Book Review- Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Rich dad, Poor dad is a book on financial literacy by multimillionaire Robert T. Kiyosaki. The book contrasts the thinking style of the Rich and the poor (this term is used throughout the book to actually refer to the middle class). The middle class tell their kids to study, get good grades and get a good job but even after having well-paying, secure jobs, they are stuck in a web of debts, taxes, mortgages and other liabilities. The rich, on the other hand, accumulate assets which will continue to produce income.

The author describes his own childhood expreience in the first few chapters where his father (a PhD) wanted him to study, get good grades etc. However, his father was always short of money and struggled financially. He contrasts this with his friend's father, who dropped out in eighth grade and died a billionaire.

The book is about all the lessons he learnt from this man.

It first criticizes the education system for teaching kids nothing about money or how to manage it (which is very true). Then he explains what assets and liabilities are and how to accumulate assets.

The book is on the whole, very useful in learning about money and how to accumulate wealth. I would anyone struggling with financial difficulties to read it.

Ratings
Content- 4
Style-4.5

Pros

It is very easy to understand
The author uses personal examples which make things clearer
Not too many technical words.

Cons
The concept of assets and liabilities is repeated in virtually every single chapter.
Towards the end, it gets a bit boring.

Blogger Interview- Glenda Cates

Another blogger interview today! This time it is blogger Glenda Cates who writes reviews and other interesting stuff on her blog

Here is the interview-

Favorite color- Purple
Favorite author- Danielle Steele
Favorite book- The Bible
Zodiac sign- Sagatarius
Your motto- Beleive and Never give up.
City of your dreams- Maui in Hawii

1. When did you start blogging?
Christmas of 2010

2. What do you love about blogging?
That I can share my thoughts with others while meeting new people.

3. Tell us about your blog. My Blog is a site where I share stories of my son and my family and friends. The businesses I am in as well as the Reviews and Giveaways I host.

4. Would you like to read comedy, romance or science fiction/fantasy (which of these is closest to you interests?)
Romance but I am learning to branch out and read all types of books.

5. Your favorite books, authors.
Danielle Steele as well as Debbie Macomber and her Cedar Cove series

6. Make a question up yourself and answer it.
If you had the chance to work with any Author who would you choose and why?
I would pick Danielle Steele as I lost a child and I know she has too and we could share stories and maybe work together to comfort others who have as well.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Glenda and all the best for your blog.

Relaxing jpop songs

So, I decided to another random article on relaxing jpop songs. Here are some songs that calm my nerves when I need to calm down. Please do not hesitate to post your favourites in the comments.

Maaya Sakamoto- Universe


Maaya Sakamoto's songs can easily be classified as easy listening. Everywhere, kazemachi jet, universe, no fear aisuru koto, platinum.....the list goes on and on. Her voice is soothing and her songs contain strings that give an etheral atmosphere. If you're looking for easy listening songs, Maaya Sakamoto should definitely be on your list.
Universe starts of slowly and picks up with an orchestra in the chorus. The emotions of lonliness, searching and sleep can easily be associated with the song. One of the truly wonderful relaxing songs.

4.8/5

Miki Imai- Pride


Miki Imai is another singer who sings easy listening. Her songs Piece of my wish, ruby, goodbye yesterday, haru no hi, miss you should definitely be tried too. Pride is one of her best selling singles. There is a choir singing in the beginning. Miki Imai takes it from there. The songs doesn't have a prominent chorus but can be enjoyed anyways.

4.6/5

Yui Makino- Tsuki no shijima


Yui Makino has a typical childish, anime singer voice. Many of her songs feature in animes. Tsuki no shijima really stands out in her discography despite the weak chorus because of the calming effect and arrangement. Her other songs like amrita, jasmine, euphoria, undine etc. are also relaxing.

4.6/5

Kanon- Wings to fly ~Tsubasa wo kudasai~


Kanon is one of the rare classical crossover singers in the jpop scene. She is best known for singing Brand new breeze for the la corda anime which I reviewed earlier. Her voice is very uplifting and emotional. She is a soprano so her voice sounds a bit like Sarah Brightman, Hayley Westenra and other classical singers. Wings to fly is a cover of Akai Tori's tusbasa wo kudasai. Kanon has done a wonderful job here.

4.6/5

Sia- Hoshi wo kazoeru yori mo


All those Bokura ga Ita fans might recognize this song. Hoshi wo kazoeru yori mo starts with a touching piano prelude. Sia's airy voice remains same throughout the song. I didn't like Sia's voice very much but the song is great.

4.6/5

Mai Kuraki- I Sing a song for you


Mai Kuraki's ballads like Ashita e kakeru hashi, kaze no la la la, like a star in the night, can't forget your love etc. are relaxing too but I Sing a song for you stands out among them. It is a typical ballad with piano in the background and Mai vocals.

4.5/5

To cut the article short, I have reviewed only one song by each artist. The other songs I have mentioned (by the same artist) are wonderful too and worth a try. Many anime songs fit under relaxing because anime singers usually don't have very powerful voices which reduce the song's water like qualities. Mebae drive, Rythem's songs, Chihiro Onistuka's songs, Akanishi Jin's eternal, Mizu no Akashi, Fields of hope, Shonen Jidai, Yumi Matsutoya's songs etc. fit in the category too. Feel free to suggest any relaxing songs you like.

Character interview of Sed Lionheart from Rock Hard

I am really excited today because I am doing the first character interview of Review Carnival. And my guest today is none other than.....Sedric Lionheart who is the lead singer of the uber-cool rock band 'Sinners' in Olivia Cunning's new erotic romance series Sinner on Tour.

To find out more about Olivia and the Sinners (there is a book for each band member) visit www.oliviacunning.com. The first book featuring guitarist Bryan is already available in bookstores and Rock Hard featuring Sed will go on sale in April 2011.

So here's Sed

Allow me to introduce Sedric “Sed” Lionheart, the lead singer of the sensational rock band, Sinners.
Thanks for having me. Is this a book blog?

Yes, but it’s also about music and other things.
Oh. I was wondering why you invited me here. I don’t read much, but music is my life.

You are the lead character in a book. Rock Hard by Olivia Cunning.
I haven’t read it.

Here's the band together- group photo!


Do you mind if I ask you some questions?
That’s what I’m here for.

Favorite band- I don’t have a favorite band. We’re opening for Exodus End in Las Vegas soon. They’re awesome.
Favorite music genre- Hard rock and metal
First love- Music. Or did you mean a girl?
Zodiac- Leo
Favorite place- On stage
Qualities admired in a woman- smart, sexy, caring, and I love a woman with a temper
Biggest secret- I have dimples (I hate them)
Your motto- Anything for a fan.

What made you decide you wanted to be a singer?
I wasn’t good at anything else. Honestly, it’s my only talent. I didn’t even know that’s what I wanted to do until I used a fake ID to get into some crappy little bar in Los Angeles. On stage, was some unknown band called Crysys made up of a bunch of punk teenagers, like myself. They were amazing. I’d never heard a more sensual sound. Sometimes you just know that you were meant to do something. You feel it in your gut. I knew instantly that these guys were going somewhere and I had to be a part of it.
Unfortunately, they already had a singer and I don’t play an instrument. A little violin, but nothing that would get me into a band with that kind of raw talent. I’m still not sure how I convinced Eric to give up singing to become Sinners’ drummer. I tend to be a little pushy, I suppose.
So we rearranged the band a little. They hadn’t found a permanent drummer, so the guy helping them out—he was in a different band—stepped aside. Eric Sticks, who had been their singer and bassist, became the drummer. Since you can’t drum and play bass at the same time, Eric got a friend of his, Jon Mallory, to join as our new bassists. The guitarists Brian Sinclair and Trey Mills stayed on. They’re the heart of the group. We had to keep them together. And I sang. We changed the name of the band to Sinners and became an instant failure. We didn’t let that stop us. I believed in the group. They believed in the group. We never let ourselves quit or lose our vision, even when it looked like we’d never catch a break. When we finally hit it big, we didn’t stop and rest on our laurels, we kept pushing, growing, evolving.
Sorry, I think I lost sight of the question there. You can probably tell I’m passionate about this band, our music.

So how long has Sinners been together?
Ten years now. We starved for the first eight.

I thought Jace Seymour was your bassist. Who is Jon Mallory?
Jace has been with the band for two years. Jon Mallory was forced to quit for personal reasons.

Which would be?
Personal.

Okay. Touchy subject. What is your favorite song to sing and why?
My favorite song to perform live is Twisted. It really pumps up the crowd. I love the crowd. I also like Goodbye Is Not Forever. That’s our ballad. More singing, less screaming. Did I mention Sinners is a metal band?

Do you have any pre-show rituals?
I chew red licorice. It keeps my throat and cords pliable. I do a lot of screaming during a live show. If I’m not careful, I could damage my throat.

When you aren't touring, what do you like to do in your free time?
Workout. Write music. Swim in the ocean. Shoot pool. Watch a game and have a beer with my buds. Play beach volleyball. Sex—that’s my favorite pastime.

What's your favorite position?
That’s a tough one. There are so many great positions. Quarterback. Running back. Linebacker. I can’t choose just one. Or were you talking about some other type of position?

Never mind. Are you close to your other band mates?
They’re my best friends. I’d die for any one of them. Even Eric. Because we tour so much, we practically live on top of each other ten months out of the year. If we didn’t get along well, we’d end up killing each other.

How do you keep in such great physical condition while on tour?
It isn’t nutrition. We don’t eat healthy when we’re on tour. I do have a weight set in the equipment truck. I work out with free weights at least an hour a day. I also do a lot of sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups on the bus. Wanna feel my abs? They’re rock hard.

Is that why this book you’re in is called Rock Hard?
What do you think?

What singers do you look up to?
Axl Rose, Freddie Mercury, Maximilian Richardson, and Luciano Pavarotti

What do you do with the bras women throw at you on stage?
The roadies have made a giant slingshot out of them. We use it to fling pies at cars when we get bored on the tour bus.
Really?
*lol* No, not really. The roadies collect them after the shows. I don’t know what they do with them. Sorry, ladies. We don’t sleep with them under our pillows or anything. The roadies might.

Over the past couple of years, you’ve gotten the reputation of being quite a playboy. It’s said you go through women like most men go through socks. Any chance that you’ll settle down?
Yeah, sure. If I found the right woman. I thought I found her once, but she left me to go to law school. I must have been wrong about her.

So what’s next for Sinners?
We’ve started working on our next album. Amazing stuff on this one. It should be out later this year. We’re still touring and promoting our last album, Shattered, so if we stop in your town, you should come out and see our show. I guarantee you’ll have a great time.

Thank you, Sed, for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to us.
Anything for a fan.

Isn't he sweet? I'm so glad I got the opportunity to interview him. Want to find out more about this upcoming superstar? Go to http://www.oliviacunning.com/fun%20stuff.html and read excerpts, short stories and participate in fun contests.

Author Interview- Kate Evangelista

Today I have a very special author interview for all the readers of Review Carnival. A few days ago, I stumbled upon a great blog called the Coffee Bar. It was a very unique blog which featured the first three chapters, theme song and character images of author Kate Evangleista's novel Taste. As soon as I started reading the first chapter, I was hooked to the story. So I suggest, if you have some time, head over to to get a taste of her paranormal young adult novel Taste!

Here is the interview

Favorite color- burgundy
Favorite author- Lisa Kleypas
Favorite book- Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Zodiac sign- Taurus
Place of your dreams- Ireland
Your motto- The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
- Eleanor Roosevelt

1. What prompted you to write Young Adult Fiction?


The teen years can be the most tumultuous and yet magical years of someone's life. So many things can happen. The belief in the fantastic is still strong. And the first touch of romance blooms. I love working with story lines that involve teens, which is why I stayed within YA.

2. What kind of characters/settings do you like?


When I start a novel, many of my characters are already fully formed, so I don't necessarily lean towards one kind or the other. In terms of setting, I've realized that most of my works in progress tend to be a little darker, even my more humorous scenes tend to lean on the darker side. I don't why. I'm usually a cheery person.


3. Which character do you think is the most unique in Taste? Which character is your favorite?


Great question! It's split. The most unique character in Taste is actually someone called Yana. She's introduced further into the book. My favorite character is Yuri. He's just so damaged. I want to hug him and never let go. I guess it also helps that he looks so much like Alex Pettyfer.

4. Do you ever suffer from writer's block? How do you deal with it?


I've never really had a case of writer's block. More like an initial hesitation, which is usually brought on by personal doubts. I say this because the characters dictate the story. They whisper it to me. Once I feel confident in the story they tell, I sit down and write. That's everyday. I don't let a day go by without writing something, even if it's just a paragraph.

(NOTE- This is not the official cover. It is just a stand in)

5. What other books/stories are you currently working on?


I'm actually writing one about Reapers. And this time around, it's actually writing itself. I already know how it ends. I just have to fill in the blanks in between. Something to keep myself busy while Taste is finding a home.


6. What message would you like to give your fans?


I want to say: Thank you! Your support and encouragement mean so much to me. I smile every time I receive an email from a reader who enjoyed the chapters up on The Coffee Bar.


And: Spread the word. The more readers who know about Taste, the better

To stay updated about the release of her novel Taste, follow her on twitter- or visit her website

Thank you so much for the interview, Kate and hope Taste become a huge phenomenon!

Book review- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

This book is a timeless classic by motivational writer Napoleon Hill. It has sold more than 10 million copies to date. I came across this book on a site which helps entrepreneurs. It was voted as one of the book all entrepreneurs should read. I am not an entrepreneur but a title like Think and Grow Rich has the potential to trap anyone into reading the book.

I had expected the book to be of a technical nature, describing stock markets, how to invest in shares, what exactly venture capitalists are (I still don't know) and such things. But the book is on a completely different plane. It is mainly spiritual and motivational in nature with occult added in for a good measure.

The closest comparisons to this book are the Monk who Sold his Ferrari and The Alchemist. But those two books focus on finding one's spiritual side and applying it mainly in context of personal life, relationships, self-discovery etc.

Think and Grow Rich teaches principles which can also be applied to love, relationships, generall happiness but in the book the author describes how to use them to accumulate wealth. I was hooked into the book once I started reading it, but the latter part of the book was not as splendid as its start. Nevertheless, I still found valuable advice in this book.

Many of the principles explained in this book might sound like esoteric nonsense to those not accustomed to reading such books. I agree that the book does not really talk about things like shares, how to start you own business and such thinsg in an easy, practical way. In fact, it has no such information. It is also difficult to agree with all the principles in the book.

One of the most annoying part about the book was that it has more history than a high school History textbook. The Independence of America, the Great Depression of 1930 etc. are described in great detail. Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Andrew Carnegie are given as real-life examples for every principle that the author describes.

The book has thirteen principles which if applied properly can make you rich. It is a very good book if you need a motivational push to start your dream business or have an 'etrepreneurial state of mind'. One of the biggest drawbacks of this book is that Hill's writing style is not as interesting and easily understood as Linda Goodman's. For a book so complex, good writing is a must to be able to convey the message properly to the readers.

The thing that struck me the most about this book was its startling similarity to the Secret by Rhonda Bryne. the philosophy of both is the same- Your thoughts should be positive and whatever you earnestly want, the universe will give it to you.

Rating
Style-4.2


Pros

Makes you feel good and gives you confidence
Many examples and short stories about real people add fun
Many of these principles can be applied in other spheres of life, too.

Cons

Too much history and too many boring facts
Has no practical information on how to go about starting a business

Book review- Seduce me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas

Seduce Me at Sunrise is the second book in the Hathways series. It potrays the romance of Winnifred- the frailest of the Hathway sisters who suffers from lung problems and Kev Merripen- a gypsy who was adopted by the Hathway family.

The story begins with Winnifred leaving home and going to France to seek medical help for her problem. Kev has always been in love with Win, but he is afriad of hurting her because he was raised as a fighter in his tribe and is afraid that he still harbours violent tendencies. He thinks their relationship cannot work out. Win loves him and pleads him to admit that he loves her, if he wants to stop her from going to France, but he doesn't. She leaves.

The rest of the story shows how their relationship sparks off again when Win comes back from France. Kev is unable to reject her for long. The book also throws light on Kev's mysterious past. Cam is actually is brother! (Sorry for spoiling the fun but I am sure many of you already suspected it). I was surprised that Kev was the ELDER brother and Cam was the YOUNGER brother. Cam alwasy seemed more reasonable and logical, and I had expected him to be older.

More revealations are in store at the end of the book, too. Reading Seduce me at Sunrise after Mine Till Midnight wasn't a great idea because of how similar they are. Still, Cam's character is much better than Kev's. Kev tries to hard to deny his feelings which got on my nerves after a while.

There is also a villian in this story (not too hard to guess who it is once you start reading the book). Still the book was above average. If I was giving stars, I would give it three.

Ratings
Story-4
Plot-4
Style-4.3
Characters-4.2

Pros

Interesting facts about the past of Cam and Kev are revealed.
Win is a strong heroine who is not afraid to get what she wants
Happy ending

Cons

Kev's brooding

Book Review- Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

I have wanted to read this book for a long time and I finally did. As I said in my review of Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas, I had grown to like Cam's character a lot.

Mine Till Midnight is the first book in the Hathaways series and centres around the romance of Amelia- the eldest girl in the Hathway family which has suddenly come into the possession of a viscountancy (i hope this word is right). Her brother Leo lost his fiancee Laura to the scarlet fever a few months ago and tries to drown his sorrows by drinking, gambling and frequenting taverns. Being the eldest sister, she is worried about his safety and tries to get him back.

During her search, she meets Cam Rohan- a half gypsy who works at a gambling house. He helps her in looking for her brother and then kisses her goodbye. She continues to meet him even after she moves to the Ramsay estate in Hampshire which has been inherited by Leo.

Their romance develops here. Cam is very possessive, calm, exotic, passionate and helpful. Amelia is responsible, sensible and not afraid to take risks.

The best thing about this book was the absence of prudish parents or relatives. Leo is very open minded and doesn't even oppose much to Amelia marrying a gypsy and also lets Cam take care of his estate.

The book was overall well written and since the main character was a gypsy, it added an element of exoticism and a little taboo to the book which worked to its advantage, aking it stand out and not appear like other historical romances.

Ratings
Characters- 4.5
Story-4
Plot-4
Style-4.3

Pros

A 'taboo' element which adds to the books uniqueness
Good male lead
Interesting characters

Cons

Amelia is a bit boring for a main character and very 'two-dimensional' She seems like a paper cutout, not like a real person.
The use of Christopher Frost (Amelia's ex lover) as a villian was very predictable and detracted from the plot.