• Determine your birthday month and get a word that rhymes with it or you can affix to it. Caps lock your birth month (ex: MAYday! JUNE dune, APRILicious, JULYvely, AUGUST pocus, parched MARCH…). Be unique.


• Your birth month plus the word affixed or rhymed shall become the tag’s title in your case.


• Get your birthday and add the digits involved. Example, if your birthday falls on the 25th of July, add 2 and 5 you get 7.


• Whatever is the sum, write a list of the MATERIAL gifts you wish to receive, the number of which shall correspond to the sum of your birthday. For example, applying the case above (in rule number 3), you will write seven (7) things you wish to receive.


• After your wish list, put your name and birthday in the Bloggers’ Birthday Directory, with a link to your blog/s. Note: when you add your birthday, please place it in a way that the dates appear chronological (January, February… 1, 2, 3)


• Pass this tag meme by tagging as many people as you want.

Birthday: December 21

Calculation: 2 + 1 = 3

1. Books
2. Bookshelves
3. Laptop

Bloggers’ Birthday Directory:

February 20 - Caryl February 23 - Jammy March 7 - Mari March 29 - Rachel May 3 - Vannie May 8 - joanjoyce May 27 - Zang Caesar September 25 - Alice Teh September 30 - Mckhoii October 22 - MommyBa December 18 - JoshuaOngYS December 19 - Alpha December 20 - Suzanne December 21 - Melody YOUR BIRTHDAY HERE

I tag Gautami, Jen, Nymeth & Stephanie! :-)

1. What are your plans for today? Nothing. Just the same as usual.
2. Who was the last person you talked on the phone with? My husband.
3. What was the last tv program you watched? A food variety show last evening.
4. What was the last thing you ate? Bread with tuna spread.
5. What time did you get out of bed today? 5 a.m.

1) What's In A Name Challenge

• Blue Justice by Illona Hans
• Cat O'Nine Tales: And Other Stories by Jeffrey Archer
• Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie
• Amsterdam by Ian McEwan
• Into The Storm by Suzanne Brockmann
• The Ghost Orchid by Carol Goodman

2) Another Blooming Challenge

• The Ghost Orchid by Carol Goodman

(The above challenge is over. I cannot believe I did not read this yet! I have to blame it on my reading mood though, for it influences the books I choose to read next.)

3) TL;DR Challenge

• Books of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
• American Gods by Neil Gaiman
• The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

4) 2008 TBR Challenge

• One True Thing by Anna Quindlen
• Stars by Nora Roberts
• P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
• Sacred Cows by Karen E. Olson
• Forbidden by Suzanne Brockmann
• Cage of Stars by Jacquelyn Mitchard
• Next To Die by Marliss Melton
• My Lover's Lover by Maggie O'Farrell
• The Mango Season by Amulya Malladi
• Halfway To The Grave by Jeaniene Frost
• Almost Noon by Alice Sebold
• First Drop by Zoe Sharp

Alternates:

• The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
• Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
• A Student of Living Things by Susan Richards Shreve
• In The Woods by Tana French

5) The Pub Challenge

• Thigh High by Christina Dodd
• The Mercenary by Cherry Adair
• Dingo by Charles de Lint
• The Choice by Nicholas Sparks
• Fire and Ice by Anne Stuart

(I still need to read 3 more books to complete the above challenge.)

6) The Short Story Reading Challenge

• Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson
• Hell On Heels by Julie Kenner, Kathleen O'Reilly & Dee Davis
• Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman

Well, although I have yet to complete any challenge, that does not mean I will not participate in any of them in future. They are so fun and addictive, plus it is always good to see what other readers are reading and get those books through their recommendations.

I have seen a few new challenges around, and I am still debating whether or not if I should participate, haha! So how many challenges have you completed?

Questions courtesy of Jennifer this week; thanks, Jennifer!

1. Birthdays are usually the time when you get all those mixed feelings. Although it is always a joy to celebrate birthdays, at times you wonder if the time has passed by too quickly.

2. Autumn is my favorite season because of the cooling weather. It is also nice to see some colours to the surroundings when all the leaves are turning red or yellow.

3. I feel my best when I am relaxed.

4. Meat sticks with rice is my favorite food!

5. First impressions are important because this is the first image you portray to other people when they first meet you.

6. The best piece of advice I ever received was from my mom. Whenever I was down or when I needed some guidance, she was always there for me.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to reading and watching some late night TV shows, tomorrow my plans include spending time with my family; I am also hoping to catch up on my blog hopping and Sunday, I want to relax and read!

What, in your opinion, is the definition of a “reader.” A person who indiscriminately reads everything in sight? A person who reads BOOKS? A person who reads, period, no matter what it is? … Or, more specific? Like the specific person who’s reading something you wrote?

Generally, a reader is a person who would read anything. No matter if they are books, magazines, newspapers, internet etc. However, I think there is a difference between reading for pleasure and reading for information (or as a profession). For example, a person may be working as a proofreader but that does not mean he/she has an interest for reading, but he/she is still considered a reader because he/she reads.

I am not sure of you, but I would like to think of a "reader" who has a passion for books. That's me, being a booklover and all.

Quoted from the Introduction of this novel by Terry Windling:

"Briar Rose" is another name for the old story "Sleeping Beauty", which is one of the best known ane best loved fairy tales in the western world. No one knows precisely how old it is, for we have no written record of when oral storytellers first began to tell the tale - but we do know that our sleeping princess is at very least several centuries old."

I am sure most of us have heard of "Sleeping Beauty". This is one of my favourite stories during my childhood days, along with many others. This novel is a re-telling version written by Jane Yolen in a bittersweet way. Fantasy aside, there is also a modern setting to this story which makes everything seems more real to the readers.

Rebecca Berlin has been enchanted by her grandmother, Gemma's stories since she was a child. Gemma would tell them nothing but the story of Briar Rose, one which Rebecca would never get tired of hearing it. But, Gemma is getting old and weak and before she passed away, she wanted Rebecca to promise her that she will help her to find the castle, the prince and the maker of the spells. She was also Briar Rose, the princess.

Rebecca is determined to uncover the truth but her two other sisters, Sylvia and Shana, think she is insane to take Gemma's words seriously. She later finds Gemma's wooden box which contains some old photographs and clippings and she began to take the lead from there. No one knew about Gemma's past and why she is hiding away the box, not even Rebecca's mother and this makes Rebecca more determined to find the truth.

Before making her trip to Poland and on her father's suggestion, she contacted the Polish Jewish program for a translator. Magda Bronski, a student is recommended and soon, with her assistance for their journey, Rebecca will discover the shocking fact about Chelmno, the place where hundreds thousands of people were being killed during the war and how an encounter with a Mr. Josef Potocki will unlock the mystery surrounding her grandmother and her secret past.

Although I love the story, it is not really an easy read due to the context of the Holocaust. It is a dark modern fairy tale but it has mesmerized me. Jane Yolen's writing style is just marvelous. The way she put Gemma's story in alternate chapters throughout the book works perfectly. Like Rebecca, I too find myself very intrigued with her version and was anxious to know what happened and whether or not Gemma was the real Briar Rose as she had claimed. This is a powerful and moving novel which I would highly recommend to anyone.

Other Bloggers' reviews:

Maw Books Blog

This week's questions are book related....

1. Who are your favorite authors? I have several favourite authors; I can't possibly list out just one.
2. What are your favorite books? Any book of any genre that has a great plot and engaging characters.
3. What kind of books do you tend to read? Sci-fi, Romance, Mystery...etc...? I tend to read all genres... (well, except non-fictions) as long as they interest me!
4. Do you prefer to borrow books from the library or buy them? I used to borrow books from the library during my school days, but now that school is way out of my league and I am able to afford them, I either rent or buy them. Moreover, I prefer to read books at my own pace.
5. Do you prefer hardcover or paperback? Paperbacks, because they are easy to carry.
6. What was the last book you read? What are you reading now? It is a YA novel titled I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter. I am currently reading Briar Rose by Jane Yolen.
7. Do you read everyday? I try to whenever I have the chance.
8. On average how many books do you read per year? I do not keep tracks in the past, but since I have started blogging, it has help me to keep track of the books I read.
9. Do you belong to any book clubs? Not at the moment.
10. Recommend a good book. I wish I am able to give you a whole list of my favourite books! However, if you view the sidebar on the right of my blog, you will be able to find some books I read which have marked with an asterisk. Those are my favourites and they are also shortlisted for 'My Book of the Year'. ;-)

1. A smile is another good way of breaking the ice when meeting someone new.
2. Scrabble is my favorite board or card game.
3. I would love to have more time in my life and less stress.
4. When I think of the Summer Solstice, I think of nothing but the hot weather and ice lemonade.
5. I just remembered I need to buy some toiletries on my way home today.
6. One of my favorite song lyrics goes like this: You always choose to stay, I should be thankful for everyday, Heaven knows what the future holds, Or least where the story goes, But I never believed until now (Yesterday by Leona Lewis).
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to reading more of Briar Rose by Jane Yolen, tomorrow my plans include household chores and laundry and Sunday, I want to spend more time with my family!

Appetizer
If you could live on another continent for 1 year, which one would you choose?
Anywhere that has four seasons because it is always summer here.

Soup
Which browser do you use to surf the Internet?
Internet Explorer.

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you know about the history of your country?
Probably a 8.

Main Course
Finish this sentence: Love is…
... a deep emotion that you feel for someone or something, but it is also about giving and many more.

Dessert
Have you ever been in or near a tornado?
No, and I am hoping it will always stay that way!

Think about your favorite authors, your favorite books . . . what is it about them that makes you love them above all the other authors you’ve read? The stories? The characters? The way they appear to relish the taste of words on the tongue? The way they’re unafraid to show the nitty-gritty of life? How they sweep you off to a new, distant place? What is it about those books and authors that makes them resonate with you in ways that other, perfectly good books and authors do not?

Words are powerful. An alphabet may seem meaningless, but put them together to form a word, plus some imagination and emotions from a writer and a book is borne! Sometimes, it is the story that sweep me away; but there are also times that I care about the characters and think they do help in keeping a story alive.

I admit I am not a huge fan of poetry, but I am touched with their beautiful prose and am also amazed with the poet's creativity to form a story with little words used, especially if they rhyme. It is an art to me.

Then again, there are also books that take me to other countries; and even though it is nothing as compared to visiting the actual places, it is still an eye-opener for me.

It is hard for me to specify only a factor of my favourite books or authors, for I think a good book comes with the writer's great imagination and his/her usage of words. A story will not be engaging if only one stands alone.

Here is a synopsis of Stand:

One courageous woman shatters the chains of abuse that bound her family for generations and dares to brave the crippling memories of sexual abuse; shatter the illusions of denial; reveal her family s bitter legacy of violence; reach for healing and wholeness, and take her place on a path to forgiveness and peace. Replacing shame with hope, fear with truth, and shadows with light, Debbie Williamson shares her arduous journey to wellness. She did not choose this journey. At nine years old, she was a victim of sexual abuse. The hidden trauma of childhood rape often maps a life filled with destructive patterns and shame. Such was almost the case for Ms. Williamson. As a young woman struggling to repair her family, she finds the courage to take a STAND. Grasping for health because her life truly depends upon it, she uncovers and shatters her family s tragic tradition of violence. With focus and conviction, Debbie Williamson overcomes a lifetime of denial to heal herself and protect the next generation.

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Excerpt of Stand:

Introduction

The details of my suicide were planned right down to the final moment. I envisioned it clearly. On the appointed evening, I would drive home from work as usual, pick up speed, aim for the large oak tree that was near the shoulder of the road by my house and crash head on.

Everyone would believe it was an accident. My children would never know that I did it intentionally. I would be free at last. No more would I have to live my life.

That was my glorified version of how to step out of this life; it did not happen.

Instead, I swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills and went to bed one afternoon. I woke up in the emergency room drinking charcoal. My daughter had found me and called her dad to tell him she couldn’t wake me up.

After that event, the ultimate shame hovered over me like a swarm of bees. The constant buzzing relentlessly reminded me of what I had just done to my children.

Two days after I got home from the hospital I called a friend who recommended a self-help program. Two weeks later, I was on my way to Boise, Idaho for what turned out to be a life-saving event. From that point forward, I began to live my life. Do you ever wonder how you got to where you are in life? And then wondered why you made the choices you did? I’ve asked myself these questions most of my adult life. I finally figured it out for myself, and my story has a happy ending.

My story includes three generations of abominable abuse of the darkest variety: sexual, emotional, and mental. My story sheds light on the shadow side of the adult human who uses children to relieve his sexual appetites and need for power and domination over the innocent and helpless. But my story ends in triumph instead of despair.

Being raped and sexually abused as a child imprisoned me in a lifetime of emotional and mental anguish. Not only did I survive and triumph, I found great happiness. I want to share the how and why with you.

We all have a story to tell and I am hoping mine will make a difference to someone out there. It is my hope that you won’t feel alone or think of yourself as another tragic statistic who dreams of leaving by the back door of suicide as I once did.

Yes, I wrote this story to give you hope because it is an inspirational and triumphant coming-of-age memoir. I also wrote it for my children, that they may recognize the miracles that have been bestowed upon us and stopped this sickening cycle of abuse.

_________________________________________

Debbie Williamson's Bio:

Born in Salt Lake City, she grew up in Southern California and now lives in Utah with her family and four miniature schnauzers. She and her husband are the parents of 9 children and 11 grandchildren. Family is her number one priority and when not working with university and church groups, she can be found golfing and sailing with her children and husband, Gary.

_________________________________________

PS: I was also given a chance to review this book along with hosting the blog tour, but unfortunately time is running a little tight for me but I am looking forward to reading it soon.

1. Family is high up on my bucket list.
2. My favorite quote is "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do"; it's from Confucius.
3. Reading and curiosity inspired me to start blogging.
4. Strawberries are best dipped in chocolate.
5. My favourite local dish cooked by my mom was in the last dream I remember having.
6. The most enjoyable time to go for a walk is when the mood strikes.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to catching up with my reading (because the book I'm currently reading is a page-turner), tomorrow my plans include giving a treat to my father (Father's Day is approaching!) and Sunday, I want to spend time with my family and have a good time with the in-laws eating out!

A combo of two suggestions by: Heidi and by litlove

Have you ever been a member of a book club? How did your group choose (ot, if you haven’t been, what do you think is the best way to choose) the next book and who would lead discussion?

Do you feel more or less likely to appreciate books if you are obliged to read them for book groups rather than choosing them of your own free will? Does knowing they are going to be read as part of a group affect the reading experience?

I am not a member of any book club, but I know it would be loads of fun to join one. Although I am not sure if there are any rules or regulations, but in my opinion it is always good to have group discussions and the host/moderator will then decide on what book to read based on the members' suggestions. Or maybe the host/moderator will come up with a reading list and whichever book has the most votes will be read.

Though I have never joined a book club, I did have a few joint-reading sessions with two of my bloggie friends, whereby we will choose a book and will read a few chapters as agreed at one time before we proceed to the next chapters. In this way, we will finish the book and share our views at the same time. Of course I think this will only work best with a small group of people, let's say like two or three readers.

I do not think I will less likely to appreciate the books if I am obliged to read them with other readers; although I am sure all readers will agree that it is always the best to read on your own free will, but the purpose of joining a book club is to share the reading experience besides having fun. I am always happy to discuss the books I read with other readers, after all each of us has different opinions and it is always interesting to hear their thoughts.

So, do you belong to any book club? :-)

Actually... blue happens to be my favourite colour. :-)
So what is yours?

I decided to read something different after reading several fictions in a row. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy reading fictions, it is one of my favourite genres (in fact, most of them are!), but after reading them for a while I want something light and entertaining; one that doesn't give me a heavy heart or leaves me pondering. I picked Dagger-Star not only I was attracted by the cover but it was also my latest acquisition.

Red Gloves is an extraordinary heroine. She is not only beautiful, but a ruthless mercenary as well. As her name indicates, she is always wearing a pair of red gloves and she never takes them off; she had an ugly past she does not want to talk about and she has vowed that she will kill anyone who has seen her bare hands. Besides the red gloves, she also has a dagger-star birthmark on her chest.

Together with her sword-sister, Bethral, they travel around looking for anyone who will hire them. Due to a bad storm, they came upon a demolished farm and seek refuge from a goat-herder named Josiah. But Josiah is not truly a goat-herder, for he is the Baron of Athelbryght and he is a few people who have survived the war but the fallen of Palins have left him bitter and sore after the betrayal of his beloved woman.

When Josiah noticed Red Gloves' birthmark, he feels a surge of hope as he recognizes that sign as a Chosen One that will help them to save the remaining of Palins; and one that will take over the throne one day. However, Red Gloves dismissed the thought and is only interested in being a mercenary. She and Bethral took their leave after staying for a night and during the journey, they saved a man who is being sold for slavery. Under this circumstances, they are forced to return to Josiah to get all the help needed for the badly injured man. This is where Priestess Evelyn comes in, for she is known to heal. Soon, Red Gloves finds herself entangled into the Palin's world of prophecies and mages, and this time around she will help them to restore the shattered world after a validation from the Priestess Evelyn and a bargain made with Josiah.

I was caught into the adventurous tale of Dagger-Star and although I felt the magical element lacking, overall it is still a satisfying read as I enjoyed reading the action scenes and the sexual tension between Red Gloves and Josiah. Red Gloves is exactly what is portrayed on the cover - she is alpha and stubborn; one who is always ready to fight when necessary. On the other hand, Josiah appears to be more beta but that does not mean he is weak. I just loved the ending; I wish I can say something more about the plot but I am afraid of revealing some spoilers along the way.

Elizabeth Vaughan is also the author of the Chronicles of the Warlands trilogy. Though I have yet to read this trilogy, I have read good reviews about them. I am hoping to pick them up one day soon.

I know I had posted a few pictures of my bookshelves some time ago... and since there is no new shelves added (I just wish there is more space in our study room!), I am posting the same picture although I have shuffled the books and only to-be-read piles are arranged on the shelves. I really, really love this bookshelf! We chose this colour because it matches with the rest of our furniture. I store all my manga collections at the bottom left of the shelf, and for your information, there is no more space in there for more!!

Below picture is another bookshelf. It is smaller as compared to the one above, but I am not complaining. We bought this shelf when we first moved into the house, and since my TBR pile keeps growing, that explains the above shelf. I have some stacks in our storeroom as well, but I am not going to post that along with the junks! ;-P

This picture was taken several months ago at Borders. My husband took this when I was browsing through the new arrivals nearby. I wasn't sure what my daughter was looking at, but I am glad she has an interest in books! I then took her to the Children's section after I had completed my acquisitions. ;-) It was funny why my husband did not take a picture of her reading the Ladybird's books!

• Alessandra from Out of the Blue (Check out her rainbow shelves!)
• Debi from Nothing of Importance (One of my favourite bloggie friends! Plus, she has a great stack there!)
• Nymeth from Things Mean A Lot (Another favourite bloggie friends! I just love her kitty!)
• Jaimie from Bell Literary Reflections (I love her chair! And her dogs are adorable! :D)

I always post my review after I have finished reading a book, so here they are (not much reading as compared to other readers but they will have to do):

1. Fire and Ice by Anne Stuart (This is the 5th installment of the Ice series. Besides having a kick reading all the the action-packed scenes, I also enjoyed reading the tensions between the sexy bad boy heroes and their courageous heroines.)
   
2. The Thirteenth Tale by Dianne Setterfield (One of the best reads I read so far this year! Full of intrigue and suspense, and I love the author's writing style! I am definitely looking forward to reading more of her books in future!)
   
3. Down to a Sunless Sea by Mathias B. Freese (I got a reviewer copy from the author. This is a collection of 15 short stories; each tale tells a story about the difficult situation a character faced and a glimpse of his/her inner thoughts. Though some are dark, I find them thought-provoking in a way.)

Appetizer
When you drink soda/pop/coke, do you prefer to drink it from the bottle, a can, or after pouring it into a cup?
I prefer to drink it from the can, but I make sure to clean the rim before I drink.

Soup
What television show are you willing to stay up late to watch?
Anything as long as they don't bored me to tears.

Salad
Name one person, place, or thing you think of as brilliant.
The invention of telecommunication.

Main Course
Would you be willing to work 4 10-hour days instead of 5 8-hour days in order to save gas?
Why not? Besides the benefit of saving gas, I get to sleep in late for another day!

Dessert
If you were a superhero, what would you call yourself?
I think I'd just stick to my own name.

Questions courtesy of One Knutty Knitter; thank you, Knutty!

I'd love to feature your questions, if you'd like to leave some for future use please feel free!

1. Idle hands are a big no-no when it comes to creativity.
2. I love humming to myself in the shower.
3. My favorite time of the day is when I fetch my daughter from the in-laws' house after work. I always get this warm feeling when she says, "Mummy, I miss you!".
4. The last tea I drank was iced lemon tea.
5. I like to be outdoors with my family in the Summer.
6. My mother always said never look down on oneself no matter what other people think of you.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to catching up on my reading and watching late night shows on TV, tomorrow my plans include doing household chores and cooking and Sunday, I want to relax and spend some time reading with my daughter!

Have your book-tastes changed over the years? More fiction? Less? Books that are darker and more serious? Lighter and more frivolous? Challenging? Easy? How-to books over novels? Mysteries over Romance?

Another great topic this week!

My book-tastes have definitely changed over the years. I used to read a lot of thrillers, horrors and romances in the past. But ever since I have started blogging and after reading so many wonderful book reviews from fellow book bloggers, I decided to be "adventurous" and try out all the different genres as recommended. Now I fell in love with fictions, fantasy, YA, and even Children's picture books! In other words, I am not as choosy as before and I will read anything that sparks my interest. (The down side is, I will be spending more money on books!)

I never read without making sure I am in a secure position. I have been like this ever since the age of seven when, sitting on a high wall and reading The Water Babies, I was so seduced by the descriptions of underwater life that I unconsciously relaxed my muscles. Instead of being held buoyant by the water that so vividly surrounded me in my mind, I plummented to the ground and knocked myself out. I can still feel the scar under my fringe now. Reading can be dangerous.

{{Hugs to All!}}
:-)