“A Long Way Gone hits you hard in the gut with Sierra Leone’s unimaginable brutality and then it touches your soul with unexpected acts of kindness. Ishmael Beah’s story tears your heart to pieces and then forces you to put it back together again, because if Beah can emerge from such horror with his humanity in tact, it’s the least you can do.â€Â
â€â€Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle: A Memoir
After a long gap, I read such a remarkable memoir. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read this book, but the title kept haunting me and I finally decided to give it a go, and I am very happy I did.
This is a story of a young man who has suffered and seen the worst of humanity and yet surprising he managed to survive and become a better man for all the tragedy, violence and horror he was forced to witness as a young 12-year-old boy. Read More »
Synopsis
The book begins with Asterix and Obelix hunting wild boar. The boars, however, are crafty and lead them straight into a Roman patrol. The Gauls beat up the patrol, and in the midst of the battle, the boars escape with their lives.
Back in Rome, Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar hears of this, and orders M. Devius Surreptitius, the head of the Roman Secret Service, to send an agent to infiltrate the Gauls. This agent is a Gaulish-Roman druid known as Dubbelosix, who travels in a folding chariot full of secret devices. Dubbelosix and Surreptitius communicate with a carrier fly.
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“A novel of majesty and power…Will hold you, fascinate you, surround you.” –Chicago Sun-Times
“A towering tale…There’s murder, arson, treachery, torture, love, and lust…A good time can be had by all.” –New York Daily News
“Touches all human emotions…truly a novel to get lost in.” –Cosmopolitan
Are you a fan of Ken Follet, then this is a must read. I have read some of his books, by now those who visit this site must have an idea that I read almost every kind of books. Pillar of the Earth is certainly one of the best novels I have read. Its fast paced, exciting, educating and interesting. Read More »
The humorous depiction of the adventures of the inhabitants of one small village in Gaul, (modern day France) which defies roman occupation in 50 BC with the superhuman power of a magic potion. Its full of beautiful visuals and excellent pun, especially the play of words in conversation and names of characters. Its gentle satire pokes fun on modern life, art and politics with caricatures of Napoleon, Shakespeare, Zorro and even James Bond.
In Asterix and the Great Divide, a village divided by a ditch as well as their chiefs’ opinions, with one side going to the Romans and having a hard time as Romans take them as slaves. The chief of the other side sends his son to the little Gaulish village for help. Codefix, a mean and sly Gaul, advices Romans to attack the Gaulish village. He steals a cauldron of magic potion for them and the fun begins with its strange and unexpected effect on Romans!
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After fighting the Belgians in the northern part of Gaul, Caesar states that they are the bravest enemies he’s ever faced (historically this statement really was made by Caesar). His soldiers agree with him, to the point when they consider being posted to the camps outside Asterix’ village as a period of leave.
Chief Vitalstatistix is aghast at the idea that his village, which has been the terror of the Romans for years, is now looked upon as relatively harmless. He is further outraged when he hears of Caesar’s remarks. He claims that his villagers are in fact the bravest men of Gaul, and travels to Belgium to prove his point. A reluctant Asterix and Obelix go with him.
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