An Alphabetical Life :: Wendy Werris
292 pages, Carol & Graf 2006, Paperback

This is an ode to the long-ignored, underappreciated bookseller. A profession Wendy Werris stumbled into when she was hired at the legendary Pickwick Bookstore in LA on September 2, 1970. It traces her journey from a lowly sales person to publishers' sales rep with snippets of her family along the way.

Wendy was selling books in an era when indie bookstores still dotted the US landscape, providing personal service and in-depth knowledge of their products, before they were engulfed by the mega stores we see today. These small bookstores had a personality and larger-than-life, generous book buyers who became her friends. Many remained close even as their bookstores folded or were bought over by the corporate giants.

There's a hilarious moment at a Microsoft Press sales conference. Mac-user Wendy, determined to show up a presenter, inserted foot-in-mouth by asking, "So tell me - will Microsoft be launching a Macintosh version of this Windows software upgrade?"

A thoroughly enjoyable book that well deserves its place on the bookshelf of all bibliophiles.

Now reading: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

I have unintentionally started a reading challenge. Looking at some of the books I have in my TBR pile and the ones I'm reading now, I see that I have the beginnings of a Books on Books challenge.

So far, the books are:
* An Alphabetical Alphabet by Wendy Werris (current)
* The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Safon (current)
* Leave Me Alone I'm Reading by Mauren Corrigan
* The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers
* Sixpence House by Paul Collins (Thank you Alibris.com!)
* A Passion For Books by Harold Rabinowitz and Rob Kaplan
* King's English by Betsy Burton
* The Secret of Lost Things by Sheridan Hay
* The Complete Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby

I'll keep adding to this list as I discover more. If you'd like to join in or even add to this list, please drop me a comment.

Labels: Books, Lists

Special Topics In Calamity Physics :: Marisha Pessl
668 pages, Penguin Books, 2006, Paperback

I was NOT going to let this book get the better of me. I hung on for dear life, carting this heavyweight around in my bags for nearly 2 months. I endured some rather rotten characters in the first 434 pages to only have those characters nearly disappear in the remaining pages. So much for getting attached to some people I had grown to really dislike.

I kept asking myself as I turned each page, "What's the point in all this?" And after just finishing the book a scant 10 minutes ago, I have to say, "Nothing." Except for a couple of incidents that happen in the first two-thirds that shed some light on the last few chapters, everything is expendable. Pessl's freshman effort could use with some drastic editing, if not for the book's benefit, than at least for the sake of her readers. The last 200 pages zipped along with a couple of twists I rather enjoyed though you can see them coming as the plot slowly unravels. But goodness! Getting to that point where you can actually start enjoying it, is SO tedious.

Go to Amazon to read a synopsis, I'm too fed-up with this book to write more than this: Girl and father move to a new town, to a new school, girl makes unlikely new friends, girl finds body of her teacher, loses friends, then uncovers an underground, near-legendary revolutionary group with links close to home.

Recommended only if you're going to be marooned on a desert island.

Now gratefully reading: An Alphabetical Life by Wendy Werris.

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

At the Exxon gas station near my house, in a barely populated book rack near the door, you can find some rather good books for a pittance. Like this baby here by one of my favourite authors - a first edition hardcover of Edith Wharton's The Cruise of the Vanadis, for only $10 (about US$7)!

Labels: Books

The books I ordered from Amazon.com arrived today, two weekends since I ordered. Not bad for standard shipping.

1. The Reagan Diaries, edited by Douglas Brinkley
2. The Copyeditor's Handbook by Amy Einsohn
3. The Life of Elizabeth 1 by Alison Weir
4. A Passion for Books by Rob Kaplan
5. An Alphabetical Life by Wendy Werris
6. Leave Me Alone I'm Reading by Maureen Corrigan

The Reagan Diaries was something I should have bought when I was at my sister's last summer - it was only $18.90 at Sam's. It's retailing at Border's here for S$60 or about USS35!! ACK!!!

The Handbook is something for work especially now that I'm doing more corporate communications writing. The rest - well, because they've been on my Amazon wishlist for so long and I've not been able to find them here!

And that's it for now. No more new books for the next... oh! 3 months?? Really!

I'm so looking forward to this weekend. It's Labour Day tomorrow here in Singapore, and I'm taking Friday off. So that's a long 4-day weekend for me. And oh! I'm off to the ShangriLa for English tea tomorrow with some friends. A small treat to myself after the last 2 crazy months.

Labels: Books, General

A few days ago, I added this post about some clever library ideas. Thanks to Aloi, I found this perfect addition to my some day perfect library - perfect for curling up with a good book



Jim Rosenau creates functional art from old, discarded books. And he's got some really cool shelves for sale on his site. I love how he creates themes from book titles.


On the book front, I posted this about Joanne Harris' follow-up to Chocolat in April last year. However, that was for the UK edition. The US edition will be out in April 2008 and under a different name.

No news yet when Susan Hill's The Man in the Mask will finally appear on US shores and if it will have the same title. It's still absent from bookstores here.

Labels: Books, Design, News

These are some of the cleverest bookshelves I've seen. The first one in a Tokyo apartment wraps around and provides privacy for the bedroom. Falling asleep and waking up to books...Nice!



This other one is a bookshelf built into a staircase that ascends to a loft. I so so want this. But I think I'll need a loft and a second floor first.

Labels: Books, Design

Lost & Found :: Jacqueline Sheehan

This was one unexpected book buy. I've never been a big fan of modern 'relationship' books; of people working through personal problems, relationships, loss and love even if there is a happy ending. If there is a twist like a murder or involves some of my favourite elements like animals and books, I'll consider but I usually give such books a miss - well, mostly. Until the cover jumps out at me, which this one did. Who can resist that adorable doggy face?

A rather straight-forward story: woman loses husband, flees to an island, rescues injured dog which she nurses back to health, tries to solve the mystery of its injury and ownership, meets other island residents and an archery instructor who sends her pulse racing. I particularly enjoyed the chapters with the doggy's point of view. Overall, a rather heartwarming, poignant tale, easily read over a long weekend.

Currently reading: Marisha Pessl's Special Topics in Calamity Physics, a Borders' book bought with a 40% +10% discount.

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

Wonderful news came from Tanabata the other day. I've won a US$20 Amazon voucher in a contest she held to celebrate her 2nd blogiversary. Woohoo! I've never won anything online and now an AMAZON VOUCHER? How great is that? Arigato Nat-san.

You KNOW I'm going to buy a book or two (or three) with this. *Tapping finger to lip* Hmmm...which ones will it be?

Labels: Books, News

Thanks to Iliana, I woke up Sunday morning to find that I've been tagged! After washing my face, brushing my teeth (yes, you can tell what's the first thing I do when I wake up on weekends - ack!) and fixing a cup of coffee, I sat down to play.

Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?
Books with painful themes of sacrifice, conflict, hardships, loss, uncomfortable topics. Self-help books like The Secret which I absolutely refuse to read despite everyone and their mother telling me to.

If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?
Hmm...I'd love to have Thursday Next, Green Gables' Anne Shirley and Dumbledore for tea.

(Borrowing shamelessly from the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde): you are told you can't die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for awhile, eventually you realise it's past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?
Oh no!! Please don't make me try to read it again. I mean I want the nice grave and all, but honestly! It would have to be my nemesis: War & Peace.

Come on, we've all been there. Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you've read, when in fact you've been nowhere near it?
I have some very well-intentioned aunts and friends who have insisted on lending me books, telling me how much they loved it, and that I'll love it too. I hate that cause usually it's a book I have absolutely no interest in reading, nor would I ever pick up at a bookstore. The last one was The House of Blue Mangoes by David Davidar. It sat on a shelf for like a month, before I returned it to an aunt with thanks. I mumbled something about the book and plot, stuff I got from Amazon. So please... shhh!

As an addition to the last question, has there been a book that you really thought you had read, only to realise when you read a review about it/go to 'reread' it that you haven't? Which book?
None really. I usually do remember what I've read.

You've been appointed Book Advisor to a VIP (who's not a big reader). What's the first book you'd recommend and why? (if you feel like you'd have to know the person, go ahead of personalise the VIP)
Oooh...this hints of An Uncommon Reader. So much so, that that would be the book I'd recommend. It's a short, easy read (especially so as the VIP would be a very busy person with not much time to relax) and it's about another VIP with an interesting choice books. Enough to get him/her started reading, I hope.

A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?
Spanish, so I can read Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Pablo Neruda in their original language. Besides, it sounds awfully romantic too.

A mischievous fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?
Some books I would re-read (and have) are part of a series (like David Eddings' Belgariad and Mallorean series with 10 books - lost count of my re-reads here) so it'd be hard to just read just that one. I'd pick Perfume - beautifully written with a touch of the bizarre.

I know that the book blogging community, and its various challenges, have pushed my reading borders. What's one bookish thing you 'discovered' from book blogging (maybe a new genre, or author, or new appreciation for cover art-anything)?
'Meeting' Lesley originally from Newfoundland. That prompted my discovery of Jim DeFede's The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland when I went looking in Amazon for a book on Newfoundland.

That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she's granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leatherbound? Is it full of first edition hardcovers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favourite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead-let your imagination run free.
It's a very large, bright room with a darkly polished wooden floor and scattered soft, deep pile richly coloured carpets, air-conditioned against hot muggy days but with french doors framed by white curtains that open out to a large shaded verandah, well protected from the December monsoon. There are huge overstuffed sofas and armchairs, inside and out. Potted palms soften hard corners and provide a natural screen between reading areas.

The library proper has floor to ceiling teak shelves with those running ladders. Oh, and because of magic, no dust or cobwebs or bugs are ever found here. Books of all kinds fill the shelves; hardback, paperback, tradeback, fiction, non fiction, arranged by genre then author. Shelves at eye level hold first editions, some signed. There are framed pictures of favourite authors on the walls. I'd have several first editions of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, one set in a glass box, opened to the first chapter.

It's not a neat room: there are stacks of books on coffee tables, side tables and some chairs, that lovely organised mess that makes a room cosy. It smells of books and printed paper, and of always fresh jasmine arranged in crystal vases scattered around the place. And of course, music is piped through cleverly hidden speakers. At night, candles glow as crickets sing outside. Bliss!

I'm not sure who else to tag who would play but if you're reading this and would love to, please consider youself tagged. Now to go for a shower.

Labels: Books, General

THE BORDERS COUPONS ARE BACK and these are the best yet. They've got one coupon with 40% off if you buy 4 or more books, and another coupon with 30% off. Now use your Borders Preferred Card and you'll get an additional 10% off!! This is it! I can now get my Harry Potter Bloomsbury Adult Hardcover box set which I saw today for $351. I have until Feb 7 so YEAH!!!

Labels: Books, News

The Faith Club :: Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, Priscilla Warner

Don't read this book for in-depth knowledge of Christianity, Judaism or Islam. And you won't find spiritual enlightment between its pages either. But what you will find is a primer, a beginner's guide to understanding that these 3 faiths are not very much different from each other after all. Regardless of our own misconceptions and stereotypes, these faiths are joined by a common thread - love for God, and for each other. Everything else is (mis)interpreted through the lens of culture, society and one's personal reading of the Tanakh, Quran or Bible.

Suzanne, Ranya and Priscilla share their journey with all the painful, uncomfortable and sensitive parts laid bare for frank and open discussion. I was particularly interested in how Ranya introduced moderate Islam to her Jewish and Christian friends, and slowly changed their long standing misperceptions. If you're keen to find out more of each religion, The Faith Club is a good start. With tips at the end for starting your own faith club.

Currently reading: Lost & Found by Jacqueline Sheehan during my daily commute, and Princess Bride is on my bedside table.

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

Time Was Soft There :: Jeremy Mercer
Part memoir, part travel book, part character essay. Jeremy Mercer chronicles his months as a poor, unemployed bum living in Shakespeare & Co. in Paris under the charitable auspices of its mercurial owner George Whitman (no, not the grandson of Walt Whitman, thank you!) who befriends him. There Mercer meets a ragtag bunch of writers, some odd part-time staff and curious visitors who over time, become part of the story of that legendary bookshop. Things we take for granted are all part of Mercer's daily adventures as he scrounges for cheap food, clothes and a hot shower with hilarious results. He also shares his growing friendship with George, a lifelong Communist and Sunday pancake chef.

I may not be headed to Paris anytime soon, but I'm glad I read what is probably be the 'last firsthand account' of Shakespeare & Co. Funny and quitely moving, this is a great read and yes! a worthy addition to any library.

Now reading: Still on The Princess Bride (bedtime), The Faith Club (daily commute) and the plodding Jane Austen Bookclub. I don't dare sniff the air in Borders or Kinokuniya lest I succumb to temptation. But oh! there are so many books I want!! Be strong, Kisane... Haha!

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

Now this is one clever, unusual piece of furniture that I'd love to have in my home. But I'd line it with purple though.

Labels: Books, Design, General

A House in Corfu: A Family's Sojourn in Greece :: Emma Tennant
"Please don't waste your time." That's what one reviewer wrote of this book, and I should have listened.

I love travel books especially books that guide you through life in the Mediterranean - Greece, Italy, south of France. The last book I read on Greece was also my first introduction to the delights of armchair travels; the incomparable My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. At age 13, I wanted to move there immediately, never mind that both my parents were in the civil service in Singapore. Durrell's books became my yardstick for travel books ever since. And Tennant's, sorry to say, disappointed. It was boring, superficial and totally lacking in any insight into Corfoit customs, the people and island life. Not surprisingly as Tennant spent only a couple of months a year on that island while she made a life for herself and young family in London. She wrote as a tourist, not a Corfoit islander. However had she ghost-written a book with her parents who had moved to Rovinia to retire, I think it would have been a more interesting read. As it is, this paperback earns a "Read only if there's nothing left on your bookshelf" award.

The Uncommon Reader :: Alan Bennett
Whatever you do, don't skip to the end, leave the room if a smart alek friend starts raving about this book and avoid any reviews that don't come with a spoiler warning (there are none here so don't worry!). Yes, you definitely don't want to have one of the best endings in bookdom which happens on the VERY last page of this delightful novella, spoilt for you.

The Queen discovers reading, and pursues this new passion with much gusto to the horror of her private secretary, prime minister and others. She reads everywhere and to the point where it interferes with her royal duties. Her reading choices are remarkable, guided in part by a kitchen helper who first introduces gay-themed books for Her Majesty's reading pleasure. But before long, she is onto to other authors, one book leading to the next. I was most indignant when her royal staff ganged up to stifle this new hobby, but her royal resourcefulness discovers that reading leads to an even more interesting hobby: writing. I closed it with a satisfying chuckle, wondering if someone would pass this gem to the Queen. It definitely earns the "You have no idea how much fun this is" award.

I bought iWoz by Gina Smith but put it aside after the first 2 chapters. It is the biography of Steve Wozniak, one of the founders of Apple and has got to be one of the most irritating reads ever!! The story of Apple's founding and growth is the stuff of legend but only if you can get past Steve's bragging and constant 'look at how amazing I am' pronouncements. It wore thin after a while. I kept putting it down after a couple of pages; had to drink some water to stop the gagging reflex! I just hope Steve Jobs gets around to writing one himself or at least authorises someone to write for him some day.

Now reading: The Princess Bride (30th Anniversary Edition), Time Was Soft There AND The Faith Club.

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

This will be my next BIG purchase. The complete UK Adult cover Harry Potter set. If I use a 30% coupon + the Borders' card, I'll get 40% off $351.00! A good buy, no?

Labels: Books

The Singapore Border's 30% coupon, that is! You can get download it from here. Combine that with your Borders' Preferred Card discount of 10% for a mind-blowing 40% off a book.

Well, I printed 3 for the 3 different cash register areas then headed there this evening after work. But after getting my books, I didn't fancy standing in 3 lines, so I thought I'd just try my luck to see if one cashier would let me redeem all 3 coupons. If not, I just go back to my original plan. And guess what? He did! My books totalled up to $78 but I only paid $48.30! I left hugging the bag with glee. Just like the last time, Flee was there, giving me her two cents worth! It was a deja-vu moment.

My damage tonight included: Time Was Soft Here by Jeremy Mercer, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett. However, I was tempted to splurge on the Harry Potter Box Set (UK Adult Version) - all 7 books in hardcover. Maybe a Christmas present to myself.

Two more news bits: the coupons are valid till 15 November AND...there's a book warehouse sale next week.

Now despite what Flee says, I'm NOT hoarding books but if you were me, wouldn't you be buying up books with discounts like that? Or at warehouse sales where you can get books for $2 to $8 per book? Of course you would. Thank you. Hear that, Flee?

Labels: Books, General, News

The Ladies of Grace Adieu & Other Stories :: Susanna Clarke
My first introduction to Susanna Clark and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed her book. Some clever wit likened the prose to 'Jane Austen meets the Grimm brothers' and I have to agree.

This is a collection of eight good old-fashioned English fairy tales, written in a style and language that many Austen fans would recognise. Lovers of faerie and fantasy would appreciate the almost historical manner of their telling. Clark gives a new twist to the Rumpelstiltskin tale and Shakespeare's Queen Mab. She even sets one in a Neil Gaiman universe.

Not everything is sunshine and rainbows; like Grimm's tales, there's a darker undercurrent afoot. Fairies are not the 'little people', or 'fair folk' we remember from childhood tales. They are lustful, mean-spirited and cunning. Their interactions with humans nearly always spell disaster for ordinary folk. But this book is far from that. It's a quick easy read, done in one long afternoon.

Now reading: The Faith Club - A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew by Idliby, Oliver and Warner. I've already gotten to some difficult parts involving stereotyping and prejudice, some of which I recognise all to well. But it's proving to be a very eye-opening read.

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

The Mephisto Club :: Tess Gerritsen
I haven't read a really good thriller in a long while. Except for a couple of bad encounters that failed to live up to expectations. But Tess Gerritsen was heavily recommended in book blogs and has had rave reviews on Amazon. As I had a coupon for 30% off plus a further 10% with a Borders card, how can I not give her a try?

Well, I did just that and I found: A fast-paced murder/forensic mystery with generous helpings of early Christian and Hebrew myth; of good versus evil and of demons alive among men. Whew! Gerritsen did her research well and it shows in this thrill-a-minute book. Got 48 hours to spare? Read and enjoy. Just don't expect too much from her characters - the story is king here.

I was lead to The Mephisto Club by the recommendations of others. But now, I'll gladly take up her other books on my own.

Now reading: The Ladies of Grace Adieu & Other Stories by Susanna Clarke. Am in the mood for some magic this week. And STILL plugging away at The Jane Austen Book Club (somewhat tedious!) and A House in Corfu (almost done).

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

Susan Hill, of The Woman in Black is releasing yet another horror tale on October 11 in the UK. However I see no signs of it on Amazon.com. Hmmm...It's either going to be released much later in the US or under a different title. Anyways I hope it comes my way soon. This is a good month for ghost stories. AND...if anyone has a good ghostly book to share, drop me a comment.

Labels: Books, News

And I was tagged by Book Girl . What a surprise! Ok, here goes...

Hardcover or paperback, and why? Hardback. Only if it's of an author or title I know I want to keep.

If I were to own a book shop I would call it ... Hmmm...Sisters Books. Cause I'd open this with my sister as she is also another book nut, and this is something we've talked about before.

My favorite quote from a book (mention the title) is … "I'm promiscuous when it comes to bookstores." from The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop by Lewis Buzbee. I haven't read anything yet that best describes my book buying habits.

The author (alive or dead) I would love to have lunch with would be … It would have to be Stephen King. I've always had a soft spot for this guy even when some of his stories fail miserably like The Tommyknockers and when others shine like Misery and Cell. It's his short stories I love - Four Past Midnight and Nightmares & Dreamscapes. They're perfectly written.

If I was going to a deserted island and could only bring one book, except for the SAS survival guide, it would be … War & Peace. This is a book I intend to read BID (before I die). But what with all the distractions going on around me now, I think the peace and quiet of a desert isle would be the perfect place for me to sink into this book.

I would love someone to invent a bookish gadget that … I really need more space for my books. Maybe a magic cupboard, like Mary Poppin's bag that I can cram all my books in a small space.

The smell of an old book reminds me of … just that, an old book. But I so so love that smell.

If I could be the lead character in a book (mention the title), it would be … Thursday Next of Jasper Fforde's The Eyre Affair and others... Oooh, for the ability to jump in and out of books, and meet famous characters like Mrs Havisham!

The most overestimated book of all time is … Giving Dan Brown a hard fight is The Rule of Four. I finished the last page, disgusted I wasted time on it. I took it office the next day, and offered it up to the first person to claim it. First book in a long while that I didn't keep. Don't waste your time.

I hate it when a book … gets so much hype but in the end, fails to live up to even one iota of it. Like the abovementioned book. Stay away from it!

I'm not tagging anyone but if you'd like to play along, please let me know in the comments.

Labels: Books

After work yesterday, I met Flee who I haven't seen in an age! Well, about 4+ months. We met at Borders then ventured up to Cedele for dinner. We chatted away the evening, and caught up on each other's lives. She went shopping earlier and bought some funky Nike toe shoes. So after dinner, I dragged her to Borders for my shopping turn.

This was where I got a little devious but for all you bookaholics out there, I know you'll understand. You see, I have these online coupons for 30% off any book, valid till 4th October. Now, the coupon clearly states it's one coupon per customer but their store has 2 cashier areas - oh, wait, actually 3!: 1 in books, 1 in music at the back of the store, and 1 up front (I only went to 2...shoot!). So if you go to 3 different cashiers, you can use one at each. The best yet: if you sign up as a Borders Preferred Customer (for S$19 a year), you get a further 10% off for a whopping 40% off a book, not to mention 10% off anytime you purchase anything from the store! Omigosh! How can you NOT want to buy books?

I ended up with 5 books:
1. Anthony Doerr's Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World - I used one coupon on this hardcover book
2. Steve Wozniaks' I, Woz: The Autobiography of the Man Who Started the Computer Revolution - this and the next 2 books were 3 for 2. Woohoo!
3. Seth Godin's The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)
4. Susanna Clarke's The Ladies of Grace Adieu
5. Tess Gerritsen's The Mephisto Club - my next coupon purchase.

And 4th October is still some days away...and I can always print out more. But what a great end to a wonderful evening.

Interesting bit of conversation with Flee just before I joined the queue at the first cashier:
Flee: Have you finished the other books you've bought?
Me: Nope.
Flee: Then why are you buying more?
Me: Why not?
Flee: But aren't they a fire hazard?
Me: *stunned look* ... No they're not!
Flee: *laughs*

Now really...who on earth would ever say books are a fire hazard?! Miss Flee...hello? Aren't your paints a fire hazard? Haha!!

Labels: Books, General

Literacy and Longing in L.A. :: Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack
When the going gets tough, grab a stack of books, several bottles of good wine, turn off all phones and escape. Read for like 2 or 3 days straight. Don't eat or shower.

That's how book junkie Dora handles the stresses of her new singlehood after seperating from her movie mogul husband, Palmer who still has a soft spot for her. Her favourite getaway is a bookstore where she meets Fred, an irresistible book nut. Can anyone spell 'rebound'?

There's a cast of quirky characters too; from Darlene, an off-the-wall teamster, Dora's ex-alcoholic mother, and Bea, a former society hair brusher, not to mention Dora's younger sister Ginny, who while struggling with a new baby, makes time and effort to help her sister cope with her book binges, new boyfriend and getting a job. Ginny reminds me of my sister D, who has been supportive of all my efforts with love and encouragement even while half a world away.

Yes, I enjoyed this book and took my time to finish it but I particularly enjoyed the last 9 pages which lists all the books and authors mentioned in this book - and there's a lot! From the classics to contemporary fiction to trashy romance novels which Dora discovers for the first time in a rather funny scene. I don't think her book binges are particularly too healthy although any book nut will recognise her urges to turn the world off and escape between the pages of fiction.

Now reading: A House in Corfu by Emma Tennant. And still plugging away at The Jane Austen Book Club too.

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

Infidel :: Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Ayaan Hirsi Ali has written a gripping account of her life as a young Muslim woman who's lived in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and much later, the Netherlands. She survived beatings, female circumcision, a forced marriage, and later death threats, in a society and religion that ignores women's rights and subjugates them. She sought asylum in the Netherlands where she studied political science and became an elected member of parliment. Ayaan went on to denouce Islam while working for Muslim immigrant issues in that country.

It's taken me nearly 5 months to finish this book. It's not an easy read and much of Ayaan's life had me seething at the injustices she faced, especially at the hands of her own family members. Despite everything, she still holds them close and thanks them at the end. Highly recommended and an unforgettable biography.

Now reading: Literacy and Longing in LA (my on-the-go book) and The Jane Austen Book Club (bedside table book).

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

I'm bad. I just came back from the US with 7 books and I'm now trying to read 2 books at the same time: The Jane Austen Book Club and Literacy and Longing in L.A. You'd think - no books for a while, right? I thought so too. HA!

After saying goodbye to Karen who was jetting off home to Hong Kong, I found myself helplessly drawn to Kinokuniya at Ngee Ann City. I felt the call. Well, since I was there, let's see what I can find from my list of 'must-get' books.

There was nearly an hour of pleasant distractions before I settled on:
Hatha Yoga Illustrated by Martin Kirk
Pilates Step-by-Step by Emily Kelly
A House in Corfu: A Family's Sojourn in Greece by Emma Tennant

I saw The Reagan Diaries but at SGD$60 (US$39), it was ridiculously more than Amazon (US$23). D got it at a steal at Sam's Warehouse for just under USD$20!!! Ack...I should have bought it there!

Labels: Books, General

I can now post about the books bought while in the US. I bought a total of nine, including Harry Potter which I left with my sister (I'm collecting the UK adult cover versions), and The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes which I could not get into (too many things happening in novel!) which I also left behind.

What I did bring back are:
New York Vertical by Horst Hamman
Don't Look Back: A Memoir by Patrick O'Connor
A Year in New York by Elisha Cooper
Literacy and Longing in L.A. by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack
Lost & Found by Jacqueline Sheehan
The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew-Three Women Search for Understanding by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner
The Jane Austen Book Club: A Novel by Karen Joy Fowler

The first 3 were bought at the Strand in NYC. I wanted to find books on New York and or written by a New Yorker. The next 3 were found at a Barnes & Noble '3 for 2' table. The final one was bought on the day before I left as I had nothing to read on the plane (didn't want to start on the others till I was home). D stopped me after that. No more place in the suitcase. Grrr... Next time I'm going with a half empty one.

Labels: Books

Thirty-six hours later and I've finished it. Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows was fantastic. And don't worry, there'll be no spoilers here. I won't post my comments on this book yet.

D & G came with me as we lined up at WALMART, of all places. While I was tempted to go to a party, I just wanted to get the book and rush home to start reading. I'm sitting here, slightly bug-eyed and tired now.

Suggestion: to those about to start reading book 7, I highly suggest you re-read book 6 first (unless you have it fresh in your mind). There was a lot of head scratching on my part trying to remember bits and pieces of that book to understand stuff in this last book.

I'm leaving my copy of this book with D. When I get home I'll get the UK Adult version there to add to my collection. Then I'll probably start to read the whole series again, straight through.

Any one else finished? Let me know what you think BUT PLEASE DON'T COMMENT ON ANY SPOILERS! Email me at kisaneATdesignindigoDOTcom. Thanks!

Labels: Books, General

Today I've have 2 meetings with design companies in downtown Memphis. I just had one earlier with a mid-size design company and I have one more in about 30 mins. I'm now ensconced in The Blues City Pastry Shop & Coffee Bar very near Beale Street, enjoying a cold latte and a killer strawberry shortcake. It's too hot to even consider sitting outside under the trees. This is an afternoon made for a long siesta in cool comfort.

While it's been a long process of meetings and phone calls, I'm still working hard to network. My resume has been getting very favourable comments but no offers yet. So for now, I'm just plugging away, sending out resumes and arranging meetings.

Tomorrow night is the launch of Harry Potter. I've registered for the party at the Barnes & Noble near D's home. Oh..some idiots have got the book, scanned and put the pages on their bittorrent site. I've had a spoiler email today. After reading the first line, I trashed it. So be careful out there if you don't want the book ruined for you. As for me, I can't wait to sink my teeth into this last tome. I hear it's about 750 pages!

Anyone going to any Harry Potter parties?

Labels: Books, Food, General, Travel

After nearly a year since it's opening, I finally made it to VivoCity and the newest book mecca in town: PageOne.


PageOne @ Vivo is an amazing place. There isn't a straight line in the entire store. Rows of book shelves meander all over the place. This makes for some interesting nooks and unexpected corners with low chairs that invite browsing. But the best feature has to be the floor to ceiling windows near the back of the store that look out over the sea and the island Sentosa. Blinds provide relief from the afternoon sun and with comfy chairs here, this has got to be the ultimate browsing spot. And as this store is far from the maddening crowds of Orchard Road, it's quiet here, almost library-like. I spotted someone enjoying a snooze in the sun.

I'm definitely going back. AFTER my US trip.

Labels: Books, General

Blackberry Wine :: Joanne Harris
Wine replaces chocolates as we return to the French village of Lansquenet which was the setting for her earlier Chocolat. We meet writer Jay Mackintosh who impulsively buys a chateau and escapes there with a half dozen bottles of homemade wine. Alternate chapters are flashbacks to his childhood summers in Kirby Monckton and his friendship with Joe, an eccentric character who inspired Jay's first novel. Fourteen years on, Jay's got the worst case of writer's block ever. But with the uncorking of one of Joe's Specials, his typewriter keys start flying again. And the magic returns. A worthy follow-up to Chocolat.

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

I browsed, I read and I bought. Four books. Although it would have been 7 if I could find just one more book at the "Buy 3 Pay for 2" table. But it was not to be.

So, the ones I did buy are:
1. Neil Gaiman's The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes - I'm coming to his books late. After reading and hearing tons of good things about this series, I decided to make a start.
2. Ayaan Hirsi Ali's Infidel - one woman's journey to freedom and a new life.
3. Charles Palliser's Unburied - a blurb likened Palliser to Wilkie Collins and Umberto Eco. If you're a fan of both, how do you resist that?
4. Joanna Harris' Blackberry Wine - simply in anticipation of her new novel, Lollipop Shoes.

I crowned it all with a smoked salmon sandwich and a lite Danish beer at the bistro next door.

So which one will I start with? Hmmm...I think The Sandman tonight.

Labels: Books, General

Stardust :: Neil Gaiman
What on earth took me so long to pick up a Neil Gaiman book? Too much hype? Brand name author? But I'm so glad I did because I love Stardust. Another fairy tale set in England but with none of the darkness of the last book. Love, magic, adventure, evil witches, murderous princes, fairies and a fallen star found by a handsome youth. An immensely fun read.

Now reading? I haven't quite decided yet. You know how it is - you have a few books left and you're reluctant to pick any one because you want to hoard them tlll you have bought few more, so you won't feel completely bereft as the pile dwindles. Silly huh?

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

The Book of Lost Things :: John Connolly
Think Grimm's fairy tales...but grimmer. Darker, creepier and altogether spine-tinglingly good. I practically devoured this in 2 days, starting the first chapter late Friday night. Yes, I know this kind of story has been done before, but John Connolly does it very, very well indeed. While written as a fairy tale, it is anything but. And most definitely not for children. In a nutshell - David loses his mother, discovers a space in a crack in a sunken garden which leads to a kingdom where dreams, nightmares and things in your imagination come true. Here, all the fairy tales you've ever read, are twisted, warped and sometimes downright scary. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Now reading: Neil Gaiman's Stardust

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

Thanks to Kim of Random Jottings, I've got another book (besides Harry Potter) to add to my countdown clock. Joanna Harris of Chocolat fame has a sequel, or in her words, a continuation due out on 1st May 2007. Look out for Lollipop Shoes then.

Wonder if Hollywood will make a sequel with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp in it. We can but dream...

Labels: Books, General, News

The Interpretation of Murder: A Novel :: Jed Rubenfeld
It's been a long while since I picked up a murder story. And enjoyed it. The tale centers around Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung's visit to New York in 1909. In their first week in New York City, a socialite is brutally murdered but a second attempt on another fails. She lives but has lost her voice and memory.

It's up to a young doctor to employ Freud's methods to help her remember that awful night. However, as he and Detective Littlemore discover, there's more afoot then a murderer roaming the streets. There are some heart stopping moments too. For good measure, Reubenfeld throws in Freud's psychoanalytical theories and Shakespeare, particularly Hamlet and that famous soliloquy, not to mention a couple of red herrings, to make for a thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended.

Now reading: The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

So Many Books, So Little Time :: Sara Nelson
I think I've found my book twin. Sara Nelson is an admitted compulsive reader: she 'double-books', reads while walking outdoors and at the dinner table, and has trouble sharing books. She also fears going on vacation, bookless. In a chapter "Endless Love", Nelson shares a funny moment at an airport bookshop where she's desperately looking for a book, any book but ends up buying magazines instead.

I have to admit I bought this book for the title alone. It turned out to be an easy, enjoyable read. Nelson shares anecdotes about her life, family, friends as they revolve around her beloved books. A funny, compelling writer with a voracious appetite, her book tastes are eclectic and not ruled by best-seller lists. Nelson planned a list of 52 books, a book a week for a year but realised soon enough that the choice wasn't always up to her. Don't look here for critical reviews although I now have some interesting titles to dig up at Borders and Kinokuniya. Highly recommended.

Now reading: Annie Proulx' The Shipping News.

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

Finally, after what's seemed like YEARS, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be out on 21 July 2007. According to J.K Rowling, something will happen in this book that will leave us in tears. I'm crossing my fingers that it's NOT what I think it is...

Anyone fans of the series?

Labels: Books, General

I was browsing in Times bookshop when I found this gem hidden among the Meg Cabots: The Complete Stories of Truman Capote. Except for Breakfast at Tiffany's, I've not read any of Capote's works let alone his short stories. This will be a good introduction, don't you think?

Labels: Books

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland :: Jim DeFede
Imagine opening your home for strangers to shower and relax, or providing hot meals, blankets, towels, pillows, sheets and much, much more for nearly 7,000 people landing in your backyard.

That's just what the people of Gander and its surrounding communites did for the passengers of 38 planes that were diverted from US airspace to this little island on September 11. While feelings of fear, confusion, anger and revenge were rife that day in the US, those in Gander experienced only goodness and kindness. A beautiful, life-affirming account that deserves a place along side the tragedy of that fateful day, as a reminder of good triumphant.

Now reading: Sara Nelson's So Many Books, So Little Time.

Labels: Books, Bookshelf

Perfume :: Patrick Suskind
One of the more bizarre books I've ever read. And if I didn't know there is movie about to play in theatres here, I'd have thought it completely unfilmable. Grenouille has got to be one of the most fascinating sociopaths yet: Hannibal Lecter is a lovable gentleman next to him. He's repulsive and completely without conscience. Suskind refers to Grenouille as a 'tick' - he's THAT disgusting! He's obsessively single-minded in his pursuit of scent especially the ultimate human scent which he discovers in beautiful prepubescent girls. The last two scenes in the novel are totally unexpected but they are the extreme result of that discovery. I promise, you won't be expecting any of it. Read the book before you catch the movie. Extremely satisfying.

Now reading: Jim Defede's The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland.