Books – July 2010
Audrey Niffenegger – Her Fearful Symmetry
Victoria Forester – The Girl Who Could Fly
Mechner, Sina, Pham, Puvilland – Prince of Persia
Mary Ann Winkowski & Maureen Foley – The Book of Illumination
Marion Zimmer Bradley – Ghostlight
Mia Thermopolis with Meg Cabot – Ransom My Heart
Belle de Jour – Guide to Men
Book purchase have been a little more indulgent this month. I bought half of it early on in the month, and the other half a few days ago.
Off the top of my head, I’m gonna recommend ‘Ransom My Heart’, especially if you’re a fan of the Princess Diaries series or a fan of bodice rippers in general. I’ve not read such a fun (and slightly cliché) period romance in a long time. When I say “fan of Princess Diaries”, I mean those of you who are actually of a legal age.
Speaking of being of a legal age, Belle de Jour’s ‘Guide To Men’ was quite an entertain, laugh-out-loud read as well. Relationship advice from a former call girl? Well, she gets to meet a lot of men.
The book that made a great impact on me was month wasn’t something I bought, although I may change that when a nice edition comes along – Elizabeth Gilbert’s ‘Eat, Pray, Love’. Admittedly, I didn’t want to run out and buy it when it peaked in popularity. A colleague lent it to me last week, and I couldn’t put it down.
Liz Gilbert have never been alone, moving in and out of relationships her entire life. After hitting her break point, she makes a pilgrimage to discover herself by way of pleasure in Italy, spirituality in India and balance in Bali. I know that the spirituality part will turn some people off. If it’s not your cup of tea, it’s not your cup of tea. Heck, it isn’t usually my cup of tea either, but we’re all looking for something to validate our own existence and find balance in life. I’m big on balance. I’m a Libra.
Currently reading ‘Her Fearful Symmetry’, which is finally out in mass paperback!
An Offering
by tarlia on July 19, 2010
in entertainment, life
I tend to let music run in the background until something gets my attention. In this case, it was this bunch of lines, which I don’t think I’ve heard anyone verbalise so well:
If you give me half a chance
I’ll prove this to you
I will be patient, kind, faithful and true
To a man who loves music
A man who loves art
Respects the spirit world
And thinks with his heart
Pluck it right out of the dark, dusty closet in the back of my heart where I buried it with cement shoes on.
Ask me what I want in a man and I will have to think about it for a couple of days, before typing up a list that may be detailed and precise and ultimately describe someone who simply doesn’t exist on the basis that we’re all human here.
These lines just about summarises it, although I would like him to be as “patient, kind, faithful and true” as I’m willing to be to the right guy. You can be everything in the second paragraph and still be an abusive, philandering puppy kicker.
Enjoy the song, and the last entry I wrote about flying solo.
Lyrics below cut.
Books – June 2010
June is only halfway through so I may be jumping the gun by posting my book list so soon. But I have sooo many books to read this month!
Patrick Suskind – Perfume
Vladimir Nabokov – Lolita
Yoko Ogawa have two other books translated into English, The Housekeeper + The Professor and The Diving Pool. TH+TP was a beautiful book. TDP was slightly disturbing, but in a way that I enjoyed. This new book? An absorbing read but quite R rated. Don’t buy this based on your evaluation of TH+TP. Hotel Iris has the same writing style but takes it to a whole different place.
The other two books are titles I’ve been wanting to own and read, and Popular had a sales.
The next part of this post is on books I borrowed:
Malcolm Gladwell – What The Dog Saw
Robert Harris – The Ghost Writer
Murakami – Kafka on the Shore
John Gorgan – Marley & Me
Mitch Albom – The Five People You Meet In Heaven
I’m not sure if I’ll finish most of these before I have to give them back. I picked most of these title with two things in mind: (a) books/authors I’m not sure of and want to try; (b) books I’ll only read once. The only exception is Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which I’m dying to read since Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter but cannot find.
The Last Song is supposed to be Miley Cyrus’ vehicle to Hollywood stardom, but I don’t know if it worked. I’ll not likely watch the movie, but I liked the book. Sparks always makes me cry like hell.
Robert Harris always catches my eye in the book store because I love Thomas Harris (of The Hannibal Trilogy). Turns out that I like his style as well and won’t mind picking up some of his novels in the future. Just not this month.
Am currently reading Malcolm Gladwell. This breakout book Blink didn’t impress me very much, but this one is a compilation of his well-researched articles on various topics.
Wish me luck in trying not to pick up a new book before next month!
ETA, 14 June:
I forgot. I called dibs on some second hand books a week or so ago. Here they are:
Sarah Dessen – This Lullaby
Susanna Kaysen – Girl, Interrupted
