The Book Review - Happiness Sold Separately

Tittle: Happiness Sold Separately
Author: Lolly Winston
ISBN: 9780446400671
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Warner Books
Year: 2006




Reading in Feb 2011
3.8 Stars out of 5

SALAM

Book Summary:

The story starts when Elinor Wackey just learned that her husband, Ted Wackey is having an affair. It's not entirely shocked herself that after struggling unsuccessfully to have children, they has grown emotionally and physically distant. Elinor set herself apart when spend more time in laundry room while Ted decided to spend time in the hutch and going to gym, after undergo IVF and a miscarriage. But Elinor, the corporate lawyer deals with this problem professionally when she went to meet Gina, Ted's mistress whom beautiful, young, and kindhearted gym worker. Elinor set up a dinner in her house by invite Gina. Everything revealed.  

Elinor decide to move out from the house and went to her mother house in Ohio. Ted realized that his big mistake lead to this problem. But this is no entirely his fault. When Elinor, a successful career woman that devoted herself to her job and seems not appreciate his husband. Ted convinced her back home. Elinor arrived the house with a decision to separate. Ted that had broke up with Gina asked they should go counseling. Elinor thought her attitude recently towards her husband lead Ted find a woman to has sex with. Then they decide to start it over again. But after knowing the truth Gina, has a cute ten-years old boy, named Toby and really likes Ted ( Ted become Toby's math tutor), Elinor once again decide to get divorce. Then Ted the one who decided to move out.

Elinor and Ted enjoyed their solidarity life. Elinor meet Noah, a tree surgeon and got crush on him. Noah is just different with Ted, something she just likes. While Ted happily enjoyed his life with Gina and Toby; the only thing that Ted dream of. Having a very supportive wife and a son. Gina and Toby both need Ted and make him feeling appreciated and needed. Not like with Elinor whom independent. Elinor and Ted discussed and they going to make appointment with the lawyer about mediation. Legally separate.

A happy news strikes their recent happiness. Elinor pregnant. Ted's baby. After knowing this, Ted moved in. Leave Gina and Noah both frustrated. Gina who madly in love with Ted trying to move on and dating a few guys whom Toby claimed as useless. Ted actually also sad with his decision. But Elinor is not really sad because she found Noah not really exciting and kind of boring when he keeps talking about tree!

Elinor and Ted seems happy and wanted to start over their relationship. They can worked it out. They believed. Elinor still loves Ted. She always do loves Ted. Ted loves Elinor (and Gina actually!). 

Another shocked news strikes their recent happiness once again. Their baby died in Elinor womb. They lost the baby, the only chance to get back together. Leaving Elinor and Ted speechless and frustration. Ted decided to take break about getting child (this is not the first time he decided to) and asked her travel to Venice together but Elinor don't want to and decided take adoption. 

Ted start to think about Gina again. Conflict occurred when Ted is stabbed by Gina's drunken boyfriend, Shane. Ted sent to hospital. This shocked Elinor and she rushed to hospital to see her husband. Ted open his eyes and saw Gina and happily and romantically called Gina "Angel". Not knowing Elinor is there too. This is not turns Elinor to anger but rather feeling so sad. Truth is hurt. Ted loves Gina. Ted not just want Gina for sex. Something Elinor wrong about. 

At the end, Elinor determined to get divorce and decided her own happiness. Plan her own life out of Ted . Realize that they both still can be friend after all. After what they have went through. While Ted still in hospital and she there to look after him.

Comment:

This story is interesting. Pointed the view about a marriage gone bad. Childless lead to this conflict. This book also pointed about, in marriage love is not enough. The feeling of companion is something essential. Like Ted that need someone who make him feel appreciated. Gina who is supportive and always make Ted feels needed. Elinor is independent and makes Ted feels not good enough for her.

Elinor character somehow resemble myself. That have dark sense of humor and sarcastic person. She is trying to be happy with what she had. 

I also like the character of Roger, a photography graduate that worked as cleaner at Elinor house. Every time Roger meet something, his mind kind of working about doing black and white portrait photography. It's so creative. 

I don't really like how the writer ends this story. It's ambiguous. i'm so interested to know the ending of this book. But it left me hanging. The one for sure, they all leave in sadness. Whether Elinor, Ted, Gina, or even Toby. They got rough time. At the beginning, I feel sympathy for Ted. That being blame for childless. But at the end, I feel empathy towards Elinor. Everything seems not right for her. Maybe if this happens to me, I would turns crazy with all this. But Elinor got the positive thought that she will seek and find the happiness.

This book is suitable to read in book club. Something to ponder. The reality that revealed about marriage, unfaithful, divorce, and happines.

Enjoy!

The Book Review - No God But God

Tittle: No God But God : The Origin, Evolution and Future of Islam  (new edition, fully revised and updated)

Author: Reza Aslan

ISBN: 9780099564324

Format: Paperback

Publisher: Arrow Books

Year: 2011

First book review for this blog.

Reading in Feb 2012.

4.5 stars out of 5

SALAM

Not being exaggerating, this book truly is an important book about Islam in this decade.

This book start with preface to the updated edition. It give information about the condition of Muslims after the 9/11 tragedy. The author, Reza Aslan shares the aim about this book that initially published in 2005, and this new edition give rather different perspectives.

I like the way the writer, Reza Aslan shares his own story (prologue). About a quarrel happen in train while heading to Marrakech. It shows the connection between the writer and the book.

The book has 11 chapter that discussed entirely about the history and evolution and future of Islam. And it connects with one chapter to one chapter. He starts with the history of pre-Islam era and move beautifully to the time when Islam is spread by the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W (peace be upon him) and the development over the time after his death then through our time where revolution of Islam is said to be established.

This 3 elements - history, evolution and future - are crucial to picture the Islam itself.

Actually, this is now a new perspective, rather than a precise perspective about Islam that just not a religion. Islam is a way of life. This is not a simple or easy topic to discuss about but Reza Aslan give excellent explanations and comparisons. And I like how he gives comparison between Islam and other religions. 

This book also give precise information about the Islam and faith. This book not only to change people perception about Muslim and Islam religion but also a wake-up call to  young generation of Muslim. I like the way he arise the issues about politic in Islam, about the Internet and advanced technology that gives such a big impact toward the revolution of Islam, about the Sufism, about the conflict in Middle East. These all eventually give major effect to this religion. 

This book ends with something for the Muslim to think about. It lays on the Muslim's shoulder to shape the future of Islam according to what Prophet Muhammad S.A.W (peace be upon him) had left. 

I like the way he write this book because at the back of this book, provide the note for deeper knowledge for the Western reader. So we know that this book not just aiming to Muslim at whole. He has his own credibility when provides the note and justify his explanations.

 " we must recognize the greater knowledge about Islam is not enough to alter perception of Muslim..... rather, it is solely through the slow and steady building of personal relationship that one discovers the fundamental truth that all people everywhere have the same dreams, aspiration, that all people struggle with the same fears and anxiety. "  - Reza Aslan. 

So grab this book and you will be illuminated by his writing.

Happy Reading! 








psst: This is special for me reading during this Maulidur Rasul. 

The First Entry.

SALAM
Hi everyone.

First off, I want to share a little about me. I'm a student in Mass Communication majoring Public Relation. Actually, I really love to read. Any kinds of books. Mostly fiction and literacy. Books basically, gives me different kind of pleasure. So by creating this blog, ( actually my second blog) I really want to share my point of view about the books that I've read all this while. 
Maybe the books is not currently famous or popular because I enjoyed reading old published books. I love to spend my time looking for old secondhand books. 
The idea creating this blog comes after I tried 'google-ing' the review about the books that I had. But, I can't find it. Then it comes to this " Why not I creating blog and share the review so that people can know something about the books. "
Till then, I hope this blog of mine can help you somehow and gives some pictures of the books that you are looking for. 


BOOK. THE PLEASURE.