Pursuit of the Deadly Diamonds by J.J Fortune

SYNOPSIS

This is an investigation novel. There are two characters that actually stand out most. It is Stephen, a teenager and his Uncle Richard was a soldier and now he became a spy or special agent. Stephen knows his uncle's secret and always join him in a mission together. Stephen is still a student but he has the skill that a spy needed taught by his uncles. Stephen's parent introduced a woman to his uncle but his uncle knew the woman, Michelle very well. She is a theft that are pursued by the French police.She is a dear friend of Richard.

Michelle told him that she was involved in a big crime. Michelle purpose to join in this event because she wanted to find the mastermind behind this operation and clean herself from the crime records. Richards want to help, but Michelle insisted that he was not supposed to involve in this event but Richard also insisted that he will help her and finally she give up because she knows that Richard is the only one that can help him.

Once Michelle in Nice, France, she telephoned Richard while speaking using hint word. Of course as an expert they both know there is another meaning in the word she spoke. Then, they both flew to Nice where Michelle at. They went to meet Michelle, but she was so surprised that they really showed up.

Finally, she explained that she is currently involved in a operation to steal a "lucky diamonds" worn by the Duchess of Wentworth, who always participated in gambling that held once a year in Monte Carlo casino.
The plan expect to be done in the casino. Michelle's role is to disguise as the wife and wearing the fake diamonds. Richard and Stephen went to meet Inspector Duval for assist. He explained that this should be done in secret. Inspector Duval agrees to help while it may risk him his career.

During this investigation, Stephen and his uncle has been hunted by the organization. They want them to be dead so they will not interrupt their big plan but they manage to survive due to their skills. They manage to fake their death.

Then. the organization begins their operation. Unexpectedly, the police prefect Monsieur Bonaparte was there to watch the event to make sure there are no problem occurs. Stephen's uncle disguised as a rich gambler and compete with the duke. Suddenly, when he is winning, two shots have released and Richard pretends to be shot, but then there is another shot released by the Monsieur Bonaparte. He was aiming the gunman and it hit. The gunman was actually aiming for the card dealer. Michelle appears then she explained that she handed the diamonds to the card dealer but when they search it, there is no diamonds at all.

Monsieur Bonaparte does not know what is currently happening and asked for further explaination from Inspector Duval. Inspector Duval asked her men to search everybody for the diamonds. Monsieur Bonaparte was  furious as they cannot find the diamonds. He ordered Inspector Duval to arrest Stephen, his uncle and Michelle. Suddenly, Richard asked Inspector Duval to search Monsieur Bonaparte. Known his crime has been discovered and yet he is the mastermind, he escaped and took Stephen as the hostage.He was caught while he was escaping.

NEW WORDS FOUND IN THE NOVEL

vintage - vintage wine is a good quality wine made in a particular year

recluse - someone who chooses to live alone, and does not like seeing or talking to other people

hunk - a thick piece of something, especially food that has been takken from a bigger piece

croissant - a piece of bread, shaped in a curve and usually eaten for breakfast

COMMENT

This novel has a very understandable story telling. It is very clear eventhough there are some French words because the event occurs in Nice, France, but we still manage to understand because we they also state the meaning in English. From what we have read, we actually find it is easy to understand because we can expect the plot but the culprit was unexpected because he is the police prefect. He should be the good example for everyone yet he is the mastermind of one of the biggest diamond stealer organization. We also found that Stephen's uncle, Richard really enjoys this kind of life. It thrills him and I think Stephen is very proud to be his uncle apprentice eventhough it is a dangerous line of work. Thanks to this it makes Stephen more mature because he has been through this kind of life while other teenagers maybe currently studying for their future. We think a spy or an agent would be Stephen's future job as we find he really loves what he is doing now. We also think his uncle set a good example to him and Stephen takes his uncles as his idol.

MORAL VALUES

1. Do not judge the book by its cover.
2. Sometimes we cannot expect what others do to earn a living.
3. Find something that we love to do and have fun with it.
4. Wealth sometimes may invite danger.
5. Some people would do anything to be rich.

A Moveable Feast by Ernet Hemingway

SYNOPSIS

This is a novel about the writer, Ernet Hemingway himself. In this novel he wrote about his life experience in Paris. He lives here with her wife, Halden and a son he called Bumby. He meets lot of great writers, which also his friends such as James Joyce, Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, which is husband and wife. He grows to be a better writer as he me met them each time.Their critics help him to improve but he always stand on his own style of writing and that had made him a great writer. He also met almost all kind of people with different personalities and attitude which make him being grateful for his life and it matured him. While he lives here they had problems such as finance and he encountered the problem with his wife and they manage to live a simple and happy life.Paris gave them a warmth feeling as they love it so much.

NEW WORDS FOUND IN THE NOVEL

opium - a powerful illegal drug made from poppy seeds. (heroin)

schnapps - a strong alcoholic drinks

gentian - a small plant with blue or purple flowers that grown in mountain areas

cauterize - medical to treat a wound or a growth on your body by burning it with hot metal

venison - the meet of a deer

COMMENT

This is our second time reading Ernet Hemingway's novel. We find it neither interesting nor boring. It was very flat for us. In this novel, the writer applied some French word that we do not understand such as 'monte sur'. Sometimes we could not grab what he was trying to mention in his writing, so we ignore all the French words or sentences. We also can see that how he became a very a good writer as he always being with great people, whom help him to be a better and mature writer. We also found that he likes to drink a lot. That is the negative side of him, but from the start till the end, we feel that he is very loyal to his wife. When he needs to go to another country alone for a long time to do some business, he really missed his wife and son. He really loved her as he stated it in the novel.This is the quote of it which is our favourite because it has sentimental value in it.

"I loved her and i loved no one else and we had a lovely magic time when we were alone."

MORAL VALUES

1. We should be loyal to someone that we love.
2. Choose the right friends.
3. Appreciate your life as we get older.
4. Always be mature and a better person.

The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway

SYNOPSIS

This is a story about an old fisherman name Santiago who went through a tough life and has faced lot of challenges. He lives alone since his wife has passed away. He has experienced a lot for his age. He knows how to fish well but it just luck that does not side with him. He has been fishing for 84 days but earn nothing. When he went back home, a boy is waiting for him and asking him, whether he manage to catch any fish. He considered the boy as his son because the boy really cares about him. He also taught the boy how to fish and the boy loves him.

On the next day, Santiago decided to go farther to catch a big fish but no fish took his bait.It has been 2 days he still does not manage to get any fish, but finally the biggest shark that he has seen in his life appears to take his bait. He tried to catch it and the shark was fighting back. Finally, he ends up throwing a spear right in the between of the shark eyes. The shark slowly dead and the blood scent has attracted something else.

In his way to go back to his fishermen village, it is not an easy way back; he has been followed by a group of sharks that caused by the blood scent.In order to get away from those shark that have been aiming the dead shark, he had to use most part of the shark body to make sure the sharks are not aiming him, for his safety.

He arrived safely, but he feels very unsatisfied because he felt that he has been defeated by those sharks then, he went straight home. The boy who had been with him, for a long time knew him well. He saw Santiago's skiff. He went to the his house and saw the old man was sleeping and Santiago looks very tired and sad. Finally the boy decided that he will go fishingwith the old man when he recovered.

NEW WORDS FOUND IN THE NOVEL

oar - a long pole with a wide flat blade at one end, used for rowing a bot

harpoon - a weapon used for hunting

marlin -  a large sea fish with a long sharp nose, which people hunt for sport

COMMENT

This is a good novel which reflects most of the fisherman's life. In this novel it tells us how hard a fisherman earns a living. We understand the hardship that has been through by the oldman. We actually feel touched while reading this novel because in this novel, we can see that the old man is a very sad character since he spending his life alone. His wife has passed away and he does not have any child. Eventhough he had this kind of life, we can also the optimistic thinking of Santiago.Example, he had a bad condition but he still motivates himself positively to go through all the pain he had. In this novel we also can see the close relationship between Santiago and the boy eventhough they are not blood related. We are satisfied with this novel and by far this is the best novel that we have read.

MORAL VALUES

1. Be grateful for everything that we have now.
2. You never what others might have went through in their life.
3. Nothing can be achieved without a hard work.
4. We must love our parents.
5. Always be considerate to others.

SPIDER-MAN : DROWNED IN THUNDER by CHRISTOPER L. BENNET

SYPNOSIS

J.Jonah Jameson, publisher of the Daily Bugle, has denounced Spider-Man from the beginning, convincing New Yorkers to see him as a criminal and a menace. But when a robot attack on Manhattan injures Peter Parker's students and Jameson blames Spider-Man, their feud takes on a new, personal dimension.


As the embittered webslinger faces further robot attacks, each deadlier than the last, his spider-sense warns that Jameson himself is behind them, posibbly colluding with Electro, Alistaire Smythe, or another of Spider-Man's mortal foes. Convinced that his worst critic has become a mortal enemy, Spider-Man declares war on Jameson ; a war the publisher is eager to wage. But in their relentless pursuit of victory, they both risk losing everything that matters to them and may both fall victim to the cataclysmic secret  behind the robots.

NEW WORDS FOUND IN THE NOVEL

jerk - informal to waste someone's time or deliberately make things difficult for them

distinguish - to recognize and understand the difference between two or more things or people

tedious - something that is tedious continues for a long time and is not interesting

tidal - relating to regular rising and falling of the sea

stake - if something that you value very much is at stake, you will lose it if a plan or action is not successful

perch - to be in a position on top of something or on the edge of something

COMMENT

Okay, this is our first time to read this kind of novel.Honestly, we find this novel has a boring start, but nevermind, most of novel has a boring part.When it almost ends it becomes interesting.We also sometimes understands that Spider-Man has a big responsible and sometimes he has the guilt inside him, because he cannot be at every place to save everyone, but that is the bitter truth.Furthermore, in this novel there are a lot of actions, that is what we like about this novel.

MORAL VALUES

1. We should not hold grudge against each other.
2. We should not talk bad about the others based on assumptions.
3. Do not trust what others say based on assumptions.

Hijacked by J.M Marks

SYNOPSIS

Fourteen-year-old Jason Wright boards a plane flying from Hong Kong to London and ends up in a desperate attempt to foil an Arab-back Japanese terrorist group who have hijacked the plane to a deserted Thai beach. While they are been hijacked, three men has tried to take action but ends up injured. One of them, is dead due to a stab on the chest.

When Jason went to the washroom, he found out there is a hole that leads to luggage area that leads to a way out. He thought he needed to do something since there are other passengers.He decided to escape from the plane secretly and look for a help, but he was found out while he was swimming. One of the terrorist member was searching for him.

Jason was scared and he kept on running.Finally, he found a village, he saw an old man with a blowpipe.That old man than saw him and they both are scared.The old man ran away, while Jason also did the same.The terrorist member kept on looking for Jason, finally Jason ended up shooting him on the chest with the poisonous dart using the blowpipe.The terrorist member died instantly.Soon, after a long run, finally he found the Thai army camp.He informed about the hijacked plane to Colonel Chula. British and Japan government have sent  their representatives regarding this matter.They were Sumimoto and Matsutan from Japanese government and Michael Deane from the British government.

The hijackers demanded for some prisoners that imprisoned in Israel to be freed.Sumimoto, Matsutan, Michael and Jason found out that the hijackers are involved with Palestinian organisation, Al-Fatah.

Finally, the hijackers have been captured while trying to escape from the plane while carrying a hostage.

NEW WORDS FOUND IN THE NOVEL

hydraulic - moved or operated by the pressure of water or other

                   liquid

tent - a shelter consisting of a sheet of cloth supported by poles and   ropes, use especially for camping

anchor - a piece of heavy metal that is lowered to the bottom of the sea,a lake etc to prevent a ship or boat

              moving

COMMENT

We find this novel is a good novel.We understand every part clearly.It is very specific.From what we have read we find that Jason, eventhough he is 14, has a very mature thinking.He cared about the others, that is why he escaped from the plane to look for a help and he managed to find one.Other than that, he has been given 2 chances to leave and to meet his parents but he insisted to stay because he wants to assist.We find it is a very noble attitude. We also can see that they are giving their fullest commitment to solve the problem. Eventhough this a fiction novel,we still thought this would happen and have happened somewhere in this world, we really appreciate for what we have here in Malaysia. A multiracial and peaceful country that practice 1 Malaysia.We hope that this kind of thing would not happen in Malaysia.We also hope to become like Jason, be more matured-thinking.

MORAL VALUES

1. There are things that come unexpected and we should be ready for it.
2. We should care about the people that we love.
3. Think about the others.
4. Do not make our parents worried about us.
   

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

INTRODUCTION

The Body in the Library is one of the novel written by Agatha Christie.She is the most widely published author of all time. In a career that spanned more than fifty years, Christie wrote eighty novels and short-story collection, nineteen plays.One of it is, The Mousetrap, is the longest-running play in history and five nonfiction books, including her autobiography. In addition she wrote six romantic novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. Two of the characters she created, the ingenious Belgian Hercule Poirot and the irrepressible and relentless Miss Jane Marple, became world-famous detectives, immortalized on television by David Suchet and Joan Hickson.

Agatha Christie achieved Britain's highest honor when she was made a Dame of the British Empire.She died in 1976.

SYPNOSIS

In English village of St. Mary Mead, Colonel Banstry and his wife has been woke up by a maid.The maid tells him that there is a dead body in the library.Both of them are dumbfounded.They went to see the dead body.It was an unknown teenager who had been strangled wearing satin evening dress.The police are called and investigation ensues.The investigation is conducted by Colonel Melchett. Mrs. Bantry is afraid that her husband might be the suspicion of the town, therefore she called Miss Marple Jane, a local sleuth who is also her friend.

After further investigation, the victim is known as Ruby Keene, a professional dancer.The focus of the investigation then shift from St. Mary Mead, to Danemouth, and the Majestic Hotel.Ruby should have turn up in the dance exhibition with Raymond Starr, who is also a tennis coach for the hotel, but her cousin Josie had to replace her.She was missing that night.The last person who was seen to be with Ruby is George Bartlett.Bartlett does not have the obvious motive to kill Ruby, in fact he is the victim of the crime.His car was stolen near the courtyard.

There is a rather a group of guests that linked to Ruby Keene.The centre of the group is Conway Jefferson, a rich man who lost his legs in a plane crash.He also lost his wife, a son, and a daughter. He now lives with Mark Gaskell, his daughter's husband and Adelaide Jefferson, the wife of his son, and a grandson, Peter Carmody. All four of them are staying in the hotel.

Conway Jefferson is interested in Ruby as she is very naive. He decided to adopt Ruby as his daughter. He tells his family about this and also going to give Ruby fifty pounds as she reach 25. The family members have been given a large sum before so he decides that there is no need for him to fulfil their request anymore.

The situation had become more complicated as the second murder victim was found in the George Bartlett's car.The body is charred beyond recognition but has been identified as Pamela Reeves, a sixteen years old Girl Guide who had been reported missing.Somehow she was linked with a suspect, Basil Blake whom is also connected with the case.

Finally, all the points have gathered.Two dead bodies, which one of it was badly burnt.There are also a number of suspects involved. They are Colonel Bantry, Josie Turner, Raymond Starr, Basil Blake, George Bartlett, Mark Gaskell, and Adelaide Jefferson.

The true killer are Josie Turner and Mark Gaskell who is secretly married for a year.They switched Pamela Reeves and Ruby Keene's body.So, the unknown teenager that was found in Bantry's library is Pamela and the one who badly burnt is Ruby Keene.The motive is the amount of money that going to be given to Ruby Keene.So, they killed her.

NEW WORDS FOUND IN THE NOVEL

dumbfounded - extremely surprised
candor - thee quality of being honest and telling the truth even when the truth is may be unpleasant and

              embarrassing

benevolent - kind and generous

despot - someone especially a ruler, who uses power in a cruel and unfair way

quiver - a slight trembling

recalcitrant - formal refusing to do what you are told to do even after you have been punished
vanity - too much pride in yourself, so that you always thinking about yourself and your appearance

FAVOURITE QUOTE

"Brainless young ass," said Colonel Melchett. - Colonel Melchett is expressing his thought toward George Bartlett.

COMMENT

From what we have read, we find this novel is very well written. We like investigation and mystery so, we do not find this novel boring. Eventhough we do not understand some part because of the words used in this novel, we still find it rather interesting. Everytime we done reading one page, we feel excited to know what is going to happen next.Miss Marple Jane is our favourite of course seem she is the one who solved the case. Other than that, we find that Miss Marple is smart and rather understands people very well.This novel is quite hard to read, i mean the plot, we cannot even guess who kills the victims until the last page until Miss Marple state the evidence and the fact.So this is a very good novel to read.

THE MORAL VALUES

1. We should not judge the book by its cover same goes on with people.
2. We should be grateful for everything that we have now.
3. Money is not everything.
4. We should care about the people we love.
5. You cannot run from the justice.