http://www.douban.net/review/latest/ Latest reviews from JS on douban.net © 2005, douban.net. Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:21:46 GMT http://www.douban.net/review/2000188/ JS reviews: The Complete Persepolis
rating: Great

Really an eye opener. For someone who knows so little about places outside Hong Kong, I was shocked again and again by what happens to people living in Iran. It makes me realise how lucky I am to have been born in Hong Kong and what a shame that I've always taken freedom as granted. ]]> JS Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:21:46 GMT http://www.douban.net/review/2000188/ http://www.douban.net/review/2000187/ JS reviews: A Whole New Mind
rating: Good

Pretty good but I think the writer has oversimplified the trend a little. Be critical when you read! A must-read for anyone who's interested in design.]]> JS Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:15:30 GMT http://www.douban.net/review/2000187/ http://www.douban.net/review/2000169/ JS reviews: Shifu, You'll Do Anything for a Laugh
rating: Great

I've only read some of the stories in this collection because I've been tied up lately.

I think I like Shifu, You'll do anything for a laugh most. The protagonist, Ding Shifu, an upright man as well as a model worker in his state-owned factory, was laid off the day before his retirement. His lifetime loyalty to his position and his factory has suddenly proved futile. His savings are soon used up; he & his wife has to face financial difficulty in their old age.

Ding Shifu, inspired by the idea of 'pay toilet' and in a reckless attempt to make a living, creates a 'pay love cottage' out of an abandoned bus dumped on a deserted spot next to a pond where many young lovers go for swimming and 'sharing their love'. Before long, his love cottage turns out to be a great success.

One day, a pair of lovers who are desperate for a quite place to have a talk come to his cottage. After locking themselves in, the pair doesn't come out again...

Ding Shifu is an admirable character in many ways...the only flaw will be his opening of the 'love cottage' but it was pretty much a forced act because the old man is desperate for a way to survive in this cruel society. However, the writer seems to have no pity on this character and his secret business was finally bought to light. I guess the writer is trying to reflect the reality in our society where no mercy will come upon you no matter how pathetic you are.

]]> JS Sun, 03 Jun 2007 16:29:17 GMT http://www.douban.net/review/2000169/ http://www.douban.net/review/2000168/ JS reviews: A Single Tear
rating: Great

Meet the author…
Wu Ningkun, educated in US, once a professor of English at Beijing University, was imprisoned in a reform camp in China for 22 years. He now lives in US with his children and grandchildren


Ponder for a moment…
In face of evil, how are we going to respond? Some try to assert their rights and refuse to yield to evil, but many do so at the expense of their lives. Some try to endure whatever happens to them and keep silent. Some even become mad or commit suicides…

What about you …if you were the victim?

Listen to their voices…
In A Single Tear, through 22 years in a reform camp, Prof. Wu showed to us the worth of one’s suffering and how our love for one another and our faith in life can help us gain victories over victimization.

For your thought…
If you are the deprived, the have-nots, the victimized, will you still be able to see other’s needs? Or will you be just like many others and allow yourself to fall into the trap of self-pity and bitterness?

The writer also teaches us a valuable lesson on how to respond constructively to injustice and afflictions. However, throughout history there are many people who were unable to do so because there was too much bitterness and disappointment in them. The writer reminds us the final power still retains in us, not necessarily the evil, the evil can only retain the power only when we give in. ]]> JS Sun, 03 Jun 2007 15:53:21 GMT http://www.douban.net/review/2000168/ http://www.douban.net/review/2000164/ JS reviews: Best audiophile voices selection
rating: Great

I love all the songs, I don't need to skip any songs when I listen to this album!!

My fav. tracks: Fields of Gold and What a wonderful world by Eva Cassidy]]> JS Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:39:16 GMT http://www.douban.net/review/2000164/ http://www.douban.net/review/2000163/ JS reviews: The Oxford Bookworms Library
rating: Good

Another reader for my F.2. The storyline is simple. Scrooge is a miser who is not willing to spare a penny on anything or anyone for charity. He is mean to everyone: the poor people whom he loans money to, his neighbours, his employee, Bob and even to his nephew, Fred. Scrooge would say 'Humbug' to everyone who says 'Merry Christmas or Happy New Year' to him because he hates anything that is good or joyful.

Yet in the end, Scrooge finds there is more to life than just making money. After the visits of three Christmas ghosts, who shows him his past, present and future, he begins to realise his greed to get more and more money has been ruining his life and preventing him from opening the door to happiness...]]> JS Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:29:12 GMT http://www.douban.net/review/2000163/ http://www.douban.net/review/2000162/ JS reviews: The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
rating: Good

It was all because of Tim Burton or I think I would't have picked this book from the shelf. I bought this book from a HMV store. When I spotted 'Tim Burton' on the book cover, I wondered what kind of stories this famous director would write. For those who have no idea who he is, I guess you'll have heard of 'The Nightmare before Christmas' and 'The Corpse Bride', right? Do you find these names familiar? Yes, Tim Burton is the director of these box office hits.

You may find all the characters inside just way too unplesant to look at. Yes, these characters are portrayed in a way that makes them unloved and unwanted by society or even their parents. It is sad to see that the book has reflected the truth to some extent. Problematic families and children are found everywhere in our soicety nowadays. In reality, these poor children might not look as weird as the characters in the book, but who knows how badly these kids' self-images could have been twisted or battered.

The young generation is at stake, yet how many of us undestand the gravity of the situation? ]]> JS Mon, 30 Apr 2007 18:17:24 GMT http://www.douban.net/review/2000162/ http://www.douban.net/review/2000161/ JS reviews: A Guide to Elegance
rating: Good

A useful handbook for people who are never assoicated with the notion of elegance like me. This book gives advice for clothes, matching accessories, hairstyles, make-up on almost every occassion you can think of-- from attending a cocktail party to maternity, there are even advice on you should dress your toddler! It is absolutely a comprehensive guide.

In addition, the author also gives really helpful tips about keeping a handsome wardrobe with a small budget. It's quite useful to people who have no money to burn ...]]> JS Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:49:31 GMT http://www.douban.net/review/2000161/ http://www.douban.net/review/2000160/ JS reviews: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Puffin Novels)
rating: Good

It's a reader for my F.2 students. I like this book but I wonder if they like it as well. Would there be too many difficult words for them to understand the story?

Anyway, I love the story because it has very good messages inside. For example, all the spoiled brats like Veruca Salt and Mike Teavee were punished in some way at the end and this let the young readers know it's bad to get their own ways all the time. Another message brought forth by this story is that a loving family can survive all kinds of hardships and adversities. You can see how the author reward this family at the end because of their strong bond of love.

Another thing that makes me like this story is the author's creativity. Everything is possible in Willy Wonka's factory. He builds a chocolate waterfall to mix chocolate, he has the oompa loopas whip the cream with real whips, he makes TV that can send chocolate bars from one TV screen to another TV screen, etc etc. With all these crazy ideas, I'm sure your imagination can really run wild here.

I'll recommend this book to all of my students. Just don't think it's enough to view the movie. You'll have missed so much if you think so.

]]> JS Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:32:32 GMT http://www.douban.net/review/2000160/