Archive for the ‘Books’ Category
Lust, Caution by Eileen Chang
I’m not really a big fan of Literature book especially Chinese Literature, because I don’t have the patience to read them, but somehow I picked up this book Lust, Caution by Eileen Chang about a couple of weeks ago and decided that I wanted to read it because I know Ang Lee, the Academy winner Director had made a movie from this book.
Lust, Caution has been translated into English by Julia Lovell and few others and published by Penguin. The funny thing is when I bought the book, I didn’t realised that it actually contain few short stories… hahaha…silly me! So, actually I have the opportunity to read more than one stories from a single buy.
Lust, Caution was written by Chinese writer Eileen Chang, and was first published in 1979. The stories is set in Shanghai during the WWII and involved a young and attractive girl (the heroin) Jiazi who belongs to a university drama troupe. She was assigned to assassinate a powerful political figure who works for the Japanese occupational government, Mr Yi. I would have to say, this stories was quite easy to read although it has a lot of wandering thoughts from Jiazi’s characters to make sense of the complicated plot. Mr Yi’s characters at the end of the stories revealed his disappointment, anger, regret, frustration and love. Oww, what a mixed feelings!
chinese cookbook
I’m so excited, I just bought a new cookbook from MPH Bookstore. This cookbook is special because it’s all about ‘low fat’ and ‘low-cholesterol’ Chinese and Asian dishes. This book is authored by Maggie Pannell and Jenni Fleetwood if you want to know which cookbook I’m referring to.
The layout of the book is fantastic, it’s full coloured, with nice photos of the dishes, coffee table book size and it’s extremely affordable. It’s only RM29.90 and since this month MPH Bookstore is having a sales, I even had a 15% discount as a ‘reader-circle’ member. Otherwise, it’s only 10% discount. Come to think about it, it’s even cheaper than some imported magazines such as ‘Hello’ or ‘Wallpaper’… I took some pictures on the book, check them out!
Tiziano Terzani
I am an avid fan of travel books and having reading this book, it shows me a side of
Lian Hearn
Couple of months ago, I bought some old books (to be exact, 9 books) during the library sales of books/magazine. These books are withdrawn from the shelves due to non-performing – what do I meant by non-performing? Well, it means it has never been borrowed at all by the members. Ever since I’ve brought back these books – I’ve only only read 2 of them. (Shame on me!)
Anyway, this is not what I want to tell you – I’m on holidays, (obviously) and i took one of the books with me. I’m kinda regret when I read it the first time while waiting for my flight on Friday, ‘oh sh**… this is about Japanese feudal system and the crap thingy, and etc…’ but as I read on… I’m addicted to it. I finished the book in one day!
I don’t whether you’ll like it – but if you’re into Harry Potter, the Lord of the Ring, I think you’ll like this one too.
“Tales of the Otori by Lian Hearn” – set in a fictional world based on feudal Japan, consist of a trilogy : Across the Nightingale Floor, Grass for His Pillow, Brilliance of the Moon, The Harsh Cry of the Heron and just released Heaven’s Net is Wide. I’ve just finished the first title.
I went to the Times bookshop today, trying to get the second title and the third but unfortunately they didn’t have it, but I managed to get the fourth title ” The Harsh Cry of the Heron” – and I’m going to finish this before I go back to KL. Can’t wait!
Check out at www.lianhearn.com or wiki
The Da Vinci Code
After so many attempts trying to book the tickets, I finally watched the film adaptation of The Da Vinci Code tonight. I’m quite overwhelmed by the movie, maybe because I’ve read the book and there were many surprises for me – for example, I can’t really imagine how the albino monk hurt himself and some other religious and references relates in the book. Maybe I am truely bad in imagining but this movie really helps.
The movie was true to the book except at the beginning where the story started where Robert Langdon character was autographing books when the police approaches him. In the book, he was actually sleeping in his hotel room. But the introduction in the movie is brilliant – cos you dont need to explain too much about his knowledge and etc..
Sir Leigh Teabing (played by Sir Ian McKellen) who I visualized to be a very smart person is portrayed brilliantly in his role and very true to the character. I admired Sir Ian McKellen work in movie.Tom Hank, Paul Bettany (Silas, the albino monk) and Audrey Tautou (Sophie) are perfect for this movie. I know some people will say, Harrison Ford may play a better role of Robert Langdon but I think Tom Hank is just as good as he is.
Although I have read ‘The Da Vinci Code’ about a year ago – it refreshes me after seeing this movie. i’m quite excited if they can also make a movie ‘Angels and Demon’ too… hahahe…
sorry guys, if you havent seen the movie yet….
Book: Don't Stand Too Close to A Naked Man
Guys! you must read this book (Don’t Stand Too Close to Naked Man by Tim Allen). It’s really funny! Gosh no wonder we always have arguement with our bf, husband or even best friend ( I meant guy friend here), because we just don’t understand them.
This book tell us how ‘Man in general’ behave, think, speak and their feelings. Sometime we thought we understand them and they are the one who doesn’t seems to understand us but …anyway, just go and get the book. I bet the first page will make you laugh.
okay, okay let me tell you a bit on the intro…” I’m a Dick, yes, I am a Dick. My closest friends know I’m a Dick. In fact, my brothers are Dicks, my cousins are Dick, and my sister – before she was married – was a Dick. My Dad? One incredible Dick, and the Dick responsible for me being a Dick….” so are you convince now that this book is funny. Eh eh eh… don’t think yellow la, this is a good, genuining and the funniest I ever read! Please don’t think this is some little ‘porno’… 
The ISBN number is : 0-7868-8902-0, try out at MPH bookstore kay!
Enjoy the reading and let me know if you have any good books too… I’m starting to read now! A bit too late, isn’t it? But I guess…nothing is too late to start, right Sharifah and kawan kawan sekalian? All of you have actually start something new except me, still with the same organisation! … But anyway….hehehe…
Check out some photos which I took on my trip recently to Kuching, I was in Kuching town, Damai Beach (I nearly drown there) and Bako National Park. There’s a picture about the ‘babi’ too.. cute isn’t it?