Melody

Who is your favorite female lead character? And why? (And yes, of course, you can name more than one . . . I always have trouble narrowing down these things to one name, why should I force you to?)

This week's question is a tough one for me as I have a few favourite female lead characters in mind. Most of the times, the 'heroine' strikes me as a strong, confident woman who's not afraid of showing her true self and one who's not afraid to speak up and fend for herself. Such heroine can often be found in genres like paranormal, romance suspense or thrillers. Some of my favourites are Anita Blake in Laurell K Hamilton's series and Rachel Morgan in Kim Harrison's series (just to name a few).

However, such heroines can also be found in our everyday life and they might not have the ability to handle weapons or kick some butts. Anna Fitzgerald in My Sister's Keeper (written by Jodi Picoult) is the first to pop into my mind. You see, thirteen-year-old Anna has to make a hard decision whether or not to continue to undergo surgeries and transfusions to her older sister who has leukemia as she thinks she is entitled to her own rights. I really sympathize her situation, and I have to marvel at her braveness given her age. Needless to say, this book is a keeper.

And then, there's Tamila Soroush in Veil of Roses (written by Laura Fitzgerald) which I'm currently reading. Being an Iranian woman, Tamila's movement is often restricted. So one day, her parents give her a ticket to America, hoping she will find a husband there and not to return to Iran if she's successful. Although I have yet to finish the book, I already admire her determination and courage of finding her happiness and freedom. It is scary to be in a foreign country where she know nothing of their culture, but she is fortunate that her older sister is living there although she insists in taking things into her own hands. I hope she will find her happiness...we shall see.

I am sure there are a few other heroines who had left a deep impression but my mind is blank at the moment, so I think these answers will have to do.

Melody
I can't believe that the Unread Authors Challenge is coming to an end. Below is a list that I had chosen to read:

Alternates:

  • The Girls by Lori Lansens
  • Sayonara Bar by Susan Barker
  • Saving Caravaggio by Neil Griffiths
  • A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
  • Hit Parade by Lawrence Block

Out of the six, I only managed to read five. Although I didn't complete the challenge as a whole, still I felt I had accomplished on a personal level. It is the best I could do, and I really enjoyed the experience. This challenge has helped me to explore new authors and it is through this that I have found some authors that will make it to my to-buy list, one of them is Khaled Hosseini. And that reminds me I have to wait for The Kite Runner DVD to release some time later since I don't have the time to catch it in the cinema.

And finally, I'd like to thank Pour of Tor from Sycorax Pine for hosting this challenge.

Melody





ISBN-13: 9780345450319
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Pub. Date: October 2004
272pp



Priya Rao comes from a traditional Brahmin family. She leaves her country, India to United States to pursue her studies and finds a job in Silicon Valley. She is used to the new lifestyle there, and most important thing is, she is happy and she intends to get settled down with Nick Collins, an American whom she is so in love with.

Now seven years later, she has to return to India because she has run out of excuses and moreover, she needs to break the news to her family that she is engaged to Nick, hoping they will accept her other half and give them all the blessings. But when Priya returns to her home, suddenly she finds the lifestyle seems so foreign to her, although she still have sweet memories of her childhood where she and her brother, Nate will find joy in picking mangoes and catching the mango thief which in the end they find out the culprit is none other than a mischevious monkey.

Priya wants to tell her parents about Nick badly, but she finds it difficult to say so until one day, they arranged her to meet Adarsh, whom her parents think he is one 'nice Indian boy' and she should grab the chance of this meeting. Priya is against about matchmaking, and feels that every marriage should arises from love and definitely not out of convenience or anything. But of course she doesn't have a choice.

Just when Adarsh's family agrees Priya to marry into their family, Priya blurts out the truth and leaving the whole family horrified. The Mango Season is a refreshing read in my opinion; I enjoyed reading all the characters in this story, from Priya right down to her relatives whom each has their own little story to tell. Besides, it is great to learn about the different culture, people and lifestyle which is always an eye-opener to me. Another thing I like about this book is, before the beginning of some chapters it listed one of the traditional recipes which I am sure this will delight to any reader who loves cooking and wants to try something new and exotic.

Now I am sure some of you might be wondering about Priya's 'fate' and if she gets to marry Nick in the end. I am not going to tell, all I can say is it sure did take me a little aback. I will be checking out Amulya Malladi's books in future.
Melody
Friendship: 1 A friendship is a relationship between two people who like each other and enjoy spending time together. 2 Friendship is the state of being friends with someone.
(Extracted from Collins Cobuild Essential English Dictionary)


First of all, I'd like to thank Alice for passing these two awards to me. Alice is one of my good blogger friends around bloggieland, and she never fails to read and post comments on my blog (which I really, really appreciate them!). Thank you, Alice, for thinking of me and not to mention, your friendship! *Cheers!*

Friendship needs Trust, Kindness, Honesty & Caring (as shown above) to grow; and there goes without saying that friends are important to me. Because of this, I'd like to present this 'A Perfect Blend of Friendship Award' to all my blogger friends since I think everyone deserves this award. Thank you, my friends!

Finally, I'd like to present the above 'Unconditional Friendship Award' to Jennifer, Julia, Kathy and of course, Alice! You ladies rock!!
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Melody


Week of February 24: Bookworms

If you're like me, your a bookworm.
I love to read. Whether it be a book, magazine, back of the cereal box...anything.
However I do prefer a good long novel.
So for this week, let's talk about our fav books.

1. Do you like to read? What is your fav book? author? Of course I do, as you can tell from my blog. :P Well, I can't specify any book or author because I have too many to list.

2. Do you hate it when they turn a book into a film? Generally I don't, because this shows how popular or how good the book is. However, I do hate it if tells in another different story. Anyway, the movie can not compare with the book in my opinion.

3. Has a book ever changed your life? How? I can't say that a book has changed my life, but certain books are thought-provoking that they have made me look at things in a different way.

4. Do you tend to borrow books from the library or do you prefer to buy them? I used to patronize the library until a few years after I started working. Nowadays I buy them from bookstores/used bookstores and occasionally online if they have a booksale.

5. Which book are you planning on reading next? I have no idea, and I find it pointless to decide on a book now because my reading mood changes.

'Never judge a book by its movie.' J. W. Eagan
Melody
You Are Clogs



You are a solid and down to earth person.

You seek – and almost always achieve – a really sound balance in your life.

You are stylish yet comfortable. Mellow but driven. Excited yet calm.

You are the perfect mesh of contradictions.

No matter what happens, you have the ability to stay well grounded in your life.

People know that they can truly depend on you.

You should live: In Europe

You should work: At a company dedicated to helping the world

Can you believe that I don't own any single clog although I know they are comfortable? I prefer sandals. And I'm still trying to figure out some of the words that are lost in the symbols, and I have no idea what I'll be seeking and/or achieving in my life... but I like the idea of living in Europe, since this is one of the places I'd love to visit one day!


Edited to Add (8.54PM):

Singapore Wins the Bid to Host 2010 Youth Olympics!!! Hooray!!! :D

Melody

All other things (like price and storage space) being equal, given a choice in a perfect world, would you rather have paperbacks in your library? Or hardcovers? And why?

As a booklover, I love books in all formats. So I'd choose to have both formats in my library, if that is possible! Although paperbacks are much easier to read and carry as compared to hardcovers, but I find the latter that will last longer and is better as a collector's item (or even limited edition). Thus, given my above reasons, I find it impossible to choose just one so I'd go with both! :P

Melody




ISBN-13: 9780142004616
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: July 2004
288pp


I bought this book at S$6 during a booksale some months back. It was a good bargain, considering that a new book costs around S$17 over here. This copy looks new too, so I am not sure if it's a used book or if the owner slashed the price to get rid of stock but nevertheless, I was happy with the price. Now back to My Lover's Lover...

Lily and Marcus meet for the first time after she tripped while stepping out from a taxi and Marcus helps her up. They later meet at the gallery opening, and Lily slowly warms up to Marcus' flirts because he seems friendly and he's handsome. He later asks her to live with him as a roommate, and Lily sees no harm in it so she said yes. She later learnt that Marcus is an architect and the loft they are sharing is designed by him. Before she moves in, Marcus shares the place with Aidan who works as a film animator and he gives Lily the impression he is quiet and distant.

But after Lily knows the room she has took over is previously occupied by Marcus' ex-lover, Sinead, she feels curious and puzzled about her moving out because she appears to be leaving in a haste as some of her clothes are still hanging in the wardrobe. When she confronts Marcus, he tells her that she is no longer with them and Lily took it that she is dead. But Lily isn't satisfied with the answer, and later when she thinks she is seeing Sinead's spectral appearance everywhere, the more she wants to find out the truth until one day, she spots the real Sinead and she begs her to tell her everything. And so Sinead shares her whole story through the second half of the book.

At first, I was intrigued with the story premise. I think Maggie O'Farrell had came up with a great plot and had done a good job in building up the suspense from the beginning. I could feel Lily's emotions and understand how and why she is feeling them, but there are also times that I think she is too trusting and naive because whenever she asks Marcus about Sinead, he would simply tell her it is too hard for him to explain things considering he is still hurt or he would just brush it aside. But nothing shocked me more than reading Lily agrees to move in with Marcus after their first meeting. I know we are not living in an age old generation anymore but still I think Lily should be more cautious before she decides to move in with anyone.

Another thing is, although I can understand the author's approach of telling both sides of the story (Lily's and Sinead's) where each occupies half of the book, I'd still prefer the story to be told from Lily's POV because this story is mainly about her. Sinead is just another character in the story and I think I'd enjoy reading more about the mystery surrounding her as the story slowly unveils while flipping through the pages. As you can tell, I am disappointed with this book. I am hoping her other title, The Distance Between Us will not disappoint since I have this in my pile.
Melody


ISBN-13: 9780312937041
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub. Date: August 2007
352pp


Charlie Fox used to be a Special Forces trainee but currently she works as a bodyguard at a personal protection agency runs by her ex-lover, Sean Meyer. She arrives in Florida for her first assignment to protect Trey Pelzner, a fifteen-year-old teenager and the son of a rich computer programmer, Keith.

Initially, Charlie thinks it is easy task. After all, she is asked to 'babysit' Trey but when they are pursued by someone at a theme park and had one innocent woman passerby shot, she knows this assignment is no joke and is puzzled as to why someone wants Trey dead.

After she has managed to get herself and Trey safe, she tried to contact Sean and Keith but was alarmed to find she couldn't get ahold of any of them. It is as if everyone has chosen to disappear at the same time. With no one to turn to but herself, Charlie has to uncover the mystery all on her own. Soon, she and Trey are on the run as their enemy seek them closely and Charlie no longer sure who she could trust anymore.

First Drop is a page-turner which I am sure most suspense thrillers fans will enjoy. Zoe Sharp has written an intriguing story starring the strong, competent heroine Charlie Fox in various difficult situations and how she manages to overcome all obstacles in the end. The cover art has portrayed this book perfectly as I felt I was going on a roller coaster ride reading First Drop. This book was also nominated for the Barry Award for Best British Crime Novel 2004. The next installment Second Shot is already out and I know I will be looking forward to it.
Melody
I found this quiz over at Kristy's and thought it was fun. And I think some of them are quite accurate...

What Be Your Nerd Type?
Your Result: Literature Nerd

Does sitting by a nice cozy fire, with a cup of hot tea/chocolate, and a book you can read for hours even when your eyes grow red and dry and you look sort of scary sitting there with your insomniac appearance? Then you fit this category perfectly! You love the power of the written word and it's eloquence; and you may like to read/write poetry or novels. You contribute to the smart people of today's society, however you can probably be overly-critical of works.

It's okay. I understand.

Social Nerd
Anime Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Artistic Nerd
Drama Nerd
Science/Math Nerd
Musician
What Be Your Nerd Type?
Quizzes for MySpace
Melody

Week of February 16: Days of the Week

My favorite day is Sunday because I get to wind down.
Tell me all about your favorite days ....

1. What's your favorite day of the week? This is easy. My answer will be 'Friday' and I don't think there's a need to elaborate, do I? ;)

2. What's your least favorite? Monday, of course. Because that's when you need to clear your work which accumulates over the weekend.

3. Do you have a particular day & time that you look forward to? Like Friday nights or Saturdays? Why? I always look forward to weekend, because that's when the time I'll unwind and spend more time with my family and doing all the fun things outdoors (i.e. bookshopping, window shopping, visiting places). But I still think Friday nights is the best because there are 2 off days I'm always looking forward to next. :D

Melody



ISBN-10: 0007181701
Publisher: HarperVoyager; 50Anniversary Ed edition (August 2, 2004)
192 pp


I bought this after reading the book review written by Rhinoa. I had a hard time finding it; in fact I had a hard time finding Ray Bradbury's books. But of course I didn't give up, until one day I found this at Borders. I like the cover art, because it is so bright and eye-catching, you wouldn't miss seeing it. On the cover, it stated this is the 50th Anniversary Edition. It was first published in 1953, marking this book a classic. I was awed, and the best thing is, there is even a new introduction and afterword that tells us how this story was first created and the author's thought on this story.

To begin with, Fahrenheit 451 is all about books. As a booklover, nothing makes me happier than having a book that talks about books. However, in this story, no one is allowed to possess any book in the house because they are considered as a forbidden item and are accused of a source of all discord and unhappiness.

The protagonist, Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to burn books and he took pride in his job since it has passed down from generations. That is until one day, his next-door neighbour, a girl named Clarisse McClellan shares her thoughts with him about the beauty of books, and how much they will gain through reading and that the world will be different if they are more "open minded". Her remarks had set him thinking but it is Clarisse mysterious disappearance that has changed his mindset and his outlook of life.

There was one scene that I find it memorable, which is when a woman wouldn't want to leave her house when the firemen found out she had hidden some books, so she chose to perish in the fire together with her books. I just couldn't describe how I feel after reading this, except to say this paragraph alone has evoked such powerful emotion. I really admire Mr. Bradbury for his superb writing skills and his creative imagination. I find this book thought provoking and is really worth reading. It is no wonder this book is a classic and remains one of his bestselling books. Now I knew why I had difficulty finding it in the first place.

Other Bloggers' reviews:
Melody
Gautami from My Own Little Reading Room tagged me for this meme.

a) What issues/topic interests you most--non-fiction, i.e, cooking, knitting, stitching, there are infinite topics that has nothing to do with novels?
Self Improvement and Parenting. I have some of these in my shelf but I haven't been reading them for some time. And I think I still have one guide about being a first time mother, hehe.

b) Would you like to review books concerning those?
As you can tell by this blog, I read fictions more than non-fictions nowadays. But if I have the interest of picking them up again, I'll definitely review them.

c) Would you like to be paid or do it as interest or hobby? Tell reasons for what ever you choose.
Although I'd love to be paid for doing reviews, I find this is not possible for me because I don't read books as quickly as before. It isn't easy when you have a four-year-old running about the house and always seeking your attention. I like to read books at my own time and pleasure. But I'll probably do it when my kid has grown up and I have more time on hand. :D

d) Would you recommend those to your friends and how?
Of course I will if the books are good. It makes me feel good to share some good books with friends. How? Through my reviews or better still, give them as a gift.

e) If you have already done something like this, link it to your post.
I don't think I have ever done any review on non-fictions since I read them before setting up this blog.

f) Please don't forget to link back here or whoever tags you.

And to get this meme moving, you have to tag 10 people. I tag:
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Melody

I had a post ready for today, but I liked this suggestion from Chris even better, so … thanks, Chris!

Here’s something for Valentine’s Day.
Have you ever fallen out of love with a favorite author? Was the last book you read by the author so bad, you broke up with them and haven’t read their work since? Could they ever lure you back?

I have to say my reading depends a lot on my mood at that moment. A book that doesn't interest me in the beginning doesn't mean I will not read them in future. Besides my moods, my reading preference and recommendations from other readers play a part too. I wouldn't say I have ever fallen out of love with a favourite author, because there must be something interesting about the stories that had me hooked in the first place, just that their writing style has changed. For example, some of my favourite authors have switched from writing historical romance to romance suspense (or paranormal romance), but I can not say I fall out of love for their works just because I think the genre they write is not as good as compared to the other genre. After all, they are different genres and it wouldn't be fair to compare them. And even if a book doesn't interest me, I will still keep a look out for the other books because each story/plot is different. I hope my answer makes sense. ;-)
Finally, Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! :D
Melody
This meme is supposed to be posted on Monday but in honor of Valentine's Day, I have saved up this post for today. I hope everyone has a wonderful and enjoyable day today with your loved ones! Happy Valentine's Day!

Randomness

1. If you could have any Celebrity Valentine, who would it be? I'm sure I'd come up with some names if this was asked during my teenaged years, but currently my mind is a blank. Moreover, I'm sure my husband won't be too happy if I say someone's name instead of his, isn't it?! ;P

2. What is your idea of a romantic date? Since the day our daughter becomes part of our life, we rarely have the time to go on a 'date' because we always bring our daughter around wherever we go. But once in a while, we do make an effort to be alone together, especially on occasions like Valentine's Day, birthdays and anniversaries. Because our 'dating' moments are precious, so my idea of a romantic date will be just the two of us spending the day and enjoying each other's company, although I think a bouquet of flowers and a candlelight dinner wouldn't hurt, haha.

3. Do you prefer chocolates or flowers on Valentine's Day? Anything will do. It's the heart that counts.

4. What is your favorite romantic movie? romantic book? Ghost by Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze. I have read a lot of romances that will easily fill this list but currently I can't think of any titles. There are too many I liked.

5. Do you like those 'conversation hearts' or do you think they taste gross? Well, I don't mind them as long as they taste nice and not too sweet.

6. Who is your Valentine this year? My husband, as always.

Extra word association:

I say...you think...
1. Valentine - Romance
2. Cute - Teddy bears
3. Romantic - Candlelights
4. Red - Hot
5. Flowers - Roses
6. Candy - Sweet
7. Cupid - Arrow
Melody
Because today (13 Feb) is Renri *, a few coworkers and I have already made plans long ago to have Yusheng for lunch specially on this day.

What's Yusheng? You may ask. The Chinese will tell you this is a dish made from shredded vegetables (e.g. carrots, radishs of various colours, cucumbers, gingers, onions etc), jellyfish, crackers, grounded peanuts and topped with some spice powder, honey and plum sauce. Strips of raw fish are added into this dish as well (you have the choice to choose either from raw mackerel or salmon) and viola! The dish is ready to serve.

( Picture downloaded from Wikipedia)

All the guests at the table will stand up and using a pair of chopsticks, they will mix the ingredients in the dish and toss them as high as possible. To signify prosperity and to make the atmosphere lively, everyone is required to say some auspicious wishes such as "Happiness", "Healthy", "Good Luck" or whatever your heart desires. After these are said, the guests may help themselves with the dish. I always enjoy having this dish not only of the lively atmosphere but because this dish can be eaten only once a year (i.e. Chinese New Year), and of course there goes without saying I had a sumptuous lunch earlier too.

Happy Birthday, everyone! :D


* Renri - The day of creation of human beings under the Chinese custom, according to the Chinese calendar. This falls under the seventh day of the Chinese New Year.
Melody
OK, I know what you guys are thinking... I must be obsessed with these poppets. But you can't blame me from doing so because these little things are just so adorable! I simply can't resist the temptation and have to gave in after some hesitation. Anyway, I'm thrilled (and proud) to say I have added two more to my collection, and don't you agree they are pretty?!

Well, who can say No to a Choco Poppet and a Colour Me Happy Poppet? I know I can't! ;P

Up on a staircase of books...dreaming their own little stories.

I wish I can hear what they are whispering about! And I can imagine how happy the Classic Red Poppet and the Valentine Poppet must be to befriend two new friends, at least their life won't be so lonely anymore. :D

Look there! It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman!
(Note: Sorry that my silly imagination took over everything, hehe.)

Labels: 16 comments | edit post
Melody

You Are Sunshine



Soothing and calm

You are often held up by others as the ideal

But too much of you, and they'll get burned

You are best known for: your warmth

Your dominant state: connecting

Melody




ISBN-13: 9780446618342
Publisher: Warner
Pub. Date: August 2007
336pp


This is the fourth book written by romance suspense writer, Marliss Melton. I first came across her book Time to Run two years ago and had enjoyed reading it, not realizing that this book is part of a series. I used to have this tendency of reading books out of order but this doesn't really bothers me provided their stories are not connected. However if I realize that the book is somehow connected and has sparked my interest, I will go out the way of buying the rest.

Next to Die is a thrilling romance suspense that has got me hooked from the first page till the end. Navy SEAL hero Joe Montgomery has been carrying this guilt ever since his mission failed and had lost his men in Afghanistan. Being the only survivor, he feels he is responsible in a way for the death of his squad even though in reality it isn't entirely his fault. After this incident and back at home, he becomes a changed person, indulging in drinks and feeling sorry for himself.

Penny Price lives next door to Joe and is attracted to him, but Joe is too busy indulging in his own misery and remaining anonymous from the media after the horrible incident. Being a trained navy physical therapist, Penny not only helps Joe in the healing but getting out of his own demons as well. However, she has her own problem too as she believes the person who is responsible for her father's death five years ago is back into her and her younger sister, Ophelia's life. After reading a journey left by their father, they are convinced that it was their father's partner, Eric Tomlinson, who had murdered him. But their judgement are wrong as they will soon find out, and as Joe goes out to protecting Penny he then finds himself attracted to her along the way.

Aside from these tensions, there is also a subplot of Ophelia and another SEAL Vinny DeInnocentis whose car she has crashes into. Vinny is smitten by her at first sight, but on the other hand Ophelia isn't sure about him especially she finds out he is four years younger than her.

I enjoyed reading Next to Die as the characters are engaging and the story is intriguing. I also liked the part where there is another villian besides Eric Tomlinson whom the author wants us to believe him to be from the beginning. However, I find it amusing that Ophelia is having a fuss about the age difference between herself and Vinny initially; the way she reacts it is as if he is ten years older than she is. I have some friends whose husbands are several years younger than they are, so perhaps this explains why Ophelia's attitude seems a little exaggerating to me. But I will leave it to you to find out whether or not if she and Vinny's relationship works.

Melody
I received the following from a forwarded email. Tricky questions, but I had a fun time doing them. Now let's see if you could crack these 4 cases easily...
------------------

Mystery 1...

A man was found murdered on Sunday morning. His wife immediately called the police. The police questioned the wife and staff and got these alibis:

The Wife said she was sleeping.
The Cook was cooking breakfast.
The Gardener was picking vegetables.
The Maid was getting the mail.
The Butler was cleaning the closet.

The police instantly arrested the murderer. Who did it and how did they know?

Mystery 2...

A man walks into a his bathroom and shoots himself right between the eyes using a real gun with real bullets. He walks out alive, with no blood anywhere And no, he didn't miss and he wasn't Superman or any other caped crusader. How did he do this?

Mystery 3...

Old Mr. Tidy was found dead in his study by Mr. Fiend. Mr. Fiend recounted his dismal discovery to the police. "I was walking by Mr. Tidy's house when I thought I would just pop in for a visit. I noticed his study light was on and I decided to peek in from the outside to see if he was in there. There was frost on the window, so I had to wipe it away to see inside. That is when I saw his body. So I kicked in the front door to confirm my suspicions of foul play. I called the police immediately afterward."

The officer immediately arrested Mr. Fiend for the murder of Mr. Tidy. How did he know Mr. Fiend was lying?

Mystery 4...

If you touch me, you will die, but you can only live without me. I am a big part of your life, and will eventually be the only thing left. You will learn to embrace me finally and rest. What am I?

------------------

Think you have solved them without any difficulty? Here are the answers:

  1. It was the Maid. She said she was getting the mail. There is no mail on Sunday.
  2. He shot his reflection in the bathroom mirror.
  3. Frost forms on the inside of the window, not the outside. So, Mr. Fiend could not have wiped it off to discover Mr. Tidy's body.
  4. Death.
Melody

Okay, even I can’t read ALL the time, so I’m guessing that you folks might voluntarily shut the covers from time to time as well… What else do you do with your leisure to pass the time? Walk the dog? Knit? Run marathons? Construct grandfather clocks? Collect eggshells?

Well, I read to and from my way to work since I don't have a vehicle. It takes me about an hour travelling on a single trip so I can actually read a lot given if the book really grabs my attention. And sometimes when I don't feel like going out for lunch at work, I will packet my lunch and read to my heart's content, but this is rare since I'd go out with my coworkers where we can talk about anything and/or unwind and vent our frustrations if we encounter something unhappy at work and just want to have someone's listening ears. And I hardly find the time to read at home since my daughter always want our attentions. So I really treasure every moment of my reading time. However, if there are times I couldn't get myself to read, I'd put on some CDs to relax my mind. Or I'd probably catch up with some DVDs since I still have one or two drama serials that I have yet to finish watching. Besides that, I also love window shopping but it's more like a once a week's affair. What about you? ;)
Melody
I was tagged by Alice for this fun meme.

The rules of this particular meme are:
  • Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages)
  • Open the book to page 123
  • Find the fifth sentence
  • Post the next three sentences
  • Tag five people

I'm currently reading a romance suspense titled Next to Die by Marliss Melton. But the stated page is almost at the end of a chapter and consists only two short paragraphs, I decided to choose another book which I will be reading next - First Drop by Zoe Sharp. And here goes:

"Anywhere," Trey said, sulky now, "I can't use my phone to call long-distance. There's, like, a block built in to it."

I sighed. "Trey, if I'm going to protect you in all of this you're really going to have to start communicating with me."

"Protect me?" he said, his voice low but scornful. "How? First you send Mr. Whitmarsh into the wrong room at the motel so they, like, kill those people who didn't have nothing to do with this. Then you crash our getaway car. You've never even done this before."

I know I should have stopped typing after the word 'scornful' but I added the next sentence for some dramatic affect. Now to tag five people... I will tag Debi, Nymeth, Iliana, Gautami and Jaimie. :D

Labels: 15 comments | edit post
Melody
Gautami from My Own Little Reading Room tagged me with this meme.

I like the subject. Why? Because I love writing, although there are still a lot I have to learn. And what's more, I think this is a fun meme too.

Back to the issue... Now let's see, what'd be the 10 signs that says I have written a book? After some thoughts, I decided that:
  1. Paranormal and romance suspense genres are definitely what I will write. Why them? You might ask. Because these two genres have always been my favourite reads. And I find you can just imagine and write about anything in a paranormal or a fantasy theme. As for romance suspense, you get to read the suspense with a little romance element, being a reader I definitely wouldn't have asked for more.

  2. The protagonist is definitely a strong sexy heroine who's not afraid to speak up her mind and kick some butts.

  3. Something must have happened that made her a strong and independent woman.

  4. She will not be intimidated by any man, not even the man she admires.

  5. Interesting dialogues and action packed scenes are a must.

  6. Third person or first person POV is fine with me. But I will probably work better with a first person POV.

  7. Death probably wouldn't affect her much, but lack of freedom will definitely cause her misery.

  8. Something will happen in a mission that will change her mindset on some issue.

  9. The cover art will be eye catching, but it wouldn't feature a couple wrapped in a passionate embrace.

  10. I will send ARCs to all my book bloggers friends for reviews. A few close friends will be mentioned under the Acknowledgements section.

There you have it, folks! If only this dream will come true, haha! I have a fun time doing this meme because it not only allows me to let go of my imagination but also give me some ideas of what to write if I want to write a story next time...maybe for my Nanowrimo project if I decide to participate this year, ha!

I won't tag anyone but if you are keen to play, do feel free to do so but please leave me a comment so I can come visit.

Labels: 2 comments | edit post
Melody
I would like to thank Alice for passing these two awards to me. I feel so honoured. Thank you, Alice!

I remember I first started blogging way back in July 2006, and the idea of creating my own blog was merely out of fun and curiosity. I wrote my very first book review then (well looking back it seemed more like a synopsis to me, haha), thinking it was more for my own reference and that no one else would read it anyway. But I got hooked to it, and it was from there I also began to explore other book bloggers as well. I find I have so much to learn from them, not only through their reviews but their life experiences and all. I have befriended several bloggers along the way, and it is always my pleasure to get to know more new friends as well.

Thank you so much for your friendship and your kind support, my dear friends! Without your readership, Melody's Reading Corner will not last this long. Thus, these awards are for you. :-)

(Extracted from the wordings of the snow globe as shown above)

Forever Friends
A ball is a circle
No beginning, no end
It keeps us together like our circle of friends
But the treasure inside for you to see
is the treasure of friendship you've granted to me
Today I pass the friendship ball to you.
Labels: 6 comments | edit post
Melody
Yay! The Valentine Gift Poppet I have ordered has finally arrived! And since Chinese New Year is approaching soon (7 & 8 Feb), I specially took this photo together with the Classic Red Poppet which I bought earlier. And don't you think they made a nice pair just for the occasion?

新年快乐!(Translated: Happy New Year!)

A close up of the Valentine Gift Poppet. And I like the little box that goes with it too!
Melody




Translated by Joachim Neugroschel
ISBN-13: 9781852427504
Publisher: Serpent's Tail Publishing Ltd
Pub. Date: September 2002
288pp


Erika Kohut is a woman in her thirties. Her life consists of nothing but her piano teaching at a prestigious Vienna Conservatory and her domineering mother. However, she is tired of being living in her mother's shadow forever and she did a rebellious thing one day and bought a dress. Furious at her vanity and thinking that no man deserves her, her mother has a row with her. Though tired of the charade, yet Erika succumbs to her mother's woes in the end. It is not her intention and a sign of weakness but because she is so used to the life with her mother. It is as if there is no escape for her no matter where she goes.

And there comes a student named Walter Klemmer, a handsome young man who walks into her life. Walter is arrogant and ambitious, thinking that he could change her life and everything. Initially Erika is curious about this student who appears to show his affections for her, and slowly she finds herself attracted by him and there they began their affair. However, this affair is fueled with a dangerous passion where there is a confusion between violence and love and Erika will later finds herself consumed by the ectasy of self-destruction.

The Piano Teacher was awarded the 2004 Nobel Prize for Literature and was written by an Austrian writer. Frankly speaking, I was intrigued by the plot initially but as I flipped through the pages, I began to find it a drag. One thing about reading a translated book is, I often wonder if I have missed anything from its original version. Although I really admire the talent and skills of the translators and understand that translating is no easy task, it goes without saying that the original stand out amongst the rest. The Piano Teacher is a good read if you are into literature, however in my case I find myself enjoying the characters more as I find the author had done a great job in describing them, especially their emotions.