Author: livingseri

let there be books

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I am on a borrowing spree from my local library, which surprisingly are stocked up with new books and writers, so that is how I chanced upon Ben Aaronovitch’s because I had been contemplating for so long on whether to purchase his books or skip them altogether, or perhaps buy them as eBooks.

so when I suddenly found myself walking into the library for after so long, I went out with close to 16 books (two library cards:mine and my sister’s) within two days. if I had a book binge at the bookstore, I am currently on a binge now from the library.

Managed to borrow Ministry of Moral Panic which I have been seeing instagrams and reviews from local blogs, a Singaporean writer’s collection of short stories. I thought, why not try out reading local. so I took three of the seemingly latest collections. I guess I am still trying to ‘love’ local writers but I don’t do short stories. especially stories which are left hanging and you are ‘supposed’ to kind of imagine how the ending should be. and they are usually dark and disturbing stories, with many homo loves themes, and except for the momentary delights of seeing local words, and places mentioned in the stories, I have yet to appreciate short stories. although Ministry of moral panic seems to be catching on. so far, im just on the third story anyway.

I was also pleasantly surprised that there’s 2 of Aaronovitch’s books (Broken Homes & Foxglove Summer, which are pretty much new titles) and finally took up ‘courage’ to read Jhumpa Lahiri’s Namesake. and proud to say they are all borrowed :))

so looks like I am staying true to my 2015 resolution to borrow more rather than buy, but I also need to know that there are about 50 books on the shelves which are on the reading list. that…you gotta deal with, Seri.

and oh yeah, I am so elated to find out Mercedes Lackey’s fantasy novels are available as eBooks! both at amazon and kobo! perhaps not all, but I hope all of hers soon! perhaps, these are old news but having just found out about them, is exciting for me! just that it is not easy to find her physical books nowadays. there used to be those Sunny bookshops which had them in all of their glorious series and yes the libraries had them but it will be rare amazing moments to have the series all in nicely at the same time. and I have this ocd thing of wanting to read her valdemar series accordingly following her timeline so I have not had that chance since, well, forever. and now! because they are eBooks, I could finally, finally own them and read them one era at a time. i cannot wait to start on them already! but patience, patience. finish up whatevers on the book plate first yea. 😉

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addendum:
i also found out david eddings’ series in eBooks!!! yey! can own them and reread them!!
so crazy ocd-ied me who just had to read serial novels chronologically realised Peter Grant series are of 5 books and the two i borrowed were actually the latest five. so went to nlb catalogue online, bingoed the first three available at serangoon library, so why not, i return my mercedes lackey’s books and borrowed these three then? and once i got my heart and mind on something, i search high and low for it and i did just those in less than an hour.
-go home, took the mercedes lackey’s borrowed books
-go library at Nex, return the books
-entered the library and straight on go to A of the fiction section and saw them three aaronovitch’s books grab them and walla, i was smiling all the way back home….

gila.

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please take note:
the valdemar series – mercedes lackey (and the whole timeline)
the belgariad series – david eddings (and there are other series)
regina’s song – david eddings

stories in the end

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The Substation Fairytales: Stories in the EndThe Substation Fairytales: Stories in the End by The Substation
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

local writers seem to have that same ‘thoughtful’ mind conversational voice in their writings. there are three short stories. local writers love short stories. not fairy tales at all, but dark and disturbing. never giving a real answer of what happened at the end of the stories. two of the stories have homosexual themes, and i personally do not condone it. a personal, religious and moral principle. no prejudice. i almost like the third story but again, when it moves towards male-male love, despite one is a prince and the other a spirit, it kind of lost the fantasy and magic, but the story is unique i think. i dont get the first story at all, i dont understand what is the character trying to portray. i appreciate the second story because it’s more homely feel and its about family, except the question of a muslim name for the mother but being cremated? so it was not supposed to be a muslim mother? or did i even understand the story correctly? but these questions are what make the stories. trying to understand them but having no definite answers, you were disturbed by it but learn to let go.

i would like to learn and gain something from reading, but this is just plain reading and i gained nothing. it’s an expression of an idea, a fantasy of a storyline hovering in one’s mind just need to be written down. i appreciated the writings though.

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finished the book in a few hours. not something i am proud of having read. i do not understand why local writers need to be so dark and disturbing, and having homosexual themes. my first local book after so many years, and it was not what i expected. i was intrigued by the notion that it is something fantasy, my idea of fantasy though, and it was not. it was not the book’s fault. but if the next local book i read have the same theme, i am going to keep my hands off any local writers and go for a hiatus like before.

honor

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HonorHonor by Elif Shafak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My first elif shafak and i love it! The story flows just nice and although it took a while for me to get used to the different narrators at every chapter, and having to be conscious of the date and place of the narration. each of their thoughts and ‘voice’ merge into a story and brings me deeper into their emotions, engrossed to find out the truth. And i appreciate jamila’s story mid-novel, because i was worried she was going to be ‘forgotten’. I found myself blaming adem throughout for his absence as a father figure, and not once did i find iskender a criminal but rather a victim, and totally surprised of the twist that it was jamila he had stabbed and pembe lived.

Had a mix of happy and sad ending. I am mostly sad because jamila died because i imagined a happy reunioin between the twins. And also iskender missed meeting his mother when he got out of prison. But the story ended the way it should be. Perfect.

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i am really loving and appreciate these muslim writers. or at least middle eastern writers. i love their depiction and experiences of their countries and culture and the best of and the not so good moments of their traditions, of the freedom to mention Allah in a novel. they are always colourful in their descriptions and deep in thought philosophy.

finally, a resolution

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i am not a person who do resolutions for a new year. but 2015 calls for one, ok , just two.

1. borrow more instead of buying books.
which is pretty obvious. i spent big on books and i have close to 300 books without realising it. it could have been more if i had not been giving away books to students, and two charities. yes, it could have been more. well, it doesnt hurt to save up a bit more for the time being. after paying my way for a diploma, i need to replenish the savings.

2. be less serious.
i need to be less angry and less serious. i want to be able to see the humorous side of things. not to frown so much and not worry so much.

nlp tools have been very helpful. i did two last night, collapsing anchor and hynotise the unconscious mind.
i wanted to be able to pick up the phone and not feel annoyed everytime it rings. because i dont know why, i hated phonecalls and it always annoys me. so i did collapsing anchor on that one. i guess it worked today.

and the hypnotic tool to train my self to be less serious and be more positive.

i have so many things to achieve this year. i need to be strong and positive. and maybe finally let go?

the year i met you

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The Year I Met YouThe Year I Met You by Cecelia Ahern
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

it was a bit draggy. i did not see the point of having a matt marshall in the story. what is so special about meeting a person like him anyway? there isnt anything about matt that i like. i thought the actual characters that can be built up along with Jasmine are Heather and Monday. and i understand this Jasmine’s character right, she is not supposed to be ‘lost’ during her leave because i thought she was an independent person full of ideas. nothing magical about the story.

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Your God’s Love IV

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So this morning i went to work pretty early. and the moment i stepped out of the car, i was greeted with the glowing pure white perfect round with a shadowy effect which is pure nature. with that instant, everything felt right somehow. Pure God’s Love. it was so beautiful. and indeed it is RabiulAwwal. It is Love for the Prophet Muhammad sollu alaihi. born in the month of such beauty. just as how beautiful and pure he might be.

I have never thought to look or admire at the moon before but these days, looking at the sun and the moon, gives that close feeling. gives that awe of how small we are in the whole universe. and How Great and Merciful He is.

i am but a sinner. but with this thought and longing, it reminded me of how we stray so many times and we need these reminders to pull us back. that we need to be in His Mercy. that we need to be within his love. and with this thought and longing, i pray that i could for a minute even, win His Mercy and that i could finally win his love.

Sollu ‘alaihi wa sallimu taslimaa.

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pure and beautiful.

best of reading 2014

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I was checking out my goodreads challenge in which I aimed to read 30 books by the end of the year. I managed to read only 24 books. although, I have to be honest, there are at least 3 books which I stopped halfway and couldn’t carry on reading them because they don’t capture my interest.

my best reads of 2014 have to be these:

1. Susan Cain’s Quiet.

It is the bible for the introverts. i understood myself better and kind of found enlightenment of my behaviour through those painful teenage years. and in a sense, found a more confident person in me.  just by embracing who i really am gives me a sense of faith and strength and…well..just be me.

2. Jeannette Walls’ The Silver Star

i had waited for her for so long. enough said. i love the book.

3. Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84

i know. i bought the books much much earlier but i only got to read them during my trip to Greece and Rome and i never regretted that they were my travelling companion throughout. reading this book reignites my love to murakami’s writings.

4. Jodi Picoult’s Leaving Time

The only book i read ‘on time’, heh, because it was published this year and bought it the first thing without hesitation when they became available at the local bookstores. i knew i loved it just from reading the synopsis. the terms ‘elephants’ and ‘psychic’ grabbed my attention without a doubt.

i am looking forward to a great reading year in 2015. and perhaps, maybe this time, i could read 30 books… with a reading room and a nice armchair.. swoons… ❤

good night 2014

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good night
good night twentyforteen
what a year it has been

a personal test
always trying
always searching
always finding
a sense of fulfilment

a personal test
always trying
always searching
always finding
a sense of balance

a personal test
always trying
always searching
always finding
a sense of being

a personal test
of emotions and values
of what i know is right
and what i know is wrong

a personal test
of what i should have said
of what i should have done
of what i could have done

a personal test
of who i am
of who i have become
of who i will be

please, let’s just be

good night
good night 2014
what a year it has been

pre post 2014

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no. i am not going to blog about how my 2014 had been. not yet anyway. how is spend my new year’s eve? well at home. timecheck now is 9.00pm and i am practically ready to sleep because the week had been such crazy and rush. a break tomorrow only means i do not have to go out to work but i will be working from home. ok ok i know boring.

despite this festive seasons and sales going on everywhere, i am surprised at myself for not actually shopping. say this: no desire to shop. you know for like bags or shoes or clothes. i went crazy for books though, as always. i think i have had three purchases from book depository and a package from amazon. i did splurge, if you can put it that way, on three jubahs online, only because i have waited so long for those dresses and was fortunate that it was on a discounted price.

call me nerd or geek but my ‘priced’ item for the month has go to be the Kikki K minimalist organizer folder. although it is going to be my travel journal, which i have been trying to find one that suits me and what i have in mind. finally found it! finally can start doing my travel journal notes.
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and my 2015 is going to be a purple year, looking from my notebooks. three at that. i foresee a hectic year. when is there ever a ‘less’ hectic year. but if it starts on the right ‘footing’ i hope it will turn out to be a good year. In Sya Allah but i am crazy over planning and lists right now. can never have enough monologue notebooks though. and still a paper and pen person. i tried few apps on my iPad/iPhone, but i just cannot bring myself to always check my iPad/iPhone for my plans. still cant. list out certain things, yes sometimes but not major stuffs you know.

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i just want to be present every day next year. another day for that.

good night.
good night 2014.