Book Review - The Last Bird of Paradise

 

The Last Bird of Paradise
by Clifford Garstang
340 Pages, Black Rose Writing
Genre: Historical Fiction



Aislinn Givvens and Elizabeth Pennington are separated by a century but Singapore is what they have in common. One is a artist and the other is art lover who loves the other woman's paintings. Both have almost similar lives and views after they experience personal losses. Givvens lives in New York and in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks agrees to move with her husband Liam to Singapore leaving behind her career and identity just like Elizabeth almost a century before her who is packed off by her aunt just before the first world war from Britain to Singapore to live with her Uncle Cyril. Both are independent women but find themselves leaving for an unknown country and despite themselves fall in love with the multicultural East.

Zigzagging across New York, Britain, Singapore and Australia and across timelines that seem so different and yet so same, Garstang gives a quick lesson on Singapore history while making us wonder, when does a woman feel emancipation? It also examines the power politics in relationships between couples and between nations which was refreshing.

The writing is crisp with colourful multi-dimensional characters as he alternates between  the story of both women with ease. It was nice reading about the late Mr. Selvadurai even if it is fiction.

Apart from enjoying the book, I learnt a lot about Singapore history and was stunned there was a sepoy mutiny there too during World War 1 as the only Sepoy mutiny I knew of was Indian sepoy mutiny of 1857.

This book is highly recommended as not many write about the city-state of Singapore or the wonderful people and almost too disciplined government that borders on fascism there.

Do buy it and read it here  ====  AMAZON

Book Review : Me Power

 

Me Power 

LaNysha T.Adams

254 pages, New Defree Press

Genre : Non Fiction

 

Who are you? What is empowerment? Does education make you more self aware? More importantly what is education?  How do you take control of your own learning? These questions and more are asked and answered in LaNysha Adams book, Me Power. She doesn’t just answer but also helps the reader practice it.  This is a powerful guide for most people who in this technological world are bombarded with loads of information but not real knowledge.

Adams was refused admission to a doctoral program stating that it was not for her. However, she didn’t give up.  In addition, she narrates startling stories of remarkable people from Monet – nope I didn’t know he had eye disease to her ninth grade teacher. It is an amazing collection of people including the author herself.

Reading books brings me happiness but this book brought me joy. This is one book that completely made me rethink all my limiting beliefs thanks to popular narratives. LaNysha Adams bowled me over with her book. She has kindly given small exercises at the end of each chapter to help the readers achieve what they think is impossible. Once you are done with book, you will think of empower as Me power. Also, you will know how to deal with the ever changing technological world better than you are doing now.

It is a must read for those who find themselves wondering what they can do in a world that seems almost hopeless - that seems filled with hate and seems to drawn into wars which we feel we can only watch and not do anything to stop.. 

 Do buy it here   AMAZON