fingers-in-the-pie

The Heretic's Daughter

2011-08-16T12:40:00.001+08:00

Title: The Heretic's Daughter
Author: Kathleen Kent

Genre: Historical Fiction, Family Saga

Edition: Back Bay Books, 2009 (345 pages)

From the Cover:

In 1752, Sarah Carrier Chapman, weak with infirmity, writes a letter to her granddaughter, revealing the secret she has closely guarded for six decades. Her story begins a little more than a year before the Salem witch trials, when she and her family arrive in a New England community already gripped by superstition and fear. Hysteria escalates as neighbour is pitted against neighbour, friend against friend, until more than two hundred men, women, and children are swept into prison - Sarah's mother, Martha Carrier, among them. In an attempt to protect her children, Martha asks Sarah to commit an act of heresy - a lie that will most surely condemn Martha even as it will save her daughter.

My Thoughts:

The Heretic's Daughter is written from the perspective of a 9 year old, Sarah Carrier Chapman. Sarah is the third child of Thomas Carrier and Martha Allen. Sarah's mother, Martha was a strong-willed woman who had a certain contempt for the men of church. In December 1690, Sarah and her family travelled by cart from Billerica to neighbouring Andover, Massachusetts in a desperate attempt to escape the pox that had plagued their hometown. Little did they know that they had brought the disease with them. This did not sit too well with the people of Andover. In a time where superstition was rife and independent women were feared, the Carrier family suddenly found themselves under extreme scrutiny.

Martha Carrier was later accused of witchcraft and was thrown into jail with her two sons and daughter, Sarah. The first half of the book focused on the characters within the Carrier family, whilst the second half was an account of the family's life in imprisonment and the ensuing court trials. It is a truly heart-wrenching tale that provided a realistic impression of what really happened to the victims of the Salem Witch Trials - a point that was a real eye-opener for me since I know very little about the subject.

What I loved most about this book was Martha Carrier's resolve. Despite the perilous situation she was in, Martha continued to show strength and dignity all the way to her death. She was a source of strength for her husband and children, especially little Sarah.

This is a gripping family saga of despair, family love and one woman's refusal to bow down to the powers that be. A great read and highly recommended, especially to those who wish to know more about the Salem Witch Trials.

Footnote:

Kathleen Kent is a tenth-generation descendant of Martha Carrier. The Heretic's Daughter was written based on family stories passed on from her grandmother and mother, as well as historical facts of the Salem Witch Trials.

Teaser Tuesday #2: 2011

2011-08-09T16:16:00.000+08:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share 2 "teaser" sentences from somewehere on that page (though I always tend to share slightly more!)

This week's teaser is from my all-time favorite paranormal series; Sookie Stackhouse:

"She pointed to the body lying by the white car. Fortunately, the corpose was on the side of the car concealed from the view of the rare passerby. In the poor light it was hard to be sure, but I believed Corinna was already beginning to flake away. I'd never seen a dead vampire in the rain before." - pg. 96 of Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris.

I haven't reached page 96 yet (just started reading this about 20 mins before I decided to write this post). Anyway, the teaser looks insane. Can't wait to delve right back in!

Angels

2011-08-09T14:43:00.000+08:00

Title: Angels

Author: Marian Keyes

Genre: Chick Lit

Edition: Penguin Books, 2003 (482 pages)

From the Cover:

“I’d always lived a fairly blameless life. Up until the day I left my husband and ran away to Hollywood…”

Unlike the rest of her family, Maggie Walsh has always done everything right. At thirty-three she has a proper job, is happily married to Garv and never puts a foot wrong. So why does she make a bolt for Hollywood and her best friend, Emily? In the City of Angels, Maggie gets to do things she’s never done before: mixing with film stars, pitching scripts, partying non-stop. But is this really a once-in-a-lifetime journey of self-discovery, or is she simply running away from married life?

My Thoughts:

This novel started a little slow for me. At first, I found the main character, Maggie Walsh, a little lame and the storyline another one of those typical feel-good chick lits. But after mid-way through, the book definitely picked up a notch or two and I must say that I quite enjoyed it, especially since I wasn’t expecting to.

Angels is all about Maggie Walsh and her dysfunctional funny family. After 9 years of marriage to Garv, Maggie decides to leave him and the security that the marriage had been providing all these years. She runs off to Hollywood to live with her best friend Emily, a scriptwriter who is still looking for her big break. As Maggie tries to live the life in Hollywood, certain pieces of her old life suddenly resurface to memory. What really got me hooked were these flashbacks that slowly unraveled Maggie’s past and the kind of girl she really was. She no longer appeared to be the lame woman I thought her to be and her story was interesting to say the very least. Her family, a bunch of distinctive sisters, and a pair of over-protective parents, make such a funny combination, you’re bound to laugh out loud once or twice. Overall, I thought this was a touching novel with plenty of laughs.

Casanova in Bolzano

2011-07-28T10:41:00.000+08:00

Title: Casanova in Bolzano

Author: Sandor Marai

Genre: Literature

Edition: Vintage Books, Nov 2004 (294 pages)

From the Cover:

Another rediscovered masterpiece from the author of the Embers – a sensuous, suspenseful, aphoristic novel about the world’s most notorious seducer and the encounter that changes him forever. In 1756, Giacomo Casanova escapes from a reputedly inescapable Venetian prison. He resurfaces in the Italian village of Bolzano, where he sets about refurbishing his person and finances. Then he receives an unwelcome visitor.

He is the aging but still fearsome Duke of Parma, who years before defeated Casanova in a duel over a ravishing girl named Francesca, sparing his life only on condition that he never see her again. Now he has taken Francesca as his wife – and intercepted a love letter from her to his old rival. He could kill Casanova on the spot. Instead he makes him an offer, one that is logical, perverse and irresistible. Turning a historical episode into a dazzling fictional exploration of the clasp of desire and death, Casanova in Bolzano is further proof that Sandor Marai is one of the most distinctive voices of the twentieth century.

My Thoughts:

Casanova in Bolzano is a novel written by the Hungarian writer, Sandor Marai. Whilst the main character is based on the infamous Italian womanizer Giacomo Girolamo Casanova de Seingalt (April 2, 1725 – June 4, 1798), the storyline is pure fiction, and is merely Marai’s portrayal of Casanova’s romantic character.

When I first read the blurb I was pretty excited. It made me feel like I was in for an enchanting, historical love affair, full of passion and betrayal. Fortunately, I didn’t need to get past page 40 to realize that the novel was a complete disappointment. The prose was dull and long-winded, with paragraphs that lasted up to 2 whole pages before the next break. The storyline was filled with boring monologues making one believe Casanova to be a pompous character rather than an edgy yet romantic soul. And there was naught of passion or anything resembling that hot romantic desire that you would expect from a situation of forbidden love. It’s not until the final section of the book that Casanova finally encounters the Duke of Parma and the ravishing Francesca – the first ¾ of it was just about Casanova and his tiring monologues.

Easily one of the worst books I’ve read this year, though to be fair, it was translated from Hungarian to English, a factor that may have contributed to the lackluster writing.

p/s: Sandor Marai is more popularly known for his other novel, Embers, which is an international bestseller.

Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge 2011

2011-07-28T09:24:00.000+08:00

So I've just signed up for another challenge and I realise this is a little too ambitious, even for me. I mean, it's already more than half way through the year, plus this challenge requires a minimum of 24 books! Can I do it? Well, since I am on maternity leave and this challenge does cross over with another challenge I've participated in this year, I'm thinking, why the heck not.

The Challenge is to read 24 books from the horror or urban fantasy genre between 1st Jan 2011 and 31st Dec 2011. Further details of the challenge can be found here. So far, my reading list is as follows:

1) Interview with the Vampire - The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice (link to review coming soon)

2) The Vampire Lestat - The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice (link to review coming soon)

3) Feed by Mira Grant (link to review coming soon)

4) Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore (link to review coming soon)

5) Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris (link to review coming soon)

Follow Friday (#1)

2011-07-15T12:01:00.001+08:00

I think its about time to direct more traffic to my blog and make new friends. It's been kinda quiet and lonely over here and I miss all the interaction! Parajunkee hosts this great Feature & Follow Friday meme for just that and this will be my first time joining. Each week, a blogger is featured and I'm quite happy that this week's featured blogger, Angela's Anxious Life, does YA, Paranormal and Mystery reviews (yippee!!).

Now, the question of the day:

What do I do when I'm not reading?

Well, recently, if I don't have my nose buried in a book, I'd be busy feeding, changing and playing with my one month old baby. He's an active little thing so I pretty much have my hands tied! I'm quite an active person myself though and prior to the baby, if I'm not reading, I'd spend my free time doing outdoor activities like hiking, caving and kayaking. I'm also a movie and TV buff - at the moment, I'm really liking Vampire Diaries and I can't wait for Season 3!

Some Rantings and a Review of I am Number Four

2011-07-14T18:40:00.001+08:00

Hi everyone! After a 2 month+ span of silence, I'm back...again. I realise that since I started writing this blog, I've been pretty much a "now you see her, now you don't" kind of blogger and I would really like to apologise for that. Time is a luxury that I just don't have and I know although this is probably the case for most people, I have to say that the past 12 months have been an extraordinarily busy period for me. New job, exams and more recently a new baby, has occupied the most part of my time. Yes, I am now a proud mommy of 2 and I'm loving every minute of it. Despite this temporary setback in blogging, I do try to keep up with the latest around the blogosphere and I have been busy enjoying alot of interesting books. Now I'm hoping I can squeeze in the time to review all of them as well!

Anyway, below is a review of one of the latest books I've read and surprisingly quite a good one too.

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Title: I am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1)

Author: Pittacus Lore

Genre: Science Fiction / Young Adult

Edition: Penguin Books, 2011 (374 pages)

From the Cover:
There were nine of us who escaped...
Number One was killed in Malaysia.
Number Two was murdered in England.
Number Three was hunted down in Kenya.
Before they come for the others, they'll come for me... I AM NUMBER FOUR

John Smith is not your average teenager. He regularly moves from small town to small town. he changes his name and identity. He does not put down roots. He cannot tell anyone who or what he really is. If he stops moving those who hunt him will find and kill him. So when he stops in Paradise, Ohio, John decides to try and settle down. To fit in. And for the first time he makes some real friends. People he cares about - and who care about him. Never in John's short life has there been space for friendship, or even love. But it's just a matter of time before John's secret is revealed. He was once one of nine. Three of them have been killed. John is Number Four. He knows that he is next...

My Thoughts:

For a book based on the alien race, a genre I'm not very fond of, I have to say that I actually enjoyed this one. The story centres around John Smith, a fourteen year old alien boy who descends from a planet similar to earth. He is one of the chosen ones. One with extraordinary powers - powers which have yet to develop in his young body and hence making him the target of a relentless and vicious alien race, the Mogadorians. As John grapples with the woes of living an inconspicuous life, and dealing with his unmastered developing powers, he meets a girl and suddenly everything changes. Although there were a few cheesy and dubious scenes, the storyline was intense and I couldn't help flicking through the pages on fast-forward mode. There was also a very strong message in relation to earth preservation which I really liked. I even developed a strong attachment towards Bernie Kosar, the stray but faithful little dog. Overall, I think this is a great book for teens, with just the right balance of entertainment value and moral conscience threaded in - 2 thumbs up! Can't wait to get my hands on the second book; The Power of Six!

p/s: Just watched the movie too and although I think Alex Pettyfer is too much of 'man' to play a fourteen year old, he is so irresistably hawtttt :)

The Host

2011-05-02T17:23:00.001+08:00

Title: The Host

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Genre: Science Fiction / Romance

Edition: Back Bay Books, Jul 2009 (809 pages)

From the Cover:

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy that takes over the minds of human hosts. Most of humanity has succumbed. When Melanie - one of the last remaining humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, probes her thoughts to discover the whereabouts of the remainig human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's minfd with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she is tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous search for the man they both love.

My Thoughts:

I’m not really a big fan of science fiction or books which centre on aliens. The same goes for movies. I adore paranormal and would gladly devour gory tales of vampires, werewolves, witches or fairies, but aliens are just not my cup of tea. For some odd reason, the former seems to be more acceptable and realistic even (at times quite believable), whereas aliens are just too far-fetched for me. Maybe it has something to do with history. Whilst vampires and witches have had their fair share of old women’s tales, aliens are still a mystery and not much are known about them except that if they did exist they’d probably have black beady eyes sitting on a head that is far too big for their frail green body. Or they’d look like a glow-in-the-dark bipedal creature that could morph into humans like the girl in Species. In any case, there is no consistency to what an alien can be. They can exist in any form as far as the creativity of the creator/author will allow.

In The Host, Meyer explores yet another new theory of aliens that invade planet earth: silver-like worms that take over the body of their hosts and pick their brains to survive, very much akin to parasites. As a writer, Meyer has this extraordinary ability to create the most intriguing of characters, which for me is what make her books really worth reading. The display of emotions from the love triangle between Wanderer a.k.a Wanda, Melanie and Jared is captivating and will pull you into the story straight away. The story isn’t without action either and you can expect a few cliff-hanging, chair-gripping moments. Whilst the scenes were good, I still have a problem with the basic foundations of the story i.e. how the aliens came into existence, Wanda’s million year old history and the various other planets that she’s “invaded” before. The arguments behind these were weak and not very convincing at all. It was easier to accept Meyer's theory of sparkling vampires than this (or maybe I’m just bias and too much of a sucker for Edward). To wrap things up, I’d say that this was a very good attempt by Meyer, definitely a different flavour from the Twilight Saga and would probably reach out to a new fan base of sci-fi lovers.

p/s: Despite my natural aversion towards aliens, this is actually the second book I've read about aliens this year. Look out for my review of "I am Number Four" coming up soon..

Teaser Tuesday #1: 2011

2011-02-15T11:19:00.000+08:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share 2 "teaser" sentences from somewehere on that page
Be careful not to include spoilers (make sure that what you say doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author too so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:

"I'm in a dark room. Strips of negatives hang on drying lines. I collapse onto the floor. My head spins and my hands are burning. Since first seeing the light, I have kept my hands clenched into fists. I look down at them now and see my right hand is still glowing, pulsating. I start to panic." - pg. 31 of I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore.

I saw this book being featured at the Times bookstore in Pavilion and with all the hype surrounding the release of the movie, I thought I might as well pick it up pronto. I'm only on page 57 but it's been a pretty interesting read so far.

The Hunger Games Series: Catching Fire & Mockingjay

2011-02-13T17:20:00.001+08:00

Title: Catching Fire (2nd in the Hunger Games Series)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Genre: Dystopian / Speculative / Young Adult

First Published: 2009 (472 pages)

Catching Fire is the 2^nd book in the Hunger Games Series and picks off from where Katniss and Peeta survive the 12^th annual Hunger Games event. Their controversial victory had unknowingly sparked a revolution in some of the districts and made them a target of Panem’s ruthless government. Under the watchful eyes of President Snow, Katniss and Peeta embark on their victory tour throughout the districts, in an attempt to convince the public that their actions in the arena were nothing more than an act of love, rather than defiance. But as Katniss begins her tour in District 11, she starts to realize that her actions, no matter how well planned have already elicited hope and strength in the people of Panem. In an attempt to suppress the uprising, President Snow sends Katniss back to the pits of the arena as part of the 3^rd Quarter Quell celebrations, and together with her, Peeta volunteers to be part of it too.

Catching Fire continues to provide the nail-biting suspense and fast-pace adventure as that of the first book. But where much of the thrills and chills of the Hunger Games were derived from Katniss’ survival in the arena, Catching Fire’s tension came from different angles: the looming threat of President Snow; the fearless uprising of the districts and Katniss’ and Peeta’s attempt at making allies and surviving the unpredictable Quarter Quells. As usual, Katniss is the star in this un-nerving saga. Her independent and nurturing character, gives a strong presence and unsurprisingly resulted in her being a rebel instigator. Her forced unity with Peeta makes for a cute story as they are both as different as night and day. Whilst Katniss is completely aloof when it comes to social and romantic situations, Peeta is forever the sweet and smooth gentleman. In Catching Fire, Collins also introduces the audience to new characters like Finnick Odair (a male victor from District 4), Johanna Mason (female victor from District 7) and Beetee (male victor from District 3), all of which are featured more in the 3^rdinstallation to the series; Mockingjay. My slight contention with Catching Fire was that I was expecting more coverage on Gale’s personality and the development of his relationship with Katniss, which was sadly lacking. Overall though, Catching Fire is still a great read and does not disappoint.

Title: Mockingjay (3rd in the Hunger Games Series)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Genre: Dystopian / Speculative / Young Adult

First Published: 2010 (455 pages)

In Mockingjay, the tale of the rebellion intensifies after Katniss escapes the 3rd Quarter Quells through the rescue of an undercover group aimed at over throwing the government. The plot thickens as Katniss comes to grips with the existence of a 13th District, her role as the Mockingjay, and the capture of Peeta by the Capitol. Whilst Katniss regains her strength and is being briefed by the powers behind the rebellion group, Peeta remains in the clutches of the snake-like President and endures both physical and mental torture.

I have mixed feelings about this one. I really enjoyed the intensity and suspense felt in The Hunger Games and Catching Fire and thus expected nothing less from Mockingjay. Whilst book 1 introduced the readers to the nature of the games and Katniss, book 2 gave more insight into Katniss’ character; her strengths and her weaknesses. Book 3, was the much anticipated conclusion to the distorted world of Panem, but with so much exposure to Katniss’ character and romantic life in the first 2 books, many had expected a lot more from it, including myself. In Mockingjay, Katniss is faced with the harshness of real war – she’s no longer a pawn in one of the Capitol’s games but rather a mentally strung participant and witness to the mercilessness of President Snow. Her mental situation doesn’t do much for her character development and instead of growing to her full potential of becoming a real leader she is forced into a rebellion that she’s not even sure she wants to be part of. The love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale also seems to meet a stump and falls well below expectations. With Peeta mostly being under torture and losing most of his original personality as a result, the underdevelopment of Gale’s character, and Katniss’ continuous indecisiveness, there wasn’t really much to look forward to here. Although Katniss does end up with Peeta in the end, it felt forced and unnatural. Mockingjay wasn’t all that bad though. It still had the elements of thrill and suspense, but it was less fast-paced than the first 2 and definitely my least favourite in the entire series.

Twenties Girl

2011-02-03T19:49:00.000+08:00

Title: Twenties Girl

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Genre: Chick Lit

First Published: 2009 (497 pages)

From the Cover:

Lara Lington has always had an overactive imagination, but suddenly that imagination seems to be in overdrive. Normal professional twenty-something young women don't get visited by ghosts. Or do they? When the spirit of Lara's great-aunt Sadie mysteriously appears, she has one request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie's possession for more than seventy-five years, because Sadie cannot rest without it.

Lara and Sadie make a hilarious sparring duo, and at first it seems as though they have nothing in common. But as the mission to find Sadie's necklace leads to intrigue and a new romance for Lara, these very different "twenties" girls learn some surprising truths from and about each other.

My Take:

I am a big fan of Sophie Kinsella's "Shopaholic Series" and needless to say, Becky Bloomwood; the ditsy girl that never failed to make me laugh-out-loud. After finishing the "Shopaholic Series", I didn't think Kinsella was able to create such an adorable and charming character like Bloomwood, but I was wrong. Lara Lington was not only all that, she was also one independent, dependable and spunky gal. Whilst trying to come to terms that her relationship with Josh was over and the fact that her so-called business partnership was going down the drain, she is suddenly burdened by an even more alarming issue: she can see and hear her dead aunt when nobody else can. She starts to think that she's losing her mind until several episodes with her great-aunt Sadie proves to be otherwise. The journey she takes on with Sadie hovering in the background is full of humour and adventure which made it impossible for me to put the book down for even a toilet break! I simply loved the fact that here is a chick lit that combines chick, mystery, family drama and love, all rolled into one big delicious treat. Another great novel by Kinsella and easily one of my favorite books for 2011 so far.

Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder

2011-01-16T11:53:00.000+08:00

Title: Inspector Singh Investigates - A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder

Author: Shamini Flint

Genre: Mystery / Thriller

First Published: 2009

Inspector Singh is a Singaporean policeman who gets sent to Malaysia to investigate the murder of a Singaporean ex-model’s husband. Chelsea Liew was the “IT” girl of Singapore until she ended her career and married a high profile Malaysian businessman. After many years of a violent marriage, it finally ended when Chelsea’s husband was found murdered near their mansion. The Malaysian courts accuse Chelsea of murder and remand her in prison whilst Singh begins on a quest to find the truth and solve ‘whodunit’ once and for all.

I wasn’t expecting much when I first picked up this book. For one thing, I’ve had many lukewarm experiences when it comes to new authors and the summary on the cover of this book didn’t sound all too mysterious to begin with anyway. After reading a few chapters, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was fairly engaging and managed to hold my interest well beyond page 120. I think Flint did a great job in bringing the reader to the scene. The prose was interesting and she has the knack for expressing scenes and human emotions in a captivating manner. I also liked the links this story had to several social issues such as women’s rights (in a Muslim country) and environmental awareness.

The only thing lacking for me was the fact that the mystery wasn’t solved with genuine sleuthing capabilities. Rather, the whole mystery was unravelled by the fault of the killer himself. I adore genuine mysteries solved with an ingenious mind, so this bit was a little disappointing for me. I also didn’t like much of the conclusions drawn about Malaysia (by the author) via the character of Inspector Singh. Though some of it may ring a truth or two, not all of it was accurate to my mind. Nevertheless, there’s a high chance I might be picking up Inspector Singh’s next adventures: A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul and The Singapore School of Villainy .

A little bit about the Author (taken from the inside cover):

Shamini Flint lives in Singapore. She began her career in law in Malaysia and also worked at an international law firm in Singapore. She travelled extensively around Asia for work, before resigning to be a stay-at-home mum, writer, part-time lecturer and environmental activist.

The Stepsister Scheme

2011-01-08T12:19:00.001+08:00

Title: The Stepsister Scheme

Author: Jim C. Hines

Genre: Fantasy

First Published: 2009

Challenge: None

What do you get when Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White get together after the end of the supposedly happily-ever-after? In the Stepsister Scheme, Jim C. Hines, combines the beauty and intelligence of these well-known fairy tale princesses into an utterly chick fantasy adventure that is far from the fairy tale we all know it to be. Princess Danielle Whiteshore (also known as Cinderella) is on a quest to save her prince who has mysteriously disappeared a few months after their wedding. It turns out that the Princess’ stepsisters had something to do with it. In come Talia (aka Sleeping Beauty) and Snow (aka Snow White), the Princess’ allies. Together, they embark on a thrilling adventure filled with sword-fighting, magic and twisting treachery.

I have to say, although with the promising storyline and funny characterisations, this book fell a little short for me. It was adventurous enough, with many cliff-hanging scenes, but somehow the entire adventure felt a little farcical compared to other fantasies that I’ve read before. I guess this mainly had to do with the fact that the intended humour didn’t quite reach out to me – it just wasn’t as funny as I expected. The idea behind this book was brilliant though; a refreshing take on the conventional fairy tale plot, and Cinderella wasn’t as fragile as I thought she’d be. My favourite character would be Snow though – she’s hot, bursting with spiritual energy and is bubbly through and through.

There are 2 other books in this Princess Series , The Mermaid’s Madness and Red Hood’s Revenge. Again, the synopses for these look interesting but I’m not so sure if I’ll be picking these up any time soon. We shall see.

2010 in Review and WELCOME 2011!!

2011-01-02T14:04:00.000+08:00

It's been a while since I last blogged and kept up with the blogosphere, especially the bookish related. I've had an extremely busy second half of 2010, mostly related to my job and 2011 promises to be no less busy…sigh…

Despite spending my weekdays (and sometimes weekends) slogging over work, going through a change of jobs and slaving through banking exams, I’ve managed to somehow achieve the following in 2010:

Read 19 books
Finished 1 out of 5 reading challenges joined
Did 4 very exciting outdoor/travelling trips. Managed to write a review on 2 of them.
Found 30 new inspiring blogs to follow
Began my addiction to Twitter

As mentioned, 2011 promises to be another busy year for me. I still have one more major banking exam to complete and to top tings off, I’m expecting a baby. Yes, another cute addition to the family and I’m super excited about it. It’s been a while since my last pregnancy; to be precise the last one was 5 years ago. I’ve been battling with morning sickness (more like 24 hours sickness) but crossing fingers this will be over soon. So, with pregnancy and a new baby on the way, I’m expecting zero outdoors and travelling trips in 2011 but perhaps more time to indulge in reading. I hope to read more, at least double the amount read in 2010. I’m also planning to read more books written by foreign authors, mainly Asian, as well as books that are not so popular, for example those that I’ve found in a quirky bookstore or in a garage sale but promise to be an interesting read. I’ve always enjoyed reading books recommended by fellow bloggers in the US and UK, especially YA and vampire stuff, so these will still be on my reading list for 2011. And to start off the year, I’ve already enrolled myself in yet another vampire reading challenge hosted by Book Chick City here.

To all blogger friends and non-blogger friends alike, here’s wishing you all a fabulous 2011 year ahead!

The Vampire Chronicles Reading Challenge 2011

2011-01-02T13:43:00.001+08:00

I've always been an Anne Rice fan. My first ever paranormal book that I read was an Anne Rice; the ever so famous Interview with the Vampire. That was probably more than ten years ago. Subsequently, I got caught up in other genres and never really read the rest of the Vampire Chronicles, so I'm quite excited to be joining this challenge hosted by Book Chick City.

The books in the Vampire Chronicle series, in order are:

1. Interview with the Vampire
2. The Vampire Lestat
3. The Queen of the Damned
4. The Tale of the Body Thief
5. Memnoch the Devil
6. The Vampire Armand
7. Merrick
8. Blood and Gold
9. Blackwood Farm
10. Blood Canticle

You can find details of the challenge here. And if you're following this challenge like me, don't forget to share your experiences on Twitter too using #VampireChronicles2011.

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

2010-10-10T17:34:00.001+08:00

Title: The Gargoyle

Author: Andrew Davidson

Genre: Romance, Mystery/Thriller

Published: 2008, 465 pages

Challenge: Thriller & Suspense Challenge 2010

From the Cover

On a dark road in the middle of the night, a car plunges down into a ravine. The driver survives the crash, but suffers horrible burns over much of his body. As he recovers from hospital, planning his suicide, a strange woman appears at the foot of his bed, insisting she saved his life a century ago. Spanning medieval Germany, Japan, Iceland, and beyond, The Gargoyle is a mesmerising novel of death, history, obsession, and faith..

My Thoughts

Let me just begin with these four little words... I LOVED THIS BOOK. It's been awhile since I've read a novel that is filled with such raw passion and intriguing mystery, and this book definitely has both. Written in the first person, The Gargoyle centers on the narrator (nameless) and a woman called Marianne Engel. When the narrator finds himself scarred for life and hospitalised due to severe burns, a woman by the name of Marianne Engel mysteriously appears in his life. Marianne Engel is an exotic and beautiful woman who claims that she was born in Germany in the year 1300 and has known the narrator for hundreds of years. The narrator is an atheist and pessimist who thinks that his life is no longer worth living due to his grotesquely disformed figure, post car-crash. Whilst he thinks that Marianne is suffering from psychological issues, he can't help but become mesmerised by her countless stories of love, war, courage and history. As the narrator goes through the process of physical healing, Marianne closely becomes an ally in his process of emotional recovery as well.

What's most interesting about this book is that it is dark and twisted, yet invokes passion and beauty all at the same time. I guess this is mainly due to the two main characters above, where one has given up on life, whilst the other breathes life. There were two main things that kept me turning the pages furiously:

1) The constant flits between the past and the present. This is where the reader is taken from the hospital room to the pages of history, and where the mystery of how Marianne came to know the narrator is slowly unraveled.

2) The various stories of undying love and passion (as narrated by Marianne) orginating from Italy, London, Japan and Iceland. My favorite one (and I think this is true for many others who have read the book) would be the tale of the Japanese woman, Sei.

An extremely commendable debut from Davidson, this is a highly recommended book that should not escape anyone's attention. On a final note, I found this cool book trailer from Doubleday with comments from Davidson himself. Enjoy the show!

The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie

2010-09-26T00:26:00.002+08:00

Title: The Pale Horse

Author: Agatha Christie

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

First Published: 1961, 332 pages

Challenge: Thriller & Suspense Challenge 2010

From the Cover

When an elderly priest is murdered, the killer searches the victim so roughly that his already ragged cassock is torn in the process. What was the killer looking for? And what had a dying woman confided to the priest on the death bed only hours earlier?

Mark Easterbrook and his sidekick Ginger Corrigan are determined to find out. Maybe the three women who run The Pale Horse public house, and who are rumoured to practise the ‘Dark Arts’ can provide some answers?

My Thoughts

Mark Easterbrook is a writer who through the acquaintance of a doctor and a novelist finds himself embroiled in the mysterious murder of a Priest. Through some amateurish sleuthing and with the help of his new friend Ginger, he links several other murder cases to the Priest’s death and discovers convincing clues to suggest the killings took place via witchcraft – the perfect crime where there is no murder weapon, and where the killer cannot be linked to the crime scene.

I quite enjoyed reading this book in Christie’s many collections of cozy mysteries. The way in which Christie linked magic to murder was pure genius, and it gave a completely different atmosphere to what you’d normally find in a mystery/crime novel. As usual, Christie’s books are full of red herrings and keeps you guessing ‘til the very end. Overall, an interesting yet light an easy read that is perfect for a lazy weekend.

I'm Back and with an Award!

2010-09-13T02:59:00.003+08:00

Wow, it’s been more than 2 months since my last post and for that folks, I truly apologise. Life’s gone a little haywire recently, since my addiction to football (thanks to World Cup 2010) and also a major shift in my career. Anyway, I’m back now and I really do hope to catch up with the book blogging community, as well as squeeze in some time to kick-start my reading & reviews once again. I’ve also just changed my blog design, which took several pain-staking hours to complete by the way – hope you like it ;)

During this short hiatus, I received the Versatile Blogger Award, courtesy of Ms Ulat Buku. Thanks Ms UB, it really means a lot to me. In keeping up with the tradition of this award, here are 5 little things about me:

1) I love the smell, feel and taste of coffee. I really wouldn’t know what I’d do without it.

2) The one thing I cannot leave home without is my book and my Blackberry…both of which help keep my sanity when facing the ugly morning traffic.

3) If I was a contestant on Survivor and there was only one makeup item I’d be allowed to bring, it would have to be my Benefit Bad Lash Mascara. It does wonders – trust me.

4) I have a 5 year old son who is currently obsessed with the late Michael Jackson. Every morning, he treats me to his dance routine of Thriller…

5) I just finished watching The Killers and I can’t get over how hawt Ashton Kutcher was in the movie… I like very much..

And here's my top 5 picks of who I'd like to share this Award with:

Laura @ I'm Booking It
Desert Rose @ Desert Rose Booklogue
Sumthinblue @ Bookmarked!
Alice @ Hello, My Name is Alice
Rhiana @ Rhiana Reads

Dead and Gone

2010-06-27T11:59:00.002+08:00

Title: Dead & Gone (Book #9)

Author: Charlaine Harris

Genre: Paranormal

First Published: 2009, 312 pages

Challenge: The Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

From the Cover:

The vamps have been out for years, and now the weres and shifters have decided to follow the lead of the undead and reveal their existence to the ordinary world. Sookie Stackhouse already knows about them, of course - her brother turns into a panther at the full moon, she's friend to the local were pack, and Sam her boss at Merlotte's bar, is a shapeshifter.

The great revelation goes well at first - then the horribly mutilated body of a were-panther is found in the parking lot of Merlotte's, and Sookie agrees to use her telepathic talent to track down the murderer. But there is a far greater danger than the killer threatening Bon Temps: a race of unhuman beings, older, more powerful and far more secretive than the vampires or the werewolves is preparing for war. And Sookie is an all-too human pawn in their ages-old battle...

My Thoughts:

Of all the books in the series, this has to be the most chair-gripping one todate. As usual, Harris throws in a few plots all at once; there's one on the mysterious were-panther murderer, one on the power struggle between the two fairy clans and last but definitely not least, an insight into the complex love life of Ms Sookie Stackhouse.

I have to say that Harris just topped herself this time with the chilling account on the fairy war. Harris managed to dispel the idea that fairies were all pretty and glowing inside. Who would've thought fairies could be so sinister and scary?! I loved it. It was completely intense; thrilling to the very last drop and quite emotional. What was a little disappointing though (just a teeny bit), was the unfinished business of Sookie's love life. Though it sounded like Eric might have been THE ONE, the sudden re-introduction of Bill Compton in a big way completely threw off that idea. So, who will be the lucky Vamp? Or will Sookie leave both of them in the dark and settle with someone more of her own kind? Questions I'm hoping will be answered real soon...guess we'll just have to wait and see then.

This book completes my Sookie Stackhouse Challenge, hosted by Beth at Beth Fish Reads. First Challenge for the year over and done with. Hurray!

First Among Equals by Jeffrey Archer

2010-06-06T10:41:00.002+08:00

Title: First Among Equals

Author: Jeffrey Archer

Genre: Fiction

First Published: 1984, 466 pages

Challenge: N/A

From the Cover

In the 1960s four ambitious new MPs take their seats at Westminster. Over three decades they share the turbulent passions of the race for power with their wives and families, men and women caught up in a dramatic game for the highest stakes of all. But only one man can gain the ultimate goal - the office of Prime Minister...

My Thoughts

When my son picked out this book for me (thanks to my ever-growing shelf of delicious books, I've become quite fickle in the reading selection process), I actually groaned and moaned and pleaded him to pick a different one. I'm not a big fan of politics and neither am I a big fan of Archer's, so his choice didn't exactly get my mood pumping with anticipation. I attempted to read it anyway and as soon as I was half-way through, news struck that UK had just faced it's first hung Parliament since 1974. I was ecstatic. Here I was reading a book that's far more suited for the political junkie, and lo and behold, fiction becomes reality. Suddenly I was the guru of UK politics to friends who didn't have a clue....sweet.

The book focuses on 4 main characters and the progression of their political career; Charles Seymour, the aristocrat who naturally was a Tory; Raymond Gould, the intellect who spurred the Labour Party but has one too many skeletons in the closet; Simon Kerslake, the humble, hard-working Tory with financial issues; and Andrew Kerr, the Scottish family man who astonished his Tory-supporting father by joining the Labour Party. Of all the 4 men, I found Andrew to be the most appealing character; he was witty, charming, described as being quite handsome and his political journey touched a very raw spot in me.

Though the plot may be a little dry in parts, there is sufficient content for the reader to grasp the mechanism of the UK political scene, and enough twists & turns to keep one entertained. A recommended read if you enjoy heavy reading and would like to know more about UK politics.

A ride like no other...

2010-05-22T21:00:00.004+08:00

About a month back my banker colleagues and I went for this unique Malaysian activity called ATV i.e. All Terrain Vehicle ride. I say unique because despite ATV being widely used as a recreational sport in other parts of the world; be it a desert exploration or a fun ride on the beach, in Malaysia one can jump on an ATV and take it through the lush tropical jungle trails right smack in the mad city of Kuala Lumpur.

Located just 15 minutes away from KLCC (provided there's no traffic of course), the Adventure Park Kuala Lumpur hosts several ATV packages in Kampung Kemensah, Hulu Kelang, ranging from 1/2 hour rides to 4 hour expeditions. My colleagues and I chose the 1.5 hour ride which took us through a jungle trail leading to the 7 tier waterfalls. This was actually my second ATV trip in the span of a few months, so it goes without saying that I thoroughly enjoyed it! Here are some pix taken during my first and second trip in July 2009 and April 2010:

On the 1.5 hour trail with my colleagues in April 2010

On the 4 hour trail with friends in 2009

At peak of Bukit Tabur

Chill-axing at 7 tier Waterfall

Some tips to share

1) Kampung Kemensah is located behind Zoo Negara, Kuala Lumpur. From MRR2, turn in left towards Zoo Negara entrance. Do not drive into Zoo Negara's entrance. Just follow the small road located on the side. It will lead you to a Village-like area (very narrow roads, so be extra careful here). The ATV Adventure Park is located on the left, a few kms after you see the river and picnic area. There are signboards to the ATV Park located along the way.

2) Riding the ATV is much fun but it can also be a dangerous sport if you're not careful. Do follow the guide's instructions carefully. The ATV is designed to roll over large rocks and small logs but you have to make sure that you keep a strong hold on the steering wheel as it could easily swerve direction once it goes over a large rock - so hold on tight!

3) If you're into hiking, I highly recommend the 4 hour trail which leads to Bukit Tabur. The ATV ride will take you up halfway but you'll have to park ur ATV and hike up to reach the peak. Breath-taking views of Kuala Lumpur city up here.

4) For further information (and more cool pix!), check out the ATV Adventure Park website here:

http://www.atvadventurepark.com/index.htm

Remember to make advanced bookings too as the place is getting popular by the minute. Enjoy!

From Dead to Worse

2010-05-09T18:39:00.002+08:00

Title: From Dead to Worse (Book #8)

Author: Charlaine Harris

Genre: Paranormal

First Published: 2008, 359 pages

Challenge: The Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

From the Cover:

The supernatural community in Bon Temps, Louisiana is reeling from two hard blows: the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina, and the manmade horror of the explosion at the vampire summit in the up-north city of Rhodes. Sookie Stackhouse is safe but dazed, but too many vampires - some friends, some not - were killed or injured, and her were-tiger boyfriend Quinn is among the missing.

It's clear that things are changing, whether the weres and vamps like it or not. And Sookie, Friend to the Pack and blood-bonded to the leader of the local vampire community, is caught up in those changes. She's about to find herself facing danger and death and, not for the first time, betrayal by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood has stopped flowing, Sookie's world will be forever altered...

My thoughts:

The chapter starts off harmless enough, with our favourite heroine becoming the last minute bridesmaid for Halleigh Robinson, the soon to be Mrs Andy Bellefleur. All went well for Sookie...she was looking as pretty as ever and she managed to act the part of bridesmaid gracefully. Yes, all was well except for one thing; she was missing Quinn terribly and she had no idea where to find him. To add to her anxiety, several other events took place at the wedding that had left Sookie in sheer wonder...

i) Firstly, Sam reveals his interest in somebody Sookie would rather strangle than allow to date her precious friend and Boss, who doesn't seem to know any better...

ii) An unfamiliar vampire suddenly emerges from the shadows, startling both Sookie and himself.

iii) And an old, yet beautiful man makes himself known...

What's interesting about Book # 8 for me is that Sookie was portrayed as a Church goer, something I found ironic considering how receptive she is to the supernatural world. What's even more interesting is that Sookie fans are treated to some rare insights into Sookie's parentage, which also pieces the puzzle of Sookie's connection to the Fairies. Not so surprising were the usual fighting scenes of the good (or rather the lesser evil) vs the bad (really evil). Though I must say that one particular "good vs bad" scene was really full of suspense.

Overall, Harris is entertaining as usual and never fails to keep Sookie addicts wanting more. I didn't find this one as exciting as the last three books in the series though..maybe I was just missing Quinn too ;)

The Truth About Melody Browne

2010-04-18T08:57:00.005+08:00

Title: The Truth About Melody Browne

Author: Lisa Jewell

Genre: Chick-Lit

First Published: 2009

Pages: 372

From the Cover:

When she was nine years old, Melody Browne's house burned down, taking every toy, every old Christmas card with it. But is also took all her memories – Melody Browne can remember nothing before her ninth birthday. Now in her early thirties, Melody lives in a small flat in the middle of London with her seventeen-year-old son. She’s made a good life for them both and she likes it that way. Until one night something extraordinary happens. Whilst attending a hypnotist show with her first date in years, she faints – and when she comes round she starts to remember. At first her memories mean nothing to her but then she begins to piece together the story of her her childhood. But with every mystery she solves another one materialises. And Melody begins to wonder if she’ll ever know the truth about her past…

My first reaction to this book was I’m afraid, a little lukewarm. I mean, the blurb on the back sounded a bit cliché (although I insisted on reading it because I’d heard so many great things about Jewell), the sentences were long and windy, and the writing style was a little confusing. For the first 70 pages of the book, I found myself trying to decipher some of the lines and figuring out whether I was reading a flashback derived from Melody’s current state of mind or whether I was just reading about her past in narrative form.

Despite my scepticism, I’m not one to put down a book so soon, and I’m glad I soldiered on with this one because it turned out to be a pretty groovy read after all. Once I got the hang of the flits in between the past and present, the storyline proved to be quite captivating. Melody is a character that one could immediately connect with and the revelation over the lost pieces of her life is heart-rending.

There were a few scenes that took place during Melody’s forgotten childhood that are very true and relevant to the real world today, and these issues were tackled beautifully by Jewell.

In one of the scenes where Melody was only 5, her stepmom Jacqui tries to explain to her about her parents’ divorce...“You see, children are the most precious thing in all the world, more precious and important than anything, and even though your mommy and daddy aren’t friends anymore, they’ll always be glad they used to be, because it meant that they made you”… In today’s world and age, divorce is such a common thing and I find myself constantly wondering about the effects of it on young children. I think Jewell did a wonderful job of explaining it in a manner that was both acceptable and easy on the mind of a 5 year old.

In another scene, little Melody is having ice-cream in Broadstairs with her mom’s landlord. She’s feeling sad and forlorn because she misses her baby stepsister (who lives all the way in London with her stepmom). She starts to cry because she’s worried that her baby stepsister will forget all about her. In an attempt to cheer her up, her mom’s landlord says…”Babies are very clever. She’ll remember your smell, and then, when she gets older, she’ll remember your face and, you know, she’ll save all her best smiles for you, because when she sees you it’ll be like a special treat”…. This was sort of a tear-jerking moment for me. Coming from a broken family, Melody formed a bond so strong with her step-sister, it was very hard not to get emotional at her reaction when she learns about their inevitable separation.

Overall, I think this is a wonderful read that people can relate to. Jewell has managed to highlight the severity of family issues on a child and at the same time, come up with a heart-warming story that does not disappoint.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

2010-04-10T23:05:00.004+08:00

“I could not have what I wanted most: Mr. Harvey dead and me living. Heaven wasn’t perfect. But I came to believe that if I watched closely, and desired, I might change the lives of those I loved on Earth”.

From the cover: “My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973. My murderer was a man from our neighbourhood.” Watching from her place in heaven, Susie Salmon sees her suburban family devastated by her death, isolated even from one another as they each try to cope with their terrible loss alone. Over the years, her friends and siblings grow up, fall in love, do all the things she never had the chance to do herself. But life is not quite finished with Susie yet…

My thoughts on the Book:

I absolutely LOVED this book. I finished it in 2 days (a record considering my hectic schedule) and I think Sebold is a genius. Her writing style is completely engaging and it was so beautifully written that it had somewhat of an emotional impact on me. This is without doubt one of those stories that would stay with me for a long, long time. In The Lovely Bones, Sebold managed to play-down the dreadful notion that most people have of the afterlife, and made it sound both surreal and plausible at the same time. The character development was fascinating and believable, and her account of Mr Harvey, the murderer, was chilling to the bone. This is not a suspense/thriller though, despite the premise being set on murder. It’s more of a beautiful account of how a dead girl deals with her death, how her family deals with her death and how her death has affected the other people in her life.

If there was one teeny-weeny thing that I would pick on, it would be the part where Susie’s little sister attended the Gifted Symposium, in which that year’s annual challenge was titled “How to Commit the Perfect Murder”. Although I could understand the relevance/importance of having this part fitted in to the storyline, I really didn’t like the subject matter and I don’t think that any rational school principal would have picked such an inappropriate topic (assuming the intention was to inspire creativity amongst children).

Despite the little aversion I had on the above, I really think this is an amazing novel and I would highly recommend this to just about anyone.

Book Rating:

My thoughts on the Movie:

Overall, I’m finding it really hard to review the movie without spoiling it for those who haven’t read the book. There were quite a few aspects of the movie that didn’t really thrill me, mainly because it lacked the depth and intensity that I experienced from reading the book. I guess in most cases, it is quite difficult to put together a solid 2.5 hour show based on a 328 page novel, but I seriously believe that the script could have been improved by showing less of Susie’s heaven and more of the on-goings on earth following her death, and how she had been observing it. Basically, there really wasn’t enough content on the murderer and it lacked the drama required to show the audience the extent of the heartache that the family went through. As a result of this, I found the movie slow and boring, plus my hubby said that I fell asleep half-way through for a good 20 minutes (I eventually replayed the missed parts the following day just so that I could give a thorough review).

On the positive side, there were some features of the movie that are worth mentioning. The role of Susie’s grandmother, played by Susan Sarandon was definitely top-notch. Also, Reece Ritchie, the guy who played Ray Singh (Susie’s secret admirer), is just to die for – watching him is as good as devouring a delicious hershey’s cookies and creme chocolate bar. I also thought that Peter Jackson did an amazing job in portraying Susie’s heaven, especially the in-between, which was breathtaking. I also liked it that he didn’t change Susie’s monologue, and stayed true to the exact words being used in the book, which were once again, beautifully written by Sebold.

Movie Rating:

30 Books To Movies Challenge

2010-04-07T23:30:00.003+08:00

I'm signing up for yet another challenge, one I probably won't be able to complete on time (considering the number of challenges I've already committed to - and still have NOT finished!). I really couldn't resist this one when I saw it on The Bibliophiles Lounge. Since most of the books I've enjoyed have been adapted into some sort of box office movie or other, joining this challenge was just the perfect thing to do.

The goal is to read 30 books that have been adapted into movies and also watch them. Rules are as follows:

You don't have to select your books ahead of time. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.
If you decide to join this challenge be sure to create a post telling others. Also, please make sure you add a link back to this post so others can join in. You can join at any time!
Non-bloggers may enter as well. If you have a blog, please post the review of BOTH the book and movie on your blog, detailing:

Your honest opinions of the book and movie
Which one did you enjoy more (book or movie?)
What do you think is so good about the book for it to have been made into a movie

For more details and to join the Challenge, please go here.

1. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
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Random by Craig Robertson

2010-04-04T19:03:00.002+08:00

Author: Craig Robertson

First Published: N/A (ARC)

Pages: 329 pgs

From the Jacket: A serial killer known as The Cutter has Glasgow in his grip. His modus operandi changes with every victim and the police are utterly baffled. But when he attacks a member of the criminal underworld, The Cutter suddenly finds himself on the run from a group hellbent on bloody retribution. With his carefully laid plans falling apart, he decides to take action – with terrifying consequences…

I remember being pretty excited to be reading this book. For one thing, it was my first complimentary book that came in my mailbox (courtesy of Book Chick City and Simon & Schuster UK for signing up for the Thriller & Suspense Challenge), and for another thing, the first 100 pages were so riveting (see Teaser Tuesday # 1), it practically had me gripping the edge of my seat with my free hand.

The story starts off with the killer having dinner in a restaurant with an unidentified lady. Upon making payment for the dinner at the desk, he reaches his hand into the bowl full of business cards and pulls out a name… Jonathan Carr. Salter, Fyfe and Bryce Solicitors. 1042 Bath Street….the killer’s first victim, maimed with a carjack swung to the back of his neck and died from suffocation with his mouth sealed shut by a duct tape and his nostrils squeezed tight with a few drops of super glue. The killer later cuts off the victim’s finger as a souvenir - an absolutely gruesome and heartless murderer. After another carefully planned murder, the killer strikes again, only to discover that he had killed a person connected to the Glasgow Mafia. It was from this point onwards that I started to lose the plot. I thought that the introduction of the underground criminals into the storyline was boring and unnecessary. Although from the jacket it sounded like the killing of one of the Mafia’s men was a major hindrance to the murderer’s killing spree, it really didn’t do much to enhance the action, and was to the contrary quite dull and idealistic in parts.

What’s interesting about this book though is that the entire story is written from the killer’s perspective which gives the reader an insight into the dark and twisted mind of a psychotic serial killer. I also appreciated the research done into ensuring that the murders were believable – some of them were truly ingenious. I could also relate to one of the potential victims (scarily enough), who was selected by the murderer from Facebook! Yup, it’s definitely possible, especially made so when you read about it in Random.

Berried Alive by Kate Kingsbury

2010-03-27T13:30:00.004+08:00

I picked this up at a warehouse sale organised by my local MPH bookstore for 5 Ringgit! (a book in Malaysia usually costs a whopping RM30 on average so this was a steal!). I’ve never actually read a book by Kate Kingsbury before. This particular one happens to be under her Manor House Mysteries, and fits perfectly under my Thriller & Suspense Challenge.

The scene is set during World War II, England, in a small village called Sitting Marsh, and centres on Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton. It was a hard and trying time for the villagers of Sitting Marsh, and the growing number of American soldiers on their turf was starting to annoy the wits out of them. Especially so for a particular somebody…. As it turns out, 4 of these American Servicemen were found mysteriously dead. Lady Elizabeth, being the perfect Lady of the Manor that she is, finds it upon herself to snoop around in an attempt to solve the mysterious deaths.

What I liked about this book was that it was an easy read – a short and sweet Cozy Mystery (only 202 pages long), with an assortment of interesting characters. Apart from the main character, Lady Elizabeth, there was Martin: the befuddled butler; Violet: the no-nonsense housekeeper, Polly: the heartbroken maid who keeps thinking she saw ghosts; Rita: the contemptuous control freak; and the most appealing character of all……Major Earl Monroe, the dashing and unattainable American soldier who has a particular penchant for Lady Elizabeth. It's really cute how Elizabeth constantly finds herself having dirty thoughts about the Major, and how she tries to contain her feelings because of his married status and the reputation she needs to uphold. Scandal brewing? Maybe, but there was definitely more mystery than a scandalous romance, although the insinuated fling was a nicely added touch.

I’d recommend this if you’re wanting a light and easy read that’s entertaining enough to keep you ploughing on. Having said that, it’s not exactly a cleverly plotted murder, and some may find it a little predictable. Even the title itself is kind of a give-away, but to be fair, the author does reveal the source of the deaths quite early on in the mystery.

Teaser Tuesday # 2

2010-03-23T21:44:00.002+08:00

Should Be ReadingTeaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share 2 "teaser" sentences from somewehere on that page
Be careful not to include spoilers (make sure that what you say doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author too so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

"She was dressed in her usual uniform of cut-off combats and hooded jacket, her copper hair tied up in a ponytail, sunglasses on her head and a cigarette burning between her fingers. From behind she looked about fourteen, but from the front her face was prematurely aged by stress, cigarettes and too many Spanish holidays. If Melody had used a condom on the two occasions she'd had sex in October 1987 she'd never have met Stacey....

-pg.83 The Truth about Melody Browne by Lisa Jewell

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2010-03-19T12:04:00.006+08:00

She’s tough.. She’s fearless…. And she’s a survivor…

Katniss Everdeen is no ordinary 16 year-old. She lives in the poor town of Seam under District 12 of Panem. With a dead father, a grief-stricken mother and a helpless younger sister, it is up to Katniss to ensure that food is on the table each day. But life is not all that bad when she goes hunting for food with Gale. At 18, Gale is a skilful hunter who teaches Katniss the way around the forbidden and dangerous woods of Panem. They share many things in common; both with the same adventurous streak and with families that are dependent on them, but the most common thing that they share is their trepidation at being called to participate in the country’s annual Hunger Games…a brutal game of survival where the weak perish and only the fittest survive…

Katniss’ already dysfunctional world suddenly turns for the worse, when her sweet, innocent 12 year-old sister is picked as the female participant for this year’s Hunger Games. In an attempt to protect the only sister she has, Katniss throws herself into the Games as a volunteer to replace her sister. As she steels herself for the inevitable departure from her family and from Gale, she discovers herself falling into an unexpected union with District 12’s male Hunger Games participant, Peeta Mellark….

I first heard about this from Ms Ulat Buku and Beth Fish Reads and saw that so many other people had been raving about it too. I’m so glad I picked this up, as this book is definitely going to the top of my favourite list for this year. In a nutshell, it’s an engaging fast-paced adventure, interlaced with a budding romance between the spunky Katniss and two other prospective suitors; the dependable and trustworthy Gale and the charming and delectable Peeta. If I had to make up my mind now, I would probably be a Team Gale supporter. Why? Well, he doesn’t feature as much as Peeta does in the first of the Hunger Games series, but I like it when a man is depicted as strong and reliable. Though Katniss has pretty much proven how independent she can be, I’d like to think that she ends up with a macho, macho man. Unfortunately, Peeta was too much of a softie for me. He is awfully charming and sweet though….(sigh)…

In any case, I can’t wait to sink my teeth into the second and third book, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. It’s true what the critics out there say; this novel will continue to haunt you days after you’ve finished reading it. It’s truly a compelling story, from start to finish.

p/s: I’m psyched to find out that the Hunger Games will be made into a movie soon and equally happy to know that Suzanne Collins will be writing the screenplay herself. (I was extremely disappointed with the Twilight and New Moon movies. I felt that it failed to deliver the intensity of the plot, making it all look pretty cheesy instead). So, who do you think should play Katniss?? Personally, I can’t think of a suitable actress to play Katniss at the moment but I think Saoirse Ronan of The Lovely Bones makes a perfect Prim Everdeen.

Teaser Tuesday # 1

2010-03-09T23:01:00.002+08:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share 2 "teaser" sentences from somewehere on that page
Be careful not to include spoilers (make sure that what you say doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author too so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:

"I'd come up with the idea of cutting off his finger after a bit of thought. I wanted something to make sure they knew it was me, something to remember me by. The finger was easy, straighforward and not too messy. It would make me look crazy enough but not a complete psycho. Didn't want them to think that."

-pg.12 Random by Craig Robertson

This is Craig Robertson's first novel so I was a bit anxious in picking it up at first. So far, so good though. I'm only up to page 40, and I'm already hooked!

A Blog Award!

2010-03-07T09:52:00.001+08:00

So last week, Dazzling Mage from A Reading Kabocha was sweet enough to think of me and honour me with my first blog award. I feel; a) Privileged, b) Inspired and c) Just thrilled to bits!

I started blogging sometime in September 2009 and I didn’t really get the hang of it ‘til early this year (in fact, I’m still a little clueless at things, like retrieving awards for example *sheepish grin*). But for the past few months, since hanging around the blogosphere, I’ve discovered an array of new genres and most importantly, have made loads of new friends around the globe. It’s certainly a nice feeling to know that there are people out there who share the same interests and appreciate my two cents worth.

The rules are:

Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

In keeping up with the tradition of the ‘One Lovely Blog Award’, I’d like to pass this on to the following awesome bloggers whom I’ve recently discovered:

Keep up with the great work and spread the love guys!

Anybody Out There?

2010-03-04T23:00:00.007+08:00

Author: Marian Keyes

First Published: 2006

Pages: 593 pgs.

Challenge: Romance Reading Challenge 2010

“Men who didn’t eat red meat were Feathery Strokers. Men who used post-shave balm instead of slapping stinging aftershave on to their tender skin were Feathery Strokers. Men who noticed your shoes and handbags were Feathery Strokers. (Or Jolly Boys). It was only when I realised how anxious I was that Jacqui might dismiss Aidan as a Feathery Stroker that I saw how much I liked him…”

Anna Walsh is a 30-something Irish gal who works in New York. She has The Most Fabulous Job In The WorldTM and she also has Aidan; a non-Feathery Stroker who’s all the man a girl could ever wish for. A life-changing event suddenly turns Anna’s marvellous world upside-down and the only person who can fix it is Aidan. As she struggles to reclaim the life she once knew, Aidan seems to move further and further away from her grasp.

I love, love, love this book. It’s funny (I must’ve laughed outloud more than 5 times, even my husband wanted to know what I was reading) and at the same time, it touches on real issues that some women may have to face in their lifetime. It definitely took me on an emotional roller-coaster ride: At one point I was laughing my brains out and at another point I was feeling so sad and depressed that I needed to have a good girly chat with a BFF. Despite all the chick-lit humour, there is definitely a strong message that can be taken away as solid guidance. This is a great Marian Keyes book to start with and I would highly recommend it to all MK virgins out there (ehem…just like me). I’ll leave you with a snippet of one of my favourite passages from the book:

‘Jacqui’. I was staring between her legs, in high alarm. ‘Something’s happening!’ ‘What?’ ‘It’s the head,’ the midwife said. Oh, yes, the head. Of course. For a minute I’d thought Jacqui’s insides were coming out. More and more of the head appeared. Oh, my God, it was a human being, an actual new human being! It happens every day, millions of times, but when you see it happening with your own two eyes, it’s nothing short of miraculous. And then its face appeared. ‘It’s a baby,’ I yelped. ‘It’s a baby!’ ‘What were you expecting?’ Jacqui gasped. ‘A Miu Miu handbag?!’

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

2010-02-28T09:40:00.003+08:00

Author: Jane Austen

Genre: Romance, Literature

First Published: 1813

Pages: 368

Challenge: The Jane Austen and Romance Reading Challenge 2010

Mr Bennet is an apathetic man of the working class, with no estate to his name. For Mrs Bennet, it became imperative then that her single mission in life is to marry off her 5 daughters to respectable gentlemen with some form of fortune. As the Bennet ladies mingle with society in search of a man, Elizabeth, the 2nd of the Bennet girls, quickly discovers that those with riches are not only full of pride, but are also prejudiced in their opinion of others with lesser possessions. Is Elizabeth right to judge the rich and famous as so? Will she ever find a man that will love her for what she is and not what she is worth? Or will her ready opinions of people render her guilty of being prejudiced herself?

It goes without saying that my favourite character of the entire plot would be Ms Elizabeth Bennet herself. Though she may not be as pretty and good-natured as Jane, she’s smart, head-strong and bursting with personality. My least favourite character (in fact I pretty much loathe her) is the girls’ mother, Mrs Bennet. She is forceful, pompous and the most inconsiderate mother one could ever wish for. As for the infamous Mr Darcy, his extreme arrogance was such a turn-off for me at first, but as the book progressed, his attitude was well more understood.

I believe Jane Austen has a gift for making her characters come to life. They are so believable and full of depth, it’s impossible not to feel some form of emotion over each character. I say this is a must-read for all inspiring writers and book-lovers alike.

Sookie: Books 5, 6 & 7 by Charlaine Harris

2010-02-21T20:01:00.005+08:00

I’ve been a bit of a Little Miss Lazybones lately. I actually finished most of the Sookie series available (except for the last 2 books) some time back, and since then have been engrossed in so many other books that I’ve side-lined writing my reviews for Sookie. As a result of my ungodly procrastination, I can’t exactly remember the details of these books, so I’ve decided that the best way to go about it is to list what I liked most from each.

In the 5th book of the Sookie Stackhouse series i.e. Dead as a Doornail, Sookie deals with her brother’s change into a werepanther, after he was bitten by another from the Hotshot community (the bite happened in Book 3). What I love most about this Book was that I finally understood what Claudine’s role in Sookie’s life was. In the first few series, I had been left wondering what a Fairy had anything to do with the world of vampires and werewolves, so the revelation here was liberating. I also like the introduction to Quinn; the tall, hunky and absolutely yummy character, who happens to be a shape-shifter. As usual with Charlaine Harris, there are a few plots brewing at the same time in the Book, but I thought they all blended together quite well.

The 6th installation of the Sookie Stackhouse series is Definitely Dead. In this Book, readers will see a lot more of Quinn and his yumminess, as he gets acquainted with our wry and sexy Sookie. What’s really great about this book is this:

1. Sookie finally tackles a budding relationship in the right way. Instead of falling straight into it (like her previous relationships), she starts things slow and with a sceptical mind.

2. Sookie gains some normality in her life when she discovers a friend in Amelia. Not that Amelia is quite that normal anyway (after all, she is a witch). But the fact that these two, both human girls with abilities, manage to find a common thread in each other was certainly a refreshing point.

In All Together Dead (the 7th Book), Sookie attends the vampire summit as part of the Queen of Louisiana’s entourage. The Queen has been charged for murdering her husband and is set for trial at the summit, and Sookie is needed for her ability. At the summit, she bumps into an old friend, Barry, the boy with telepathic ability just like Sookie, and together they find themselves embroiled in the biggest crisis they have ever encountered. For me, this is by far the most fast-paced and suspense-filled Sookie adventure yet. I really wish I could say more but that would just spoil the entire plot.

Overall, I think books 5, 6 and 7 have definitely picked-up pace and is more thrilling and engaging than before. If you love mysteries with a mix of supernatural creatures then you would definitely love Sookie. I rate all three books a whopping 5 stars because I just love quirky Sookie!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

2010-02-14T17:29:00.003+08:00

Author: Stieg Larsson (Translated from Swedish by Reg Keeland)
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
First published: 2005
Pages: 644 pgs.
Challenge: Thriller & Suspense Challenge 2010

Mikael Blomkvist is a financial investigative journalist who with his business partner, Erika Berger, owns the Milennium; a financial magazine known for publishing independent articles of critique in the Swede business society. After writing a condemning article on Wennerstrom, a powerful business man, Blomkvist finds himself slapped with a libel suit and consequently sentenced to 3 months in prison. The unflattering media attention on him catches the interest of another Swedish mogul; Henrik Vanger.

Vanger, who has since retired from the business world, is plagued by a mysterious event that happened more than 30 years ago and gets in touch with Blomkvist, hoping that the latter would assist him in unravelling the truth to the mystery that has been haunting him for years. But before he makes the acquaintances of Blomkvist, he appoints an independent company to perform a thorough character investigation of the journalist, and in comes Salander; a 24 year old social enigma who happens to be an extremely intelligent agent and a resourceful researcher.

Along the way, Blomkvist and Salander cross paths and together they find themselves entwined in one of the most twisted and revolting crimes in Swedish history….

My Thoughts on this exciting mystery novel:

Yup. You got it. The Girl in the Dragon Tattoo was exciting, fast-paced and one of the most ingenious crime novels I’ve read for a while. I wanted to read this book after seeing a rave review about it by vvb32 and I’m sure glad I did. This is my first novel by a European author (who’s not British) and I was pleasantly surprised to say the very least. Like vvb32 though, I wanted to knock my head against the wall when I read the first few chapters as it tended to drag too much on the characterisation of each character. (I felt that the intro on Salander’s boss, as well as Blomkvist’s first meeting with Vanger could have been alot shorter). But once I got through that, Steig Larsson had me instantly hooked. I liked Blomkvist’s nature and how he approached the mystery. A word of warning though, the truth to the mystery is quite shocking and repulsive, and some readers might find certain parts of the book disturbing. Oh, and I wouldn’t do justice without giving the translator i.e. Reg Keeland the credit that he deserves. Not many translators out there are able to preserve the originality of a story in a different language, but I think Keeland did a great job as the novel was thoroughly captivating.

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

2010-02-02T22:28:00.001+08:00

Author: Nicholas Sparks
Genre: Romance
First Published: 1996
Pages: 272 pgs.

“I am nothing special; of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts, and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough. The romantics would call this a love story, the cynics would call it a tragedy….” (The Notebook, pg. 2, Miracles)

Noah Calhoun is an ordinary man who falls in love with the girl of his dreams at the age of 17. It was a brief summer love, and they are soon separated by fate. For Noah, the separation does not mar his feelings as he remains still very much in love with that girl who has now become just a ghost of his memories. After 14 years of living in the past, the girl suddenly appears on his doorstep and the story of Noah and Allie begin to unfold….

The Notebook is a story about love in its purest form, the devotion of a man to the love of his life, come what may, as he braves through the many obstacles that life throws his way. It’s a story about soul mates whose love knows no boundaries, their feelings for each other bound so strong that makes it possible for even the smallest of miracles to happen. It is a book that takes the reader through an emotional journey that would move even the toughest of souls.

Okay, before I go on further with the mushy stuff, I have to say that I’m not a huge fan of sappy romantic novels (I prefer love with a bit of bite – like Bella and Edward’s of Twilight). I had trouble getting past the first half of the book but I have to admit that this book really touched me in the end. Sparks is a great storyteller who has distinctively captured the essence of true love. I would definitely recommend this to all the hopeless romantics out there and what more with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, this would be the perfect tool to reignite the passion for your loved one. Happy Valentine’s Day in advance everyone!

Broga at Sunrise

2010-02-01T14:08:00.001+08:00

I've blogged about Broga a few times before (see here and here) and I think I would not do the place justice if I didn't post up some pictures of the place taken during sunrise. I finally managed to cajole a group of friends who were already planning a hike there, to wakeup at 5am (believe me, it was no easy feat - both the cajoling and forcing myself to wakeup from my very comfortable bed in the wee hours of the morning).

Together we climbed the hill and this is what I caught on camera, at the break of dawn from the hilltops of Broga:

As usual, I enjoyed the short hike and the waking up at 5am was a task well rewarded.

The Jane Austen and Romance Reading Challenge 2010

2010-01-30T11:18:00.009+08:00

Ooh I'm such a sucker for challenges. I've just stumbled upon 2 more challenges that I simply must join. Lucky for me, these 2 kind of cross-over each other in a way, so I might be able to squeeze these in, on top of the other challenges that I've joined this year.

1) The Jane Austen Challenge

The Jane Austen challenge is hosted by Haley @ the Life (and Lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object (The Jane Austen Challenge). The challenge is split into 3 levels:

i) NeWbiE: 2 books by J.A. and 2 re-writes / prequels / sequels / spoofs (by other authors)

ii) LoVeR: 4 books by J.A. and 4 re-writes / prequels / sequels / spoofs (by other authors)

iii) FaNatiC: 6+ books by J.A. and 5+ re-writes / prequels / sequels / spoofs (by other authors)

I'm going for the NeWbiE level and my reading list will be:

a) Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
b) Emma by Jane Austen
c) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Spoof
d) Mr Darcy, Vampyre - Spoof

2) Romance Reading Challenge 2010

I'm not a big fan of the steamy Harlequin romance stuff but I do love contemporary and romantic suspense and I've always wanted to read about Romeo and Juliet (I know...can't believe I haven't read Shakespeare's infamous masterpiece yet!)

The rules are pretty simple: Read at least 5 romance type novels from 1st Jan to 31st Dec 2010. You may choose from contemporary romance, historical romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance to name a few. As long as the story has romantic love between the two main characters your selection will fit this challenge.

The RRC 2010 challenge is hosted by Naida @ the bookworm (Romance Reading Challenge 2010).

My RRC list so far:
1. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (see review here)
2. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (see review here)
3. Anybody Out There by Marian Keyes (see review here)
4.
5.

The Hollow

2010-01-22T23:48:00.003+08:00

Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
First Published: 1946

The last time I read an Agatha Christie book was probably 5 years ago, on my honeymoon. I was on a cruise with my husband from Singapore to Phuket, and I suddenly developed a severe eye infection. I had a swollen eyelid and my eyeball was red and teary. The discomfort was enough to kill any romantic mood I was feeling, so instead of attending the gala dinners and lively shows, my husband and I decided to visit the ship’s library and spend the nights reading on our suite’s balcony. That’s when I picked up my last Agatha Christie book.

I’ve always loved Christie’s novels and my favourite hero is none other than Hercule Poirot – the little Belgian detective with a touch of OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). The Hollow is a Poirot book but unlike most of the books under the Poirot Series, this one doesn’t feature Poirot as much as the others do.

The Hollow is an estate located on the outskirts of London, managed and owned by Sir Henry and Lady Lucy Angkatell. As the Angkatells host their weekend family gathering at The Hollow, an unexpected event occurs – a guest is shot dead. Whilst Poirot and the Police struggle to find the killer, they find themselves entangled in a web of family secrets.

As mentioned, there was very little Poirot being featured. A lot of the book was focused on the main suspects, which is a refreshing perspective compared to other Poirot books that tend to circle around the Belgian detective’s thoughts. Here, Christie gives readers a chance to self-evaluate the minds of each character in detail, sort of like a psycho-analysis if you like. The little bit that bugged me though was that I managed to guess who the killer was slightly more than half-way through the book. Nevertheless, the surreptitious but wonky characters and Christie’s writing flair will keep you flipping through the pages at super-fast speed. I'd say not one of the best Christie books around, but still worth a read.

The Catcher in the Rye

2010-01-09T00:09:00.008+08:00

Author : J.D. Salinger
Genre : Literature
First Published : 1945

Brief: This novel centres around a high-school boy; Holden Caulfield. It is written in first person, as narrated by Caulfield himself.

The first thing that struck me when I read the first few pages of this book was how much it sounded like I was reading a personal blog instead of a much-talked about novel. It wasn’t so much of the writing style (being in first person), but it was more of the profanity and swearing that appeared in almost every page that made me feel like I was just reading some random individual’s journal. I managed to get over the countless “craps” and “Chrissakes” after a while and found a few interesting points worth mentioning.

Holden’s story, as how he views the world, is none at all conclusive. His perspective on things invokes a major question. Was he merely a rebellious teenager or was he a schizophrenic? His thoughts were incoherent, tending to jump from one topic to another, yet he expressed each random thought with clarity. He also appeared to be unusually irrational at times, like the time he wouldn’t stop asking cab drivers where the ducks disappeared to in winter. There were also some incidences in the story suggesting that Caulfield was delusional. It’s quite obvious that he’s a cynic who hated almost everything and everyone. On the other hand, he was also shown to be extremely sincere and protective when it came to kids or women. Personally, Caulfield to me looked like he was on the onset of having a mental illness. Rebellious teenagers are usually attention seekers, something Caulfield wasn’t really fond of.

Overall, I wouldn’t say this was a great book. There was no high point in the story, though it does have some interesting moments, and it definitely leaves you with some food for thought.

*Update
J.D. Salinger has passed away on the 27th of January 2010 at the age of 91. Salinger died of natural causes at his home. He had lived for decades in self-imposed isolation in a small, remote house in Cornish, N.H. (Associated Press).

Thriller & Suspense Challenge 2010

2010-01-04T01:02:00.010+08:00

I'm pretty excited to be joining this particular challenge. For one, I've always been a mystery-book lover, but have found little time for it lately, and secondly, this would be my first 2010 reading challenge.

The rules are pretty simple and the key points are copied below:

Timeline is between 1st Jan 2010 and 31 Dec 2010. Joining is anytime during the year.
To read a total of 12 thrillers during the time period.
You don't have to select your books ahead of time and crossovers into other challenges are allowed.

If mind-boggling whodunit and suspense is right up your alley, then feel free to join here.

*Updates*
My Thriller & Suspense List

The Hollow by Agatha Christie
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Berried Alive by Kate Kingsbury
Random by Craig Robertson
The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie
The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

p/s: This lovely challenge is brought to you by Book Chick City.

Broga Hills

2009-12-31T02:59:00.004+08:00

I’ve been wanting to blog about this trip the minute I completed the hike way back in November but time just got the better of me. Plus, ever since I found out about all these reading challenges on the blogosphere, I’ve naturally had my head buried in books like an ostrich holed up in sand. Anyway, considering that we only have one day left before 2010 looms on us, and also coz I promised myself that I would write about this, so here it goes…

My girlfriends and I (not my usual ex-uni gals, but my ex-PwC gals) have planned for this Broga trip for as long as I can remember. The plans finally materialised last month and to top it off, those of us who were married actually managed to drag our husbands along. For the record, this was my first time doing something like this with J. After 5 years of marriage, with him usually shaking his head each time I did something smelling of adventure, he finally succumbed to my passion for the outdoors...didn’t realise it would take me that long to charm him though. Anyway, I discovered that Ms F and Ms S had some trouble convincing their hubsters to join in too. Apparently, their mate’s would have rather waited at the foot of the hill with the focal excuse being somebody had to take care of the food…seriously guys...(tsk, tsk, tsk).

Okay, so our adventure started from the Kajang toll. By the way, if you’re reading this blog hoping for directions to Broga then you’ve come to the wrong place. I’m hopeless at directions and if I ever got lost in the woods I’d probably be eaten by a Sumatran Tiger before I manage to figure out how the compass works. I did manage to source for a map somewhere on the web though and thank god for AR who sort of knew the way in, and Eddie for leading us out all the way to the Bangi Kopitiam for our much deserved brunch. I think I’ve run off tangent here. Sorry, back to Broga. So, we were supposed to convoy from the Kajang toll at 7am, with 7.15 being the latest. But dear Ms E and Ms J either woke up late, were hopeless at directions too, or had to feed the cats first (I forget the exact reason), only arrived around 7.45am. No worries, we were all in a cheery mood and were just glad they arrived in one piece (apparently Ms E drove at neck-breaking speed and took only 20 mins to reach the Kajang toll from Ampang - yikes).

We used the Kajang Silk highway that heads towards Nottingham University and parked our cars in the oil palm estate, opposite the rabbit farm. From there, we hiked for about 5 to 10 mins before reaching the foot of the hill. The hike up took about 35 mins. It’s quite an easy trek if you’re a regular hiker as most of the route has been cleared out and some of the up-hill trails have been nicely shaped into small steps.

And this is the view from the top folks:

All in all, this is a great trail to hike on a regular basis. It’s fun, simple and doesn’t take too long to reach the fantastic views. I saw a few older couples on the way up who seem to be regular visitors. They say the view there is best at sunrise.

A note to first-timers: Please, please remember to take a leak before your trip, unless you don’t mind doing it in a natural environment with a few furry friends staring right at your wonderness. It is okay to drink lots of water during trekking or any other sports in general though, as your body will get rid of the waste through your sweat.

Also, a special thanks to Avian for the great shots!

Club Dead & Dead to the World – The Sookie Stackhouse Series

2009-12-24T00:31:00.009+08:00

These two books are my favourite in the series so far. In the first 2 books of the Series (see my reviews here and here), the main characters were centered on Sookie (of course) and Bill, due to their budding romance. In Club Dead however, the romance gets a nip in the bud when Bill disappears mysteriously. In her attempt to find Bill, Sookie unexpectedly finds an ally in Alcide, who coincidentally is a werewolf. What I love most about this book is the emphasis on Alcide. Unfortunately, I’m not much of a Bill fan so I sort of welcomed the author’s shift in focus to other characters. I liked the portrayal of Alcide’s strong-yet-gentle demeanour and how Sookie actually sees a future in the two of them being together. I think Alcide is a really sweet guy…

In Dead to the World (Book 4), Bill and Sookie’s relationship is almost non-existent. (Next part is a spoiler so quickly skip to next paragraph if you can). They eventually breakup at the end of Club Dead, so Sookie starts off the new year in Book 4 a single and free woman. But not for long…

On her way home from Merlotte’s (the bar that Sookie works at), she finds Eric (the really really hot vampire) running naked (whoa..) in the middle of the road. It turns out that Eric was cursed by a witch and can’t remember anything about himself, his past or his surroundings. His vulnerability appeals to Sookie, and before you know it they develop a romantic relationship. I’ve always liked Eric. Despite his superior and occasionally pompous character (before he lost his memory that is), Eric is quite a funny ~~guy~~ vamp. Plus, he is the epitome of yumminess…

Overall, I’d give both books the two thumbs-up. The storyline has definitely improved from the first 2 books and I am so very hooked.

These books are part of The Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge.

Living Dead in Dallas – The Sookie Stackhouse Series

2009-12-20T01:39:00.008+08:00

Living Dead in Dallas is the second book in the SS series. Here, Sookie, a cocktail waitress from Bon Temps, finds herself falling into a deeper relationship with the Vampire Bill, both romantically and professionally as Bill becomes her ally in an unfolding vampire adventure.

One night after getting into a fight with Bill, Sookie is unexpectedly attacked by another supernatural being. The supe’s attack left poison in Sookie’s blood stream and the only other beings that could help remove it were the vampires of Shreveport, led by the notorious-yet-delicious Vampire Sheriff of Area 5, Eric Northman. Since they sort of saved her life, she felt obliged to help when Eric requested her to use her telepathic abilities to help solve a mystery for the vampires of Dallas.

In Dallas, whilst trying to unravel the mystery she was sent on, Sookie finds herself getting into trouble with a group of vampire-haters, and finds herself getting a little closer to Eric...

My thoughts:
I enjoyed this book more than the first one. It definitely had more action and the introduction to the other super-naturals in Sookie's world made it even more interesting. I did get a little confused though, coz there is more than one plot in the book. Basically, the mystery of the vampires of Dallas wasn't the only mystery that needed solving. I'm not going to reveal more for the benefit of those who haven't read it, but suffice to say that the solving of the other mystery kind of revealed more of Eric's character and I am liking it ;)

This book is part of The Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge.

The Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

2009-12-20T00:13:00.010+08:00

This is my first ever reading challenge and boy, am I excited! I stumbled upon this when googling for some info on the Sookie Stackhouse series. I’ve already read the first 2 books from the series and I must say that I’m definitely warming up to the quirky world of Sookie.

This challenge is hosted by Beth Fish and runs from 1st July 2009 to 30th June 2010. I only have about 6 months to go but I’m thinking that I might be able to finish this on time, fingers crossed.

The books listed in the challenge are:

~~Dead Until Dark~~ (read review Dead Until Dark)
~~Living Dead in Dallas~~ (read review Living Dead in Dallas)
~~Club Dead~~ (read review Club Dead)
~~Dead to the World~~ (read review Dead to the World)
~~Dead as a Doornail~~ (read review Dead as a Doornail)
~~Definitely Dead~~ (read review Definitely Dead)
~~All Together Dead~~ (read review All Together Dead)
~~From Dead to Worse~~ (read review From Dead to Worse)
~~Dead and Gone~~ (read review Dead and Gone)

Can’t wait to get started on the rest of the books a.s.a.p!

Dead Until Dark – The Sookie Stackhouse Series

2009-12-16T00:36:00.010+08:00

After finishing the Twilight Saga mid this year, I’ve officially become a Vampire Series addict. Since Stephenie Meyer decided to end the Twilight Saga with Breaking Dawn, I’ve begun to pine for some vampire action, not to mention perpetually missing the ever-so-charming Edward. I had to find myself another Vampire Series before the withdrawal symptoms came full-scale.

So I started snooping around and found out that the vampire craze has now expanded to include the Southern Vampire / Sookie Stackhouse Series and The Vampire Diaries. Needless to say, I got into my car straight away and drove to 4 different book stores, before I managed to get my hands on the Sookie Stackhouse Series box set (*cheers!!*)

Dead Until Dark is the first book of the Sookie Stackhouse Series and introduces Sookie Stackhouse, a cocktail waitress from Bon-Temps, Louisiana. Sookie is a telepath who has trouble socialising as she spends most of her time trying to block out people’s thoughts. Her life starts to change dramatically when a Vampire, (Bill Compton) walks into her bar. Being a vampire, Sookie can’t hear Bill’s thoughts and feels completely at ease with him. But Bill is the first vampire to ever lay foot in Bon Temps and ever since he did, the small town is suddenly laden with mysterious murders.

My thoughts: Quirky, amusing and weird, all spun into one. It makes for good fantasy reading though I probably would have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t watched the TV Series first (in my haste to find more vampires to be obsessed with, I ended up watching True Blood, the Sookie Stackhouse TV Series, before I could get my hands on the book box set…big mistake…the book is so much better).

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

2009-12-15T23:27:00.004+08:00

I was shopping for kid’s books a few months back when I saw that Dan Brown’s latest book i.e. The Lost Symbol was on 20% discount (and that was for the hard cover *smiles*). Being a big fan of his Da Vinci Code, I jumped at the opportunity of course.

The Lost Symbol features the return of Professor Langdon, the Harvard symbologist, in another thriller/adventure that takes him through the secrets of Masonry and hidden history in Washington D.C. There’s also a teeny-weeny bit of romance going on for him here…but don’t get your hopes up too high. As I mentioned, it’s just a teeny bit, about half-way through the book when he is reunited with his mentor’s sister.

My thoughts on the Book: I was expecting more from this one. Da Vinci Code was such a hit for me that I kind of expected this to hit me even better. The plot, for me, was a tad familiar and it felt like I was reading parts of Da Vinci code all over again, except that the setting was in a different city. It’s just not as thrilling when you read a plot almost the second time round. Anyway, the book is still worth reading. If you’re not a fan of non-fiction, reading this will give you some insights on Masonic rituals and an introduction to Noetic Sciences, as the author has kept true to the facts. As usually expected with Dan Brown, the artwork and monuments described in the book are also real. So, yes, it’s still an interesting book….just not as interesting as The Da Vinci Code, I think.

De-stress, De-stress, De-stress…

2009-12-13T10:46:00.002+08:00

I have a 101 things to blog about but have been so busy with work lately (*frown*). It’s almost year-end, and for business units like us (I manage corporate and investment accounts when I have half of my head on), year-ends are when we try to seal the deal to meet the budget so that we can live happily ever after on our fat bonuses. Sadly though, a fat bonus is probably a far-cry considering that we’ve barely met the budget this year. Which makes it an even more stressful year-end for me (although we have tried to blame it on the economy…hey, it’s not our fault, right?). On top of that, year-end is also where all the auditors in the world (both internal and external, not to mention the Bank Negara auditors too) suddenly converge to make it a living hell for people like us. The facts of life (*sigh*)…

Anyway, despite the busy-ness , I’m quite happy that I managed to squeeze in a few de-stresser activities over the past 2 months. Since I haven’t had a chance to write about them yet (will endeavour to do that real soon), I thought I’d just ~~list~~ summarise them ~~down~~ first. So here goes, a ~~list~~ summary of my top de-stresser activities for the months of Nov & Dec 2009:

1) Broga Hills Hike @ Semenyih, Selangor
A great way to work-out with friends and family. One can take a short hike (about 45mins to 1 hr) up Broga Hills to watch the sunrise/sunset, or simply enjoy the view from the top. Definitely a refreshing experience compared to the endless traffic and perpetual noise pollution in KL.

2) Comedy Club @ Zouk, Kuala Lumpur
This is a real great place to let all hang loose and laugh your guts out. I’ve had the pleasure of frequenting this place twice, and both times tremendously enjoyed myself. The Club features stand-up comedians from around the world, as well as local acts. I’ve only been to the ones held at Zouk, but I think they run shows at other places as well. If you’d like further info on this, please visit their official web page at:
http://www.thecomedyclubkl.com/home.html

3) Breakfast @ McD’s Shah Alam with little D in tow
Okay, I know this may not be much of an activity for some but believe it or not, this was the first time I ever brought D for a breakfast-cum-playtime @ the McD’s near my place. When it comes to McD’s we usually go to the drive-thru and swallow our Big Mac even before we reach the house. When it comes to weekend breakfasts, we usually go for hot Nasi Lemak or Roti Canai at Syed’s in Section 11. But D gets restless really fast there, and it’s almost impossible to enjoy the Sunday paper with all the “Mamaks” shouting the orders across your table, hoping the 'machaa' all the way in the kitchen heard them.

So, Sunday breakfast at McD’s was a different and relaxing experience for me. Not only did D finish every morsel of his hot cakes, we also got to relax (J got to read his morning news in peace and I managed to finish Club Dead of my Sookie Stackhouse series), whilst D played on the colourful slides in the play area. He even made a couple of new friends there, as I recently found out, quite a few other parents were doing the dump-ur-kid-at-the-McD-play-area-while-u-relax thing. Splendid.

4) Salomon X-Trail Challenge
This is my first time joining a running challenge and I LOVED it!!! Being a first-timer, I only did the 4km race and I finished too. Yippee!! For those who haven’t heard about this before, the Salomon X-Trail challenge is an off-road running race that takes you through the woods of Lembah Kiara, Taman Tun. The race is mostly 2kms up-hill and 2kms sprint, down-hill. And, there’s also the 10km track, for pros of course. Results are not out yet, but I think I may have done it an hour or so. Don’t know how I fared compared to other 4km racers, but I’m just happy I managed to finish it in one piece.

All in all, I’m feeling completely recharged and ready for the final 2 gruelling weeks of what's remaining of 2009. After that, all set for a new round of de-stresser Christmas hols and a whole new year ahead. Can’t wait!!

What Happens in Faeroe Island

2009-11-26T22:40:00.000+08:00

I was clearing my over-flowing email box at work today (mostly work-related stuff of course…yeah right), when an email from a colleague caught my eye. The subject page on the email screamed “The Shame of Denmark – Disgraceful – Keep List Going Around”. Curious, I opened it and out streamed a dozen or so photos of a blood-red sea, filled with slaughtered dolphins; some of which had their guts spilling out. Re-produced below are a few photos from that email.

This is a truly shocking an awfully sad sight. The email goes on to describe how this mass slaughtering of dolphins happens each year, in Faeroe Island - Denmark, where most of the participants are just teens. I couldn’t imagine how any sane, civilised person could commit such a heinous act of crime, and thought that the email was probably a hoax - so I wiki-ed it. This is an excerpt of what I found on Wikipedia:

“Whaling in the Faroe Islands has been practiced since 1584. It is regulated by Faroese authorities but not by the International Whaling Commission. Around 950 Long-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala melaena) are killed annually. The hunts, called "grindadráp" in Faroese, are non-commercial and are organized on a community level; anyone can participate.

Most Faroese consider the hunt an important part of their culture and history. Animal-rights groups criticize the hunt as being cruel and unnecessary, while the hunters claim in return that most journalists do not exhibit sufficient knowledge of the catch methods or its economic significance.

Islanders in motorboats first drive the whales into a bay. The chase may be lengthy. The whales are eventually driven into the shallows. The islanders hammer 2.2 kg metal gaffs into the flesh of each whale until the hooks hold. A 15 cm knife is then used to slash through the blubber and flesh to the spinal column. Next the main blood vessels are severed.

The Faroese treat the hunt as a festive occasion. Children are often given a day off school. According to Faroese legislation it is also permitted to hunt certain species of small cetaceans other than pilot whales. These include: Bottlenose dolphin; Atlantic white-beaked dolphin; Atlantic white-sided dolphin; and Harbour porpoise (There are also specific regulations for the hunting of harbour porpoise. Harbour porpoises are killed with shotguns).”

Perhaps the Faroese have been misunderstood but for whatever reasons they have, the final result remains inhumane and unacceptable. There are many petitions on the web aimed at stopping this madness and it’s comforting to know that scores of people around the globe find it equally disgusting. I found one such petition and have signed my name to it. If you feel deeply about the cause and wish to sign-up too, do follow the link below:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/stop-the-calderon-dolphin-slaughter-in-denmark

Perhaps with this, we can all make a difference..here’s hoping….

Thursday Finds...

2009-10-29T22:03:00.003+08:00

I woke up feeling a little low today. Not really sure why. Perhaps it was the weather or the fact that I had tonnes of work but would rather lie in bed and rest my limbs. Perhaps it was time for my monthly womanly ritual...or perhaps I was just in dire need of a holiday. Who knows...women are complicated anyway.

I did manage to throw on something nice and drag myself reluctantly to work though (thank god for that - completely forgot I had a signing ceremony to attend) . After a few hours of clearing endless email, rummaging through files, preparing a credit paper and rushing for the signing gig, I suddenly had an inspiration. I thought the best way to cure this mild bout of depression was to go shopping...but not the haphazard-I-would-regret-later kind of shopping....more like the this-is-a-great-investment kind of shopping. I decided to go book-hunting at Kinokuniya. And true enough, that light-grey cloud of depression slowly lifted and revealed the bright yellow sun that I missed this morning. And this is what lifted my spirits today:

I love classics but am shameful to admit that I haven't really read that many, especially such famous ones like these. Kinokuniya was having a 20% sale on classic literature so I jumped at the opportunity. Nothings beats the joy of a good sale, even if it's just books....am truly a happy camper now :)

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter

2009-10-27T23:41:00.003+08:00

The Gist (don’t worry, no spoilers here)
The scene is set in 1964, Lexington USA. An orthopaedic surgeon and his young and delicate wife were expecting a baby. On the night of the delivery, a blizzard hits the town and the doctor was forced to deliver his own babies, fortunately with the help of his nurse. Instead of one, 2 babies were born, twins; a healthy baby boy and a baby girl with down-syndrome. In that moment, the doctor made a single decision that would haunt him and his family’s lives for a quarter of a century.

The Characters
Dr David Henry: Orthopaedic surgeon and doting husband. Mysterious character, even to his wife and friends. Had a difficult childhood and a family history lined with problems.

Norah Henry: Wife of David Henry. A delicate and fragile woman, married at a very young age.

Caroline Gill: Devoted nurse and assistant to Dr. Henry. She helped deliver the twins and later became an accomplice to Dr Henry’s plans.

Paul Henry: The strong and healthy twin with an extraordinary gift for music. Rebellious in nature and hates his father.

Phoebe Henry: The twin with down-syndrome. Labelled as a retard by society.

My Synopsis
I saw a lot of hype surrounding this book and the summary at the back was interesting enough to propel me to read it. Plus, I really liked the cover (spoooky!). The numerous rave reviews somewhat reinforced my decision. After taking more than a week to finish the book, I have to say that I was left more disappointed than delighted. The first 3 quarters of the book was draggy and unbelievably depressing thanks to the sombre and dismal characters. I didn’t like the writing style either and found that the switch between scenes were sometimes confusing. It just wasn’t my cup of tea so I’m only giving this a 3/5. Maybe Kim’s latest book the “The Secrets of a Fire King” would fare better but I’m not counting too much on it. My next read? Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol…hopefully this one will not disappoint!

Kids Say the Darndest Things!

2009-10-25T12:52:00.000+08:00

DAJ: Mommy, why am I not in that picture? (points at wedding photo of mommy and daddy)
Mommy: Errrmmmm…well, because you only came into my tummy much much later
DAJ: (Pulls disgusted face). But how did I get in your tummy?!
Mommy: (panics…)…ummmm…well, because that’s where babies come from sweetie

Next day in school…
DAJ: Teacher, I’m getting a new baby sister!
Teacher: (surprised look) Really?
DAJ: Yeah…she’s in my Mommy’s tummy now and is coming out tomorrow
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DAJ: Mommy, there's a new teacher in school!
Mommy: Really? Who?
DAJ: Her name is Teacher Nut. I reaaally like her.
Mommy: What does she teach?
DAJ: Nothing.
Mommy: Then why do you like her?
DAJ: Coz she gives me sweets all the time…(with big grin plastered on face)
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DAJ: Mommy, what’s that? (pointing at my chest)
Mommy: That’s my chest
DAJ: No it’s not. It’s ‘tetek’.
Mommy: (Gasps) Please don’t use that word. I don’t like it. Just say chest, ok?
DAJ: Ok (sighs..). But in Malay it’s still called ‘tetek’ right? (winks and smiles..)

Opah: DAJ, u need to learn some Malay words
DAJ: But I already know how to speak Malay
Opah: What do u know?
DAJ: I only know 2 words. “Tetek” and “Bontot”.
Opah: (faints)
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Mommy: Go and shake everyone's hand. We’re leaving now.
DAJ: (loooooong sigh)…I can’t Mommy.
Mommy: Why not?
DAJ: My hand is not working today
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DAJ: Mommy, why do you have to go to work? Please stay with me today..
Mommy: I’m sorry DAJ. I really have to go.
DAJ: But why?
Mommy: If I don’t go then I can’t get money to buy that toy truck that u like
DAJ: But I got money Mommy. Here (puts hand in pocket and pulls out a 20 cent coin)…U don’t have to go now right?
Mommy: (Looks guiltily away…kid’s words rendered her speechless)
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Note: DAJ is four this year

The Ups and Downs of Motherhood

2009-10-24T12:30:00.000+08:00

Written on Thursday, 26th March 2006 @ Chiswick-London

Why I Like being a Mommy

Babies are the single most cutest and adorable creatures
One smile from them can melt even the toughest of hearts
They make you feel good and are excellent listeners too
A baby's laughter lights up even the darkest of 'rooms'
U become their rock, and they become yours
It's nice to be labelled a "Yummy Mummy"once in a while....

Why I Sometimes Wonder if I'm really Ready

Pregnancy, delivery and post-delivery wasn't actually a joyride
We never go to the cinemas anymore...babies can really cry
Window-shopping means window-shopping. Browsing for more than 10 minutes may result in a very angry baby
Taking a long shower or bath is considered luxury you don't have
They hog the TV and you're stuck watching shows of chubby puppets with antennas on their heads and a TV on their tummy
The bed used to fit two people...now it fits two and a half very squished up people.....

Conclusion
Women never learn...I'd love to have another one. Maybe, a girl this time :)

Of Vampires, Werewolves and Immortality…my take on the Twilight Saga

2009-10-10T00:55:00.003+08:00

I know I’m pretty outdated on this Twilight Saga phenomenon but the book series has left such a huge impact on me that I simply cannot not blog about it……I practically think, eat, dream and breathe vampire now! (Ok, maybe not literally eat and breathe like a vampire but my husband has complained of seeing me attacking my regular consumption of concentrated cherry juice as if it’s like the vampire’s favourite meal…).

Anyway, some of my equally out-dated friends have yet to finish the series, so I’m not going to spoil it for them by talking too much about the storyline. But as an introduction to those who’ve never heard of the Saga (you’ve got to be an ultimate “katak-under-the coconutshell” to fall under this category), the book is largely based on the romantic relationship between a teenage human girl (Bella Swan) and a vampire who has been stuck at the age of 17 for the past 100 years (Edward Cullen). Their relationship takes on various challenges that threaten their very existence; Edward’s precarious balance between the lust to drain Bella empty of her sweet blood and protecting her with his life, the threat of the wolves and their bond to Bella, and the even bigger danger of the other covens of vampires drawn to the peculiarity of Edward and Bella’s relationship.

If you have heard about how great the Saga is but just haven’t found the time to read it, allow me to share the reasons why you should just grab the first book now and start flipping to Page 1 right away:

1) Once you start, you can’t stop. The book will start holding your attention from page 25 onwards, all the way to page 754 of the 4th book.

2) It’s any easy read…simple prose, yet a storyline so fascinating, you’d never guess it was a Saga meant for young-adult fiction.

3) Edward Cullen is akin to a Greek God…it’s impossible not to fall in love with him (the series will get you fantasising about him 24-7 and wishing he would just bite you already).

4) Despite being a love story, this is no Mills and Boon. There’s enough drama and nail-biting action to keep you in suspense throughout.

5) Bella’s klutzy and nonchalant character will get you in stitches…(she’s rather funny and extremely adorable!)

6) If you’re not into charming, smooth-talking, suave vampires, then you will definitely fall for Jacob, the bad boy-cum-wolf of the Quileute tribe…

and last but not least….

7) Anne Rice is getting old and Lestat is just too self-absorbed….Stephenie Meyer is definitely the new master vampire storyteller you don’t want to miss…

"About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was part of him — and I didn’t know how potent that part might be — that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him".Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 9, p.195

Contact Me

2009-09-04T23:41:00.000+08:00

Feel free to contact me at the following email address:

lina.shaik@gmail.com

Challenges

2009-09-04T21:34:00.005+08:00

2010

Thriller & Suspense Challenge

The Jane Austen and Romance Reading Challenge 2010

30 Books to Movies Challenge

2009

Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

Places of Interest

2009-09-04T21:27:00.003+08:00

Broga Hills 1

Broga Hills 2

About Me

2009-09-01T22:01:00.047+08:00

I’m a qualified accountant, working as a banker in the hectic city of Kuala Lumpur. I’m also MOM to the cheekiest boy on the block, and a big fluffy cat called Prince. This is a personal blog on my love for books and my fascination for the great outdoors, with the occasional rants and raves thrown in. I’m really quite bad at writing about myself so I’m just going to list the 5 main things you ought to know about me:

1) I can’t live without coffee. It is the next best discovery after the invention of flushing toilets by Thomas Crapper.

2) I love, love, love books of the mystery/thriller type. But I also love chic-lit, not-too-sappy romance novels, historical fiction and YA.

3) I used to have 5 cats but the number has now dwindled to just 1, plus a tank full of fish. It’s the only arrangement my cat-allergic husband can take.

4) My idea of a perfect break would be to trek up a hill before dawn and watch the sunrise. After that I’d probably just bask in the morning sun whilst reading a really good book.

5) I welcome comments! Feel free to comment on current or older posts. It's nice to know what other people are thinking too.

That about sums it all. Thanks for dropping by my blog and come again soon!