Melody

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What are your favourite final sentences from books? Is there a book that you liked specially because of its last sentence? Or a book, perhaps that you didn’t like but still remember simply because of the last line?

Like first sentence, the final sentence has the same gripping impact if it is put appropriately. Whereas the first sentence is to hook the readers to read further, usually the last sentence will be to wrap up the story or to leave a cliff hanger should there be any sequel. In any case, like the first sentence, it has to be captivating (or memorable) to the readers.

However, there are times that I will come across some books that leave the endings to our imaginations, which I do not really like. Being a reader, I would want to have a definite answer (be it a good, happy ending or a sad, tragic ending). Unless there is a sequel to the book, otherwise I would appreciate there is an ending to the story.

So, which book has a memorable last sentence? Seriously, my mind draws a blank here. (Yes, it is a tell-tale sign that I am getting old, haha). I guess I remember how the endings end more than the last sentences.

Melody





ISBN-13: 9780553591651
Publisher: Bantam Books
Published: May 2008 (Reissued)
279pp



Sandy Kirk and Clint McCade are good friends and have known each other for ages. They are like buddies; and they knew they could always count on each other whenever they encounter any problems.

Being a photographer who is always on the go, Clint gives people the impression of a free spirited bad boy due to his rugged personality. Sandy, of course, knew he is much more than that. Just when Clint decided he has had enough wandering around and is about to declare his love for Sandy, he finds she has fallen for another man.

Though disappointed and feeling heartbroken, still he supports and encourages her to pursue her dream man. But one thing is, Sandy knows nothing about men and how she should portray her image in front of them. Clint offers to coach her, giving her advice on the concept of body language and how she should read and use them to her advantage.

Sandy then realizes she has been in love with Clint all this while, however she is not sure how Clint would feel towards her while on the other hand, Clint assumes she is still head over heels in love with the other man. They will soon find out about their feelings for each other, as body language does not lie after all.

Body Language is a reissue copy which was first published in Loveswept series back in 1998. Though I find the plot a little outdated and not up to par with her current Troubleshooter series, Suzanne Brockmann penned a wonderful love story between best friends in this novel. It is a perfect read if you want something light and fun.
Melody
I came across this new meme, Musing Mondays, hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading at A Novel Challenge and decided to play. Although I am a tad late, I figure it is always better to be late than never, right? ;-)

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Today’s edition of “Musing Mondays” is about gadgets and such designed for book lovers and bibliophiles!

Last week, while browsing online, I found a very interesting website called BookLamp.org. Basically, it’s a new service for bibliophiles/readers (still in its ‘beta’ version) that helps them find books they would enjoy by filtering certain variables.

Here is how it is described on their website:

BookLamp.org is a system for matching readers to books through an analysis of writing styles, similar to the way that Pandora.com matches music lovers to new music. Do you like Stephen King’s It, but thought it was too long? The technology behind BookLamp allows you to find books that are written with a similar tone, tense, perspective, action level, description level, and dialog level, while at the same time allowing you to specify details like… half the length. It’s impervious to outside influences - like advertising - that impact socially driven recommendation systems, and isn’t reliant on a large user base to work.

It sounds like a really interesting premise! Mind you, currently their database is “mostly science fiction”. So, that wouldn’t interest me. But, eventually, a service like this may be really useful, especially if there isn’t a cost (or a high cost, anyway) for using it. I’m always using Amazon.com, or Facebook’s “Visual Bookshelf” application, to find books that I might like, based off of what I’ve already read. But, it’s tricky. They’re not really accurate… not like this “BookLamp” program seems like it’d be. Their video presentation talked of a comparison between “Jurassic Park” and another book, and it was stunning how acurate it seemed to be!

What do you think? Would you use a program like this, that helped you pick books to read based on what you’ve read before?

I have not heard of such program before, but I find the concept interesting. Before learning of this new site, I usually get book recommendations (or get my book fix) from fellow book bloggers and any other online bookstores.

Although I am not much of a sci-fi fan, but I am definitely hoping BookLamp will add on other genres in the near future. I am sure there are some readers who will find this useful.

What about you? Will you use this program?
Melody

randomness

Let's do good ol' fashioned random word association this week :o)
I say.... you think...

1. flower pretty
2. paper work
3. coffee steaming
4. tire rest
5. sand castle
6. work routine
7. reality tv are they all real?
8. itch insects
9. tooth paste
10. sour lemon

Melody
ISBN-13: 9781416556534
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group
Published: September 2007
752pp



Two sisters competing for the greatest prize: the love of a king

A rich and compelling tale of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue, The Other Boleyn Girl introduces a woman of extraordinary determination and desire who lived at the heart of the most exciting and glamorous court in Europe and survived by following her own heart.

When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled by the king, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her familys ambitious plots as the kings interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king, and take her fate into her own hands.
In last week's Weekly Geeks #12, we are asked to list some books we have not reviewed and allow other readers to ask us any questions on them. Thus, in this post, I will do a mini Q&A on my thoughts of this book.

Heather asked:


  • What did you know about Mary Boleyn prior to reading this book? Frankly speaking, I know litte about Mary Boleyn or anything related to the history. I am not a huge historical fan, but I am intrigued with the book because I have read a lot of good reviews about it (and not to mention the hype surrounding the movie when it was first released). Plus, I would like to learn more about the Tudor history and the time period. I figure it is never too late to read it and so, here I am.

  • How does this compare to other historical fiction you've read? As I mentioned earlier, I am not a historical fan, thus I do not read a lot of historical fiction. There was a time where I think historical romance is popular in the romance genre... However, I do read them but rarely nowadays. Nonetheless, this book is not like those historical fiction I read. It consists of much more besides love; issues like royal court political, ambition, rivalry, loyalty, treachery, etc. It is both an emotional and an entertaining read.

  • Would you read more by this author? Yes, I will. Philippa Gregory really brings the characters to life in this book, and this has sparked my interest to read her other books in future.

  • Would you read more about this topic/time in history? Definitely. I find them interesting. It is always great to learn something from another time period.
Suey asked:
  • Did The Other Boleyn Girl make you think of this story any differently? At first glance of the title and the cover, I know this will be a story about two sisters vying for the attention of a man. I think the question one often asked is: who is the other boleyn girl?

  • Did you sympathize with any of the characters more than what you expected? I sympathize Mary Bolyen more than anyone. She was always living in the shadow of Anne and her family. Then again, I would say Queen Katherine is another sympathetic character too. She hoped to give a son to the King but she couldn't. King Henry was very unhappy with her due to this; and he thought it was a punishment as a result for marrying his late brother's wife. As for Anne, she is not a likeable character. I would have sympathize for her if she is not so ambitious, calculative and self-centered. After all, like Mary, she was used as a pawn to get close to King Henry.

  • And the big one: Who really IS the other Boleyn girl? Ann or Mary? I would say Mary. Though Anne seemed to have claimed everything initially, but towards the end Mary took her fate into her own hands, didn't she?
  • I would like to know if you plan to read Phillipa Gregory's next historical novel about Mary Queen Of Scots? Yes, I might but not so soon. I always try to read something different after reading a book. Reading the same genre in a row can be a bore to me.

  • Do you believe the author presented a good factual account of King Henry and the Boleyn family? I am not familiar with the history of King Henry, but I am sure the author must have done her share of research when writing this book. I read from her website that she had obtained a BA degree in history at the University of Sussex in Brighton and a PhD at Edinburgh University in 18th-century literature.

Dewey asked:

  • Who did you find the most loathsome character in The Other Boleyn Girl? Anne Boleyn. Although it is not her idea to be used as a pawn to be near to King Henry, but I find her selfish, manipulative and cold-hearted in such way that she would do anything to gain her wishes. There was this scene about her taking away Mary's son as if he was an item that could be bought anytime just infuriates me.

Nymeth asked:

  • What's your favourite thing about it so far? The history, and not to mention the premise of this story. I also liked the scene where the relationship between William Stafford and Mary blossomed. I find it a refreshing read after reading so much about Anne's and the Boleyn family's scheming plans; and the little time Mary spent with her children at Hever was an enjoyable read too. I could feel her love for her children and how she craved for a simple life through this passage: "...The beauty of him as a boy meant that I had lost my baby and I thought of how it would be to have a baby that was not another pawn in the great game of the throne, but wanted for itself alone. How it would be to have a baby with a man who loved me and who looked forward to the child we might have together."

Jackie asked:

  • I started reading The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory, but couldn't really get into it. Is The Other Boleyn Girl better? This will be a new author for me and one that has been recommended by a lot of people, would this be a good novel to introduce someone to Philippa Gregory's style of writing and storytelling or is there another one out there that would work better? I have not read The Queen's Fool so I cannot compare the two books. However, I would highly recommend The Other Boleyn Girl to anyone because of the engaging characters, the premise and the drama. It is a page-turner, and you won't think this is a thick book of 700+ pages.

  • How did the movie compare to the novel? I have not watched the movie yet, but I intend to look out for the DVD after reading it!

Bybee asked:

  • Which characters are portrayed sympathetically? Mary Boleyn and Queen Katherine. (Refer to my reply on Suey's question)

  • Do you get a point-of-view with just Mary, or with Anne and other characters as well? I got a little bit of an ick feeling after seeing the movie, because I hated the way the girls were basically whored out to Henry VIII. Natalie Portman was impressive as Anne, though -- just as I always pictured her. Also, I am curious about the book and wonder, like Jackie, how it compares to the movie. Each character has his/her own point of view and everyone think they are doing the right thing: Mary thinks she did it for her family, while Anne did it for herself. King Henry wants a son as a heir to his throne since Queen Katherine could not borne him a son, thus he turned to other women and that is where the Boleyn girls stepped in. Queen Katherine wanted to bear King Henry's son, but it was not her fault that she could not, etc. You know, I did not like the way the Boleyn girls are portrayed lowly either, but I suppose this is the only thing they could do, as beauty and charms are considered a woman's greatest weapon since the old days.

Alessandra asked:

  • Which was your favourite character in The Other Boleyn Girl? Mary Boleyn. I liked it that she finally stood up on her own and took things into her own hands. I am glad Mary is the narrator of this story.

I would like to thank everyone for your wonderful questions. It has been fun answering them.

(Click here to learn more about Philippa Gregory and her books.)


Other Bloggers' reviews:
Book Nut
Care's Online Book Club
Musings of a Bookish Kitty
So Many Books, So Little Time
Things Mean A Lot
The Hidden Side of a Leaf
The Written Word
Trish's Reading Nook

Melody

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Questions 4-6 this week are courtesy of Sherry! Thanks!

Here we go:

1. I believe whatever doesn't kill you won't hurt you.

2. If you're good at something, do it.

3. Why so happy? Because it's Friday!

4. Something is out there, it's lurking around and yet it doesn't want to be seen.

5. If my life were a sitcom, it would be titled Busy Life!.

6. Sitting on my back porch [if you don't have one, use your imagination] I see globes of fat juicy grapes hanging down from their vines, waiting to be picked.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to spending time with my family, tomorrow my plans include dining out with friends at a vegetarian restaurant and Sunday, I want to visit my cousin to celebrate the first month of their new baby boy!

Melody

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Suggested by: Nithin
Here’s another idea about memorable first lines from books.

What are your favourite first sentences from books? Is there a book that you liked specially because of its first sentence? Or a book, perhaps that you didn’t like but still remember simply because of the first line?

Opening lines are important, because usually this will tell the readers if the story is engaging and worth reading. Of course there are some stories that may come off as a little slow in the beginning and need some time to build up the suspense or climax, still we could not deny that it is the first line that attracts the readers to continue reading the book.

Here are just some of the few I like:

  • The Treatment by Mo Hayder
  • When it was all over, DI Jack Caffery, South London Area Major Investigation Team (AMIT), would admit that, of all the things he had witnessed in Brixton that cloudy July evening, it was the crows that jarred him the most.

  • Secondhand Smoke by Karen E. Olson (in TBR pile but I sneaked a peek when I first bought the book)
  • I smelled smoke.

  • Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
  • It was a pleasure to burn.

  • The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
  • Once upon a time - for that is how all stories should begin - there was a boy who lost his mother.

There are a lot more others but as I am currently not able to access to my book piles, the above list will have to do. So, what are your favourite first sentences?

Melody
My husband and I had wanted to watch this movie way before it is released and reviewed. He has been a fan of these superheroes during his childhood days so I have in fact anticipated his enthusiasm of watching this movie when we first knew of the release date.

Anyway, we watched this on Monday evening. As we did not buy the tickets earlier, we were left only the few first rows to choose from. We ended up with a corner seat in the fifth row. It was not too bad, comparing those people who bought the first row! I just could not imagine them having to crane their necks for the whole of 153 minutes running time.

Unlike other superheroes blockbusters where we see the heroes being the main focus of the movies, The Dark Knight not only focus on its protagonist - Batman, but on the Joker too. In fact, I would think this movie is tailored for him.

I do not want to write the summary on this post as I fear anything I write would be a spoiler. I would just say that this is not only a good versus evil story, but a story that will leave anyone thinking about one's human nature, and also on one's perspective.

Heath Ledger, who played the character of the Joker, was simply terrific! His acting was superb without a doubt. He portrayed the role so well that I find it spooky. He had a loony side, but yet he showed wits and intelligence when he played with the cops and Batman like a cat preying on the mouse.

Aaron Eckhart, who played Havey Dent aka Two-Face is another interesting character because he was once considered a righteous person to all citizens of Gotham, but then I see his reason for turning anyone against him and decided he had no choice after all given the circumstances. And then of course, Christian Bale as Batman and Morgan Freeman's performance did not disappoint the viewers either. I could not remember seeing any other superheroes movies as entertaining and thought-provoking in a way as this one. It was really well worth the money and the time. And it goes without saying that my husband will buy the DVD once it is released. I definitely would not mind watching it the second time, or the next.
Melody
This review comes in three-years late, since it was shown in cinemas in 2005. I wanted to watch this when it was released, but did not have the chance of doing so. Nevertheless, I was thrilled when the local TV station aired this documentary last weekend. Thanks to my husband, he had it recorded so I did not have to watch till midnight since the following day was a workday. I needed my sleep!

Anyway, this documentary is fantastic! I did not even mind it that it is narrated in French, although I was glad it has English subtitles so I could understand what it is all about besides viewing the breathtaking scenes.

Filmed in Antarctica, hundreds of the Emperor penguins began their journey for the breeding mission where they were to brave the blizzards and endure the low temperatures. They were often seen walking in single file, and occasionally they just fell onto their belly and slided across the ice as if they were doing snowboarding. I felt sorry for one or two penguins when they did not catch up with the rest and ended up lost amidst the huge land of ice.

When finally they had reached their destination, they will began their ritual courtship where they will intricate dances, often accompanied by their own ecstatic songs and they were later pair off and mate. When the females had laid their eggs, they would pass it to the males to guard and hatch the eggs while the females would leave the place to look for food. After all, they had gone without food for weeks and they need to find something to feed their young.

It really saddened me when I saw a few unfortunate female penguins were eaten by the seals look-alike animals when they dived into the sea to look for food; it marked the end of their fate and their poor babies would have no food and would be left to die. Once the females returned, it would be the males' turn to look for food, after all they were left empty stomach for weeks. What most disturbing to me was, the females would resort to stealing other babies when they found their young ones were dead. It was a pitiful sight. And for other females who had their young ones well protected, they too remained helpless if their babies were attacked by the prowling petrels.

And when the weather started to grow warmer and the ice began to melt, they would return to the ocean and their breeding journey would be repeated comes autumn.

After watching this documentary, I was simply awed and impressed with the crew who had spent the whole year filming this eye-opening documentary. And what most amazed me was, I found my daughter's attention was fixed to the screen the whole time; usually she would get restless if nothing interests her and would seek for other things that would spark her attention. I was most happy when she asked me a few questions on the penguins and I explained to her all the whys.

All in all, we really enjoyed this documentary and found it very informative (not to mention an eye-opening experience). And did I mention to you that penguins happens to be my favourite animal? ;-)
Melody

1. In your blog, list any books you’ve read but haven’t reviewed yet. If you’re all caught up on reviews, maybe you could try this with whatever book(s) you finish this week.

2. Ask your readers to ask you questions about any of the books they want. In your comments, not in their blogs. Most likely, people who will ask you questions will be people who have read one of the books or know something about it because they want to read it.

3. Later, take whichever questions you like from your comments and use them in a post about each book. I’ll probably turn mine into a sort of interview-review. Link to each blogger next to that blogger’s question(s).

4. Visit other Weekly Geeks and ask them some questions!


Note: There will be no Weekly Geeks post on July 26th (next week) because it’s moving day for Dewey.

* * *

I am currently reading The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, and am enjoying this book so far. Please feel free to ask me any questions on this book and I will try to answer them on my review post once I have finished reading it.

Also, since I read and did not write any reviews on the following books, you can ask me questions about them too:
  • The Summer Jenny Fell In Love by Barbara Conklin (YA)
  • Massie by Lissi Harrison (YA)
  • The Greek Tycoon's Defiant Bride by Lynne Graham (Harlequin)
Melody
I have a wonderful surprise this morning when I visited Alice's blog for my regular read and noticed she has passed an award for me!

Alice is a wonderful friend. If she is a flower, I can only think of one that would describe her well - sunflower, because she is always so friendly and cheerful. Thank you so much for this award, Alice! I really appreciate it.

I am passing this to Alice again, and Julia, Wendy, Iliana, Nymeth, Jaimie and Debi. You ladies are wonderful! :-)
Labels: 9 comments | edit post
Melody

randomness

Let's talk about books this week.

1. What are you currently reading? I am currently reading The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory.
If you're not reading anything right now, what was the last book you read? The previous book I read was The Ring by Jorge Molist.
2. Where is your favorite place to get your books from? Bookstores or online ones, and sometimes used bookstores.
3. Name a book you read and did not enjoy. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan. I just could not get into the story, although the writing is beautiful.
4. How has your taste in books changed over the years? I am more open to other genres, and I am also more interested in reading more literary classics as compared to before.
What types of books do you read now as opposed to five years ago? I can read almost anything as long as they interest me. The only thing I read lesser is non-fictions and self-improvement books.
5. When you walk into your favorite bookstore, where do you go? Mystery...Romance...Latest Releases....Non-Fiction...etc? I will check the Latest releases section before moving on to other sections.

Melody

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All questions this week are courtesy of Sherry.

1. If I could be a fly on the wall I would be wary of any signs of danger around me.

2. Jealousy is meaningless because not only it will cause misery to yourself but to others as well.

3. When I see a shooting star my wish would be that all my dreams will come true.

4. I'd rather be eating the same food than going hungry any day!

5. Certain songs when I hear them make me wanna cry because they always bring back fond memories.

6. If time were in a bottle I will always carry it along with me and never let it go.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to reading some more of The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, tomorrow my plans include household chores, organizing some stuff at home and Sunday, I want to spend more time with my family!

Melody

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Another question inspired by the Bunch of Grapes on Martha’s Vineyard having burned down on the Fourth of July.

Do you buy books while on vacation/holiday?
Do you have favorite bookstores that you only get to visit while away on a trip?
What/Where are they?

I love visiting bookstores while I am on vacation, no matter where I am! I always make it a point to look for a bookstore while visiting another country because it is always great to look at their interior and furnishings, and of course the various books they offer! And when I do get the chance to visit one, I will make sure to buy at least one book (or magazine) as a souvenir. It would be a bonus if I can find a book that cannot be found in our local bookstore.

I remember during our honeymoon in New Zealand, I bought two books that were on sale. But then, there was a time when I visited a place in Indonesia (I could not remember the name) and although I did find a bookstore, they only sell Malay books. Nevertheless, I still find it interesting to look around although I was disappointed that I could not buy anything back as a remembrance. I do not have any favourite bookstores, and as long as they sell books I am always eager and happy to browse around.

Melody




ISBN-13: 9780743297516
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group
Published: May 2008
392pp




Cristina Wilson receives a diamond engagement ring from her fiancé on her twenty-seventh birthday. She has anticipated this day to arrive, but she is definitely not prepared for the next ring that arrived mysteriously at her birthday party which has sparked everyone's attention and curiosity. She later found out that the beautiful antique jewelry, a ruby set in bone, is actually sent by Enric, her godfather who had passed away some years ago. She decides to wear the two rings, but since then she began to have strange dreams after wearing the ruby.

Though she finds the dreams unsettling, she is determined to travel to Barcelona for the reading of her godfather's will and to unveil the truth behind the mysterious ruby. However, Mike, her fiancé and her mother do not think it is a great idea for her to travel all alone to Barcelona, and they are worried that something bad might await her there.

Cristina has insisted, moreover she is hoping to meet up with her long lost childhood friend and her first love, Oriol and his cousin, Luis. The three of them were playmates and they had shared fond memories during their teenaged years. During the reading at the attorney office which had assigned by Enric earlier, Cristina also learnt that Enric had entrusted Oriol and Luis each a note and a triptych. In each of Enric's letters, they are requested to find a treasure which is connected to the Templar Knights which took place centuries ago. But they do not expect to face various obstacles while searching for clues as it seems they are not the only one who knew about the ring and the treasure.

The premise of The Ring is great. I have to admit the cover is the first thing that attracted me to this book. It was only after that I read the blurb that I decided to get this book. The first few chapters are really exciting and intriguing, as I wondered how Cristina would react after she received the mysterious ring through a messenger and booked a flight to Barcelona to find out the truth thereafter. However, I was disappointed with the story as I read further. First, Cristina does not strike me as a New York lawyer. Given the circumstances and the value of the ring, I thought she would be more cautious and therefore, I was perplexed and shocked to find that she would remove the ring to let a stranger, the passenger who sat beside her during the flight, to have a look at it. Not surprisingly, it turned out that this person has a link to this saga.

Towards the end of the story, I had got a feeling that she might rekindle her love with Oriol. But whether or not will she choose to be with Oriol, I would also like to find out about her fiancé reactions to everything because there is not much mention about him. It does not convince me because Cristina and her fiancé appears to be so much in love with each other in the beginning. And then again, I was stumped by the purpose of the treasure hunt.

However, despite what I thought of the above, I did enjoy reading about the history of the Templars and its legend, and not to mention the beautiful city of Barcelona. I find the history and the mythos of the Knights Templar fascinating and interesting. They are an eye-opener to me. Author Jorge Molist had done a great job in describing them.

Melody
In this week's Weekly Geeks, Dewey needs us to help her move. Here is what she says:

I have a big pile of books waiting to be reviewed. I have less than two weeks before I move. I do not want to have to pack and move all these books. So what I would like is some help getting these books reviewed, so that I can post my reviews and get rid of the books in giveaways or by returning them to the library.

How can you help? Please choose one of the books and ask me three questions about it in your blog. You might even invite your readers who have read the same book(s) to answer the questions themselves in your comments.

For each book, I will:

1. Choose someone’s three questions. The more unique and thought-provoking your questions, the more likely they are to be chosen, of course.
2. Write a mini-review answering the three questions (and, obviously, linking to the questioner’s blog).
3. Offer the book to the blogger whose questions I answer, IF the book is mine to give away.
4. If the blogger doesn’t want the book (has already read it, for example) I’ll just put one of the usual giveaways at the bottom of the mini-review post.

______


I chose Just Listen by Sarah Dessen. I am hoping Dewey will answer these three questions:

  1. Though this is classified as a YA novel, what made you pick up this book in the first place?
  2. Assuming you have a teenage daughter, will you talk about this book with her? Will you also recommend this to her? Why?
  3. Do you think the young readers who read this will benefit and learn from this book? What is your opinion as an adult reader?

If you have read this book, I would love to hear from you too.

Melody
I just checked my annual leave for this year via the company's intranet and am both surprised and overjoyed to find that I have more than 15 days of annual leave to clear before I will go for my maternity leave around mid October. Since my maternity leave will extend over to next year, that means I will need to clear them before they are forfeited end of this year.

Since going for a trip is impossible at my current stage, I could do nothing but to take these days off to do some shopping and/or resting at home. So yesterday, I decided to take an afternoon off to do some shopping. I did not buy anything but books, although I did have the intention of shopping for some clothings and shoes but none of these had caught my fancy.

Book shopping during the weekdays is a bliss to me, because of the lesser crowd and you do not have to wait longer at the queue. Here are some of the books I bought yesterday; while a few others were bought online recently:
  • Tribute by Nora Roberts (I couldn't pass this up as they are having a promotion!)
  • Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (I have heard a lot of raves about this book so I want to get this as well)
  • Emma by Jane Austen
  • Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
  • Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (I have always wanted to read other novels by this author after reading Pride and Prejudice, so I figure I may as well get these since I have Persuasion and Sense and Sensibility in my book pile)
  • Nefertiti by Michelle Moran (Another ravings on this book)
  • Body Language by Suzanne Brockmann
  • Helpless by Barbara Gowdy
  • 100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson
  • The Society of S by Susan Hubbard
  • The Likeness by Tana French (Her debut novel In The Woods is the Winner of the 2007 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. As I have this book in my TBR list, I want to add this new release to my pile too!)

And these are some of the books I mooched lately:

Since my bookshelves are already filled to the brim, I have to put these newly-added piles in our storeroom along with the rest of my TBR piles. I am hoping to buy a new shelf in the near future (though I am wondering where I shall put it if I do!), otherwise I could clear some shelves in the storeroom and give away some books. We shall see.

Meanwhile, happy reading to all! :-)

Melody

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1. Oh, I can't wait until I have a day all to myself.

2. My daughter's snacks is the first thing I see when I open my refrigerator.

3. I never leave home without my bag (where it will consist of my wallet, cellphone, umbrella and a book!).

4. If I were a condiment, I would be salt because without it, anything would be tasteless.

5. People who are selfish and only think highly of themselves is really high up on my list of pet peeves.

6. The last thing I thought of before I went to bed was thank goodness it is Friday the next day.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to reading and watching late night shows, tomorrow my plans include visiting my dad and shopping and Sunday, I want to do laundry and other household chores to make up for the day I have spent the previous day!

Melody

FF

Appetizer
When was the last time you had your hair cut/trimmed?

I cannot remember the specific time but no longer than half a year.

Soup
Name one thing you miss about being a child.

Without having to worry about anything!

Salad
Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil.

I love the taste of butter, although I know it is fattening.

Main Course
If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why?

Japanese (I read mangas and some magazines which are translated from Japanese so it would be great if I could read them in its original form).

Dessert
Finish this sentence: In 5 years I expect to be…

a proud mother of two daughters. I think I will also be stressing over my elder daughter's education, haha.
Melody

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One of my favorite bookstores burned down last weekend, and while I only got to visit there while I was on vacation, it made me stop and think.

What would you do if, all of a sudden, your favorite source of books was unavailable?

Whether it’s a local book shop, your town library, or an internet shop … what would you do if, suddenly, they were out of business? Devastatingly, and with no warning? Where would you go for books instead? What would you do? If it was a local business you would try to help out the owners? Would you just calmly start buying from some other store? Visit the library in the next town instead? Would it be devastating? Or just a blip in your reading habit?

I am a regular patron of three major bookstores and one used bookstore, and they are all located in town. My neighbourhood does not have a bookstore. Well, there used to be a used bookstore in our neighbouring shopping mall but it had closed down last year. I do not really missed it though, for it had so little varieties to choose from and most of their books looked so old and worn that I do not think I would even want to keep them even though if I have enjoyed reading them. However, there is a public library next to this shopping mall but I hardly visit any of them nowadays.

I guess I would rely on the online bookstores if the physical ones are not accessible, and I know I will miss them terribly. I love visiting bookstores. Looking at the new releases on shelves always excites me. I think the only thing that is devastating is if one day the publishers decided that they no longer want to print the books but to release them in electronic format. I wouldn't know what to do then.

Melody





ISBN-13: 9780061238987
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2007
239pp




Getting lost is a terrifying experience.

Joey Harker knew this whenever he took a wrong turn in the house after his parents decided to add a hallway and a bedroom for his younger brother, Kevin. You see, he has a problem figuring right from left. But then, there is something worse than getting lost in his own house.

When he went on a field trip with two of his classmates, Ted and Rowena, for a Social Studies assignment as designated by their teacher, he has an uneasy feeling for Mr. Dimas has a reputation for unconventional teaching method. In this assignment, it is no exceptional as they are to be blindfolded and the school bus would drop them off at random places in the city. What is most challenging is, they are supposed to find their way to various checkpoints within a certain time without maps. And this is where Joey's adventure begins.

Since Joey has a poor sense of direction, it is no surprise that he soon finds himself getting lost and on top of it, he has lost his other two team mates too. It took him some time before he realised he has stepped into another dimension, where he meet a few alien-like villians and an army of allies who looked like him. Joey soon finds himself caught in a conflict between the magical HEX and the technological Binary and their main purpose is to try to harness Joey's power to travel between these dimensions.

However, when an incident has forced him to return to earth, he decided the only right thing he could do is to return to the dimension and help to fight the battle till the end, even though he knows he might not be able to return to the earth.

The protagonist, Joey Harker is not your typical hero but yet I have to admire his determination and his courageous act when he decided to join in the battle. But what most touched me is the support of his mother despite he told her he would not be able to see them again. It is the same kind of emotions when mothers see their sons going off to war. Joey might not have a good sense of direction, but he definitely knows what he is doing and the way he is going.

InterWorld is a part sci-fi, part fantasy story. Based on the afterword in this book, Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves started talking about this story in 1995, when at that time Mr. Reaves was making adventure cartoon serials at DreamWorks and Mr. Gaiman was in London working on the Neverwhere TV series. They thought this story would make a fun television adventure, unfortunately some times things do not turn up as expected, and so they decided to write it as a novel. Readers of sci-fi and fantasy genres will find this novel appealing, and of course not to mention fans of Neil Gaiman as well.
Melody

The Road Trip of Your Life


You see life as precious and special. Heritage and family are very important to you.

Your life is quite hectic. You try to slow down when you can, but it's not easy!

You don't like a lot of risk or randomness in your life. You prefer to stick with what's known, even if it's a bit boring.

You tend to be a workaholic. You overwork yourself without ever realizing it and sometimes suffer the consequences later.

In another life, you could have been a great artist. You trust your creative instincts enough to let them lead you.


Most of them sounds just like me, but the one about me being a workaholic is definitely not right (although I do enjoy my work). :-P

Melody





ISBN-13: 9781401309169
Publisher: Hyperion
Published: November 2007
501pp






Holly and Gerry are so in love with each other. In other people's eyes, they made a perfect couple. However, things change when Gerry found himself diagnosed with brain cancer. He died at 30. It is unfortunate since both of them are still so young. Holly is devastated; she just could not accept the truth and she also could not imagine her life without Gerry.

Just when Holly is still learning to cope after his death, she received a telephone call from her mother about a batch of mails addressed to her. When she realised they came from Gerry, she is in for a shock. Apparently they had been written and sent before he died. And as per Gerry's instructions, Holly is to open only one letter each month in which each letter will help to guide her through her ups and downs and eventually to overcome her grief, for each letter is an encouragement to Holly. This makes Holly feels as if Gerry is back with her again.

Aside from these encouraging letters from Gerry, Holly also has a bunch of friends and supporting family members who care alot about her. These supporting characters and all the things they had done together for Holly contribute much to this story. This is not only a love story, but there is a lot more about friendship, grief and hope too.

Cecilia Ahern has written a moving and heartwarming story in P.S. I Love You. I have to admire Gerry's courage at the time he picked up his pen to write those letters to Holly as this shows how much he loved her and knowing that soon he would no longer be with her one day, he wanted her to be happy and strong. Though I am touched by Gerry's love for Holly, I feel that family members and friends are equally important too, though they might not be the ones whom we will spend with for the rest of our life.

After reading this novel, I think I will have to look out for the DVD.

Other Blogger(s) reviews:
Melody
This week’s Weekly Geeks theme is to talk about the magazines we read. In order to get started, Dewey prepared a little magazines meme, but feel free to take it further if you want. It’d be great if you displayed images of the covers of your favorite magazines.

For each magazine you want to talk about, here are a few questions. Answer as many or as few as you want.

1. Name of magazine.
2. Do you subscribe or just buy it now and then?
3. What’s your favorite regular feature in the magazine?
4. What do you think your interest in this magazine says about you?
5. How long have you been reading this magazine?
6. Is there any unique or quirky aspect to the magazine that keeps you reading?

I love RT Book Reviews magazine. Being a romance, romance suspense and mysteries fan, this magazine is very informative to me as it features the upcoming releases and the books ratings as well. I started the subscription four months ago, since I could not find them any in our local bookstores! I had received my third issue and am enjoying every issue so far.

I read all features in the magazine, but my favourite have to be: Cover story, Featured Book Review, a sneak peak at future books, Authors Spotlights and News, the Reader Columns, Discover New Authors, Writing tips and many others. Aside from these, the subscribers get to access to their online bonus content after they have registered with the 7 digit account number found on the mailing label.

Although I enjoy reading this magazine, I am also thinking of subscribing to Bookmarks magazine as I have seen many fellow bookbloggers subscribing to this too. If you are a reader of this magazine, can you tell me why you like it?

Other magazines I read:

Cleo (Australia)











Young Parents (Singapore)













Mina (Taiwan)

Melody

Photobucket

1. Holidays in the summer are fun if only the weather isn't too hot.

2. Hotdogs and corn on the cob are my favorite things to grill.

3. My thoughts are straying towards vacations because it seems like most of my friends or colleagues are taking their break.

4. Rearranging my book piles is what I'm most looking forward to this weekend!

5. My favorite book so far this summer is No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay. It is an exciting thriller with a twist at the end.

6. The sweet smell of bakery and a cup of hot tea is the best way to begin a day.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to reading my book and RT Book Reviews magazine, tomorrow my plans include laundry, cooking and spending time with my family and Sunday, I want to sort out and organize my books so as to make some rooms for the newer books!

Melody

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It’s a holiday weekend here in the U.S., so let’s keep today’s question simple–What are you reading? Anything special? Any particularly juicy summer reading?

I am currently reading P.S. I Love You by Cecilia Ahern. I will not brief you on the summary since I am sure most of you must have read the book, or even watched the movie. I am also reading a Harlequin Mills and Boon romance, The Greek Tycoon's Defiant Bride by Lynne Graham. I quite enjoy reading the Harlequin romances because they are light and fun to read (although some of their titles and bookcovers make me cringe).

I hope everyone from the U.S. has a great holiday weekend!

Melody
Alice has tagged me with another fun meme.

Do you remember how you developed a love for reading? I fell in love with books when I was in Primary School. I cannot remember if my first book is an Enid Blyton's or a Nancy Drew's book though, but I know I was hooked onto them and that is what most matters.

What are some books you read as a child? A lot of Enid Blyton’s books and Nancy Drew series of course. I also read a few Hardy Boys series too. These detective stories really intrigued me!

What is your favorite genre? You know, I do not think I have a favourite genre because I find each genre is different and special on its own. I always find pleasure in reading them anyway. For example, I love the excitement and suspense of the thriller genre; the wonderful imagination and the magical themes of the fantasy genre where anything is possible.

Do you have a favorite novel? Absolutely, but I have too many that it is hard for me to name just one.

Where do you usually read? I can read almost anywhere, but my favourite spot will be the L-shape sofa in our living room where I am free to lie on it or stretch my legs when I get too tired.

When do you usually read? I don't really have a specific time when it comes to my reading. I grab every opportunity to read whenever I can especially at home because it is hard to concentrate with a four-year-old kid who is always vying for your attention. And of course, I always read on the train when I am travelling to and from work.

Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time? Depends. Sometimes, I read two books at the same time but I try not to exceed that number because it can get confusing.

Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction? I rarely read nonfictions nowadays. However, I do look at nonfictions and fictions differently as the former usually provides knowledge and information which I may find them useful at times. Like fictions, it does not matter where but when I would find the time to read them.

Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library? I used to borrow books from the school libraries or the public libraries during my school days. It was only when I started working that I began to buy books from the used bookstores or bookstores so that I can keep them and read at my own pace.

Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them? I do, especially those which are my favourites, and some of the others as a remembrance. I still buy a few from the Nancy Drew series and I am currently looking out for some out-of-print Sweet Dream romances which was a hit during the 80s. As for the books that no longer interest me, I do not simply throw them away. I will either donate them or put them onto my BookMooch inventory so that someone will read and appreciate them.

If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child? I love reading children's picture books too. I will buy them if I am attracted to their stories and illustrations, and will definitely share them with my daughter. I am glad she has enjoyed them so far. I will introduce the Enid Blyton's and Nancy Drew series to her when she is getting older.

What are you reading now? I am currently reading P.S. I Love You by Cecilia Ahern and a Harlequin Mills & Boon romance, The Greek Tycoon's Defiant Bride by Lynne Graham.

Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list? Yes. It is always good to keep track and so as to avoid buying the same book in future.

What’s next? I have no idea what to read next as it often depends on my mood.

What books would you like to reread? There are several books on my list, but I would choose to read these books anytime: Coraline by Neil Gaiman, Tokyo (aka The Devil of Nanking) by Mo Hayder and The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale.

Who are your favorite authors? (Not in any order) Mo Hayder, Nora Roberts, Anne Bishop, Shannon Hale, Neil Gaiman, Matthew Reilly, Anne Stuart, and a few others that I could not think of right now.

* * *

Consider yourself tagged if you want to play this but please leave me a comment so that I can come visit. :-)

Melody
I found this interesting reading quiz over at BookBrowse.

Here's my result:
Your Personality: All-Rounder!
Your responses showed you fitting equally into all four reading personalities:

Involved Reader: You don't just love to read books, you love to read about books. For you, half the fun of reading is the thrill of the chase - discovering new books and authors, and discussing your finds with others.
Exacting Reader: You love books but you rarely have as much time to read as you'd like - so you're very particular about the books you choose.
Serial Reader: Once you discover a favorite writer you tend to stick with him/her through thick and thin.
Eclectic Reader: You read for entertainment but also to expand your mind. You're open to new ideas and new writers, and are not wedded to a particular genre or limited range of authors.

Take this quiz if you have the time and tell me what's yours? :-)

Melody





ISBN-13: 9780316065771
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Published: May 2008
441pp



During the 17th-century in a laid-back village in Iran, the narrator, a fourteen-year-old young woman is dreaming of marrying and having a family of her own. However, her hopes are dashed after the sudden death of her father as a marriage is impossible without a dowry to offer. Feeling desperate and penniless, they decided to travel to the city of Isfahan to seek assistance and protection of an uncle who is a well respected carpet maker and has his own workshop. Gostaham and his wife, Gordiyeh took them in, although they have to work and are being treated like servants in their household.

Nevertheless, the narrator did not stop her dreams. She has a passion and talents for carpet-knotting so she requested to learn carpet design from Gostaham, a profession which is often taken up by men. Having no son and thinking there is no harm in teaching her, Gostaham shares his knowledge of carpet-making to her. She has learned the skills fast, but Gordiyeh is not happy with them for not being able to contribute much to the household, and to make things worsen, the narrator made an error with a rug she had made and with nothing to pay, she agrees on a sigheh arrangement. Unlike a real marriage, a sigheh is only considered a temporary marriage and most of the times, the women are treated lowly and provide pleasure to the men in return for a payment. And this begins her three-month renewable contract with Fereydoon, the son of a horse trader when he set his eyes on her one day when he had paid a visit at Gostaham's house.

However, there is a turn of event when she later found out that Fereydoon is to marry her close friend, Naheed. It does not matter that Naheed has a man whom she loves, for her parents think that Iskandar does not make a worthy son-in-law. Though the narrator feels sad for Naheed, she is also feeling sorry for herself as she has gained nothing as compared to Naheed. As time goes by, she has mastered the art of pleasing Fereydoon although she is still feeling guilty for not telling Naheed due to the complex situation. When Naheed knows about their relationship later, there is an uproar in the households. The narrator decides to end the sigheh contract secretly on her own, not knowing that her rashness entitles Gostaham and his wife to cast them out of their house. In the end, she has to resort to begging on the streets to provide for her sick mother. However, this does not mark the end of her journey as she struggles to defy all odds and find ways to path a future for herself and her mother.

While reading this story, I felt sorry for the unnamed narrator. Although she is being forced to surrender her virginity and is being treated lowly, she is actually a strong and courageous woman in my opinion; one who is brave enough to stand on her own despite the difficult situations. Not only that, she also shows her loyalty to Naheed by refusing Fereydoon's offer when he asked for a renewal to their sigheh contract. I was also touched by the love between the narrator's mother and father, whereby he had never thought of taking a second wife even though it had took them years to conceive a child. And even after he knew the child is a girl, he still loved her unconditionally. After all, a boy is always preferred in the male dominated society.

Readers also get a glimpse of the harsh fact of life where there is this scene between a blind old beggar and the narrator when she begged for money in an area which he considered it his "turf". He lied to others about her using their generosity so that she could feed on opium, thus forcing her to leave so that he could have all the attention and a permanent place to beg again. There is another incident where she is conned by a Dutchman as she had trusted his words and passed the rug she had made to him, believing in him that he would buy it from her after his inspection but she never seen him again thereafter.

The Blood of Flowers is a wonderful read and a page-turner. Anita Amirrezvani has a way with words. Aside from the interesting premise and the engaging characters, I was also drawn by the Iranian history and culture through the author's fine descriptions in the novel. It was also an eye opener to me after reading how the carpets are being made as well as the meaning behind some of their design patterns. I know I will never look at a rug the same way again.


Note: It took the author nine years to work on this novel. She had also made three trips to Iran to research this book. The narrator of this novel is not named intentionally, in tribute to the anonymous artisans of Iran. You may wish to read more about the author's thoughts under the Author's Note of this novel.


Other blog review: