Why I chose the book
I chose this book because I like tales shrouded with mystery. I had watched the ‘Looney Tunes’ version of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde when I was young and had always wanted to read the original version of the book.
Summary of the book
The story began with the introduction of Mr. Utterson, a lawyer, who was told by his distant cousin Mr. Enfield of a strange experience he had. Mr Enfield had seen a person who looked and behaved like a monster. Mr Enfield had witnessed him ruthlessly trod on a little girl on his way home. Mr Utterson soon found out that the man was called Mr Hyde. Mr Hyde was the sole beneficiary of a will belonging to Dr Jekyll, Mr Utterson’s good old friend. Mr Utterson had written the will for Dr Jekyll. Mr Utterson, after much investigation, soon found out that Mr. Hyde was actually Dr. Jekyll. Mr Hyde was created from an experiment conducted by Dr Jekyll.
Character analysis of some of the main characters of the book who interest me
Dr Henry Jekyll
Dr Jekyll was a scientist who was known to be a friendly, upright distinguished gentleman in public. However, Dr Jekyll led a double life. He had an evil side which he kept a secret. He was thinking of an idea to create a split personality where one was the evil personality and the other wholly good. This led to the fateful experiment, the creation of Mr Hyde. Dr Jekyll soon lost control of his evil personality, Mr Hyde. He caused the death of his own self.
Mr Edward Hyde
Mr Hyde was a cruel person hated by all. His looks were inhuman and his behaviour monster-like. He was the personification of Dr. Jekyll’s evilness.
Mr Utterson
Mr Utterson was a good old friend of Dr. Jekyll. He was also Dr. Jekyll’s lawyer. Mr Utterson was in charge all the documents concerning Dr Jekyll’s will. These documents included the account of Dr Lanyon (Dr Jekyll’s and Mr Utterson’s good friend) on his discovery of Dr. Jekyll‘s dark secret. Dr. Jekyll’s final words which he wrote before he totally lost control of his evil side were also among the documents.
My Opinion and recommendation
To me, this is a good book worth reading. This story conveys to us that we should not play god and take extreme risks without considering the dire consequences. Otherwise, this would have disastrous effects. We can take Dr Jekyll as an example. He was a very good scientist. However, he was tempted to separate his evil and good parts into two different personalities which he could control. The experiment resulted in a wholly evil personality, known as Mr. Hyde, taking over Dr Jekyll’s body. It reached a point when his original personality totally lost control of his evil side. This book is most suitable for people who like mysteries and books that keep them in suspense.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Book Review - Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
Why I chose the book
I chose the book because I like adventure stories.
Summary of the book
This book is about a fictional character named Phileas Fogg who lived in the 19th Century. He kept a low profile, for nothing is known about him except for the fact that he was a member of the Reform Club. The club had many rich people. He visited the club every day to play a card game called whist. He showed no emotion and had the same routine every day. His routine had to be so precise such that he sacked his butler because the temperature for his shaving water was 84 degrees Fahrenheit instead of 86 degrees. That was when he hired Frenchman Passepartout to be his new butler. Passepartout’s reason for becoming a butler was that he wanted to lead a quiet, routine life.
Phileas Fogg was playing a card game called whist with other people as usual at the Reform Club when they started discussing the newly built railway in India, and whether or not it was possible to travel around the world in 80 days with the opening of the railway through India. Phileas was challenged by his whist mates to go around the world within 80 days as he claimed it could be done. Phileas accepted the offer and suggested that the wager would start that very night. Just when Passepartout was settling down, Phileas Fogg came back to announce that they would go on a journey around the world. On the way, they would overcome many dangers and logistical problems. They would also rescue a young English-educated Indian lady called Aouda, who would later marry Mr Fogg.
Main characters of the book who interest me
Phileas Fogg
He was the hero and chief protagonist in the novel. He was introduced to us as a prudent and emotionless Englishman whose wealth was a source of mystery to all. His routine was so exact, it was to mathematical precision. He was challenged by a fellow whist player to go around the world in eighty days. Phileas took up the challenge and his rational, calm and generous personality, as well as his discipline, in overcoming many obstacles impressed me.
Passepartout
He appeared in the initial pages of the novel itself, as the newly employed French butler of Mr. Fogg. He was an honest, yet comical Frenchman, who was loyal to his master and yet appeared as a hindrance to his master’s plans to travel around the world. Passepartout endeared himself to me with his warmth, his sense of humor, his bravery and the fact that he never failed to get into comical situations.
Detective Fix
There was a major bank robbery in England around the same time that Mr. Fogg left for his journey round the world. Detective Fix was one of the many other detectives who sought to find the culprit so they could get a percentage of the stolen money as a reward. He came to the wrong conclusion that Phileas Fogg was the bank robber and was merely pretending to go around the world when his real purpose was to flee the law.
Aouda
Aouda was described as a young, beautiful Parsee Indian princess who was orphaned at an early age. She was made to marry an old Rajah. When he died, fanatical Hindus tried to burn her as a sacrifice to the Goddess of love and death, Kali. This was a tradition which was cruel and prohibited by the British. She was rescued by Phileas Fogg’s travel group. She followed them back to England with the purpose of finding her relative whom she was unable to find in Hong Kong. She eventually became Phileas’ wife at the end of the journey.
My Opinion
I like this book because I like adventure genres. This book is also about testing one’s will and determination to the limit and the strife to achieve the impossible. Moreover, the storyline was well-plotted. The writer managed to capture my interest using his vocabulary. Jules Verne also managed to keep me in utter suspense until the end of the story. Thus, to me, this is a really good book.
My Recommendation
I would strongly recommend the book to all, for this book is filled with suspense and action. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t even put down the book. It is indeed a real classic.
I chose the book because I like adventure stories.
Summary of the book
This book is about a fictional character named Phileas Fogg who lived in the 19th Century. He kept a low profile, for nothing is known about him except for the fact that he was a member of the Reform Club. The club had many rich people. He visited the club every day to play a card game called whist. He showed no emotion and had the same routine every day. His routine had to be so precise such that he sacked his butler because the temperature for his shaving water was 84 degrees Fahrenheit instead of 86 degrees. That was when he hired Frenchman Passepartout to be his new butler. Passepartout’s reason for becoming a butler was that he wanted to lead a quiet, routine life.
Phileas Fogg was playing a card game called whist with other people as usual at the Reform Club when they started discussing the newly built railway in India, and whether or not it was possible to travel around the world in 80 days with the opening of the railway through India. Phileas was challenged by his whist mates to go around the world within 80 days as he claimed it could be done. Phileas accepted the offer and suggested that the wager would start that very night. Just when Passepartout was settling down, Phileas Fogg came back to announce that they would go on a journey around the world. On the way, they would overcome many dangers and logistical problems. They would also rescue a young English-educated Indian lady called Aouda, who would later marry Mr Fogg.
Main characters of the book who interest me
Phileas Fogg
He was the hero and chief protagonist in the novel. He was introduced to us as a prudent and emotionless Englishman whose wealth was a source of mystery to all. His routine was so exact, it was to mathematical precision. He was challenged by a fellow whist player to go around the world in eighty days. Phileas took up the challenge and his rational, calm and generous personality, as well as his discipline, in overcoming many obstacles impressed me.
Passepartout
He appeared in the initial pages of the novel itself, as the newly employed French butler of Mr. Fogg. He was an honest, yet comical Frenchman, who was loyal to his master and yet appeared as a hindrance to his master’s plans to travel around the world. Passepartout endeared himself to me with his warmth, his sense of humor, his bravery and the fact that he never failed to get into comical situations.
Detective Fix
There was a major bank robbery in England around the same time that Mr. Fogg left for his journey round the world. Detective Fix was one of the many other detectives who sought to find the culprit so they could get a percentage of the stolen money as a reward. He came to the wrong conclusion that Phileas Fogg was the bank robber and was merely pretending to go around the world when his real purpose was to flee the law.
Aouda
Aouda was described as a young, beautiful Parsee Indian princess who was orphaned at an early age. She was made to marry an old Rajah. When he died, fanatical Hindus tried to burn her as a sacrifice to the Goddess of love and death, Kali. This was a tradition which was cruel and prohibited by the British. She was rescued by Phileas Fogg’s travel group. She followed them back to England with the purpose of finding her relative whom she was unable to find in Hong Kong. She eventually became Phileas’ wife at the end of the journey.
My Opinion
I like this book because I like adventure genres. This book is also about testing one’s will and determination to the limit and the strife to achieve the impossible. Moreover, the storyline was well-plotted. The writer managed to capture my interest using his vocabulary. Jules Verne also managed to keep me in utter suspense until the end of the story. Thus, to me, this is a really good book.
My Recommendation
I would strongly recommend the book to all, for this book is filled with suspense and action. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t even put down the book. It is indeed a real classic.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Book Review - The Invisible Man By Herbert George Wells
Why I chose the book
I chose the book because I enjoy detective and science fiction stories and both these themes are woven into the story of this book.
Summary of the book
This was about a brilliant young scientist, Griffin, who worked on the idea that a person can become invisible when his refractive index was exactly the same as that of air, so that his body did not absorb nor reflect light. However, in a twist of events, before perfecting the technique nor finding a way to reverse the procedure, Griffin made himself invisible to hide from his landlord. Thereafter, he would scheme, steal, lie and even break into stores and homes to steal cash and clothings. When he blundered into his old university mate’s home, Griffin thought he had found a confederate to carry out his new plan to establjsh a Reign of Terror by first taking down a town and dominating it and kill people if they dared to disobey him. Kemp, his old university mate, who although was amazed by Griffin’s invisibility, was the one that informed the police of Griffin’s whereabouts. He was also instrumental in helping to bring about the downfall of the invisible man as he realised the threat of Griffin to society.
Character analysis of the main characters of the book who interest me
Griffin (Also known to the commoners as ‘The Invisible Man’)
He was a bright and ambitious scientist who sought power and fame. He was creative and imaginative and was very driven to be able to put common ideas of science together and find common resources to find a formula for invisibility. However, he was anti-social, he hardly went out, preferring to stay at home to do his experiments. He did not have friends, so that in his darkest moments, he had no one to turn to. He did not seem to have any qualms to do what it takes to achieve what he wanted including killing and robbing. When he stole his father’s money and his father killed himself as the money was not his, Griffin, did not even feel any remorse. His greatest weakness was his temper which often led him to act impulsively and most of the time caused him to get into trouble.
Dr Kemp
Dr Kemp was also a scientist and a university mate of Griffin. He was a very observant man, he even noticed a small dark spot of dried blood on the carpet in the dim although he was tired after working until 2.m. in the morning. Unlike Griffins, he was not poor, he was a practising doctor and had a house and servants. Unlike Griffins, he was cool-headed and acted only after thinking through the situation. Although he did think that he might be betraying Griffin, he decided to work with the police after reading several newspapers that showed the misdeeds of Griffin and he realised that Griffin was so insane with power that he was willing to kill. When Griffin vowed to him, Dr Kemp demonstrated bravery by not hiding but continuing to use his quick wit to help the police and the townspeople to apprehend Griffins.
My Opinion and recommendation
The book started its narration when Griffin was already invisible. I found it interesting because at first I thought the book was going to show that the invisible man was a good scientist putting his invisibility to good use. It was interesting to read as the story developed and show how a brilliant scientist deteriorated to a pitiful personality because of his greed for fame and fortune at the expense of his morals.
However, when the author tried to use the local dialects of the townspeople in their conversations, I found myself quite lost in what they were saying sometimes and this distract from my enjoyment of the story.
Hence, this book has a fascinating story with a plot that keeps me in suspense but some words that made me scratch my head. This book is a good book to read especially for mystery and science fiction fans. After reading it, you may wonder if you have the special scientific power, how would you use it, for good or for evil?
I chose the book because I enjoy detective and science fiction stories and both these themes are woven into the story of this book.
Summary of the book
This was about a brilliant young scientist, Griffin, who worked on the idea that a person can become invisible when his refractive index was exactly the same as that of air, so that his body did not absorb nor reflect light. However, in a twist of events, before perfecting the technique nor finding a way to reverse the procedure, Griffin made himself invisible to hide from his landlord. Thereafter, he would scheme, steal, lie and even break into stores and homes to steal cash and clothings. When he blundered into his old university mate’s home, Griffin thought he had found a confederate to carry out his new plan to establjsh a Reign of Terror by first taking down a town and dominating it and kill people if they dared to disobey him. Kemp, his old university mate, who although was amazed by Griffin’s invisibility, was the one that informed the police of Griffin’s whereabouts. He was also instrumental in helping to bring about the downfall of the invisible man as he realised the threat of Griffin to society.
Character analysis of the main characters of the book who interest me
Griffin (Also known to the commoners as ‘The Invisible Man’)
He was a bright and ambitious scientist who sought power and fame. He was creative and imaginative and was very driven to be able to put common ideas of science together and find common resources to find a formula for invisibility. However, he was anti-social, he hardly went out, preferring to stay at home to do his experiments. He did not have friends, so that in his darkest moments, he had no one to turn to. He did not seem to have any qualms to do what it takes to achieve what he wanted including killing and robbing. When he stole his father’s money and his father killed himself as the money was not his, Griffin, did not even feel any remorse. His greatest weakness was his temper which often led him to act impulsively and most of the time caused him to get into trouble.
Dr Kemp
Dr Kemp was also a scientist and a university mate of Griffin. He was a very observant man, he even noticed a small dark spot of dried blood on the carpet in the dim although he was tired after working until 2.m. in the morning. Unlike Griffins, he was not poor, he was a practising doctor and had a house and servants. Unlike Griffins, he was cool-headed and acted only after thinking through the situation. Although he did think that he might be betraying Griffin, he decided to work with the police after reading several newspapers that showed the misdeeds of Griffin and he realised that Griffin was so insane with power that he was willing to kill. When Griffin vowed to him, Dr Kemp demonstrated bravery by not hiding but continuing to use his quick wit to help the police and the townspeople to apprehend Griffins.
My Opinion and recommendation
The book started its narration when Griffin was already invisible. I found it interesting because at first I thought the book was going to show that the invisible man was a good scientist putting his invisibility to good use. It was interesting to read as the story developed and show how a brilliant scientist deteriorated to a pitiful personality because of his greed for fame and fortune at the expense of his morals.
However, when the author tried to use the local dialects of the townspeople in their conversations, I found myself quite lost in what they were saying sometimes and this distract from my enjoyment of the story.
Hence, this book has a fascinating story with a plot that keeps me in suspense but some words that made me scratch my head. This book is a good book to read especially for mystery and science fiction fans. After reading it, you may wonder if you have the special scientific power, how would you use it, for good or for evil?
Sunday, July 4, 2010
My Sweaty Palms
I have another growing pain or rather, it is more of an irritation I have to cope with in my everyday life. I have a condition call palmer hyperhidrosis. During the June holidays of 2006, when I was on holiday in Vietnam, I started to have extremely sweaty palms that soaked up the whole of my terry handkerchief even when I was in a cold air-conditioned room. My soles were also very sweaty and of course it was very uncomfortable to walk about, especially outside in the heat when we went sightseeing.
Most people may have slightly more clammy palms when they are nervous, afraid, under stress or feeling very warm but my condition is different. It might be in the genes because my aunt has the same condition as me.
When I have to shake hands, sometimes it could be quite awkward as the other person may find shaking hands with me unpleasant but if I do not shake hands, it would be rude of me. Sometimes it is inconvenient for me to write especially during exams when I am nervous, because my excessive sweat hinders my grip of the pen or pencil. In addition, I was in my primary school bowling team, not only did my flat feet gave me problems with balancing, my sweaty hands hindered my holding the bowling ball properly, affecting my performance.
As I entered my teens this year, my feet became so sweaty that my shoes are completely drenched (and of course, stink) at the end of my school day. Due to the hot and humid climate, I found the skin of my toes and soles cracking and very painful. My mother examined them and declared I have fungus growing on my feet. So she went and bought me three pairs of school shoes. I must wear one pair and let it air for three days before wearing the shoes again. I must put anti-bacterial powder on my soles before wearing my socks and shoes. Soon, after that, my ‘fungus’ growing skin healed but it is now a routine for me to take extra care of my feet hygiene. So far, my problem is not as bad as my aunt who would sometimes form a small puddle of sweat at the place where her feet were while she was reading the newspapers for a while. You may think I am exaggerating, but I am not.
I found through the internet that the most likely cause of sweaty palms, as well as other types of hyperhidrosis, is an overactive sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system manages all sorts of functions in the body that make up what is commonly termed the fight-or-flight response; this includes the release of a number of chemicals such as adrenaline, increasing heart rate, constricting blood vessels, and of course, sweating. When the sympathetic nervous system malfunctions, certain fight-or-flight responses may be triggered at inappropriate times, as in the case of my sweaty palms and soles.
Perhaps one day, when I need to hold a girl’s hand, ha ha, then will having palmer hyperhidrosis become a great inconvenience. As for now, extreme sweaty palms and soles just part of me, like allergies, flat feet and pimples.
There are some treatments for palmer hyperhidrosis including botox which will reduce the sweating but the treatment will have to be done repeatedly. The only permanent treatment is to cut off the nerves that supply the sweat glands in the armpit and palms to reduce the amount of sweating. However, the side effect could be other parts of the body such as the face, back or feet become even more sweaty. Well, I do not think I need such a treatment as yet.
Most people may have slightly more clammy palms when they are nervous, afraid, under stress or feeling very warm but my condition is different. It might be in the genes because my aunt has the same condition as me.
When I have to shake hands, sometimes it could be quite awkward as the other person may find shaking hands with me unpleasant but if I do not shake hands, it would be rude of me. Sometimes it is inconvenient for me to write especially during exams when I am nervous, because my excessive sweat hinders my grip of the pen or pencil. In addition, I was in my primary school bowling team, not only did my flat feet gave me problems with balancing, my sweaty hands hindered my holding the bowling ball properly, affecting my performance.
As I entered my teens this year, my feet became so sweaty that my shoes are completely drenched (and of course, stink) at the end of my school day. Due to the hot and humid climate, I found the skin of my toes and soles cracking and very painful. My mother examined them and declared I have fungus growing on my feet. So she went and bought me three pairs of school shoes. I must wear one pair and let it air for three days before wearing the shoes again. I must put anti-bacterial powder on my soles before wearing my socks and shoes. Soon, after that, my ‘fungus’ growing skin healed but it is now a routine for me to take extra care of my feet hygiene. So far, my problem is not as bad as my aunt who would sometimes form a small puddle of sweat at the place where her feet were while she was reading the newspapers for a while. You may think I am exaggerating, but I am not.
I found through the internet that the most likely cause of sweaty palms, as well as other types of hyperhidrosis, is an overactive sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system manages all sorts of functions in the body that make up what is commonly termed the fight-or-flight response; this includes the release of a number of chemicals such as adrenaline, increasing heart rate, constricting blood vessels, and of course, sweating. When the sympathetic nervous system malfunctions, certain fight-or-flight responses may be triggered at inappropriate times, as in the case of my sweaty palms and soles.
Perhaps one day, when I need to hold a girl’s hand, ha ha, then will having palmer hyperhidrosis become a great inconvenience. As for now, extreme sweaty palms and soles just part of me, like allergies, flat feet and pimples.
There are some treatments for palmer hyperhidrosis including botox which will reduce the sweating but the treatment will have to be done repeatedly. The only permanent treatment is to cut off the nerves that supply the sweat glands in the armpit and palms to reduce the amount of sweating. However, the side effect could be other parts of the body such as the face, back or feet become even more sweaty. Well, I do not think I need such a treatment as yet.
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