Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Title: 
Anna and The French Kiss
Author:
Stephanie Perkins
Rating:
4/5



Anna was sent to Paris after she has planned how her senior year would be and which university she will apply to. Thanks to her dad. She had to leave behind her pet, younger brother, Sofia(her car), and almost-boyfriend and Bridge, her bestfriend. Well, she practically had to leave behind her life in Atlanta and start go through a new beginning in Paris.

Being a new senior student is never easy. It is even more difficult when you do no speak French. She is only lucky it is an American School in Paris. She made friends with Mer, St.Clair, Josh and Rashmi. Things grew manageable. Anna was able to feed her desire for films as her school is surrounded by theaters. Towards the end of the year, drama took place. She had to face challenges with her friendship and love life. 

Paris became her happy place. She shared a number of similarities with her new friends. She then had to worry about going back to the States. How she will keep her newfound love. How she will ever be apart from him.

p/s: Picked this up when someone on Goodreads mentioned it in Fangirl review. It was deemed to be super sweet. In my opinion, it is not that sweet but it is nice that it has a happy ending. Ending that I am satisfied with. :) If you love the school-dormitory settings, you would love this. If you love Paris and would like to explore the city in bits and pieces,  pick this up!

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Lauren Oliver in Malaysia

Fell in love with her writing when I started reading Delirium series. If you have not read this, stop wasting time. Pick it up. It will definitely be hard to put down! (Atleast, that’s what happened to me.) I simply love it when stories are enveloped and “blended” with reality. It makes more sense that way. It makes it more real in its own way.

There was a book fair hosted my MPH earlier this year which I decided not to go because I simply have too many books waiting to be read. Apart from that, I do not have that much space for my books here in the attic. :( Got to start figuring out how to manage all these books. Else it will take up more space than anything else.

Back to Lauren Oliver. She was most probably invited by MPH for meet the fans session. There were 2 venues; the book fair itself and MPH Mid Valley Megamall. Since Mid Valley is much nearer to my last project site, I ran to see Oliver there. Session was quite short but it was enough to cover all the fans’ book with her autographs. There was probably a little overview talk by Oliver but I guess I missed it; had to grab lunch!

When I got to the bookstore, it was not easy to miss where Oliver is as there was already a swarm of school kids lining up with books in their chest. I was hoping someone was there to help take few pics of me with Oliver. After few minutes, my wish came true. A friend got there to get her books signed as well. Yes, I am lucky to have friends who loves books as much as I do. That way, my addiction is not that severe and sniffing books is totally fine.

While we were lining up, we overheard the kids complaining “What are old people doing here?” lol C’mon! It is young adult and since when there are age limits for genres? Ok, you kids can’t be reading new adult. :p And guess what? We also wondered. “What are the kids doing here? Shouldn’t they be in school? Furthermore, they are from the International School and their school session ends at 3pm.” 

Anyway, I only brought 1 book to be signed. My precious little paperback Delirium. Oliver commented that she feels like eating it. It is very small. It is a version not available in the States apparently. Guess what Oliver? We don’t get much hardbacks! :( Most of the time, we only have tall paperbacks. I was lucky to have a few hardbacks on my shelf. The bookstores are probably making sure the books are affordable for the local market as well. As for me, I don’t mind hardbacks especially if the author is my favourite! 

Here are some shots with Oliver.






Here is Li Zan. Made her pose with her book. haha Pop to her blog here. Our love for books are almost identical. We can go all day talking about books but that might drive other people around us crazy so we don’t.



If there is anything to say about Oliver, she is very friendly and if you were to talk to her about writing, she is very encouraging! :) Looking at her makes me feel like she is just the right creator for Alex, Hana and the rest of the characters in Delirium. I somehow placed her in the series together with all of them. My imagination is something, right? ;)

A little show off moment. She said "Ruzanna? That's a cool name." hihihi If only she would name one of her characters with my name. (*dreamy* tralalalala*)



p/s: This happened in March. I didn’t get the chance to blab until now. Gotta pick up Oliver’s other books. Next book is definitely Before I Fall. I know…I know…I will get there. Just can’t keep buying anymore books for the time being. Atleast not novels coz there are just too many that everyone in the house might kill me. haha

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Title: 
Fangirl
Author:
Rainbow Rowell
Rating:
4/5

Twins. Cath and Wren. Close as knit until Wren decided to go on without her twin when she enters freshman year. Cath initially had a hard time getting used to new life without Wren. She felt too lost that even their love for Simon Snow could not help her. 

Wren is on her own planet, Cath struggled with studies, boys and herself. She was just not used to being without Wren and not used to have to open up to other people around her. Confused. Frustrated. Scared. 

While she struggled, she could not write. She just can’t find the juice to write. She managed to get a class under the guidance of a well known writer but she almost threw that away too.

The peak in this story happens when things went wrong. Incidents that almost took away Wren’s and her father’s life. Cath almost gave away her studies. However, it all ends well with everything around her fall into its place. 

p/s: It feels like forever since I last wrote any book reviews. Am putting the blame on Mr.Work! Can’t give this book 5 stars; I prefer a more extensive ending. A more definite happy ending. :p

Brought this book along during my trip to Medan, Indonesia recently. Started reading when the plane took off. My husband complained the book is too thick so it is heavy. C’mon honey, it is only 438 pages including acknowledgement. And it is paperback. I carried my backpack most of the time. :p Occasionally brought the book to dinner and breakfast. I just couldn't put it down for too long. On the flight back, I sat next to my mom. She said “Next time if you really need to bring a book to travel, bring a small and thin book. Why do you have to bring such a thick book?” Seriously? :| She must have teamed up with Mr.Husband. When the flight was descending to land, she said “You are not supposed to read when there are people around. You need to chat. What’s the point of meeting if you don’t talk to people?” Errr….Sorry ma, Rainbow Rowell had me at hello. As always. Now I can’t wait til her next book!

Thursday, March 13, 2014

2014 Challenge

Hola! This post is about 3months late but hey! It is still 2014 :)
 
Another year of reading challenge. Looks like my goal is getting lesser. From 100 to 50 and now to 30. Well, goals have to be feasible. ;)
 
How did I do last year?
Sadly, didn't meet the goal set...but only by 13 books. That's not too bad right?
 
 
This year, it will be just 30.
Guess I am reading lesser as I get more into stitching. From my POV, this number is still reasonable.
 
For those on Goodreads, feel free to buzz me.
 

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Back To Reality by Danielle Allen

Title
Back To Reality
Author
Danielle Allen

Rating
5/5



Sahara is on the run again. Being torn between two guys, she decided to leave them both and start a new life (again). This time, she maintains the connection with her bestfriend Emily. She has decided to go through therapy. She also learned to make friends. She found out she is missing a mother's love. Odd to her but it is a refreshing change. She avoided Tyree but there is no way she can avoid Emmanuel and she doesn't want to runaway from Emily ever again. 

Emily moved on with her life and business. Since Sahara promised to not runaway again and make up for the lost time with her bestfriend, she deciced to be there for Emily's major life events. With that, she has to be where Emmanuel is. Emmanual is going through a rough time in his life as well.

Sahara eventually decided to be brave and face her fears. She confronted both guys and worked from there on who to be with. She has finally learned to let go and move on. She knows deep down she can't continue keeping things hidden and live a lie. No way she can run from her true love.

My take on this book:
Love love loveeee Danielle Allen's writing. :) I am happy with the ending though I would prefer if she ended up with the other guy. ;) Guess that is the twist of the story. 

This is the sequel to the book Back to Life. If you have missed this review, please click here to have an overview. Danielle Allen can also be found on Goodreads

p/s: Thank you sooo much Carver's Book Cravings for hosting this! It is awesome to be reading great books! Looking forward to more. :)

Monday, November 25, 2013

Black Friday @ MPHonline

Not sure when Black Friday entered Malaysia but I am glad!!!! :)

This is the first for Malaysia I believe! Go MPH!!!!


This sale is only applicable on MPHonline. Therefore, valid only for online purchases

Date: 25th November 2013 - 1st December 2013
T&C: Only valid for books which are available for delivery within 3-5day. 
(I believe this is for books which are currently in stock only. So no discount on pre-orders and etc.)

If this is not enough, check out the followings!
Both with its own T&C. :)



For more information, please go to MPHonline official Black Friday.
Never bought from MPHonline? Fret not, here is a guide.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Back To Reality by Danielle Allen (Cover Reveal)

Release Day December 1st, 2013 
  
~ Synopsis ~
Love brought her back to life. Life brought her back to reality.

Her past: Emanuel Mills was her first love. The guitar playing, adventure seeking, IT whiz was everything she ever wanted.

Her present: Tyree Barker was her last love. The cultured, educated, successful entrepreneur was everything she needed.
But when Sahara Lee’s past and present collided, a series of events occurred that changed her life forever, leaving her future up in the air. As a college freshman, a tragic accident changed the course of Sahara’s life. Ten years later, just when she started putting her life back together, Sahara’s world was rocked again due to a similar accident. Heartbroken and guilt ridden, Sahara fell into old, familiar habits before quickly realizing that she wasn’t the same Sahara Lee anymore. Unable to live a lonely, loveless, isolated life anymore, Sahara decided that the way she coped before wasn’t going to work this time around. Time didn’t heal her wounds, but forgiveness might.

~ Back To Life (Book 1) ~
Sahara Lee has spent the last ten years living with the guilt of a tragic accident and its aftermath. That night irrevocably changed the outgoing, fun-loving college freshman into an introverted, workaholic with no social life. Sahara isolates herself from everyone and everything that reminds her of home in an effort to forget what happened. Using art as a substitute for love, Sahara throws herself into music and art as a way to feel something other than the guilt that haunts her. She accepts her lonely existence as penance for the role she played in the accident. That is, until she meets Tyree Barker, the good looking entrepreneur with baggage of his own. Blindsided by a legal loophole, Sahara is suddenly forced to confront the past she’s been running from. Juggling the guilty feelings of her past and the unexpected feelings of her present, Sahara’s future becomes complicated as she heads down a path of forgiveness, love, and heartbreak…and not in that particular order. Back to Life reminds you that living and existing are two completely different ways to go through life. Grief will break you but guilt, guilt will destroy you. And once that happens, what can bring you back to life?
 p/s: Covered a review on this book here.
~ Author Bio ~ 
I am a married event planner and life coach. My awesome friends and family and my amazing husband make my life sweet. I love to have fun and enjoy the life I’ve been blessed with. I love shopping and football with equal fervor. I’m an amateur movie critic (i.e. my husband and I watch and critique a lot of movies for fun). I love to read and I enjoy sharing my love of books with anyone who will listen. I love music. A good lyric with a good melody can paint a vivid picture and invoke such a range of emotions. I have a soft spot for most mediums of creative, artistic expression.
With degrees in psychology, human services, and marriage and family counseling, I have a unique perspective on life, love and the pursuit of happiness. As an author, I combine an active imagination and life experiences to create stories that are easily relatable and intentionally intriguing. I want to offer you a peek into someone else’s life and for you to get lost in their story, their trials, their triumphs. My ultimate goal is to create a character or a story that stays with you long after you’ve put the book down.
So in a nutshell: I plan. I teach. I read. I write. I watch. I critique. I shop. I play. I love.
To know me is to love me.

~ Author Links ~
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6523680.Danielle_Allen
Webpage: http://www.authordanielleallen.com/
Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDanielleAllen
Back to Life Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BacktoLifeSeries
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XOXO_DAllen

p/s: Sooooo can't wait for this book! 
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