Thoughts on Shutter Island (Movie)

After hearing so many raving reviews on Dennis Lehane's books round the blogosphere, I figured I should start with Shutter Island because of the atmospheric setting, especially when it takes place in a gloomy mental facility in a remote island. What can you expect from the criminally insane, and where will you run should you need to hide and/or escape? Yes I could definitely sense suspense and great intensity before I read it; and my only regret is I wished I had read it earlier! (Read my review here.)

Anyways, I was thrilled when I knew there is a film adaption of Shutter Island. It thrilled me more when I learned Leonardo DiCaprio took the leading role of Teddy Daniels because honestly I think his acting is great and convincing. He is definitely not the same Leonardo DiCaprio when he first played Jack in Titanic; he has matured not only of his looks but also on his performance. I find the performances of the rest of the characters in Shutter Island are pretty good too, in particularly to Ben Kingsley for his role of the head psychiatrist Dr. John Cawley. I have to confess that Ben Kingsley fits the image of Dr. John Cawley when I first pictured this character while reading the book.

I find the flashback scenes of the war can be a bit confusing to some who has not read the book (e.g. my dear husband). When I asked him if he could foresee the ending, he said he has not expected that at all. Overall, I was quite satisfied with the cinematography and the effects on certain scenes are actually stunning (e.g. the scene where Rachel Solando (played by Emily Mortimer) covered in blood with the dead children on her feet). Needless to say, I enjoyed the movie but of course that experience could not be compared (and is not the same as) with the book. The only thing I want to complain about the movie experience is the distractions caused by a couple sitting next to me; usually I don't care what they do with each other but disturbing the audience when their cellphones rang during the middle of the show is a real spoilsport.

Have you read the book and/or watch the movie? Do share your thoughts with me.

Wordless Wednesday

Supreme Court, Singapore
(March 10th, 2006)

Old Supreme Court Building

Gazetted as a monument on 14 Feburary 1992

Designed by F D Ward in 1937-1939 for the Court, it was one of the classical buildings built during the period. The pediment sculpture and Corinthian columns of the four-storey building was executed by C R Nolli.

New Supreme Court

Hotel Iris by Yoko Ogawa

ISBN-13: 9781846554032
Publisher: Harvill Secker
Published: April 2010
164 pgs
Translated from the Japanese by: Stephen Snyder
Source: Personal Library

I mentioned in my review of The Diving Pool that I am interested to read The Housekeeper and the Professor, since I have heard nothing but raves about that book but I am ashamed to admit that I have not got around to reading it, yet. I picked up Yoko Ogawa's Hotel Iris from the bookstore last week and decided I would read this first since it is a thin book and the premise sounds intriguing.

Frankly speaking, I do not know what to say about this book. The theme surrounding the story is dark and disturbing. It explores the emotions and mentality of the 17-year-old Mari and an unnamed middle-aged man (usually referred to as 'the translator' due to his work) after their short encounter at Hotel Iris.

Mari's mother runs Hotel Iris single-handed after the death of Mari's father and grandfather, and Mari helps at the counter and run little errands as and when necessarily. She finds her life routine and boring, but all that change after she stumbled upon the unnamed middle-aged man. He had created a commotion in the hotel but instead of turning her off, she is intrigued and mersmerised by the tone of his voice. They became friends ultimately, but no one knew of their acquaintance and they wanted to keep their relationship a secret anyway. Mari will find ways to go to his cottage which is situated in an island, and the unnamed man will always have something planned during her visit. It is as if he has turned into a monster when Mari is alone in his house, where he would do anything to her, including tying her up and made her do the most unthinkable things. It is not a comfortable read, but yet I read on because I was hoping that Mari would come to her senses eventually.

The story took a turn when the unnamed man's nephew enter into the picture, but I felt it rather abrupt and could not really decipher the feelings between him and Mari. Without a doubt, Hotel Iris is a character-driven story; it is a story that allows readers to take a glimpse of a person's dark side and what he/she will do under certain circumstances. While writing this review, I am still not sure of my feelings towards Mari. Should I sympathise with her for being a victim to the translator's sadistic demand, or should I criticise her for degrading herself?

Also, does Mari attraction towards the translator has something to do with the loss of her father? And does the translator seek solace and security in Mari because he too had lost his wife, something which he has in common with Mari? These are the questions I had asked myself after closing the book.

As for the ending, I guess it is up to the readers to decide if it is for the good or for the bad but let's just say it will linger in your mind for a while.

Other reviews:
1MoreChapter
Bibliographing
(Let me know if I missed yours.)

Teaser Tuesdays

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

• Grab your current read.
• Let the book fall open to a random page.
• Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page.
• You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
• Please avoid spoilers!

I cannot explain why I decided to follow him that day. I didn't feel particularly curious about what had happened at the Iris, but those words, his command, had stayed with me.

(Pg 9, Hotel Iris by Yoko Ogawa)

Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills

ISBN-13: 9781595142566
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Published: April 2009
256 pgs
Source: Personal Library

As the title indicate, this story centres on the romance between sixteen-year-old Alex and her childhood sweetheart, Sean, with a river setting in a town in Colorado.

Alex lost her father in a rafting accident a year ago and to this day she is still trying to come to terms with her past and still blaming herself for not being with him on that tragic day. She runs the family rafting business mostly on her own while she stay with her grandparents. Her mother, on the other hand is still deeply affected by her husband's death and is coping with the loss in another state.

Alex gets along well with her employees, after all the guys are about her age. One of them, Tommy, is interested in her but but Alex still has feelings for Sean. Thus when her grandfather hires Sean without her knowledge, Alex is taken aback but yet in a way she is hoping that their feelings for each other will be rekindled.

Alex is close with her cousin, Mala, who also helps her with the rafting business. They often share secrets but their personality is so different because Mala loves partying and flirting around with guys. Despite her extrovert personality, Mala actually has feelings for a geeky guy named Daniel who works with them though she always act nonchalantly whenever he is around because she does not think she is his type given his bookish attribute. Sometimes, love caught you at the most unexpected moment, doesn't it?

Alex, on the other hand is clueless when it comes to expressing her love to Sean because she is not sure if he still harbour the same attraction towards her. I have to admit there were times I was frustrated with Alex and wished she could just speak to Sean there and then and tell him her true feelings, but I suppose she is fearful that he might turn her down after the way she had hurt him in the past. Not only love can hit you in an unpredictable moment, but it can be complicated at times too, don't you think?

Anyways, the interactions between Alex and Sean are intense, as the same goes between Mala and Daniel. Without a doubt, there is certainly a level of chemistry between these couples but overall I find the story a little slow and dragging. However, I liked the scene where Alex is dealing her fear of the river and how she managed to overcome it in the end. I would recommend this novel to older teens since there is some sexual content and alcohol consumption.

(Click here for more reviews by other bookbloggers.)

A Law of Attraction Book for Children: The S.T.A.R. Powered Twins by Dorothy A. Lecours

ISBN-13: 9781601310637
Publisher: Dragon Pencil
Published: 2009
88 pgs

Illustrated by: Chrisann Zaubi
Source: Author Marketing Experts, Inc.




I tend to be a little choosy when it comes to picture books. Basically, I choose them based on their story concepts, and I think having bright and colourful illustrations are essential too. The other thing I look for is the inspiration factor and how much my children will learn through the reading experience, and I am glad to say this book has met my 'requirements'.

This book mainly focus on the law of attraction as this allow your children to explore and develop their ability by using words, thoughts and actions in a more positively manner so as to enrich their life as they grow. The story features two star powered twins, named Grace and Jace, as they will guide your children to focus the beauty of gratitude, nature and words through the things they do with their family, aside from themselves as well. I find the overall experience not only educational but enriching too.

One of the concepts I love (and am practising) is "picture walk", whereby the parents will ask their children questions about the illustrations before reading. For example, who is in the picture? What is happening in the picture? What do you see? etc etc. As stated in the book, this is a powerful educational tool to ignite the children's interest in the story as well as to improve their comprehension skills.

Finally, there's a Gratitude Journal at the end of the book where your child will write some things they feel grateful for each day, as the author believes gratitude will add magic, love, and abundance into your child's life and I couldn't agree with her more on that!

Click here to learn more about the author and the book. There is also a column where you can download some fun activities for your children if you are interested.

Many thanks to Paula Krapf of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. for sending me the PDF version after noting that I have not received the review copy.

Wordless Wednesday

Fort Canning Park, Singapore
(March 10th, 2006)

I know it's hard to read those words from the above picture, so I typed them out for your easy reading:

The Gate of Fort Canning

This gate and adjoining wall are all that remain of a fort which was built on this hill between 1859 and 1861. The hill, previously known as Government Hill, was then renamed Fort Canning Hill after Lord Charles John Canning, the Governor General of India.

Fort Canning was part of a series of 19th-century fortifications including Fort Fullerton, Fort Palmer, Fort Teregah, and Fort Faber. To construct Fort Canning, the top of the hill was levelled to create a flat area of 7 acres (3 hectares).

In 1867 the fort had seven 68-pounder guns, eight 8-inch guns, two 13-inch mortars, and some 14-pounder cannonades. The Fort buildings included barracks for Indian and European soldiers, a hospital, and gunpowder magazines.

Most of the fortress was demolished in 1926 when a service reservoir was constructed.

Teaser Tuesdays

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

• Grab your current read.
• Let the book fall open to a random page.
• Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page.
• You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
• Please avoid spoilers!

Tommy Lewis had just kissed me, but Sean was the one I watched as his strong arms flexed with each stroke of the oars. Inside me, I felt something awaken, something I hadn't thought I'd ever feel again.

Hope.

(Pg 12, Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading

OK people-I got nothin'!  I did not finish one book this week-I didn't even get halfway through one book this week.  I've decided I am going through a reading slump!  I'm STILL reading The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver.  I'm loving it-I didn't realize it was set in Diego Rivera/Frida Kahlo's Mexico.  I love both if them as artists, and Frida Kahlo was such an interesting woman, it's been really enjoyable.  I'm going to finish it, darn it...If only I didn't have so much schoolwork to do, and my fellow bloggers weren't so interesting!

Anyone else out there going through or ever been through a reading slump?  Did it resolve on it's own, or did you have to rededicate yourself to your TBR pile?  I fee like I should issue an apology to every book on my shelf right now!

Book Blogger Hop!

Fridays is the day for the weekly Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Crazy for Books.  It's a way for book bloggers to network and support each other.  Take a minute to visit Crazy for Books, and if you're a blogger sign up!  I've found some of my favorite bloggers that way.

Magnolia Wednesdays by Wendy Wax

ISBN-13: 9780425232354
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: March 2010
448 pgs
Source: Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting

I totally enjoyed reading Wendy Wax's previous novel, The Accidental Bestseller so when the publicist asked if I wanted to review her latest release, Magnolia Wednesdays, I said yes without hesitation.

While The Accidental Bestseller tells the story of a writer's life, this time around Magnolia Wednesdays allows readers to get a glimpse of the life of a journalist and I have to say I totally loved the setting as I have always been intrigued by this profession (and not to mention I am in awe of journalists who would go to great lengths to cover a story).

In this story, Vivien Armstrong is just one of them but it seems she ran out of luck one day when she got shot in the butt while investigating a story. To add up the humiliation, a video showing her getting shot is being circulated on the net and all of a sudden she became the news. Her employer is definitely not impressed by the way she works, and decided she should take a break. Vivien would not allow someone younger to take over her job, so she quits.

She decided to move in with her sister Melanie in suburban Atlanta, thinking this would be a good opportunity to spend more time with Melanie and her family, after all she has been neglecting them; it is also at that time she realised she is pregnant at age forty. She decided not to let anyone knew about her pregnancy, not even her boyfriend since he is a correspondent and he is always travelling. Vivien later found a job in writing columns for a weekly magazine but under the pseudonym of Scarlett Leigh, as she writes about her observations living in the neighbourhood in suburban Atlanta. After staying there for a while she began to see things differently while she search for her own happiness.

Magnolia Wednesdays is basically a story about family, secrets and life in general. One of the things I liked about this story is reading about the changes in Vivien, right from the beginning of her life being an ambitious journalist to being a woman who has a strong liking to her family and the simple things surrounding her. Besides Vivien, there is also a sub-story about Ruth and Angela; both women living in suburban Atlanta and are also friends of Melanie.

As much as I enjoyed reading Magnolia Wednesdays, I would have to say I'd prefer The Accidental Bestseller more partly there are more interactions between the three protagonists comparing to this, as it seems to focus more on Vivien. I understand this is simply a different approach by the author on the plot and style so I do not really have an issue with it and is simply my own preference. Nevertheless, Magnolia Wednesdays is a heartwarming story and if you love a good Southern women's fiction, this book is for you.

(Click here for other bookbloggers' reviews.)

Blog Awards

Bookquoter at A Thousand Books With Quotes was nice enough to give me my first blog award!  Thanks for that, oh great Quoter of Books! Part of this award is to write 10 things about myself, and then forward it to 10 other bloggers.  So, here are 10 random facts about me:

1.  I've been teaching special education for 17 years.
2.  Other than reading, I love to crosstitch.
3.  I've recently become addicted to playing RPG video games (but nothing too violent).
4.  Sushi is my current favorite food.
5.  I spend my Sunday mornings as a youth advisor (not to mention two full weekends a year)
6.  I have a love for all things British.
7.  If I could have any other job than my current one, I would be a Unitarian Universalist minister.
8.  I am passionate about social justice, and wish I had more time to devote to this work.
9.  If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would visit England, Japan, and China-in that order.
10.  Nothing makes me more angry that intolerance.

And here are the bloggers I choose to give this award to next:

A Few More Pages
Random Ramblings
The Neverending Shelf
The Introverted Reader
My Book Retreat
Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews
Crazy for Books
Bags, Books, and Bon Jovi
Bookworming in the 21st Century
The Eclectic Reader

This Week's Top Ten

Jillian over at Random Ramblings has chosen Books That Made You Cry as the topic of this week's Top Ten.  Anyone who knows me that I cry if the wind blows the wrong way, so this list should be pretty easy for me to create.  I'm going to try and stay with books that are legitimate tear jerkers, because I occasionally cry at things that no one else finds touching (like when Darth Vadar died in Return of the Jedi-yep, I'm that bad, though I was only 13 or something when it came out)

1.  The Time Traveller's Wife-Audrey Niffenegger
I think that this is one of the most touching love stories I have ever read.  Even though I knew in my heart what was going to happen, I just kept hoping I was wrong.  I actually cried harder at the end, when Clare was old.  It just seemed so much sadder to me.

2.  The Kite Runner-Khaled Hosseini
There are so many tragic things that happened in this book.  I can't even imagine the shame that the main character must have felt, or the pain and confusion that Hassan felt first because of the brutal attack, and then because of the betrayal by his friend.

3.  Bridge to Terebithia-Katherine Patterson
This book was one of my favorite as a kid.  I've read it aloud to several of my classes, and I still cry every time I read the part where Leslie dies.  I think that reading this book was the first time I realized that children could die.

4.  The Notebook-Nicholas Sparks
This was the first Nicholas Sparks book that I read, and I expected all of them to be this touching.  Sadly, I haven't liked any of his other books.  They seem a little too sappy to me.  I was surprised, because this love story is so poignant, given the setting and structure of the novel.

5.  My Sister's Keeper-Jodi Picoult

This was the first book I read by Jodi Picoult, and it was the first book my teachers' book club read when we got started a few years ago.  I had no idea what I was letting myself in for.  This book made me angry and sad and frustrated, but mostly sad.

6.The Yearling-Marjorie Kinnan Rowlings
 Believe it or not, I read this book for the first time in college for a children's literature class.  I had heard of Ol' Yeller, of course, and had I known that this was a similar story I might have been prepared for what happened.  I was so angry at the boy's father-I say let that deer eat whatever he wants!

7.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-JK Rowling
Fred Weasly, that's all I'm sayin'

8.  Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe-Fannie Flagg
While the movie really downplays the love affair between Ruth and Idgie, the book makes it clear that Idgie is not just losing her best friend, but her lover-the love of her life.  Couple that with the sub-plot of Big George and Smokey Lonesome, and the mood is set for tearjerkiness.

9. The Joy Luck Club-Amy Tan
The matter of fact way that the tragedy of what happened in China to this family added to the horror that I felt.  Human beings should never be put in the position to have to make the kinds of decisions that this family had to make.

10.  The Secret Life of Bees-Sue Monk Kidd
Oh, Miss May...carrying the weight of the world, writing them and placing them in the chinks of the wall.  Just that image tears me up, never mind what happens later.

Wordless Wednesday

The following pictures are of the Central Fire Station located at Hill Street, and it is the oldest existing fire station in Singapore (Read more.)

Central Fire Station
Civil Defence Heritage Gallery

A shelf showcasing some items relating to the Fire Brigade

(March 10th, 2006)

Midori by Moonlight by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga

ISBN-13: 9780312372613
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: September 2007
256 pgs
Source: Personal Library

I bought this book right after I finished reading Love in Translation last year because I loved it so much. Though it was fun reading Midori by Moonight, I have to say I enjoyed Love in Translation much better due to the premise (you can read my review here).

Midori by Moonlight is a story of a thirty-year-old Midori Saito, whose dreams is to be married to a foreigner and live her life in America. She has no intention of becoming a housewife and to cater to her husband's every needs, and knowing that her goals might not fit into the Japanese society, she hopes she could find her true love with a gaijin (which means foreigner in Japanese) and start a new life with him. She found her perfect man in Kevin, an American English teacher who has lived in Japan for a short while and Midori is feeling very happy that they are going to be engaged soon. However, her happiness is a short-lived one as she soon learns that he is dumping her for his blonde ex-fiancée. Midori has never felt so lonely and lost in her life, but she is glad to find acquaintance in Shinji Nishimura, a fellow Japanese and a friend of Kevin.

Shinji sympathise with Midori's situation, and offered to rent his apartment to her since he rarely live in there as he spend most of the time with his American girlfriend. Having not much money left and with her limited English language, she agrees to stay in Shinji's apartment and be his roommate since she needs to think of a plan as her visa is expiring soon. And she wouldn't want her parents to know about her pathetic situation, after all they had wanted her to marry a Japanese man back home right from the beginning.

Things became a challenge to Midori for she has to find a job while she continues to hold on to her American dreams. She has finally found a job being a bar hostess, and this experience will lead her to something unexpected that will change not only her situation but also her outlook on love and everything.

Did I mention that Midori by Moonlight is a fun read? I also loved Tokunaga's writing style because it flows smoothly and the dialogues are witty, especially when Midori attempts to construct sentences with idioms and I couldn't help but to laugh it off with her. Midori is a likeable character, and on top of that she has courage and determination in which I most admire about her.

Besides the plot and the characterisation, it is also interesting to learn more about the Japanese culture and I find Midori's perspective refreshing because her views are so entirely different from the typical Japanese women; not that it is a bad thing but it shows her other independent side.

I hope there will be a new release out soon by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga because I really enjoy reading her books.

(Click here to read other bookbloggers' reviews.)

Teaser Tuesdays

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

• Grab your current read.
• Let the book fall open to a random page.
• Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page.
• You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
• Please avoid spoilers!

Whatever the reason, even as a young person, she was never attracted to Japanese men. In middle school when all her friends were mooning over the current Japanese teen idol, Midori preferred the latest blond from England or America.

(Pg 33, Midori by Moonlight by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

This week was not nearly as productive as I would have liked, given that I was on spring break.  I blame it on switching from Direct TV to Comcast-we had to watch all of the backed up shows on our DVR before the big switch happened.

I finished Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel.  Check out my review here.  I also completed Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, by Jeanette Winterson.  The review for that one is here.

I just, and I mean just, started The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver.  I love her books, so I am really looking forward to this one.  After that I think I am going to make a stack of the shortest books in my TBR pile and read them-I am way behind on my goal to read 100 this year.  Though if the goal starts to feel like homework, I may as well call myself done-that's not what reading for pleasure is supposed to be, after all.  Ironically, I'd probably get more reading done if I wasn't blogging!  My fellow bloggers are such interesting people with such good reviews I get sucked in every time!

Have a great reading week!

Monday Memes

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about the ‘best’ books'.

There’s been some discussion on my blog this week about what should or shouldn’t make a ‘best' books’ list. What elements do you think lands a book in that ‘best’ category? Think of your top 5 best books and tune in next week to see the collated list.

What should or shouldn't make a 'best' book? I'm sure this is a question that will stump many readers anytime. And the same goes to naming your top 20 or top 5 list. That said, there are a few elements that definitely make a book stand out among the rest: plot, characterisation, writing style and of course, a simply great story that will linger in your mind for a long time; one which you would gush and rush to recommend to anyone who has (yet to) read it.

As for my top 5 best books, there are just too many on my list, thus I will only name a few titles which I read so far this year (not in any order):

~ Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
~ Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
~ Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
~ The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

What about you?

---

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia from The Printed Page where readers will share about the books that they received last week.

Here's what I received last week:

1) The Queen of Palmyra by Minrose Gwin (ARC)

What books came into your house last week?

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, Jeanette Winterson

I only recently discovered GoodReads (I know, it's like I've been living under a rock!), and I've been reading lots of their lists.  It occurred to me that perhaps as a good lesbian I should try reading more gay fiction.  I've read some, of course (including Stone Butch Blues, which I shared a little bit about in my last Top Ten Post)  But really,  if I don't want to have to give back my toaster oven I should have a passing knowledge of important works in the GLBT genre.

With that in mind I ordered Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, by Jeanette Winterson.  It is really a roman a clef of the author's early years in Northern England.  The main character, Jeanette, is the adopted daughter of a fundamentalist Christian couple. Her mother adopted her in order to raise her up to give to the Lord as a missionary for His cause.  From early days, however, Jeanette shows that she is her own person and will not be forced into someone else's ideas about what she should be.  As she grows up, she becomes  more and more rebellious-and she falls in love.  With a GIRL!  Let's just say that her relationship with her mother really starts to go downhill after the failed exorcism...that's right, they tried to exorcise the gay right out of her!

Winterson has a dry, witty sense of humor that makes what could be a tragic story of betrayal and loss into something altogether more powerful.  At not one point in the story did Jeanette doubt that God meant her to be the way she was.  The people in her church loved her, thought she had a calling to preaching and missionary work-until they found out she was gay.  Suddenly, the leadership decided that maybe women were getting above their true place in the church, and should no longer be allowed to preach.  Apparently Jeanette's love for Katy convinced them that she was trying to be a man.  But not once did Jeanette waver in her belief that what she was and how she felt was as natural as loving the Lord, which she did with fervor.  Usually reading about religious fundamentalists makes me a little twitchy, but Winterson handled them in such a way that while I completely disagree with almost everything about the way they view life and God, I couldn't help but accept and respect their humanity.  Jeanette says, at one point in the book, that she loved the Lord-it was some of his followers that she had problems with. She eventually finds her way out of the insular world she was raised in, first through her prodigious imagination, and finally by physically moving to the big city.  But she can't completely leave behind her mother and her religious fervor.  The book concludes with Jeanette going home for Christmas to find her mother perched by the ham radio, networking with other born-again Christians for prayer, support, and most of all the conversion of the rest of us Godless souls.  Despite the new life Jeanette has found for herself, it is almost like she is comforted somehow by the idea that while she is off in the world, her mother stays behind, fighting other people's demons one prayer request at a time.  I guess this is probably true of all of us.  No matter how much we may try to separate ourselves from where we come from, the fact remains that we carry those people and experiences around with us into every new town, new job, or new relationship that we have.

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

ISBN-13: 9781416571735
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: March 2009
256 pgs
Source: Personal Library

I have not read anything by Jennifer Echols, so I bought Going Too Far after reading several good reviews on it. I have to say I totally enjoyed the reading experience. Packed with teenage angst, intense and not to mention romance, this is one of the best YA novels I have read this year!

Seventeen-year-old Meg McPherson wants an escape. To sum things up, she wants to get away from school, her parents, and even her life. And by doing so, she seeks thrills and excitement and this lead her into trouble when she and her boyfriend, Eric, crossed line with a cop (who is known as Officer After) when he caught them at a railway bridge.

Charged for underage drinking and not to mention illegal drug use (it is actually Eric's doings but of course the cop couldn't care less), Meg has to ride along with Officer After and to submit a report as a form of punishment as well as a reminder to other teenagers about the consequences and also what she has learned from these experiences. Eric managed to escape from this thanks to his parents, while Meg's parents have gotten used of her troubles and think it is best to sort things out on her own, but deep down they do care a lot and want everything the best for her.

Just when Meg thinks her spring break is totally ruined, one of the things she did not expect is finding out that Officer After is just a 19-year-old guy, and that she is attracted by him. But what she does not know is that Officer After has also developed feelings for her along the way and she would soon discover his reason over his obsession with the railway bridge.

What can I say? I totally enjoyed reading Going Too Far! One of the things I admired about Meg is she is frank and is not afraid of consequences. Though she may seem rebellious at times, that is her method of dealing with all the stress and problems she has faced and my heart totally ached for her after learning what she has gone through during her early teenaged years. Officer After is another interesting character because he too, has his issues. His righteousness will definitely charm you off but on a certain level he is vulnerable too so I could see the connections between him and Meg.

I look forward to reading other releases by Jennifer Echols.

(Click here to read more reviews of Going Too Far.)

Read, Remember, Recommend by Rachelle Rogers Knight

ISBN-13: 9781402237188
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: April 2010
320 pgs
Source: Sourcebooks



I was glad to be given the opportunity to review Read, Remember, Recommend by Rachelle Rogers Knight because I love reading books about books, and besides that this is a reading journal where I could keep track of my reading.

The journal is divided into six sections: Awards and Notable Lists, To Read, Journal Pages, Recommendations, Loaner Lists and Resources. These tags are helpful and are easy reference as and when needed.

The Awards and Notable Lists Section consists a wonderful list of literary awards titles including the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Awards, The National Book Critics Circle Awards, Man Booker Prize, Heimingway Foundation/PEN Award and many others. Besides the great compilations, another thing I like is the boxes next to these titles where I could mark them as "Own", "Recommend", "To Read" or "Want". It definitely makes a useful reference/guide to me as I go along with my reading.

To Read and Journal Pages Sections allow readers to keep track and record the books they want to/or read, and you can record the titles where you'd like to recommend to others under the Recommendations Section.

Going through Resources Section is a great delight because not only it provides book-related online sites (e.g. Book Awards Sites, Bookclubs Resource Sites, Social Networking Sites for Readers, and even a few bookblogs which I have already added onto my Google Reader, etc etc). The list for Literary Terms also comes in handy if you want to know the definition of characterization or genre, just as an example.

All in all, Read, Remember, Recommend is a wonderful reading journal which I am sure most bibliophiles would love to have.

All good books are alike in that they are truer than if they had really happened and after you are finished reading one you will feel that all that happened to you and afterwards, it all belongs to you; the good and the bad, the ecstasy, the remorse, the sorrow, the people and the places and how the weather was. ~ Ernest Hemingway

(An extract from Read, Remember, Recommend)

WWW Wednesday

Hosted by Should Be Reading, this meme asks you to do something very easy...just answer these three questions:

What am I reading now?  I just started Oranges are Not the Only Fruit, by Jeanette Winterson.  I have heard about this book from many of my friends, and it is on a list of the best in lesbian fiction on GoodReads.  Seems like it is something that I should know.  I also just found out about another book from her-thank you fellow book bloggers!  My to-read list just keeps growing and growing.

What is something I read recently?  I just finished Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel.  You can find my review here.

What do I think I might read next?  I am going to read The Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver, I think.  I always say I am going to read one thing, and then something else comes up and I end up picking something else, but it's on my list.  Prodigal Summer, one of her other books, is on my list of books everyone should read, so I have high hopes for this one.

Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel

So I'm working my way through the long list for the Orange Prize for Fiction, and my latest endeavor was Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel.  The story traces the rise of Thomas Cromwell through the auspices of Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII's England.  I will admit to being a bit of an anglophile...I love all things British.  As a result I had high hopes for this book, and I was not disappointed.

History lesson for today...Henry VIII of England (father to Elizabeth I) was the reigning monarch in the mid-1500s.  The story begins with Thomas in the employ of Cardinal Wolsey, Henry's chief councilor.  He is a man from a low background, son of a drunken, abusive blacksmith.  He left England as a teen, traveling through France and Italy, first as a soldier, later as a wool merchant.  Coming back to England, he was taken into the employ of Cardinal Wolsey, where he learned statecraft.  After Wolsey's fall, he became one of the king's most trusted advisors, helping Henry break with the church in Rome, divorce his first queen, Katherine, and marry his mistress Anne Boleyn.  Over the time that he was working in government, he was a member of parliament, held various positions regarding the oversight of the church in England, and eventually was elevated to earl.  He also amassed a large personal fortune, allowing him to provide for his family and the many retainers that he came to have.

In every context I have ever read about Cromwell he has been portrayed as conniving, ruthless, intolerant.  Mantel's portrayal, however, is of a man who is incredibly intelligent, loyal, and practical.  Mantel's Cromwell is the very definition of an iron fist in a kid glove.  He knew exactly the right thing to say, the right gifts to give, the right threats to imply to get people way above his station to do what the king (or he) wanted.  In helping to usher Queen Katherine out and Queen Anne is, he helped set in motion the Reformation in England.

Once thing that is not entirely clear is how the title of this book came to be Wolf Hall.  You need to know a little bit more about the history of Henry VIII to understand that Wolf Hall was the home of Henry's next wife, Jane Seymour.   However, at the end of the book Henry is still married to Anne (though not happily).  Jane is mentioned often, but there is no real sense of what the future holds for her.  The text is dense...there is not one page that is not full of the machinations of kings, queens, cardinals, bishops, earls, dukes, ladies in waiting, and merchants.  I was left with a lot more knowledge about the historical figures in this mid-millenial drama, and I wanted to know what came next for Thomas and for Henry.

Well, I knew what came next for Henry-four more marriages and no legitimate male heirs.  Thomas' story ends long before the last wife, however.  After convincing the king to marry Anne of Cleves, his most failed of many failed marriages, the king turns on Cromwell, and he is executed in 1540.  Regardless of how he is perceived today, Cromwell's influence on one of the greatest changes in western culture are clear, and Mantel does a great job humanizing one of history's most interesting figures.