Archon: The Books of Raziel by Sabrina Benulis

ISBN-13: 9780062069405
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date: December 2011
Pages: 400

Source: Publisher

Angels and demons. I think they are the next 'IN' theme after the vampires and werewolves but honestly, I can't choose among these as I feel each has its own mythology and they are intriguing to me all the same.

As you can see from the cover, Archon: The Books of Raziel is a book about fallen angels and in this story, our protagonist, Angela Mathers, is a blood head who, like other blood heads, are known to possess mystical powers. Angela, however, is plagued by visions of an angel who seems to haunt her even in her dreams and above all, she has heard about the power of an Archon who is believed to be the human reincarnation of the dead angel, Raziel. And if the hearsay is true, that means the Archon will rule the supernatural universe upon his or her rising and the consequence might be horrifying.

Angela doesn't want to think about angels or the Archon, as long as she finds peace and her self at Westwood Academy; after all she has been locked in a mental institution for two years (not that she is mad but because she is different) and she has escaped death for countless times, not that she has the choice in this matter as whenever she tries to hurt herself, something (or someone?) is always around to protect her from hurting herself too much.

And then, there is the mysterious novice, Kim, who attracts and fascinates her both at the same time but even he has a secret agenda as he tries to hide his being a jinn identity.

As you can tell, there is a lot going about this book and while I liked the mystical world Sabrina Benulis has created, I have to admit that the beginning of the chapters took on at a slow pace and some parts confused me but the plot tightens as I read further and soon I got caught up with the story. If you are a fan of paranormal, I am sure this book will appeal to you.

The Doll: Short Stories by Daphne du Maurier

ISBN-13: 9780062080349
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: November 2011
Format: Paperback, 224 pgs
Source: Personal Library

After reading Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and loving it, I decided to read The Doll, a compilation of short stories she had written during the early 1930s. I understand that many of the short stories in this collection were published in periodicals way back then and it is only at this time that they have found their way into print.

While reading The Doll: Short Stories, I couldn't help comparing this to Rebecca as the latter had left quite a deep impression on me. I don't think I'd ever forget the narrator's tone, or the creepy housekeeper, Mrs Danvers. With that in mind, I started reading The Doll with great anticipation. I have also read from other reviews that this collection is much darker and this has further raised up my hope a little.

The first story, East Wind, tells a dark story of once a peaceful, isolated island and how the residents' mind are influenced and brainwashed after the arrival of a ship outside their quiet world. This story left me speechless because I hadn't expected the cruelty towards the end. Nevertheless, this story reflects the frailties of human nature and the tragedy that comes with it.

Follow up next is the main story of its book title - The Doll. Thinking this story might be a talking doll or whatever, I awaited the horror to come with it but instead of the smug satisfaction which I had initially expected, I was blown away by the twist and how dark it can be when one is being obsessed.

However, this compilation is not all about darkness and madness, as The Happy Valley tells a story of one woman's strange dream and coincidence (or is it fate?). Another tale, Frustration, definitely left me feeling frustrated not because the story didn't engage me but on the contrary, it made me felt sorry for the couple who had made much efforts being together but well, misfortune and fate just got into their way. Tame Cat is another story that left an impression on me as it tells a story of a mother and her daughter who both share the same affection for the same man.

As for the rest of the stories, they showcase the various of relationships and how one reacted due to obsession, jealousy, unhappiness etc etc. Each of these tales explore the frailties of human nature and though I have to confess they aren't joyful tales, they reflect the emotions and how one would think and react under the circumstances.

These tales may not be as good or polished as compared to Rebecca, but I enjoy reading Daphne du Maurier's writing style and the dark, brooding atmosphere she created in most of her works. Now I can't wait to read Jamaica Inn and My Cousin Rachel, which I heard they are equally good as Rebecca.

Veil of Night by Linda Howard

ISBN-13: 9780345506900
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Publication date: June 2011
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 400 pgs
Source: Personal Library

It has been a long while since I read a romance suspense novel; I picked Linda Howard's Veil of Night because I enjoyed reading Linda's previous novels, plus the heroine in this story is a wedding planner and I was interested to know more about the profession through the story.

Jaclyn Wilde loves her job and she put in all her time and efforts in running her own events business, Premier. Together with her mother, they had built up Premier's name through their detailed and well organised planning and although their work is not entirely a bed of roses, Jaclyn and Madelyn always see through everything no matter how difficult the clients and/or the tasks at hand.

However, Carrie Edwards, her latest client has ways of irritating her and making things difficult not only to her and to the other vendors as well. She would decide to change the colour of the bridesmaids' wedding dresses at the last minute, or criticise that the food is not up to her taste and status, blah blah blah. As much as she is annoying and demanding, many people figured it wouldn't do them any good should they want to make a huge fuss over her unreasonable tantrums, considering that she is marrying the son of a senator.

Just as Jaclyn is trying to get over another one of Carrie's unreasonable demands and the slap she had given her, she is shocked to learn that Carrie was murdered after they had arranged to meet up to discuss more of the wedding details, together with the other vendors as well. Now everyone that is present during that meeting became a suspect and it doesn't put Jaclyn in a favourable spot as she had forgotten and left her briefcase where the crime scene is.

Detective Eric Wilder is assigned to the case, but he is in an awkward situation since he had had one passionate night with Jaclyn and although he is professional enough to not let his personal life mingle with his job, it bugs him as that means he has to lay his hands off of her and on top of that, Jaclyn is giving him a cold shoulder. Jaclyn knew he is doing his job, but she couldn't help feeling hurt and offended when Eric starts to question her.

What Jaclyn and Eric didn't know is while they are trying to sort out their situations the murderer has moved on to the next unaware target - Jaclyn.

I enjoyed reading Veil of Night and I think Jaclyn and Eric are both very likeable characters. While I think their chemistry and their exchanges are entertaining and add some spice to the story, however on the suspense front it lacks the punch. The whodunnit effect wasn't as great as what I had anticipated; I supposed I wanted a list of suspects for me to guess and to see if my hunch is correct. The real action only began towards the last quarter of the book and while I think there is nothing wrong with this approach, I have to say it somewhat took some of my patience away but suffice to say that the attraction between Jaclyn and Eric is enough to keep me occupied.

I have Linda Howard's latest release, Prey, in my TBR pile and I hope that it would be better on the suspense front.

My Thoughts on The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1

I am sure many of you must have known the storyline and what happened in The Twilight Saga, thus I am not going to brief on the premise and instead share with you what I thought of the movie when we watched it a few days ago. Due to the school holidays, the cinema was quite packed but still Breaking Dawn: Part 1 would attract its fans everywhere no matter whatever the circumstances are.

Unlike the previous installments, Breaking Dawn: Part 1 covered more on the emotional than the action part as we see Bella and Edward got married and had their honeymoon at a beautiful exotic place in Brazil. There are many romantic scenes of the newlyweds being together and how Bella reacted in her new role as Edward's wife (and by the way, I loved her wedding dress!). In fact, I felt the first part of the movie was moving on quite slowly because it focus too much on the above.

The action (and drama) finally began in the second part where we see Bella having difficulty in her pregnancy stage and that her appearance and her overall health deteriorate. Bella looked frightening in her pregnancy stage as she always looked pale and haggard. Her body frame reminds me of those who are anorexic except that her protruding belly tells otherwise. And as for the birth scene, it wasn't horrendous as I had anticipated, but then considering that this movie is PG-13 I figured by showing traces of blood is suffice to tell the whole delivery process.

However, fret not if you think this movie is geared towards the sentimental as there is still a tad small of a fighting scene between the werewolves clan and also between the vampires and the werewolves as well. It is also interesting to see Jacob's struggle as he not only have to see his beloved Bella got married to his nemesis but also to stand by her throughout the overall series. Even if you don't belong to Team Jacob, you couldn't help but to feel sympathy with the poor guy who have sacrificed so much for the sake of seeing Bella's happiness.

So what did I think of this movie? It was pretty romantic (yep, I am still thinking of the place where Bella and Edward went for their honeymoon) and I am sure this installment would satisfy a lot of female audience (the wedding/honeymoon as well as the part where Jacob took off his shirt during the opening scene) but it also left me wonder what would be in store in the last part considering the big premise (the wedding and the delivery of the baby) were already shown in this first part. Of course there is the confrontation scene with the Volturi but other than that I couldn't think of anything major would happen. That said, I still look forward to Part 2 as it is a closure to this Saga.

Movie: In Time

Directed by: Andrew Niccol

Starring: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Vincent Kartheiser

Release: October 2011

I watched In Time with my husband last week as part of his birthday celebration. Truth be told, In Time was our last minute decision as the time slots for other movies were either not right to our schedule or they were shown later in the evening. Nevertheless, it was an entertaining movie although I have to say the storyline seemed to be a little far-fetched to my liking.

It is Year 2161. Genetic alteration has allowed humans to stop aging at 25 years and in order to avoid the issue of over-populations, the state of currency is being replaced by a system they called 'living time'. Each individual has a running time line which is 'etched' onto their arms and in order to pay for their necessities as well as for survival, they have to earn more time through labour and/or other means (i.e. stealing time from others). The people are divided by social classes and the poor will live in the ghettos of Dayton while the rich will live in the luxurious New Greenwich.

28-year-old Will Salas (played by Justin Timberlake) lives with his 50-year-old mother in the ghettos. One day, he witnessed a gang fight in a bar which involved a mobster boss and a man named Henry Hamilton who has a hundred years on his clock. Will helps Henry in the escape and needless to say, he became the target of the gang too.

Henry later transfers all his remaining time line to Will before committing suicide. Unfortunately, Henry's suicide alerted the resident police force who called themselves the Timekeepers. And this begins a race between the Timekeepers and Will as the latter makes his way to New Greenwich, where he encounters a beautiful 27-year-old Sylvia Weis (played by Amanda Seyfried). Sylvia is the daughter to time-loaning businessman and she is attracted by the enigmatic Will after he has beaten her father at a poker game.

In order to crash the time line system and to bring a balance between the rich and the poor, Will and Sylvia began to rob the time banks and other time loaning branches so they can distribute the time capsules to the poor while they are being hunted by the Timekeepers.

Although my feelings toward the storyline is lukewarm (I just couldn't picture a human's life being calculated and controlled by the time line), however I have to say this movie featuring the dystopian future is refreshing and thought-provoking at times (i.e. a reminder that time is precious and to make full good use of it, etc). Personally, I think the chemistry between Justin and Amanda was great, and although I am not a huge fan of Justin, I have to say he had grabbed my attention through his performance (he must be physically fit for this role as he always seemed to be on the run in this movie most of the times) and not to mention his cool, chiselled looks (I have to check out his previous movie, The Social Network that talk about the founding of Facebook and the resulting lawsuits).

On the other end, as much as I was taken in by Amanda's portrayal of a spoiled rich girl, truth be told I just had this mixed feelings about her robbing her father's bank though I know her and Will's intentions were good (I suppose I shouldn't connect her robbing as being unfilial towards her father and instead think of the deeds she has done as a whole).

I may not give this movie a 5-star rating, but it interested me enough that I wouldn't mind watching it again on video the next time around.

(Note: Initially I had wanted to do a mini reivews of two movies I watched lately - this together with a chinese horror, Re-cycle but it turned out that I'd written long enough for In Time to be considered as a mini review. Thus my review on Re-cycle will have to wait for another day. What movies did you watch lately?)

Shadow of a Quarter Moon by Eileen Clymer Schwab

ISBN-13: 9780451233288
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Published: July 2011
Format: Paperback, 400pp
Source: Publisher

Set in North Carolina during the 1800s, Shadow of a Quarter Moon tells the story of Jacy Lane, a young woman living in a plantation and how her life changed after her father's death and discovering that she is actually the offspring of a dalliance between her father and a slave.

Added to the complexity is her engagement to Garrison Yob, a middle-aged man who is known to be ruthless and a chauvinist, and most of all finding out that her biological mother and brother are still working in their plantation.

As much as she is shocked and couldn't accept the revelation that she is the daughter of a slave, she gradually accepts her fate and seek to know more about her biological mother and brother. With the assistance of Rafe, a horse trainer whom she is attracted to, they plan to flee from the plantation and to find a life of their own.

Filled with rich Southern atmosphere and an emotional-driven plot to boot, author Eileen Clymer Schwab weaves a story of a spirited young woman finding her identity and all the challenges she has to face for freedom and all.

What I liked about this story is it somewhat has a 'coming-of-age' edge to it as we see Jacy's transformation from a rich white girl to a matured young lady who would travel to all lengths for the sake of love and freedom. The characterisations of Jacy's biological mother and half-brother, Jerlinda and Axel, as well as Rafe made this story more interesting to read through their insights along with their actions.

Another thing is, Shadow of a Quarter Moon not only touches on relationship between mother and daughter but also on the hardships of the slaves faced during the 1800s. After reading the author's notes and the readers guide, I learnt that the author had also researched for the history of the Underground Railroad in North Carolina as well as the Great Dismal, in which they are being mentioned during Jacy's treacherous journey as she seek for freedom.

A story of courage and history, Shadow of a Quarter Moon will inspire readers through Jacy's treacherous journey and also as a remembrance of the past as the time goes by.

Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James

ISBN-13: 9780425224205
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Published: October 2008
320 pgs
Source: Personal Library

I came across Julie James’ second book, Practice Makes Perfect, last year and loved it (my review here). At that time, I thought that was Julie’s debut novel, not knowing that Just the Sexiest Man Alive is actually the one. Anyway, given the fact that I haven’t been reading a contemporary romance for a while, I decided that Just the Sexiest Man Alive would be my next read.

Taylor Donovan, the heroine of the book, is a brilliant lawyer and she is very much confident that the current sexual harassment case she’s undertaking would be a winner. She took pride in her job, thus when her superior assigns her to coach Jason Andrews, People’s Sexist Man Alive, for his role in his next blockbuster legal thriller, she isn’t too thrilled herself. She thought she has better cases to work on instead of helping him to prep for the courtroom drama for his movie; and it doesn’t faze her even if Jason happens to be the hottest Hollywood heartthrob and not to mention a very good-looking man too.

When Taylor and Jason first met each other, sparks fly but it wasn’t the love-at-first-sight kind given that Jason has left a bad impression on her when he didn’t show up for their first meeting. Jason, on the other hand, finds her intriguing for he has never met any woman like her especially when she didn’t appear to be smitten by his charms, unlike the other women he met and dated. As they began to work together and seeing more of each other, they see something in each other in which they have never seen before but then is it too much to ask for love and commitment from a famous celebrity?

I’ve to say Just the Sexiest Man Alive was an entertaining read and while I very much enjoyed reading Practice Makes Perfect, I find this novel paled in comparison with the former though Julie James maintains her witty prose which I find a delight to read. However, I was not so impressed with the hero as I find him immature at times, and some of his behaviour just irked me though I knew they are intentional implemented by the author. Taylor, on the other hand, impressed me a lot and I simply liked her principles and the way she handles things. All in all, Just the Sexiest Man Alive was just an OK read to me. There are a few clichéd moments but suffice it to say they are enough to capture my attention.

Orchards by Holly Thompson

ISBN-13: 9780385739771
Publisher: Random House Children’s Books
Published: February 2011
336 pgs
Source: Personal Library



I remember seeing Orchards by Holly Thompson on a few blogs I followed. Attracted by the lovely cover but more so intrigued by the plot, I decided to get a copy. When my copy arrived, I was a little surprised to find that it was written in free verse instead of a novel format. Since I have never read a book written in free verse (well they remind me of poetry, kind of) and given that the book I was reading then didn't intrigue me much, I decided to jump into it.

Half-Japanese and half-Jewish American, Kana Goldberg is an eight-grader whose life has taken a turn after a classmate commits suicide. Although Kana isn’t the one who had said the hurtful things to Ruth, nonetheless she still feels a little guilty since she is hanging out with the girls who were mean to Ruth. After the incident, Kana’s parents decided to send her off to Japan for the summer. Staying in her mother’s village home in Kohama where they grow mikan oranges for a living, they are hoping that her stay there will help to reflect on her behaviour.

Given her mixed heritage, Kana has difficulty fitting in and she learnt that her grandmother (whom she called Baachan) was unhappy when her mother left Japan many years ago and married an American. It took a while for the family to accept her and soon Kana adjust to her life in the rural orchard farm. Though she is far away from New York, Kana still think of Ruth, her death and how things might be different if it didn’t end it that way.

Filled with teenage angst, guilt, sorrow and reflection, Orchards is an emotional intense story told from Kana’s point of view which was directed to Ruth. I have to confess I was skeptical about the free verse format and wondered if this is suffice to tell a story, and surprisingly I found that this format works well through Holly Thompson’s prose and every of her words are enough to draw me in and pull my heartstring. I was also drawn to the few illustrations that spotlight some of the Japanese culture and symbols which I thought they somewhat lessened the brooding atmosphere given that Kana is sorting out her feelings as readers get to see her mature through the process.

Movie: Gnomeo & Juliet

Loosly based on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Gnomeo and Juliet are two garden gnomes whereby each clan (the Red and the Blue) has a long bitter feud despite they live so close to one another - the lawns of two neighbours, Mrs. Montague and Mr. Capulet (who like the gnomes are at loggerheads with each other).

Delicate and well protected, Juliet yearns for an adventurous life and her one night adventure sends her towards Gnomeo's path. Attracted to each other, Gnomeo and Juliet didn't realise of their positions until their disguise are off. However, this doesn't deter them from not seeing each other again. And with the help and advice from a discarded pink plastic flamingo named Featherstone, the twosome decided to overcome all obstacles even if they risk being broken (they are all made from ceramic).

Gnomeo & Juliet first caught my attention when I saw its advertisement on a magazine. Attracted by the bright and colourful illustrations and that it's a retelling tale of Romeo and Juliet, I figured this would be a fun movie to watch. And truthfully, I wasn't disappointed and my daughter loved it. There are many hilarious moments amid the heated exchanges and actions between the blue and red gnomes and their fights involving a lawnmower race are just some of the highlights of the film.

The characterisations are great too. Supporting roles like Nanette (who is a frog and is Juliet's good friend) and Featherstone (the pink plastic flamingo who reminisce about his lost love to Gnomeo and Juliet while encouraging them to embrace instead of hiding their love) add entertainment to the overall plot. I have to say their roles are more outstanding partly because they are funny and yes, likeable too.

While I think the plot is good, I was somewhat disappointed with the ending. No, I wasn't referring about the happily-ever-after instead of a tragedy ending (after all it is a G-rated film), but it is simply in my adult mind I was hoping for a more complex scenario. Anyway, what most matters is that we had had a wonderful time and that seeing the joy on our daughter's face and hearing her laughter is suffice for us.

3 Mini Movie Reviews

The Time Traveler's Wife
Starring: Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3.5 stars

Based on Audrey Niffenegger's novel of the same name, The Time Traveler's Wife follows the love story of Henry DeTamble and Clare Abshire. I have to admit my curiosity was piqued after reading so many rave reviews of it so I decided to buy and watch the DVD, despite that I have the book in my pile and I figured I couldn't wait to know what the story is all about.

Eric Bana plays the role of Henry DeTamble who has a genetic disorder in which this enables him to time travel randomly. He meets Clare (Rachel McAdams) and they begin a relationship. Actually, Clare had already met him when she was young and what makes this story touching and romantic is the connection they feel and have for each other throughout the years. Though they are once again reunited, Henry's condition has now became a strain for them now that they are a couple, and the idea of having a child further makes it difficult for them. Is their relationship deems as a doom right from the beginning?

Honestly speaking, though I was fascinated by the premise I am afraid to say I wasn't really wowed by this film. The characters and the cast performance are great, but there are times I was confused by some parts of the film and the flashbacks didn't make it any better although I understand they are crucial and they explain about Henry's past. I suppose I'd enjoyed this film more after reading the book so I might want to watch this again in the near future.

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Bride Wars

Starring: Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson
Rating: 3.75 stars


Emma Allen (Anne Hathaway) and Olivia 'Liv' Lerner (Kate Hudson) are best friends and they have dreams about their weddings ever since they were young. And after witnessing a couple's grand wedding at the Plaza Hotel, they had vowed to be married at the same location when they grown up.

When the two women finally got engaged, they went to consult New York's most famous wedding planner, Marion St. Claire (Candice Bergen) but due to a clerical error, their marriage date is unfortunately scheduled on the same day. Because this is an important day, neither of them wants to make a compromise and on the contrary, each try to outwit the other by using dirty tricks and sabotaging each other's plans. Does this mean their friendship will be over for good?

I always have a thing for romantic comedy and Anne Hathaway is another reason why I picked up Bride Wars. This film is highly entertaining from the beginning till the end; and though I felt some of their antics to be a little exaggerating I think there are some realistic truth in them when it comes to the friendship issue and/or how one wants to be better than the other under some circumstances. Brides-to-be may want to watch this film for some ideas on the wedding gowns and thanks to the special feature on the DVD, I get to know some history of well-known designer Vera Wang and why her wedding gowns is a dream and a must-have to every brides-to-be.

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No Strings Attached
Starring: Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher
Rating: 3.75 stars


No Strings Attached is another romantic comedy which I watched lately and enjoyed it. This film is rated M18 here due to the sexual issue and language as well as the portrayal of drug use.

Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher) are friends for a while but they aren't close until they met each other again through a mutual friend. Emma works in a hospital while Adam works as an assistant in a show and his dream is to be a script writer one day. Their friendship might have stopped there if Adam didn't get drunk and text messaged Emma after he got upset with his father for having a relationship with his ex-girlfriend.

Emma decided they keep their relationship brief after that night, after all she doesn’t believe in love. She also set some ground rules to each other in order to prevent their relationship from getting serious. This goes on well in the beginning, but as the time passes Adam starts to develop feelings for Emma. Sensing Adam’s closeness, Emma decided to take a step back away from their relationship and so they went on separate ways. However, Emma isn’t happy after she has sealed off her relationship with Adam, and this makes her think carefully about their relationship.

No Strings Attached may seems clichéd at some point, but it makes you wonder if a man and a woman could maintain a platonic relationship. Another thing is, though casual sex may portrayed to be respectable in the film, I think the ending has changed that conception and show us what love is when Emma starts to realise that Adam is important to her and trying hard to win back his love.

Girl, Stolen by April Henry

ISBN-13: 9780805090055
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Published: September 2010
224 pgs
Source: Personal Library

Please let me go. I won't tell.

I am sure many of you may have read about a kidnapping story in one time or another, but have you ever read about the victim who is blind? I haven't, and that is why I find Girl, Stolen is so refreshing. Reading Girl, Stolen reminds me a little of a great story I read in June 2009; that title is Stolen by Lucy Christopher (one of my favourite (and best) reads for last year!). Stolen is about the journey and the relationship between a kidnapped girl and her captor as they travel along the Australian outback. It is a very character-driven story, filled with lots of emotional intense than anything. There is also something very disturbing about the story having the victim sympathised and feeling for the captor towards the end, but yet you couldn't help reading it. Lucy Christopher's prose and style is that wonderful!

Anyway, I have seen some reviews comparing this with Stolen and I can totally understand why as both have the same kidnapping theme, but what makes this story stood out is the heroine is a blind girl who have to rely on her cane or her guide dog through her daily life. Cheyenne Wilder is kidnapped while waiting in the backseat of her stepmother's car. Actually her kidnapper, a boy named Griffin didn't mean to kidnap her in the first place; he saw the car keys dangling in the ignition and decided to steal the car away, not stopping to check if there is anyone in the car. He is thinking that his stealing a Cadillac Escalade would make his father very happy, after all his father too steal cars and they would sell the car parts or replace the VIN numbers before selling off the vehicles again. Unfortunately he did not know of the complexity and the consequences about stealing a girl with the car too, and before he realised his mistake it was all too late.

Having no choice, he turns Cheyenne to his father once they are back into his house. Afterwards when Roy, Griffin's father learnt that Cheyenne is the daughter of Nike president, he decided to hold her captive and demand for a ransom. Before this happened, the relationship between Griffin and his father has never been good, but Griffin tolerate his father's hurling insults and abusive behaviour since his mother walked out of his life when he was young. He has no one to turn to, and he has no choice, so to speak. And after Cheyenne steps into his family and into his life, his attitude towards his stinking life has somewhat changed after witnessing her determination and courage to escape from their grasp. In the end, he decided to become her protector and accomplice for her escape. But of course I am not going to tell you anything beyond that, so let's just say this has been an intense reading experience for me.

Now that I have read Girl, Stolen, I felt that the plot and the style is very different from Stolen, despite that they share the same theme - kidnapping. Both of the emotional intense are wonderfully built, but their approach (direction) is different. Also, I find the thrill of this story is focused more on the escape than the relationship between the captor and the captive, while Stolen is leaning more towards the latter. Both are compelling read with a different reading experience, thus I cannot say which is better but if you are going for the thrill and suspense, Girl, Stolen will be it.

A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro

ISBN-13: 9780571245659
Publisher: Faber and Faber Limited
Published: 2009
183 pgs
Source: Library

A Pale View of Hills was published in 1982, and it was the first novel to be written by Kazuo Ishiguro. While I have his other book, Never Let Me Go, in my pile, I chose to read this first as I don't think I have seen too many reviews on this around the blogosphere.

A Pale View of Hills tells the story of a middle-aged Japanese woman named Etsuko living in England as she recalls her past living in post-war Nagasaki, during a visit from her daughter, Niki. As the narrator, Etsuko began to describe her acquaintance with a woman she knew as Sachiko and her daughter Mariko during her days in Nagasaki. Before she went on to recall her relationship with Sachiko, readers are well aware that there have been two marriages in Etsuko's life through the first chapter. Her first marriage was to a Japanese man named Jiro and together they had a daughter, Keiko. Niki is actually her daughter from her second marriage to a British man. During the time when Etsuko is living in England (there isn't any mention of Jiro so it was understood that Etsuko and Jiro had split), Keiko became withdrawn and spent most of the time locked in her room. She committed suicide later, and this was made known to the readers from the beginning because Niki was telling Etsuko that she doesn't feel comfortable staying in the room facing opposite Keiko's room.

This first part of the story tells a lot about Etsuko's recollections of her friendship with Sachiko and Mariko. As the story progressed, I found myself disliking Sachiko because she somewhat gave me the impression of being an arrogant and a materialistic woman. In any sense, there are also a few similarities between Keiko and Mariko as both seemed to be loners and harbour a sense of depression.

The story took a turn during the second part as this focus more Etsuko's relationship with Jiro and his father Ogata-San, as well as the latter's opinion towards the Japanese society between the past and the present. If you are feeling confused at this point, you are not alone because that was my initial reaction as far as the progress of the story is concerned. Etsuko has intrigued me with her recollections of Sachiko and Mariko during the first part of the story, so I was perplexed and feeling somewhat frustrated that there isn't further elaborations on them on the second part of the story. I also have to confess that I was actually more interested to read about Sachiko and Mariko than Jiro and Ogata-San, not because the latter wasn't interesting but there is something about Sachiko and Mariko that I couldn't quite put a finger on. It was only after reading the whole book and some pondering did I realise that not only this story is multi-layered but it is also how you interpret it in the end. This book makes a great book club discussion in my opinion, and I think this is the kind of book which you will either love it or hate it. For me, I don't hate it but I don't love it to pieces too; still I quite like the idea that this story would provoke some pondering from the readers and that has totally heightened my reading experience aside from being an escapism.

Have you read it? What is your interpretation of this story?

Green Books Campaign: For the Love of Strangers by Jacqueline Horsfall

This review is part of the Green Books campaign. Today 200 bloggers take a stand to support books printed in an eco-friendly manner by simultaneously publishing reviews of 200 books printed on recycled or FSC-certified paper. By turning a spotlight on books printed using eco- friendly paper, we hope to raise the awareness of book buyers and encourage everyone to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books.

The campaign is organized for the second time by Eco-Libris, a green company working to make reading more sustainable. We invite you to join the discussion on "green" books and support books printed in an eco-friendly manner! A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website.

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ISBN-13: 9781616030032
Publisher: Leap Books

Published: 2010

Illustrated by: Mary B. Kelly
280 pgs
Source: Leap Books
(For the Love of Strangers is printed on FSC-certified paper.)

Ten years ago, Darya and her younger brother Nikolai live their life in a Russian orphanage. Six years later, they are now living with an elderly woman who called Tee-tee (whose real name is actually Teresa Tomasio and she is an American) whereby she works as a director of the Helpline Crisis Referral Center by day, and undercover shelter director by night. You see, she runs a safe house for battered women and their kids, and she named it Philoxenia (Greek for "love of strangers" and that's where this title comes about.)

When Darya first steps onto America's land and into Tee-tee's life, she is full of doubts. After all, Tee-tee saw Nikolai at the orphanage first. However her doubts and her insecurities slowly fade away after getting to know more about her adoptive mother and knowing that she has a soft spot for women who need to get away but have nowhere to go. Because the county is so large and it is so rural and poor, they can't possibly support for every woman who needs safety thus Philoxenia is part of a network of houses scattered in residential neighbourhoods.

However, it seems like there are also other strangers - nonhumans - who want to seek protection too. When Darya thought she could hear the voices and pleas from the deers roaming about the forest around their area, she thought she was imagining things but she could sense the fear and pain in their eyes and she knew that their life are threatened considering her community hunt for them. She wants to help them, but would she be able to get the support from her adoptive mother and most of all, would she be able to take all the taunts and wraths of her community?

For the Love of Strangers is a haunting yet a compassionate account of a young girl's mission of protecting not only the battered women and their children but also more on the deers which face the cruelty fact of extermination. Although some scenes of this story take on a mystical tone at some point (Darya being able to understand the pleas of the deers and so forth), the message behind about protecting the animals and the emphasis on the beauty of nature come off strong and clear. Though For the Love of Strangers is a fiction, the sad truth is how those deers suffered in the story indeed happen in reality and everytime I see those videos on skinning animals for their furs or killing them for any benefits just makes my heart breaks.

But of course this book isn't entirely focused on protecting the deers only (though I loved the premise and fully support the cause), this story is also about 16-year-old Darya and her insecurities even after she was being adopted. She often wonders if her adoptive mother truly loves her and whether or not would she be sent back to Russia one day. I think Darya is a strong character, yet there is also a vulnerable side of her that makes me want to hug and comfort her. I suppose this is how a child might feel towards her adoptive parents at some point regardless of anything.

Poignant and lyrical, For the Love of Strangers will appeal not only to the YA readers but to the adults as well.

(Many thanks to Raz and team of Eco-Libris for hosting this great campaign, and also to Leap Books for sending this book to me for review.)

The Patterns of Paper Monsters by Emma Rathbone

ISBN-13: 9780316077507
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Published: August 2010
206 pgs
Source: Personal Library

The Patterns of Paper Monsters. I liked the title; it intrigues me and it somewhat reminds me of all the angst and drama one would experience during adolescence. As it turns out, this is actually a coming-of-age story of a seventeen-year-old boy's life spent in a juvenile detention center after he was being caught for a failed armed robbery.

Three months into his sentence, Jacob Higgins lives his days in the JDC with an attitude (being indifferent and acts indifferent towards any beneficial programs). In short, he is simply obstinate and full of angst until the day he met Andrea, a fellow resident who shares the same bleak outlook on life as him. Well it didn't come as a surprise to me when I find their blossoming friendship turned to love and just while I started to hope that things would get better for Jacob, a huge obstacle gets in his way, in the form of another inmate named David. Jacob hardly speak with David; in fact no one speak much with him since he is always portrayed as mysterious and a loner. No one knew what he had convicted either, and no one asked anyway. So when David made an attempt to talk with Jacob, he was a little taken aback and of course at this point we all suspected that there is something fishy going about David's intention.

As the story progress, we soon find out that Jacob is unlike some of the troubled youths we have read from other books. Sure he can be obstinate and full of angst, but beneath those attributes there is actually a sense of vulnerability and sentimental values in him, and I liked it that he can be a bit funny at times and does not make up excuses for anything. In short, he actually knew what he wants, though he might get impulsive anything concerning his mother's alcoholic boyfriend. Of course there would be some struggles down the road for Jacob (which I am not going to spoil for you), what I find this story a little different from the others is the writing style and Jacob's voice. It is through his straightforward demeanour (and at times mixed with a sense of sardonic humor) that made him such an interesting character to read (I haven't mention that this is written from his point of view, in which I think the author has done a great job in capturing the overall essence of Jacob as a troubled youth and as a person) and also I liked it that there is a balance between the seriousness and some humour parts to this story. I am sure this debut novel by Emma Rathbone will appeal to young adults and adults alike.

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Phew! It seems as if I've been on a roll reading books about troubled teens but I just want to say it wasn't intentional. I read Confession by Kanae Minato on a whim after seeing it during my visit to the bookstore two days ago, and honestly speaking I didn't have the intention of reading it on that same day as I tend to have this habit of chucking newly acquired books to my TBR pile but I just couldn't seem to put down the manga after reading the blurb so there you go.

Next onto my reading list would be a book by Jacqueline Horsfall titled For the Love of Strangers (actually it's in a PDF format since the publisher couldn't send the book to me on time due to a printing delay). This is for the Green Books Campaign hosted by Eco-Libris and all participants will publish their reviews on the same day - November 10th.

Upon writing this, I've no idea what book I should read besides For the Love of Strangers. Meanwhile, I'm waiting for my copy of Nightshade by Andrea R. Cremer to arrive from The Book Depository so who knows I might dive into that if it does arrive today! I tend to be fickle-minded when it comes to my reading and what I've decided to read might change the next. So what're you reading now? I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Bobo's Daughter: One Woman's Journey to Find Hope, Healing, and the Father behind the Face Paint by Bonnie Barnett

ISBN-13: 9780984235872
Publisher: Synergy Books
Published: September 2010
232 pgs
Source: Publicist

When the publicist contacted me and asked if I was interested to review Bobo's Daughter, I was skeptical at first because I rarely read memoirs. However, I was attracted by the gorgeous cover but what most intrigued me is this memoir is about the relationship between the author and her father, who makes his career as a clown. I've to admit I wasn't a huge fan of clowns since young; while some children think they are funny I often thought of them a bit creepy and intimidating. I've to blame it on the bright paints that they put on their faces.

Now as an adult and though my feelings towards them hasn't changed, I've grown to respect and admire their zest by always putting on a smile and their best performance to their audience. Bobo's Daughter chronicles author Bonnie Barnett's journey of getting to know more about her father and searching for him as he travels to places as a circus clown.

Bonnie first met her father, Chester "Bobo" Barnett, at the circus when she was 4 years old. She knew nothing about him, and her mother did not mention much about him considering he had chose to leave them behind for his career as a world famous clown. Despite that, Bonnie was mesmerised after watching her father's performance, and she told herself she would like to get to know him better. Needless to say, her mother didn't share her sentiments and felt somewhat betrayed that Bonnie wanted to meet him. Nevertheless, Bonnie never give up her intention of reconnecting with her father throughout the years and this book is the result whereby she shares with her readers about her struggles growing up, and finally finding peace and forgiveness after what she's been through.

This memoir also covers the relationship between Bonnie and her mother, who used to be a girl clown and how she gave up her clowning career to raise Bonnie all on her own. I really appreciate the author for including a few pictures of her parents and herself in between the chapters as they enable me to glimpse more deeply of the life she's been living on top of her written words. In a nutshell, Bobo's Daughter is only only a moving memoir about reconciliation and forgiveness between a daughter and a father, but also about having hope and the courage of finding oneself and learning through experiences without giving anything up. Today, Bonnie works as a Marriage, Family, and Child Therapist and Life Coach near Durham, North Carolina.

About the Author:
Bonnie Barnett currently lives in Durham, N.C., where she owns a private, in-home outpatient therapy practice. She also works at Agape Corner where she helps at-risk children and families living below the poverty line. She holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a minor in psychology from California State University at Los Angeles and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University.

(Many thanks to the publicist, Lindsay Marshall for sending this book to me for review.)

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

ISBN-13: 9780545140317
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Published: January 2010
290 pgs
Source: Library

Penny Lane Bloom had known Nate Taylor pretty much since birth. After all, their fathers had been friends since childhood. Penny had fantasised walking down the aisle with Nate in future, but as time passes she realised that what she had dreamed or hoped for were merely fairy tales and fantasies. Nate is no longer the old Nate she has known; he has changed or in general, guys change.

Stung by Nate's betrayal, Penny vows to give up boys and dating (at least till the end of her high school days). Inspired by a poster of The Beatles, she sets up a club called The Lonely Hearts Club for herself. She has always find solace in listening to them and to top it all, her parents are huge fans of them and she was even named after one of their songs.

Soon, words about her no-dating club got around in school and the number of members began to grow. Penny's self-confidence grows as she gets to understand her friends more and not to mention getting to meet some new friends along the way. However, she feels herself at a loss after getting to know more of Ryan Bauer, whom has had a relationship with one of her girlfriends and though Diane Monroe assures her that their relationship was long over, Penny still has some doubts about boys and relationships and furthermore, she does not want to contradict herself with the club's rules.

But that is only the beginning of her problems as Principal Braddock soon learns about the club and feels it to be discriminating against the boys in general. Not wanting to dissolve the club, the members amended the rules to include dating, but at this point Penny still has no resolution regarding her relationship with Ryan. So what is she has to do?

The Lonely Hearts Club is a light and fun read that mainly revolves around friendship and about staying true to yourself. I also liked that there are a few references of The Beatles, and reading about her parents' devotion to them brought a smile to my face. What's great about this story is it tells the readers (particularly girls) that one shouldn't ditch a friend for love, and that sometimes love will find you when you least expected it. Ah, so true.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

ISBN-13: 9781847386953
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: October 2009
391 pgs
Source: Personal Library




There have been a lot of hype surrounding this book when it was first released (or maybe way before it was released), and with a premise involving a fallen angel and forbidden love, I can see why Hush, Hush has generated so much interest from most readers. For me I have always been fascinated by angels so naturally I have to read this book.

The story begins when a Nephil took an oath with a mysterious boy way back in the 1560s in France. Fast forward to the present day in Maine, the focus shifted to Nora Grey as she took the role of the protagonist and we get to see things through her perspective. Though Nora is sensible and independent, there is a bout of uncertainty and insecurity in her but who can blame her when her father is murdered years ago and that her mother has to travel a lot to work to make ends meet.

Her peaceful life changes after she met a charismatic new student who later became her deskmate in her Biology class. Patch is mysterious and seems to have an aura of danger surrounding him, and on top of that she finds him unsettling for he seems to know a lot of things about her, and then there is something about him that is not quite right but still, she could not help being intrigued and fascinated by him.

Her doubts in him deepened when she encountered several terrifying incidents because she keeps seeing him everywhere, and at this stage she is more determined to find out about Patch and what his agenda is. To add complexity and excitement to this story, Nora and her good friend Vee will meet another two new male students transferred to their school. Nora will soon find out the truth about fallen angels and Nephilim and why she is being caught in the middle of an age-old feud.

So what is my verdict after reading this book? I liked the story, but I cannot say I loved it. The characterisations are great, and I enjoyed the exchanges between Nora and Patch but somewhat I felt something is lacking. Then again, I think it might be due from my initial expectations, for I did not anticipate the story to go towards another direction. I have to admit the mystery surrounding a masked person who wanted to kill Nora had me pondering, still I was a little disappointed as I expected it to pack with a bit more punch. Anyway, as I mentioned, it is not a flaw and is mainly due to my expectations, that is all. Also, I wanted to know more about Patch's past, but I understand it might be the author's intention to make him more mysterious so I am hoping I could get to learn more about him in the sequel.

Oh, another thing I want to mention is Nora's good friend, Vee. Her bubbly and her ever enthusiastic personality is absolutely contagious; I could just 'feel' her voice simply flipping through those pages. Overall, I find Hush, Hush an entertaining read and I definitely look forward to the sequel, Crescendo, come November.

(Click here for other bookbloggers' reviews.)

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.)

The Worst of Me by Kate Le Vann

ISBN-13: 9781848120457
Publisher: Piccadilly Press
Published: January 2010
192 pgs
Source: Personal Library

Sixteen-year-old Cassidy feels her life is anything but happy. It does not help that her father is no longer living with them and that her mother has found a new love in another man. Cassidy feels her mother does not understand her, and she has no feelings towards the new man in her mother's life except that she thinks he meddles too much of her life.

Things began to look up when she met a guy named Jonah, together with his three friends when they are transferred to her school. They may be a few years older than her, but Cassidy felt kind of flattered that they showed enough attention towards her. Cassidy enjoys being with Jonah, and she has more or less put her relationship with childhood friend and ex-lover behind her, until she discover something about Jonah that makes her question about their relationship.

I have to say I was totally taken aback after reading half of The Worst of Me. What I am saying is, though I was prepared to doubt Jonah (due to the blurb), what caught me completely off-guard is the issues surrounding this story, i.e. racism and religions, in which I have to confess I don't recall reading anything about the latter in which a character has strong feelings against it. That said, I want to clarify that the author has actually done a good job in telling this story in a matter-of-fact way; there is no disrespect towards anyone except to show the different side and thoughts of Jonah (as well as his friends).

The Worst of Me tells the dilemma and struggle Cassidy has to face between love and the respect one has to give towards other people, regardless of race or religion. As much as these issues are important, what's so sad about the thing is, they still exist since history, and is difficult to resolve even today.

Without a doubt, this is a great character-driven story and I think most girls will be able to connect with Cassidy as the author has a way of drawing the readers into Cassidy's mind, and for this reason I will definitely check out the other books by Kate Le Vann, due to the characterisations and the emotional-charged topics.

Other review:

So Many Books, So Little Time

(Let me know if I missed yours.)

Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo

ISBN-13: 9780824947934
Publisher: Ideals Publications
Published: January 2010
260 pgs
Source: Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists
(This is an advance reader's edition from uncorrected pages.)

I loved Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Darcy is no doubt one of the most intriguing heroes I read among others so naturally any spin off of Jane Austen's novels or mention of Mr. Darcy will catch my attention (however I am not so keen when they are linked with paranormal), thus I jumped at the chance when Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists offered me the opportunity to review Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart.

Claire Prescott is unsure where her life is taking her especially after she has lost a job as a pediatrician office manager and that her relationship with her boyfriend, Neil, is just a blah. It is not like she is not working hard enough to make the relationship work, but the thing with Neil is he is a sports fanatic.

Claire has a younger sister named Missy and being the elder sibling, she takes charge in most of their things since their parents died when she was eighteen. Now Missy has received a grant to attend a weeklong seminar in Oxford as part of her continuing education for her teacher certification but due to pregnancy complications, she wants Claire to stand in her position and present her papers on Pride and Prejudice. Claire does not understand Mr. Darcy's appeal but she agrees to Missy's request anyway.

Claire met a lot of interesting people at the seminar; one of them certainly reminds her too much of the fictional Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice because of his aloof attitude when they first met. His name is James Beaufort and he works in a publishing firm which is a family business. During the introduction, Claire did not tell them the truth of her designation, after all it is only a weeklong seminar and she is sure no one will remember her once they left the seminar for home. Nonetheless, Claire and James left an impression on each other's mind and it is not long that they are attracted to each other.

A chance encounter allows Claire to meet the elderly Harriet, who kindly show her the first draft of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, originally titled as First Impressions but Claire has doubts in Harriet because she seems to suffer from early stage of dementia. Nevertheless, Claire read the manuscript and is very taken in the story which is so different from the printed Pride and Prejudice.

However, when someone raided her room did Claire realize that this manuscript might not be authentic after all. The story gets more complex when Neil unexpectedly arrives in Oxford and Claire has to question her true feelings between Neil and James.

I had a fun time reading Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart. There is a little suspense surrounding the manuscript but then the suspense is not to an extent that it would lead to murder or anything. I have to say this is more of a character study where the readers will read the change about Claire and how she deals with issues such as the kinship with her sister and then of course, love. I won't tell you what happened to the manuscript, as I think that is not the main point of this story (though I did enjoy reading a few sections of that manuscript and find it to be quite refreshing on top of the story itself) but I can tell you I loved how it is wrapped up in the end.

On an unrelated note, what do you think makes Mr. Darcy an iconic romantic hero? And which actor would you like to see to play the role of Mr. Darcy?