"Oooh..." and Look At This!

So my daughters are into Toy Story lately. No, scratch that… they love watching the animations and in fact, my eldest daughter has even pointed out a few characters for us: my husband and I are Mr & Mrs Potato Head (because they are the only couple aside from Barbie and Ken, and she knew we are too old for that, ha!), my youngest one the space alien (the reason given was, she too makes that little ‘Oooh’ sound occasionally), and as for herself she wants to be Jessie just because she thinks she is cool. My husband and I always have a good laugh whenever we watch the DVDs, especially when the three space aliens begin to make that ‘Oooh’ sound, or even on scenes where Mr Potato Head being get squashed or bullied and our two-year-old would squeal with delight and yelled, “Daddy!”.



Anyways, that enthusiasm set our goal for searching the three space aliens toys because all of us think they are the most adorable and yes, the hardest to find in stores. Can you imagine our thrill when we found these three little guys in a box at a shopping mall last Friday and I just grabbed the box without first looking at the price. When that excitement died down a little, I then took a peek at the price tag and was happy to note that it was on sale (costs S$65 and it makes me wonder what the original price was) so of course we bought it. And thereafter, I saw another box that piqued my interest and grabbed that box too (see picture below - a pop up tent that can accommodate two kids, or one adult if you are the petite size).





And finally, not wanting to end this post without a book-related issue, I thought I’d share with you some of the books I bought along the trip:



Sweep Vol I and III by Cate Tiernan (couldn’t find Vol II as it was out of stock)

The Redeemer by Jo Nesbo

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer (Nightshade Series #2)



I also picked up the latest copy of Entertainment Weekly after seeing Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson on the cover and I wonder what is in store with the first part of Breaking Dawn, which is to be released in November.



So there you go on my shopping trip last Friday. Hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead!

Books On My Radar

Well my reading progress may be slow as of late but in a way this is better as compared to reading slump if you ask me. Anyway, I am always thrilled to receive emails from the publishers/publicists on their upcoming books and I thought I’d share with you on the books which have sparked my interest.



The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman – This is the fourth book by Alyson Richman and it is about the reunion of a couple who haven’t seen each other for sixty years for they thought their other half had died in the Holocaust. The author weaves an epic love story that brings her readers to the glamorous pre-war Prague to the horrific Nazi Occupation and I am very curious to know where this story will lead.







So Near by Liza Gyllenhaal – This is a poignant novel about a young couple’s road back from tragedy after their two-year-old daughter was killed in a car accident when the car seat came loose. Cal, the husband, decided to pursue a lawsuit against the car seat manufacturer but his wife, Jenny, has other reasons and this is where complications set in. Their relationship becomes more complicated when a new acquaintance enters their life as they are not sure if his guidance is meant to pull them together or pushes them further apart.



Dry Ice by Bill Evans and Marianna Jameson – This is an intense thriller set in the frozen heart of Antarctica where a secret weather research station is built to ‘create’ the weather to the likes of an agribusiness. But a deal and a replacement set the designer with a vengeful plan into sending fatal weather across the globe targeting the agricultural zones and the protagonists have to crack his code before all are destroyed by the so-called ‘natural’ calamities.





So what books are on your radar? Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

This and That

Hello, everyone! Do you miss me? I sure miss you guys, considering that my blog has been so quiet lately and I apologise for that. In case you are wondering, I am still up and reading. For my friends who follow me on Facebook, you must have known that I have been spending too much of my reading time on playing Gardens of Time and Puzzled Hearts and let me tell you that these games are addictive, especially the former! But... do I ever regret of playing it in the first place? Absolutely not. Aside from taking up part of my time, I have to say not only I have fun playing them but I have also made a few friends along the way. To make things better, I just discovered that one of them (Hello, Melinda!) is a reader too and the other day she asked about a book, The Help by Kathryn Stockett and we ended up having a little chat via the comments.

Despite the fact that I have been spending some time on Facebook games, that does not mean that I will be giving up on reading entirely. Absolutely not! For starters, I love reading too much to give it up completely. My reading progress may be slow lately, but let me assure you that I am reading and my reviews will be up once I have finished reading the books, as always!

Anyways, I am currently reading Forever by Maggie Stiefvater and for those of you who follow this series, you would know that this is the final instalment of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series and I can't wait to find out what happened with Sam and Grace, as well as Cole and Isabel, both whom I think have enough chemistry to sizzle the pages also! After this, I have no idea what to read next as I have too many choices in mind - should I read the review copies sent by the wonderful publicists, or should I indulge in those books which have been on my reading list like, forever? Also, I have heard so many good things about The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy, and Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole series starting with The Redbreast. What do you think? Any ideas? And to all Jo Nesbo's fans out there, do you know that there will be a film titled Headhunters based on his novel? (Watch the trailer.)

Onto a non-reading issue, I tried preparing a vegan chicken teriyaki steak yesterday afternoon and I am sad to say my attempt was a half success. The preparation took up some time though, since I need to boil the soybeans thoroughly to make them soft so that I could mash them. Frying them wasn't a problem, but I have to say it is surely a challenge to me to get the sauce right. In the end, I find the sauce to be a bit sweet to our taste, but overall it was a great experience and I have my husband to thank for for helping me with the soybeans mashing and listening to all my rants. We both agreed that if we want to make this dish the next time again, we'd better get a mincer quickly, LOL. (If you are interested in preparing this dish, you may wish to check it out on this link.)

Before I end this post, I am glad to note that BBAW (Book Blogger Appreciation Week) is here again! You can be sure that I will be participating and that I have a few bookbloggers I have in mind for the nominations!

Well I hope you all have a great week!

Monday Thoughts

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend and a wonderful Father's Day celebration yesterday! I enjoyed mine; we made plans to have lunch at a vegetarian restaurant. I had mushroom soup and baked potato curry rice. It was scrumptious! We also ordered two medium pizzas but because we were too full, we had to ask the staff to pack it as a takeaway. We then proceeded to shop at a nearby shopping mall, in which I bought some clothings for myself and for my daughters as well. We had dinner at a Korean restaurant and I was glad that they had a few dishes catered to vegetarians. Their hotpot kimchi soup tasted heavenly; and my husband teasingly asked me if I would consider visiting Korea for our next vacation!

Onto a bookish note, you may think that I am having a reading slump considering I haven't been updating my blog with book reviews but trust me I have been reading; it is just that my reading progress is slow (and not to mention the fact that I have been playing 'Gardens of Time' on Facebook during some of my spare time and let me tell you, that game is simply addictive!).

I was also thrilled to receive an email from Ms Chan Takyin (陈德贤), a Hong Kong author who asked me if I would review a few of her chinese books. I haven't read her books but after reading the blurbs I said yes to reviewing 愛在三度空间 and 在晴朗的日子分手 (self translation: Love at Three Dimensional Space and Breaking Up on a Sunny Day.)

Reading wise, I am almost done with Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok so the review will be forthcoming. I also contacted Jean Kwok through the publicist and she has agreed to write a guest post for my blog so stay tuned for it!

I hope everyone has a lovely week and happy reading!

Books: Attention!

Well there won't be a Teaser Tuesdays post today since I'm still reading Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok. It is an engaging read and I'm enjoying every moment of it; I just wish there is more time for my reading so I could finish this book soon and move on with other books in my pile. There are simply too many books and so little time!

That said, I'd like to share with you some of the few books that caught my attention lately. I had ordered two of them online and also responded to the publicists' emails for the other two books which I hope to receive them soon.

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Brother/Sister by Sean Olin
ISBN-13: 9781595143860
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Published: June 2011

Synopsis (B&N):
Will and Asheley have a troubled past. Their father left them when they were little, and their mother has just been carted off to an alcohol treatment center. Now, they have the house to themselves, and an endless California summer stretching out before them. Through alternating perspectives, they tell the story of how and why their lives spun violently out of control - right up to the impossibly shocking conclusion you'll have to read for yourself to believe.

Asylum by Patrick McGrath
ISBN-13: 9780679781387
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: March 1998

Synopsis (B&N):

From our most celebrated writer of the psychological thriller comes this nerve-wracking yet eerily beautiful work of erotic obsession and madness.

In the summer of 1959 Stella Raphael joins her psychiatrist husband, Max, at his new posting--a maximum-security hospital for the criminally insane. Beautiful and headstrong, Stella soon falls under the spell of Edgar Stark, a brilliant and magnetic sculptor who has been confined to the hospital for murdering his wife in a psychotic rage.

But Stella's knowledge of Edgar's crime is no hindrance to the volcanic attraction that ensues--a passion that will consume Stella's sanity and destroy her and the lives of those around her.

Her Sister's Shadow by Katharine Britton
ISBN-13: 9780425241745
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Published: June 2011

Synopsis (B&N):
An emotionally powerful debut about two sisters who reconnect after nearly forty years of estrangement.

Renowned painter Lilli Niles is at home in her North London flat when she receives an unexpected call from her elder sister, Bea, who's at the family homestead in Whitehead, Massachusetts. Bea's husband has just died, and she'd like Lilli to fly home to attend the funeral. There are reasons Lilli moved all the way to England to escape her older sister, reasons that have kept them estranged for decades. But something in Bea's voice makes Lilli think it's time to return to the stately house in New England she loved as a child, to the memory of the beloved younger sister they both lost. With Bea more fragile than Lilli remembered, maybe she can finally forgive Bea for a long-ago betrayal that has simmered between them for nearly forty years.

Everything Beautiful Began After by Simon Van Booy
ISBN-13: 9780061661488
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: July 2011

Synopsis (B&N):
Rebecca is young, lost, and beautiful. A gifted artist, she seeks solace and inspiration in the Mediterranean heat of Athens—trying to understand who she is and how she can love without fear.

George has come to Athens to learn ancient languages after growing up in New England boarding schools and Ivy League colleges. He has no close relationships with anyone and spends his days hunched over books or wandering the city in a drunken stupor.

Henry is in Athens to dig. An accomplished young archaeologist, he devotedly uncovers the city’s past as a way to escape his own, which holds a secret that not even his doting parents can talk about.

And then, with a series of chance meetings, Rebecca, George, and Henry are suddenly in flight, their lives brighter and clearer than ever, as they fall headlong into a summer that will forever define them in the decades to come.

Mailbox Monday and . . . More Books!

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This month's Mailbox Monday is hosted by Mari Reads.

I know my post is up early (it's Sunday afternoon here as of writing this) but here's what I received last week (purchased from The Book Depository):

1) What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

2) Wild (aka Illusions) by Aprilynn Pike

What books came into your house last week?

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The annual Great Singapore Sale is here again and this year it runs from 27 May to 24 July; and this is where most shopping malls from all locations come together to offer consumers their best promotions and discounts. However, this not only applies to Singaporeans but also the tourists around the world get to enjoy the special privileges as well simply by flashing their passports to the respective shopping malls service counter or the Singapore Visitors Centre.

Anyway, I bought two pairs of shoes and a black sleeveless blouse during the spree yesterday. Of course my spree wouldn't go complete without books so here's what I bought:

1) The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler

2) What Comes After by Steve Watkins

So did you buy any books lately? Do share if you do! Well I hope everyone has a great week ahead!

A Book Geek's Dream

It has become more and more obvious to me, in part thanks to a thought-provoking series of posts from The Reading Ape, that there is a very clear culture of reading among serious readers, and a strong subculture specific to book bloggers.  We have our own jargon, common practices, etiquette...all of it built on a foundation of love for books and storytelling.  So it comes as no surprise to me that I had to find the book blogger community to find Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series.  Fforde's books are a treasure trove of literary references and inside jokes any serious reader, especially of classic literature, should feel right at home in what is a decidedly strange world.

I just finished The Eyre Affair.  It is the novel that introduced Thursday Next, a SpecOps agent on the LiteraTec squad-that is, the group that is responsible for protecting the great books from harm.  While this includes rather ordinary things like verifying manuscripts for authenticity, it also includes some decidedly unusual things-like traveling into the book in pursuit of an evil villain out to destroy the great works of literature.  The Eyre Affair is a rather strange combination of literary discussion and science fiction, all rolled up into a thriller format.

I will admit that the structure of the novel didn't always sit well with me, and I'll have to read more to see if the rules that govern his particular universe stay consistent.  There are a lot of moving parts in this novel-Thursday herself and her past, a time-traveling father, a giant corporation (named Goliath-not the most subtle name I'll admit) that secretly runs things behind the scene, and a bullet-proof super-villain who can't be seen on camera and can apparently change the molecular structure of glass.  Intrigued yet?

What I loved about this novel is the creation of a world where literature is so important to everyone that an entire arm of the government is dedicated to it.  In Fforde's world, the Marlovians and Oxfordians feel so strongly about their positions they go door to door like Jehovah's Witnesses trying to get converts, as though Shakespearean authorship study is a religion (frankly, there's just as much evidence for some of the authorship theories as their is for some religious beliefs, namely not much)  Some literary movements actually took up arms to fight for their literary theory, though that does seem like taking it a bit too far.  Imagine a world where people cared that much about reading and books.  That's not to say I thought this book was without its problems-the characters were not that well developed, and the action jumped around a bit.  But as fun, escapist reading for readers, this book was a winner.

Books Acquisition

So I went book shopping yesterday and it was great to see the staff at the bookstore which I used to frequent before our office relocation. Knowing my reading taste of the books I read, one of them recommended You Against Me by Jenny Downham to me. At first glance, the title caught my attention but it was the one sentence at the back of the book that really piqued my curiosity: "You want this to be a love story?"

There is no elaboration of what this story is behind the back of the book so of course I have to find out more.

Synopsis (from B&N)

If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge.
If your brother's accused of a terrible crime but says he didn't do it, you defend him.

When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her, his world begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the offense, her world begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide.

This is a brave and unflinching novel from the bestselling author of Before I Die. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all, it's a book about love.

What do you think? It sounds good, right? Since I couldn't wait, I decided to read this book right now instead of waiting and I hope it would be as good as what it stated from the synopsis.

Another book I bought is Delirium by Lauren Oliver and I don't think I would need to say more about this book since I have read so many rave reviews around the blogosphere. Because of your wonderful reviews, I have to pick this up even though I have yet to read her previous novel, Before I Fall, another book that has received lots of rave reviews. I don't think I need to post the synopsis since I am sure many of you would've know what this story is all about by now.

I also bought three Chinese manga in which I finished reading two of them yesterday in one sitting. One of them is a stand alone while the others are part of a series. I felt like cheating marking the two manga I read for my February read list as they are not novels but hey, they are books right?

Hope you have a great Friday and happy reading!

Seriously?

 Classic?!?








Just found Michel Crichton in the "classics" section on Goodreads.  Really, Goodreads?  Even if I were guessing which authors from the late 20th century would eventually be classics, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have chosen Michael Crichton.  Don't get me wrong, I love his books, and the hot docs on ER got me through many a lonely night, but in the classics section?  Next to Picture of Dorian Gray, Heart of Darkness, and To Kill a Mockingbird?  I don't think so!  Forgive my bluntness, but it takes more than for the author to be deceased to make their works classic.  If I wasn't addicted to your bookswap, we'd be on a break!  Damn you, almost-free books!

My New Bookshelves!

I have always wanted to buy some bookshelves for awhile; after all my TBR piles are piling high up in our storeroom, and a few of my books are stacked in my living room's TV console and coffee table as well. These may be a pleasing view for all booklovers, but I do wonder what other visitors might think should they step into our house and see books lying about almost anywhere.

Anyway, my husband and I had finally decided on buying from a furniture store which is within the neighbourhood. We bought our first bookshelf from them so we know the quality and the workmanship. Plus, the store owner is friendly and she did not charge us for the delivery fees.

So here is a picture of my bookshelves. I bought two shelves; one with two columns, and another with three since that's the most our study room's space could allow. This time around I bought the bookshelves without the doors as I think it is easier to clean and maintain, and most of all it resembles library shelves. I spent the whole Saturday afternoon cleaning the shelves and arranging my books onto them. I have never felt so happy doing chores, ha!

I apologise for the poor picture quality though since I took them from my mobile phone (I was too excited and I think downloading pictures from camera take up some time).

Tada! Most of the shelves are already filled up, and I have fully maximised the space by filling two stacks of books front and back in one cubbyhole. The first column on the left (from top to bottom that is) is where I put all the YA novels (the last cubbyhole isn't filled as I have more YA novels which I need to sort out from our storeroom), fiction are on the second (again I need to go through my TBR piles), and the third is thrillers, mysteries and romance. The fourth row is where my Chinese novels and manga are, and finally I left the last column for my daughter's school textbooks and some studying materials from my husband during his Master's Degree days. Those thick files which you see piled up on top of the shelves are his too. I can't wait to see all the shelves are nicely filled up!

So this is how I spent my weekend. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend too!

Top Ten Tuesday: My Bookish Resolutions

Thanks to the lovely bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish for hosting this weekly event.  This week's topic is Bookish Resolutions.

I am not really a resolution person.  Let's just say that the few times I have made a resolution in January I was back to my pre-New Year's state by February.  Besides, as a teacher it feels like my "new year" is in August, when I go back to school.   But, there are a few things with regard to reading and blogging that I want to do in 2011, so I'll give it the old college try.

1.  Stop requesting so many books on Goodreads: Since discovering Bookswap in May, I've gotten about 60 books.  For a cost of about $4.00 each that sounds like a good thing, right?  Problem is, I already have enough books in my reading room to last me three to four YEARS without buying or borrowing another book.  Seriously, the rush of getting books in my mailbox for so cheap is just too good to pass up.

2.  Read more quality middle-grade and young adult books:  I am almost done with a masters degree in reading, and if I am going to work as a reading specialist as I hope, I need to stay current with what is out there for kids in all age ranges, not just the primary and intermediate grades I teach now.  Besides, my children's and YA blog Second Childhood Reviews is feeling neglected.

3.  Read all of the longer books on my shelf:  Last year I did the 100+ book challenge (here is my post about it), and as a result I avoided some of the longer books on my shelves.  I've already made headway on this goal.  I just finished Stephen King's Under the Dome this weekend, in all of its 1074 page glory.

4.  Get around to some authors I'm ashamed I've never read:  OK, I admit it, I have never read a Jonathan Franzen book, or Phillip Roth, or Dave Eggers, or Ian McEwan, or Salmon Rushdie, or Thomas Pynchon.  Shame, shame on me...I have books from at least three of these authors on my shelves waiting for me to get with the program.  The fact that all of these authors are men are not lost on me so...

5. Read more fiction by men who are not mystery or horror writers:  I'll admit a certain prejudice in my book buying and reading for female authors.  I mean, I read good female authors, like Atwood and Kingsolver and Allende, but nonetheless I should probably get some perspective from the other half of the population.

6.  Blog more about general literary topics:  In reading the many book blogs that I've found, I've come to realize that the ones I enjoy the most are the ones that do more than just review books.  They are the ones that take on interesting literary topics, and talk about reading in general.  I'll have to fit in more time for blogging, but that is doable.  My TV and XBox probably don't need quite so much of my attention.

February Releases That Caught My Attention

Here are two February releases which have caught my attention and I thought I'd share them with you here.

Dreaming in English by Laura Fitzgerald
ISBN-13: 9780451232144

Synopsis
A captivating sequel to the national bestselling novel Veil of Roses.

Knowing she could never be happy in Iran, Tamila Soroush took her mother's advice to "Go and wake up your luck" and joined her sister in the United States. Now, after a spur-of-the-moment exchange of "I do"s with her true love, Ike Hanson, Tami is eager to start her new life.

But not everyone is pleased with their marriage, and Tami's happily- ever-after is no sure thing. With an interview with Immigration looming, Tami wonders if she's got the right stuff when it comes to love, American-style. Maybe her luck is running out. Or maybe she'll stand up for herself and claim her American dream.


Haunting Jasmine by Anjali Banerjee
ISBN-13: 9780425238714

Synopsis
A call from the past brings divorcee Jasmine Mistry home to Shelter Island to run her beloved aunt's bookstore, which has always been rumored to be haunted. With that knowledge, Jasmine embarks on a mystical journey, urged along by her quirky family, and guided by the highly emotional spirits of long-dead authors. Surprisingly, she finds herself moved to heal her broken heart when she falls unexpectedly in love with an enigmatic young stranger.

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What do you think of these books? They sound great isn't it, and I just love their covers! I read Laura Fitzgerald's Veil of Roses awhile back (here's my review) and really loved it so I can't wait to read Dreaming in English. Haunting Jasmine by Anjali Banerjee sounds like another good read so I will be sure to read this as well.

Which new releases have caught your attention lately? Do share!

Best Books of 2010

It is that time of the year again which we get to list our favourite reads for the year. It was 2005 when I first did a ‘Book of the Year’ on my blog, and thereafter I make it a ‘tradition’ to do this at the end of each year. It is always so much fun and it also reflects what type of a reader I am for that year based on the books I read. While doing this list, I found out that I have been reading more YA novels this year as compared to the past; there are just so many great YA novels released this year and of course, I have to thank fellow bookbloggers for the recommendations.

Following last year's format, I am going to list the best books based on their genres. This list is basically chosen from my 2010 reading list and they may not necessarily be books published in 2010. Without further ado, here they are (please note all titles are not listed in any particular order):

Best YA

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Alright, so I listed three books instead of one under the YA category; I just couldn’t make up my mind over this since I loved them equally. Going Too Far has a great story and a greater characterisations to boot; and as for Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, this book just gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling. As for Dash & Lily's Book of Dares, this book has captured the voice and emotional of teenagers, and what's more it is about finding romance when you least expected it; this is a true delight for all booklovers out there!

Since there are several titles which I also enjoyed but did not make it to the list, I think I should give them a shout out as well.

Honorary Mention:

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Half World by Hiromi Goto

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Best Fiction
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters

Hands down! I don’t think there is any other book that is able to beat this one in my humble opinion. Sarah Waters rocks! Not only her writing is beautiful, but she is a great storyteller too!

Honorary Mention:
The Art of Disappearing by Ivy Pochoda

Midori by Moonlight by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga
On Folly Beach by Karen White


Best Thrillers
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

Killing Floor by Lee Child

Faithful Place by Tana French

I had read a few good thrillers this year, thus I had a hard time narrowing down the list. However the above three titles stood out from among the rest because their plots had sort of blown me away. While plots are crucial to all stories, I find the characterisations are equally important too and I find the above three titles have them. It is no matter if those lead characters are heroes or one that carry emotional baggage, the point is they are some characters whom I would never forget in a long while.

Honorary Mention:

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

Burn by Ted Dekker & Erin Healy

Best Romance
Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James

I have to confess that I did not read a lot of romance this year, but the few which I read were actually great. Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James stood out among the list because it is highly entertaining. I don't remember reading a romance that made me laugh out loud for a long time, which I think is a good thing. However that does not mean that there isn't sizzle in this romance, there are! This book is one of those from enemies-turn to-lovers kind of stories and despite the cliché I still loved it!

Honorary Mention:

Ruthless by Anne Stuart

Best Manga/Graphic Novel
Blankets by Craig Thompson

How could I not rate Blankets as one of my top reads in 2010? Aside from the beautiful illustrations, the premise is both meaningful and powerful!

Honarary Mention:

告白〔漫画版〕- 湊佳苗 Confession by Kanae Minato (Manga)

裸足玫瑰 - 上田伦子 Stepping on Roses by Rinko Ueda (Manga)

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

So there you go! Which books are on your 'Best Of" list?

A Surprise Package From A Wonderful Blogger Friend

I had a wonderful surprise when I returned home from work on Wednesday and found a package waiting for me (my husband was the one who opened the mailbox). The back of the package shown that it was sent by Violet (of Violet Crush) and inside the package contains the following items:

~ A book titled Malgudi Days by R.K. Narayan (Violet said this is a famous Indian Short Story collection, set in a town called Malgudi and it's all the more famous due to the TV series which was a huge hit in India.)
~ An antique-looking mirror
~ An anklet
~ A set of hairpins for my daughters (Isn't Violet sweet?)

She bought these items when she returned to her home in India some time ago and I am truly, truly touched by her gesture.

Thank you, Violet!

Random Thoughts

Today is the day where NaNoWriMo begins. And as indicated on their site, NaNo is about thirty days and nights of literary abandon (the goal is to write 50,000 words in the month of November!). I remember I first participated in NaNo in 2005, and then another in 2007 (or was it 2008?) and I had had so much fun doing them. Although I won't be doing so again this year (too many things going on at the moment), still I'd like to wish all my friends who are participating: Good luck and happy writing!

Apart from NaNo, today is also my husband's birthday! I gave him a dinner treat last Friday evening and we also had a simple celebration at home over the weekend - a Premium D24 eggless durian cake. Unfortunately I'm not able to post the picture here since we haven't downloaded them but I can show you the picture taken from the bakery. What can I say? It was scrumptious (even our 2-year-old daughter loved it)!

(Photo credit)

On the reading front, I'm still reading Falling Home by Karen White. I'm enjoying reading it and Karen White is one of my favourite authors. I think the reason for my slow progress is that there are too many things happening in my life lately. My eldest daughter will be graduating from her kindergarten class soon and their school will be having a graduation ceremony in another two weeks' time; and she was being informed by her teachers that she would act as an emcee so for the past week my husband and I became her audience as she go through her 'script' again and again, LOL. And then, there is our office relocation end of this month and I have to get all my things organised and packed before the move. Frankly speaking, I am so not ready for the move in spite that my new workplace is nearer to my house and it takes about half the journey time as compared to my current one. The reason? Because I will miss the bookstore (just a 5-minute walk away) and a few of my favourite eating outlets but most importantly, I will miss these staff who have now became my friends! *sniff*

Back to my reading, I will start reading For the Love of Strangers by Jacqueline Horsfall tomorrow. This is for the Green Books Campaign hosted by Eco-Libris and I want to get it done so that my post will be ready on November 10th (considering I'm a slow reader, ha). After this, I will be reading The Art of Disappearing by Ivy Pochoda which I bought last week. This is a story about a woman named Mel Snow and a magician she met and married two days later. Is their love real or just an illusion? I can't wait to find out what happens.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead!

Monday Musing

I know I hardly post anything on my weekend cooking, but I'm going to make an exception today since I discovered a dish I love last Friday when my husband and I visited a Japanese restaurant - wakame sunomono. This makes a great appetiser and I just love any dishes with cucumbers in it.

Anyway, it took me three attempts to get the dressing right for the taste. My first attempt was that I have added too much soy sauce in it, while my second attempt was having not enough soy sauce! What looks like a simple dish doesn't seem so simple after all, because the portions have to be right and well balanced. Finally, I thought the third attempt came out all right to me and I was glad that the hub and my eldest daughter loved it! She even asked me to prepare this dish again soon! (Wish I had taken a picture of it but anyway I googled the picture and this is how it looks like.)

(Photo credit)

The recipe:1 cucumber (preferably Japanese cucumber)
Wakame seaweed (according to your preference)
3 tbsp rice wine vinegar
3 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp sugar

Cut cucumber into thin rounds and set it aside. Mix vinegar, sugar and soy sauce in a bowl. Shred wakame seaweed into smaller pieces. Mix the wakame seaweed and the cucumber in a bowl and pour the dressing. Mix well and serve.

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Onto an unrelated note, my husband arranged our study room over the weekend so that our PC desk and study desk are sitting side by side together. The purpose of doing so is to make more room for a new bookcase and the thought of getting a new one excites me! Currently my piles of books are stacked from the floor till almost to the ceiling at a corner of our store room, and I haven't even counted the stacks that are occupying our study room as well! Anyway, I find that the desks arrangement looks so much better than the previous one, and I can't wait to see how it will look like when my new bookcase arrives!

I also added a few books onto my pile lately (it is a habit hard to ditch!). Here they are:

1) Three Seconds by Roslund & Hellström

2) Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

3) Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

What did you do over the weekend? Hope everyone has a great week!

Friday Musings

So I mentioned on Facebook yesterday that my mailbox was jammed, and this was due to a few book packages had arrived at the same time but mainly it was a cardboard box that caused the jam. Anyway, I was glad the problem was fixed after a telephone call to the post office.

Here are the books that arrived into my house:

A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott
Freak Magnet by Andrew Auseon

And here are the books I bought for my daughter:

Strawberry Shortcake: A Picnic Adventure by Lisa Gallo, Laura Thomas (Illustrator)
Ballet School by Sierra Harimann, Lisa Workman (Illustrator)

Reading wise, I'm currently reading Linger by Maggie Stiefvater and I'm enjoying every moment of it. I knew many of you have read this second instalment of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series and loving it, so I can't wait to find out what would happen between Sam and Grace. Besides this, I'm also reading Toy Story 1 - 3 Disney graphic novels and since each novel has about 50 pages I think I'll be able to finish reading them very soon. What I love about these graphic novels is not only the illustrations are in colour but they have also made me want to watch those animations all over again.

Onto a non-bookish note, next Monday we are going to register our eldest daughter for the admission to Primary One school for Year 2011. How time flies, eh? Six years ago today, she was only a 4-month-old baby. Where has the time go? Now can you understand why I started to post my Nostalgic Moments on this blog, so that when I get old and weak I've something to look back and remember. Ah.

So my daughter was telling me that she'd like to have her best friend attend the same school as her. Since I knew her friend's mother, we have planned to go to the school together for the registration. I just hope luck would be on us so we'd have no problem with the registration, after all if the number exceeded the limit there'd be a ballot. Let's all keep our fingers crossed!

I hope everyone has a great weekend ahead. I shall be catching up on blogs reading/commenting once I'm back next Tuesday.

Musing Mondays: Bookshelves

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about tidy bookshelves.

Are your bookshelves strictly books only? Or have knick-knacks invaded? Do your shelves also shelve DVDs? Photos? Why not snap a photo – I’m sure we all like to spy on other’s shelves!

Most of my bookshelves are strictly limited to books only, however there is one bookshelf which I share with my husband and besides my books that occupies a shelf, the rest are filled with miscellaneous stuff like files, three Barbie dolls (two of them belong to my eldest daughter, and I bought one of Barbie being the Santa's assistant). Other stuff also include a few photo albums, dictionaries etc, and the bottom drawer of the shelf is where we keep all our stationery. Unfortunately, I am not able to provide a photo as I am currently in the office but I could share with you two of the older pictures which I had posted on my blog some time ago.

This is the shelf where I mentioned about my books and other misc. stuff.

This is the other bookshelf where I keep some of my TBR pile with more photo albums (the drawers on the right).

Today, most of my TBR pile are stored in our storeroom because they are just too many! What about you? Do you keep other things besides books in your bookshelves?

Top Reads in 2009 (and Books of the Year)

Gosh, I have had a hard time narrowing down my top reads in 2009! I counted the number of books that are marked as my favourites and found out there are 34 books in total. Initially, I have planned to do a Top 10 list but I caved in in the end so let me present you my Top 20 list (in no particular order):

- Fallen Skies by Philippa Gregory
- Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
- The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
- The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- The Lost Hours by Karen White
- Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
- The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax
- Skin by Mo Hayder
- Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
- Stolen by Lucy Christopher
- Looking for Alaska by John Green
- The Heights by Brian James
- The Ghost Writer by John Harwood
- Ash by Malinda Lo
- The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
- Heartsick by Chelsea Cain
- The Girl on Legare Street by Karen White
- Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
- Love in Translation by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga

And here are the other titles that did not make it to the Top 20 but are still my favourites:

- Ritual by Mo Hayder
- The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
- Evermore by Alyson Noel
- Goodbye Tsugumi by Banana Yoshimoto
- Godmother : The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon
- Sonata for Miriam by Linda Olsson
- The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
- The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale
- No One You Know by Michelle Richmond
- Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
- The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
- We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
- Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti

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If I find it difficult to compile my Top 20 list, let me tell you it is even harder to come up with a Book(s) of the Year list, so that is why I will have a title for each genre instead of naming only one title in all. It definitely made things easier for me and it sounds fairer, isn't it? After all, how could you possibly compare a literary fiction with a thriller, or any of the others?

Without further ado, here are the results for my Book(s) of the Year - 2009 (Please note all titles are nominated from my favourite reads and that not all genres are listed.)

Best Fiction - Love in Translation by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga

Reason: For starters, it is the wonderful reading experience I had while reading this book. A real heartwarming story that put a smile to my face, and it has all the elements I love in a book (family, friendship and love). I could not ask for more. The protagonist is a great character; one whom I admire for her courage and determination.

Best Horror - The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Reason: The story had me hooked from the beginning till the end. Great suspense, great characters and very atmospheric! And most of all, I loved the ambiguous ending.

Best Mystery & Crime - Heartsick by Chelsea Cain

Reason: I have to confess I had a hard time choosing a book under this category. I had read a few good crime thrillers last year, including two books by Mo Hayder who is one of my most favourite crime thrillers authors of all time. However, I was most intrigued by the characters in Heartsick (in particularly the strange relationship between the detective and the murderer) besides the crimes she has committed. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series, and I wonder if there is anything more between the characters.

Best Thrillers - The Ghost Writer by John Harwood

Reason: I simply could not turn down a good gothic mystery! I loved John Harwood's prose and I can say this book is both a character-driven and a plot-driven story.

Best Romance - Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas

Reason: I have to admit I did not read a lot of romance novels last year. Dreaming of You has all the right elements of a classic historical romance. It has a great plot but most of all, I enjoyed watching the sparks fly between the hero and the heroine.

Best YA - Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Reason: I have always wonder about Stockholm syndrome, and this book has made me think hard about the relationship between the captor and the captive. And I really liked the plot, and how this book has captured the protagonist's emotions well - from her feelings towards her captor to the wild remote place she is being forced to stay. It is one of the most memorable reads I had last year.

Books, Books and More Books!

I took a day off from work and blogging yesterday, and spent a great deal of time at two of my favourite bookstores and not surprisingly came home with some books, much to the dismay of my husband, hehe. Since the rest of my TBR piles are stacked dangerously high at a corner of our storage room (any additional books will have them topple onto you!), I told him I will temporarily leave them stacked on his study desk, but of course he wouldn't believe me and knew it would stack higher and higher instead of moving to a new storage place, haha.

Anyway, these are what I bought yesterday:

• Immortal by Gillian Shields
• Miss or Mrs?, The Haunted Hotel, The Guilty River (Oxford World's Classics) by Wilkie Collins
• Forever by Judy Blume
• Rush Home Road by Lori Lansens
• Meridian by Amber Kizer
• Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
• Surrender by Sonya Hartnett

And, I have a couple of things to catch up on so please pardon me if I have not visited and commenting on your blogs.

Finally, I received this in an email and thought I want to share it with you:

To celebrate the success of The White Queen (by Philippa Gregory), LivingSocial and Simon & Schuster are giving away a trip to London and other great prizes.

Grand prize package [Retailed at about $4,000]:
· Roundtrip airfare for two to London; hotel accommodations for 3 nights in the Strand Palace, located in the heart of London’s Theatreland
· Tickets for a dinner cruise on the Thames
· A day tour of the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral
· Day trip to Windsor Castle and Runnymede
· $200 American Express Gift Card

1 first prize winner
· Will receive an e-reader loaded with The White Queen e-book

1 second prize winner
· Will receive a leather-bound edition of The White Queen

Please click here to find out more about the contest.