en-US Thu, 03 Aug 2023 02:46:39 -0700 60 144 41 https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 123857637 A former FBI hostage negotiator offers a new, field-tested approach to negotiating – effective in any situation.

After a stint policing the rough streets of Kansas City, Missouri, Chris Voss joined the FBI, where his career as a kidnapping negotiator brought him face-to-face with bank robbers, gang leaders, and terrorists. Never Split the Difference takes you inside his world of high-stakes negotiations, revealing the nine key principles that helped Voss and his colleagues succeed when it mattered the most – when people’s lives were at stake.

Rooted in the real-life experiences of an intelligence professional at the top of his game, Never Split the Difference will give you the competitive edge in any discussion.]]> 274 Chris Voss 1847941494 Dilshanka 0 4.28 2016
author: Chris Voss
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/08/03
shelves:
review:

]]> 2767052
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.]]> 374 Suzanne Collins 0439023483 Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.35 2008
author: Suzanne Collins
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/03/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 15751404 The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell has explored the ways we understand and change our world. Now he looks at the complex and surprising ways the weak can defeat the strong, the small can match up against the giant, and how our goals (often culturally determined) can make a huge difference in our ultimate sense of success. Drawing upon examples from the world of business, sports, culture, cutting-edge psychology, and an array of unforgettable characters around the world, David and Goliath is in many ways the most practical and provocative book Malcolm Gladwell has ever written.]]> 305 Malcolm Gladwell 0316204366 Dilshanka 0 3.97 2013
author: Malcolm Gladwell
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/03/10
shelves:
review:

]]> 30257963 What does everyone in the modern world need to know? Renowned psychologist Jordan B. Peterson's answer to this most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won truths of ancient tradition with the stunning revelations of cutting-edge scientific research.

Humorous, surprising, and informative, Dr. Peterson tells us why skateboarding boys and girls must be left alone, what terrible fate awaits those who criticize too easily, and why you should always pet a cat when you meet one on the street.

What does the nervous system of the lowly lobster have to tell us about standing up straight (with our shoulders back) and about success in life? Why did ancient Egyptians worship the capacity to pay careful attention as the highest of gods? What dreadful paths do people tread when they become resentful, arrogant, and vengeful? Dr. Peterson journeys broadly, discussing discipline, freedom, adventure, and responsibility, distilling the world's wisdom into 12 practical and profound rules for life. 12 Rules for Life shatters the modern commonplaces of science, faith, and human nature while transforming and ennobling the mind and spirit of its listeners.]]> 409 Jordan B. Peterson 0345816021 Dilshanka 3 3.89 2018
author: Jordan B. Peterson
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2021/02/23
shelves:
review:

]]> 53424992
Legendary leadership and elite performance expert Robin Sharma introduced The 5 AM Club concept over twenty years ago, based on a revolutionary morning routine that has helped his clients maximize their productivity, activate their best health and bulletproof their serenity in this age of overwhelming complexity.

Now, in this life-changing book, handcrafted by the author over a rigorous four year period, you will discover the early-rising habit that has helped so many accomplish epic results while upgrading their happiness, helpfulness and feelings of aliveness.

Through an enchanting—and often amusing—story about two struggling strangers who meet an eccentric tycoon who becomes their secret mentor, The 5 AM Club will walk you through:

■ How great geniuses, business titans and the world’s wisest people start their mornings to produce astonishing achievements
■ A little-known formula you can use instantly to wake up early feeling inspired, focused and flooded with a fiery drive to get the most out of each day
■ A step-by-step method to protect the quietest hours of daybreak so you have time for exercise, self-renewal and personal growth
■ A neuroscience-based practice proven to help make it easy to rise while most people are sleeping, giving you precious time for yourself to think, express your creativity and begin the day peacefully instead of being rushed
■ “Insider-only” tactics to defend your gifts, talents and dreams against digital distraction and trivial diversions so you enjoy fortune, influence and a magnificent impact on the world]]> 314 Robin Sharma Dilshanka 4 3.27 2018
author: Robin Sharma
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.27
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2021/02/23
shelves:
review:

]]> 5907 Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when it was first published in 1937. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent. The text in this 372-page paperback edition is based on that first published in Great Britain by Collins Modern Classics (1998), and includes a note on the text by Douglas A. Anderson (2001).

9780618260300]]> 366 J.R.R. Tolkien Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.30 1937
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.30
book published: 1937
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/02/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 222910 Alternate Cover Edition ISBN 0345296060 (ISBN13: 9780345296061)

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

Frodo and his Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in a battle in the Mines of Moria. And Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape, the rest of the company was attacked by Orcs. Now they continue the journey alone down the great River Anduin—alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go.]]> 447 J.R.R. Tolkien Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.57 1954
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.57
book published: 1954
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/02/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 3263607 THE LORD OF THE RINGS
 
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.

--back cover]]> 527 J.R.R. Tolkien Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.51 1954
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.51
book published: 1954
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/02/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 838729 385 J.R.R. Tolkien 0345240340 Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.64 1955
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.64
book published: 1955
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/02/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 33
In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as the Ring is entrusted to his care. He must leave his home and make a perilous journey across the realms of Middle-earth to the Crack of Doom, deep inside the territories of the Dark Lord. There he must destroy the Ring forever and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.]]> 1216 J.R.R. Tolkien 0618640150 Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.53 1955
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.53
book published: 1955
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/02/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 17157681
Whisked from his comfortable hobbit-hole by Gandalf the wizard and a band of dwarves, Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon.]]> 230 J.R.R. Tolkien 0007926669 Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.32 1937
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.32
book published: 1937
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/02/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 30
19 CDs. 17 hrs 30 mins.]]> 1728 J.R.R. Tolkien 0345538374 Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.61 1954
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.61
book published: 1954
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/02/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 7332 386 J.R.R. Tolkien 0618391118 Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.01 1977
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.01
book published: 1977
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/02/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 597790 The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales , also edited by Tolkien's son, Christopher, only hinted at the depth and power of the tragic story of Túrin and Niënor, the children of Húrin, the lord of Dor-lómin, who achieved renown for having confronted Morgoth, who was the master of Sauron, the manifestation of evil in the Lord of the Rings.

Six thousand years before the One Ring is destroyed, Middle-earth lies under the shadow of the Dark Lord Morgoth. The greatest warriors among elves and men have perished, and all is in darkness and despair. But a deadly new leader rises, Túrin, son of Húrin, and with his grim band of outlaws begins to turn the tide in the war for Middle-earth -- awaiting the day he confronts his destiny and the deadly curse laid upon him.]]> 315 J.R.R. Tolkien 0007246226 Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.06 2007
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/02/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 7329
Unfinished Tales is a collection of narratives ranging in time from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring, and provides those who have read The Lord of the Rings with a whole collection of background and new stories from the twentieth century’s most acclaimed popular author.

The book concentrates on the realm of Middle-earth and comprises such elements as Gandalf’s lively account of how it was that he came to send the Dwarves to the celebrated party at Bag-End, the emergence of the sea-god Ulmo before the eyes of Tuor on the coast of Beleriand, and an exact description of the military organization of the Riders of Rohan.

Unfinished Tales also contains the only story about the long ages of Numenor before its downfall, and all that is known about such matters as the Five Wizards, the Palantiri and the legend of Amroth. The tales were collated and edited by JRR Tolkien’s son and literary heir, Christopher Tolkien, who provides a short commentary on each story, helping the reader to fill in the gaps and put each story into the context of the rest of his father’s writings.]]> 452 J.R.R. Tolkien 026110215X Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.01 1980
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.01
book published: 1980
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/02/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 18290401 In his New York Times bestseller Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon showed readers how to unlock their creativity by “stealing” from the community of other movers and shakers. Now, in an even more forward-thinking and necessary book, he shows how to take that critical next step on a creative journey—getting known.

Show Your Work! is about why generosity trumps genius. It’s about getting findable, about using the network instead of wasting time “networking.” It’s not self-promotion, it’s self-discovery—let others into your process, then let them steal from you. Filled with illustrations, quotes, stories, and examples, Show Your Work! offers ten transformative rules for being open, generous, brave, productive.

In chapters such as You Don’t Have to Be a Genius; Share Something Small Every Day; and Stick Around, Kleon creates a user’s manual for embracing the communal nature of creativity— what he calls the “ecology of talent.” From broader life lessons about work (you can’t find your voice if you don’t use it) to the etiquette of sharing—and the dangers of oversharing—to the practicalities of Internet life (build a good domain name; give credit when credit is due), it’s an inspiring manifesto for succeeding as any kind of artist or entrepreneur in the digital age.

]]> 215 Austin Kleon 076117897X Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.04 2014
author: Austin Kleon
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/02/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 881392
This book describes Kramnik's rise to the elite levels of professional chess and ends just before his historic upset of Garry Kasparov later in 2000.]]> 272 Vladimir Kramnik 1857442709 Dilshanka 0 to-read 3.90 2000
author: Vladimir Kramnik
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2000
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/01/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 1768603
Balram Halwai is a complicated man. Servant. Philosopher. Entrepreneur. Murderer. Over the course of seven nights, by the scattered light of a preposterous chandelier, Balram tells us the terrible and transfixing story of how he came to be a success in life—having nothing but his own wits to help him along.

Born in the dark heart of India, Balram gets a break when he is hired as a driver for his village's wealthiest man, two house Pomeranians (Puddles and Cuddles), and the rich man's (very unlucky) son. From behind the wheel of their Honda City car, Balram's new world is a revelation. While his peers flip through the pages of Murder Weekly ("Love -- Rape -- Revenge!"), barter for girls, drink liquor (Thunderbolt), and perpetuate the Great Rooster Coop of Indian society, Balram watches his employers bribe foreign ministers for tax breaks, barter for girls, drink liquor (single-malt whiskey), and play their own role in the Rooster Coop. Balram learns how to siphon gas, deal with corrupt mechanics, and refill and resell Johnnie Walker Black Label bottles (all but one). He also finds a way out of the Coop that no one else inside it can perceive.

Balram's eyes penetrate India as few outsiders can: the cockroaches and the call centers; the prostitutes and the worshippers; the ancient and Internet cultures; the water buffalo and, trapped in so many kinds of cages that escape is (almost) impossible, the white tiger. And with a charisma as undeniable as it is unexpected, Balram teaches us that religion doesn't create virtue, and money doesn't solve every problem -- but decency can still be found in a corrupt world, and you can get what you want out of life if you eavesdrop on the right conversations.

The White Tiger recalls The Death of Vishnu and Bangkok 8 in ambition, scope, and narrative genius, with a mischief and personality all its own. Amoral, irreverent, deeply endearing, and utterly contemporary, this novel is an international publishing sensation —and a startling, provocative debut.]]> 288 Aravind Adiga 1416562591 Dilshanka 0 to-read 3.76 2008
author: Aravind Adiga
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/01/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 861514 350 Biz Stone 0735712999 Dilshanka 0 to-read 3.48 2002
author: Biz Stone
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.48
book published: 2002
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/09/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 13674 496 Mikhail Tal 1857442024 Dilshanka 0 currently-reading 4.51 1978
author: Mikhail Tal
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.51
book published: 1978
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/09/12
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 9579634
It’s time for Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath to return to the castle he turned his back on, to take what’s rightfully his. Since the day he hung pinned on the thorns of a briar patch and watched Count Renar’s men slaughter his mother and young brother, Jorg has been driven to vent his rage. Life and death are no more than a game to him—and he has nothing left to lose.

But treachery awaits him in his father’s castle. Treachery and dark magic. No matter how fierce his will, can one young man conquer enemies with power beyond his imagining?]]> 373 Mark Lawrence 0007423292 Dilshanka 0 to-read 3.82 2011
author: Mark Lawrence
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/09/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 16793 Alternate cover edition can be found here

Young Tristran Thorn will do anything to win the cold heart of beautiful Victoria—even fetch her the star they watch fall from the night sky. But to do so, he must enter the unexplored lands on the other side of the ancient wall that gives their tiny village its name. Beyond that old stone wall, Tristran learns, lies Faerie—where nothing not even a fallen star, is what he imagined.]]> 248 Neil Gaiman 0061142026 Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.10 1999
author: Neil Gaiman
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1999
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/09/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 49741
“One of the few contemporary writers of whom we can speak in terms of greatness.” — Newsday

“A stranger could drive through Miguel Street and just say ‘Slum!’ because he could see no more.” But to its residents this corner of Trinidad’s capital is a complete world, where everybody is quite different from everybody else. There’s Popo the carpenter, who neglects his livelihood to build “the thing without a name.” There’s Man-man, who goes from running for public office to staging his own crucifixion, and the dreaded Big Foot, the bully with glass tear ducts. There’s the lovely Mrs. Hereira, in thrall to her monstrous husband. This tender, funny early novel is a work of mercurial mood shifts, by turns sweetly melancholy and anarchically funny. It overflows with life on every page.]]> 222 V.S. Naipaul 0375713875 Dilshanka 0 3.96 1959
author: V.S. Naipaul
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.96
book published: 1959
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/07/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 1303 Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this multi-million-copy New York Times bestseller is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control – from the author of The Laws of Human Nature.

In the book that People magazine proclaimed “beguiling” and “fascinating,” Robert Greene and Joost Elffers have distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws by drawing from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and also from the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. Barnum.

Some laws teach the need for prudence (“Law 1: Never Outshine the Master”), others teach the value of confidence (“Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness”), and many recommend absolute self-preservation (“Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally”). Every law, though, has one thing in common: an interest in total domination. In a bold and arresting two-color package, The 48 Laws of Power is ideal whether your aim is conquest, self-defense, or simply to understand the rules of the game.]]> 452 Robert Greene 0140280197 Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.08 1999
author: Robert Greene
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.08
book published: 1999
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/06/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 128029
“Just as good, if not better, than Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling first book, The Kite Runner.”—Newsweek

New York Times Readers Pick: 100 Best Books of the 21st Century

Khaled Hosseini returns with a beautiful, riveting, and haunting novel that confirms his place as one of the most important literary writers today.

Born a generation apart and with very different ideas about love and family, Mariam and Laila are two women brought jarringly together by war, by loss and by fate. As they endure the ever escalating dangers around them-in their home as well as in the streets of Kabul-they come to form a bond that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will ultimately alter the course not just of their own lives but of the next generation. With heart-wrenching power and suspense, Hosseini shows how a woman's love for her family can move her to shocking and heroic acts of self-sacrifice, and that in the end it is love, or even the memory of love, that is often the key to survival.

A stunning accomplishment, A Thousand Splendid Suns is a haunting, heartbreaking, compelling story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love.]]> 372 Khaled Hosseini 1594489505 Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.45 2007
author: Khaled Hosseini
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/06/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 18619684 537 Audrey Niffenegger 1939126010 Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.07 2003
author: Audrey Niffenegger
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2003
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/06/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 18144590 The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations.

Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, following our dreams.]]> 182 Paulo Coelho 0062315005 Dilshanka 4 4.01 1988
author: Paulo Coelho
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.01
book published: 1988
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2020/06/16
shelves:
review:

]]> 929
In "Memoirs of a Geisha," we enter a world where appearances are paramount; where a girl's virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder; where women are trained to beguile the most powerful men; and where love is scorned as illusion. It is a unique and triumphant work of fiction - at once romantic, erotic, suspenseful - and completely unforgettable.]]> 503 Arthur Golden 1400096898 Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.31 1997
author: Arthur Golden
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.31
book published: 1997
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/06/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 968 This is an alternate cover for 9780307277671. Others can be found:
here, here, here, here, and here


While in Paris on business, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon receives an urgent late-night phone call: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum. Near the body, police have found a baffling cipher. While working to solve the enigmatic riddle, Langdon is stunned to discover it leads to a trail of clues hidden in the works of Da Vinci -- clues visible for all to see -- yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.

Langdon joins forces with a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, and learns the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion -- an actual secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci, among others.

In a breathless race through Paris, London, and beyond, Langdon and Neveu match wits with a faceless powerbroker who seems to anticipate their every move. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle in time, the Priory's ancient secret -- and an explosive historical truth -- will be lost forever.

The Da Vinci Code heralds the arrival of a new breed of lightning-paced, intelligent thriller utterly unpredictable right up to its stunning conclusion.]]> 489 Dan Brown Dilshanka 0 to-read 3.92 2003
author: Dan Brown
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2003
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/06/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 386162 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox—the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.

Where are these pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? Why do we spend so much time between wearing digital watches? For all the answers stick your thumb to the stars. And don't forget to bring a towel!]]> 193 Douglas Adams Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.28 1979
author: Douglas Adams
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.28
book published: 1979
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/06/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 19063 Librarian's note: An alternate cover edition can be found here

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will be busier still.

By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left behind there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordian-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

(Note: this title was not published as YA fiction)]]> 592 Markus Zusak Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.38 2005
author: Markus Zusak
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/06/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 93427
As a teenager, Genghis was a fugitive, hiding from enemies on a remote mountainside. Yet he went on to found the world's greatest land empire and change the course of world history. Brilliant and original as well as ruthless, he ruled an empire twice the size of Rome's until his death in 1227 placed all at risk. To secure his conquests and then extend them, his heirs kept his death a secret, and secrecy has surrounded him ever since. His undiscovered grave, with its imagined treasures, remains the subject of intrigue and speculation.

This is more than just a gripping account of Genghis' rise and conquests. John Man uses first-hand experiences in China and Mongolia to reveal the khan's enduring influence. He has traveled the length of the empire. He spotlights the tension between Mongols and Chinese, who both claim Genghis' spirit. He is the first writer to explore the hidden valley where Genghis is believed to have died, and one of the few westerners to climb the mountain where he was likely buried.

This stunning narrative paints a vivid picture of the man himself, the places where he lived and fought, and the passions that surround him still. For in legend, ritual and intense controversy, Genghis lives on.]]> 400 John Man 0312366248 Dilshanka 0 to-read 3.72 2004
author: John Man
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2004
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/06/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 2159 303 John Perkins 0452287081 Dilshanka 3 3.86 2005
author: John Perkins
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2020/06/16
shelves:
review:

]]> 95887 The legendary Eat That Frog! (more than 450,000 copies sold and translated into 23 languages) provides the 21 most effective methods for conquering procrastination and accomplishing more. This new edition is revised and updated throughout, and includes brand new information on how to keep technology from dominating our time.]]> 144 Brian Tracy 1576754227 Dilshanka 5 3.90 2001
author: Brian Tracy
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2001
rating: 5
read at: 2020/06/15
date added: 2020/06/15
shelves:
review:

]]> 50815803 From the author of New York Times bestsellers Contagious and Invisible Influence comes a revolutionary approach to changing anyone’s mind.

Everyone has something they want to change. Marketers want to change their customers’ minds and leaders want to change organizations. Start-ups want to change industries and nonprofits want to change the world. But change is hard. Often, we persuade and pressure and push, but nothing moves. Could there be a better way?

This book takes a different approach. Successful change agents know it’s not about pushing harder, or providing more information, it’s about being a catalyst. Catalysts remove roadblocks and reduce the barriers to change. Instead of asking, “How could I change someone’s mind?” they ask a different question: “Why haven’t they changed already? What’s stopping them?”

The Catalyst identifies the key barriers to change and how to mitigate them. You’ll learn how catalysts change minds in the toughest of situations: how hostage negotiators get people to come out with their hands up and how marketers get new products to catch on, how leaders transform organizational culture and how activists ignite social movements, how substance abuse counselors get addicts to realize they have a problem, and how political canvassers change deeply rooted political beliefs.

This book is designed for anyone who wants to catalyze change. It provides a powerful way of thinking and a range of techniques that can lead to extraordinary results. Whether you’re trying to change one person, transform an organization, or shift the way an entire industry does business, this book will teach you how to become a catalyst.]]> 288 Jonah Berger 1982108606 Dilshanka 0 to-read 3.86 2020
author: Jonah Berger
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/06/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 37587258 279 Aditha Dissanayake Dilshanka 4 4.20
author: Aditha Dissanayake
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.20
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2020/05/25
shelves:
review:

]]> 22034
Almost fifty years ago, a classic was born. A searing portrayal of the Mafia underworld, The Godfather introduced readers to the first family of American crime fiction, the Corleones, and their powerful legacy of tradition, blood, and honor. The seduction of power, the pitfalls of greed, and the allegiance to family—these are the themes that have resonated with millions of readers around the world and made The Godfather the definitive novel of the violent subculture that, steeped in intrigue and controversy, remains indelibly etched in our collective consciousness.]]> 428 Mario Puzo Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.39 1969
author: Mario Puzo
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.39
book published: 1969
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 4865
Since its release in 1936, How to Win Friends and Influence People has sold more than 30 million copies. Dale Carnegie's first book is a timeless bestseller, packed with rock-solid advice that has carried thousands of now famous people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives.

As relevant as ever before, Dale Carnegie's principles endure, and will help you achieve your maximum potential in the complex and competitive modern age.

Learn the six ways to make people like you, the twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking, and the nine ways to change people without arousing resentment.]]> 288 Dale Carnegie Dilshanka 5 4.21 1936
author: Dale Carnegie
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.21
book published: 1936
rating: 5
read at: 2020/05/24
date added: 2020/05/24
shelves:
review:

]]> 2657 "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel - a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with exuberant humour the irrationality of adult attitudes to race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina of one man's struggle for justice. But the weight of history will only tolerate so much.

"To Kill A Mockingbird" became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film.]]> 323 Harper Lee 0060935464 Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.26 1960
author: Harper Lee
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.26
book published: 1960
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 2956 327 Mark Twain 0142437174 Dilshanka 0 3.82 1885
author: Mark Twain
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.82
book published: 1885
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves:
review:

]]> 77203 371 Khaled Hosseini 159463193X Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.34 2003
author: Khaled Hosseini
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2003
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 1885 279 Jane Austen 1441341706 Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.28 1813
author: Jane Austen
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.28
book published: 1813
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 24280 1488 Victor Hugo 0451525264 Dilshanka 0 4.19 1862
author: Victor Hugo
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.19
book published: 1862
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves:
review:

]]> 2932 320 Daniel Defoe Dilshanka 5 atf 3.69 1719
author: Daniel Defoe
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.69
book published: 1719
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves: atf
review:

]]> 295 Treasure Island has never been surpassed. From the moment young Jim Hawkins first encounters the sinister Blind Pew at the Admiral Benbow Inn until the climactic battle for treasure on a tropic isle, the novel creates scenes and characters that have fired the imaginations of generations of readers. Written by a superb prose stylist, a master of both action and atmosphere, the story centers upon the conflict between good and evil - but in this case a particularly engaging form of evil. It is the villainy of that most ambiguous rogue Long John Silver that sets the tempo of this tale of treachery, greed, and daring. Designed to forever kindle a dream of high romance and distant horizons, Treasure Island is, in the words of G. K. Chesterton, 'the realization of an ideal, that which is promised in its provocative and beckoning map; a vision not only of white skeletons but also green palm trees and sapphire seas.' G. S. Fraser terms it 'an utterly original book' and goes on to write: 'There will always be a place for stories like Treasure Island that can keep boys and old men happy.']]> 352 Robert Louis Stevenson 0753453800 Dilshanka 0 3.84 1882
author: Robert Louis Stevenson
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.84
book published: 1882
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves:
review:

]]> 1953 A Tale of Two Cities is Charles Dickens’s great historical novel, set against the violent upheaval of the French Revolution. The most famous and perhaps the most popular of his works, it compresses an event of immense complexity to the scale of a family history, with a cast of characters that includes a bloodthirsty ogress and an antihero as believably flawed as any in modern fiction. Though the least typical of the author’s novels, A Tale of Two Cities still underscores many of his enduring themes—imprisonment, injustice, social anarchy, resurrection, and the renunciation that fosters renewal.]]> 489 Charles Dickens 0141439602 Dilshanka 0 3.87 1859
author: Charles Dickens
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.87
book published: 1859
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves:
review:

]]> 24583 244 Mark Twain Dilshanka 0 3.92 1876
author: Mark Twain
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.92
book published: 1876
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves:
review:

]]> 12615008 296 Chetan Bhagat 8129118807 Dilshanka 0 3.07 2011
author: Chetan Bhagat
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.07
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves:
review:

]]> 6969361
Welcome to 2 States, a story about Krish and Ananya. They are from two different states of India, deeply in love and want to get married. Of course, their parents don't agrees. To convert their love story into a love marriage, the couple have a tough battle in front of them. For it is easy to fight and rebel, but it is much harder to convince. Will they make it?

From the author of blockbusters Five Point Someone, One Night @ the Call Center and The 3 Mistakes of My Life, comes another witty tale about inter-community marriages in modern india.]]> 269 Chetan Bhagat 8129115301 Dilshanka 0 3.42 2009
author: Chetan Bhagat
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.42
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves:
review:

]]> 36072 372 Stephen R. Covey 0743269519 Dilshanka 5 4.16 1989
author: Stephen R. Covey
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.16
book published: 1989
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves:
review:

]]> 9278897 A new, updated and expanded edition of this New York Times bestseller on how to reconstruct your life so it's not all about work

Forget the old concept of retirement and the rest of the deferred-life plan - there is no need to wait and every reason not to, especially in unpredictable economic times. Whether your dream is escaping the rat race, experiencing high-end world travel, earning a monthly five-figure income with zero management, or just living more and working less, this book is the blueprint.

This step-by step guide to luxury lifestyle design teaches:

* How Tim went from $40,000 dollars per year and 80 hours per week to $40,000 per MONTH and 4 hours per week
* How to outsource your life to overseas virtual assistants for $5 per hour and do whatever you want
* How blue-chip escape artists travel the world without quitting their jobs
* How to eliminate 50% of your work in 48 hours using the principles of a forgotten Italian economist
* How to trade a long-haul career for short work bursts and frequent 'mini-retirements'.

This new updated and expanded edition includes:

More than 50 practical tips and case studies from readers (including families) who have doubled their income, overcome common sticking points, and reinvented themselves using the original book as a starting point
* Real-world templates you can copy for eliminating email, negotiating with bosses and clients, or getting a private chef for less than £5 a meal
* How lifestyle design principles can be suited to unpredictable economic times
* The latest tools and tricks, as well as high-tech shortcuts, for living like a diplomat or millionaire without being either.]]> 396 Timothy Ferriss 0091929113 Dilshanka 5 atf 3.67 2007
author: Timothy Ferriss
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2007
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves: atf
review:

]]> 32829
The expedition descends into an extinct volcano toward a sunless sea, where they encounter a subterranean world of luminous rocks, antediluvian forests, and fantastic marine life — a living past that holds the secrets to the origins of human existence.]]> 240 Jules Verne 0553213970 Dilshanka 0 3.86 1864
author: Jules Verne
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.86
book published: 1864
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves:
review:

]]> 10210 Alternate editions can be found here and here.

A gothic masterpiece of tempestuous passions and dark secrets, Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre is edited with an introduction and notes by Stevie Davis in Penguin Classics.

Charlotte Brontë tells the story of orphaned Jane Eyre, who grows up in the home of her heartless aunt, enduring loneliness and cruelty. This troubled childhood strengthens Jane's natural independence and spirit - which prove necessary when she finds employment as a governess to the young ward of Byronic, brooding Mr Rochester. As her feelings for Rochester develop, Jane gradually uncovers Thornfield Hall's terrible secret, forcing her to make a choice. Should she stay with Rochester and live with the consequences, or follow her convictions - even if it means leaving the man she loves? A novel of intense power and intrigue, Jane Eyre dazzled readers with its passionate depiction of a woman's search for equality and freedom.]]> 532 Charlotte Brontë 0142437204 Dilshanka 4 4.15 1847
author: Charlotte Brontë
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.15
book published: 1847
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves:
review:

]]> 6914010 369 Dennis Lehane 0061898813 Dilshanka 3 4.22 2003
author: Dennis Lehane
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2003
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves:
review:

]]> 18007564
Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first.

But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills — and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit — he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

]]> 369 Andy Weir 0804139024 Dilshanka 0 4.41 2011
author: Andy Weir
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/18
shelves:
review:

]]> 37903770 This is an alternate cover edition for ISBN 9780393356182

Neil Gaiman, long inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction, presents a bravura rendition of the Norse gods and their world from their origin though their upheaval in Ragnarok.

In Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major Norse pantheon: Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki—son of a giant—blood brother to Odin and a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator.

Gaiman fashions these primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds and delves into the exploits of deities, dwarfs, and giants. Through Gaiman’s deft and witty prose, these gods emerge with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and to duping others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe pungent life again.]]> 301 Neil Gaiman Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.11 2017
author: Neil Gaiman
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 14718496 210 Roald Dahl 9559777653 Dilshanka 5 atf 4.51
author: Roald Dahl
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.51
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2020/05/16
shelves: atf
review:

]]> 4099 The Pragmatic Programmer cuts through the increasing specialization and technicalities of modern software development to examine the core process--taking a requirement and producing working, maintainable code that delights its users. It covers topics ranging from personal responsibility and career development to architectural techniques for keeping your code flexible and easy to adapt and reuse. Read this book, and you'll learn how to

Fight software rot; Avoid the trap of duplicating knowledge; Write flexible, dynamic, and adaptable code; Avoid programming by coincidence; Bullet-proof your code with contracts, assertions, and exceptions; Capture real requirements; Test ruthlessly and effectively; Delight your users; Build teams of pragmatic programmers; and Make your developments more precise with automation. Written as a series of self-contained sections and filled with entertaining anecdotes, thoughtful examples, and interesting analogies, The Pragmatic Programmer illustrates the best practices and major pitfalls of many different aspects of software development. Whether you're a new coder, an experienced programmer, or a manager responsible for software projects, use these lessons daily, and you'll quickly see improvements in personal productivity, accuracy, and job satisfaction. You'll learn skills and develop habits and attitudes that form the foundation for long-term success in your career. You'll become a Pragmatic Programmer.]]> 321 Andy Hunt 020161622X Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.32 1999
author: Andy Hunt
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.32
book published: 1999
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 30296087 Kyle Simpson Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.49
author: Kyle Simpson
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.49
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 656
War and Peace broadly focuses on Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812 and follows three of the most well-known characters in literature: Pierre Bezukhov, the illegitimate son of a count who is fighting for his inheritance and yearning for spiritual fulfillment; Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, who leaves his family behind to fight in the war against Napoleon; and Natasha Rostov, the beautiful young daughter of a nobleman who intrigues both men.

As Napoleon’s army invades, Tolstoy brilliantly follows characters from diverse backgrounds—peasants and nobility, civilians and soldiers—as they struggle with the problems unique to their era, their history, and their culture. And as the novel progresses, these characters transcend their specificity, becoming some of the most moving—and human—figures in world literature.


Tolstoy gave his personal approval to this translation, published here in a new single volume edition, which includes an introduction by Henry Gifford, and Tolstoy's important essay `Some Words about War and Peace'.]]> 1392 Leo Tolstoy 0192833987 Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.14 1868
author: Leo Tolstoy
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.14
book published: 1868
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 7144 671 Fyodor Dostoevsky Dilshanka 0 to-read 4.27 1866
author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.27
book published: 1866
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 14756977 122 Martin Wickramasinghe 9555640378 Dilshanka 4 4.18 1945
author: Martin Wickramasinghe
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.18
book published: 1945
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2020/05/16
shelves:
review:

]]> 604578 124 Alexander Pushkin 184391154X Dilshanka 0 3.90 1836
author: Alexander Pushkin
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.90
book published: 1836
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/16
shelves:
review:

]]> 1683143 178 Martin Wickramasinghe 9558415049 Dilshanka 0 atf 4.30 1947
author: Martin Wickramasinghe
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.30
book published: 1947
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/16
shelves: atf
review:

]]> 13416859 162 Martin Wickramasinghe 9558415243 Dilshanka 0 4.14 2006
author: Martin Wickramasinghe
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/16
shelves:
review:

]]> 13632065 Martin Wickramasinghe 9558415464 Dilshanka 0 4.22 1936
author: Martin Wickramasinghe
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.22
book published: 1936
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/16
shelves:
review:

]]> 11305655
අරවින්ද තමාගේ චරිතයෙහි හොඳතැන් මෙන්ම නරක තැන් ද අහුමුළුවල සැඟවුණ අශෝභන ගති ද හෙළි කරන්නේ පාපෝච්චාරණයෙන් ආත්ම විශුද්ධිය පතන්නකු ලෙසිනි.

විරාගය ශෝකාන්ත අධ්‍යාත්ම නාටකයකි.

(1956 දී පළ වූ මෙම නවකතාව මෙතෙක් සිංහලෙන් බිහි වූ විශිෂ්ටතම නවකතාව බව විචාරකයින්ගේ මතයයි. විරාගය දෙමළ, ඉංග්‍රීසි, ප්‍රංශ හා ජපන් භාෂා වලින් ද පළ වී ඇත.)]]> 208 Martin Wickramasinghe 9555640149 Dilshanka 5 atf 4.26 1956
author: Martin Wickramasinghe
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 4.26
book published: 1956
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2020/05/16
shelves: atf
review:

]]> 16269459 From "one of the world's leading young thinkers" (The Observer)-the internationally noted speaker, economics expert, and bestselling author of IOU: The Debt Threat and Silent Takeover-comes this practical, cutting-edge guide to help you make smarter and better choices in the age of data deluge, based on her highly popular TED talk

In the modern world we're swamped with information from every direction. Who should we trust? Who should we believe? How can we make sure we make the right choices This is the book that will help you through that data deluge and show you how to make better and smarter decisions.

Internationally renowned thinker, forecaster, and bestselling author Noreena Hertz reveals the extent to which life's big decisions are made on the basis of flawed information, weak assumptions, corrupted data, insufficient scrutiny of others, and a lack of self-knowledge. Taking us on a journey that reveals the extent to which we cede our intellectual power at our peril, Hertz shows how errors in decision-making lead young people to under-save for retirement, doctors to miss tumors, CEOs to make catastrophic investments, governments to adopt the wrong economic policies, and parents to irreversibly traumatize their children.

To avert such disasters, Hertz persuasively argues, we need to become empowered decision-makers, capable of making high-stakes choices and holding accountable those who advise us.By weaving together cutting-edge research with real-world examples from Hollywood to Harry Potter, NASA to World War Two spies, Hertz constructs a path to more astute and empowered decision-making in ten clear steps. With a razor-sharp intellect and an instinct for popular storytelling, she offers counterintuitive, actionable guidance for making better choices-whether you are a business-person, a professional, a patient , or a parent.]]> 352 Noreena Hertz 0062268619 Dilshanka 0 3.63 2013
author: Noreena Hertz
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/16
shelves:
review:

]]> 105578 Press 2 for broken hearts.
Press 3 if your life has totally crashed. . . .

Six friends work nights at a call center in India, providing technical support for a major U.S. appliance corporation. Skilled in patience–and accent management–they help American consumers keep their lives running. Yet behind the headsets, everybody’s heart is on the line.

Shyam (Sam to his callers) has lost his self-confidence after being dumped by the girl who just so happens to be sitting next to him. Priyanka’s domineering mother has arranged for her daughter’s upscale marriage to an Indian man in Seattle. Esha longs to be a model but discovers it’s a horizontal romp to the runway. Lost, dissatisfied Vroom has high ideals, but compromises them by talking on the phone to idiots each night. Traditional Radhika has just found out that her husband is sleeping with his secretary. And Military Uncle (nobody knows his real name) sits alone working the online chat.

They all try to make it through their shifts–and maintain their sanity–under the eagle eye of a boss whose ego rivals his incompetence. But tonight is no ordinary night. Tonight is Thanksgiving in Appliances are going haywire, and the phones are ringing off their hooks. Then one call, from one very special caller, changes everything.

Chetan Bhagat’s delicious romantic comedy takes us inside the world of the international call center, where cultural cross-wires come together with perfect pathos, hilarity, and spice.]]> 320 Chetan Bhagat 0345498321 Dilshanka 0 2.49 2005
author: Chetan Bhagat
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 2.49
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/16
shelves:
review:

]]> 13032249 The battle for mankind is about to begin in this riveting story of Earth’s invasion from the author of the H.I.V.E. series.

Sam awakens to see strange vessels gathered in the skies around London. As he stares up, people stream past, walking silently toward the enormous ships, which emit a persistent noise. Only Sam seems immune to the signal. Six months later, he is absolutely alone.

Or so he thinks. Because after he emerges from his underground bunker and is wounded by a flying drone, a hail of machine-gun fire ultimately reveals two very important truths: One, Sam is not, in fact, alone. And two, the drone injury should have killed him—but it didn’t.

With his home planet feeling alien and the future unstable and unclear, Sam must navigate a new world in this gripping adventure.]]> 280 Mark Walden 1408815664 Dilshanka 4 3.89 2010
author: Mark Walden
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2020/05/03
shelves:
review:

]]> 3320520 258 Chetan Bhagat 8129113724 Dilshanka 0 3.05 2008
author: Chetan Bhagat
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.05
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/03
shelves:
review:

]]> 22874559 260 Chetan Bhagat 8129135728 Dilshanka 0 3.01 2014
author: Chetan Bhagat
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.01
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/03
shelves:
review:

]]> 105576
The book starts with a disclaimer, “This is not a book to teach you how to get into IIT or even how to live in college. In fact, it describes how screwed up things can get if you don’t think straight.”

Three hostelmates – Alok, Hari and Ryan get off to a bad start in IIT – they screw up the first class quiz. And while they try to make amends, things only get worse. It takes them a while to realize: If you try and screw with the IIT system, it comes back to double screw you. Before they know it, they are at the lowest echelons of IIT society. They have a five-point-something GPA out of ten, ranking near the end of their class. This GPA is a tattoo that will remain with them, and come in the way of anything else that matters – their friendship, their future, their love life. While the world expects IITians to conquer the world, these guys are struggling to survive.

Will they make it? Do under performers have a right to live? Can they show that they are not just a five-point-somebody but a five-point-someone?]]> 267 Chetan Bhagat 8129104598 Dilshanka 5 3.41 2004
author: Chetan Bhagat
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.41
book published: 2004
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2020/05/03
shelves:
review:

]]> 33391439
In Jérôme's pocket is a postcard of Monet's 'Water Lilies' with the words: Eleven years old. Happy Birthday.

Entangled in the mystery are three women: a young painting prodigy, the seductive village schoolteacher and an old widow who watches over the village from a mill by the stream.

All three of them share a secret.
But what do they know about Jérôme's death?
And what is the connection to the mysterious 'Black Water Lilies', a rumoured masterpiece by Monet that has never been found?]]> 368 Michel Bussi 1474601766 Dilshanka 0 3.92 2011
author: Michel Bussi
name: Dilshanka
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/03
shelves:
review:

]]>