Hooked On Bookz

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2018-08-18T13:57:00.001-07:00

Hi all!

My blog page has been moved to Hooked On Bookz

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The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

2018-08-10T22:07:00.003-07:00

Title: The Great Believers

Author: Rebecca Makkai

My verdict: 3.5 stars

In a nutshell:

The Great Believers was set in two places – Chicago and Paris, portraying a group of gay friends, mainly focussing on Yale (whom I love and could relate to when he spoke of his childhood) living through the AIDS epidemic in Chicago in the 80's; and Fiona in search of her daughter, Claire, in Paris year 2015. These stories moved back and forth throughout the book.

What I liked:

I cried myself to sleep the night I finished The Great Believers. It's a story of loss, love and redemption. I was especially drawn to the story that shed light on the challenges of American gay men living with AIDS in the late 80's and early 90's, and how ignorance had caused thousands of lives.

I felt their heartbreaks and devastating loss of their loved ones and their own lives to AIDS, especially Fiona. She gave, and gave, and gave, and lost. And the ending was a tear jerker. I never thought I'd tear up.

What I didn't quite like:

One thing though, I don't see the connection of Yale's art deal to the rest of the story. I just didn't get it. Was it necessary? I felt like it dragged the whole story. And the number of minor/secondary characters that appeared on and off sometimes made me lose track of the story.

But the ending made my patience and perseverance worthwhile.

What I learned:

The level of ignorance of the AIDS epidemic then (hopefully not now) is appalling! Here, a snippet of an interview between journalist Lester Kinsolving and Ronald Reagen's press secretary, Larry Speakes.

“Lester Kinsolving: Does the president have any reaction to the announcement by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta that AIDS is now an epidemic in over 600 cases?

Larry Speakes: AIDS? I haven't got anything on it.

Lester Kinsolving: Over a third of them have died. It's known as "gay plague." [Press pool laughter.] No, it is. It's a pretty serious thing. One in every three people that get this have died. And I wonder if the president was aware of this.

Larry Speakes: I don't have it. [Press pool laughter.] Do you?”

It was taken ever so lightly, and they thought AIDS was only exclusive to gay people, and that it can be transmitted through saliva. WOW.

Read the entire interview here:https://www.vox.com/2015/12/1/9828348/ronald-reagan-hiv-aids

If that isn't appalling, I don't know what is.

Have we progressed and improved? Here's a chart to show our progress if you're interested:

Source:https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/the-fight-against-aids-then-and-now

Favorite quote/My takeaway message:

“If we could just be on earth at the same place and the same time as everyone we loved, if we could be born together and die together, it would be so simple. And it's not. But listen: You two are on the planet at the same time. You're in the same place now. That's a miracle.”

Circe by Madeline Miller

2018-08-06T18:31:00.004-07:00

Title:Circe

Author:Madeline Miller

My verdict:5 stars

Highly recommended! (Only if you're interested in Greek mythology!)

In a nutshell:

(Amazon) In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child--not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power--the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

What I enjoyed:

Miller shone a whole different light on Circe and reinvented her. I must admit I don't know much about Greek mythology, but I've always been fascinated by it. And I like this version of Circe that Miller has created.

Miller made me ponder, so, was Circe a plain, spiteful goddess or merely a misunderstood witch? Women have always been given a negative or weaker image for centuries, as Circe was in Homer's Odyssey.

But Miller changed that. She gave Circe a strong voice and character; one who was defiant in her own right, who determined her own fate and who succeeded against all odds with no help but her strength and courage alone.

Miller uses a language that's easy to understand and follow, even for a person like me who doesn't know much about Greek mythology.

I also appreciate the fact that the book provided a list of all the characters mentioned in this story. It made the entire experience so much more enjoyable.

You know how sometimes you get so 'involved' in some characters that you feel heavy-hearted leaving them when their stories end? That's for me after reading 'The Master and Margarita' but not so much Circe. Not because I didn't like the characters, but I felt that the characters were pretty much 'settled' and complete when it ended, especially Circe who found herself, and happiness, and is no longer bound to the lives of those who weren't worthy of her love.

Other myths vs Circe by Madeline Miller

(Source: greekmythology.com)

According to history, Circe had to beg Odysseus for mercy after turning his men into swines (Odysseus was able to overcome Circe's power with the help of Hermes' special herb).
But in Miller's story, this didn't happen, instead Odysseus life was put in Circe's hands, who decided to be lenient with him when he showed interests in her works.

Circe first turned Scylla into a woodpecker first before turning her into a monster.
In Miller's version, the part of the woodpecker wasn't mentioned.

Source:http://www.theoi.com/Titan/Kirke.html

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca E7. 36 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"When Telegonos (Telegonus) learned from Kirke (Circe) that he was Odysseus' son, he sailed out in search of his father . . . He took the corpse [of Odysseus] and Penelope to Kirke, and there he married Penelope. Kirke dispatched them both to the Islands of the Blest."
In Miller's version, there was no mention of Odysseus' body.

Favorite quotes:

On life:

"I thought: I cannot bear this world a moment longer." "Then, child, make another."
Yep. I am the boss of my life!

"I would say, some people are like constellations that only touch the earth for a season."
Sad, but true.

On war and men:

"War has always seemed to me a foolish choice for men. Whatever they win from it, they will have only a handful of years to enjoy before they die. More likely they will perish trying."
And yet, war seems to always be the choice. Sigh!

On the world:

"The world is an unjust place. Look what happened to that counselor of Agamemnon's. Palamedes, his name was. He served the army well, but fell in a pit while on a night watch. Someone had set sharpened stakes in the bottom."
The world has always been unjust...Reality sucks. That's why I read to escape!

The Master & Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

2018-08-01T14:52:00.001-07:00

Title: The Master & Margarita

Author: Mikhail Bulgakov

My verdict: 5 stars

Highly recommended!

In a nutshell:
This classic was written during Stalin's regime and was banned until many years after Bulgakov's death. The Master and Margarita (TMM) alternates between 2 settings - Moscow in the 1930's and Jerusalem; and it's divided to 2 parts.

Woland (Satan) and his motley crew of 4 (Koroviev, Behemoth, Azazello, Hella) appeared on earth (in this case, in Russia), and brought people whom, in his eyes, have sinned, to justice by punishing them, some to death (in the most gruesome way one could imagine.. *cue intensifying sound effect!), and at the same time gave peace to two lovers - the Master and Margarita. And Margarita, knowing Woland is Satan, worshipped him, for he brought the master back to her and reunited them.

This novel also brings us back to 2000 years ago, in Yershalaim (Jerusalem), where and when Yeshua Ha-Notsri (Jesus) was crucified under Pilate. Pilate's conscience crept onto him as he contemplated on whether he had done the right thing. He tried to ease it by attempting a plan to kill Judas, who was paid a large sum of money by the high priest to betray Jesus.

In Part 2, we meet Margarita. Stuck in a loveless marriage, she sought ways to get out of it to be with her new-found love, the Master. When her husband left for a business trip for 3 days, and she had the whole house to herself, all her broke loose. Literally. She sold her soul to satan (because she thought she had lost the Master and felt there was nothing else to live for), transformed into a witch, felt utterly free, met Woland, became the hostess of his ball, all at her own will. When Woland asked her what she wanted in return, she told him of her intentions to be reunited with her true love, the Master. Her wish was granted.

What I enjoyed:
Woland's retinue! Especially the boisterous Koroviev (sometimes referred to as Fagott), who's usually dressed in his checkered attire, and Behemoth, the garrulous cat-like demon the size of a jog. The two, as evil and conniving as they are, make such an absurd yet amusing duo!

I also loved how Margarita was depicted as a strong and bold heroine, instead of your typical damsel-in-distress. Although in despair, she held strong to herself and was never afraid to speak her mind, even when meeting Koroviev for the first time. And she maintained her calmness amidst the chaos that were happening around her and embraced her new life as her witch. What made me love her even more is the kindness she showed her maid, Natasha, throughout the novel.

What I didn't like:
The ending. Won't say more as it'll contain spoilers.

Also, I found it hard to keep up with the numerous important characters in the story due to their names (and they're sometimes referred to with a different name!). If you plan to read TMM, take note of most of them as they're important as the story progresses.

Some of my favorite quotes:

. When Berlioz (the editor of a journal) and the poet were having an argument on the existence of God, Woland (Satan) 'happened' to be listening in. He said this, "But what troubles me is this," "if there is no God, then, you might ask, who governs the life of men and, generally, the entire situation here on earth?"

. When Matthew Levi (former tax collector) met Woland, Woland said this to him: "You pronounced your words as if you don't acknowledge the shadows, or the evil either. Would you be so kind as to give a little thought to the question of what your good would be doing if evil did not exist, and how the earth would look if the shadows were to disappear from it?"

Fun Facts:

. Before choosing 'The Master and Margarita' as the title, some of Bulgakov's initial ideas were 'An engineer's hoof', 'A joggler with a hoof' and 'Woland's guest performances'. The novel got the title it is known only in 1937, according to the journals of Bulgakov's wife, Elena Shilovskaya. (theculturetrip.com)

. Until today, nobody knows if tram line at the Partriach's Pond (a park in the center of Moscow) where Berlioz was killed, really did exist. Researchers have tried to trace the line's existence to no avail. (theculturetrip.com)

. TMM is also one of Daniel Radcliffe's favorite reads!

There There by Tommy Orange

2018-07-24T22:00:00.001-07:00

Title: There There

Author: Tommy Orange

My verdict: 5 stars

Highly recommended!

In a nutshell:

12 Urban Indians. 1 big event. 1 robbery gone wrong.

Set in Oakland, California, the story revolves around the 12 individuals and how they and their families have been treated by America throughout the years; how it affects and have affected them. These 12 characters are to meet at an upcoming big event - the Big Oakland Powwow. That one event, meant to bring Indians of all walks of life together, ironically shattered their lives and those around them.

Was it a good read?

Yes. I'd describe it in 3 words: Real, raw, powerful.

The story starts off with a prologue, (which is one of my favorite parts, the interlude is the other) telling us about the Indian Head that was used as a test pattern on TV in the 1970s to all American TVs everywhere after all the shows ran out. There are some parts which are very graphic. So, be prepared.

Then the prologue continues with the Indian head in the jar; the Indian head on a spike; and the rolling heads that Mel Gibson made up in a world meant to resemble the real Indian world in the 1500s in Mexico.

According to Mr. Orange, Indians have long been misrepresented by the society, "We've been defined by everyone else and continue to be slandered despite easy-to-look-on-the-internet facts about the realities of our histories and current state as people."

And as children, the Indians grew up with stories about massacres, how they were mutilated, tore unborn babies out of bellies, and broke soft baby heads against trees; then took their body parts as trophies, while the crowd celebrated, cheered and laughed.

To leave these memories behind and start over, they got to the cities, who took them in, made them new while they made it theirs. And they, the ones born in the city, are called the Urban Indians.

The characters:

The novel then introduces us to 12 Urban Indians, who are in someway or other, related and connected to each other in a huge web. To name some of them - sisters Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield (great aunt to Jacquie's grandsons) and Jacquie Red Feather (a substance abuse counselor struggling to stay sober); Edwin Black, a half Native (his skin is what he calls brown-ish) overweight graduate who's in search of his father who's going to be the emcee at the powwow; Tony Loneman, a victim of fetal alcohol syndrome that he nicknamed "The Drome" and who's part of the team who planned to rob the powwow; Dene Oxendene, who aims to continue his uncle's dream of making a documentary on the stories and lives of the Indians, to help the community understand themselves better; Blue, who stayed with her husband, despite being abused; and Orvil Red Feather (Jacquie's grandson) who was to perform at the powwow.

My thoughts:

There There is more character-driven than plot I'd say. Mr. Orange writes a real close-up of these characters. What drove the reading, for me, were the stories of these complex, rich characters and those around them, who try to understand what being truly Indian means, how history and society has shaped them as individuals.

The message in this book that resonates strongly with me, personally, is the search for belonging - identity, home, roots. How much of my 'roots' and 'history' have I, knowing and unknowingly, taken with me and have shaped me for who I am?

Thomas Frank, whose mom is white and dad is one thousand percent Indian, pondered on this: "You're from people who took and took and took and took. And from a people taken. You were both and neither. When you took baths, you'd stare at your brown arms against your white legs in the water and wonder what they were doing together on the same body, in the same bathtub." and yet, he feels every bit of Indian in him when he hears the beat of the drum and dance.

As for Blue, whose adoptive parents are white, has no clue of her roots. All she knows of herself is that she isn't white. "...while my hair is dark and my skin is brown, when I look in the mirror I see myself from the inside out. And inside I feel as white as the long white pill-shaped pillow my mom always made me keep on my bed even though I never used it." She kept on "feeling white while being treated like any other brown person wherever I went."

And Orvil, who's cared for by his Indian great aunt, learns almost everything about being Indian virtually - "from watching hours and hours of powwow footage, documentaries on YouTube by reading all that there was to read on sites like Wikipedia, POwWows.com, and Indian Country Today."

My ethnicity is Chinese. Both my parents are too. But I'm neither raised nor born in China. China isn't my home. But back home (where I was born and raised), people of our ethnicity, have been asked to 'go back to our 'home country', to where we 'belong'. I can only speak decent Mandarin and one of the dialects, Cantonese. I don't celebrate all the Chinese celebrations. I'm not fair-skinned as a Chinese 'should be'; I have been mistaken for a Vietnamese and an Indonesian before. People have said to me before, "You're Chinese? You don't look Chinese", and "You don't speak like a Chinese, and I'm expected to be good at Math. The one 'typical' Chinese trait (if I may call it so) that I have is probably my Chinese-sounding name. So does this mean I'm not an 'authentic' Chinese? If so, then what am I? Where do I belong?

This, as I've mentioned above, is a powerful story, for a couple of reasons. First, the writing. The ability to write for 12 different individuals, from different point of views, and yet keep the momentum going without creating any confusion, keeping them real, that itself, is powerful. Tommy Orange is definitely one talented genius.

Second, this story serves as a voice to an almost voiceless community - the Native Americans. Third, it speaks to people, like me, who are not born in their 'home country' and have been constantly stereotyped by others. Fourth, quoting from the book, "When you hear stories from people like you, you feel less alone. When you feel less alone, and like you have a community of people behind you, alongside you, I believe you can live a better life." Last but not least, this is what I'm hoping, that it will help stop people from generalizing and stereotyping, and one that I learned from a recent book I read, "THUG", - The Hate U Give Little Infants F***Ks Everything.

Everyone should and must read this book.

Happy Birthday, Malala!

2018-07-12T15:06:00.001-07:00

HAPPY 21st, MALALA!

You're only 21, yet your achievements and accolades can fill a whole phone book!

Thank you so much for all that you do especially education for women and young children.

What you did and are still doing is an inspiration for us all.

Thank you for your bravery, your courage, your intelligence and your will to pursue your beliefs and dreams.

Thank you for showing us that "One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world."

You let your actions speak louder than words.

The books in the picture:

Most of us would or might have already own a copy of 'I Am Malala'. So, I'm just going to briefly summarize the book behind it, "Malala's Magic Pencil". It is Malala's first picture book and is targeted towards young readers. It is basically a much simpler version of her life in Pakistan and what inspired her to do what she does today and to be who she is today.

It is about how she wished for a magic pencil that she'd use it to "'put a lock on my door, so my brothers couldn't bother me', 'stop time, so I could sleep an extra hour every morning', 'erase the smell of the trash dump near our house'", and draw "'a better world, a peaceful world."; and what she felt when she started writing and using her voice.

What I enjoyed:

I absolutely loved the simplicity of the language used and the captivating illustration. My LO is still too young for the book, but even she was drawn to the illustration, although all she did was pointed to the pictures and asked, "What's this?" :)

Have a great, memorable birthday, Malala!

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

2018-07-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

Ok. I’m back! Again :P (Sorry been caught up with motherhood..)

Title: An American Marriage

Author: Tayari Jones

My verdict: 4 stars

Highly recommended!

Synopsis (From the book cover):

Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. HE is a young business executive and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are suddenly ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined when, while visiting Roy’s parents in their small Louisiana town, Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years in prison for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit.

Though fiercely independent, Celestial finds herself lost, taking comfort in ANdre, her childhood friend and Roy’s best man at their wedding. When after 5 years, Roy’s conviction is overturned and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together, Celestial is faced a soul-wrenching decision: whether to let go or to try rebuild a marriage that has lost its underpinnings.

My thoughts:

What an engaging read. Her words drew me in as I got deeper into the story. Voices of the characters were a little blurry at times, but that didn’t mar the story.

I liken the experience of reading this book to having a satisfying full course meal at a restaurant (yes, I love food too lol) - starter, appetizer, main course, dessert; all appropriately and skillfully proportioned. It gave me the joy of enjoying each morsel, savoring each bite, while feeding my mind and soul.

You can’t help but to empathize with each character, all with their own strengths, weaknesses and dilemmas that we can all relate to at some point or another.

The story also made me question and ponder - what is love; what it means to be married; what is family; where is home; and issues concerning racism.

Here are some passages that I liked about love and marriage:

“It was a wonderful feeling to be grown and yet young. To be married but not settled. To be tied down yet free.”

“Love makes a place for itself in your bed. Invisibly, it makes a place in your body, rerouting all your blood breaks, throbbing right alongside your heart. When it’s gone, nothing is whole again.”

“I married him for a reason. You can never really unlove somebody. Maybe it changes shape, but it’s there.”

Ok SPOILER ALERT here. Skip this part if you haven’t read this and you don’t intend to know the ending.

This is why I think what happened between Celestial and Andre was out of convenience, and what Celestial had for Roy was real. If not, why had she kept his tooth all those years? And love, can it really be replaced? Like she said, when it’s gone, nothing is whole again.

What I enjoyed:

Definitely her writing. To me, that’s what good writing is about. It’s not only just the plot and characters, but also the way words leave an impact; how they leave you with a lot to think about. And Tayari JOnes weaved her words intricately and purposefully.

She has all those ingredients in “An American Marriage”.

What a fine, fine book!

Carry On, Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton

2017-04-01T19:27:00.002-07:00

My verdict: 3.5

Glennon blogs on momastery.com and her brutally honest accounts of her life brought her popularity, then of course, a book deal.

Glennon doesn't give two hoots about what others think. She isn't afraid to tell the world she was an alcoholic, a drug addict and a bulimic. And when she finally got rid of all those toxins in her life and embraced her new-found self, she was diagnosed with Lyme disease. At one point in her life she even got an abortion. Then she decided to adopt but her adoption plan fell through due to her background. So she adopted a highway instead (Yup!).

She also wrote of friends, family and strangers who came to her aid when she needed it and/or supported her decisions, impetuous or not. She's very fortunate to be surrounded by people who love her as she is.

What makes her stories stand out, to me, is definitely her honesty, almost too honest to be true sometimes. And the fact that she bares her ugly, crazy, messy life out for all to read, is just plain bravery. And the world thanked her for that. Because of her bravery, she gave hope. Because of her kindness, she shed light.

Overall it's a pretty good read with some inspiring messages throughout. She can be pretty funny, taking the mickey out of Chaos here and there. But at times I'm not sure if every detail in her story is true or she's just spicing it up for the sake of readership. Like asking a 3 yo to write down what's she feeling. I don't know any 3 yo who can write. Or when she asked her son to look a bully in the eye. Really? What if the bully ended up hitting him? He's lucky he got off the hook so easily. Just my thoughts.

What I got out of this book

Live life with openness and honesty. Openness to embrace the challenges and changes that Life offers. Make whatever you want out of the lemons Life throws you.

Be honest and true to yourself. Tune out the noise, tune in to your voice. The voice that tells you right from wrong. The voice that only you know is YOU. Just do what gives you joy and peace, because no matter what you do, people are going to judge anyway.

In times of crisis, sift. "...the Greek root of the word crisis is 'to sift', as in to shake out the excesses and leave only what's important." Eliminate the unwanted, keep what matters.

Namaste.

Flight: A Novel by Sherman Alexie

2017-03-31T12:34:00.001-07:00

Title: Flight: A Novel

Author: Sherman Alexie

ASIN: B00FEZ25IQ

My verdict: 5 stars

Highly recommended!

Ever wondered what's it like to really walk in the shoes of others? In this book, Zits (an angry, lonely, 15 year-old half Native American, half Irish orphan), did. Influenced by his new-found friend, whose name is, coincidentally, JusTice, Zits set out to rob a bank, with the intention to hurt and kill, to pay back for all the pain and disappointment the society put him through. This incident literally changed his life.

As soon as he pulled the trigger at the bank, he went on an unexpected time-traveling journey. He walked in the shoes of an FBI agent during the civil rights movement, a mute Indian boy during the Battle of Little Bighorn, an Indian tracker, an airplane pilot.

This journey, while baffled him at times, also allowed him to find himself; to see and experience the love and kindness, hate and anger, and the choices made and what became of them, at the same time battling with his own thoughts and emotions. Did they make the right choices? What would he do if he were the one having to make those choices?

My thoughts

I felt Zits' angst, sadness and confusion all at the same time. I find his journey of discovery, of God showing him there's hope, there's love, there's kindness amidst all these chaos in the world, was so surreal that he somehow came to terms with his life. He surrendered to the fact that he needed help; that he can't continue to find love with hate, that he'll keep hurting if he hurts, that he is what he makes of himself.

The story has a beautiful ending. A powerful one I must say. I cried a pool of tears. I sobbed. And sobbed.

Mr Alexis writes so simply yet beautifully, with so few words that pack a punch. Looking forward to reading more of his books!

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

2015-05-31T15:47:00.001-07:00

Title: The Phantom Tollbooth
Author/Illustrator: Norton Juster/Jules Feiffer
ISBN: 978-0-375-86903-7

In a nutshell
The Phantom Tollbooth is about a boy who was bored with life. 'When he was in school he longed to be out, and when he was out he longed to be in. On the way he thought about coming home, and coming home he thought about going.' Everything, to 10-year-old Milo was dull and 'a waste of time' as he 'can't see the point in learning to solve useless problems, or subtracting turnips from turnips, or knowing where Ethiopia is or how to spell February,' until one day he noticed something peculiar in his room - an enormous package, the biggest he had ever seen, and on it a bright-blue envelope that said "FOR MILO, WHO HAS PLENTY OF TIME."

It was a purple turnpike tollbooth - the start to Milo's amusing, eye-opening, life-changing adventures. With a destination he picked from the map he was given and the electric automobile from his bedroom, Milo set off to an unknown land, joined by a watchdog named Tock (who has a large ticking clock on his body. Literally a watchdog lol) and a bug named Humbug.

What I liked/enjoyed:
I really enjoyed the author's knack for words which he displayed in so many ways.

Funny but true facts
Milo was first introduced to Humbug in Market Place in Dictionopolis. Humbug's introduction was this: "We're an old and noble family, honorable to the core. Why, we fought in the crusades with Richard the Lion Heart, crossed the Atlantic with Columbus, blazed trails with the pioneers, and today many members of the family hold prominent government positions throughout the world. History is full of Humbugs." Is that funny or what! :D

Wonder of Words
After arriving in Dictionopolis, Milo and his friends were asked what they wanted for dinner, they said 'a light meal' and out came platters of bright-colored lights that leapt from the plates and bounced around the ceiling! What a sight!

He also caused quite a ruckus at Market Place which caught Short Shrift's attention, who decided to give him a sentence. He asked Milo if he preferred a long or short sentence. Milo picked the obvious. The Short Shrift (who was now in his 'judge' robe, because only a judge can give a sentence) said, "How about 'I am'? That's the shortest sentence I know." LOL

Life lessons
In the Island of Conclusions, Milo wondered out loud how they got here, to which he was told, "You jumped, of course." And that "every time you decide something without having good reason, you jump to Conclusions whether you like it or not." Mind you, that island ain't pretty and getting back to where you came from "is not so easy." How's that for jumping to conclusions!

I like this life lesson the best:
"...but if we'd told you then (the quest of saving Princess Rhyme and Princess Reason), you might not have gone - and as you've discovered, so many things are possible just as long as you don't know they're impossible," for 'impossible' can be derived from the words, I'm Possible.

If life takes a different turn, embrace it! “Things which are equally bad and also equally good. Try to look at the bright side of things.” And it's okay to make mistakes along the way, for mistakes learned are experiences earned.

This is such a great book for the young and young at heart. It is fun, funny and witty. It's great entertainment and life lessons packed into one book.

I'm definitely getting a copy of this book for myself ;D

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

2014-10-23T15:08:00.000-07:00

Title/Author: The Complete Persepolis/Marjane Satrapi
Publisher: Pantheon
Pages: 341
ISBN: 978-0-375-71483-2

My verdict: 4/5

In a nutshell
Persepolis (Persia in Greek) is about the author's life growing up as a child in Iran in the 1970s. Her memoir started from the time when she was 10, living and surviving a troubling time in her country. The Islamic Revolution took place and all females were required to wear veils, a far cry from what she was used to, being educated at a French non-religious school, which was later divided into schools for boys and girls. Jewelry weren't allowed, women must be covered from head to toe, no Western music and so forth.

Being the only child of outspoken revolutionaries, strict rules like these don't sit well with Marjane. Her rebellious and outspoken nature always put her in danger. She was then sent to live in Austria, hoping there, she could live freely. As it turned out, living there had its humps and bumps too. She found friends, lost some, met a few mr rights, became a drug dealer, a druggie, a waitress, and at times getting herself tangled in challenging situations, even to the point of losing a place to stay. Almost as though God heard her cry for help, she received a call from her parents asking her if she wanted to return home. She knew she must and wanted to desperately.

Home wasn't all that rosy either after spending all those years abroad. She carried so much guilt in her, in that she did nothing in Austria that could make her parents. She became depressed. She attempted suicide and when it failed she decided to take charge of her life. She confronted her fears by staying true to herself which earned her respect from friends who thought alike. She also found what she thought true love at 21, and got married. But things took a different turn, leading to leave for France at 24.

What I enjoyed
I didn't think I'd enjoy a graphic novel this much. Maybe because Marjane had had an interesting childhood. Yes indeed her book is dark, raw and real, at times violent and vulgar, but it is also funny and entertaining. Sealing these elements while making this a thought-provoking read (it makes one question authority, class structures, rules, racism, gender) is a challenge but Marjane succeeded at it. It's a little like watching a Quentin Tarantino's movie (only much less violent and bloody), which combined humor and violence.

I like how she used humor in her drawings and in bringing her message across. I'm thinking either because she's a funny person or she wanted to use humor to discuss a serious issue, a technique which I find most standup comedians use a lot. 'Every situation offered an opportunity for laughs...' she mentioned in her book.

My favorite characters are definitely the dad and grandma. When she was young, they encouraged her curious nature, they allowed her to be in the company of adults and 'participate' in their discussions, giving her a deeper and wider perspective of what's going on in their country. I love Marjane too. She's not afraid to be herself and to stand up for her rights. Her rebellious nature gave her a voice, and drew birds of the same feather to her when she was studying overseas.

This is my very first graphic novel and I enjoyed it. It's educational (to me at least) as it is entertaining. Reading it made me realize once again the importance of knowledge and education. Living in ignorance can make one vulnerable to being manipulated by those in power.

I do wonder though, if the book will have the same effect if it were written without the graphics...

Book Bite
It's a banned in Chicago Public Schools. I still don't get why they banned this book because it contains "graphic language and images." This reason is so laughable. Kids these days can access 'graphic language and images' anywhere on the Internet. This book is such a great source for teachers to encourage discussion; kids can be taught critical thinking, making sound judgments and most importantly, be in the know.

Snow Flower and The Secret Fan by Lisa See

2014-09-22T19:32:00.002-07:00

Yep! I am back after a lengthy hiatus! Haha! So here's my first 2014 review :)

My verdict: 4/5

In a nutshell:

This story revolves around the lives of two friends, Lily and Snow Flower, brought together by a matchmaker with a selfish intention. Their friendship, a very unique one in fact, is called Lao tong (same olds), was bound by a contract, which then bloomed into love. Their matchmaker believed that they're perfect for each other because all their BaZi (8 characters) matched. Thus begun a friendship strengthened by messages written in paper fans, in a secret language called nu shu, a unique writing that Chinese women created to communicate in secret, away from the influence of men.

What I enjoyed:

Lisa See had all the elements of a good read in this book. Its main characters were true to themselves, materials were well researched and its plot was a page-turner. I didn't have a favorite character but Lily, the narrator, stood out to me. She was a believer in upholding rules and traditions, and she saw the world in black and white, while Snow Flower was the total opposite. This was a blessing and a curse in their friendship, because it brought them together and almost tore them apart.

The plot thickened when Lily realized how much Snow Flower had been hiding from her all these years. How much can she really trust Snow Flower? Did this Lao tong relationship mean anything to her at all? Or had she been blinded by love? One would not be able to feel all of Lily's emotions - the frustration, confusion and devastation had the character not been developed so brilliantly. I wonder if the tone of the story would be different if it were written from Snow Flower's point of view too.

Lisa See's meticulous research can be seen throughout the entire story. I've learned a lot and I'm deeply fascinated about this foot-binding tradition that existed thousands of years ago. Imagine, the worth of a woman then, was literally bound to her feet! Her toes were crushed and bent towards the heel to achieve a perfect size (7 centimeters) and a beautiful lotus shape, bringing the meaning of 'no pain no gain' to a whole new level. Gosh! Just the mere thought of it makes me cringe!

Life for a married woman was about fulfilling their duties as a daughter, wife, daughter-in-law in the upstairs chamber where women spent their time together doing their daily chores and/learning new skills like writing nu shu. Nu shu allowed them to share secrets and created a very special and intimate bond between the women. This goes to show communication has always been and will always be the core of survival. No man is an island. We need one another.

I've never heard of the lao-tong relationship until I read Snow Flower. This relationship started from the moment women's feet were bound till death do them part. Because their lives were confined in the walls of their natal home, the lao tong relationship gave the women an outlet to be themselves, share secrets and a life beyond their upstairs chamber. It's different from a sworn sisterhood which was made out of several girls and ceased at marriage. A lao tong is between two women and it lasts a lifetime. Not every woman is privileged to have a lao tong. I don't have a lao tong, but I have a lao gong, and we're bound by our love for each other and God :)

I absolutely enjoyed reading every page. Thank you for being such a great companion, Snow Flower and The Secret Fan. Till we meet again.

Latest update:

I attended an event called 'An Evening with Lisa See' organized by our local library, and it was fantastic! Lisa See is such a great speaker as she is an author! She is funny, witty and spontaneous. Her vast knowledge on foot binding and nu shu increased my fascination of the two cultures. I can't wait to read her other books!

Thanks again for coming Lisa See!

Freddie and the Fairy Post-Reading activities

2013-03-01T07:49:00.000-08:00

I've reviewed this book before about 2 years ago. Click here for it. This time round, I'm adding an activity to complete the entire reading/literacy session which I did with a new group of children age 4 - 6 years old.

Read-aloud: Identify the rhyming words with the children, while going back and forth to help them remember what Freddie wished for and what Bessie Belle conjured up for him instead. It is also to get them into the flow of rhyming.

Activity: Create your own post-reading activity. I just did a simple one by asking them again what Freddie wished for; why the fairy kept getting it wrong; what were the 3 rules for Freddie - is it important for us to do that too? and so forth.

Art & literacy: Think of something you'd like to wish for when you see Bessie Belle and what she might conjure up if you didn't say it properly. Draw.

Some interesting ones my kids came up with:

1) School - Tool

2) Baby shark - Mark on his face

3) Toy - toys

4) Hat - bat

They had fun doing it because they thought it was pretty hilarious when they came up with the 'wrong' wishes :) Hope you'll have fun with this too!

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

2013-01-18T07:27:00.004-08:00

Title/Author: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons / Eric Litwin (writer), James Dean (illustrator)
Publisher: Harper
Pages: 40 pages
ISBN: 978-0-06-211058-9
Ages: 4 - 7

In a nutshell
Pete the Cat wore his bright yellow new shirt which had four totally colorful, groovy buttons. But it fell off one by one! However, that didn't bother Pete at all. He said, buttons come buttons go, and kept on singing his song, until he was left with one last button - his belly button! :)

What I liked
EVERYTHING! It's such a simple, straight-forward story, yet my kids (4-5 year olds) in school enjoyed it immensely! They not only loved the story but also the bright, beautiful illustrations. I was quite surprised they loved the book. I guess that's how all children's books should be written - clear storyline, straight-forward & simple; basically KISS - (my definition: Keep It Simple & Straight-Forward)

How I read/presented it
1) Get the children interested in the story: I asked them if they've ever lost anything. How did they feel about it? Then weave in Pete the Cat and ask them how do you think he felt when he started losing his groovy buttons? What do you think he did?

2) Pete has this really cool-nonchalant look. Use this to add character to this story. After losing the first button, one of my students asked me, "Why does Pete have that look on his face? He just lost a button!" I just said, "Well, that's coz Pete's a cool cat! Guess what he did after losing this button?" Have the children guessing the outcome. Some even said, he's gonna get a new shirt! Some said, he's gonna cry.

3) I animated the story and gave it 'life.' I kinda animated Pete and imitated his nonchalant look. I asked my students to try it too. They had so much fun doing it.

4) Added some words of my own to give Pete more 'character'.

5) Encouraged involvement and participation. I sorta 'created' my own tune for Pete's song in this story and invited the children to sing along with me. And each time Pete loses his button, I asked the kids guess what Pete will do next/how do you think he'll react? This way, it'll make this simple story, more interesting.

Most importantly, get the children involved in the story. It'd make story time so much more fun!

You could turn this into a great storytelling session too! Just use your imagination and you'll have so much fun telling and dramatizing it; yes, even without the book :) I might try doing this when I get the chance :)

After that we had an art & craft session. We made our very own cats! :) This one's made by yours truly hehe Found the idea here

The Devil in The White City by Erik Larson

2012-12-29T18:31:00.000-08:00

Title/Author: The Devil in The White City

Publisher: Vintage Books

Pages: 447

ISBN: 0-375-72560-1

In a nutshell
Firstly, this is non-fiction. I bought thinking it was fiction! Silly me. Anyway, Larson combined tales of two very passionate men, who toiled (one of them, very surreptitiously) to achieve their ambitions, but both have one objective - to create history.

Burnham was the architect behind the legendary 1893 World's Fair, while Holmes was the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death.

In the opening pages, you'll be introduced to them through their words.

"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood." - Daniel Burnham, Director of Works World's Columbian Exposition, 1893

"I was born with the devil in me. I could not help the fact that I was a murderer, no more than the poet can help the inspiration to sing." - Dr. H. H. Holmes, Confession, 1896

Thus began the story that has captured a wide readership...(including Leonardo di Caprio, who already bought the film rights in 2010)...except, probably me.

What I liked

Let me share what I liked first. I love learning new stuff, so reading this added some info to my knowledge bank.

Holmes's story was the page turner. He was such a character! Holmes was like a living dark entity in the real world. A dark entity who had the power to charm and harm. His charisma drew many women into his life - young and old. Once he had charm, he'd harm. He was so malevolent he craved seeing pain in his victims's eyes.

To be honest, I had no idea what the World's Fair was all about until now. It not only sounded fascinating, but its history was too. Here's a little about World's Fair:
The White City was the nickname for the World's Fair, The World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The central array of buildings were painted white - they were so beautiful that there were stories of people bursting into tears. There were about 200 other buildings in the Fair but the central array that was painted white was why it was called the White City.

The original Ferris Wheel was created at and for the Fair. It was designed and constructed by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. and became the landmark of the Fair.

Basically that's about it. Lots and lots of information thrown into the pages with really lengthy narration. It got kinda draggy when Larson went into too much detail especially about the work that went into the Fair.

Reading this tale of two men made me realize how passion can make and break a person. How success can be so different in the eyes of the beholder. Holmes 'could look at himself in the mirror and tell himself that he was one of the most powerful and dangerous men in the world. He could feel that he was a god in disguise.' That to him, was success - being wanted, being hunted, being able to outwit the authority was success.

This reminded me of a recent tragedy that took place in Sandy Hook school. People blamed the guns and they requested for increased gun control measures. Truly, it's not the weapons that create evil. It's our minds. A criminal will find all ways to get their guns; if not, they'll find other means to hurt and harm. Stricter gun controls won't help curb crimes. We have knives at home, why don't ban knives too? Anything can be used as a weapon as long as the mind intends to. FYI, Holmes didn't use guns to kill his victims. All he needed were his charm and experience in pharmaceuticals.

I think what we need to feed our future generations with is more love and better education.

What I disliked

The architecture and the details put into the book about the World's Fair was just too much. This pretty much sums it all because that's all you'll find in the book.

Definitely won't be in my must-read non-fiction book.

My verdict? 2/5 (But those who enjoy architecture might like this book)

Books for my Niece

2012-11-26T10:03:00.004-08:00

My niece has turned 4 months old and my sister wants to instill reading habits in her. She asked me what books are appropriate for an infant.

Reading aloud to babies are very important, especially during infancy, not only because it can help instil reading habits, but also because at this stage, infants are very receptive to language and visuals. This is the time when neurons make connections, a brain process called "synaptogenesis", very rapidly, till the first year of life. Another process called the myelination continues and the neurons controlling hearing and vision become myelinated.

Repetitions are very important at this stage. I suggested her to get board books that have big, colorful images and have repeated words. Those which have textures for them to touch will be great too. These are some of my recommendations:

How to read aloud to an infant:

1) Place them on your lap (not on the bed while you read aloud to them. They need to be able to see the images and colors, and be able to interact with the book and you)

2) Read using different voices (maintaining an infant-directed tone); make it as interactive and interesting as possible

3) Allow them to turn the pages, touch and feel

4) Encourage them to 'point'. Keep repeating your instructions and guide their little fingers. Repetitions will help register meaning to their brains.

Have fun reading to her sis! :)

Decatur Book Fest 2012

2012-09-25T11:14:00.002-07:00

It has been a loooonnnnggg while since this blog's been updated...One of the reasons, well, I haven't had any luck in reading a good book. I thought I'd have some luck with Wicked by Gregory Maguire (Fantasy), hoping it'd be as yummy as The Bartimaeus Trilogy, but I was wrong. I have problems finishing the last chapter now...Argghhh...

Ok, so what's new? As stated above, the Decatur Book Fest 2012 that was held recently in Decatur, GA from Aug 31 - Sept 2. And I've gotta check it out. My hubby and I took the train and to no surprise, there were big crowds in every station! One, because there was a football match. Two because there was also a big event - the Dragon Con that was happening in the same weekend. (My hubby and I will definitely check out Dragon Con next year, with me in COSTUME! Muahahaha)

So was the Book Fest good? I can't say it wasn't because books were sold at rock-bottom prices from as low as $5!! Of course I bought a few haha I was really tempted to get more children's books, but had to resist it due to space in our current place.

Decatur Book Festival 2012 (Aug 31 - Sept 2)

See that?? ALL BOOKS $5!!! Checked the books.
All in almost-perfect condition... :)

These 'bird-houses' are placed outside homes or anywhere you
like, with books in it. The idea is, you take a book and replace
it with another book of your own. An interesting way of
doing a book exchange :)

A closer look at the Little Free Libraries :)

The Type Rider has a very interesting story to share. Read below.

Kids trying out a writing tool which has been
replaced by a keyboard.

Get 3 for $8 here!!! And some really good cheap
children's books which I was sooooo tempted to buy!!

The 3 For $8 was one of the most popular tents.

Another highlight for me was meeting the author of one of all-time favorite books, The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern. Oh yes! SHE WAS THERE! :)) Went for her reading. Pictures as follow.

A very punctual lady indeed :))

This was just half of those who came. It was full by the time
the reading started!

She read one of her favorite chapters on Bailey,
Poppet and Widget

By the way Erin, this is my 3rd The Night Circus haha
The other 2 are in storage till we get a permanent place :)

Yay!! A photo and autograph! Mission ACCOMPLISHED!
Thanks Erin! :))
By the way, the queue was super long! I waited for almost 2 hours!

I can't wait to see the author line-up for next year! :)) And...I'm DEFINITELY gonna watch The Night Circus when it's out :))

Meanwhile, I can't wait to finish Wicked. It did have some really good reviews, but honestly, I'm not enjoying it so far. I had high expectations of it due to its rave reviews.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2012-08-02T07:35:00.017-07:00

Title/Author: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Publisher: The Berkley Publishing Group

Pages: 530

ISBN: 978-0-425-24513-2

In a nutshell

The Help is set in the 1960's and told by Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter's perspective. Aibileen and Minny are maids who worked for white families and regularly exchanged stories about their bosses they served.

Eugena "Skeeter" Phelan is the daughter of a white family who owns a cotton farm worked by African Americans. She just finished college and has returned home to find a job, hopefully as a writer. She finally got a job as a columnist at a local paper. This job sparked a bond between Skeeter and Aibileen, who reminded her of Constantine, a maid she loved and lost. She often wondered about Constantine's disappearance as they lost touch too suddenly while Skeeter was in college.

When Aibileen shared a story about the death of her son, she inadvertently told Skeeter about an idea he wanted to work on, "he say he gone write down what it was like to be colored working for a white man in Mississippi", which struck an accord with Skeeter who decided to pursue it. And this, ruffled a few feathers but also offered hope, promise and new-found friendships.

What I like

This book centers around racial discrimination - a topic that always captures my attention. Discrimination; be it race, gender, ethnicity or religion, is everywhere and will continue to be, as long as the earth survives, because we are only human. But the good news is, there are people who are trying to make this world a better place to live in. To those who suffered the worst of racial discrimination especially during the colonial and slave era when its at its peak, my hats off to you. I don't think I would've survived it.

The Help was set in Mississippi in the 1960's when blacks were viewed as plague and believed that "99% of all colored diseases are carried in the urine." The helpers had to use separate toilets and wear stockings even in the heat.

My favourite character, or rather characters, are Minny and Aibileen. Minny, because she's got attitude and she spoke her mind. In Missus Stein's (the editor whom Miss Skeeter approached to publish her work) words, "Gertrude (Minny's pseudonym) is every Southern white woman's nightmare. I adore her." But Minny's hard on the outside but soft on the inside. And she shared an equal respect for Aibileen as she her. "That's what I love about Aibileen, she can take the most complicated things in life and wrap them up so small and simple, they'll fit right into your pocket."

Aibileen, she was the opposite of Minny - she thinks before she talks. She talks reason into Minny's hot head. She was Minny's confidante and reason. Skeeter could relate to her too because she was much like Constantine - wise and graceful. Even little Mae Mobley was drawn to Aibileen, who constantly offered her words of encouragement "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." She dreaded the moment when Mae Mobley's innocence would one day be tainted by her environment and upbringing. "I want to stop that moment from coming - and it come with ever white child's life - when they start to think that colored folks ain't as good as whites...I pray that wasn't her moment, pray I still got time."

The carrot of the story. It wasn't until towards the end that we find out why Constantine left Skeeter, and the wait was worth the while. It was devastating but the reason would make you question, 'Who was it to blame?' 'Was anyone at fault?' I shan't reveal any spoilers here.

I also liked to see how the friendship between Skeeter and Aibileen and Minny grew. It was a friendship that knew no creed or color. Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought. It was also nice seeing how Minny softened towards Skeeter as the project came to an end. She also played a big part in making the project come to fruition.

Perfect pitch voices and great use of point of views made the story come to live. There was heart in each of them; none were written for the sake of being written, but were there to add depth and character. The POVs helped the reader empathize, question, ponder, reflect. Using different POVs is a tricky technique too. Whose voice would the author want to use? Why? How many voices? When is 'good enough' to stop? Stockett managed all these perfectly.

Mae Mobley. Such a sweetie pie this little girl. I just hope she'd turn out to be like Skeeter. This is one of my many other favorite passages in the book. This is a conversation between her and Aibileen. (p, 461)

"Miss Taylor says kids that are colored can't go to my school cause they're not smart enough."

I come round the counter then. Lift her chin up and smooth back her funny-looking hair. "You think I'm dumb?"

"No," she whispers hard, like she means it so much. She look sorry she said it.

"What that tell you about Miss Taylor, then?"

She blink, like she listening good.

"Means Miss Taylor ain't right all the time," I say.

She hug me around my neck, say, "You're righter than Miss Taylor." I tear up then. My cup spilling over. Those is new words to me.

What I didn't like

Not much really. Except probably the ending. I was expecting Elizabeth to act more reasonably like Lou Anne, especially after really seeing how much Mae Mobley loves Aibileen. But I guess, in the real world, there's rarely a happy ending and that was how Stockett decided to end The Help. Nevertheless, it was 'acceptable'.

Before I end this review, I'd like to share with you this video that I came across here. Storyteller Shanta, tells of her experience as a 'black kid' and couldn't comprehend why the 'white people ran away from us'. It was an experience that continued to hurt her until today.

Book Bite

The novel is Stockett's first. It took her 5 years to complete and was rejected by 60 literary agents before agent Susan Ramer agreed to represent Stockett.

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

2012-07-23T09:22:00.014-07:00

Title/Author: Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
Publisher: St Martin's Griffin
Pages: 383
ISBN: 978-0-312-30435-5

In a nutshell

This novel is set in the 18t90's to 1970's. The female protagonist, Rachel Kalama grew up in Honolulu and is part of a big Hawaiian family. Her father, was a merchant seaman and she dreamt that she'd travel to places her dad had visited. However, at the age of 7, her dreams shattered as they discovered she had leprosy, ma'i pake and was sent off to Kalaupapa, the isolated leper colony on the island of Moloka'i, because the disease was believed to be contagious. As the disease reached epidemic proportions, the government felt isolation was the best and only solution.

There, Rachel found a new family - Healer, Haleola who became her adopted 'auntie', Sister Mary Catherine Voorhies, one of the many Franciscan sisters who cared for the young girls at Kalaupapa and Leilani who taught her love.

What I liked

Kudos to Brennert for successfully documenting 5 decades of Rachel's story and those who suffered the pain of being a leper. A great topic chosen indeed. Overall, Moloka'i covered a little bit of everything. The focus is on the sufferings of the people in Moloka'i and how they grew as a community then subsequently as a family.

I liked the settings and atmosphere set in Hawaii. One can't deny the charms of that place - its beautiful landscape and people. And being able to escape into that magical island while reading the book is truly the cheapest getaway ever.

I enjoyed reading the author's note too. Although this novel was a work of fiction, it was set in a real place where real people lived and died. The author interweaved real life patients and caregivers with his fictional cast of characters, hence blurring the lines between fact and fiction. Reading this section, the reader will discover fact from fiction and will be more appreciative of their part of the story.

What I didn't like

Honestly, despite the rave reviews, I didn't quite enjoy Moloka'i. I think the author was trying to cover as much as possible, wanting to document more than narrate the story. The beginning looked promising; watching the curtains unveilling the life of Rachel and her family in Hawaii. But as the story progressed, events 'skipped' from one to another, point of views changed from one person to another, true deep emotions barely delved into.

The attempt of telling the story from various characters' point of views didn't quite work for me in this story. It didn't add any weight nor impact. I think in the attempt of trying to do a lot, the author did too little, leaving many characters 'weak' and storyline bare, in that it 'sweeps' through from one decade to another, so gently like the breeze, that it hardly rustled any leaves. There were also many different point of views which did help (a teeny weeny bit) intensify the story, but not enough. I did though, appreciate the relationship between Rachel, her dad and husband.

I've read authors who did much better at using different point of views (one of them is Kathryn Stockett who wrote The Help. Will review this soon). This would've been a much better read if it was written somewhat like The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks; lots of facts and details yet still made a very compelling story.

In its entirety, Moloka'i neither swept me off my feet nor left me intrigued as Henrietta Lacks did. That story made me google, youtube, read all other resources about the issue. It is that kind of impact that would make a story, be it historical fiction or autobiography, serve its purpose.

It'd be helpful too if there were some references at the back of the book to help the reader remember some of the Hawaiian terms used earlier in the story.

My verdict? 2.7 / 5 (Doubt I'd be reading Honolulu)

These were some of my favourite quotes from Moloka'i:

"God didn't give man wings; He gave him the brain and the spirit to give himself wings. Just as He gave us the capacity to laugh when we hurt, or to struggle on when we feel like giving up. I've come to believe that how we choose to live with pain, or injustice, or death...is the true measure of Divine within us."

"Fear is good. In the right degree it prevents us from making fools of ourselves. But in the wrong measure it prevents us from fully living. Fear is our boon companion but never our master."

Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

2012-07-10T10:05:00.020-07:00

Title/Author: Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin
Publisher: Bantam Books
Pages: 365
ISBN: 978-0-385-34414-2

In a nutshell
Alice Liddell Hargreaves is the 'Alice' in Wonderland; the girl who followed the White Rabbit into a land of quirky characters such as the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and the Cheshire Cat. If not for Alice, Lewis Carroll wouldn't have written Alice in Wonderland. If not for her, we wouldn't have known Wonderland.

This story takes us back to Alice's childhood. At seven, she was different from other girls her age; young, innocent yet wise beyond her years, who felt a special connection with Lewis Carroll (whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson). He loved taking Alice and her sisters out for walks and boat rides which they enjoyed immensely. However, Dodgson showed a special interest in Alice and his feelings were reciprocated. She felt he was the only one who understood her, who allowed her to be 'Alice' and loved her as she was.

Time passed and Dodgson somehow stopped seeing her and the sisters, and began phasing out of their life much to her dismay. In her 20's, she fell in love with Prince Leopold, who she felt loved the long yellow hair 'Alice' in Wonderland. Although they were head over heels with each other, the Queen didn't approve of it and that ended their relationship.

Alice married Reginald Gervis Hargreaves, a sportsman (a cricketer), whom she would never love him the way she loved Leo. Regi did not care about books at all; his simplicity sometimes ticked her off but also tugged at her heartstrings. Though married, she still often wondered about Prince Leopold, while Dodgson still haunted her thoughts, like a shadow, never leaving her.

What I liked

Everything about this book is beautiful. I didn't want it to end, but couldn't help turning the pages because it was, once again, so beautifully written, except for, maybe the last part (more on that later).

I especially liked Alice's voice and seeing her change from an innocent, free-willed girl to a strong, confident young woman. Benjamin is excellent at capturing Alice's conflicts emotionally. (She managed to do the same with 'Mrs. Tom Thumb') My favorite is the 7-year-old Alice. She was exactly as depicted in Alice in Wonderland - vivacious, full of wonder and ever so vocal!

Alice's love life was nothing but complicated. It's almost as though she was not meant for love. She attracted it for sure; men were drawn to her like moth to a flame, but maybe she was not meant to live it. Prince Leopold was the only man she ever professed her love to, but it ended up bitter. Mr Hargreaves claimed she was his love at first sight. But Alice never truly loved him, until it was too late.

Mr Dodgson on the other hand, as much as she hated to admit it, had a special place in her heart. There was always that longing for him in her voice.

'"Alice", the man in the hat said tenderly - only it was Leo. "Alice, be happy. Be happy with me."

"Of course," I said with a contented sigh. "Of course. I'll always be happy with you, my love."

But no - the man in the hat was not Leo, he was not Regi. He was Mr. Dodgson. I opened my eyes, my girl's eyes, clear and sharp, no need for spectacles, and saw only him. His soft brown hair curling at the ends, his kind blue eyes, no higher than the other.'

That summer, that particular moment that started and ended it all, she was happy, 'I will always believe - the two of us were."'

Ever since that day, she hated talking about him, too afraid the truth will tear her apart.

They were both such romantics. Mr Dodgson, I think, was the only man who was capable of loving her as she was, accepting her eccentricities, her passion for life and intelligence. He was her equal. I think their relationship would have turned out differently if they had met at a different time.

I admire Benjamin's ability to bring a character as enigmatic as Alice come to live. Like 'Mrs Tom Thumb', she created another poignant historical fiction based on research. It takes a very skillful writer to turn a novel of this genre into a keeper.

In my opinion, to be able to write a historical fiction as good as this, one must let dream take over...

'Words, pictures, questions, and finally - dreams; it always begins with a dream, doesn't it? Alice's dream by the river, her head in her sister's lap, dreaming of a rabbit, a white rabbit; my dream also. My dreams.' (p. 338)

What I didn't like

Didn't matter much, really. I just felt bad I couldn't empathize with Alice when she lost her sons; maybe a little for Rex (as he was obviously her favorite) and Edith, her sister. I felt the son's characters were rushed through and were written just to complete Alice's story.

Like I mentioned, not that it mattered, because the central point of this novel, to me, was her love life and the mysterious relationship she had had with Dodgson, which will remain in Wonderland, forever.

My verdict? 4/5 (If you are into historical fiction)

Book bite

Find out what really happened and what was made up in Benjamin's chapter on 'Alice in Wonderland - The True Hollywood Story' found at the end of the book.

My take-away message? Life's happiness is yours to define. Let me end this review with this:

I did not choose this, Peter had said.

I did, I had replied. And so I did; so, now, I do. (p. 344)

The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

2012-06-30T07:54:00.019-07:00

Title/Author: The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Publisher: Vintage International
Pages: 106
ISBN: 0-679-72205-x

In a nutshell
In February 1955, eight crew members of the Caladas, a Colombian destroyer, were washed over-alive, on a deserted beach in northern Colombia. Several of them drowned shortly before arriving at the port of Cartagena de Indias due to the existence of overweight contraband aboard the vessel. Ten days after the shipwreck, one of the sailors, Luis Alejandro Velasco, turned up on a deserted beach and became a hero overnight. Therein began his telling and selling his story to the media, including El Spectador where Marquez worked. Only this time, he tells the whole story, one that wasn't sanitized or authorized by the Colombian government.

What I liked
The lesson learnt - accepting adversity and making the best out of it. Velasco was lost and alone on a drifting life raft, far away from civilization. Nature was his friend and foe. She tore him apart, but also kept him alive. The scorching sun burnt his skin but each sun rise gave him new hope. The shark-infested waters could end his life, but it was also his source of hydration. And in darkness, nobody would be able to spot him from afar, but it was also the only time when the sharks left him alone.

Left with no food, Velasco ate his belt, the 3 business cards he had in his pocket and a 30cm root he found which tasted like blood. He also drank sea water, learning that it’s not harmful to the body and only resorted to it when the pain in my throat became unbearable.

Though Nature challenged Velasco in every possible way, she was also the only thing that also kept him sane and alive.

It’s the same with Life. She's your best friend when things are going your way. But when she throws you lemons (and calls you an ungrateful friend), just make lemonade and make a toast. Thank her for all the good times and wait till she runs outta lemons. Meanwhile enjoy your lemonade :)

What I disliked

Reading the Shipwrecked Sailor was like watching 'I Shouldn't Be Alive' on Discovery, and I think I much prefer it filmed on TV.

I'm in two minds about this book. I can’t say I either enjoyed or hated it. I only finished Shipwrecked because it was a Marquez and it’s only 106 pages :P

I guess I was expecting Marquez’s usual rich and luscious prose that I fell in love with in Love in the Time of Cholera and Melancholy Whore. Maybe because he first wrote Shipwrecked Sailor as a series of newspaper articles that required a different style?

My verdict? 3/5

The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin

2012-06-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to finish reading my ebooks for a very very very long time and am still half way through most of them. I NEVER HAD TROUBLE FINISHING A BOOK BEFORE (except for really sleep-inducing ones)! So I told myself to stop with the ebooks and get back to paperbacks (I don't really fancy hardcovers either :P). And I MUST SOON as I need a good read for our trip to Florida. And so I did! It was tough choosing the RIGHT book. The book that SPOKE to me. Went to Barnes & Noble but none of the books displayed caught my attention. Checked out Walmart too. None. I almost gave up until we went to Target.

There...I found...The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb. Somehow, my hands just reached out for it. Browsing the first few pages was good enough for me to decide to get it. And my instincts were right :)

Title/Author: The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb / Melanie Benjamin

Publisher: Bantam Books

Pages: 458

ISBN 13: 978-0-385-34416-6

In a nutshell: Mrs. Tom Thumb, or rather Mercy Lavinia "Vinnie" Warren Bump, was only two feet, eight inches tall. Even as minute as she was, the world couldn't contain her dreams. She claimed, "Yes, my height would be the first thing people noticed about me, but it would not be the last."

Somehow she knew she was meant to do great things and not confined to her life in her family farm in Middleborough, Massachusetts. She defined herself before the world could. "Never would I allow my size to define me. Instead, I would define it."

She probably got her sense of adventure and need to achieve success of magnanimous proportions from her mother's side. "I can trace my pedigree on my mother's side back through Richard Warren of the Mayflower Company, to William, Earl of Warren, who married Gundreda, daughter of William the Conqueror."

At 17, she was hired as a teacher and immediately drew respect from her students as "Without a murmur, every child obeyed my command." Then, the watershed moment happened in March of 1858, when Colonel John Wood showed up at their door, offering Vinnie a job as an 'entertainer' on his showboat. Thinking of the opportunities it offered she accepted it and before you know it, she worked for the immortal impresario P.T. Barnum, married the tiny supserstar General Tom Thumb in the wedding of the century, and became the world's most unexpected celebrity.

Life couldn't be better, until Vinnie's similary-sized sister, Minnie, joined her in her tours and performances. Vinnie loved her sister tremendously and knew Minnie was too gentle of a soul to be following her path. She did all she could to "keep her sister safe" whose life came to a tragic end. What happened after that made Vinnie really reflected on life, love and purpose.

What I liked

This was a beautifully-written book. I liked how Benjamin made something researched so readable. Her storytelling was strong and solid. The pace was good and story was rich in detail without being cumbersome. It's as though Vinnie wrote this book herself.

Vinnie's character was so well infused in this autobiography. One particular moment stood out to me: When Vinnie was hired as a teacher, she asked for her wage. Everyone must have thought it amusing as they broke into "helpless guffaws". Later she understood that people found it very odd to hear such a request coming from a person like her - small and female, what more, a female with no other prospects, to be asking for salary. What was offered to her, was she "suspected was likely and act of charity". Did she get her salary in the end? But of course :)

I liked how the author developed Vinnie's relationship with the characters. Each were given equal attention, with more on Barnum and rightly so as we will find out where Vinnie's heart really was.

Although the strength of her relationship with Minnie was brought in later in the story, I could feel their bond and love for each other. And what happened to Minnie later in the story made me cry buckets. It showed me what a big person Minnie was despite her size.

It would have been better if...

there were more pictures of Vinnie, her travels and companions would have made this reading experience more enriching.

My verdict? 4/5

I'm so glad I picked this up for my Florida getaway :)

Let me end this review by sharing one of my favourite paragraphs in this story.

"We were all four (Mr & Mrs Tom Thumb and Mr and Mrs Bleeker) seated in one of the parlors after dinner; it was particularly cozy on this night, as it was frigid outside, but inside we had the warm familiarity of flocked wallpaper, worn carpet, chipped hotel dinnerware. That was the life we knew, the four of us, and we had shared for so long. The few times we saw one another out of such surroundings - not on a train, or in a theater or a hotel - it seemed odd; we always acted stiff, uncomfortable, overly formal. This was where we belonged - in anonymous hotels, in cities we never saw save from a train window or from a stage door. It may sound depressing, but it was not; rather the bland anonymity of our surroundings served only to sharpen our identities, making us dear and recognizable to one another - making us a family." (pg. 371)

Would you let your children read these??

2012-06-06T08:41:00.001-07:00

I'm a sucker for children's books; anything for ages 0 - 10; especially those written by Roald Dahl, Dr. Seuss, Julia Donaldson and Eric Carle. I normally pick books which are:

* entertaining
* simple but educational
* has good vocab
* well written and conceptualised
* great illustrations! (for picture books)

Recently, I came across this article which listed 10 children's books and I was flabbergasted. Were these books REALLY MEANT FOR CHILDREN??? I won't ever read these books to kids. Would you or allow your kids to?

The Story of Little Suck-a-Thumb
Illustrations by Sanya Glisic

First, the title itself turned me off. Suck-a-thumb, and the illustrations seemed to aim at giving children nightmares...Definitely not something I wanna read to my children...

The ABC of Anger

Ghastly, ghostly, gory...A HUMAN HEAD-SWALLOWING HEAD???! Is this Nightmare on Elm Street?? And check out its title...I dare not imagine what's in their ABCs

Brave Mr. Buckingham by Dorothy Kunhardt

This one looks innocent enough. That little red thing on the left looked like a carved out potato to me,..but...after reading its description...that seemingly innocent-looking potato is actually the head of Mr. Buckingham, who had been dismembered!! — losing one foot to a buzzsaw and another to a fish before his arm is sliced off by a gardener and he gets hit by a truck — as he tries to prove to little Billy that it won’t hurt to pull on his loose front tooth. That’s him there, just a head left.
I imagine this conversation between a dad and his son:
"No, daddy! I don't wanna pull out my loose front tooth!"
"Hey son...there's nothing to worry about...Look at Mr. Buckingham! He's left with only his head, and he's still smiling!"

Poor Cock Robin

The title of this book is Poor Cock Robin. I mean, REALLY??? It sounds so wrong whichever way I read it.
Poor, Cock, Robin
Poor, Cock Robin
Poor Cock, Robin
Even if I read it flatly Poor Cock Robin
And what's it about?
circa 1865, the sparrow kills Cock Robin and then all the other terrifying creatures of the forest talk about how they’ll bury him. An excerpt: “Who saw him die? I, said the Fly, with my little eye, I saw him die. Who caught his blood? I, said the Fish, with my little dish, I caught his blood.”

This, my friends, were how the Russians taught their children the important lessons on life:

"You like to fight with your fellow-friends? Then you’ll be bitten by different snakes!” and “If you plan not to listen to father wild black cats would scratch your brother” and “If you are greedy as old and don’t share balls probably you would be eaten by wolves.”
I think I'd stick to, "If you don't do your homework, I'll call the police to come get you." That itself, scared me to death when I was a kid.

Yes, this is a CHILDREN'S BOOK. JorÅgumo (which is literally translated as “whore spider”), from Gojin Ishihara’s 1972 children’s book Illustrated Book of Japanese Monsters.

Click here for the complete article.

Awesome book clutches!

2012-03-26T08:57:00.006-07:00

Look what I found while reading Vanity Fair - awesome, pretty book clutches! Find all of them here.

Now, guess the price. They start from 490 pounds :P

Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

2012-02-28T18:47:00.032-08:00

Title/Author: Handle with Care / Jodi Picoult

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages: 548

ISBN 13: 978-0340979044

In a nutshell
Willow is born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (commonly known as Brittle Bones disease) and her mom, Charloote, is offered a lifeline - to file a wrongful birth – suggesting that Sean and Charlotte (the mother) should have been made aware earlier on in her pregnancy that Willow suffered from this life-threatening condition. If they win the case, they'd receive a monetary payout which would secure Willow's future. And the doctor Charlotte would be suing is her best friend, Piper.

What's worse is filing for wrongful birth also means that if Charlotte had known in advance about the disability, she would have terminated the pregnancy, i.e. openly declaring it in court she would rather her daughter had never been born.

What I liked

As with the other Picoult's books that I've read (My Sister's Keeper, Nineteen Minutes), it's thought-provoking. I liked the controversial issues that were brought up: the emotional conflicts; the grey area; the argument of what's right and wrong (and if there's such a thing?); friendship and love.

I hated (strong word, I know) Charlotte for doing what she did. To me, it's outright selfish, it's as though she wanted to satisfy her need to live up to HER expectations of being a good mom, without taking into consideration the other members of her family - her husband and daughter. And I thought, she should talk things through with Willow too, share Willow her thoughts and give Willow a chance to speak up, to be honest with her mom.

I was so clear of my stand, until I read this on Time.com. Here's a gist of it:

'So I took particular interest in Emily Rapp’s brave and agonizing essay published Monday on Slate in which she says she would have aborted her son, Ronan. Almost 2, Ronan has Tay-Sachs disease, a progressive genetic disorder that his mother believes will kill him sometime this year. It has already robbed him of his sight and left him paralyzed.

In a failure of modern medicine, Ronan’s condition was not detected prenatally; his mutation was too rare. But had Rapp known ahead of time that she would give birth to a beautiful, bright-eyed boy who would suffer daily seizures and be unable to move or swallow, she says she would have chosen to spare him — and her — the incredible pain. She would have ended her pregnancy “without question and without regret, although this would have been a different kind of loss to mourn and would by no means have been a cavalier or uncomplicated, heartless decision.” '

Heartless? Really? Would you want watch your child suffer? And if you have been told of the condition, and yet you decided against abortion, what kind of mother would that make you?

But then again, would Rapp say the same thing had she had not had Ronan? Would she wonder what Ronan would grow up to be? Did she make a wrong decision? Would she be able to live with it? Isn't there always hope? Isn't there always a teeny, weeny chance of survival? And who knows, this child would bring inspiration to the world, like Carly.

Everything happens, happens for a reason.

Questions. Conflicts. What would you do?

What I didn't like

The repeated characters. This is very much like 'My Sister's Keeper', except for the disease and lawsuit. The many different point of views, the going back and forth, were really exhausting. I think this book would have been at a better pace if it was shortened.

I'd end this review with my favourite quote:

“A dutiful mother is someone who follows every step her child makes...And a good mother is someone whose child wants to follow her.”

My verdict?

3/5 : An 'ok' read if you have not read her earlier books