MARATHON BOOK REVIEW
The haze and the diet plan had turned me into a church mouse. Since I hardly go out, I have read ferociously for the past four weeks. I had finished 4 books in 4 weekends, almost a book per weekend and I am turning on the pages of the English Patient by Michael Ondaatje now, one of my favorite love story of all time.
The Bride Stripped Bare by Nikki GemmelMr Bee Stung Lips lent this to WY and WY sort of passed the book to me. I finished this book in less than 2 days. There is an apt truth in what Alfred Hitchcock and Thornton Wilder had said, “ I have a feeling that inside you somewhere, there’s somebody nobody knows about.”
It is about a housewife having extra marital affairs; recognizing her own innermost desire by being a practical teacher to a virgin 30 year old Spanish guy, she met in her reading club. The thing I really liked about this book is, the use of the word “YOU” narratively. It somewhat allows you assumed her role as the adulteress who went on a shagging spree.
Absorbing, erotic, wicked, shocking and sensual. A MUST read for those who wish to indulge in a rude sexual awakening…Liberating for the womanhood, since the bra burning incident.
It is about a housewife having extra marital affairs; recognizing her own innermost desire by being a practical teacher to a virgin 30 year old Spanish guy, she met in her reading club. The thing I really liked about this book is, the use of the word “YOU” narratively. It somewhat allows you assumed her role as the adulteress who went on a shagging spree.
Absorbing, erotic, wicked, shocking and sensual. A MUST read for those who wish to indulge in a rude sexual awakening…Liberating for the womanhood, since the bra burning incident.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
It is not about a boy trying to be a girl. A curse of being a hermaphrodite (partly male and female), no thanks to genetics deformities due to taboo inter marriages between a brother and a sister and between cousins. Now I understand; why some Chinese are strongly against marrying someone with the same surname.
If you did science in school, you would understand that inbreeding is not necessarily good. It would lead to a uniformity in the gene pool and bad genes which had remained recessive for years, might just manifest itself unexpectedly.
Caliope Stephanides is the by product of intermarriages between two cousins, Milton and Theodora Stephanides. Milton is the son of Desdemona and Lefty Stephanides, who are siblings. Woah. Do you need me to draw a family tree here? Caliope has a brother, who is normal, named Chapter One. Yeah. I read this book for the creative names. Heh.
If you did science in school, you would understand that inbreeding is not necessarily good. It would lead to a uniformity in the gene pool and bad genes which had remained recessive for years, might just manifest itself unexpectedly.
Caliope Stephanides is the by product of intermarriages between two cousins, Milton and Theodora Stephanides. Milton is the son of Desdemona and Lefty Stephanides, who are siblings. Woah. Do you need me to draw a family tree here? Caliope has a brother, who is normal, named Chapter One. Yeah. I read this book for the creative names. Heh.
Caliope was confused the moment she reached puberty. When all her friends had grown breasts and started to menstruate, she was left alone lurking in the dark, having facial hairs, growing unusually tall and hideous for a girl her age, and beginning to doubt herself for having feelings towards person of the same sex.
It was a roller coaster ride for little Caliope which in the end, took a hasty step into the real world and was surprised to discover that she was not the only one afterall.
It was a roller coaster ride for little Caliope which in the end, took a hasty step into the real world and was surprised to discover that she was not the only one afterall.
Spell binding, intriguing, tragic, woven with heavy human emotions, highly dramatic.
This book is a MUST read.
This book is a MUST read.
The Confession of Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean GreerWhen you complained that your skin is sagging, going all wrinkly and losing its suppleness, well, you would be thankful for all that if you take a look from the point of view of Max Tivoli.
Max Tivoli’s suffered since birth. His aging process is reversed. Instead of being a cuddly baby the moment he was born, he was a hideous wrinkly monster. It was a surprise that his parents didn’t bludgeon him to death, since this was set in the 1900s, believing he was the devil. As he aged, he didn’t look his age and his parents hid him away to prevent him further hurt.
He fell hopelessly in love with a 14-year-old Alice Levy, his tenant, when he was 17, looking like some 50 year old cradle snatcher. The more he lingered at Alice’s house to show his affection, the more the older widow, Mrs Levy mistaken him to have fallen for her instead. There, Max Tivoli lost his virgnity to the old Mrs Levy.
He had only one friend in his lifetime, Hughie, whom Alice fell madlessly in love... who happened to be a gay!
As expected, he lost Alice after he tried to profess his love for Alice, claiming that he was in fact, a 17 year old boy trapped in an old man’s body. The Levys moved away, the moment the older Levy found out about this and went berserk.
Many years down the road, Max had turned 30 and looking his age. He was a dashing handsome young man. That was when fate took a twist. Alice returned to her hometown by accident and Max was given a second chance at love. What did he do? Did he pursue Alice? Did he end up with Alice? Did he tell her the truth? Would Alice believe him?
All in all, in the end, it was the undying love of Max towards Alice that hold him together till the end of his days. When he was old, he looked like a mere 12 year old, and grown shorter by the year.
Bizzare, sadistic, yearning, aching longing, heart string tugging, devoted and hoping for acceptance. This book is worth a read.
Max Tivoli’s suffered since birth. His aging process is reversed. Instead of being a cuddly baby the moment he was born, he was a hideous wrinkly monster. It was a surprise that his parents didn’t bludgeon him to death, since this was set in the 1900s, believing he was the devil. As he aged, he didn’t look his age and his parents hid him away to prevent him further hurt.
He fell hopelessly in love with a 14-year-old Alice Levy, his tenant, when he was 17, looking like some 50 year old cradle snatcher. The more he lingered at Alice’s house to show his affection, the more the older widow, Mrs Levy mistaken him to have fallen for her instead. There, Max Tivoli lost his virgnity to the old Mrs Levy.
He had only one friend in his lifetime, Hughie, whom Alice fell madlessly in love... who happened to be a gay!
As expected, he lost Alice after he tried to profess his love for Alice, claiming that he was in fact, a 17 year old boy trapped in an old man’s body. The Levys moved away, the moment the older Levy found out about this and went berserk.
Many years down the road, Max had turned 30 and looking his age. He was a dashing handsome young man. That was when fate took a twist. Alice returned to her hometown by accident and Max was given a second chance at love. What did he do? Did he pursue Alice? Did he end up with Alice? Did he tell her the truth? Would Alice believe him?
All in all, in the end, it was the undying love of Max towards Alice that hold him together till the end of his days. When he was old, he looked like a mere 12 year old, and grown shorter by the year.
Bizzare, sadistic, yearning, aching longing, heart string tugging, devoted and hoping for acceptance. This book is worth a read.
Empress Wu by Lillian Too.Empress Wu according to the Chinese history, was one evil yet powerful woman. But she was lightly potrayed as someone with a big ambition and big dream in Lillian Too’s book, not even the slightest evil or conniving.
For those who expected high drama; you would get it as it is highly colorful being a concubine in the palace. You would be introduced to the Chinese tradition and protocol of what would happen to the Emperor’s household should the Emperor dies.
I was hoping to read on further on how Empress Wu managed to be the first woman to ascend the dragon throne but was utterly disappointed that it didn’t go as far as I hope it would.
Probably it is better to read the original classics than to read this. Some of the punctuation and arrangement of the sentences were erroneous; making this book as if it was written in a haphazard manner and made you doubt the accuracy of the facts.
For those who expected high drama; you would get it as it is highly colorful being a concubine in the palace. You would be introduced to the Chinese tradition and protocol of what would happen to the Emperor’s household should the Emperor dies.
I was hoping to read on further on how Empress Wu managed to be the first woman to ascend the dragon throne but was utterly disappointed that it didn’t go as far as I hope it would.
Probably it is better to read the original classics than to read this. Some of the punctuation and arrangement of the sentences were erroneous; making this book as if it was written in a haphazard manner and made you doubt the accuracy of the facts.
Written in simple English – which took me just a day to finish this book; an easy read as it does not require you to crack your brain cells. There is a strong inclination towards application of feng shui in the book, as this book is written by the feng shui master and best seller, Madam Lillian Too.
If you like feng shui, zero knowledge on who this Empress Wu is, and have nothing else better to do, this is the book for you.
Latest purchase after a few months of refraining myself from buying books – due to budget and also lack of storage problem…
I just got Will Clarke’s Lord Vishnu’s Love Handles (RM92.50) and Rumi – the Book of Love: Poems of Ecstacy and Longing – translation and commentary by Coleman Barks (RM55.13), as recommended by the Sunday Star Newspaper. Comes with irresistible 30% discount too!
When I told Ann I got the poetry book – she was shocked and said that it might not do me any good since after reading so many literature books – I still speak like a thug. I admit, I am damn samseng.
I assured her, probably after reading this poetry book, I would be well mannered and all words that come out from my mouth would be peppered with fragrance of the first flowers of blooming spring.
“Yeah right!” she snorted. Over the other side of the telephone conversation, I swear I could see her eyes rolled.
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James (ch. III, v. 7-8)
I just got Will Clarke’s Lord Vishnu’s Love Handles (RM92.50) and Rumi – the Book of Love: Poems of Ecstacy and Longing – translation and commentary by Coleman Barks (RM55.13), as recommended by the Sunday Star Newspaper. Comes with irresistible 30% discount too!
When I told Ann I got the poetry book – she was shocked and said that it might not do me any good since after reading so many literature books – I still speak like a thug. I admit, I am damn samseng.
I assured her, probably after reading this poetry book, I would be well mannered and all words that come out from my mouth would be peppered with fragrance of the first flowers of blooming spring.
“Yeah right!” she snorted. Over the other side of the telephone conversation, I swear I could see her eyes rolled.
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James (ch. III, v. 7-8)
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