idilfitri
Teo Jing Xin

Group 5
Celine Tan
Chan Qian Min
Lim Yen Yen
Nabiah bt Mohsin
Naqibah bt Azman
Shalin bt Mohd Fadzil

Group 6
Farah Wadhirah bt Abd Rashid
Khairunnisa bt Sharom
Nur Faraheen bt Abd Wahab
Nur Syafiqah bt Musa
Siti Rohaida bt Mohamed

Group 7
Anis Atiqah bt Sakmani
Siti Adibah Yumni Jailani
Tan Yi Hui Carolyn
Wendy Victoria Vaz

Group 8
Diyana bt Hamzah
Norfaezatul Fazlina
Siti Mashairana bt Johar
Siti Nur Atikah bt Zeli
Ummi Nazirah bt Abd Kadil

Group 9
Koh Jin Le
Ng Cha Yee
Nur Suhaila bt Mohd Yassin
Siti Nor Fazirah bt Misrah

(FORM 3)
Group 10
Ch’ng Rou Wei
Eunice Soh Ee Shin
Karyn Ter Zuhuan
Ng Xiang Ting

Group 11
Ainatul Nadia bt Mohd Johari
Elia Humairah Bajrai bt Mohammad
Intan Azuwin bt Abdullah
Nur Hidayah bt M. Razif
Tay Ming Xian

Group 12
Chew Lay Ling
Chua Yi Jing
Nur Atiqah bt Leham
Nur Hidayah bt Mohd Kadir

Group 13
Norfazlin bt Zalina
Nur Najihah bt Roslan
Siti Nafizah bt Adanan

Group 14
Farah Izzureen bt Muhammad Khairul Anuar
Nur Liyana bt Salim
Siti Nur Sakinah bt Yunus

(FORM 2)
Group 15
Di Yoong Yun
Er Sin Yee
Low Jing Yi
Michelle Lim Xin Yee
Ong Soo Ying

(FORM 1)
Group 16
Hamizah Bt Shabudin
Soh Jieying
Tan Hui Ling
Tay Girl Xin

Group 17
Ain Natasha Abd. Kadir
Audrey Lau Kar Lin
Nur Farahi Azliana Bt Muhammad Fuad

The Breaking of a New Dawn

2009-04-13T09:58:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the official blog of TIGS Reader's Club! This blog has been set up for the purpose of being an informant, both for the members of this club as well as our visitors, but at the same time breaking out of the conventional pen-and-paper, word-of-mouth announcements, in line with the ever changing currents of today.

Every month, a certain number of book reviews will be posted by our members for your consumption - whether you spit it out or swallow it with glee is entirely your prerogative. All and sundry are welcome to give their comments, be it in Bahasa Malaysia or in English, and you can be sure they will be taken into consideration.

Members are also reminded to constantly check this blog for updates on club activities.

Enjoy!