Melody's Reading Corner

Melody

Imprint | October 2016 | 384 pgs

Source: Purchased

The Lovely Reckless is a YA contemporary romance filled with complex characters, fast street racing scenes and enough suspense to keep me racing through this book from beginning to end.

Seventeen-year-old Frankie Devereux is a cop's daughter. Her father works as an undercover with the Regional Auto Theft Task Force and his job is to bring down those car thieves and cracks their operations. Frankie leads a privileged life in the Heights with her mother and her stepdad until a reckless drunk driving forces her to leave her beautiful life behind. Frankie is a good girl who lives by her parents' standards but the death of her boyfriend haunted her and she wishes she has remembered the face of the assaulter who had killed Noah. Her reckless behaviour leads her to moving in with her dad; where she will transfer to a public school in the Downs where fistfights and illegal street racings are not uncommon within the neighbourhood.

Marco Leone is the complete opposite of Frankie's perfect late boyfriend. He is tough, but he also oozes charm and confidence which Frankie couldn't ignore. Frankie doesn't want to get involved with him, but an incident has thrown them together and Frankie begins to see a new side of him the more they spend their time together. However, Marco does some wrong things but for some right reasons and this has put a strain to their relationship. After all, Frankie's dad is a cop and he has all the rights to put Marco behind bars no matter whatever his reasons are. Then, there is the case which Frankie needs to remember who had murdered Noah and what risks she should undertake to make things right again.

The Lovely Reckless has a nice combination of romance and actions enough to set my heart racing. Issues like stereotypes and misconceptions are presented into this story so that not everything is black and white as we see. This was a wonderful love story but the emotions it evoked is more memorable.

© 2016 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Contemporary Romance, Young Adult 6 comments |

Drama Review: Wanted (通缉令)

Melody

Jung Hye In (starring Kim Ah Joong) is one of Korea's top actress. She has a eight-year-old son but he was kidnapped on the day she announced her retirement. She is estranged with her current husband although they appear blissful in the eye of the media. After her son's abduction, she is being contacted by the kidnapper to carry out a mission on a live reality show as per his demand. The reality show would have ten episodes and she is required to fulfil each mission given out by the kidnapper until the last episode. She would only get to see her son alive should she reaches that stage.

I couldn't even imagine how scary this is should it happen in reality. And being a mother myself I could totally relate to Hye In's fears and guilt. "Would this not have happened if we're being more observant and careful?" How many times have we asked ourselves this question should anything happened to our children, even if sometimes it was only a spill of drinks or if they have fallen with a minor scrape?

While I felt the plot was intense based on the thrill angle, what I found lacking is the credibility and the confusion at some point. While I got the whole idea why it happened and why some characters are involved, this story requires one's full attention to understand what's really happening and who's involved with who. However, I did find the characterisations interesting and Detective Cha Seung In (starring Ji Hyun Woo) stood out among the rest because of his relentless and his intelligence. Having lost his mentor while investigating a case a few years back, Detective Cha still feel the loss and remorse for not catching on more of his senior's movements. Due to that incident, he is more inspired and determined to solve this kidnapping case (which they are connected). The production crew who put the reality show together is also another highlight of this story for without them everything would be impossible.

While I was quite taken aback by the kidnapper's identity, it didn't come as a surprise once you understand his concerns and the whole picture of it. Overall it was satisfying but I thought some parts would have done better (yep, including that ending.)

Labels: 3 stars, Drama review, Korean drama, Suspense Thriller 4 comments |

The Sword Dancer by Jeannie Lin

Melody

Harlequin | June 2013 | 288 pgs

Source: Library

Set in AD 848 during the Tang Dynasty, this historical tale is about adventures and a whirlwind romance between a thief-catcher and a sword dancer and how they are caught in a web of injustice and revenge.

Li Feng is used to living an isolated life with a dangerous edge to it. When she was four, her parents were wrongfully sentenced to a crime they didn't commit. Li Feng is later raised by a Wudang master, Wen Shifu, who taught her sword fighting. She later became a sword dancer, after she has left Wen Shifu to join a dance troupe as they travel from village to village. Li Feng always carries a jade pendant wherever she goes, for it is something her mother had passed to her before fleeing from whoever who wants her life.

Zheng Hao Han is the most feared thief-catcher among all who is known for his relentless and his determination to capture all bandits and outlaws in the name of justice and order. Born in a middle-class family, Han's father was once a magistrate and had wished his eldest son would follow his footsteps but alas, Han isn't interested in becoming an official. He feels he could still pursue justice in his own way without following the tainted views of some officials who would do anything for power and greed. And when he heard of a shipment of jade and gold has been stolen and the magistrate had issued an arrear warrant that singled out a band of travelling performances as the culprits, Han and a few other thief-catchers are all waiting for the chance to pounce should there be any suspicious movement. In the midst of chaos, Li Feng caught Han's attention and their cat and mouse chase begins.

I totally enjoyed reading this historical romance - the plot, the actions, the characterisations of Li Feng and Han as well as their exchanges, the struggles they faced between a "thief" and a thief-catcher, and finally their attractions towards each other. Li Feng is a butt-kicking heroine who has a strong sense of determination and Han is full of righteousness and sees most things as black and white. Therefore, when he meets the spirited and vengeful Li Feng, he is tossed with the question between setting things right and upholding justice after finding himself in love with her. Should he betray Li Feng for the sake of justice or follow his heart and join her in the rebellion? Just as I thought their love was impossible, I thought the ending was very satisfying and the issues they faced was beautifully resolved, too (Hey, it's a Harlequin romance but still the resolution was clever in my opinion.)

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Historical Romance 9 comments |

The Trespasser by Tana French

Melody

Hodder & Stoughton | September 2016 | 480 pgs

Source: Purchased

The Trespasser is the sixth installment of Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series and if you are already a fan of her works you should be aware that her books have that literary edge alongside the police procedural and this is one reason why I love her books so much - they are well written, descriptive and offer much insights of the police works we rarely get to see from other crime thrillers. Yes, and that's what makes her books stand out from the others. Not only that, I also love the characterisations in all her books, even if they are secondary roles. And another good thing is, these secondary roles do become French's lead characters in her next book.

In her previous installment (The Secret Place), readers are introduced to Detectives Antoinette Conway and Stephen Moran. They are now partners in The Trespasser; and while they are in the Murder Squad, the cases they are assigned to are usually predictive and unchallenging, such as domestic cases. Now the new case they are assigned to seems like one of those but some instincts told them that this case is more than meets the eye.

The twenty-ish old victim, Aislinn Murray, suffered from a fatal head injury at her house. On that fateful evening she was supposed to have a romantic dinner date but apparently something went wrong. While most speculated it was a murder committed in a fit of passion and have a suspect in mind, Conway and Moran think there is something about this case which they couldn't put their finger on. To complicate matters, Conway feels she has seen the victim before but she couldn't remember what. As the story slowly unfolds, Conway and Moran soon learn that something bigger is playing in the center of their case and what really happened will not only rock these two detectives' worlds but to the reader as well.

Did I mention that Tana French's characterisations are amazing? I felt this latest installment was topnotch when characterisations are concerned. The mystery and the plot are there, and while they are captivating I've to confess it was the characters that made this story comes alive and yes, even believable. Tana French not only penned an intense suspense in this novel but she also offered enough doubts and betrayals, hypothetical theories to have readers' minds racing like our two detectives here, and questioning all of them along the way. The Trespasser was suspenseful but it was also intelligent and an emotional one as well. I loved this book, a lot. I think this book has surpassed In the Woods, which is my favourite French book and this said a lot.

Labels: 5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller, Suspense 10 comments |

When She Was Bad by Tammy Cohen

Melody

Black Swan | April 2016 | 384 pgs

Source: Library

First and foremost, this book wasn't an easy read. Writing my afterthought was even harder as I felt my emotions were all over the place. Then there are also the various issues which make you shudder and think about the situations and what you would do if you were the characters in this book.

Sarah, Amira, Paula, Ewan and Charlie. These are the five characters who are co-workers working in the same department office. Gill, their Executive Manager has been coasting during the last couple of years and thus, productivity and profitability have suffered as a result. Gill is ultimately asked to go and her position is replaced by a much younger Rachel Masters. Now Rachel isn't a person to mess around with; she meant business and have high expectations from her subordinates. Gone is the casual and informal atmosphere in the department; the department at present is so tense that any 'small talk' with Rachel would make them break out in a cold sweat and then fill them with deep resent and anger should they are being talked down by her. Rachel also takes up the divide and rule style of management so it is natural of the staff to be competitive yet wary of one another. When the MD decided that a team-bonding weekend is a great way to build up the department's morale and have some little fun knowing one another at the same time, the staff no longer feel the bonding and trust as before because something has changed ever since Rachel filled up Gill's position.

On the other end, there is Anne Cater who is looking at an old case when she was a junior psychiatrist. The present news of the murderer and what happened fills her with dark memories of the past involving two young damaged siblings, Laurie and David. Anne and another junior psychiatrist, Dan Oppenheimer, were in-charge of the Child L and Child D case respectively. Both of them reported to Professor Ed Kowalsky. Looking back, Anne is once again filled with deep regret of the wrong judgement made by Prof Kowalsky and how that mistake have made someone committed a murder under a triggered stressful situation.

I mentioned before this book wasn't an easy read given the subject matters and how it messed my mind with these characters and their doubtful minds. Most of the times I found myself holding my breath and dreading the outcomes because I just couldn't trust any of the characters; each of them has flaws and agendas and on top of it Rachel's attitudes simply make one's blood boils. As much as I was bothered by these, I have to say this is one great and fast-paced psychological thriller. I loved Ms. Cohen's writing style and how well-crafted this story is. I also liked it that it has an office setting which made me reminiscent of my past working life and how believable some of these characters are.

Labels: 5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller, Suspense 6 comments |

Drama Review: Moonlight Drawn by Clouds (aka Love in the Moonlight) (云画的月光 )

Melody

Based on a five-part series novel of the same name and with the time period set in the 19th century during the Joseon Dynasty, this drama tells a coming-of-age story between a young Crown Prince and a girl who disguised as a young man due to her family matters involving the nation's politics.

19-year-old Crown Prince Lee Yeong (starring Park Bo-gum) has never been interested in the nation's affairs and what's happening in the palace; his cold and aloof attitude is most commonly known to all minister officials and court servants especially after the passing of his mother, the late Queen Yoon.

Hong Ra-on (starring Kim Yoo-jung) is a 18-year-old girl who earns her living by doing some street performing and writing love letters on behalf of her mostly men clients. Her mother has abandoned her since young for her security purposes (this issue will come to light as the story progresses) and she has little memories of her father who had left home years ago.

A chance encounter with the Crown Prince has set her heart race for a different reason, for she has mistook him as the lover of one of her male clients, in which is a misunderstanding as from the other end the Crown Prince is trying to find out who is fervently writing love letters to his younger sister, Princess Myung-eun. The next time when Ra-on encounters the Crown Prince, she has became one of the eunuchs in the palace due to an unfortunate incident and their destiny begins from there.

This drama appealed to me on many levels and the main attraction to me is the differences between the Crown Prince and Ra-on not only of their positions but also the disguised gender when Ra-on first met him. Since this is also a story about power and greed, needless to say there are lots of conspiracies and backstabbing in the foreground but I have to say the highlights of this drama is the friendship and sacrifices of the two friends surrounding the Crown Prince and then of course, the forbidden love between the Crown Prince and Ra-on.

I found myself warmed up to the character of the Crown Prince rather quickly despite his arrogance in the beginning; and of course it doesn't hurt to say he was very charismatic and an eye candy so to speak. Ra-on amazed me with her optimism and her outlooks in life despite several unfavourable circumstances but in the end she always managed to overcome them. I loved the ending but left me wondering about her (ambiguous) position.

(My novel box-set, which I have yet to read)
（作者：尹梨修，译者：莊曼淳）

Labels: 4.5 stars, Drama review, Historical, Korean drama, Romantic Comedy 4 comments |

Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris

Melody

St Martin's Press | August 2016 | 304 pgs

Source: Purchased

Perfect couples. You either love them or hate them. Author B. A. Paris chills readers in this psychological thriller about a perfect couple and what's really happened behind closed doors.

Everyone is envious of Jack and Grace Angel. They are not only a pair of beautiful couple but they are also loving to each other and wouldn't go anywhere without the other. Jack is a successful lawyer and his forte is handling domestic violence cases; Grace used to work as buyer for Harrods but quit her job after marrying Jack. Financial is never an issue with Jack and he told Grace he could even support Grace's younger sister, Millie, who has Down's Syndrome.

As the story progresses, readers will know that there is something very wrong with the Angel couple. With the atmosphere thick with tension and a heavy sense of foreboding, this psychological thriller entrances readers to keep on reading despite what happened. Told in Grace's narration between the past and the present in alternating chapters, this compelling story tells a darker side of the human psyche and that not everything is what they seem to be.

At the risk of telling more the longer I write this post, I felt this book is best read without knowing anything and thus, this review will be short and vague. And what about the ending? All I can said is it was satisfying.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller, Suspense 7 comments |

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Melody

Random House Publishing Group | March 2016 | 464 pgs

Source: Library

The book opens with our heroine, Agnieszka, worrying over her best friend's safety and the fact that they might not be able to see each other again. For every ten years, a young woman will be chosen to hand over to Dragon; who is known to be a powerful and immortal wizard who will keep their village from any harms of the corrupted Wood. The Wood is mystical on its own; filled with fantastical creatures and botanical plants that would devour humans and make them a changed person even if they could make it out of the Wood alive.

When the next choosing is approaching, Agnieszka is the one who is chosen, much to everyone's surprise, including Agnieszka herself for she thinks herself ordinary and not as beautiful and talented as her best friend, Kasia.

What follows next is Agnieszka's attempts in adapting to her new life as Dragon's apprentice as she begins to learn magic and during those moments of togetherness has also allows her to see another side of Dragon; for he is not as cold and menacing as what the others think about him. Agnieszka soon realises that the threat from the Wood is turning onto them quickly and they have to do something before the whole of their village becomes corrupted.

Uprooted has all the elements a fantasy fan would ask for - folk stories, magic, an original, fantastic world building and interesting characters and premise which will not only makes your heart race but also be moved by the story itself. What I find rewarding is although this is a fantasy, it also seems very much of a real-life story that touches on humanity, bravery and the different conceptions we see no matter what time era is; fictional or not. Agnieszka is a wonderful character and I enjoyed seeing how she developed both mentally and emotionally. Dragon is another character whom I liked but takes time to grow on me, due to his misconceptions in the beginning of the story. I also enjoyed reading the friendship between Agnieszka and Kasia; their relationship reminds me more of siblings than good friends and some of their actions touched me a lot.

All in all, Uprooted was a wonderful read. Naomi Novik is also the author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed Temeraire series and although I haven't read any of them, I was glad I read this standalone and would check out her Temeraire series in the near future.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Fantasy 12 comments |

Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier

Melody

Scholastic Inc., | September 2016 | 256 pgs

Source: Purchased

This graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier tells a story about the dead and the Mexican culture of honouring the day of the dead. But that is not all, it also tells a story about sisterly love, friendship and conquering your fears.

Catrina and her family are leaving their home in Northern California to a laid back old town in Bahia de la Luna (this place was inspired by the foggy coastal Northern California where the artist grew up.) The reason for the move is that Cat's younger sister, Maya, is suffering from cystic fibrosis (a genetic disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, making breathing difficult and leading to frequent infections. There's no cure for this and at times patients need breathing tube to administer more oxygen and that extra nutrition have to be delivered through a port in their bellies while they sleep) and that they think Maya will benefit from the cool, salty air blows in from the sea.

Cat isn't pleased about the move at first; after all she misses her friends, the convenience and the familiarity of her home town but she tells herself she will get used to it for the sake of Maya. They got to know their neighbour and their son, Carlos, who seems to know a lot of things about ghosts and finding the places of seeing them. While Maya is thrilled and is determined to meet one, Cat wants nothing to do with them. As Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) comes where the ghosts reunite with their loved ones, Cat tells herself she will go, for everything as well as for Maya since her condition doesn't allow her to.

What turns out eventually is not only Cat conquers her fear but also getting to know more about the deceased who roam about in Bahia de la Luna (they aren't scary at all and are such friendly and enthusiastic ghouls). Raina Telgemeier wonderfully captures the (windy and foggy) atmospheric setting and Cat's emotions and her reminiscences of her late grandmother. And finally I have to share this note from Raina: "Making peace with your ghosts is as profound as the idea of life itself. And at the end of the day, love transcends life and death."

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Graphic Novel, Young Adult 10 comments |

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Melody

Random House | May 2014
Source: Library

OK, I've to admit my curiosity was piqued after reading several positive reviews of this book. With the story mostly set in Singapore and that it was written by a Singaporean author, I felt the more I should read it. For this review, allow me to use a few Singaporean slang (or Singlish) since I felt it appropriate considering that's the prose of this book (don't worry, the author includes footnote).

To begin with, Crazy Rich Asians is a fun read. So what is the story about, har*? Basically, it's a story about some very rich families and their family dynamics and most of all, a love story between a crazy rich guy, Nicholas Young, and a clueless woman, Rachel Chu, who doesn't know his family background, lah*. Actually there shouldn't be any problem when love is concerned, after all what matters most is your love for your partner and vice versa, right? Wrong! At least not when Nicholas' family is concerned. Given their power, wealth and their society status, it seems natural to want someone who is of a good match in terms of wealth and background. Although Rachel holds a good position as a college professor (like Nicholas, except they are in different departments teaching at NYU), what sets her apart is her nationality (she's a Mainland Chinese) and that she comes from a single parent family. The real challenge begins when Nicholas decides to bring Rachel to Singapore to attend his best friend's wedding and "all hell breaks loose" when his family members (including a string of extended meddling relatives) decide to know (dig, to be precise) more about Rachel's background and there are enough gossips, clashes and backbiting to rip a person apart.

"Well, first of all, you must understand that there are two kinds of Chinese. There are the Chinese from Mainland China, who made their fortunes in the past decade like all the Russians, but then there are the Overseas Chinese. These are the ones who left China long before the Communists came in, in many cases hundreds of years ago, and spread throughout the rest of Asia, quietly amassing great fortunes over time." Pg 33

Aside from the complications of the couple's love relationship, this story also gives readers more than a glimpse of the mindset and status of these rich Chinese families; about the difference of old money and new money, and some conservative mindsets when family roots are concerned.

Urm, so Crazy Rich Asians may seem like a chicklit fiction (I don't like this definition, lah*) to some but it was actually quite a funny and entertaining read (at least to me) and an "eye-opening reading experience" (to foreigner readers). While there is nothing new about the family dynamics issue (Aiyah*, I suppose it happens everywhere), it is the culture, the society, the language (as well as all those local dishes mentioned) that set this novel apart and made it such an interesting read. There's also a second book, China Rich Girlfriend, and although it looks interesting (it follows Rachel's story and her birth origin), I guess I'll read it when the mood strikes, lah*. (I'm blaming it on my TBR pile and a library book I've borrowed lately.)

* har / lah is a common and a favourite form of expression to emphasise especially towards the end of the sentence. They don't really mean anything.

* Aiyah - "sigh," "well," "oh man...," or "blah".

For more Singlish, visit this link.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Fiction 10 comments |

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Melody

Bloomsbury Childrens | August 2012 | 432 pgs

Source: Purchased

I took a little break from thrillers featuring unlikeable and unreliable characters and dived into this YA fantasy series; a story about the journey and adventures of an eighteen-year-old girl who is trained as an assassin and has slaved at the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier until she is given a chance to win her freedom - to represent the Crown Prince of Adarlan in a to-the-death tournament. The winner will be the King's Champion and will abide by his orders for future (assassinating) missions.

Calaena Sardothien is Adarlan's most notorious assassin, and perhaps the greatest in all of Erilea. Calaena knows it's a lose-lose situation no matter which path she chose - it's too torturing working at the salt mines (she has some scars to prove) and she couldn't fathom the thoughts of serving the King who has ruined her country but at least she has the chance of gaining her freedom. And so there begins her training before the duel comes. During her time spent at the training, she gradually became friends with the Crown Prince, Dorian Havilliard, and the Captain of the Guard, Chaol Westfall. While the former loves teasing her, the latter is cold and calm though he is protective of her.

When the other competitors are a threat to her, especially a particular sly and arrogant soldier named Cain, Calaena soon realises that there is something dark and sinister which is the real threat, for her competitors ended up dead one by one and they all died gruesomely. No one knew how or why they were murdered but Calaena is certain of one thing, that some evil force is at work and she intends to find out the truth before she is the next target.

Although I am late in reading this series, I am not new to Sarah J. Maas' work; after all I enjoyed her Court of Thorns and Roses series and can't wait for the third installment to release next year. This first installment of the Throne of Glass series wowed me in many levels. The world building, the plot and the characterisation are all very well done. I enjoyed reading the interactions between Calaena, Dorian and Chaol. Calaena's friendship with Princess Nehemia was also an enjoyable read, as I felt Calaena needs some female companionship and a friend among all the alpha males even though she is not a weakling herself. No, I definitely think Calaena is far more superior when her skills are concerned and nothing could stop her since she has nothing to lose and with that strong dignity of hers. But that is not all, I also liked the idea of the Fae world and the magical element amid the political empire, despite the King banished and outlawed all traces of magic.

I can see why this series is so popular and makes a great fantasy series - the world building so well constructed by the author, the development of the core characters and finally that wonderful storytelling which had me glued to the pages from the beginning till the end. I can't wait to find out what's in store with the rest of this series.

Labels: 5 stars, Book Review, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult 12 comments |

Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm

Melody

Scholastic Inc | August 2015 | 224 pgs

Source: Purchased

The year is 1976, Pennsylvania. 10-year-old Sunny Lewin is supposed to spend her summer vacation with her family at a beach house, but there's some issue at home and she ended up flying down to Florida herself to live with her grandfather for the summer. She is disappointed at first, but thought Florida might be a fun place to visit, after all she could visit Disney World. But her grandfather's place is no fun for a 10-year-old girl; it is a place called "Pine Palms" and is a retirement community for people over 55. Fortunately for her, she met a boy her age there. Buzz's father works as a groundskeeper at Pine Palms and Buzz knows all the fun things to do there (facing off against alligators when they go golf balls picking, rescuing runaway cats and reading all the superheroes comic books they could find).

Sunny Side Up is very much of a reminiscent kind of story and about the simplicity of life living in the late 70s. What I liked about the story:

the simple introductions of a few superheroes and their qualities
Grandpa's witty remarks and his positivity outlook on life
Pine Palms is very much of a low-end resort with golf course and pools (but no swimming as there are alligators. Hmph!)
the tight-knit community where everybody knows everybody and looking out for one another

Finally, the message behind this story over the issue involving substance abuse (drug or alcohol abuse problem), in which Sunny's elder brother is facing and that young readers who are facing these same problems today should reach out to family members and teachers/school counsellors and seek help should they find themselves or anyone having this issue instead of feeling ashamed and scared; and most of all thinking that it is something that has to be kept as secrets. Overall it is a heartwarming story and is suitable to middle grade children without the heavy undertone of the issue mentioned.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Graphic Novel, Young Adult 4 comments |

Drama Review: Pinocchio (皮诺丘)

Melody

This (2014) drama basically tells a story of how a (intentional) misconstrued news report ruins a happy family.

Ki Ha-Myeong (starring Lee Jong-Suk) and his older brother have always look up to their father who is a heroic firefighter. However, a fire at a waste facility destroys the happy family. The Ki family is further broken by the news report that their beloved father might have fled from the scene since his body was never found. The brothers are adamant that their father would never do such things but alas, there isn't any evidence to prove their point. Ha-Myeong's older brother is detained in a police cell one night after he tried to argue with the anchorwoman whom he felt had reported the news unfairly for the sake of viewership.

The night he is detained, Ha-Myeong's mother decided to end her life together with Ha-Myeong. Ha-Myeong is saved by a kind elderly man, Choi Gong-Pil, who suffers from memory loss and thinks he is his eldest son, Choi Dal-Po, who passed thirty years ago. Ha-Myeong doesn't mind the deception, after all he has no family and he treats Gong-Pil as his father. He is then officially adopted by Gong-Pil and lives his life as Dal-Po. Ha-Myeong also befriends Choi In-Ha (starring Park Shin-Hye), who is Gong Pil's granddaughter and though they are "uncle and niece" relationship they are in the same age range. In-Ha has "Pinocchio Syndrome" and whenever she tells a lie she will hiccup. She idolises her mother who is a successful anchorwoman, but they rarely contact each other since her parents divorced. Ha-Myeong soon learns that In-Ha's mother is none other than the anchorwoman who had destroyed his family and he vows to bring justice back by becoming a reporter himself, but he also finds himself having feelings for In-Ha and it's not kinship.

(I especially loved this scene, whereby In-Ha unknowingly brought a faulty umbrella for Dal-Po but is saved by the traffic cones over their heads, a witty yet sweet gesture by Dal-Po. It beautifully captures of their young love during their high school days.)

(Their grown-up version and work as rookie reporters at rival networks)

Well, I was impressed and was filled with various emotions after finishing watching Pinocchio. It has all the elements I had hoped for in a melodrama like this - suspense, thought-provoking issues, complex relationships and romance. And most of all, I loved the storyline and the issues raised on misconstrued reports (to gain news impact and viewership at someone's cost? Are the reports we read based on facts or merely rumours/assumptions?) A reporter's job not only gather and report news but also carries the responsibility of giving informative as well as honest and accurate news timely. And I loved the spirit of the young reporters in this drama; they show us what it takes to be a reporter through many things they have to do to ensure those news are reached to you timely. And then, there is the romance between Ha-Myeong and In-Ha, which is both heartwarming and fluttering at the same time. Overall it was a touching drama with a great storyline in my opinion. Actor Lee Jong-Suk's latest drama in "W" was a joy to watch (a comics hero!), but this drama left a deeper impression on me.

Labels: 5 stars, Drama review, Korean drama, Melodrama, Romance 2 comments |

Watching Edie by Camilla Way

Melody

Penguin Publishing Group | August 216 | 304 pgs

Source: Purchased

Told in two alternating voices and time periods, this story is about the friendship between two girls and how an incident in the past caught up with them.

Edie is bold and beautiful whereas Heather is shy and awkward. When Heather first met Edie, she knew she is unlike any other girls in school. Edie is not only wild and beautiful, she's also the only girl who would look beyond Heather as who she is and show her what good friends are supposed to be. For a while, they have a wonderful friendship until Edie falls in love.

Seventeen years later, Edie moved to London and is a single mother. Life is hard but she got by, until Heather appears and enters into her life once again. Heather's arrival is perfect as that is the time Edie is overwhelmed by the needs of a new baby and sinks into a dark despair. Heather not only saves her but is also proving to be a good helper in taking care of little Maya.

As the days go by, Edie has the feeling that someone is watching and stalking her. Edie begins to wonder about Heather's barging into her life then; could it really be a coincidence?

Watching Edie is an intense read and I enjoyed the writing style told in the past in Heather's voice and Edie's present. This allows readers to learn about each character's development and climax build as the story progress and the truth begins to reveal from the past. This is quite different from your typical psychology thriller as although there is still enough suspense to capture your attention; it is very much of a what-really-happened kind of suspense with two unreliable narrators. Overall I enjoyed the story well enough, but not enough to wow me.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller, Suspense 8 comments |

Drama Review: W

Melody

This drama tells a story between two characters living in two different worlds and will most likely appeal to comics fans since the plot is set in the reality world and the comics world as well.

Oh Yeon-joo (starring Han Hyo-joo) works as a surgeon and her father is a popular comics artist. His project "W" has garnered lots of attention and praises from many fans both online and in print. The character he created in "W" is a wealthy and good-looking man named Kang Chul (starring Lee Jong-suk) and is a skilled marksman. He was also an Olympics winner but that glory was taken away from him after he was a suspect for murdering his family members. His last appearance in the comics world saw him lying on the ground bathed in blood, apparently being assaulted by someone who wanted him dead.

On the other end in reality world, Yeon-joo's father is missing and while searching for his whereabouts she stumbles into the comics world and found the injured Kang Chul. She managed to save him and later learned that he is the lead character her father created in "W" after she finds herself back in the reality world.

Filled with mystery, action and romance, W (aka W - Two Worlds) was one intriguing fantasy which had me at the edge of my seat. Aside from the refreshing concept of having the comics world co-exist with the reality world, I was also quite fascinated by actor Jong-suk's portrayal of the charismatic Kang Chul and the mystery surrounding him (by the way, I loved the illustrations! See above.) While one may have to pay extra attention to what's happening between the two worlds, it didn't really create much confusions, at least not to me. There are some scenes which took me by surprise and of course there are also a few romantic scenes which would make female viewers' hearts flutter. Chemistry sizzled between Jong-suk and Hyo-joo and it made me wonder if their romantic relationship onscreen continues offscreen as well. Overall I enjoyed the drama. I had also watched an older drama starring Lee Jong-suk and review will be forthcoming.

(Above images credit to Google Images)

(Love Is and my TBR pile)

Jong Wen Books Co., Ltd | August 2016

Source: Purchased

Love Is was featured in W as we saw Yeon-joo showing Kang Chul a few things they could do together to make their life more colourful and meaningful. Illustrated by Korean artist Da-mi Park (Puuung), this is a great collection especially for married couples and although some of them are a few simple things we may be doing daily, the artist added some thoughts and sentiments alongside these illustrations which I felt makes this book such a wonderful read. There are two editions (Korean and Chinese) and I am hoping that there would be an English edition in the near future.

Labels: 4 stars, Action Thriller, Fantasy, Korean drama, Romance 4 comments |

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

Melody

Penguin Publishing Group | August 2016 | 320 pgs

Source: Purchased

This book caught my attention as it's been over the blogosphere lately. Many enjoyed this domestic suspense debut about a young couple and their apparently friendly neighbours and while I agreed it was an absorbing thriller, the plot and what happened left me feeling cold and disheartened over the things some people would do for everything.

Anne and Marco Conti seem to have a perfect life. They are loving, blessed with a fanciful house, and most of all they have their six-month-old beautiful baby, Cora. One night, Cynthia and Graham Stillwell, a couple next door, invite the Conti couple for a dinner party. Before the party, Anne and Marco have a bit of a disagreement over the baby issue as their babysitter has cancelled her plan of coming over the last minute. Cynthia has mentioned beforehand that it would be an adults-only party and in spite Anne insists she wants to stay at home to look after Cora, Marco manages to convince Anne to go in the end. After all, he told Anne, they could monitor Cora through the audio baby monitor and take turns on checking on her physically every half an hour. However, Anne's nightmares came true when they return to their house and find the crib empty.

Detective Rasbach attends to this case and his initial impression is that there must be something about the Conti couple. After all, it is a natural reaction to point fingers at the parents over their negligence and on top of that, there is no evidence of a break in or any tracing signifies an outsider kidnapping their baby. The only evidence they could find is the fact that Anne is on postpartum depression medication.

Like many such psychological thrillers, this story was twisty and gripping with a few unlikeable characters and I thought the plot was quite well crafted and was suspenseful from the beginning till the end. That uncertainty feeling and the curiosity was what kept me glued to the book and wouldn't let go until I have all the answers.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller, Suspense 11 comments |

Drama Review: Splendid Politics (华政)

Melody

Splendid Politics (aka Hwajung) is one of the most splendid historical K-dramas I have watched this year, pun intended. With 50 episodes you will be taken in by the grandeur Joseon dynasty and its majestic palace setting, a cast of interesting yet complicated characters and not to mention the scheming plot which will have you gritting your teeth and have your mind running at the same time. However, do not let the long episodes deter you from watching this. There was never a bored moment and truth be told, I was too busy digesting the story to be sidetracked by anything.

In a nutshell, this is a story about power and wealth, revenge and love and of course, politics in the palace. Prince Gwanghae (starring Cha Seung-won) is the son of a concubine and since he isn't considered a "true blood" of a royal family, the King and his followers decided that the next heir to the throne would be his legitimate son despite he is only a small boy. His older sibling, Princess Jeongmyeong (starring Lee Yeon-hee), is also too young to inherit the title and on top of that she is a girl and no woman at that time should sit on a throne and rule the nation. With King Seongjo being poisoned by the head servant, Prince Gwanghae finally got his throne and have his two step-siblings executed and exiled respectively. Princess Jeongmyeong used to be close with Prince Gwanghae and her exile led her to lost her trust in him. Her escape was an unfortunate en route to Japan as a slave working in a sulfur mine after she was captured by some pirates. There, she was disguised as a boy and no one knew her true identity and her gender except her two close mates whom she knew from the mine. Despite the hard times, she vows to be a stronger person and would one day get her revenge and reclaim her title.

Hong Joo Won (starring Seo Kang-joon) and Kang In Woo (starring Han Joo-wan) are best friends since young and both of them came from a noble family. Their fathers have some connections with the royal family due to their positions - one is a police chief while the other is an important merchant who has ties with the Ming dynasty. The two boys met Princess Jeongmyeong the first time near the palace garden when their fathers attended a political event nearby. Princess Jeongmyeong was taken in by the studious Joo Won but eventually fate plays a cruel joke on all of them. Of course there is a day when Princess Jeongmyeong finally returns to Joseon and reunite with her two childhood friends who are all grown up and this moment is the beginning of the political battles and in return will lead to many turn of events as the story progresses.

Well, what can I say? I was kind of stumped while writing my thoughts as honestly, I don't know where to start. There are so many issues and sub-plots here which I don't think I would be able to sum them all up in this post. However, I can tell you how much I liked these three characters - Princess Jeongmyeong, Joo Won and In Woo and not because they are the lead characters but because of their individual characteristic and the patriotism they portray when there are moments they have to leave their loved ones and yes, one even has to turn against his family members when righteousness, justice and loyalty are concerned. How far would one go for power and wealth? Then, there is the question of blood and loyalty and how much would one do to right the wrongs and not to resent in the end?

I am aware that this post is getting too long and to conclude it - just watch it and be swept away by this splendid politics. No pun intended.