…”the things we respond to at twenty are not necessarily the same things we respond to at forty and vice versa. this is true in books and also in life.” A.J Fikry- Gabrielle Zevin
reading
Angelology
Angelology by Danielle Trussoni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved the book. Seeing that i had it in ebook and book form probably shows how much i love it, although i have to admit it was quite a drag when i first read it. I had to pause from reading it for quite awhile because i find myself unable to move on with the reading. Finally took it up again and reread the first few chapters instead of continuing from where i left off. I did not regret doing that because the story became more clearer.
It had history, thriller mystery, religion, ancient beliefs, a bit of espionage, family and love and of course, my favourite subject of the story:angels, even though they are depicted as the anti-thesis of my beliefs. Partly due to why i stopped reading it earlier was because its blasphemous. Although of course i know its fictional, i need to step back a bit.
Its mindblowing and i admire how the author was able to link everything seamlessly, almost without effort. And the whole story, although it took me weeks to finish it, the span of the story was supposed to happen in what, two days?! So many things could happen! Amazing.
I simply cannot wait to start the next book, but right now, im having a hangover after reading angelology.
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Yes. A hangover. Good books always give me this lost feeling after i finished it. I love love this book. I need at least two days to get over this hangover or otherwise any book i picked after this is going to bore me within the first page. And anyway, i think my brain needs something intelligent and non fiction after this. I know it’s yearning for something spiritually enhancing and enlightening because angelology has too much christianity and Ancient beliefs and not to say blasphemous. There’s also many things from angelology i want to google. I mean the story is fiction but the themes are not. I got to check it for myself.
reading Paulo
the thing with reading Paulo Coelho is that, i could consider him as a fave author but i don’t always like or enjoy reading his books. the only, only book of his that i will reread without second thoughts is the Alchemist. i have to say that is his best. i have read the zahir, aleph, Brida, the witch of portobello which comes close to be a fave but there are others, like some of his books that i bought but have not read at all and there are those i wont read at all.
so i bought this Manuscript Found in Accra quite some time ago. as always with some of his books, i bought them first and decide to read them later. much later sometimes. like aleph, i read, i stopped, i read again from the start, stopped again. and only on the third attempt that i could truly appreciate the story.
so i have high hopes for manuscript. i thought it would be like the alchemist. but it was not to be. its just a manual…on life…questions and answers. it feels more like a self help book. i have yet to feel inspired from it. the preface gives an impression it is non fiction. but i can always do a bit of net research about it and find out how non fiction it is. but as i read through the pages, it felt like a typical Paulo Coelho-esque life inspiring questions and answers. it can get boring sometimes. but i know, reading Paulo takes time and sometimes you have to read at the ‘right time right moment’ of your life for them to make sense.
the alchemist made such an impact on me because i was reading it at a time when i was trying to find my identity, searching for knowledge, away from family and it was inspirational. i read the zahir when i felt a bit lost and on the verge of being a lovefool giving up on well, love, whatever that is at the that point of my life. it made sense to me then. i read aleph last year and i understood that journey of purpose and following that purpose and i learn to understand that concept of what or who your are now may be connected to a past life (at that time i was introduced to timeline therapy from nlp) so its like, it made sense. it can happen. although sceptical, it can happen.
yes, reading Paulo have to be at the right time. when you are ready for it. i am trying to read this manuscript found in Accra but i guess i am not ready for it still. maybe i should move on to the next book. or maybe a matching bookmark will help. i love matching bookmarks to books. i am obsessed with it. well, this calls for one bookmark making!
the island
The Island by Victoria Hislop
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
surprised that eventually I was drawn into the story and finished it in 4 days. and it strike me that this is one novel with good English, grammar and all put into good use! I feel like reading a general paper essay and had to be ready with a summary of sorts or be ready with answering some exam questions. I should read this book years ago during those difficult years of writing descriptive assignments. I feel like I have to read the book politely.
I truly loved Maria, felt as though, she was the great aunt I never had. and disgusted with Anna’s character. and as the story was ending, it was not about a tragedy or a disease, it was indeed about heroic acts and strong characters that braved through difficulties with perseverance and acceptance. I found myself googling about leper colonies as I was reading the novel, trying to find out about spinalonga and Greece’s connections to leper colony. it was an informative historic fiction. it can be a classic novel in the times to come.
let there be books
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
best of reading 2014
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… ❤
1Q84
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It’s been a long while since i read Haruki Murakami and reading this, really reminds me of why i love reading Haruki in the first place, the first book being Kafka.
i love the mystery, sakigake, little people and will there be a possibility of Aomame and Tengo meeting again. i wish they will! still in book 1, so i cant wait to read the next and find out what is going to happen!
and i cannot stop thinking that it can be a great movie/drama (in japanese that is, not hollywood pls):))
3 tanda
Zun Nun Al-Misri berkata:
“Tiga tanda keyakinan adalah melihat Allah pada segala sesuatu, merujuk kepadaNya pada segala sesuatu, dan meminta bantuan daripada Nya dalam segala sesuatu.”
quiet
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Really enjoyed reading Quiet. It does not call for a review but calls for tonnes of self reflection and re discovery of the self. Im just really glad I picked up this book and read it page by page, pagemarkers on when something strikes really close to myself.
This book is going to help me in many ways, especially understanding me.
the time keeper
The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
this is my second time reading Mitch Albom after a long ‘hiatus’. i think the title attracted me to read him again.
i have many problems with this Time keeper. i cant say i don’t enjoy reading it. but its just that i think too much throughout reading it.
Like I want to know more about Dor. i cant picture him in my mind especially after he ‘descended’ back on Earth after thousands of years ‘hidden’ in a cave. and i still don’t understand why. i don’t see the significance of a teenage girl’s ‘measuring time’ just because of a guy. i can understand an old man’s need for time because he is dying. and the ending almost disappointing except i keep it positive with the knowledge that Dor reunited with his wife (i presume).
but the book did left me to ponder on some thoughts. on time yes.
living seri 