Books: "Soul's Code" by James Hillman

"Soul's code" (1997)

by James Hillman

This is the book that I love giving away to my friends because I believe everybody should read it (I gave so many and still dont have my own copy).Contary to Western culture that believe we are product of genes/family or Eastern culture that says we are pre-destined by Karma,Hillman somehow combines them into one and thinks we are born with certain purpose and will achieve what we are meant to do in life one way or another - every individual holds a potential inside himself just like acorn holds a pattern for a Oak,invisible in itself - but the most important thing is to listen your inner voice (in other times people used to call it "Guardian Angel",Hillman simply calls it "inner voice").Reading this book I was thrilled because for the first time I found in one place everything I always knew but didnt know how to put in words.

For example,Hillman talks about clever kids who never fitt in schools because they dont blossom in big groups.Or about why is it that parents/family never recognise potential in a kid because they are too occupied with everyday life (its usualy some distant relatives or kind neighbours or teacher who see who we really are).He also talks about importance of getting aways from family and spreading the wings somewhere else...too many things to mention here but I can only reccomend this book with all my heart to everyone and its definitely one of the books that changed my life.

Books:"World without end" by Ken Follett

"World without end" (2007)

by Ken Follett

I saw lots of people reading this book simultaneously so it made me curious.Finally when I got my hands on it,couldn't stop reading - althought half-way through I started thinking that maybe the title should be "Book without end".Follett cleverly uses four characters in medieval England and follows them through years of poverty,wars,plague,religious wars and so on.Its basically soap opera that just goes on and on but its quite irresistible.I found myself really caring about characters and did something I haven't done in years - peeked at the end of the book just to check would the character survive.It might make a great movie or TV serial one day althought I always reccomend reading books first.Not bad at all.

"Cell" by Stephen King

"Cell" (2006) by Stephen King

Stephen King is the only author who always grabbs me from the very first page. Others I might enjoy in different ways, others might have particular style or way with storytelling, but King is unique in his way to manipulate reader with fears. Perhaps I read too many of his novels so far because I dont find them really exciting now, its more or less same old thing in a new clothes.

"Cell" toys with idea that cell-phones turn the world into madhouse and anybody who answered a phone call (which is basically everyone) turns into mindless animals. Several characters are roaming around in a search of sanctuary and here we have usual King's toying with brutality, ghost-like characters and psycho-fears.I read it in two days its really nothing spectacular.

First blog

I wrotte here & there & everywhere on the internet earlier (mostly reviews on amazon.com) but never attempted to collect my musings in one place earlier so this might be good idea.

Something about me (in nutshell): born in 1969 in what was than Jugoslavija, read a lot as a kid and daydreamed about the places I would like to travel & visit (it all eventually became reality), working on a cruise ship now for years and its a unbelievable experience as I got to visit places I would never know otherwise - in fact it spoiled me a little since now I have my preferences (Europe) and sometimes can't be bothered to go out in places I dont care for (Caribean).

In the past I have been working as a journalist & DJ on the radio, combining two hobbies into one and I still love to writte & collect music. And there are books and movies as well, it all get a bit too much with all my travelling & lagging suticases behind me through airports always buggs me and I always remind myself never to carry so much, so purchase of this new lap top might help. e

Music: nothing if not eclectic. I couldn't care less for new pop music since it doesnt thrill me anymore the way I felt as teenager but Im still very passionate about anything retro - be it 1920s jazz, blues, classical, 1960s bubble gum pop, traditional vocal albums or even music of Ex Yu (since its music I grew up listening on the radio) no matter how tacky or old it might be. In fact, sometimes tackier it gets, the more my heart jumps, how funny (and than I turn to Bach with the same interest).

Books: I learned how to read at 4 and never stopped since. I dont understand people who don't read and its one of my biggest passions and pleasures in life. As I go through life, my interests change and naturally internet helps to get titles I wouldnt know otherwise. Non-fiction, good fiction, biographies, history, spiritual, you name it Im there already. My wish list is never ending and always growing and someday when I stop sailing my library will be place where I will feel the most comfortable.

Movies: I LOVE old classic black & white movies, in fact the older they are, the better. I might enjoy some new movies in the cinema but they never move me or make me wish to see them again the way I feel about classics. Occasionaly I get very enthusiastic about something odd (cult classics) but than heart probably recognises something I can't explain.

Art: Whats the point of all this travelling if not to see the most beautiful things & places, so I always use opportunity to visit galleries & museums. Even when I return to my birthplace Zagreb I visit Zagreb History Museum and enjoy it like a tourist (I never visited it when I lived there). Favourite places - National & National Portrait Gallery (London), British Museum (London), Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam), Amsterdam History Museum (Amsterdam), Hermitage (Amsterdam), Hermitage (St.Petersburg), Russian Museum (St.Petersburg), Galleria D'Accademia (Venezia)...and yes, Zagreb's History museum (Zagreb).