Randy Pausch was a computer scientist and a professor in Carnegie Mellon. He died from pancreatic cancer in 2008.
I am learning a lot from Ra...moreRandy Pausch was a computer scientist and a professor in Carnegie Mellon. He died from pancreatic cancer in 2008.
I am learning a lot from Randy Pausch's last lecture, both from the video (we can easily find it on youtube) and the book. The book is the script of the video plus some explanations and other stories. For example, on the video Randy mentioned that his mentor had 'dutch uncle'-ed him and in the book he explains more about the term (i.e. a person who gives you honest feedback).
His mentor is right about him, he's a remarkable salesman and it's a great thing that he sold something worthwhile, education. The book is almost like a daily devotion book (well I think haha) with short meaningful chapters that I'd like to replay when I need it.
What I want to copy most among his characters/attitudes is how he can live, really live every day. He said that he does not know how to not have fun. There are people who comment that for a dying pancreatic cancer he looks incredibly alive.
Randy Pausch's last lecture might not be the only one in Carnegie Mellon but I think his has something special because he did it not only for himself. Knowing that his time is limited and his children are still young, Randy has used his last lecture to leave something, not just something, guidance, his stories, his feeling, his love. I think that's very sweet.(less)
The parenting style of the tiger mom is scary but the achievements shines so brightly that a part of me wish that I have a tiger mom. I symphatize wit...moreThe parenting style of the tiger mom is scary but the achievements shines so brightly that a part of me wish that I have a tiger mom. I symphatize with her children, I really do, but oh boy the tiger mom sure has told the tale brilliantly. I feel like I set up my sympathy lower than it should be because I was so busy laughing between pages. Uhm, but I don't think so, it's perfect because I don't think we should pity the tiger cub and become antis of the mom. The cubs are turning more than well, they are overachievers. Inspiring! (less)
So far I enjoy this book the most of all Murakami's works. I've only read 3: this one, After Dark, and Kafka on The Shore. But but but, please... some...moreSo far I enjoy this book the most of all Murakami's works. I've only read 3: this one, After Dark, and Kafka on The Shore. But but but, please... somebody create a decent ending or explain to me what the end means. T_T(less)
Few years ago, I read Ravi Zacharia's book, an imaginary conversation between Jesus and Oscar Wilde. I got an impression that Wilde is a very very cyn...moreFew years ago, I read Ravi Zacharia's book, an imaginary conversation between Jesus and Oscar Wilde. I got an impression that Wilde is a very very cynical man. Now I wonder how that could happen, I should reread that book to reassess.
Two notes on The Picture of Dorian Gray. One, I wish I could shoot Mr. Henry to death because he just won't shut his mouth up. Two, I skipped the 11th chapter, too many description - exhausting.
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It's more or less the same with the Beginning 1. It's a good thing that they make the second edition of the series. I peaked my Intermediate 1 book wh...moreIt's more or less the same with the Beginning 1. It's a good thing that they make the second edition of the series. I peaked my Intermediate 1 book which is still the first edition and I think I prefer the way they organize the lessons in the second edition.(less)
My first five-star rating in Goodreads. I'm definitely gonna re-read this book. I thought just because I knew the famous quote, "Big brother is w...moreMy first five-star rating in Goodreads. I'm definitely gonna re-read this book. I thought just because I knew the famous quote, "Big brother is watching you", I could see through the story. I was wrong.
This book is doubleplus good, doubleplus scary.
And I love Big Brother.(less)
**spoiler alert** After so many years, finally I read another work from Roald Dahl. When I was in junior high, I read The Witches and it gave me a so ...more**spoiler alert** After so many years, finally I read another work from Roald Dahl. When I was in junior high, I read The Witches and it gave me a so so impression plus I was fined by the book rental for late return. I know, I know, an absurd reason not to read books from a particular author. :P
Even after Charlie and The Chocolate Factory movie came out (I love it!), I am not intrigued to read Roald Dahl's other books. Not until I saw The Fantastic Mr. Fox movie. I can still hum the song from the movie.
Boggis and Bunce and Bean..
One fat, one short, one lean.
These horrible crooks
So different in looks
Were nonetheless equally mean!
The Umbrella Man and Other Stories has 12 horror short stories and a story about planes.
The plane story is placed as the 8th story in the book and at first I was surprised. I was expecting another horror story and when I read and waited for the darkness part to come, it never came. Then I remember that Roald Dahl was a fighter pilot and he wrote article about war. Soon after I realized this, I skipped the story. :D
The horror stories in this book are all adult stories. Some of them are bloody scary to imagine (or is it me who easily get scared..).
Don't be fooled by my short appreciation for each of the story below. Roald Dahl is an awesome story teller and even when I found some stories similar, I still got engaged in the way Mr. Dahl magically conducts the characters and the events. Thumbs up!
The Great Automatic Grammatizator The idea presented in the story is scary. You know that in cooking, there might be an ingredient that's lastly added and the dish's fragant or taste becomes stronger after that? This story is like that kind of dish.
Mrs. Bixby and The Colonel's Coat One word comes to mind: deceit.
The Buttler This story reminds me of the famous children tale, The Emperor's New Clothes. Yes, it's definitely same story, different set.
Man From The South With proper imagination, there would be blood involved. One bloody scary story indeed.
The LandLady If it were a song, the title would be Hotel California.
Parson's Pleasure Another deceit.
The Umbrella Man Witnessing a deceit.
Katina The air plane story. Didn't finish reading.
The Way Up To Heaven This is a warning to always keep not just ourselves sane, but for the sake of our life, keep other around us sane, too. Because you never know what a mental person could do.
Royal Jelly It reveals the horror of being obsessed. That's what I thought.
Vengeance Is Mine Inc Cool company name, bad bad business.
Taste A story of a jerk.
Neck I need a second opinion for this story, really. I read and read the last few paragraphs and would really like to confirm what happen at the end. Did he really do that? Did he not? Did he? Did he??
This is my first Korean textbook and I love it! It has 8 units and each unit has 2 conversations, a narration, usage example of the lessons learned in...moreThis is my first Korean textbook and I love it! It has 8 units and each unit has 2 conversations, a narration, usage example of the lessons learned in the unit, and a piece on Korean culture snipplet. The audio files are provided in KLEAR website.
The Grammar Points and Vocabulary
I have no complain against the grammar taught in this book. At my beginner level, I'd just welcome any points taught and be happy to be able to create more simple sentences throughout the lessons. Since it's a college textbook, the vocabulary revolves around campus life and it's perfectly ok with me.
I love it that they only use romanization at some parts in the introduction. I'm not a big fan of romanization. It surely helps at certain point, like when the first time learning 한글, or when we communicate with those who are not learning Korean (btw, 한글 is Hangul, the Korean writing system), or when the tools are not capable for writing in 한글.
For Korean learning textbooks and dictionary, I prefer romanization served at minimum or almost zero rate. That's why I prefer Collin's gem dictionary instead of Berlitz. Thanks to Febry, the dictionary is on the way, yay!
The Exercises
The book does not have the answer key and I read that even the workbook of this KLEAR series don't have the answer key provided. The exercises tend to be short in number and some are only applicable in a classroom or with partners (not quite suitable for a self learner like me). Despite all that, I'm grateful to have those exercises.
Other Parts
I love the introduction, the objectives list, and the closing part of the book. My favorite part of the introduction is the pronunciation rules. It's the part where I always keep running to whenever I hear different from the sound I am expecting to catch on my ears. I mark this part with post-it.
The objectives list provide us the summary of each unit, which grammar points at which part, what culture snipplet and what kind of usage. Needless to say, it's one helpful list for ㅁ reference. As the new grammar rules come, I use this list a lot.
The last few pages in this book consist of appendices, grammar index, and the glossary. More references which if I knew about it sooner, it would make my studying time more efficient. I even left out the glossary until I reached Unit 8, the last unit. Before that, I kept turning the previous pages to find what certain word meant and it happened like thousand times! *sigh*
The glossary is Korean-English, and vice versa. The Korean-English one can be useful to learn the 한글 alphabet order. I'm so gonna use this one for my next books of this series! (Hope the books will arrive safely next week, cross my fingers xD)
I keep skipping the supposed-to-be-romance-thingy self-dialogue part and I find that the author ...moreI like this book better than the first one.
I keep skipping the supposed-to-be-romance-thingy self-dialogue part and I find that the author has successfully supplied enough fuel for me to continue questioning what will happen next.
Me likey: the competition. Me no likey: the love seasoning.
Yes, the love thingy is just a bit and the way it is staged is reasonable but I g...moreMe likey: the competition. Me no likey: the love seasoning.
Yes, the love thingy is just a bit and the way it is staged is reasonable but I guess it doesn't suit my taste. I surely hope that it will not come out strongly in the rest of the trilogy or turn out in such different way.
And yes, the competition is scary. A reality show in which the viewers get to see 24 teenagers kill each other? Luckily it's only fiction. Oh, please stay in fiction for eternity! I notice that I enjoy the book because I always enjoy the story of competition. You know, like watching Running Man with Yoo Jae Suk as MC (this shameless analogy is brought to you by my honest adoration to the humble and witty MC xP).
Anyway, this first book of the series is recommended to be a weekend reading (since reading it in weekdays would risk in sleep deprivation or uneasiness from having to put down the book for a while.
What keeps me reading the series is the narator character. It was like I didn't care at all about the story. I guess I just can't lie about my age. ...moreWhat keeps me reading the series is the narator character. It was like I didn't care at all about the story. I guess I just can't lie about my age.
And I think that's the only problem I have with this book. I mean if the author someday decides to write something that has more appeal to adult, I would definitely put it in my shelf. He is creative in way that he is able to come up with various detail in presenting a story. When I read the books (the first two of the series), I feel like each chapter has one extraordinary detail at minimal.
For example, there is a chapter in which he only writes an apology for losing the chapter, a quiz chapter with absurd questions. Then there is a chapter that teaches us a polite way of saying that something is unordinarily different (which is a polite way of saying weird). He also provides a prologue and appendix in similar way. If I were to read this in my younger years, I would probably be drown in full satisfaction.
The book leaves me stunned and in hunger for another Murakami's works. I just have to read other titles to make sure whether the reading has really fo...moreThe book leaves me stunned and in hunger for another Murakami's works. I just have to read other titles to make sure whether the reading has really found a place in my heart or it's all just a confusion that I will never understand.
The early chapters got me used to various ways of story telling. In fact, I think it lasted till the end. It was also rich in references. Most of them were about world famous literatures which was understandable and made me wonder how many he had read.
At first, I thought Kafka was only a weird name used to capture the readers' attention. But apparently, it was from the German novelist, Franz Kafka, and it was a Czech word for an animal, an animal which had certain role in the story. I found several of this kind of connecting detail and I love it.
Back to references, it seems like that almost every characters in this book had made one at some point. It might be one of the drawback of this book because no matter what the background was, whether the character's 15 year old boy or a truck driver, they eventually could get engaged at heavy topics in which the references helped perform a good analogy.
I said almost every characters because I think the only one who didn't do that was the old man who couldn't read. So, I think it has a good point because it teaches me to look pass people or even my own background and take reading as a powerful tool.
The other drawback was few pages here and there that I skipped reading. I took them as accessories to the story and to me they were horrible or gross or things I didn't like to read.
Last, there are holes in my understanding of the story. There are questions like 'what exactly happens?' or 'what's the point of that event? why does it seem like a changing course?', questions like that. But when I came to the last page of the book, I felt satisfied with the whole package and didn't want to have the story changed for a bit.
.. The drowning girl's fingers Search for the entrance stone, and more. Lifting the hem of her azure dress, She gazes - at Kafka on the shore
The narrator is a bit peculiar and that is exactly why I will definitely read all the books in Secret Series! He maintains two-way communication with ...moreThe narrator is a bit peculiar and that is exactly why I will definitely read all the books in Secret Series! He maintains two-way communication with the reader throughout the story and he is addicted to chocolate.
The series are a pentalogy since there are 5 senses. This first book is about smell.
I think the book is educating (especially for children) in a very entertaining way. There are a lot of notes of various common knowledge including one big point about synaesthesia, a neurogically-based condition which makes people experience sensory mixture. This book makes me wonder how life feels like when I adopt synaesthesia.
Can't wait to run into the book store and grab the rest!(less)
This is my third novel of Paulo Coelho and it's kind of refreshing. My first two books were more of philosophy but this one contained doses of crime s...moreThis is my third novel of Paulo Coelho and it's kind of refreshing. My first two books were more of philosophy but this one contained doses of crime story, which is one of my preferable genre.
It was like a show to me, the display of human mind. Luckily, it was not served as the main course so I could enjoy this while still being kept thinking about how vast a range a conclusion man might make. (less)
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