Summer Reads

It's no secret that I love to read. I can spend hours and hours getting lost in a book. But life has dealt me a different card this year. Motherhood seem to require all of my energy and time to care for my beautiful baby. 

For months I had been too lazy to read. Yet one day I found myself in the bookstore, grabbed some titles. I started reading again. And I downloaded dozens of titles on my iPad, too. 

This summer, my reading list is as varied as the genre you can stumble into. 

1. Love, Rosie by Cecilia Ahern

I have read some books of this Irish writer. And they were good. She's a contemporary writer who does not follow the usual romance formula. So I picked this book. 

And I tell you, it's such a painful read. It's a story about a man and a woman who were best friends as kids, geographically separated in adolescense but kept the friendship despite the distance. Chapter after chapter, there is an undertone of mutual attraction, love, if you may call it, but a series of unfortunate events in each others life have prevented them from being together. 

Decades later they have come to accept that there can be nothing more between them but friendships. However, in a twist of fate and in the twilight of their lives, the universe aligned. 

The story closed with Rosie finally achieved her goal of being a hotelier by opening her own B&B. One night, she jogged down memory lane by reading her old letters. And the last one was of Alex, professing his love. It's a missive that was written years ago but did not reach Rosie until recently. As she pined for all those lost years, the bell rang. Waiting by the reception is the love of her life -- Alex. 

It's a modern love story that reminds me Love in the time of cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I'm not saying the quality of writing is the same. But there were parallelism. The heart aches, the long stretches of time, the unrequited love, the loneliness, and the hope that springs eternal. And that love conquers all, in the end.

Tearjerker, I know. 

2. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

If you liked Gone Girl, you will love this. 

The protagonist Rachel is a flawed character -- alcoholic, loser. 

Everyday, she makes up stories about a couple who lives across the tracks where her train to London would pass by. She paints a picture of them living a perfect life. A contradiction of her dire circumstances. At the onset you would think that she's just a wacko. Given the fact that she's a pretender -- commuting to a job she no longer has on a daily basis, sticking to a schedule she no longer need to keep, it seemed odd to be the focal point of this thriller. 

You hate her character. You will despise her through and through. Rachel personifies the anti-thesis of woman empowerment. She's a goner. 

But a string of event puts her in the middle of the life of the people who live across the tracks. A dead woman (the wife in the perfect couple) set the stage for the drama (more of it) on how the storyline progresses. 

There were dragging points but it's mostly a page-turner. And a few scenes that take your breath away -- they scare you. But it's the kind that makes you want to prod on to find out what unfolds. 

I love the resolution of the story. There is just the right amount of justice, intrigue and hope. The kind of recipe that keeps me interested with the other works of the author. 

3. China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan. 

This is the sequel to Crazy Rich Asians. It's chick lit. So, don't expect too much. But boy, this book is hilarious, sprinkled with intrigue. It makes you cringe at times. Better to read this after you're done with Crazy Rich Asians. You'll understand the characters' backstories more. 

I know these were my summer reads but the rainy season brought back that usual longing to just curl up in bed, sip coffee and be entranced by the pages of your book of the week. 

What's on your reading list? I still have The Rosie Project and This is How You Lose Her on my bookshelf. 

This is How You Lose Her on my bookshelf. 

Xx

Sheng

The secret to happiness...

What a validation! Don't get me wrong. I love to hang out with friends. And my occasional foray into running. But at the end of the day, I just love, love to curl up in bed with a good book. I never get sleepy when reading. 

On my reading couch today is Howard Schultz's Onward. 

Inspiring. Riveting.

A cup of coffee chases the blues away.

XX

Sheng

50 Shades of Grey

Fifty Shades of Christian Grey. 

People on twitter have posted musings about how awesome or atrocious, lame it is. Clearly, this trilogy have generated so much buzz that in an unprecedented event in the publishing world, it has been digitally published first before the presses have churned on millions of paper copies. 

Its critics say it doesn't warrant literally praise or non-praise because it's just a fan fiction. That it is badly written. And that it is just but mommy-porn. 

Intrigued, I sought out a copy. In a twist of fate, I got a hold of its paperback edition. Ironic, eh? I read it with trepidation. I didn't like to jump on the bandwagon. And I also don't like to get started because from experience I've never put down a book, unfinished. I have a stubborn streak in my body. I read, no matter how badly it appeals to me, if I had already started. I think I adhere to the notion that I shouldn't be a quitter... in reading. Hahaha.

The first in the trilogy that made me lose so much sleep.

Nica, a colleague and a friend, told me that she had a copy of all three. I asked if I could borrow. The rest is as they say history, written all over my dark-ringed under eye.

I think the pull of the book(s) is not just on its superfluous employ of erotic scenes. What it lacks in literary style, makes up for the author's vivid use of words that painted out of this world description of its male protagonist, Christian Grey. 

A hopeless romantic, spinster or otherwise, would surely pine for a man like him. Almost perfect in its description whose only fault is the desire to deeply care and lavish his woman with desirable material things, ordinary beings are just wont to imagine and have them in their fantasy. Never mind that he is extremely good looking, too with a penchant for sexual adventures not accepted in the "normal" world. 

It has a lot of parallelisms to the Twilight saga. Given that its premise spawned from the fan base of the saga, there's no surprise there. 

But what makes it more exciting than Twilight is its ability to engage a wide-range of readers because for one all characters are human or as human, as one could get. Secondly, the readership centers on the upwardly mobile young professionals who enjoy the perks of being young with earning potential beyond the average person. 

In my love affair with the written word, I have not been selective with my reading. I'd devour anything printed, recommended or otherwise. As long as it's available, am game. Hence, my genre, I think is broader. 

I've read the likes of Mills and Boon, Harlequin when I was but a young girl. The stories written there are more provocative back then. Shocking and scandalous. The male leads were depicted as the Adonis's of the mortal world. In fact, Fabio as a perpetual paperback cover had attained a status unto itself. 

So, I'd say the E L James trilogy isn't really something new that should shock the sternest aunt or the extremely shy maiden. What it offers is a fresh take into what the modern world consider as shocking and delectably provocative. 

Cheesy, yes. Beneath the veneer of sophistication, women like their cheese. Especially, if it's served on a silver platter. 

Holiday Reading

A cup of coffee and a good book are two of my guilty pleasures. Regardless of the state of my work life, I try to find time to read a chapter each night or finish a book in a week. To some, de-stressing means retail therapy. To nerds like me, a good book, a cuppa and a nice couch to cocoon are all that we need to bounce back to the right state. 

Photo Credit: Corbis

Every Christmas break, I bring at least five books when I travel to my hometown. And a magazine to read at the airport. When the books are thick, I worry about excess weight on my luggage allowance. It's such a pain, literally and figuratively. But I don't have the heart to leave them unread in my pad. 

But last holiday vacation, I headed to my destination with not a single book carried. That's because, I have quite a shelf on my iBooks. Thank you, Steve Jobs. I shall  be forever grateful for opening up a chic device to house all the books I could ever want to read. 

In my iPad, I have over 500 titles to choose from. Two days before Christmas eve, I settled into my old room at home, and opened my bookfest with Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. Ha! Is it crazy or apt for the occasion? John Grisham is my modern hero in writing. He never goes wrong in all of his novels. Although, court drama is his forte, he is fearless in dabbling into pop fiction. And I must say, the book didn't disappoint. It was funny and heart-warming at the same time. 

With the mood established, I moved on to modern classic. Dubbed as a coming of age book, I dabbled into the world of J.D. Salinger in The Catcher in the Rye. He rambled on and on and on. It was a nice read. The angst of the writer was tightly woven into the writing style, wit and humor. 

Because I had so much time in my hands, I multi-tasked bonding with my family, especially my niece and nephew by letting them play on my bed while I read. ha ha. So I moved on another classic -- J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Ah, the adventures of Bilbo Baggins are the kind that make you believe in leaps of faith. And as always, Tolkien does not disappoint. It's beautifully written. The pace can be breathtaking and the denouement is just unbelievably good. I almost did not want it to end. 

Then, I moved on to another adventure book. This time it's The Hunger Games. It's futuristic setting does challenge the imagination. Yes, it's a young adult book. Yet, it still tickles one's imagination. So much that I needed to devour the next two books of the trilogy -- Catching Fire and Mockingjay -- first week of the new year. 

As the previous young adult title did not disappoint, I gave the Pretty Little Liars a try. Plot is thin but I persevered. And before I knew it, I was already into Book 7. Ha ha ha. Now, am just waiting for Books 8 to 12. Yes, am a sucker for teenage romance and promises of redemption. Anyhoo, I hate not finishing what I started. Lol. 

I also visited Tom Clancy. I used to be a fan. In college, I felt that he can never go wrong. And he made me fall in love with Jack Ryan. It was as nostalgic as it can ever be. Red Rabbit is not as sharp as Sum of All Fears or Clear and Present Danger but it is still laced with a Clancy panache. 

 I must say, I ended 2011 in the right frame of mind. Capped it with what I love doing most. And sipped my favorite brew, as I flipped through the virtual pages. Happy reading, everyone!

Reading Nooks

The weather conspired with me as I daydream of a beautiful reading nook, as it was raining gently when I allowed myself to get lost in neverland. For a voracious reader like me, it can be a big letdown when the reading space is uninspiring. One needs to be in a perfect mood, perfect setting to ensure a pleasurable reading experience. I think one's love affair with the written word is cultivated by the right environment and right authors. 

One day, I dream that I'd be able to have my own personal nook that's designed just the way I like it. One that I could share one day with my own child. 

With a reading nook like this, who needs a vacation?

Long weekends can be spent on this really beautiful place surrounded by the books you love. This reminds me a little of a room I used to stay in when I visit my ex-flame. 

Beautiful picture window? You bet.

 Reading can be a really romantic experience.

What can I say? Sigh.

 And I'd never say no to this.I can imagine a steaming cup of coffee on this nifty side table as a perfect company for a good read.

This can be a lovely and whimsy place to be lost in an author's world. 

 Ah, it would be such a joy if one day is going to be closer for me to have this.

Perfect for all-day lounging with a book or two in hand.

Someday. I'll have my own piece of reading paradise.

Photo Credit: Google Images

Dog-ears

 (Re-post from my old live journal account.)

"If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all." - Oscar Wilde

For as long as I can remember, I had always been fascinated by the written word. As a young girl, I am enthralled and amazed at the world beyond my reality. Early on, my parents had encouraged me to read. Not much prodding, just letting me be. To me, the freedom meant more books to devour. My playground was the library.

I learned to read at a very young age. Probably not as young compared to kids today. (They're way too advanced these days. I wonder, if it's the formula.) One summer, we vacationed in our grandparent's farm. At that time, there was no electricity yet. But that did not deter me. I used a kerosene lamp (gasera) to illuminate the pages, night after night.

My faithful reading companion. (Photo taken from Google Images)

Needless to say, I love books. My love affair with book paper, ink, paperback tickle my imagination. So much that I can scrimp on other things; never on books. And I've learned to never shy from networking with other bookworms. Sayang naman the opportunity to barter :-)

The digital age has not diminished man's insatiable want for written word. In fact, technology merely digitized the books we love. Today, there is more reason to read; it's available anywhere, everywhere.

My all-time favorite book. (Photo taken from Google Images)

However, am still drawn to the romance of reading the printed copies. Mind you, lugging books around when you're out in the mall, parks or vacation spots, is very taxing. Still, I like the texture of dog-eared books. It gives me a sense of accomplishment. And it never fail to bring a smile to my face whenever I looked at those worn and marked books. When I look at my bookshelf, boy, I feel giddy.

Some of the titles I have.

Right now, am very tempted to say goodbye to prints. I'm trying to do my bit for the environment. But the more attractive reason is I want to get an iPad. However, am still too attached with my cute bookmarks. Though, I don't use it so well. Somewhere after the first chapter, am back to folding the edges to mark it. Dog-ears.

Some cute bookmarks I found on the net. Can't find my own "collection".

More and more research have concluded that literacy rate has gone down. Kids, nowadays are too pre-occuppied with video games and the internet.

My wish is for the next generation to discover the joys of reading. I am still as in love with books as I was at the age of five. Anytime, I'd trade my day job if I am offered to get paid reading. If it meant being a couch potato, I won't mind, at all.

I'd love to own this couch. Pottery Barn, I love thee!

Enjoy reading!