Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Title:

Forbidden

Author:

Tabitha Suzuma

Rating:

4/5

How can a love to pure be so sinful?

Two siblings, Maya and Lochie fell in love with one another. They had to step up to the role of a pair of parents to their younger siblings. Their father walked out of their lives and their mother was too busy with her new boyfriend and being an alcoholic, she is in no state to look after her children.

Troubles with school. Trouble with personalities. Struggles to keep the family together and home straight. They support each other. Their love grew deeper with everyday that passed by. Their only problem is: They came from the same mother. They had to keep their relationship discreet. They studied the options they have. Where they can possibly go in the future.

They live in hopes that their love would remain.
It does remain but not in the way the planned.
p/s:
If there is anything I would like to say about this book, it is tragic.
I would have given is 5/5 if it weren't because of the ending. I can't help being a sucker for a happy ending. Happy ending for this book is probably if they eventually found out they are not actually siblings that they can just continue loving each other and have children together. Tragic tragic tragic. It is all I can say about this book.

My first read by Tabitha Suzuma. Definitely a page-turner. :)
On the downside, I finished reading this book on a Friday morning before I went to work. I was sooooo low the entire day. Another book hangover..... :|

 

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Title:
Panic
Author:
Lauren Oliver
Rating:
4/5

Bestfriends Heather, Natalie and Bishop were at the panic game. The annual game with a jackpot of $50,000. Natalie was determined to play while Heather and Bishop gives support. The game started with a jump from a cliff. Rage and frustration triggered Heather to make the jump. Plus, she could use the money to bring her sister Lily a better life. 

Bishop was frustrated that Heather decided to join but he supported his bestfriends anyway. The game has gotten more attention this year as the jackpot is $75,000; the highest in history of the game. The game itself is a mystery. No one knows who the judges are. No one knows who holds the jackpot but one thing they know for sure is someone is watching them.

Most participants had to face a near-death experience. They kept on playing with 1 player eliminated in every round. Everyone has their own objective being the game. The game unfolds what's underneath a friendship, family and other people in their surroundings. There were broken hearts and kids who ran away from their mother. There are also newfound love. Or rather, an acknowledged love.

The judges had to keep going with the challenges. The players keep daring themselves into facing their fears. Cops and hospitals were involved. There were fire and deaths. Will the players keep playing til the end?

p/s: If there is anything I love about Lauren Oliver, it has got to be the realism elements and how love, family and friendship intertwines in her story. This is one of her standalone novel. My previous reads were her Delirium trilogy. I will most probably move on to Before I Fall when I'm done with a few books in my TBR pile. More about panic? Think fear factor. Think teamwork. Think maybe...Hunger Games? A little bit of all but in a very real settings. It is not called realism if it is not real . ;)

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!

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

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!

Elegy by Amanda Hocking

Title
Elegy
Author
Amanda Hocking
Publisher
TOR
Rating
4/5

Gemma is running out of time. She has yet to find a way to destroy the scroll. Penn is desperately looking for her replacement. Harper is doing all she could even if it means she will be missing classes. Alex and Gemma has gotten back together and their love stronger than ever.

Thea is getting tired of Penn. With Liv in the picture, things are getting more difficult and getting more out of control. Liv is always hungry. More damage is done in Capri town. With Marcy and Lydia's help, they were able to trace Demeter which goes with the name Diana now. However, she is not willing to help break the curse. 

Gemma tried everything to break the curse but no luck. Daniel is getting deeper into the mess. Gemma can't help feeling guilty about how her loved ones have to sacrifice. When they have gotten rid off the evil sirens, everybody thought the curse has been broken. Gemma knew her life has come to an end as she gets weaker and weaker. Alex would not let her go easily. Together, the destroyed the scroll.

p/s: I love happy endings. This final book is a little slow in action but I am glad it all ends well. If there is anything I would like to change or add to the story, it would be that Kirby did not die and Natalie is back to her old self. Now that would be an absolute happy ending. Yes, I love happy endings. :)

Tidal by Amanda Hocking

Title
Tidal
Author
Amanda Hocking
Publisher
TOR
Rating
4/5

Gemma is still trying hard to find a way to buy time to break the curse to have her life back. What she doesn't know is that Penn is just waiting for the right replacement before getting rid of her. Everyone is working hard to save Gemma. They have made more friends in order to find the way out for Gemma.

While Gemma is busy looking for the scroll, Daniel made a pack with Penn to keep Gemma and Harper safe. This was kept a secret. Gemma searched highs and lows for the scroll while Penn did the same for her replacement. All Gemma needed is time but time is running out. She is trying her very best to keep Harper out of it. Her father could not take any more of the nuisance. Towards the end, she confronted. Now that the truth is out, she has one less thing to worry about but it only adds more headcount to worry about her.

In this third book, it is all about searching and buying time. There are a little bit of action here and there but not much movements in the storyline. 

p/s: Cant' wait to get into the final book! :) May it has a happy ending.

Boey at MPH Subang Parade

The moment I found out Boey will be in Malaysia and will be going around for book signings, I know I have to attend! Planned to go for the one in Kinokuniya KLCC but failed due to some unavoidable matters at home. MPH Subang Parade is my final chance and I'm glad I could make it! I made it just in time after I participated at Subang Jaya Book Exhange Programme. :)

It was my first time attending a Book Signing Session. Either none of my favourite authors have been to Malaysia or I am not aware of their whereabouts. (I doubt Sophie Kinsella or Amanda Hocking has been in Malaysia for any signings) The session started with a little presentation about Boey's childhood delivered by Boey himself followed by Q&A. I didn't expect to see soooo many kids but yea, there are many! Few 2 things that came to my mind were "Persimmon" and "Can they relate as well as kids in the 80s or 90s do?". Ah well, let's just leave it to their imagination. If they get it, good. If they don't, they can always reread when they reach the age when they would understand better. :p 

Boey speaking of his parents.

Boey talked a little about Maths and weight problem.

Check out the kids!!!! One of them asked him for a movie. hahaha Cute!

This is probably the time when I asked if he is already on Goodreads and he said "Owhhh...so you're the one". Yea....hahaha He has to be there. That's where we bookaholics are. :)
Does this look like I am waiting for a teacher to mark my exercise book? :p The stance may look the same but I was very happy to have my book autographed and I got to chat a lil with him too. :) Well, it is not often that we get to meet authors, right?

Cute, isn't it? Can I have a cute character of myself too?

This is me getting excited about taking a pic with Boey. :p

Tadaa!!! This is a nice pic but too bad Book 1 had its back towards the camera. Mr.Photographer forgot to inform *smirk*....when I complained, he said "You've done 99% things right. This is minor". I don't know if I can go to sleep well with this unfixed. I don't even know how to photoshop!

Luck was on my side. After dinner(that was an hour after or so), I went back to MPH and found Boey still seated and calmly entertaining his fans. :) So here are a few more pictures. I made sure the book covers are facing the camera this time!

Below pic isn't good; I had my eye on the other camera.

So here it is! At last. Not too good but I fixed the first problem so I'll make do. :p

Autographed! Both books! :) I'm a happy "kid".


And here's a little something to show off too; When I Was A Kid 2 Shapie!
Got lucky with this one. ;) Thank you Boey!!!!!!

Missed Boey?
You still have few chances left to catch him! If you are in Melaka, you are in luck!

(Pic from www.facebook.com/BoeyCheeming)

If you still haven't heard of Boey until you landed on my blog, check him out Wiki; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheeming_Boey

Want to know more about Boey? 

Check out his page iamboey.com This is also where he often updates. Since I can't get enough of his books, this is where I go. And yes, I laugh to myself reading it sometimes.

Get in touch with him:

Official Website: iamboey.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BoeyCheeming 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamboey

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6438968.Boey

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/rectangletriangle

Email: boey@iamboey.com

p/s: This post is written bottom-up. I do this once in awhile coz top-to-bottom doesn't induce much words from my head. Reminds me of the days when I was studying for exams. I read my books and notes from the back. The front part of the books/notes could get a little bit boring coz I've done it way too many times.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch

Lullaby by Amanda Hocking

Title
Lullaby
Author
Amanda Hocking
Publisher
TOR
Rating
4/5

This is the second book in the Watersong series. After Gemma went missing in Wake (Book#1), Harper, Alex and Daniel spend endless times and always on the lookout for her trails. They have reached out to the police, read books on sirens and even went to seek for spirit's help. All these went without any results until one day Daniel found an article in the local newspaper that could lead to where the sirens are.

While everyone is searching for Gemma, she discovered her siren-self further. She is staying alive by swimming in the ocean. No matter how much she resisted the change, there are things she could not control. The more she knew about the sirens, the more she felt uncomfortable. The only reason she followed the sirens is to stay alive and keep her loved ones save but how long could she be away? How long until they found her? What would it take to return to her loved ones?

p/s: I seriously didn't know Watersong is a quartet! Now I wait for the final book to be out in August 2013. Mr.August, please come quickly!

Wake by Amanda Hocking

Title
Wake
Author
Amanda Hocking
Publisher
TOR
Rating
4/5

Gemma loves swimming. Her dream is to make it to the olympics so she is practicing hard. Not a session with her coach missed. Along the way, the fell in love with Alex, the boy nextdoor (literally) who is also her sister's bestfriend. Gemma, her sister Harper lives with their father Brian. Their mother is mentally unfit to be living with them after a car accident.

Gemma's water and swimming addiction has attracted a group of girls' interest. What she didn't know is these girls are not only amazingly beautiful but they are also cursed. One night, when Gemma was swimming in the ocean, the girls lured her to join their "party". Little did she know it was a trap to make her a siren like the other girls. 

With the recent disappearance of boys and girls in the neighbourhood, her father has set a curfew for her to be back at 11:00pm. The party she attended caused chaos when she didn't return until she was found on the beach the next morning. She noticed changes in herself as well but she could not be certain until she had a talk with the other sirens. That also gave her answers to the mystery behind the people disappearances in the neighbourhood.

She has to make a decision now; follow the sirens to stay alive or stay back with her loved ones and die....

Roald Dahl Bookathon : The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl

Title
The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me
Author
Roald Dahl
Publisher
Puffin Books
Rating
5/5

4 friends. 1 creative idea. 1 amazing business.

Window Cleaning Company ran by a boy named Billy and his 3 friends;The Giraffe, The Pelly and The Monkey. Billy's dream is to have a candy shop. 

Imagine this.

Windows cleaning crew with no pail and no ladder.

I would say, cost effective! $.$

No need for a ladder. Thanks to The Giraffe.

No need for a pail. Thanks to The Pelly.

The Monkey? He cleans the windows of course!

How can these talk to humans? Here comes Billy the manager. =)

With great friendship and hardwork, luck came into place. The team managed to capture the criminal at the  Duke of Hampshire's house where they were hired to clean the windows. The reward is of course very fruitful!

I will leave it to you to have these friends running in your head cleaning up windows and you'll never know if they will pop into a candy store near you! LOL!

Roald Dahl's Books Pending Reviews

Since I am back, there many things to be done! (Fair enough; this page was left for monthsssssss :( )
Mr.Work, please be nice to me. =p No doubt the outlook of this blog needs some ammendments.
Pardon the mess for the time being.

I need to get back to writing reviews on Roald Dahl collection. Started the thread here in 2010. Now i 2012, I still have 9 more pending reviews! The list as following :

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Boy: Tales of Childhood
• Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
• Danny, the Champion of the World
• Going Solo
• The Witches
• Matilda
• The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me
• The BFG

Target? One review every one or 2 weeks on any of the books listed above! =)

Stay tunnneeedddddd.

Cheers!

Roald Dahl Bookathon : George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl

Title
George's Marvellous Medicine
Author
Roald Dahl
Publisher
Puffin Books
Rating
4/5

Many children love their grandmothers. Unfortunately, not all are blessed with a great loving grandmother. George happens to be one of the unlucky ones. His grandmother isn't very well in health. She is grumpy, bossy and everything but loving and kind. He often has to look after her and fetch her medicine when it is time for her to take it. Despite all that he has done to help her, she often criticize and bully him.

Roald Dahl Bookathon : James and The Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

Title
James and The Giant Peach
Author
Roald Dahl
Publisher
Puffin Books
Rating
5/5

Forced to live with his wicked aunts, James Henry Trotter was made a slave. He had to work all day long and wasn't allowed to play with any other kids. One miraculous day, he bumped into a an old man who gave him some magic beans. Unfortunately he tripped and the beans fell onto the ground and went deep into the soil of the ground.

It all started when a peach grew gigantic. His aunts were very excited about it and money was also collected. Day by day, the peach grew bigger and heavier. So heavy that the tree can't hold it anymore. A little snap on the branch, the giant fruit was released from the tree. That marks the beginning of the adventures in the book.

Roald Dahl Bookathon : The Twits by Roald Dahl

Title
The Twits
Author
Roald Dahl
Publisher
Puffin Books
Rating
3/5

If Esio Trot is sweet, The Twits is the opposite. I find it wicked and disgusting. (Yes, the characters are disgusting.) Mr. and Mrs. Twits can't stop playing mean tricks on each other. They will always play pranks on each other just to get even.

As intriguing as it sounds, this story is about 2 smelly people who get married and torture each other every single day. The same went on and on and on until one day, their pet monkey took turn to play pranks on them.

Roald Dahl Bookathon : Esio Trot by Roald Dahl

Title
Esio Trot
Author
Roald Dahl
Publisher
Puffin Books
Rating
5/5

Esio Trot. Who would have thought of such title. This books is simple and sweet.
Mr. Hoppy is in love with his neighbour Mrs Silver, who loves her tortoise very much.

Being a man, he would do anything to win Mrs Silver's heart. They both live in the same apartment.
He lives on top of her unit. Everyday he will find a reason to be at the balcony just to get the chance to talk to her. Since she is so eager to see her pet grows bigger, Mr. Hoppy came up with the idea just how it can "grow" bigger. After putting his creative mind at work, he gets what he wants.

An absolute good read for all ages. I first read this many years back and will always remember the title; Esio Trot. =)

Roald Dahl Bookathon : The Magic Finger

Title

The Magic Finger

Author

Roald Dahl

Publisher

Puffin Books

Rating

4/5

The Greggs family is into hunting and they hunt ducks often. Their neighbour's girl is very unhappy about this. She tried to stop them as she is friends with Philip and William Gregg but they wouldn't listen. The anger in her grew until a point where she used her magic finger to turn the Greggs into ducks.

Roald Dahl Bookathon : Fantastic Mr. Fox

Title
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Author
Roald Dahl
Publisher
Puffin Books
Rating
4/5

Mr. Fox triggered the anger of the 3 farmers; Boogis, Bunce and Beans when he stole their goods.
This put his entire family in danger. The farmers grew more and more furious each day wanting to catch him.
The farmers started guarding his hole. He could no longer go out and hunt for food. Apparently, the fox family is not the only family affected. Some of the other families affected are of the rabbits and moles. They were unhappy and obviously hungry.