With My Body by Nikki Gemmell

• ISBN-13: 9780062122636
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Publication date: June 2012
• Format: Trade Paperback, 480 pgs
• Source: Publisher

At first glance, the cover of With My Body may seem like an erotica romance but after reading the blurb, I realised there is something far more than just sex and lust, for behind the sensuality this is a story about family, marriage, self-discovery and love. 

Written in second person point-of-view, the nameless character is a mother of three and she has what many women want - a husband who is a GP and one who will not let his family down. She is supposed to be happy with her life, but she is not. She realised that she and her husband have reached a point of stopping in the relationship; where they both are either too busy, or too swamped by everything else. There is not much romance or sparks left, so to speak. Deep inside, the woman is craving for a release and she can't help but to think of her ex-lover, whom she has kept hidden in her mind all these years. She didn't want to ruin her marriage, for she thinks her husband is a good man and all, and she will make sure that he will never know of her past as she revisits her memory (and a notebook whereby she had noted down lessons she had learnt from her ex-lover) where the core of this story is. 

The woman had a secret affair with an older man when she was about seventeen. She had accidentally came across a secluded house where she discovered the man, who had chosen the quiet and remoteness of the place from the city so he could write his second book. Initially Tol wants nothing to do with the girl but he is piqued by her naivety and in the end, he gave in through her persistence of seeking him out. And there begins their relationship and their secret affair. Through their affair, she has learned things from Tol that would make one raise eyebrows and frown. Tol seems to learn something from her too, as he finds out more about a woman's psyche. One could say their relationship is a complex one, and there are times I wondered about Tol and if there are other agenda behind his acts. But of course I would not spoil the story and say anything more about him. 

Though With My Body mainly looks at the discovery of sexuality of a teenage girl to a woman, there is one aspect which I think drives the greatest impact and that is the father/daughter relationship and the redemptive part which is surprisingly moving once the readers understand the intention behind it. 

Bold, honest and thought-provoking, With My Body will be one of the most unforgettable books on my read list. This book also includes an interview with author Nikki Gemmell and her insights of writing this story (which allowed me to learn more about womanhood, in all its complexity). 

Overseas by Beatriz Williams

• ISBN-13: 9780399157646
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
• Publication date: May 2012
• Format: Hardcover, 464 pgs
• Source: Personal Library

When I first saw the book cover, I was totally smitten by the silver glittery fonts and the cityscape as the backdrop. What's more, Karen White (author of The Beach Trees; and one of my favourite authors) quoted on the front cover that this as "Irresistible. A memorable story of a timeless love."  Needless to say, I was hooked and I bought it, regardless of the eye-popping price tag (S$50.24). 

The story opens with the heroine searching in earnest for a Captain Julian Laurence Ashford. The year is 1916 in Amiens; a city in N France and World War I is raging at that time. The heroine doesn't really understand the urgent need in finding Captain Julian Ashford but she does know that she has to warn him of the danger he would be in and hopefully he would listen to her so he would be spared, from death. 

Fast forward to Year 2007 in New York City, Kate Wilson is a twenty-something Wall Street investment banker. She is good in her job but the thing is her superior rarely recognises her hard work and give all the important tasks and credits to another coworker instead. Being the low-profile person, Kate kind of accepts her fate but one business meeting allows her to meet the legendary investment genius Julian Laurence and her world changes thereafter. Julian is not only young and good-looking and it seems he is quite taken with Kate. 

What follows next is the alternative chapters that shift between the past and the present, allowing readers to find out and to understand the connection between Julian and Kate, and why these two people seem to have a purpose when seeking for each other, no matter in Amiens or in New York City. 

While this is a time-travel romance, it does has a tad of intrigue added to this romantic fantasy as there are scenes whereby Kate's safety is threatened at some point and makes you wonder who it is and why. 

I have to admit I am not a big fan of time-travel fiction, be it romance or mainstream but Overseas has definitely won me over with the unforgettable characters and the interesting premise as well. Author Beatriz Williams' style of writing is smooth and enticing and while I know the time-travel part is impractical and would never ever happen in reality, what matters is that love would never go out of time, anywhere. As long as there is love, there will always be stories to be told; and this is probably one reason why romance remains as one of the popular genres among others?  

Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti

• ISBN-13: 9780670012251
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
• Publication date: May 2012
• Format: Hardcover, 224 pgs
• Source: Personal Library

Wow, I couldn't believe that it has been two months since I had last posted my last review. Two months! I sure miss writing here and sharing my thoughts with you on the books I read. I have to confess I rarely have the time to read during the past two months due to some work issues (probably another post?) but I'm glad to say that my reading pattern would now change as I have more free time to read since I'm not working, at least for the moment. 

Anyways, back to the review. Let me say I just loved this book! After reading Susane Colasanti's previous novel, Waiting for You, I have fallen in love with her writing style and on top of that, she totally captures the teenage voice and I felt I was living as a teen once again reading her books. 

Keep Holding On is not your typical YA romance. Sure, it has a romance theme but this story is actually about sixteen-year-old Noelle's transformation from being a victim to school bullies to a victor who encourages fellow students not to allow haters/bullies to stop them from moving forward and then of course, never to give up of their life and dreams. Noelle's transformation is not easy as for starters, she is raised by a single parent (her mom) who is selfish and always blame Noelle for the life they live in, thinking that if she didn't have Noelle right after high school, she could have gone to college and had a real career instead of making minimum wage at a job she can't stand. 

Noelle also has to endure the teasing by her fellow classmates due to her poor lunches and the way she dressed. And worst of all, she thinks she has found a boyfriend who could see the real her but in actual fact, he is merely two-timing her and refuses to let anyone knew of their relationship. However, Noelle's life is not all that bad and unfortunate as she has a best friend and a guy named Julian who really care about her. It is up to Noelle to make the first step to stand up for herself and to keep holding on anything that would make her happy, including accepting Julian into her life, whom she once thinks she is not good enough for him. 

Keep Holding On is a great inspiring read and would motivate any teenagers (especially teenagers who think they could not fit in would be able to relate to this story) after reading Noelle's journey. Another thing I liked about this story is Julian; he simply melts my heart and that is all I have to say about him. 

Movie: Friends with Benefits

Right, let me start off by saying that I'm not a fan of Justin Timberlake (at least not in the past anyway), therefore this is not a gushy post about him but more on his latest movie, Friends with Benefits. I am sure many of you must have came across romantic comedies which have themes like the leading characters being friends (or even strangers) before they fell in love and became a happy couple. The theme may be cheesy, but they do happen in reality and I love such theme all the same.

Jamie (played by Mila Kunis) is a headhunter in New York and she has found Dylan (played by Justin Timberlake) to fill in the position of an art director at GQ. Prior to fetching Dylan from the airport, Jamie had fallen off with her boyfriend who thinks she is emotionally damaged. Jamie, on the other hand, has swore off men and relationships after the break up and focused her mind into work and helping Dylan in settling down in his new job in New York, after all Dylan is LA based and their personalities and mindset is way so different from each other. Jamie is loud, vocal and is not shy in displaying her emotions in public while Dylan is much more level-headed and prefers to stay in a low profile.

A few outings lead them to become friends, and it is one night while watching a show which revolves around romance and relationship and this got them started on discussing issues like getting physical without all the emotions attached. They then decided to make a pact to be sleeping partners but without those emotional baggage that comes along with it.

Things are going on fine between them until Dylan brings Jamie back home to meet his family, not to introduce them as a couple but as friends considering that Dylan didn't even bring his ex-girlfriend home. Jamie is awed by Dylan's family, for they made her feel at home and most of all, this trip makes her see Dylan in a new light. It makes her understand Dylan a bit more after seeing how he treats towards his father who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Dylan, on the other hand, started to have feelings towards Jamie although he wouldn't want to admit it, in spite that he is being accused of emotionally unavailable by his ex-girlfriend.

Dylan's sister thought Dylan and Jamie make a fine couple, but Dylan brushed it off and said they are nothing but friends. Being a cliché and all, we all know where this is leading to but still we want to see the chemistry sparks and their confession towards the end.

Friends with Benefits may have an old and cliché plot, but what I liked about this movie is the great chemistry between Mila and Justin, and not to mention their witty dialogues at times. Aside from these, I think supporting characters like Jamie's mom, Dylan's father and Dylan's gay colleague, a sports editor, all add entertainment to this movie and make it even more interesting. It was great having a few of those laugh-out-loud moments when you thought this movie is a tad cheesy, in which I wish to reiterate that I enjoyed watching the chemistry between Justin and Mila being onscreen lovers. Heck, I even have to admit that it was far off better as compared with No Strings Attached (starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher), another movie which has the same theme of friends became lovers and in my opinion, it somewhat lacks the poignancy and also that I felt the characterisations are a tad weaker.

And before I end this post, I have a question for you. Do you think a man and a woman can remain friends, especially in the long run?

Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale by Carolyn Turgeon

ISBN-13: 9780307589972
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Published: March 2011
256 pgs
Source: Personal Library

After reading Carolyn Turgeon's Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story in April last year (my review here) and was mesmerised by her wonderful storytelling skill, I know I wouldn't want to miss reading Mermaid after knowing that she would be writing this new release based on Hans Christian Andersen's original tale.

I am sure many of you have read or heard of the original tale, but what makes this book a little different from Andersen's is it features two narratives - the mermaid princess, Lenia, and Princess Margrethe, who is the daughter of a northern king.

On Lenia's eighteenth birthday, she was given the chance to swim ashore to the upper world. She had wanted to do so ever since she had heard wonderful stories from her elder sisters as they shared with her the tales of the curiosities and wonders that lay above. But what made her trip so different and special from her sisters is that she witnessed a shipwreck and she had fell in love with a handsome man while saving him.

On the other end, Princess Margrethe, who is daughter of the northern king, is hiding in a convent when news broke that the northern and southern kingdom might go to war. While wandering around one day, she found a mermaid with an injured man in her arms. Both women are struck by the sight of each other, but circumstances called so Lenia delivers the man to Princess Margrethe as she thinks she could save him. Meanwhile, Princess Margrethe thinks it must be fate that brings her and this man together. As luck would have it, the man whom they rescued, is the son of the southern king but none of them knew each other's identity.

What unveils this story is the love triangle and aside from the original tale where Lenia requested for a magic potion in exchange for her voice so as to have her tail be split into human legs, Carolyn Turgeon has gone a step further into making this beloved classic more intriguing by adding Princess Margrethe's point of view besides Lenia's though the story is told in the third person throughout the whole book. Turgeon also pushed this story to a climax through Princess Margrethe's dilemma between love and saving her kingdom, and the stakes she and Lenia have to take should they decide on any choice they have to make. What would be the ending? Would there ever be a happy ending this time around? I'm not telling, but I have to say I was once again mesmerised by Turgeon's writing, and felt myself entranced by The Little Mermaid all over again. I don't think I would ever get tired of reading this poignant yet beautiful story over and over again, be it the original or any retelling tales.

As of writing this, I also learnt that Carolyn Turgeon will have a new book out in August titled The Next Full Moon; and I knew it would be another magical, compelling story after reading the synopsis. I can't wait.

Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn

ISBN-13: 9780385722438
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: September 2002
224 pgs
Source: Personal Library




Have you ever wondered what our life would be if we are forbidden to use certain alphabets? How would you communicate if those alphabets are omitted? By using sign language, or would you simply give up communicating?

Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters covers such themes and I have to say it is one of the most extraordinary epistolary novels I read thus far. In an island of Nollop, Nevin Nollop is the creator of the well-known pangram “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” thus having the island to be named under him. Due to this reason, the government and the people have great respect in Nevin Nollop and this sentence is preserved on a memorial to its creator on that island. One day, an alphabet “Z” falls from the inscription beneath the statue and thinking that this is some sort of a message passed down by the great late Nevin Nollop, the government bans this alphabet in all written and spoken forms. In highlighting the seriousness of the matter, they implement a penalty system in which whoever used the forbidden letter would be given a warning for the first offense, and banishment from the island for the third (and final) offense.

As more alphabets began to fall off from the inscription, the people in Nollop began to find it a challenge and in the end, they are either being banished or being forced to leave the island of their own accord. Ella Minnow Pea is the lead character of this novel, and through her letters to her family and friends we see her determination and persistance as she chose to remain in Nollop and finally to do something about it.

I have to say I absolutely loved the premise of this novel. It is so, so very clever and imaginative! I liked Ella; she is such a great character (not to mention that she is also a very brave and an intelligent girl). There are times I giggled and then sympathised with the characters as their letters seem to take on a silly note when more alphabets are being omitted, but jokes aside I can totally understand their frustrations and how tough it would be to come up with a complete sentence without having your intentions misinterpret! I don’t know about you, but I think I would now appreciate the alphabets more after reading this lovely novel.

The Art of Disappearing by Ivy Pochoda

ISBN-13: 9780312650995
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: September 2010
320 pgs
Source: Personal Library

There are many perceptions of magic. While some may think of and link them to witchcraft (usually in the olden days), others view them as an entertainment and a form of art. So, is there such a thing as real magic, or are they merely tricks and illusions. I'm afraid I can't answer them, but I want to say I love watching magic performance and that I really enjoyed reading The Art of Disappearing; a story between a magician and a textile consultant.

Mel Snow is drawn to Toby Warring the instant they met in the Old Stand Saloon in Tonopah, Nevada. Toby brought her a drink first, and she only knew he is a magician after the waiter told her about his profession. They had a few exchanges and shared a little about their life and their family. And they got married two days later.

They begin their life together in Las Vegas, where Toby hopes he would make his name as a great magician there; one whom performs real magic and not merely tricks and illusions. But Toby has a painful past that will always remind him of his magic and his lovely assistant who disappeared during a performance and couldn't bring back. From then onwards, he has swore off using assistants in his magic. On the other end, Mel still couldn't forget the childhood loss of her brother and hopes that he would appear one day again after she had lost him to a swirling river during a storm. They might not know each other for a long time, but at least they share a connection and felt the regret and loss in each other.

During his debut performance in Las Vegas, a mishap happened and they flee to Amsterdam, hoping they would put all the unhappy past behind them and start their new life in a new place. It is only a matter of time that Toby begins to find his way back to magic, and by then Mel begins to wonder if their love is genuine, or is it just part of a magic conjured by Toby.

Haunting and spellbinding like magic, The Art of Disappearing is one of the most unforgettable fictions I read this year. I loved it that the premise has a surreal feel and that it makes you think of the choice(s) you will make in life. The Art of Disappearing may sound like a love story, but I think there is so much more to it - the two protagonists finding their way, coming to terms with their pasts and deciding on the path they want to go. Aside from the lovely premise, I also loved Ivy Pochoda's writing style and how she managed to bring this story and the characters to life through her words.

Speaking of characters, as much as I enjoyed reading them, I have to say I didn't really understand Mel's feelings towards Toby at some point. She may have fallen in love with Toby, but throughout the book she sometimes refers him as 'the magician', which made me think there is still some distance between them. I wasn't sure what her intention is, but I just felt it is strange of her to refer that of her husband. Nonetheless, this won't diminish my liking for this book.

Finally, after reading this book this thought just came to me: Would you like to change anything if you are given a chance to travel back to your past?

(My daughter pointed out to me that day that she saw an image of a rabbit on the cover. I have to confess I didn't take notice of it until she mentioned it. However the image shown online is much more obvious as compared to my print copy, and don't you have to agree that children always have the most imaginative mind?

The bottom cover is how it looks like when it was first released in September 2009.)

Short Story Peril: Me & Mr. Rafferty by Lee Child

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ISBN-13: 9781408807583
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Published: September 2010
Source: Personal Library


Me & Mr. Rafferty by Lee Child (The Dark End of the Street: New Stories of Sex and Crime)

When I saw the list of authors' names printed on this anthology, I just knew I have to get it. Well how could you possibly say no to big authors like Lee Child, Laura Lippman, Joyce Carol Oates and Francine Prose (just to name a few)? I know I couldn't, so there you go.

Me & Mr. Rafferty is actually the fourth story in this volume, and Lee Child is the main reason why I jumped into this story instead of starting from the first because I enjoyed reading Killing Floor, which is the first book of his Jack Reacher's series.

I have to say that Me & Mr. Rafferty is somewhat slow paced as compared to Killing Floor, and I don't meant it as a bad thing considering that the tone and the writing style is totally different. Killing Floor is intense, explosive and very action-oriented, whereas I find Me & Mr. Rafferty is more focused on the build up, as if Lee Child wanted us to take the time in exploring the narrator's thoughts and getting to understand him better. And in my opinion I think this approach is simply fantastic because you absolutely have no idea who the nameless narrator is except that he kills and his victims are often associated with prostitution. And he loves playing hide and seek games with a detective named Mr. Rafferty.

And I confess: It is about more than just equilibrium and partnership. It is about the contest. Me and Mr. Rafferty. Him against me. Who will win? (Pg 61)

As much as this is a mystery, what made this story such a delightful read is Lee Child's writing style and the satire behind it. In the end it was the overall reading experience that overrides the feelings of finding out who won eventually and to me, that is the real satisfying treat.

You're the One That I Don't Want by Alexandra Potter

ISBN-13: 9780340954133
Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks
Published: August 2010
400 pgs
Source: Personal Library

When 18-year-old British girl Lucy Hemmingway met American boy Nathaniel Kennedy when they were in Venice, Italy, it was as if they were being hit by Cupid's arrow. Perhaps they are young, or perhaps they got carried away by the romantic atmosphere that they kissed under the Bridge of Sighs at sunset with the church bells ringing. And according to the legend, any couple who did that will be tied to each other for eternity.

However ten years later, they had went on separate ways and Lucy is now working in an art gallery in New York since her paintings have gotten her to nowhere in London, despite that she still has a passion for them. Just when she thought she had forgotten about Nate, she stumbled upon him and she brushed off their encounter as merely a coincidence. But it seems more like fate when they start to bump into each other, again and again until Lucy began to wonder if the legend is indeed true.

Lucy decided to give their relationship another chance, since Nate is separated with his wife, Beth and perhaps she thinks he is indeed The One after all this time. But as the time goes by, Lucy did not think their relationship is as wonderful as they were back in Venice, and to complicate things, Lucy thinks she has fallen in love with another man called Adam. Perhaps it is cursed by the legend, but Lucy finds it is hard to not bump into Nate wherever she goes, and vice versa. It is certainly hard to explain when things simply turned out to be that way, no matter how much they hated it.

I have not read a romantic comedy for a while, so this is one reason why I find this book so enjoyable and refreshing besides the fact that I had read one of Alexandra Potter's earlier releases and loving it. Alexandra Potter has a way with the plots and that is not all, she also makes her characters seem likeable. You would have thought my favourite characters are Lucy and Nate don't you, after all they are the protagonists but I have to say it is actually Lucy's employer, Magda and Lucy's friend, Robyn who have made this story so much more interesting and entertaining. Their dialogues are witty most of the times and it is always interesting to hear their side of their stories, from topics such as the laws of attraction in the universe (that's Robyn talking) right down to matchmaking and making meatballs (and that's Magda). While I find Robyn's opinion of believing in stars and fate to be romantic, I think one shouldn't take those too seriously and to be more open and observant to the people surrounding you because your true love might be hidden out there.

All in all, I had fun reading this book! So who did Lucy end up with? I wish I can tell you the answer but as you already know, I won't so you will have to read it and find out yourself.

Note: The last time I checked on Alexandra Potter's website, this book will be out in August in the UK and a year later in the US.

Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James

ISBN-13: 9780425226742
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Published: March 2009
304 pgs
Source: Personal Library

I have to confess that the main reason I picked up this book was due to my addiction to a drama serial I watched lately, in which it featured a charismatic lawyer who had lost his memory due to a brain surgery and how fate has brought him and his ex-girlfriend back together again. Though this book has nothing to do with that show, the hero in this book was a lawyer too and on top of that, I have read a few rave reviews of it which are enough to pique my curiosity.

Anyway, Practice Makes Perfect was a fun and entertaining read. Packed with witty dialogues and with a theme surrounding the battle between the sexes, this story is about two talented and ambitious lawyers who managed to find love in each other despite their differences and through some ordeals they encountered.

What I enjoyed about reading this book is the clash between the protagonists; Payton Kendall is a feminist at heart while J.D. Jameson is a cocky hero who thinks he has it all. It is no wonder that they could not see eye to eye with each other; and the most interesting part is where they are to compete with each other for the role of partner at the firm but what they did not realise is that despite all the competitions their feelings for each other have already taken shape right from the beginning they have set eyes on each other. Though I liked the idea that they are more or less attracted towards each other earlier (never mind if there is any misunderstanding issue or whatsoever), I have to say it might make the story more intense and interesting if they are portrayed as a pair of bitter rivals and nothing more as I would like to know how they would resolve their differences and all.

My views aside, I have to admit I had great admiration in Payton because of the way she handles things well in a calm and professional manner, and not because of her role as a lawyer but more of how she could manage to turn things around during an awkward situation (readers who have read this book about the court scene would be able to get what I meant). As for J.D. Jameson, the feminist in me cheered when I learnt that he did show remorse after all the things he had done to Payton earlier, and vice versa. All in all, I enjoyed reading this book. It made me laugh and think that opposite attraction does work. After all, there are no rules when it comes to the laws of attraction, and I couldn't agree more with that.

Other reviews:
Angieville
Babbling About Books, and More
Books Lists Life
Dear Author
The Raving Readers
(Let me know if I missed yours.)

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

ISBN-13: 9780099288473
Publisher: Vintage Books
Published: October 1998
160 pgs
Source: Personal Library

I should tell my tale, not aloud, by the fireside, not as a diversion for idle listeners - it was too solemn, and too real, for that. But I should set it down on paper, with every care in in every detail. I would write my own ghost story. Then perhaps I should finally be free of it for whatever life remained for me to enjoy. (Pg 22)

The story begins when our narrator, Arthur Kipps was asked to share a ghost story by his stepchildren after the family has enjoyed their joyful festive meals on a Christmas Eve. Arthur indeed has a story, a true story, to tell but deep down in his heart he knew it is not a story to be told for casual entertainment. The horror he encountered so many years ago had already woven into his very fibres; the experience he had is an inextricable part of his past, and he decided he would write the story, a story for his eyes only. And so in the following chapters Arthur shares with his readers his true encounter with a woman dressed in black and with a pale, wasted face.

Arthur was a junior solicitor then, and he was summoned to attend the funeral of Mrs Alice Drablow, an elderly widow who lived all alone in the desolate and secluded Eel Marsh House. It was at the funeral that he first saw a mysterious woman dressed in black and her presence both intrigued and fascinated him.

The late Mrs Drablow's house is a mystery by itself, for it situated on Nine Lives Causeway and during high tide, it completely cuts off from the mainland, surrounding only by marshes and fog. During the trip to Crythin Gifford, Arthur noticed no one is willing to share information with him after they knew he was there to attend businesses for the late Mrs Drablow. And it further intrigued him when everyone is giving him a fearful look whenever he asked about a woman dressed in black.

However, Arthur is not a person who will give up whatsoever and in addition it would seem irresponsible of him to leave the work undone. For convenience and to speed up the work, he stayed in Eel Marsh House with only the companion of a terrier, loaned to him by a local named Mr Samuel Daily. Arthur knew him when they shared the same train to Crythin Gifford, and like the others Samuel is reluctant to discuss about the late Mrs Drablow or the woman dressed in black.

Over the few days during the stay in Eel Marsh House, Arthur begins to hear some unexplainable noises in a locked room. But the most terrifying of all is the sound of a pony and trap followed by the screams of a young child which he heard a few times on several occasions. Arthur soon learned about the mystery surrounding the late Mrs Drablow and Eel Marsh House after a near fatal incident, as well as the woman in black known as Jennet Humfrye.

I am afraid there is all I could say about the woman in black, but I can tell you how much I loved the overall atmosphere and setting of this story. It is so atmospheric, not to mention the plot is thick with suspense as you watch the story slowly unfold in front of you through Arthur's eyes. The Woman in Black might appear a little cliché to some, but I think it is a great old-fashioned ghost story. Vengeance, besides the horror, is the other element which surrounds the story and this is where it leads the ending to a higher climax.

I think Arthur's narration works well in this story; and personally I enjoy reading books from a first person POV because usually the emotions you feel from the characters is the strongest, which is a totally different reading experience from a third person perspective. Because I enjoyed this book so much, I bought The Man in the Picture (by the same author) which I hope would be another good read. Have you read any of these books?

Other reviews:
A Life in Books
A Striped Armchair
Books I Done Read
Savidge Reads
So Many Books
(I am sure there are a lot others. Do let me know if I missed yours.)

Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti

ISBN-13: 9780670011308
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Published: May 2009
336 pgs

Hello, my dear friends! I manage to sneak in some time here, so my apologies if I could not visit or comment on your blog sooner (I promise I will try to play catch up if possible)! My reason for this post is I finished reading this book on Monday and I want to review it before my opinion all fades away as the time passes (yes, I can be quite forgetful at times).

Fifteen-year-old Marisa lives in a small town in Connecticut with her parents; other than having anxiety disorder her life is pretty simple and peaceful. She often tells herself she is fortunate to have a happy and a secure family, and a best friend whom she could share all her problems and secrets with, and be there for her whenever she needs her.

She has a crush on a guy named Derek for a while, but just never muster up the courage to approach him. And then, there is another boy Nash whom she knew for a long time likes her, but it is just a one-sided attraction, for Marisa thinks he is not her cup of tea since he is geeky and not as sociable, unlike Derek who is so great looking and popular.

Then, things start to change in Marisa's life in some ways when Derek begins to notice her after his break up with his girlfriend, and it is at this time that she started to notice there is a distance between her parents. Though she is thrilled that she and Derek became an item finally, there are times she felt lonely without her best friend and Nash, now that they have someone in their mind. She did not want to share her problems with Derek, thinking that no one would want someone with issues and she wants to be portrayed as the perfect girl for him anyway. But after a while, Derek's attention begins to waver as he became friends with his ex-girlfriend again, and to heighten the anxiety Marisa's parents are thinking of having a divorce and Marisa has never felt so lonely and helpless in her life. All this while, she has been seeking solace in listening to an anonymous DJ who seems to understand the problems of most of the students face in school and like others, Marisa is curious about him but he never reveals his identity.

Though awkward in the beginning, Marisa starts to hang out more with Nash. Slowly, she began to see him in a new light but would he be on a par with Derek, and that of course has to leave it to Marisa to think about and decide.

Waiting for You is a great story about friendship, connection and love that I am sure will appeal to many YA readers. While reading this book, I really sympathize with Marisa and there are times I wished she could stop fussing so much over Derek because apparently she is being over cautious of her relationship with him that she is not being herself, which made me think he might not be the right guy for her after all it is unhealthy being that way. Nevertheless, I still cheered for her and hope she would be able to see things more clearly and made the right decision eventually. Another plus point about this story is that the characters and the difficulties Marisa faces (e.g. her parents' situation, the ups and downs with her best friend, Sterling) are realistic; overall I would recommend this to any readers who enjoy the YA genre.

Other reviews:
Em's Bookshelf
Pop Culture Junkie
S. Krishna's Books
(Let me know if I missed yours.)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling

ISBN: 0747532745
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Published: June 1997
223 pgs

Synopsis (from B&N)
Orphaned as a baby, Harry Potter has spent 11 awful years living with his mean aunt, uncle, and cousin Dudley. But everything changes for Harry when an owl delivers a mysterious letter inviting him to attend a school for wizards. At this special school, Harry finds friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, as well as a great destiny that's been waiting for him...if Harry can survive the encounter. From an author who has been compared to C. S. Lewis and Roald Dahl, this enchanting, funny debut novel won England's National Book Award and the prestigious Smarties Prize.

I am sure most of you must have read the Harry Potter series or watched the movies so I am taking a different approach when writing the reviews for the Harry Potter Reading Challenge. I would do a self-interview for each book I read in this series and I hope you will enjoy reading them.

Q: What made you pick up this series in the first place?
A: Honestly, I am not aware of this wonderful series until they hit the big screen. I have to admit I did not read a lot of young adult books back then but I am very happy to pick up this series no matter how late I am. Actually, I had read the first three installments last year but just did not get around to writing the reviews. I am glad this reading challenge comes along so it is a great opportunity for me to catch up on this series!

Q: Which is your favourite and least favourite scene? Why?
A: I have more than one favourite scene! Reading this book is like an adventure to me so how could I possibly just name a scene and neglect the others? However, I have to say Harry's journey to the Hogwarts is an interesting read and I loved the part how he got acquainted with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The scene where Ron has to play the chess so that Harry and Hermione could reach the room safely touched me greatly and this says a lot about their friendship and their loyalty to one another.

As for the least favourite scene, shall I say any scene about the Dursley family bullying Harry annoyed me a lot? They are an irritating lot and that is all I have to say about them.

Q: Name a trait which you think we all should learn from any of the characters in this book.
A: Ron for his self-sacrificing spirit, and the courage the three friends portray during their quests.

Q: Your overall thoughts on this book?
A: I enjoy reading about the magical realism and the wizarding world which J. K. Rowling has created in this wonderful first installment. I liked the premise but what made this a great read is the set of engaging characters on top of the exciting adventure. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, here I come!

*****

Note: I am in the middle of reading the second installment and will be asking the same questions for the rest of this series (except the first) so if you have any questions to ask me on the second book, please post them in the comment box here. Thank you in advance!

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer (And a Giveaway!)

ISBN-13: 9781402218941
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc
Published: July 2009
372 pgs




I have not read anything by Georgette Heyer so when Danielle from Sourcebooks contacted me and asked if I want to review The Grand Sophy, I jumped at the offer!

After reading this book, I am happy to declare that I fell in love with Heyer's writing and I think the plot and the characters are very engaging! I liked Sophy Stanton-Lacey and I think she is simply one extraordinary heroine. She is bold, headstrong and a very intelligent young woman and she refused to let anyone bully or get into her way if she doesn't want to. Considering the generation and society at that time, I think what her attitude and some of the tings she did would be most likely to be frowned upon but that does not stop Sophy from doing the things she wanted to do. Simply put, I admired her.

The Grand Sophy begins with Sophy's arrival in the Rivenhall's residence when her father, Sir Horace, is to leave for Brazil and her aunt, Lady Ombersley has agreed to take her into the family temporarily until her father is back.

Sophy caused an uproar when she arrived at the Rivenhall's residence with a magnificent equipage and although the members are flabbergasted by her outrageous behaviour, they quickly warmed up to her and they are quite impressed by her sharp wit and intelligence. However, Charles Rivenhall, the eldest son in the family is not pleased with her at all and thinks she should behave like a real lady. Conflicts arise and sparks fly between them; and he is most certainly not pleased that one of his sisters, Cecilia who always seem to seek for her advice concerning her betrothed whom he deemed favourable but it seems Cecilia already has a gentleman in mind and he is none other than poet Augustus Fawnhope.

It seems this is not the only issue that infuriates Charles. Sophy also goes to extra length in saving his brother from an infamous moneylender when he loses his games and is in debt. Despite she managed to settle things without getting anyone hurt, Charles thinks what she did is improper and he is most certainly shocked that she own a gun and could handle it as well as him! But most of all, what bother him is the way she deals with things in general and her determination in rearranging the lives of anyone she encounters (in particularly the Rivenhall's members), never mind if her intentions are all good.

Seriously, I had great fun reading the exchanges between Charles and Sophy because most of their dialogues had me chuckling, and not to mention it made me wonder when or what it would take to make them see each other in a less prejudice manner. I really liked Sophy; I was in awe of her direct approach when dealing in certain situations and not at all wishy-washy.

I really enjoyed reading The Grand Sophy, and I can totally understand why this book is classified as one of Heyer's most beloved regencies. This is my first Heyer's book but definitely not the last!

Many thanks to Danielle for sending this book to me for review!

~*~*~*~*~

GIVEAWAY!

As The Grand Sophy hits stores officially in July and August is Heyer’s birthday month, Sourcebooks is very generous to offer two copies to my two lucky readers here!

Rules:

• This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only, courtesy of Danielle from Sourcebooks.
• Leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you and forward your address to Sourcebooks if you win.
• I will draw the two winners on 31 July (Friday). Good luck!

Persuasion by Jane Austen

ISBN-13: 9780486295558
Publisher: Dover Publications
Published: April 1997
224 pgs

Persuasion is the third Austen's book I read, after Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey and I wish I had read all her completed works earlier because they are such a delightful read.

In Persuasion, our heroine is a twenty-seven year old Anne Elliot and I have to say she is the sweetest heroine I have read among Austen's heroines I had read so far. Oh, she is equally charming as compared to the other heroines, but unlike the others I feel she is too good as compared to the others. She is always putting other people's needs before her, which I feel is a great quality but not when it concerns her happiness. You see, she has a fancy with Frederick Wentworth, a naval officer eight years before the story begins, but regrettably she has to break off the relationship because her father and Lady Russell, a family friend think he is not worthy of her at that time.

Though saddened by the breakup, Anne moved on with her life although the thought of Frederick strikes her mind once in a while. Later, when Frederick returns being a rich and successful captain, they crosses path once again but this time, Anne's family is having financial problems and she has to seek tenancy in Kellynch Hall.

There is nothing more I want to say about this book as this story, after all it is a romance story between Anne and Frederick and Austen always end her stories with a happy ending. You will have to read it yourself to find out how Anne get reunited with Frederick again, for I do not want to spoil it for you. However, I can say Anne is a likeable character. She may not be as opinionated as Elizabeth Bennet in P&P, but she has her own strengths and I respect her for it. I liked how she treats things positively, and she is always helping her family members even though their attitude towards her sometimes put me off. Others characters such as Sir Walter Elliot (Anne's father) and Lady Russell are equally engaging too.

All in all, Persuasion is an enjoyable read. I adore Austen's writing style; her books are filled with humour and intelligence. In fact, I would say this is my other favourite Austen's book besides P&P.

Have you read all the books by Jane Austen? Which one is your favourite?


Other reviews:

Becky's Book Reviews

Musings of a Bookish Kitty

(Please let me know if I have missed yours.)

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

ISBN-13: 9780345505330
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publshed: January 2009
290 pgs

When Henry Lee sees a crowd gathered outside the Panama Hotel, this brought him memories about his past and the war years. Besides the memories, what most intrigued him about the Panama Hotel is after it had been closed for decades, now it has a new owner and that the belongings left by some Japanese families during the WWII are discovered.

Henry Lee felt his heart race upon this discovery, and this is where the story begins as the chapters alternate between the present and the past.

Moving backwards and back during the '40s, young Henry comes from a traditional Chinese family. His father is very much obsessed with the war in China, and he wants the best for Henry by getting him into Rainier Elementary but Henry is not happy because he feels he does not belong anywhere (the white kids ignore him and the Chinese thinks he is more American than Chinese anyway). But none of this really matters after he met Sheldon, a black musician and an American Japanese girl named Keiko Okabe. Henry feels they are the one who really understand his feelings and it is not surprising that their friendship blossoms quickly. And it does not take long for Henry to fall in love with Keiko. Nevertheless, their happiness is a short-lived one as they have to face the cruelty of war and the Okabes, like any other Japanese families, are being forced to leave home and stay into internment camps out of security. Other than this, Henry's father is also not too happy about their relationship as he somewhat felt betrayed having his son to befriend a Japanese, even though Keiko is an American citizen.

Nonetheless, Henry feels he is old enough to make his own decisions (he is thirteen then) and with Keiko and her family being swept into internment camps, he could only communicate with her via mails and hope that the war will end sooner so they could see each other again. Unfortunately, fate and time have a way in creating a distance and that is where Henry lost contact with Keiko until the discovery of the belongings in the Panama Hotel has once again caused a ripple in Henry's heart after these years.

Now a widower and with the assistance from his son, Marty and his future daughter-in-law, Henry search the hotel basement hoping he could find something belonging to the Okabes and a long lost item he and Keiko used to share, while never giving up hope about meeting her again.

I cannot stress enough how much I enjoyed reading this book. There are so many things about this story: love, friendship, family and war... that left a deep impression on me. The exchanges between father and son (Henry's father and Henry, and as well as Henry and Marty) also tell the readers about the gap between them and how time has changed everything.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is one great reading experience and I am very glad I bought it after its release even though I rarely buy a hardcover (due to its bulkiness and inconvenience to carry around). And when Tracee from Pump Up Your Book Promotion asked me if I want to review this book, I said yes and thinking what good timing it is.

I want to thank Jamie Ford for the wonderful book, and also thanks to Tracee for the opportunity to be part of the blog tour.

Other reviews:
A Comfy Chair and a Good Book
Bookgirl's Nightstand
Bookworm’s Dinner
Devourer of Books
Educating Petunia
Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?
Lesley’s Book Nook
Medieval Boomworm
Musings of a Bookish Kitty
Stephanie's Written Word
Stone SouP
The Biblio Brat
The Book Lady’s Blog
Trish's Reading Nook
(Let me know if I have missed yours.)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

ISBN: 9780140621679
Publisher: Penguin Group (Penguin Popular Classics)
Published: 1995
154 pgs




I chose this book as a kick off for the Classics Challenge hosted by the lovely Trish.

Dorothy is our heroine in this story, and I have to say she is one determined young lady who would not allow anything to defeat her and she would grit her teeth and face any challenges that are thrown towards her way.

It all begins when a cyclone blew her house away but unfortunately Dorothy had no time to hide the way her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry did. The strong wind carried the house away before it finally landed onto none other than the Wicked Witch of the East. The people at the land of the Munchkins are very grateful to Dorothy for getting rid of the witch but Dorothy is more interested of finding a way home in Kansas! When she understand from the Munchkins that the Great Wizard of Oz might have a solution to finding her way home, she set her journey to The City of Emeralds where he lives, despite the journey is long and she might encounter something dark and terrible along the way. She wore the silver shoes left by the wicked witch, for the Munchkins believed there is some charm connected with them.

Along the way, she gets to meet the Scarecrow who wishes for a brain, a Tin Woodman who wishes for a heart, and finally a cowardly lion who wishes for courage. Each of them has a story to tell and they have became good friends quickly. Together with her three newfound companions, Dorothy will follow the Yellow Brick Road towards the City of Emeralds but they will soon encounter several challenges that will exercise each of their special quality and have their dreams fulfilled in a few unexpected ways but one would think the experiences they have been through are worthwhile and so meaningful.

Reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz had made me feel like a young girl all over again. Although I have yet to watch the movie, but I have vague memories of the animations I had seen when I was a child. I remember I was really in awe of Dorothy, and I had a special fondness for her three non-human companions as well; each has his special skills and talents but it took some experiences before they gained their confidence and be their true self again.

I am simply amazed by the story premise and felt every plot is so cleverly planned and are interconnected. I love reading stories that have lessons learnt along the way, yet not in a preaching manner. This book is one of them, and another best thing is it brought me fond memories of my childhood days. It is no wonder this story is a favourite classics of all time.

Favourite quotes:

Experience is the only thing that brings knowledge, and the longer you are on earth the more experience you are sure to get.

There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. True courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty.

(Let me know if you have a review of this and I will add your link onto mine.)

Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon

ISBN-13: 9780307407993
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Published: March 2009
288pp

I am sure everyone have read or heard the story about Cinderella for the umpteenth times, but have you ever wondered about the fairy godmother and what she thinks or feels about her responsibility to Cinderella?

In Godmother, that fairy godmother is named Lil. But instead of getting Cinderella to the ball to unite with the Prince, she did something unthinkable and unforgivable: she began to feel the emotions of human beings and allow herself to be fallen in love with the Prince! For this deed, she is to leave her fairy sisters and friends, banished from her magical underwater world and have to live her life among humans (though her white feathery wings are still existing and are tucked and bound behind her back).

Fast forward to the modern day in Manhattan, Lil is an old woman and now her life revolves around a bookstore which she is working at. She has not many friends except George, who is the bookstore owner. Then one day, she meets Veronica, a cheerful and bubbly young lady when she stepped into the bookstore and handed her some books to sell. Lil felt connected to her, and she was sure Veronica must have sent to her for a purpose. Feeling exhilarated over the aspect of another chance for redemption, she decided to matchmake Veronica and George. But will Veronica and George fall in love with each other? After all, Veronica claimed she has been burned by love so many times so would she dare to take the chance, again?

I have to admit I am a sucker for any fairy tale retellings, which is why I have to read this book as soon as I bought it last week. I have always enjoyed reading Cinderella's story, right when I was a young girl and now my daughter seemed to have follow my steps too. Anyway, Godmother is a refreshing tale told from the fairy godmother's POV. Though there is a magical feel in this story, there is nothing fluffy about it as there are some dark elements (such as abusive punishment and suicide) so it might not seem appropriate for young children.

I love reading all the characters in this story, and I felt a terrible ache for Lil and Veronica as well. Another thing I liked is how the story alternates between the past and the present so the readers would get a glimpse of Lil's inner world and what had actually happened between then and now.

I have just checked Carolyn Turgeon's website and understand she is currently writing her third novel, which is a retelling of the mermaid story. You can bet I am going to get that book too once it is released in the near future!

Other reviews:

Booking Mama
Stephanie's Written Word
(Let me know if I have missed yours.)