Skulduggery Pleasant... the novel...

I borrowed this book from my school's library on Sunday. My friend was searching for scary stories, but could not find one. I thought this book would be pretty scary, looking at the cover, but was not. Some parts were rather funny though. It took me a day to finish it.

Here is roughly how to story goes...

Stephanie's novelist uncle dies. At the reading of the will, a strange man in a tan overcoat, an oversized hat, sunglasses and a scarf is present. Stephanie's aunt and uncle are to be given something as well, a seemingly useless brooch, which turned out to be a key later on. Stephanie inherited the uncle’s mansion. Spending a night alone in the mansion, Stephanie is attacked by a strange man, demanding she gives him a "key". As the man attacks Stephanie, a mysterious man, Skulduggery Pleasant, arrives and saves her, throwing fireballs at her attacker. Skulduggery's disguise fall off to reveal that he is an undead wizard, made up of only a skeleton held together by magic.

Upon the revelation that her uncle was murdered, Stephanie helps Skulduggery investigate his uncle’s death. Stephanie's uncle had discovered an ancient weapon used by the Ancients, to defeat their gods. He sealed this deadly weapon, the Sceptre of the Ancients, in a maze beneath the house Stephanie inherited. The "key" is the brooch left by her uncle to his other brother's wife.

Stephanie and Skulduggery, aided by Ghastly, Tanith Low and the world's physically strongest man, Mr Bliss, attempt to prevent Nefarian Serpine, from obtaining the Sceptre. Serpine was trying to take over the world.

Skulduggery defeats Serpine with Stephanie’s help, destroying him with the Sceptre to protect Stephanie, breaking the Sceptre's power in the process. Stephanie discovered her family are descendants of the Ancients and she herself has magic abilities.

This book is so EXPENSIVE! This book alone cost RM 59.90.

"Magic," he said.

Taken from Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Rating: 7/10

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

School Memories... [Day 9]...

Urgh! It's Tuesday. Two Chinese periods after recess and extra school activities. Luckily, my mother agreed to pick me up today and saved me the torture of the extra uniform curriculum activities. This year, the school started the extra curriculum activities early. Usually, these activities will start on the second or third week of school. But never mind, the form 5s will be excused after mid-term, i hope. =)

Today, was pure torture. Haha... My English teacher has taught "Looking for the Rain God", continued from yesterday. This story was actually written by an African. Can't you believe that? Her father was an African, but her mother was an European. This story tells of a family struggling through hard times and how the family succumbs to desperation and resorts to an old tradition, that is to please the Rain God by sacrificing their children. But, in the end, the rain still did not fall. And the children's father and grandfather are sentenced to death for ritual murder. It's scary that what man will do when he is desperate. Man will do anything to get what he needs.

I've trouble in Maths now. I don't understand one of the concepts. Sigh. I need to get it solved soon. This chapter is a sure question in SPM, and this question alone is 12 marks. My history teacher has taught finished the before and after effects of imperialism by the west.

I'm getting all stressed up! School, friends, homework, tuition... I seriously need a way to CALM DOWN!!!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince... the novel...

Another one of J.K. Rowling's best books! I wish I could write like that. Did you know that J.K. Rowling is worth more than the Queen of England?

During the summer, Albus Dumbledore enlists Harry’s help to persuade retired professor Horace to return to Hogwarts to teach. Harry is also told that he has inherited all of Siriuss possessions. Harry then spends the remaining holiday at with the Weasleys and Hermonie. Harry, Ron, and Hermione receive their O.W.L. results. Hermione receives top "Outstanding" marks in all her subjects with the exception of Defence Against the Dark Arts. Harry is very pleased to discover that he was the only one out of the three of them to get an "Outstanding" in Defence Against the Dark Arts.

As school begins, Snape is announced as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts while Slughorn replaces him as the Potions teacher. Slughorn lends them old Potions textbooks until they buy their own. On the first Hogsmeade visit, Katie Bell is seriously injured while carrying a cursed necklace through Hogsmeade under the Imperius Curse. In another incident, Ron accidentally drinks poisoned mead intended for Dumbledore. Harry reacts by administering the Bezoar he had submitted previously as an assignment to Slughorn. When Harry finds Malfoy sobbing in a boys bathroom on the sixth floor, they hurl curses at each other. Snape arrives and saves Malfoy. He attempts to re-possess the Half-Blood Prince's Potions book, but Harry hands him "Roonil Wazlib's" copy. Harry receives detention, causing him to miss the Quidditch finals. Nonetheless, Gryffindor wins the Cup, and during the victory celebration, Harry's suppressed feelings for Ginny are revealed when he spontaneously kisses her, and she and Harry begin dating.

Dumbledore, meanwhile, has located another Horcrux and asks Harry to accompany him in retrieving it. Harry and Dumbledore apparate to a secret cave. Dumbledore was greatly weakened due to the mysterious liquid he had to drink in order to acquire the locket. Returning to Hogsmeade, Harry and Dumbledore see Lord Voldemort's Dark Mark. They fly to the Astronomy Tower on borrowed broomsticks and are ambushed by Draco Malfoy. Dumbledore paralyses Harry, who is under his Invisibility Cloak, just before Draco disarms Dumbledore. Draco admits he was behind the school attacks and has helped Death Eaters secretly enter Hogwarts via the pair of Vanishing Cabinets.

As members of the Order and the few from Dumbledore's Army battle Voldemort's followers in the castle below, Death Eaters appear in the tower and urge Draco to fulfil his mission, killing Dumbledore, but Draco hesitates. Snape arrives and killed Dumbledore. Malfoy escapes as Snape duels Harry. During the duel, Snape reveals that he is the Half-Blood Prince.

The school year ends abruptly with Dumbledore's funeral. Professor Slughorn replaces Snape as the head of Slytherin House. Hogwarts is rumoured to close down due to the murder of Dumbledore. Harry decides to leave school in search for the remaining Horcruxes. Ron and Hermione vow to accompany him, while Harry ends his relationship with Ginny to protect her from Voldemort.

"You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? It was I who invented them - I, the Half Blood Prince!"

Taken from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 8/10

Genre: Fantasy

Memories in School... [Day 8]...

Today I got my school timetable. I'm so gonna hate Tuesdays! There are two Chinese periods! Well, today school went on as usual, except for the sudden urgent meeting of the teachers after recess. Other than that, normal. And also, our assembly will be on Mondays from now on. Don't know why they change from Sunday to Monday.

Classes went on as usual today. Chemistry teacher had 10 minutes to teach only, because today;s assembly was rather long. There was some sort of prize giving ceremony today. My English teacher has moved ON! She is now teaching "The Rain God". Haha...

Nothing unusual happened to school. I'm getting kinda sien going to school everyday. I miss school holidays! And it's been only a week plus since school started. Sigh!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix... the novel...

This is one good book. I read it many many times for my own enjoyment. Hehe... One of J.K. Rowling's best books! =)

Several weeks into the summer, Harry Potter has heard nothing from his. One night, walking down a street his cousin, they were attacked by Dementors. Harry did a Patronous Charm and learns that Arabella Figg is a Squib, has been keeping an eye on him on Dumbedore’s orders. He receives a notice of expulsion from Hogwarts for using magic outside school. Someone from the Order of Phoenix then takes him to the headquarters.

A few days later, Arthur escorts Harry to his hearing, which Fudge has done everything in his power to slant against him. But testimony from Dumbledore and Mrs. Figg confirms the presence of the Dementors, and Harry is found to have acted in self-defense.

Ron and Hermione are made prefects, but not him. At the welcome feast, the learn that their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts is Dolores Umbridge. A short time later, she is appointed as High Inquisitor, with the power to evaluate and dismiss other teachers, and impose strict rules and regulations on students.

Hagrid was absent for half the year, because of a diplomatic mission to the giants on Dumbledore’s orders, to try to dissuade them from joining Voldemort. His mission was a failure. Because Umbridge’s lessons are useless both for passing their O.W.L.s and for preparing for the very real threat of Voldemort, Hermione decides that the students need to learn the subject themselves. Harry is surprised when she proposes him as a teacher. Several other students from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff likewise sign up to the clandestine group, named "Dumbledore's Army". Under Harry's tutoring, the group learns defensive magic.

Midway through the year, the school is alarmed to hear news of a mass prison break from Azkaban, when ten of Voldemort’s most powerful Death Eaters escape. Many wizards are not satisfied with the Ministry’s official explanation, and begin to come around to Dumbledore and Harry’s claims.

Slytherin students, uncover the D.A. meetings, helped by a member of the D.A. named Marietta, who told Umbridge about the meetings. To protect Harry and other students from reprisals, Dumbledore claims that he organized the group to counter Voldemort.

In the middle of his last O.W.L. exam, Harry has a vision of Sirius being tortured at the Department of Mysteries, although Hermione suspects it may be a trap. Harry, with help from various members of Dumbledore's Army, attempts to contact Sirius, but he is caught.

They then went to the Ministry of Magic to seek Sirius. They meet up with the Death Eaters, and Harry and his friends heroically defend themselves, putting up a far tougher fight than the dark wizards expected, but are outmatched. As they are nearly defeated, members of the Order arrive, including Sirius. During the ensuing battle, the glass sphere that Voldemort was seeking is accidentally dropped and shatters, and the record is lost. Sirius is died in the fight. The Death Eaters were captured except for Bellatrix.

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...

Taken from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 9/10
Genre: Fantasy

Memories in School... [Day 7]...

Yesterday, there was school to replace for Chinese New Year, so that during the CNY break, we'll get a one week break. I didn't attend school yesterday... ^^ I was party tired and party lazy... Hehe... One thing I don't understand about school is, why have replacement classes? Why don't they submit it to the PPD that they want one week breaks so that they can plan? Instead or replacing? Attending 5 days of school a week is tiring enough. Adding another day makes it worse! They have weekends for a reason. Students need REST!!!

Today, our Chemistry teacher did some revision on what she taught about for the past week. And she gave some A LOT of homework! My Moral teacher did not appear again today. But, during my recess, when I went to the teacher's office to find one of the teachers, I saw him relaxing there. I wonder what he is so busy about till cannot enter class?

My English teacher is still teaching Si Tenggang's Homecoming. She has been teaching that since last week. I wonder when only she will teach something else. My Maths teacher has moved on to Chapter 2, Graph Of Functions II. And my history teacher is now teaching birokrasi in Philippines after being imperialized by the West. It's pretty interesting, or rather the teacher makes it interesting.

Sigh! School. School. School. So much homework to do. :-(

Missing...

The days creep by. Life moves on. Time will not wait, for anyone. Everything in the future, would be soon be the past. Time is ticking even as I write this out. Sigh! Why is life sometimes so unfair?

Something is missing...
But I can't find it...
Something is hurting...
But I don't know what....

I know...

You won't cry for my absence... cause...
You forgot me so long... long ago....
You won't long for my presence... cause...
You hardly knew... knew me...

Am I that unimportant?
Or that insignificant?
Is something wrong with me?
Or something I'm missing?

I know...

If I cry out... If I bleed...
Knowing you just don't care...
When I sleep... I dream of you...
And wake up without you there...

Am I that unimportant?
Or that insignificant?
Is something wrong with me?
Or something I'm missing?

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire... the novel...

I read this book finished last week I think. I had no time to blog about it cause I was so busy with all my school stuff, studying and preparing for MYF.

The fourth book starts with Harry's dream, where he sees Voldermort and Petter Pettigrew plotting to kill him. He then goes to the Quidditch World Cup with the Wesley Family and Hermonie. After the match, the Dark Mark appeared. The one caught at the scene was Winky, the Mr. Crouch's house elf.

When they return to Hogwarts, they found out that Hogwards will host the Triwizard Tournament. The Goblet of Fire chooses one student from each competing school. Students must be at least seventeen years old to enter this contest. Cedric Diggory is Hogwarts' champion, Fleur Delacour is Beauxbatons' and Viktor Krum represents Durmstrang. The Goblet unexpectedly selects a fourth champion, Harry Potter.

Harry is guided through the tournament by Moody. In the first task, the champions must retrieve a golden egg from a dragon. As part of the Triwizard Tournament's tradition, the students of Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons remain at school to attend the Yule Ball.

The second task requires retrieving something important to each champion that is hidden in Hogwarts' lake. Harry uses gillyweed given by Dobby so he can breathe underwater. As the remainder of the school year passes, Harry regularly contacts his godfather, Sirius. One night, Harry and Krum are startled when Mr. Crouch emerges from the forest, demanding to see Dumbledore. Harry runs for help, but when he returns with Dumbledore, they find Krum unconscious and Crouch missing.

The third and final task involves navigating a large maze located on the Quidditch Pitch which is filled with magical obstacles. Harry and Cedric successfully navigate the maze, helping each other on the way. They reach the centre together, and grasp the prize to tie.The Cup, a portkey transports them to an old cemetery in Little Hangleton. Peter Pettigrew awaits them and kills Cedric.

Voldemort summons his Death Eaters by touching Pettigrew's Dark Mark. Voldemort challenges Harry to a duel. Harry manage to escape with Diggory's body and leaving Voldemort behind in a raging anger.

Moody then attempts to kill Harry himself, but Dumbledore arrived on time. Dumbledore had realized that something was wrong when he saw Moody whisk Harry away from the maze so quickly, and followed them. Dumbledore feeds Moody three drops of Veritaserum, a truth potion, and they discover that "Moody" is actually Barty Crouch Jr. Harry is taken to Dumbledore's office where he reunites with Sirius and he relives his story of his night.

"Oh, did I?" said Hermione, and her eyes flashed dangerously. "Just because it's taken you three years to notice, Ron, doesn't mean no one else has spotted I'm a girl!"

Taken from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 8/10

Genre: Fantasy