(Picture provided by the seller at Etsy)

And there of course, I bought books! I have been adding a lot of books to my wishlist after reading all the great reviews (Thank you, my dear blogger friends!), so naturally I have to add them to my TBR pile (Maybe next I need to buy a bookshelf since I have already run out of space and my poor books have to find their place in our storeroom!).

Here is a list of books I bought:

• The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
• Embrace the Night (Cassandra Palmer Series #3) by Karen Chance
• Grimspace by Ann Aquirre
• Up Close and Dangerous by Linda Howard
• Unlawful Contact by Pamela Clare
• Fire and Ice by Anne Stuart
• The Onion Girl by Charles de Lint
• Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
• Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
• Enna Burning by Shannon Hale
• Succubus On Top by Richelle Mead
• The Hollow (Sign of Seven Series #2) by Nora Roberts

Edited to Add:

• The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
• The Sanctuary by Raymond Khoury
• Strange Birds by Gene Wolfe, Lisa Snellings-Clark (illustrator)
• Strange Roads by Peter Beagle, Lisa Snellings-Clark (illustrator)

... and finally, a subscription to Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazines which I received my first copy yesterday. I have not browsed all but I had a great time reading a few articles. There is one column that grabbed my attention about whether or not should the authors stop the series, and how long is too long for a series to continue? I find it interesting to read the authors and the readers' point of view. The magazine also features the upcoming releases which I find it informative (so that I won't miss them when they are out!) and a few authors' interviews as well. I am definitely looking forward to reading it when I get home from work today.

So did you buy anything lately? :-)

Everything has its price. In this first book of the Magister series, author C.S. Friedman weaved an original and imaginative fantasy about how sorcery is achieved at the cost of the ultimate sacrifice of one's life.

Kamala has a bitter childhood. Having born to a poor family, she has seen through life and often wishes she is someone different. Her life changes when she visits a Magister one day and she asked him to take her as his apprentice. However, no Magister is a female and Magister Ethamus isn't sure if it is a wise decision to train her but Kalama is insistent and shows her determination that she is willing to do anything as long as he accepted her proposal. He gave in finally, and Kamala is to become the first female Magister although she will have to remain discreet and hide her identity as a lowly witch with limited powers. Being a Magister is different from a witch for he gets the life essence of a consort until that person dies and he will find another replacement. A Magister is the most powerful amongst all sorcerers.

Well, here where I live, Spring is sprung–weeks early, even. Our lilac bush looks like it will have flowers by this time next week instead of in the middle of May as usual. The dogwood trees, the magnolia trees–all the flowering trees are flowering. The daffodils and crocuses are, if anything, starting to fade. It may only be April 24th but it is very definitely Spring and, allergies notwithstanding, I’m happy to welcome the change of season. What I want to know, is:

Do your reading habits change in the Spring? Do you read gardening books? Even if you don’t have a garden? More light fiction than during the Winter? Less? Travel books? Light paperbacks you can stick in a knapsack?

Or do you pretty much read the same kinds of things in the Spring as you do the rest of the year?

This week's question is pretty easy for me. Why? Because I'm living in a tropical country and our weather is like, having summer all year round. Our weather is at its hottest towards middle of the year, and more shower storms expected around October onwards (the monsoon season). For the past few weeks, the weather has been pretty unpredictable because it could be sunny in the morning and rainy in the afternoon.

Anyway, the weather has nothing to do with my reading preference but rather it's my mood that will dictate what I shall read next.

I have seen this floating around on other bookblogs and decided to participate in this reading challenge as well (moreover the button is too adorable to pass!).

• My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
• Talyn by Holly Lisle
• The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos
• Tokyo by Mo Hayder
• The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
• Atonement by Ian McEwan
• Red Leaves by Thomas H. Cook
• Sacred Cows by Karen E. Olson

Here are the books which I'd like to read (subject to changes as there might be new titles added to the Master List) :

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

Suggested by Nithin:
I’ve always wondered what other people do when they come across a word/phrase that they’ve never heard before. I mean, do they jot it down on paper so they can look it up later, or do they stop reading to look it up on the dictionary/google it or do they just continue reading and forget about the word?

This is an interesting question.

Most of the times, I will just continue with my reading. But if I am working on a computer, I will make it a point to google it. However, there are times that some words just rouse my curiosity (be it the pronunication or the spelling) and I will stop my reading and check with the dictionary, otherwise I will check the words whenever I have the chance if I still remember them.

First of all, a BIG Thank You to Alice from Hello, My Name Is Alice for presenting me with this award - Blogging Friends Forever (BFF) Gold Card Award! Alice is one of the friendliest and sweetest blogger friends I knew in blogosphere, and I am happy to call her a friend.

• Alice from Hello, My Name Is Alice (back to you, my friend! ;-P)
• Darla from Nichtszusagen
• Debi from Nothing of Importance
• Eva from A Striped Armchair
• Gautami from My Own Little Reading Room
• Iliana from Bookgirl's Nightstand
• Jaimie from Bell Literary Reflections
• Jeane from Dog Ear Diary
• Jen from Up Close & Personal With LadyTink
• Julia from Julia's Books Corner
• Kim from Bold.Blue.Adventure
• Kristy from Just Another Blogger
• Nymeth from Things Mean A Lot
• Rhinoa from Rhinoa's Ramblings
• Stephanie from Stephanie's Confessions of a Book-a-holic
• Trish from Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?
• Valentina from Valentina's Room
• Wendy from Musings of a Bookish Kitty

Thank you everyone for visiting and of course, for your friendship! Cheers! ;-)

What if....

1. ...you were stranded on a deserted island, name one person you would chose to be stranded with. What would you do to survive?
I'd chose to be with my husband and my daughter, as both are equally dear to me. I don't think I'm able to do without any of them. I suppose catching the other people's attention is the first priority at this point of survival (aside from hoping my cellphone works that is), and once I have set up the necessary things (e.g. raising a fire or writing 'SOS' on sands), I'll try to look out for source of water/food and pray that help would arrive soon.
2. ...you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Have healing powers.
3. ...you could bring one character from your favorite book to life, who would it be?
Wow, this is a tough one because I have so many favourite characters whom I wish can bring to life from books.
4....you could solve one of historys unsolved mysteries, which would it be?
I'm not a big history fan, so I can't think of any. But I'm interested to learn more about the Bermuda Triangle mystery.

ISBN-13: 9780452287891
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Published: November 2006
307pp



Love comes in various forms. This is what I learnt after reading Love Walked In penned by Marisa De Los Santos.

Thirty-one-year old Cornelia Brown is a true romantic. She sees Cary Grant being the best man in the world, after watching The Philadelphia Story and fell in love with the movie and the actor himself. She often dreams of someone like him who will sweep her off her feet at the cafe she is running, and she finds him in Martin Grace when he happens to walk through the door to her cafe one day.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, eleven-year-old Clara is upset that her mother is experiencing a mental breakdown and just walked out of her life as if nothing has happened. Clara and Cornelia then cross paths at her cafe, where Martin announces to her that Clara is her daughter. He has already divorced from Clara's mother although he didn't mention it to Cornelia in the beginning. With no one to turn to and disappointed that her father doesn't offer any advice and often brushing her concerns aside, Clara began to get closer to Cornelia. And as for Cornelia, she feels she cares about Clara more than she knew and grows to be attached with her.

Then enter Teo Sandoval, whom Cornelia has knew all her life. He also happens to be Ollie, her sister's husband although her family didn't think he and Ollie makes a perfect couple. When her relationship with Martin begins to get distant, Cornelia finds herself falling in love with Teo, but nothing as strong as her love for Clara. And when Clara's mother shows up at her place one day, telling her she needs Clara, Cornelia feels she is at a loss.

• Pick up the nearest book. (I’m sure you must have one nearby.)
• Turn to page 123.
• What is the first sentence on the page?
• The last sentence on the page?
• Now . . . connect them together….
  (And no, you may not transcribe the entire page of the book–that’s cheating!)

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!
(Oh, and I’ve added one little thing to the sidebar–a donation button. JUST in case you feel so inclined. I’d love to upgrade BTT to its own hosting, but only if it can afford to pay its way over the course of the year. Absolutely no pressure–I’m glad to have all of you! Just, you know, in case.)

I'm currently reading Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos.

First sentence: "Of course his name is Hayes," groaned Linny. "No normal names in this joint."

Last sentence: "She's starry-eyed about him, that's for sure."

_____________

Here's my take; sorry that it's short & simple.

"Of course his name is Hayes," groaned Linny. "No normal names in this joint."

"The way you said that it's as if he's a gigolo working in a nightclub. So tell me, what did Katherine say about him after their first date? Is he really the top chef in this restaurant?" I asked as I leaned forward to hear her answer, not caring if she already had her attention on someone else, like the cute waiter who was serving at the next table.

She ogled at him for a few more seconds before turning her attention to me. "Oh, she's starry-eyed about him, that's for sure."

Randomness

Week of April 6: Random Word Association

I say...you think

1. red bold
2. wash washer
3. computer internet
4. land sea
5. kiss smooch
6. trophy winner
7. books bookstores
8. shoe fashion
9. email communication
10. turkey christmas

Well, the title is the first thing that had caught my attention when I found this book randomly on the New Releases shelves last year. I have never read anything by John Connolly, so I thought I will give this book a try since the blurb intrigued me. I am glad this book doesn't disappoint.

Twelve-year-old David lost his mother to cancer. It was also at that time that England is at war; and while David is still mourning for his mother and wary of how the war will affect them, he spends most of his time indulging in his books and fairy tales as they are the only thing that could keep him company. His father is away at work most of the times, and it doesn't help when his father remarries and he has to adjust having a stepmother and a new half-brother at home.

Later, he finds himself hearing things from the books and he is able to tell from their 'behaviour' if they are excited or angry. He didn't dare tell anyone about this for he fears everyone will think he is insane and lock him in somewhere else. It is as if the real world and the fantasy began to meld as one, and there he enters into a strange place where he will encounter a pack of hungry wolves and all the various strange creatures but nothing scares him more than the Crooked Man, which is an evil troll who will try all ways to tempt David in order to gain his power over the kingdom.

While searching for a way home, David soon finds he will learn some lessons about bravery, loyalty, sacrifice and finally the acceptance and the love for his family.

As much as I enjoyed reading The Book of Lost Things, I also find this story has touches my heart in many ways. I can totally relate with David about the loss of his mother, but it is his acceptance and the love for his family towards the end that warms my heart. Besides John Connolly's great imagination and his wonderful plot, another thing which intrigues me most is the re-telling of various fairy tales/folk tales that he put into this story (e.g. Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, Goldilocks etc... just to name a few). And as a bonus, I also get to read these origin tales at the end of the story, before reading the interview with the author and his thoughts about this book.

The Book of Lost Things is a wonderful fantasy tale which I am sure will suit both adults and the young. It is definitely a keeper for me.

Other Bloggers' reviews:

Everyday Reads
Stephanie's Confessions of a Book-a-holic
Stuff As Dreams Are Made On
The Written Word
Valentina's Room

• Jaimie from Bell Literary Reflections is giving away three books. Because these books are her favourites, so the winners will be getting brand new ones! (Click here for more details.)
• Dewey from The Hidden Side of a Leaf is celebrating her one-year blogiversary too! She's giving away a book and the winner will get to choose any book under $20. On top of that, she's also giving away two $20 Amazon gift certificates for Buy a Friend a Book Week. (Click here for more details.)
  Edited on 5 April: I have misunderstood Dewey's post about this giveaway. The following is actually what she meant. As quoted: "I have two amazon gift certificates for $20. I am not giving them away. I am letting two people (one for BAFAB, one for my blogiversary) choose any book available at Amazon for under $20. And I will use the gift certificates to pay for them. Hope that clears things up! :)"
• Katrina from Stone Soup is giving away some books from her bookshelves! She has a great list there; please click here for more details.

Have fun blog hopping! And of course, good luck with the giveaways! ;-)