The Bridges of Madison County

Oh what a lovely romantic novel written by Robert James Waller! It is a heartwarming at the same time heart wrenching story. Yes, I am a sucker for romance but not the M&B kinds. It is the story of Francesca Johnson a "happily" married farmer's wife and this lovely long haired National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid who comes to photograph the bridges of Madison county and the romance that ensues. This book was later made into a film starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. I have only seen the wild cowboy films of Eastwood I wonder how he'd fit into this almost too good to be true character of Robert Kincaid. I know there are a lot of women like Francesca Johnson. I know quite a few of them myself.

The books is presented as if it is based on true story but I found later that it isn't. They shouldn't confuse us romantic suckers like this!

My rating 4 on 5

The Millionaire Mind

Apparently the author Thomas J Stanley has been studying millionaires since the 70s. That is his specialty. He studies them, understands them and tells the rest of the world about it and he's a millionaire because of that. Quite cool eh?

The book details about millionaire lifestyle not just in terms their business ideas (which is what one reads about most of the time) but the nitty gritty of the millionaire lifestyle including whether their children go to public schools or private schools, whether they use coupons to buy groceries or what kind of grades they got as students. It was very fascinating.

After reading this book I do know that I am a long way from being a millionaire but I do have the makings of one :) Don't believe me? Well take this list for starters. The millionaires weren't all ace students. They did not have huge family estates or funds to back them up. They are very particular about spending money. They are not stingy but careful. Although I still have to work on the last aspect the others I am there. I just need a killer idea that'll fetch me money and I will be there :)

The book is very american in context so one needs to do a lot of cross referencing and a lot of times facts are repeated over and over again. This might be so to drive a point home but it gets boring.

My rating 2.75 on 5

Purple Hibiscus

I read this book almost a month ago but kept putting off writing about it. I picked up this book simply on whim and loved it a lot. It is a story that talks about the life of oppression this little girl Kambili lives every day with her mother and her brother. Her "papa" is this religious fanatic, an angel to the world outside and a terror at home. But the book never blames but merely states and records incidents. She tastes freedom for the first time when she goes to live with her aunt away from her father. Life is never the same after that for her or her family. The Nigerian turmoil is also well recorded through the book.

Considering this Chimamanda's first book I am very inspired :) It took me just a day and half to finish the book. You cannot put it down. Though it ends on a positive note, it is a grim tale nevertheless.

My rating 3.5 on 5