Book Excerpt -- The Hobbit -- Lord of Rings

Morning Everyone,

     How is life going on?? Well Well, I started living again *read .. I started reading a book again*. Started with my copy of The Hobbit of the Lord Of the Rings.  I heard a lot of praise of the book and the movie too. Gonna check it out for sure. Here is a small but funny excerpt from the book:

--x--

Good Morning Everyone

“Good Morning!” said Bilbo, and he meant it. The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. But Gandalf looked at him from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his shady hat.

“What do you mean?” he said. “Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?”

“All of them at once,” said Bilbo. “And a very fine morning for a pipe of tobacco out of doors, into the bargain. If you have a pipe about you, sit down and have a fill of mine! There’s no hurry, we have all the day before us!” Then Bilbo sat down on a seat by his door, crossed his legs, and blew out a beautiful grey ring of smoke that sailed up into the air without breaking and floated away over The Hill.

“Very pretty!” said Gandalf. “But I have no time to blow smoke-rings this morning. I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very difficult to find anyone.”

Morning Coffee

“I should think so—in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I can’t think what anybody sees in them,” said our Mr. Baggins, and stuck one thumb behind his braces, and blew out another even bigger smokering. Then he took out his morning letters, and began to read, pretending to take no more notice of the old man. He had decided that he was not quite his sort, and wanted him to go away. But the old man did not move. He stood leaning on his stick and gazing at the hobbit without saying anything, till Bilbo got quite uncomfortable and even a little cross.

“Good morning!” he said at last. “We don’t want any adventures here, thank you! You might try over The Hill or across The Water.” By this he meant that the conversation was at an end.

“What a lot of things you do use Good morning for!” said Gandalf. “Now you mean that you want to get rid of me, and that it won’t be good till I move off.”

--x--

     My goodness, it looks like Gandalf is quite queer a character. Gotta check him out!! Are you done with The Hobbit? How is it? Liked it? Full of fantasy and adventure or some oldman's tale??

with warm regards
Abhishek Boinapalli

You thougth You made Fun?? Check This

  Morning Everyone,

    How is life going on? Enjoying the week? Any surprises for you? What are you reading lately? 

   I have grabbed the SEAL TEAM SIX : Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper by Howard E. Wasdin. Well, it looks like we don't need much introduction to the book due to the name.  Take my word, it is a good novel to read. Here is a small excerpt from the book: 

--x--

As we camped near the river, sitting around a campfire drinking beer and roasting wieners, a malnourished, mangy cat approached us. It looked too wild to come near us, but it must’ve been desperate for food. We threw it a piece of wiener, and the cat gulped it down. One of us tried to pick up the feline, and it went berserk—claws and teeth everywhere. That cat was bad. We used the suitcase to set a trap for it, propping the lid open and putting a wiener inside. When the cat went inside to eat, we dropped the top and zipped up the suitcase. We laughed. Hearing the cat go crazy in the suitcase made us laugh harder. The cat kept going until it was exhausted.

I got an idea. “You know how we wanted to open the suitcase? If we put this on the road, someone will stop and open it.” So we took the suitcase to the road and stood it up on the shoulder near a bridge. Then we concealed ourselves nearby, lying flat on a slope that descended from the street. We waited awhile before the first car drove by. It wasn’t a well-traveled road.

Another car came by, and the brake lights flashed. Then it proceeded forward, did a U-turn, and came back. It passed us and did another U-turn, finally stopping next to the suitcase. An overweight black woman stepped out of the car and picked up the suitcase. After she returned to the car and closed the door, we heard excited talk, as if they had dug up a treasure chest. The car moved forward. Suddenly, the brake lights came back on and the car screeched to a halt. Three of the four doors popped open, and three people ran out of the car cussing at the top of their lungs.

We tried not to laugh.

--x-- 

What do you say? Good way to have fun right assuming that no one is hurt? Will you seriously try something like that? 

And And, you know any good novel to read? Military fiction books? Do let me know about them. Kind of hungry for books.

with warm regards

Abhishek Boinapalli

Publish Post

Cat - Women, Quotes!!

Hello Everyone,

 How was your weekend? Enjoyed? Liked it? Partied all night? Mine was awesome. 

 Got my hand upon Cat-Women by Elizabeth Hand. An awesome book in itself. Fiction, cats, lots of cats, purring, roof-tops, black leather, .. and more mystery.  

  I kind of enjoyed the book. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book. Some of these quotes are used in rather humorous tones and it became a hit with me. I mean, this style: 

 

So sharing some of the cool quotes: 

 --x--

Nature gave horns to bulls, hooves to horses, speed to hares, stealth to cats, the power of swimming to fishes, that of flying to birds, and knowledge to men. She had nothing left to women save Beauty. Beauty is proof against spears and shields. She who is beautiful is more formidable than fire and iron

To die and to lose one's life are much the same thing

The cat in gloves catches no mice

There is something wrong with beau-line. Yeah. Just like there's something wrong with a world that drives women to prize youth and beauty above all things -- like a deadly dropkick.

Beauty is as Summer fruits, which are easy to corrupt and cannot last.

--x--

Liked them?? You like quotes like these? Any other author who uses quotes? Paulo Coelho uses them for sure. Who else?

 

with warm regards

AllMyPosts

Do Women Make The World Better

Hello Everyone,

 The weekend has arrived at last. Hope you all have your marvelous plans and that all goes well.

 I was speaking to my friends other day about a excerpt from Helmet for my pillow. Kindly go through the same here:

Scene: 

Robert Leckie due to some illness, reports to division hospital and from there he is admitted into p-38 ward at Banika. He is speaking to one of the corpsman after his initial screening.

--x--

If Banika was an island paradise, it had, for enlisted men, its forbidden fruit: the nurses.

“It isn’t personal,” explained the corpsman who had told me about the Kid. “It’s just that they’re women, and women out here are just no good. They cause too much trouble.” He reflected a moment. “You know, we didn’t have nurses when we first got to Banika. There was just the doctors and ourselves.” He sighed wistfully. “It was wonderful. The doctors shared their liquor rations with us and everything. It was like one big happy family. We ate good, too, as good as the doctors. You never heard of a doctor pulling his rank. We got along wonderfully together.” His face darkened. “Then the nurses came, and everything changed overnight. We weren’t good enough anymore. No more liquor, no more top chow, no more friendliness. The nurses talked only to doctors and the doctors talked only to God. And the trouble is, our work hasn’t gotten one bit easier. If anything, it’s harder, what with the tension.” His face got gloomier. “And look what the nurses did to the whole base. Look at the fancy stockade they had to build for them and get a whole MP battalion to stand guard over them. Look at how the men eat their heart out every time they see an officer riding around in a jeep with a nurse beside him. And how do you think they feel when they see the officer has a pistol on his hip? What the hell does that mean, eh? It means he’s supposed to defend this pure woman’s honor against an attack by us crummy enlisted men. We’re the only ones that’d do it, y’know. The lieutenant’s glands have been to Officers’ Candidate School.” His voice was bitter, now. “It’s crazy. It’s unfair. Women have no place out here.”

--x--

What do you feel about it? Do men really act crazy in front of women? Have men really brought out the distinctions to chase women? Do men need to show themselves as superior? What is wrong here? The women? Or The men? What are your thoughts about his? Do let me know!!

With warm regards

AllMyPosts

Great Expectations -- Extract

Morning Everyone,

  How are things going on at your end? I was just dreaming the other day, about my old school. In my dream, I was sitting in my English class, staring at my beautiful gorgeous English teacher while she was explaining something from Great Expectations book.

  So, in honor of the dream, here is a small excerpt from the book: Pip, the MC, receives a letter saying that Joe would be visiting him the very next day.

--x--

  I received this letter by the post on Monday morning, and therefore its appointment was for next day. Let me confess exactly with what feelings I looked forward to Joe's coming.

  Not with pleasure, though I was bound to him by so many ties; no; with considerable disturbance, some mortification, and a keen sense of incongruity. If I could have kept him away by paying money, I certainly would have paid money. My greatest reassurance was that he was coming to Barnard's Inn, not to Hammersmith, and consequently would not fall in Bentley Drummle's way.

 ……

  As the time approached I should have liked to run away, but the Avenger pursuant to orders was in the hall, and presently I heard Joe on the staircase. I knew it was Joe, by his clumsy manner of coming up stairs,--his state boots being always too big for him, and by the time it took him to read the names on the other floors in the course of his ascent. When at last he stopped outside our door, I could hear his finger tracing over the painted letters of my name, and I afterwards distinctly heard him breathing in at the keyhole.

 ……

  Our eyes met, and all the "ir" melted out of that manly heart as he gave me his hand.

  "Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, and one man's a blacksmith, and one's a whitesmith, and one's a goldsmith, and one's a coppersmith. Divisions among such must come, and must be met as they come. If there's been any fault at all to-day, it's mine. You and me is not two figures to be together in London; nor yet anywhere else but what is private, and be known, and understood among friends. It ain't that I am proud, but that I want to be right, as you shall never see me no more in these clothes. I'm wrong in these clothes. I'm wrong out of the forge, the kitchen, or off th' meshes. You won't find half so much fault in me if you think of me in my forge dress, with my hammer in my hand, or even my pipe. You won't find half so much fault in me if, supposing as you should ever wish to see me, you come and put your head in at the forge window and see Joe the blacksmith, there, at the old anvil, in the old burnt apron, sticking to the old work. I'm awful dull, but I hope I've beat out something nigh the rights of this at last. And so GOD bless you, dear old Pip, old chap, GOD bless you!"

--x--

  You ever felt this way? Has something like this happened to you? You feel vaguely familiar with someone whom you used to like? You feel you are distant and would prefer not to meet them? What did you do then?

With warm regards

AllMyPosts

Seven Commandments -- Animal Farm

Animal Farm

         I started reading the book Animal Farm just today. I am so impressed by it that I would like to post an excerpt from it!! Ha Ha!! 

         This book is by George Orwell. The book explores the concept of communism from a different angle. In this book, animals in a farm revolt and drive away their human master. They decide that all animals are equal they are all brothers. What begins with enthusiastic note, turns into tragedy. Few pigs become the ruling class and keep on exploiting the animals in the name of common good. It is must read for everyone I believe.

Domestic Animals

Here is a small excerpt from the book Animal Farm. The animals make seven commandments for themselves and they are as follows

--x--

Pig -- Seven Commandments

1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. 
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed. 
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.  
6. No animal shall kill any other animal. 
7. All animals are equal.

--x--

      Well, if you have to make two commandments for yourself / your kids at home / your better half this very moment, what would they be?? Do let me know!!

No To alcohol

      My commandments would be simple

• No to alcohol (though I didn't yet start)
• Read at least 1000 words per day

with warm regards

Abhishek Boinapalli

What are you??

Morning Everyone,

 Hoping that you are having a great day and wishing you a great week ahead.

    The other day, I was going through, Chicken Soup For The Soul by Jack Canfield Mark Victor Hansen. The Chicken Soup series, is a collection of everyday stories of people like you and me but inspiring, motivating and fun to read. 

    Here is an extract from the book: A teacher speaking about his profession:

--x--

    I have wept for joy at the weddings of former students, laughed with glee at the birth of their children and stood with head bowed in grief and confusion by graves dug too soon for bodies far too young.

    Throughout the course of a day I have been called upon to be an actor, friend, nurse and doctor, coach, finder of lost articles, money lender, taxi driver, psychologist, substitute parent, salesman, politician and a keeper of the faith.

    I am a warrior, daily doing battle against peer pressure, negativity, fear, conformity, prejudice, ignorance and apathy. But I have great allies: Intelligence, Curiosity, Parental Support, Individuality, Creativity, Faith, Love and Laughter all rush to my banner with indomitable support

    And so I have a past that is rich in memories. I have a present that is challenging, adventurous and fun because I am allowed to spend my days with the future.

    I am a teacher ... and I thank God for it every day.

--x--

    This is what a teacher looks at herself as. Awe Inspiring right?? How many of us want to become a teacher this very moment? *ME*. Isn't the job of teacher a very very happy one? Isn't teacher, fortunate among all those who labor? My foot!! 

    This very teacher perceives her job as fortunate, her role as important. How many a teachers curse themselves for their job? Curse the students for being naughty / dumb / demanding / .. But this teacher is happy because, he perceives his job differently.

    How do you perceive yourself? Your job? Will change of attitude help you? Will things change in a minute? Just check out and let me know too!!!

with warm regards

Abhishek Boinapalli

Spartians and Gates of Fire

Morning Everyone,

How is life going on? Hope all is well, at your end by the grace of god. At my end, everything seems to be hectic and yet boring!! Hope I post regularly from now. For today, let us have a book tour. I mean, I am not going to post a review until the later part of this week, but going to show few glimpses of the book I am currently reading.

Gates of Fire:

          Gates of Fire, is a historical fiction novel by Steven Pressfield that recounts the Battle of Thermopylae through Xeones, a Spartan Helot and the sole Greek survivor of the battle.

Here is an excerpt from the book, something astonishing, since the men in question are Spartians:

--x--

None of this entered into the scheme of the lady Paraleia, nor Arete either. Her peplos robe was split up the side in the Spartan style, revealing her bare leg to the thigh. This in any other city would have been lewd to the point of scandalous. Yet here in Lakedaemon it was unremarkable in the extreme. This is a leg. We women possess them just like you men. For Spartan males to leer at or ogle a lady in this dress would have been unthinkable. They had beheld their mothers and sisters and daughters naked since they were old enough to open their eyes, both in the girls' and women's athletic training and in the festivals and the other women's processions.

Still these ladies, both of them, were not unaware of their personal magnetism and the effect it produced, even upon a boy in service drawn up before them. After all, wasn't Helen herself a Spartan? The wife of Menelaus,

she whom Paris had carried off to Troy,

the cause of endless suffering

among Trojans and Greeks, and for

whose peerless beauty's sake so many

brave Achaeans lost their lives in Troy

far from their native country.

--x--

My goodness, what the hell is it? Spartian men, always training for war aren’t much interested in women?? I thought it would be other way around, since most of them work hard hard  and harder all day, training for war. There are a lot of such fantastic characteristics of Spartians, which the movie couldn’t portray. Have you seen the movie (300)? Have you read the book, is there anything that the movie missed??

With warm regards

AllMyPosts