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I finally finished my fourth Dan Brown read - Deception Point.
Like the other three, this one too is a surefire page turner and an out and out thriller. If you like his style of writing, you will know that this is just like the other three, full of chills and thrills, exotic locations, scientific overload, a dash of relationship drama, and a narration that travels at breakneck speed.

The order in which I like his books?
1) Angels and Demons
2) The Da Vinci Code
3) Digital Fortress
4) Deception Point

Although his narration is a page turner and all his chapters end like the Kyunki Saans Bhi Kabhi Bahu thi episodes, there are instances of scientific background that can easily be skimmed over. Also, there are places where you just want to move on and not read the details so that you can jump on to the juicy stuff. Another common trait in all his books is the numerous fights and escapes that the heroes and heroines of his books have! The hero and the heroine seem to get into trouble everytime and whether they are being hunted by the bulkiest of man in a desolate land or they are left to be frozen on a rock in the Arctic circle, they manage to escape alive. The climax, is always a shower of firearms or something magnanimous and leaves you in awe! Much like our typical hindi movie climaxes. Lots of drama and action!

What is most interesting though, is that his books are a kind of satire, I feel! There are so many open implications about discontent with religion and government and the books truly make you think if what he wrote is really true? Even though common sense tells you that it is fiction, the books urge you to check some things out and raise your curiosity! Besides, there is so much information in there that I did not know about and was like oh! I didnt know that!

I had picked up Digital Fortress on my way to India, especially since everyone I knew was raving about Da Vinci Code. So I figured before jumping on to the biggest, I start with something not so big! Loved it and went on to read the other three. I cant wait for a fifth one if it is coming out and also the movie!

A story in blogsville that is very much Dan Brown style is our very own Deepak Jeswal’s Independence Day! It could definitely be your prelude to break-neck thrilling DB style.

Whether it be the brain-whacking codes in Digital Fortress, the perils of Vatican City, the glaciers and ice storms of the Arctic Circle, or the signs and symbols of Leonardo Da Vinci, if you enjoy fast paced, intelligent fiction with some satire and drama mixed in, Dan Brown is your man.

Okay so finally here I am. Back again. I said I was not going to be back until January coz of exams! But turns out that I postponed that January exam to June. I realized I just wasn’t prepared to take it. Its a huge deal and I wanted to make sure I am well prepared before I take it. So now, I only have one huge exam in March - the one for my licensure.

The past few weeks have been crazy and super busy! I have been busy studying for these finals that happened last week. I have been up all night, high on caffeine - drinking coke, tea, coffee or whatever that would keep me awake all night! I guess thats what happens when one procrastinates and does not study till the very end! I really need to change these habits if I want to pass through the four years of professional school.

And now, finally the winter holidays have begun and I am enjoying every minute of it. Not that I am resting all day, because I will be working five days each week till college re-opens. Everything and everyone around is in festive spirits, with christmas presents being bought, houses being decorated and malls being jammed! Festivals are always such a wonderful time because everyone is relaxed and with family. But I must say, it has been freezing lately! That is the only downside of winter - its cold!

Now to the template, where did I get it? It was the day before my last final and you know how that is. One never wants to study for that last one because one is about done with boooks! Procrastination seeps in and then you think up all new and improvised way of procrastination. One result of that procrastination was this template! I was so tired of studying that I thought “chalo lets just check the blog for a second” and that second turned into two hours and ended only when I published this new template! Got it from Blogskins and made a few changes here and there and voila!

The most useful thing I did this past week was to come up with new ways to procrastinate during exams:

1) Sign in to ALL your different email accounts and start reading old emails and reflecting on why you wrote what you wrote then.

2) Delete all those emails you have been rotting in your inbox for the past thousand years or so.

3) Search for new templates on the web and take your sweet time doing it. And then CREATE a new template

4) Watch re-runs of your favourite sitcom.

5) Write emails to friends you have not written to in eons - does not matter if they don’t remember you.

6) Go to online shopping sites and dream about buying those items - does not matter if they are too expensive for you!

7) Download songs?

8) Take online surveys because you have nothing better to do.

9) Write a new book. Come up with the first and last lines “Once upon a time” and “happily ever-after”

10) Make a list of people you would like to invite to your wedding.

11) The room that you have been trashing things in due to lack of time suddenly is ready to be cleaned up when you actually need to be studying.

12) Internet is the remedy to all woes. it needs to be avoided like the plague during exams!

13)Change your desktop wall paper from those frilly flowers and mountain scenery to the hot guy you have always wanted on your desktop. My current desktop - Arjun Rampal

14)Check your email every zillionth of a second.

15) Hit the gym - for the first and last time of the semester!

16) Take the longest way home in hopes of finding a shortcut or that scenic road you always dreamt about

17) Read blogs and make a mental note to comment on each one, then read blogs you have never read before and then go to all your old posts and re-read them. Very insightful exercise.

18) Imagine you are the CEO of a huge corporation and give a speech to the newbies…

hehehe okay that last one I did not do, but worth a try eh?

Anyways that was it for the past few weeks. I feel like I have lost all of my writing skills - whatever little I had. I shall try to come up with a decent post soon. Need to get in that right mood to write. Till then, ciao!