House Of Prose : Second-Hand Bookshop

After a lovely cup of frothiest flat white, I checked another recommendation from Dubai Confidential.It is called  House Of Prose, a second-hand book shop neatly tucked at the far end corner of Dubai Garden Center.

Two elderly men looked after the shop. As I moved closer to inquire, one stood up and gladly explained the concept. Everything is for sale, books are arranged alphabetically, there's a shelf for romance and cookery, etc.,. When I am done reading and the books are still in good condition, I can bring it back and they'll buy it for half the price.

Delighted at the prospect of  being able to read  for half the price and yet NOT add more to the storage room, I went back to the shelves and and took one work of John Grisham and two romance books hahahhaaaa! I would have browsed longer and check if there's another work of Margaret Atwood but it was time for my son's nap.

I paid 58AED for all three books. Then we went to check out counter to pay for  our  chosen fortune plant and a couple of plant boxes before driving back to Discovery Gardens.

I was smiling all the way home. I definitely found another favorite store =)

Hubby's purchase at Dubai Garden center. Ever the green thumb =)

Illustrated Book of Leonardo Da Vinci's Science and Inventions

A couple of months ago, we visited Maraya Art Center in Al Qasba, Sharjah. On our way out after viewing the art works, we saw a small library and we decided to stop by for some reading. We saw this book titled Inventions: Leonardo Da Vinci. It is filled with notes and 3D illustrations of the Renaissance Man's science and inventions.

As we turn the pages, intricate paper engineering blew us away. Check this out:

Leonardo kept a series of journals in which he wrote almost daily, as well as separate notes and sheets of observations, comments and plans which were left to various pupils and were later bound.

 

 The man who painted Mona Lisa and The Last Supper was also famous for his concept on robots or human machines.

Da Vinci's concept of flying.

Architectural sketch

His studies on human anatomy allowed him to dissect corpses in Milan and Rome.

His concept on tanks

Artillery and canons

Leonardo's machines, bridges, and hydraulics.

The world's most famous drawing - The Vitruvian Man

An entry for

The Christmas Special By David Hearne

As of writing, we have exactly 128 days to go before the biggest and the merriest Christian celebration on earth - the birth of Christ. We all look forward to the time where the earth is at its most peaceful state. The lovely decked Christmas trees, holly decors, children carolers, gift-givings, the endless parties, and the mistletoe that melt the hearts of people around the world. But what if we wake up on Christmas morning and instead of the joyful tradition of opening our gifts, we are faced with terrorist attack more devastating than 9/11?

Such is the plot of The Christmas Special, a political thriller by renowned political novelist, David Hearne. It exposes a major terrorist attack to be carried out on Christmas morning led by Sheeva's father. Sheeva is a 16-year-old migrant from Afghanistan. Her father who is a doctor by profession, was given political asylum in the United States because of his assistance to the US Forces.

In another dark twist, Sheeva's father regularly beats his daughter as a punishment for her westernized ways. Unknown to all, Sheeva is in-love with a 19-year-old American boy. When Sheeva learns about the terror plot, along with her boyfriend, they decide to alert the authorities. But they find out that if exposed, her boyfriend can be charged with statutory rape and other charges of lascivious acts with a minor. If convicted, the boyfriend will be registered as sex offender for the rest of his life.Thus the reader is thrust to a moral dilemma.Should they come out and inevitably end their relationship to save thousands of people or simply remain silent?

I think that there is something for everybody in the book. With its modern day Romeo and Juliet characters, the readers learning more about nuclear power plants (because it is the target of the terror attack), and the east vs west tumultuous history, I am thinking this will make an interesting present. to  all our friends here in Dubai and abroad.  The Middle East readers will be especially on the lookout as  the United States signed a nuclear power deal with United Arab Emirates.

The Christmas Special will be released in fall 2010 so that gives me ample time to send copies  to our friends who are now residing in the the US, Canada, and Italy  just in time for Christmas. Gladly, our friends like us, are avid book collectors.

Project 365: Batch 2

6/365 - Zakumi, the 2010 South Africa World Cup Mascot

7/365 - My son's bedtime books

8/365 - Lego table at popular UK toy store Hamley's

9/365 - What's your favorite cereal? I added some fresh blueberries to our current breakfast, golden grahams from Nestle.

10/365 - A Bronze awardee creation for open-piece presentation during the 2010 Middle East Junior Chef Competition.