Twenties Girl is another winner for me. I am not a Sophie Kinsella fan but I have enjoyed most of her books, especially ‘Can You Keep a Secret’ and ‘The Undomestic Goddess’. When I saw that this lastest release of hers was a ghost story of sorts, I was stirred. 

Her story kept me so hooked that I even skipped some of my meals. Simply couldn’t put the book down. I laughed hard till I got stares and got teary during some parts but continued laughing as the story continued.
Lara Lington is another typical character of Kinsella’s stories. Lara is funny, witty and has a certain wacky charm which would make you like her. She attends her great aunt’s funeral. A great Aunt that she doesn’t know, not just her but no one in the family knows the Great Aunt. Great Aunt Sadie lived to a hundred and five, living in an old folks home for years. Her two nephews and their children had never visited or paid any attention to her all those years.
As the funeral was wrapping up Lara starts hearing someone asking about a necklace, checking who it was she couldn’t find anyone but only hear their voice. She freaks out when she realises that no one but herself can hear the voice of a young lady. It happens to be the younger version of Aunt Sadie screaming at Lara to stop the funeral until her necklace is found. Lara, uses her zany style and stops the funeral but falls into a drastic comedy disaster. With Aunt Sadie right at her ankle, will Lara end up crazy?

Aunt Sadie is quite the character. A young lady from the twenties focused the trend of her time. She bugs Lara to dress the twenties style. Lara would be forced to be like a twenties girl complete from the dressing, jewellery and hair style, very hilarious part of the book. Aunt Sadie would scream into people’s ears driving people crazy to get things done her way-simply think how it would be if you had a voice screaming something into your head and not stopping. Then imagine yourself not doing what it asks…hmmmm, I’m thinking I’d be listening. Of course the only person who can see Aunt Sadie is Lara so talking to the air isn’t usually a good thing for convincing people you’re sane.

Lara leans a lot from Aunt Sadie and also gets a chance to learn abour her grand aunt. In their quest to find Aunt Sadie’s necklace Aunt Sadie just cant do it without going through a series of hilarious moments. Thanks to Aunt Sadie there’s even a little romance woven into the story. While reading this book you really have to let go of the believable and just enjoy it. It is a ghost story and it’s really wacky at times but it’s also a great read and there’s really so much more to the story than I’ve touched on but I really don’t want to ruin it for anyone who will pick it up to read.
Kinsella’s books has always been amusing but this one carrys a deeper message that we should read and realise, a person’s body ages but not their mind. They are still young at heart with the desire to laugh, dance and live. Elderly have stories to tell, they lived in a time we didn’t and love to look back, treasure and share.

Like her most books its with humor and fun, it’s a thing which I like in her books. Turned to the last page and felt glad I read it all up.

Do you know the answer to this sum: (–5.4) – (–4.7)?

If so, you are eligible to participate in the World Maths Day on 3 Mar 2010*. Register at this website: http://www.worldmathsday.com/2010/

This message is brought to you by the Puzzle IG.

*In Singapore, it starts from 2 Mar 2010.

PS: Staff are welcome to participate too.

-CSM-

Why not take part in this photo competition (http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=187&Itemid=167) and earn CE points at the same time?

Year 2010 has been designated worldwide by United Nations as the International Year of Biodiversity. The term “biodiversity “ refers to the variety of all living things, be it plant or animal species.

“BiodiverCity” – a photo competition and exhibition – is organised to support the International Year of Biodiversity by celebrating the rich biodiversity found in our urban environment.

Singapore is often known as a bustling metropolis and a centre for commerce. Through the lenses of residents, we hope to show that it is also a haven for biodiversity.

Support the event by picking up your cameras to capture the flora and fauna found in Singapore and send us your entries.

Winning entries will win attractive prizes and be exhibited in roving exhibitions around Singapore, including the World Cities Summit at the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort in June 2010.

Maximum file size is up to 3mb and files must be in .jpeg format only. No other file format are accepted. Each person can upload up to five photos for the competition but 3 submissions (photos and write up) are suffice for earning CE point.

To upload your photos and write up for earning CE point, click here

Having just watched the movie “The Wolfman”, I felt that there was something amiss in the film. You could tell by having just too many people being involved in the movie. The pacing, editing and the story have a lot of room for improvement.

I would have enjoyed the film more if some explanation of the past and present was provided. The movie was an 1 hour and 45min showing just few flashbacks rather than some family history and more on Larry’s background. Instead of focusing on the history of the leading character, they gave an introduction on his brother. I would have loved to know the reason for why the people had believed what they did about past events, silver bullets and the full moon as well. It may be a remake of an old 1941 classic of Universal studioes, yet I still feel that adding details would have helped improve the movie for today’s audience.
I enjoyed the wolf, the attacks and the way he looked and sounded. Rather amusing. I would not say that is a bad movie. Just that it lacks depth and could have been better.

Bottom line: Not so much howlingly bad as it is disappointingly lifeless.