ISBN-13: 9789881753267

Publisher: 天苑文化

Published: 2008

Format: Paperback, 228pp

Source: Author

《在晴朗的日子分手》除了讲述男女之间的爱情故事以外，其实它也包含了亲情，以及一个关于气味和味道的故事。

女主角蓝莉喜欢穿Lolita style的服饰；为了喜爱的服饰她在一家化妆品牌柜台当推销员。除了推销产品，她的梦想就是到英国念化妆课程。自小她就恋上了一种气味； 这个气味使她联想到父亲的气味。虽然她不知道她的亲生父亲是谁，但是她在母亲接客的大多数男人中都嗅到了这个气味，所以就认定了它就是父亲的味道。

另一位女主角尤儿则喜欢吃蛋糕和甜点。除了爱吃，她更喜欢做甜点。自小因一场无情的车祸而丧失了母亲；她最难忘的事情便是当天和母亲到一家酒店品尝一块蛋糕。对她来说，那是件最幸福不过的事。从此她就一直在寻找记忆中那幸福的味道。

男主角林正 (注: 因为是繁体版，读者不知怎么拼男主角的名字。既然他的名字有个‘正’字在下，所以就干脆叫他‘林正’了。) 的职业是名小提琴和钢琴教师。为了这份工作，他不惜劳累奔波到学生们的住家教课。他在一次偶然中遇见了蓝莉，而蓝莉因他的气味而恋上了他。两人就这样顺其自然地走在一起。

尤儿为了自力更生而搬离住家出来租房子。可以说是种缘分吧，尤儿看了蓝莉的租赁广告后就这样地搬进了蓝莉家，成了她的室友。两人的感情本来融洽，但慢慢地她们的感情因林正而起了变化。爱情可以令热恋中的情侣快乐，但它其实也可以带给一对恋人痛苦，例如说对爱情的不安和缺乏信任。而蓝莉就是这个例子。但一个人很爱一个人时，自然而然地他/她很在乎对方，有时候甚至超乎了极限。要取得平衡，谈何容易。

林正本来对尤儿没什么特别的感觉，但他发现和尤儿在一起的时候那种感觉很自在，没有一点儿的压迫感。而且，尤儿对以后的事不抱太多的假想，一切凭感觉和自己快乐而去做每件事。但这并不意味着她对林正的感觉是草率的。她其实也对这份感情付出过的。

三人的感情纠纷，就围绕在寻找气味和味道之间。爱情是什么？幸福又是什么？我想，我在读完这本书后已大概有了答案。与其说是答案，不如说我对爱情和幸福有了更深一层的了解；原来这两者并不是我们想象中的那么复杂和难以追寻。

It has been a while since I read a Chinese novel, thus when the author contacted me and asked if I wanted to do a review for her two books, I said yes and on top of that, I was intrigued by the blurbs.

Though Breaking Up on a Sunny Day is a romance, there is also a theme between a mother and daughter relationship, and a story about scent and taste (read further and you’ll know why).

Lan Li has a passion for Lolita fashion. In fact, she loves them so much so that she joined a cosmetics brand which has the same style for their uniforms. Aside from this passion, her dream is to visit England and to pursue studies on makeup and cosmetics there. Since she was a child, she had a liking for one particular scent; this scent reminds her of her father though she has no idea who her father is. Many men who came to look for her mother shared this same scent and thereafter she would link this scent to her father as it always make her think about him.

You Er, on the other hand, has a passion for cakes and desserts. Not only she has a passion for those, but she loves making cakes and desserts too. One of her most unforgettable moments from childhood is having tea at a hotel with her mother and they were both sharing a pot of tea and a slice of cake. Unfortunately, her mother died in an automobile accident right after they left the hotel. Her mother’s death shattered her and through memories she vows to find that happiness she had had with her mother.

Lin Zheng, the hero in this story, is a teacher who teaches violin and piano. He would travel around Hong Kong to conduct lessons at his students’ home and though the job is hectic at times, he is quite satisfied and happy with his life. He and Lan Li met each other during a chance encounter and it is through him that Lan Li has found the scent that she has been looking for all this while (Lin Zheng would help out at his father’s barber’s shop at times). Needless to say, they fell in love shortly after.

You Er moved out from her father’s house to find freedom and independence. Through an advertisement, she rented a room from Lan Li and they became good friends. However, their relationship changed after You Er met Lin Zheng .

You Er didn’t mean to fall in love with Lin Zheng initially, and likewise Lin Zheng has no special feelings towards You Er, but after the time they have been together as friends their relationship started to blossom. Although Lin Zheng loves Lan Li, he finds he is more at ease with You Er as compared to the woman whom he thinks he is in love with.

Breaking Up on a Sunny Day tells a bittersweet love story between three people and lead readers to wonder about the complexity (and simplicity?) of love. Through the thoughts and behaviours of these three characters, this story highlighted the feelings and the dilemmas many couples face when they are in a relationship, e.g. if you love a person, how do you ensure that the love and attention you are giving to the other party is just right and not overwhelming? Is it even possible to create a balance and find the happiness that you want? Perhaps. But I have to say I have a better understanding of love and happiness after reading this book, and I think maybe those two aren’t as complicated and hard to achieve as we have thought.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Minnesota

Set in North Carolina during the 1800s, Shadow of a Quarter Moon tells the story of Jacy Lane, a young woman living in a plantation and how her life changed after her father's death and discovering that she is actually the offspring of a dalliance between her father and a slave.

Added to the complexity is her engagement to Garrison Yob, a middle-aged man who is known to be ruthless and a chauvinist, and most of all finding out that her biological mother and brother are still working in their plantation.

As much as she is shocked and couldn't accept the revelation that she is the daughter of a slave, she gradually accepts her fate and seek to know more about her biological mother and brother. With the assistance of Rafe, a horse trainer whom she is attracted to, they plan to flee from the plantation and to find a life of their own.

Filled with rich Southern atmosphere and an emotional-driven plot to boot, author Eileen Clymer Schwab weaves a story of a spirited young woman finding her identity and all the challenges she has to face for freedom and all.

What I liked about this story is it somewhat has a 'coming-of-age' edge to it as we see Jacy's transformation from a rich white girl to a matured young lady who would travel to all lengths for the sake of love and freedom. The characterisations of Jacy's biological mother and half-brother, Jerlinda and Axel, as well as Rafe made this story more interesting to read through their insights along with their actions.

Another thing is, Shadow of a Quarter Moon not only touches on relationship between mother and daughter but also on the hardships of the slaves faced during the 1800s. After reading the author's notes and the readers guide, I learnt that the author had also researched for the history of the Underground Railroad in North Carolina as well as the Great Dismal, in which they are being mentioned during Jacy's treacherous journey as she seek for freedom.

A story of courage and history, Shadow of a Quarter Moon will inspire readers through Jacy's treacherous journey and also as a remembrance of the past as the time goes by.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Minnesota

Minneapolis

I watched this movie three weeks ago and to tell you frankly, I couldn't decide if I would want to write a post on it. After all it starred two of my favourite idols and I don't want to make it seem like a fan post. However, I didn't want to let this movie go unnoticed considering it has a good plot involving the Peking opera so here you go.

The story opens with a group of men, women and children being sent to behead under the order from the merciless Prince Regent of the Qing Dynasty set during the 19th century.

A five-year-old boy named Er Kui and his family are a few of the unfortunate victims and before the execution started, he began to sing a song before doom befalls his family and his beautiful voice startled Master Yu Shengying and his seven-year-old pupil, Guan Yilong, who are bystanders watching the commotion.

Yilong asked his Master if he is able to rescue the poor boy from his gallows, and Master Yu did save the boy in the end. Master Yu is a "Wu Sheng", which means a warrior and it is a highly and well-admired status in the world of Peking opera and for this, he earned a golden plaque which is the most sought-after prize.

However, arch-rival Master Yue demands a duel and Master Yu is forced to retire from the opera after the lost of the duel. He places his hope on Yilong and Er Kui and trains them to be "Wu Sheng". Fast forward, the two boys have now grown into fine young men and they had mastered the arts Master Yu taught them. They left for Shanghai to avenge for their master, and they did so on stage since Master Yue's troupe had a public performance. Master Yue chose to die than facing the humiliation but his dreadful action has spurred on another revenge cycle; this time around through his beloved pupil, Xi Mulan.

With the colourful setting of Peking opera mix with martial arts, My Kingdom tells the tale of two sworn brothers's journey as "Wu Sheng" and how their life ruin under the hands of love, revenge and deceit. In my humble opinion, what makes this movie stands out is aside from the cast, it gives the audience a better understanding of Peking opera and a glimpse of the performers' life on stage as well as backstage. What we see on stage may be short, but it takes all the years and hard work of the performers' for perfecting those movements we get to enjoy as an audience.

Mulan and the rest of the troupe have no choice but to let Yilong and Er Kui take the lead of their troupe; after all Yilong has now caught the public attention with his excellent performance and it is no doubt he is now the new "Wu Sheng". Er Kui didn't mind being the sidekick, after all he has more important thing in mind, such as to kill all the sons of the Prince Regent to avenge for his family.

While some may think the premise is cliché, I have to say it is the rich history and the choreography that is the highlight of this movie. I also watched with marvel at the colourful of the costumes and how Peking opera has brought to life under the directions of Director Gao XiaoSong and Action Director Sammo Hung (I understand that this movie took 4 years of making). Wu Chun (Guan Yilong) and Han Geng (Er Kui) may be the leading actors here, but I also have to give credit to Lu Chen, Taiwanese renowned magician (who makes a debut in this movie) for playing his role well as a corrupt cop.

All in all, I enjoyed this movie immensely and I'm not saying that just because my idols starred in it. Needless to say, I look forward to getting the DVD once it is released.