Neruda madness

Finally, the long awaited book has arrived.

I told you i'm romantic at heart.

Anna Karenin

I have just started reading this book days ago. It is so thick that i think i would need a month to finish it. My first impression was that this book is so different than any books i have ever read. 

It is so raw. And i like it.

Definitely not what i've expected. I might just put all Tolstoy's works in my list to read book.

Opiate and tonic..

I read Lisa Kleypas new novel Crystal Cove last night and finished it in one sitting. It was 3.40 am when i went to sleep. And as always, Lisa Klepas never let me down.

My favorite phrases in the book were like this;

"You," he whispered, "are my Solomon's mine, my uncharted empire. You are the only home I need to know, the only journey I want to take, the only treasure I would die to claim. You are exotic and familiar, opiate and tonic, hard conscience and sweet temptation."

I think i died for a minute last night.

Books books books

I'm a bit greedy when it comes to books. If i have 7 in my hands, i will read all 7 at once. No kidding here. I'm quite serious. As you can see, i have a mixed taste in books. I'm willing to give a try at everything. Vintage to graphic novel. I can take it all. Even Justin Bieber biography. Especially him.

So, first on the list is Haruki Murakami's 'What I Talk About When I Talk About Running'. As always, he leaves me gaping. Mouth wide open in awe. Ever since i read 'Norwegian Wood' i became addicted to his writings. I would have become one of his groupie if there's any to join. Seriously, he's piece is so out-of-this-world kind of awesome.

The Travels of Marco Polo - I like it that i even considered myself to travel around the world on a bicycle since i'm terrified of the ocean. But before one embark on such a great journey, one must learn how to be on bicycle first.

Eighty Days Yellow - I hate this book. I hate it. I just HATTEEEEE IT! When a book contains words such as *c@nt*, or *f@ck*, it don't deserve a place in my library. Seriously, Vina Jackson, go and read some of Haruki Murakami's book so you'll know how to describe a coitus. I'm seriously offended by this book that i didn't even bother to finish it.

The Selection - This book is quite pleasant. I finished it in one sit. There's a lot of new ideas. Like the reinstatement of the caste system. Or the United States of China, how funny is that? The only unpleasant thing about the book is that, it's not finished. There will be a sequel. And i hate sequel. So much. Cause i will definitely lose interest over time. Apparently, there's also going to be a movie about this book, which i would very much like to look forward to.

The rest of the book still unread. Will probably start tonight on Bill Bryson's 'Neither Here Nor There'.

Lauren Kate's Passion

I finally get a hold of my own copy of Lauren Kate's Passion yesterday after 2 months of waiting. First, i placed an order of the book at Amazon but after 2 months of waiting the book never arrived. So i give up, lodge a complaint to Amazon and thankfully they refund my money back. And by early August the book already started hitting our local bookstore. So i quickly place my online order and i get my copy the very next day.

And on top of it, i get a signed copy! A signed copy of Lauren Kate's book! I'm so thrilled and happy. I couldn't stop telling everyone around me that i get a signed copy of the book.

I was actually looking for the a hardcover copy instead of paperback. But then, that doesn't matter cause i get the signed copy one. Did i already told you that it was a sign copy? Haha. Can't stop myself from parading this book.

See, i told you.

La la la la...

Happy day ahead.

Agnes Newton Keith

It's been a week since my last post. I have been busy lately. Not work busy. More like mind busy. Er, actually i don't think that's the correct words. It is more like that i have been absent minded, and i'm not even thinking of anything. Remember last time i told you that i am a boring person? Well, in the past few days, i have been indulging into the boringness. I spend hours just lying on my bed and stared at the ceiling. I turned on the tv but can't get my mind focused on the shows. Tried to read a book, but then the words quickly start blurring. And i seemed to enjoy the nothingness. Weird huh?

Nothing can be good as nothing - Agnes Newton Keith

But now i'm back on the track. I'm currently reading Agnes Newton Keith book "White Man Return" and i liked it so much! Why did i only found out about her now? After i finished this, i plan to read her 1st book called "Land Below the Wind". Yeah, i know. It's a shame the fact that i live in Borneo, specifically in Sabah, yet never once read Land Below the Wind.

One thing that strikes me when reading this book, is that, this place (Sabah) didn't changed much since 1934. I mean in terms of people attitude and their way of life. I am a Dusun, and Dusun is one of the many native tribes in Sabah. So, the way i see it, the world may be evolving, technologies advanced further, but human hardly changed.

Agnes described the aborigines of North Borneo as follow,

"At present the native of Borneo has no national concept, much less world concept, because he can't think that big; he doesn't know that he has a country because he can't see that far."

- So true! World Bank reported that Sabah is the poorest state in Malaysia. And the Government told us not to complain and should considered that we are lucky compared to China and India. And did we do anything about that? Sadly, no.

"In North Borneo there never has been and still is not a moneyed class among the natives; a man's wealth is in his personal possessions, and his dogs, pigs, buffalo, blowpipes, weapons, brass, and wives."

- Class? What class?

"The most unpopular law was one which aimed at making it compulsory for the natives to plant for enough rice to feed themselves, and to harvest and eat it, rather than drink it in the form of fermented, fiery rice wine."

- Just as you can never take away the sea from the shore, and so it is with the natives and their drinking. What is the purpose of earning, if at the end of the day you cannot drink, sing and laugh?

The way i think is a bit different than those around me. If you'd compared my lifestyle with the others, i hardly belong to the native. My brother say i'm quick to panic. I can't sit straight before i get all the job done. I always do things fast, and i expect the same from others. But my family, relatives and others around me, they do things in their own pace. They are seem not to be bothered by anything. Last time i was in Ranau, i went to this shop to buy a flip flop, i pick the thing and put it on the counter, and the cashiers just stood there chit chatting with each other. I remained calm, and hold my tongue. After a few minutes standing there feeling like an idiot, one of the cashier finally look at me and say, " You want to pay for that?" No, i just put these things on the counter so i'll have a reason to stand here and hear your chatting. I should have said that. After i went out, i exploded and poor mum had to listen to all my whining. But really, 90% of Ranau population occupied by native, and there, it seems like no one is (ever) in a hurry. I think if i stayed 1 more day in Ranau, i'm would lose my mind.

Anyway, i'm not saying that those around me are lazy. It's just maybe that they desire less things. To have live and laugh seems enough. My father used to say, "Why should i pay 150k for a car if i can get one at 10k? The purpose of a car is to get from Point A to Point B." He is one tough Dusun. Shiny things don't work on him.

As i say, as time goes by, the culture is withering, tribal dance's steps are forgotten, ancient song barely heard, traditional clothes are just costume, and yet, the attitude will never change. This is just natives being native.

Lisa Kleypas

OMG, i loved her books so much!

I have just finished reading 3 out of her 4 contemporary books. And to tell the truth, i have fallen in love with her writings. What makes her books so special is that the connection you'll have with her character throughout the pages. She makes it so personal that at some point i felt like i was reading someone else diary. When Lisa writes about hardship, abuse and making choices, she was not aggravating the scene. She hold back a little, and that is what makes thing feel real.

One thing i learned from Lisa's books, is that, love wait. It may take 10 years, but if it is love, it'll wait. Love does not move on. You may be moved on with someone else, or bound to marriage, but when time is right, stars will align in some special arrangement, and the universe will work it's magic so that your path will cross with each other, and love will happen again.

Lisa's contemporary books may not be romantic as i expected it to be, but she makes me believe that love is real. As real as hectic Monday can be. So, i guess what i want to say is, never give up living. There will a light at the end of this tunnel.






I have yet to check out Lisa's new book "Christmas Eve at Friday Harbour". Consider it's an appropriate way to spend Christmas Eve since i will not be going home and spend Christmas with my family this year. Don't ask why.

Katie Macalister

She just become one of my favorite author. I have finished reading 8 of her dragon books yesterday. Now, I'm waiting for her book "The Unbearable Lightness of Dragons" which scheduled to be release on May 3rd next year. In the mean time, i plan to check out her other books too. But, all i know is that i love her dragon books. It's mind blowing, smart, sexy and ticklish. In fact i would say that Katie Macalister dragon books, are just like Harry Porter for adults. So, anyone who loved Harry Porter will definitely love this as well. So, here's a tip for those who might want to check out these dragon series, you should start reading from "Aisling Grey" series, then moved to "Silver Dragons" series and lastly is the "Light Dragons" series.


Aisling Grey Novel





Silver Dragons Novel





Light Dragons Novel




So, lets talk about transforming the book into motion picture. I have lined up a few actors for some of the characters in the book. Let see if i did the job here.


Meet my Drake. Eric Bana is no doubt should play as Drake. And he should pull that look as he did in "Troy" movie.





And this is my Aisling Grey. Amy Adams got all the look to be Aisling Grey.




As for Matthew McConaughey, which character do you think he suit best? It is very difficult to find a hunk with dimples, you know. So, say hello to my Gabriel.




I know that i can be a little ................. sometimes. I know i'm not some big Hollywood producer that i can just pin-point anybody to be in my films and give them a call, "hey Amy, how you like to be my Aisling Grey?". But, it's nothing wrong to dream away. So, just let me be. This is my world and i'm comfortable here. Besides, Katie should know best how her character should look like.

New addiction

I have it. I am obsessed with books. Especially with paranormal and fantasy books. I am not always like this you know. I usually had my regular dose of Mills & Boon, or Harlequin Temptation once a month. But now, i could finished 1 whole book in a day. Almost every night i had a late night sleep because of this. And to make matter worst, i have ordered more books online. Next week i'm expecting to received around 20 books. Please tell me it is not that bad. It is not that bad right? I mean book reading is suppose to be healthy. It must be doing something good to the mind. Just look at the Japanese, they read everywhere. Even when they are in the subway queuing to enter the train, still a book must be at hand. And why i am panicking over this? I should not. It's just that i have probably spent over a thousand just for books in this year. And the year 2010 is not even over. I still have November and December ahead of me and how am i going to go through those 2 cold months without any books to keep me warm? And don't tell me the library is my salvation. The public library that we had here is not the kind of up-to-date library. Sure, you might find some good old romance novel like Judith's, but i have read all that.



By the way, i am currently reading Seven Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly. It is not my cup of tea really. I prefer romance rather than thriller. But i am willing to give it a try. I'm sure if i can handle Sidney's Doomsday Conspiracy, reading this should be just like sipping my tea in a garden. So, bring it on Matthew.

Love in time of dragons

I just finished reading this book. It's by Katie MacAlister. I had the UK version. But the cover of US version seems more interesting. Never mind the cover, the title alone had me put this book on top-3 of my priority list.



















I find that this book is very addictive and "interesting". It took me 12 hours to finish it. I am a slow reader and i did paused for some toilet business and snacks once a while. I was new to dragons stories. I mean how many times you ever heard of dragons love stories? I know we are so accustomed to the idea of love between human and vampire, or werewolf, or demon, or zombie, or mutant, or superhuman, or angel and many more. But dragons? We are talking about the kind of dragons with scales and breathe fires. And Katie makes the dragon's love making even hotter. Somebody should make a movie out of this book. I tell you, this book is worth every cents.

Torment

My pre-order book from mphonline has finally arrived. And now i'm halfway to finishing the book. The story is so addictive. Lauren Kate is so brilliant and talented. I'm pretty sure that soon her book will be put into motion picture.

Oh my. I don't want to flip open the final page. I want to keep on reading this book like forever. But then there will be a third sequel called PASSION will be available only on Summer 2011.

So, Lauren, please hurry up!

Fallen by Lauren Kate

I have just finish reading this book. 'Fallen' by Lauren Kate. And before i write this post, i have already pre-order the sequel 'Torment' (what? i'm just curious). This book is just what exactly i needed after i finished reading the book 'Ugly' by Constance Briscoe which i bought from Jakarta Airport. Anyway, there are lots of reviews coming out from this book. Both good and bad.

As for me, i loved it. I know that many compared 'Fallen' to 'Hush, Hush' and 'Twilight'. But who cares? All i know is that this book is much better than those two. Plus, 'Fallen' has the best cover. So, Kudos to Lauren Kate!