Movie Review: Obsessed (人间中毒)
Melody


Cast: Song Seung-Heon, Lim Ji-Yeon
Director: Kim Dae-Woo
Genre: Erotic Romance
Language: Korean (English/Chinese subtitles)
(R21) 



I've to admit it is Song Seung-Heon who attracted me to this movie. After all I'd watched several Korean dramas starring him and most of his roles are unforgettable. Well it didn't hurt that he has a fit body and a good-looking face too. 

Onto the topic, Obsessed is a story of a decorated war hero, Colonel Kim Jin-pyong, who falls in love with a young woman and would risk everything for love, in which ended up in tragedy eventually.

Colonel Kim seems to have everything; from his prestigious rank right to having a beautiful wife, but apparently he isn't that at bliss considering he suffers from post-traumatic disorder after the Vietnam War and his affection towards his ambitious wife has faded.

On an occasion he happens to meet Ga-heun, a wife of his subordinate. Ga-heun is unlike any other officers wives, and Colonel Kim is quickly attracted to her. However, it is through one life-threatening incident that allows Colonel Kim to save Ga-heun, thus creating a chance for them to get to know more about each other. Since both of them are married, their exchanges are usually discreet. And in no time they are so smitten (obsessed?) with each other that they have a forbidden affair. 

Before meeting Colonel Kim, Ga-heun's marriage is no bliss either as her relationship with her husband feels more like a brother and sister rather than lovers. After all, she was adopted by his family when she was younger after she had lost her family. Colonel Kim is the first man whom she has fallen in love with, but despite the fact that she loves him she felt she couldn't abandon everything and left with him. Colonel Kim, on the other hand, confessed that he couldn't live without her. 

What happened next wasn't something I had expected, and all I can say is regret, and more regret. With the attraction and love they had for each other, I felt it a regret that they didn't meet earlier; and then I also felt regret that what happened to the secondary characters weren't explained clearly (i.e. Colonel Kim's wife and Ga-heun's husband). Overall the film was shot quite beautifully (the lovemaking scenes are tastefully done too). And finally, the only thing that left me unsatisfied is the ending; it left me feeling hollow because of Ga-heun's choice. For a quiet and demure woman, she seems firm in some aspect and not caring what other women thought of her. 

Colonel Kim, on the other hand, seems weak as compared to Ga-heun when it comes to love, but then that is the attractive side of him. A devoted man is what most women want in a relationship isn't it? But then again from another angle, love and devotion can also consume and destroy a person. . . And I think, in my opinion, is the core of this story. 

All in all, I enjoyed the movie. If only it has a happier ending. . . 
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I'll Be Right There by Kyung-Sook Shin
Melody


ISBN: 9781590516737
Publisher: Other Press LLC
Publication Date: 3 June 2014
Format: Paperback, 336 pgs
Source: Personal Library
Translated from the Korean by Sora Kim-Russell
I'll Be Right There is a powerful and moving story about friendship, loss and young love set in 1980s South Korea. Alongside the setting there are also tremors of political revolution and the demonstrations of quests for democracy and freedom. 

Filled with lyrical prose throughout the story, author Kyung-Soon Shin tells us a beautiful yet a sad story of Jung Yoon, a highly literate twenty-something young woman's journey of growing up and her relationship with her three closest friends - Dahn (her childhood friend), Myungsuh and Muri; a boy and a girl she knew from college respectively.  

Captured the innocence of youth, the characters' mixed feelings of growing up and seeing life as it is. There are some touching moments when Jung Yoon mentioned about her mother, who  knew that her days were numbered, sent her to live with her cousin in the city as she didn't want Jung Yoon to see her suffering. Jung Yoon, on the other end, thinks otherwise. 

While there are tough times, there are also tender moments when I read about Dahn's letters to Jung Yoon during his army service as he poured out his feelings to her, as well as reading Myungsuh's journal about his thoughts in general. I felt I could read into their minds reading through those words.  

Then there are joy, sorrow, despair . . . when Myungsuh told Jung Yoon his love for her is as much as those emotions he experienced through different stages of his life when he was younger. And then, there is Muri as she recalls to Jung Yoon how she had lost her elder sister when she ended her life after learning that her boyfriend would never return, due to the demonstration and he may be part of it. 

I'll Be Right There is Jung Yoon's memories of her past; a highlight of her fragile and emotional experiences in an era filled with uncertainty and anxiety. What makes this story a poignant read is not only the characterisations but the way how they would make you feel as you read about their lives, which was written so beautifully that I felt a sense of melancholy reading them. It is a thought-provoking read about life and relationships, and finally never hesitate to hold out to the person you think who might need it, hence the title "I'll Be Right There". I want to say Ms. Shin is a great storyteller; aside from the characterisations, she also has a talent for noticing the detail that characterises the particular situation she describes. 

Finally, I want to applaud the translator, Sora Kim-Russell, for the translation of this work. Although I couldn't compare the translation to the original work, I want to say it read smoothly and that at times I even forgot I was reading a translation version. 

Please Look After Mom, which is the author's previous book, would be onto my to-read list. 


Note: The Chinese translation of "I'll Be Right There" is ＂我们不要忘记今天＂〜 申京淑. 
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What Strange Creatures by Emily Arsenault
Melody


ISBN-13: 9780062283238
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date: 22 July 2014
Format: Paperback, 384 pgs
Source: Publisher



Theresa Battle is a divorced woman in her thirties; has three cats and a dog, and working as a copywriter at a local candle company. Theresa also has a passion in reading and researching Margery Kempe. She was the subject of Theresa's dissertation way before her divorce but never got around to finishing it. 

While she is smart though somewhat eccentric, her older brother Jeff is towards the loyal and trusting type. Regardless of their personality difference, they are quite close with each other. It is partly due to the fact that their parents were divorced when they were younger, and that they are so used to disappointments in their lives. But Jeff's life changes after he has met Kim, an attractive waitress in her twenties. He appears happier, and Theresa feels happy for him although she is skeptical of Kim. She simply thinks they aren't meant for each other. 

Her worry came true when she agreed to dog-sit Kim's dog for a weekend and Kim didn't turn up. Just when Theresa wonders about Kim's whereabouts, she receives news that the police has found Kim's body and Jeff is the prime suspect. 

Theresa believes Jeff is innocent, but the evidence pointed otherwise. Desperate and eager to clear Jeff's name, Theresa began her plan to dig into Kim's past life and unravel a series of secrets involving politics, murder and scandal. As if those aren't enough, she found herself entangled in a dangerous romance. 

Emily Arsenault's What Strange Creatures is a wonderfully written literary mystery filled with suspense with a tinge of political and legal elements. The case revolving Kim's death is filled with complexity and doubts, and very often I found myself as vexed and clueless as Theresa but that's the beauty of the story. It just sucks you in and never let go until you've reached the last page. 

Towards reading third-quarter of the book, I realised this story is more than a mystery. It is also a story about humanity and what some people will do under circumstances; and most of all, some things aren't the way they seem to be. 

What I liked about this story is the relationship between Theresa and Jeff. Theresa's faith in her brother is so strong that one could even taste it. She may think the Battles family is cursed with disappointments, but I think it's a good thing that she hasn't given up on hope. 

Another thing I liked is the literary style even though this is a mystery. I think it is rare to see these two mixed together, but author Emily Arsenault has done it well. (I've to say I've learnt quite a few things about Margery Kempe although I don't even know who she is in the first place.) I'll be sure to check out Ms. Arsenault's other works. 

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Sweet Water by Christina Baker Kline
Melody


ISBN-13: 9780062361004
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date: 1 July 2014
Format: Paperback, 320 pgs (Reprint)
Source: Publisher

Twenty-seven year old Cassandra Simon thinks her life living in New York City is mundane and routine, especially her job and her love life is concerned. Then her life suddenly changes after she received news that her late grandfather left her a property (sixty acres of land, to be exact) in Sweetwater, Tennessee. 

Cassandra hardly knows her grandfather; in fact she has nil contacts with her mother's family, ever since she passed away in an accident when Cassandra was three. Despite this, Cassandra decides to travel to Tennessee where her mother, Ellen, grew up. 

The moment she arrives in Sweetwater, Cassandra is overwhelmed by her mother's family. For starters, her grandmother Constance Clyde doesn't feel too excited to meet her. The same goes to her mother's siblings, Elaine and Horace. They all thought she has a motive moving there and their attitude towards her are both wary and lukewarm. 

Cassandra tries her best to adjust to the new environment as well as the cool attitude she receives, but she soon realises that her mother's family harbours a secret which involving her grandparents and her mother, and she intends to find out what happened. 

Cassandra and Constance are two interesting characters, and they are two very different people. Cassandra is a woman who's brave enough to embrace changes; one quality which I liked in her, as well as her persistence in finding the truth surrounding her mother's past. 

Constance, on the other hand, is a woman who's afraid to face the past. She has too much hatred in her, and she doesn't open her heart to anyone else; in which I couldn't really fault her, given the betrayal by her husband and her best friend. Deep in her heart, she has a secret which she intends to bury to her grave but inevitably truth will out.

Told from Cassandra's and Constance's perspectives (the latter switches between past and present), Sweet Water is a story about family secrets, betrayal and finally the redemptive power of forgiveness. The mystery surrounding the family may not classified as a thriller, but what makes this story stands out is the way the two narrators tell their story, in which ultimately leading the readers towards the truth. 

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Help for the Haunted by John Searles
Melody


ISBN-13: 9780060779641
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date: 15 July 2014
Format: Paperback, 400 pgs
Source: Publisher



Help for the Haunted is a story about an unusual family and secrets; as well as a girl's journey to finding the truth surrounding her family. 

Sylvie Mason knew her family is unlike the others; after all her parents are known to help "haunted souls" to find peace. As much as the Mason family is unusual in some ways, they tried to lead life as normal as everyone is. Sylvie seems to be the perfect daughter in her parents' eyes, while Rose, the eldest daughter is the opposite. She couldn't be bothered with what their parents do, and she doesn't believe in them anyway. 

One snowy night, the Masons received a phone call which altered all their lives.  The parents are expecting to meet up with Rose, who ran away from home as an act of rebellion, but instead they ended up being murdered in an old church, the place which Rose had suggested to meet initially. 

Sylvie was in their car sleeping then, but the gunshots shattered her dreams and led her to the church, searching for her parents. The murderer was eventually put behind bars, but still Sylvie was left with a dozen of questions not answered. 

Rose became her legal guardian, but Sylvie's relationship with her remains cool, after what happened. And Sylvie needed to find Uncle Howie, who was her father's elder brother and she thought he might be able to give her some answers, even though he and her father were estranged. 

As Sylvie delved deeper into the mystery of her parents' death, she learnt more about her family's past and that certain things are not what they seemed to be. 

When I first started this book, I expected a story about ghosts and spirits, after all the title gave me that idea. However, as I find myself engrossed in Sylvie's lonely world I realised that this is more than a ghost story. This is a coming-of-age story written from Sylvie's perspective as she bravely seeks the truth, paranormal or not. 

Author John Searles is a great storyteller as he cleverly crafted the plot line with tension and a tinge of creepiness. The characterisations are equally stunning, as I found myself engrossed in the relationships between Sylvie, Rose and the various characters who revolved around them. I think these relationships are a mystery itself. The conclusion to this book is both beautiful and poignant, which I'm sure will evoke various emotions in a reader. Highly recommended. 

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Drama Review: Road No. 1 (一号国道)
Melody


This is one of the older K-dramas (2010) I watched a while back. Road No. 1 is a war story which was based on real events between Seoul and Pyongyang. 

Since a boy, Lee Jang Woo (starring So Ji Sub) and his father worked as servants in a family. Jang Woo and Soo Yeon (starring Kim Ha Neul), the eldest daughter of the family, are childhood sweethearts. Soo Yeon's ambition is to be a doctor, but life becomes tough for them and Jang Woo decides to join the army in order to earn money to pay for her tuition. 

During the time when Jang Woo is out fighting, Soo Yeon spends her time studying and in the end fulfills her wish of becoming a doctor and treats injured soldiers. She is still awaiting for Jang Woo's return, until one day she receives news that he had died in combat. 

Soo Yeon eventually moves on with her life and knew an army officer, Shin Tae Ho (starring Yoon Kye Sang) through her work. Tae Ho falls in love with her on first sight, but deep down Soo Yeon still couldn't forget Jang Woo and is still hoping that he'd be back safe and sound. 

Tae Ho wants to marry Soo Yeon, and at that point Soo Yeon realises that Jang Woo wouldn't be back and she agrees to his proposal. Alas, on the eve of their wedding, Jang Woo returns home. He claimed that the news of his death had been a mistake. Soo Yeon is now torn between two men. 

However, her worries are nothing as compared to the war that befalls their country. The following morning, North Korea invades South Korea, marking the beginning of the Korean War. Both men, Jang Woo and Tae Ho are sent to the battlefield, without getting an answer from Soo Yeon whom she'd choose. 

Jang Woo and Tae Ho become rivalries, but both of them knew that if they bring their personal feelings to the battlefields, they'd get themselves killed. Gradually under those tough circumstances, they'd learned to work as a team and watch out for one another. But as we all know, war changes everything and fate does play a part when one's life is concerned. 

Road No. 1 is one unforgettable war dramas to me, alongside with movies Saving Private Ryan, Pearl Harbor and Atonement. I don't specially seek out books and movies on wars, but their stories are usually knowledgeable and inspiring in some ways. Movies, on the other end, have made the images more vivid and thus most often stayed in one's mind long after a book is closed. 

Like many war stories, Road No. 1 is emotional and pull on your heartstrings. Wars are cruel, for sure, and they make it even harder to watch especially when one has to leave for battle while others scramble for their lives. In this case, Jang Woo and Tae Ho have to fight against their enemies, while deep down they are also fighting against each other over a woman they love. When one finally admits defeat, it is war that claims the winner. Not wanting to disclose spoilers, I just want to say the ending had me in tears. 

Actors So Ji Sub and Yoon Kye Sang have both brought their roles to life through their excellent acting skills. I've to say So Ji Sub left a deep impression on me due to his manly physique and not to mention the role he portrayed. He is never conceited and always spare a thought for his peers in the role he portrayed; he is most often calm under critical situations and most of all, he has a kind heart. I've to say I rooted for him all the way through the drama; and although my heart goes out to Soo Yeon too, it was always Jang Woo who caught my attention and had me hoping that he would win all the battles.

If you are a fan of historical and a good romance story, this drama is for you. 

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Covet by Tracey Garvis Graves
Melody

ISBN-13: 9780142181126
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Publication Date: April 2014
Format: Paperback, 336 pgs
Source: Personal Library


Can men and women be friends? Is it possible to love more than one person at the same time? 

Covet is a story which questions you on the above issues and at its core a story about marriage and friendship.

Claire Canton, a woman in her thirties, is a stay-at-home mom with two kids. She works as a freelance graphic designer and she should be a very happy woman as she seems to have the best of both worlds. 

However, she isn't as her husband Chris was troubled by unemployment. The previous job he worked in a software company laid off some staff and he was one of them. Finding a job becomes a challenge due to the economy and not to mention that many companies are trying to cut down on costs, even if it means asking a staff to do two persons' jobs. Chris becomes depressed as the days go by without him with a job; he becomes a loving father and husband to a lone ranger who locks himself in his room and getting bitter not only to himself and to the world. 

Claire is no doubt worried and concerned over Chris and their financial state they are in, but she couldn't seem to get her words through Chris, as he has shut everything out of him. Finally, he found a job but it requires lots of travelling. Both Chris and Claire know this would take away many of their family time but they also know they have to adjust to it no matter they like it or not. 

Chris works hard in his new job, taking little notice of his family. The travelling has made it worse and it takes not much time before Claire feels their marriage is on red alert. She feels alone and with no one to turn to, until one day she is pulled over by police officer, Daniel Rush, over her faulty taillight. One thing leads to another and before she knows it she finds herself seeing more of Daniel. 

Daniel knew she is married but yet he couldn't let his mind off of Claire. One reason being that she reminds him of his ex-wife; but the most of all is he feels happy with her and he knows she feels the same way too. Claire, on the other hand, knows they shouldn't be spending too much time together despite they don't have any physical connection. It doesn't feel right, to be emotionally close to a man who isn't your husband but yet she is hoping she could remain in that state if possible. 

Alongside Claire's issues is her friendship with her neighbours and how they have their own family woes too. All in all, I find Covet to be a satisfying read; one which covers a common issue what a couple might face under circumstances when one party neglects the other. And, is it even possible for a man and woman to be platonic friends? I think this book has covered these subjects well and offer some insights about keeping a relationship. Narrated by three different perspectives (Claire, Chris and Daniel), this also allows readers to get to know their thoughts on a more personal level. 
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Drama Review: You Who Came from the Stars (来自星星的你)
Melody

For those readers who'd watched this drama, please pardon me for posting this at this time. This most watched K-drama was aired last December and had many viewers addicted to it that fans around the world would sweep every products off the shelves that are endorsed by the two leading characters. I watched this drama two months back but didn't get around to reviewing it until now. I know it'd be an outdated review, but I thought I'd offer some of my perspective especially to readers who have yet to watch it.
Basically, this is a romantic comedy between an alien and a human being. I have to admit I'm not a sci-fi fan, not as a reader or a viewer, but I'd heard and read so many reviews about this drama that it had me curious. 
Anyway, this fantasy romance revolves around an alien, Do Min-joon (starring Kim Soo Hyun), who has landed on Earth 400 years ago during the Joseon Dynasty. During his days on Earth, he helped a young girl from plunging to her death. As he continued to help the girl escape from her in-laws, he missed his chance of returning to his planet. Thus, he is stranded on Earth for the next four centuries and he has to wait for the time to arrive before he could return back to his planet. 
During this period, he has had many identities, after all his appearance never change and neither does he age like an ordinary human. Fortunately, he has a friend in an elderly lawyer, whom he had saved many years ago. He is the only human who had known about his true identity. As of present, Min-joon is a college professor and lives in a luxurious apartment, thanks to his savings all the years when he is on Earth. 
Life is peaceful, and Do Min-joo is waiting for the day to return to his planet when he meets the nation superstar, Cheon Song-yi (starring Jun Ji Hyun). She is his new neighbour but Min-joon didn't know of her identity. Song-yi, on the other end, thinks he is her biggest fan after they had stepped off from the lift together and thinks he is stalking her. They had several comical exchanges initially, and slowly that path leads to a hot romance thereafter. 
My thoughts? I find it highly entertaining and amusing. I've to confess I was quite irritated by Song-yi initially, who seems to be whining most of the times. However, her characteristic changes as the show progresses and her role has became more sympathetic. 
Min-joon, on the other hand, is a quiet and charismatic man (ahem, alien). I've to say most of my attention was focused on him; after all he is young and good-looking, and he has special powers to boot (though not my type in reality). 
Anyways, it is not all about romance (which would be boring). It has a tinge of a thriller though it is not the kind that would make you bite your nails or hold your breath (maybe a little), but at least it brings a little depth to the story and convince the viewers why it is crucial for Min-joon to act as protector to Song-yi. 
I didn't let myself think too much while watching this drama, simply because the characters are eye candies to boot, and it is a fantasy after all. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Most importantly, what did I find about the ending? Not perfect but it works. And to me, that fits me well. 
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Breakwater Bay by Shelley Noble
Melody


  • ISBN-13: 9780062319142
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
  • Publication date: July 2014
  • Format: Trade Paperback, 384 pgs
  • Source: Publisher



Thirty years ago in Newport, young Alden Corrigan took his father’s dinghy out to fish. In a sudden storm, he saw a girl stranded on the breakwater. He managed to save her and had her placed under the care of his neighbor, the Hollis family, under the urgent circumstances and also knowing that his father would throw a fit should he know he had the dinghy out under the bad weather. 

It turned out that the girl was pregnant and she seemed to be running away from her family. The Hollis family helped delivered her baby with the help of the local midwife, but the girl disappeared the following day, leaving behind her newborn baby.

Thirty years after, preservationist Meri Hollis learned about the abandoned baby and was determined to find out the truth, even if it means it'd change the life of everyone around her. 

Breakwater Bay is an engaging story about secrets, unconditional love and belief. Set in Newport with glorious old mansions and the Rhode Island shore, this is a family story about secrets and how one's decision would ruin the others. 

I've to admit I was intrigued by the premise upon reading the blurb; I had high expectations of this book that it'd filled me in with lots of drama or surprise. As much as this was an emotional read, I was disappointed to note that the plot isn't what I had expected. I knew there might be some readers who'd enjoy it and find it satisfactory, but to me it just lacks a little punch. I think another reason is I want to learn more about Alden and Meri, who seemed to have an interest in each other, but I didn't see much development between them, until a hint towards the end. That said, it was an emotional read and I was glad the story left me with much love and optimism. After all I felt this is the true message behind this story and this is what most matters. 

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Drama Review: Emergency Couple (急诊男女)
Melody

It's been a while since I'd watched a romantic comedy. What I like about rom com is they are sweet, entertaining and they allow my mind to wander away from realism, even if it is only for a short while.

Emergency Couple is a story about a young couple who fell in love and married early, despite the opposition of the groom's family, in particularly the groom's mother. 

Oh Chang-min (starring Choi Jin-hyuk) is a medical school student, and he comes from a family of wealthy, successful doctors. Oh Jin-hee (starring Song Ji-hyo), on the other end, is a dietitian. After they married, Chang-min's family cut him off without a cent. Without financial support, he has to quit medical school and becomes a pharmaceutical salesman. Jin-hee gets depressed as life began to be a toil for her, and Chang-min doesn't seem to be understanding as he too is miserable in his job. They realised they've been fighting too frequently and thought it'd be better if they get a divorce. 

Six years later, Chang-min completed his studies at the medical school. Jin-hee has also put herself through med school. Coincidentally their path cross again when they end up as interns at the same hospital; and both of them are to work together with three other interns in the emergency ward. 

Just when they thought they'd be miserable and argue with each other all over again, the challenges in working as a team in the emergency ward make them realise that a perfect life doesn't exist, and that unexpected accidents happen and irreversible mistakes are made. It is through life's experiences they see each day that make them discover the confidence to change; allow them to grow and challenge themselves whenever a situation calls for it. 

Secondary characters Chun-soo (starring Lee Pil-mo), the attending physician of Emergency Medicine and Ji-hye, assistant professor of surgery (starring Choi Yeo-jin) also play an important role in the drama and not to mention they are mentors to the couple. Chun-soo and Ji-hye had had a past but the latter still harbours feelings for the other all these years. Chun-soo thought his feelings for love was dead, until working with Jin-hee made him open up his heart again. 

What can I say? Emergency Couple is another sweet rom com about rekindle love and hope. Do I find it cliché or cheesy? A little of both. Expected ending? No surprise there. But, what I liked about this drama is not only the leading characters (they looked cute together) but the journey they've been through together, no matter it is happiness or sadness, and how the things they'd gone through have made them mature and look at things in a different angle. 

Divorce has become a common issue in today's society, and though it is rare that a divorced couple to fall in love and be together again, this drama has shown us that this is not impossible, and that a couple should respect and accept each other. After all, the person you married must have some good points that makes you fall in love with him/her, isn't it? Overall, I enjoyed this drama and I'd love to see the leading characters together in another drama again. If possible, I hope there is a sequel to Emergency Couple. 
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After Her by Joyce Maynard
Melody


  • ISBN-13: 9780062257406
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
  • Publication Date: April 2014
  • Format: Trade Paperback, 336 pgs
  • Source: Publisher



Part thriller and part love story, After Her touched me in so many ways. Written in first person from Rachel Torricelli's POV, this story is basically about her relationship with her younger sister, Patty, and their detective father who is put in charge of finding the "Sunset Strangler", who had murdered so many young women on the mountain behind their home. Detective Anthony Torricelli, their handsome, charismatic father is known to have a way with dealing with criminals and getting them to confess, but this case leaves him wondering if he is way behind his prime. 

Rachel and Patty adore their father, despite he had left home when Rachel is eight, leaving their mother depressed and in a state of financial deprivation. Their father still stay in touch with them occasionally, but with the Sunset Strangler case still remains unsolved, the chance of seeing their father is getting lesser and lesser. 

Rachel and Patty are both smart children, but they don't have many friends in school. Thus, this makes them even closer and they will confide in each other, even if it is a small thing. One would think that they have a lot in common, but in fact Rachel is a girl who has lots of creative imaginations while Patty is the more active and daring one. She is not afraid of speaking her mind and she also has a soft spot for dogs. Now with their father leading the murder case and has appeared on television for countless times, Rachel suddenly finds herself popular in school. Slowly, she finds herself drifting away from Patty and while Patty feels the difference in her older sister, she didn't blame her though she misses her company. It is at this time that Patty focuses her attention on basketball and she has became so good with it that she began to play for their school. 

While Rachel enjoys the popularity in school, she is troubled to find her father getting skinnier and skinnier as the case drags on and more young women are murdered. With her imagination and her "vision" which enables her to foresee stuff (though most of them are not always clear and straightforward), she decides on a plan which involving setting herself up as a bait for the killer. In the end, her act has labelled her as being untrustworthiness in other people's eyes and worst of all, it jeopardised her father's career. 

Thirty years later, Rachel reflects on that past which still gnaws at her conscience, as that case remains unsolved. With a wrong man behind bars and the killer still at large, Rachel begins to construct a plan to lure the Sunset Strangler and vindicate her father. But this time around, her status is different considering she is now a famous author and she believes her new book would bring the killer to her, since what she has written is so close to what happened so many years ago.  

After Her is what I'd say a wonderful family reminiscence and a detective story. Split into two parts - the first part in the eyes of thirteen-year-old Rachel and the second of an adult Rachel, After Her is more of an emotional driven and coming-of-age story than a mystery. That said, I didn't mean that the mystery part isn't covered. It does (which I was glad), though the author focus more on the sisters' bonding and their relationship with their father. I was extremely touched reading about the relationship between the two sisters, in particular with Patty because of her fierce loyalty towards Rachel, despite anything. I also find it sweet reading the relationship between father and daughters; what they did together always brought a smile to my face (for one, he likes making spiders out of their hairs), well except the part about what Rachel did to lure the killer which I think was foolish and not to mention dangerous. 

I think the ending was quite nicely done, though it left me with a bittersweet feeling, but a good ending nonetheless. 
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Drama Review: God's Gift - 14 Days (神的礼物 - 14天)
Melody


If you are given a chance to turn back the time, what would you do? In God's Gift - 14 Days, it is a harrowing experience for mother Kim Soo-hyun (starring Lee Bo-young) as well as a former cop turned private investigator, Ki Dong-chan (starring Jo Seung-woo), as both of them have to race against time in the allotted 14 days to unveil a mystery involving their loved ones.

Kim Soo-hyun's young daughter Han Saet-byul was kidnapped and murdered, and Soo-hyun is determined to expose the killer and save her daughter before she dies all over again. As for Ki Dong-chan, he has to prove the innocence of his mentally challenged older brother who is falsely accused of murdering Dong-chan's ex-girlfriend. Now Soo-hyun and Dong-chan do not know each other, but fate throws into their ways and they have to trust each other and work together to solve the mystery before they have to face the cruel fate of losing their loved ones once again. 

If you ask me, I love the combination of a time travel and a mystery theme. I would love to see the victims are given another chance to unveil the truth and even stop the crime from happening, and that the murderers are caught and punished should they attempted and succeeded in escaping the law in the first place. 

I liked the plot of God's Gift - 14 Days. It especially touched my heart because of the plot involving a young child, and to see the mother has gone through various hardships to search and save her daughter. I also find it heart-wrenching to see two brothers for taking the blame wrongfully all these years (especially for Dong-chan because he has assumed his older brother had committed a murder and was even testified as a witness, thus leading to the hanging of his older brother). 

Although I find the plot intense and riveting, and full of twists and turns, however I wasn't satisfied with the ending. You see, it was left with an open ending and you have to use your imagination to judge the fate of Dong-chan. I liked the characterisation of Dong-chan; he is righteous and full of charge - he is not a person who would be intimidated by death. However, the ending is totally anticlimactic. It lacks clarity and instead leave the viewers with more questions instead of answers. Despite this flaw, I have to say the performance by Lee Bo-young and Jo Seung-woo is marvellous. As an individual or as a duo, the characterisations they have portrayed have convinced the viewers about the hardship and dilemma a mother and a frustrating, desperate man have to face under certain circumstances. 

Before ending this post, I would like to ask you this question: Do you believe in fate? I do. But can we change fate? I don't know, but I think our fate wouldn't be that bad if we harbour good thoughts and live truthfully. 
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Wolf (Jack Caffery series 7) by Mo Hayder
Melody


ISBN-13: 9780593068182
Publisher: Bantam Press
Publication Date: April 2014
Format: Hardcover, 416 pgs
Source: Personal Library




I always find myself in a dilemma while reading a Mo Hayder book. Why? Because they are all so good and intense that I want to devour them all and get to the bottom of it quickly; on the other hand while I still want to devour them all, I want to do it on my regular reading pace, and try to think of the missing puzzles and how they would fit towards the end. So in the end, I just find myself lost in Mo Hayder's world and let her words push me whichever ways they want me to. 


Wolf, let me tell you, is not an easy read. Gruesome, violence, cruelty . . . you name it, they are all here. There were times I had to tear myself away from the book and let my mind wander about other than the story. Yes, I think I could say this is not a book for the faint hearted but what can I say . . . the plot is simply stunning! 

Fifteen years ago, two teenage lovers were brutally murdered in a patch of remote woodland (I won't go into details on how they died but all I could say is it is terribly horrifying and violent). The prime suspect confessed to the crime and was kept behind bars. The story should have ended there but it didn't. 

A five-year-old girl found a dog while picking flowers near that woodland. Attached to its collar was a teeny-weeny piece of paper are two legible words - Help us (the rest are a filthy smudge). Her parents are unaware of the little note, but someone who called himself The Walking Man does know about the note. In fact, he had struck a deal with the little girl that he would help the dog to find its owner. 

DI Jack Caffery, on the other end, is still looking for answers on his older brother's disappearance all these years (this issue was brought up in previous installments but there isn't any clue or answer until this installment). Ewan Caffery was nine when he walked out of the family's back garden and never came back. There was an ageing paedophile called Ivan Penderecki who lived hundred and fifty yards from their family. Jack is sure he played a part in Ewan's disappearance but there is simply no evidence, and Ewan's body is never found. 

Now the Walking Man and Jack Caffery knew each other. They have something in common (loss of their dear ones) and that's why they somewhat feel they are on the same path regardless of their class. The Walking Man told Jack that he would help find answers to Ewan's disappearance but in return Jack is to help him look into the doggy's case and find out the story behind its note. 

What came off from these two cases had totally shocked me; and no I'm not going to elaborate any further. It spoils the fun, as you my dear readers know it. All I can say is, I am in awed of Ms Hayder's brilliance for creating such a terrifying yet a perfect thriller that still sends shiver down my spine as of writing this post. I simply have no words for her Jack Caffery series and I just hope that she will write quickly so that we will have a new Jack Caffery thriller to devour, I mean, read. 
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Dead Scared: Lacey Flint Series (Book 2) by Sharon Bolton
Melody

ISBN-13: 978-0552159838
Publisher: Corgi 
Publication Date: January 2013
Format: Paperback, 464 pgs
Source: Personal Library 



I started this book without knowing that this is part of a series, but that is fine since the story could be read as a standalone. In fact, I am going to read the first book (and the rest of the series) anyway because Dead Scared is simply awesome!

It all started with a spate of suicides at Cambridge University. Several female students had dramatically attempted suicide over the years and the gruesome thing is, they had all ended their life in extraordinary (and cruel) ways, i.e. jumping from high buildings, self-immolation, self-stabbing and self-decapitation, etc. 

DI Mark Joesury and his team realize that things are more than meet the eye, thus he sends young policewoman, DC Lacey Flint, to the university as undercover. Lacey would pose as a vulnerable and depression-prone student and they would see how things would churn out from there. Dr Evi Oliver, a psychiatrist who counsels the students there, is the only person who knows the true identity of Lacey. Initially, the two women thought the students who attempted suicides are delusional or simply a cry for attention, but what they didn't understand is why they had chosen a terrible way to end their lives. They speculated that there might be a destructive subculture that is manifest largely on the internet; a virtual world that legitimised and even glamorised the act of suicide.  

As they dig deeper, they realised that things aren't what they seemed or they had expected. Someone (or a few very sick people) seems to have orchestrated the death of the students and they had made it look like the students had ended their own lives. Lacey reported what she had speculated to DI Mark Joesury but they have no valid evidence to proof that. By that moment, someone has tried to scare Dr Evi Oliver, knowing that she is semi-crippled from her skiing accident years ago and that she has a past that still haunts her; they had cleverly use these knowledge to remind her of her phobias so that her credentials would be questioned. And that is not all, Lacey, who has a fragile past herself, soon have the killers' attention or did she just walk into their deadly game on her own? 

Dead Scared is one of the most intense and clever crime thrillers I read for a while. Not only it is gripping but the story is multi-layered and it leads you to more speculations as you flip those pages. It had me hooked from page one till the end as there is never a bored moment. What I also liked about this book is the characterisations, no doubt. DC Lacey Flint is a very brave woman, I would say, considering she had had a very tough mission (from the first book, which is briefly mentioned and she nearly couldn't make it) and it didn't take her long to consider taking up this case, as a vulnerable student and one that couldn't allow her to use her authority. Her relationship between DI Mark Joesury is ambiguous, as it seems they do have feelings for each other, but neither of them shows or admits it, but then I find that's the beauty of it as there is always something sweet about reading a relationship develops (even if it is subtle).  

I wish I am eloquent in describing Dead Scared, but after fidgeted for what more to say I could only think of "Wow!" and nothing more. In my dictionary, that is suffice to cover the overview of this book. Go-read-it! 



* Sharon Bolton is also known as S.J. Bolton under other publication. 
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