The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

A chilling murder story with detailed medical linings to garnish the plate of story cooked up in this book. It will make you think twice of stepping into an OR for any reason.

Women are found brutally murdered all over Boston; and they are all spotted with a similar pattern; whereby they have been drugged, had neat surgical incisions across their abdomens which were done while they were alive/conscious and had a neat slice across their throats.
There is always a neatly folded pair of nightclothes smudged with blood in a chair nearby and all the women have been found to have their uterus removed.
Detective Jane Rizzoli is on the scene; she is the main protagonist in all Tess Gerritsen’s books. Portrayed as the bold and unnerving policewoman who stands tall and proud in the male-dominated field, she will not allow herself to be intimidated by her sneering male colleagues and strives to prove herself in the field and to protect her own turf.

Her gender positioned her in a vulnerable and defensive mode and this was the front she showed to Detective Thomas Moore who was assigned to the same case. However, his cool and calm stature impressed her and soon, she found herself impressed by more than his professionalism at work.
Their investigations on the murders led them to a previous series of killings done by a killer who was dead for two years; Andrew Capra who had conducted his murders in the same manner and also following a certain pattern after he committed his murder.
Their search on Capra’s records led them to the beautiful Dr Catherine Cordell; who was Capra’s last and only surviving victim who was the one who shot him to death.

Dr Cordell was initially uncooperative as she was unwilling to relive her painful past that she had tried so hard to put behind and Detective Moore; who was working hard to solve the case, decided to try harder to persuade her and this led them closer, much to the dismay of Detective Rizzoli who now realized that she thinks more of Moore than just a friend.

However, when things took a worse turn and they realized that the killer is hot on Dr Cordell’s turn, they are led to believe that the killer seemed to be finishing off Capra’s unfinished business from the start and that the other victims were just his starters to brag to Cordell that she remains the main target.
As Detective Moore worries more about Cordell’s safety, he was drawn closer than the supposed line and he was retracted from the case by his superior.

Rizzoli pursued the case further, and they were left with no choice but to conduct a hypnosis on Dr Cordell to relive her past memories through medical works. She revealed a possible 2nd person present at the crime scene which suggested that the current killer could be a partner of Andrew Capra.
The investigation team then turned their attention onto Andrew Capra’s background and found out more about his records and revealed one of his close friends/lab partner during medical school who was expelled due to a disturbing past.

Hot on the trail, Rizzoli almost threw her own life away when she was pursuing the killer and her own vulnerability led her into the trap the killer set for her, while she was trying to rescue Cordell from the killer’s hands.

The killer was finally captured but Rizzoli could not brush the trauma of near-killed experience on herself.
It was truly chilling as you follow the killer’s mind when he committed all the murders and yet, it was intriguing and exciting as the detectives slowly uncover the true identity of the killer.
Of course, it was definitely a great thing when the psychotic killer is arrested and a tie-breaker for all at the end.

Another recommended read from Tess Gerritsen; and one thing is for sure, you will never walk into an OR or a laboratory feeling the same ever again!~

Life Support by Tess Gerritsen

Tess is officially on the list of my top and favorite authors of all time; and she has impressed me from the first book I read of her; Body Double (which reminds me, I don't think I have written a review on it yet)

Life Support is yet again, another medical thriller by her and it is again, a skillful combination of her medical theories along with the interwoven plots of murder and intrigue.
It was a different twist of the usual plot; where this starts with a series of seemingly aged and healthy men dying of weird viral infection in the brain and this aroused the suspicion of ER resident Toby Harper who then tried to investigate the causes leading to their death.

She found a trail which led her heads on with one of the senior and prominent consultant surgeons which could even result in her career termination; however, she was not ready to give up and when she stumbled upon the similarities and the medical histories of all the patients who have passed on, she was in for a more exciting picture in front of her; which relates to a Creuzfedlt-Jakob disease in each of the patient in her investigation.
This led her to a shocking discovery of a medical conspiracy to create a breakthrough in science through a gruesome and inhumane process.

This book can leave you feeling chilled to the bone as you read of the medical process and also the value of fame and recognition to a human being.
I could not believe that there are beasts lying behind the faces of the doctors whom we trusted to put our lives in their hands and yet they were thinking of ways to get famous; at the cost of our health.

It was also sad that people are willing to take risks for the sake of staying young forever and this, is the main notion of the whole story, where the people are willing to pay; at any cost for a promising remedy to help them stay young and defy their age and creating a network of medical monsters who use this as an opportunity to create fame for themselves through their findings in science.

It was an amazing read and certainly an eye-opener; and the author has once again stirred the suspense and excitement, not forgetting the fear in me.
Tess Gerritsen has never failed to impress me; and have I mentioned that she is officially one of my favorite authors?

Judge Dee's Mysteries by Robert Van Gulik

I've gotten hold of a few of the books in this series from a second hand bookshop; and I was pleased with my loot as I really loved mysteries and Chinese Literature and this is a combination of both.

Judge Dee was a famous icon in the period of Empress Dowager Tzu Hsi's rule. In fact, he was one of the Empress's trusted advisor in court.
He was also famous for his wisdom and quick wits in solving crime cases; and this has established his name in the Chinese history.
So famous was he that there were several movies/TV series; and the most recent one being The Greatness of a Hero (check my movie blog)

All the stories below were translated from the Chinese texts by this Dutch author; Robert Van Gulik.
I do find some of the stories focusing too much on nudity (even the illustrations show that in the books)
It seems to be such a norm that women in those days were used to being seen nude by men; which I doubt, in a conservative society like China.

The Chinese Nail Murders

This is one of the most written/filmed story; and it seems that it was extracted from one of the old court cases; whereby there are two separate cases but using the same method of committing the crime. Both the murderers are women and do not know each other.
Even Judge Bao was seen judging this case in his chronology crime-solving series.
I wonder who is the actual mastermind who is responsible for this now?
This story truly depicts, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"

Judge Dee at work

This is a compilation of five mini-stories happening in towns across the country.
Fast-paced and short, it is not too difficult to figure the culprit.

The Lacquer Screen

I find this intriguing; where the murder case was kinda unique and the murderer, well, not totally unexpected although there were a few additional twists.

Necklace and Calabash

This one was rather interesting too; as it involves the royal court and the beloved princess of the King, who lost her precious necklace.

Phantom of the Temple

I would say this is the one that disappoints me (or was it too predictable for me after reading the previous 4 books?)
I must say this is not crime story at its peak.

Overall, I enjoyed Chinese-translated stories like these and especially mysteries! =)

Times Bookstore Warehouse Sales AGAIN!

Times Bookstore is having another warehouse sales again; until end of this month (Merdeka day)

This time around, it's no longer a Malaysia tour like the last one they had back in April and May where they had the sales in Penang, KL, Johor, Sarawak, etc.

This round, there is only one location which is in KL; Hartamas Shopping Centre.
I am excited but I think I have been to lots of books warehouse sales this year...and have gotten myself books that could probably last me a lifetime (quoted from my Daddy:p)

Anyway, I am still excited as they do offer some really good books during their sales!

Is it me or has there been endless books warehouse sales this year?? (During the economic downturn?)

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

This is one novel which can haunt your mind and soul; wandering between the right and wrong or what is ethical.

The birth of a child is indeed a happy and much celebrated in every household; and it was the same for Dr David Henry and his beloved wife, Norah.
On the night of her labor, there was a heavy snowfall which led to Dr David having to deliver his baby himself in his clinic with the assistance of his nurse, Caroline Gill.
He was elated with the healthy baby boy which came out and was relieved with the safe delivery when his wife had a second contraction and he was excited with the anticipation of twins in his household.
However, his happiness was short-lived when the second baby girl came out and displayed evident signs of Down Syndrome.
(It was back in the 1960s where they did not have the luxury of such advanced technology in medicine to diagnose at an early stage).

Devastated, Dr David Henry made a move which changed his and his family's life forever. He handed the baby girl to his nurse to be sent to a special home; while lying to his wife that their daughter died.
Caroline was secretly in love with the charming Dr David and was shocked with his decision.
Understanding his concerns, she then proceeded to the home according to his directions.

Upon reaching the home, Caroline could not bear to leave the baby girl; named Phoebe in such a miserable and isolated place and thinking of the impact it will have on her upbringing, she took leave and decided to raise Phoebe on her own; without informing Dr David.

She disappeared from her hometown and her job soon after; while at the same time, Norah and David's relationship start to drift apart following the supposed-death of their newborn daughter.
Norah was devastated with the news; and while David tried to do his best to fill the emptiness, Norah still struggled with the loss of her daughter and was frustrated with the nonchalant David who did not seem to lose sleep over the death of their own daughter.
Unknown to her, David was equally as upset as he had the same experience with the loss of his sister, June, who died of heart complications since young and was trying to protect Norah from suffering the same devastation with their daughter.
Norah, on the other hand, was angered and puzzled with his behavior which seemed to be cold and distant from the rest of the family.

As Paul grew up, he turned rebellious and was closer to Norah compared to the distant David.
David also found out that Caroline had been raising Phoebe on her own and was cross but continued to provide for Phoebe's living.

At the same time, the whole family had fallen apart; with Norah falling out of love with David and getting herself involved in flings and affairs while Paul just could not bring himself to communicate with his father.
David died later; and Caroline reappeared at his funeral and brought the groundbreaking news to Norah and Paul; revealing to them about Phoebe's existence and David's hardships throughout the years.

Norah was heartbroken and Paul continued to blame his father when he met his sister, who was now living happily.
Norah and Paul reunited with Phoebe and decided to let her live the way she had been living with Caroline; and with their constant visits.

It was truly a touching story; and it had me thinking about the right or wrong; and the moral values of the story.
However, to be frank, this is not a tale made out with a fancy imagination; but sadly, it is a re-enactment of a common issue plaguing our modern society these days.

We do protest that it is wrong to do something like that; and we can hold banners or scribble profanities on message boards or forums; condemning such despicable actions.

At the same time, let's turn the picture around and look at it from a different point of view.
It is easy to say what we think is right simply because, we are not even in the picture. We are looking at it from a third person's point of view and of course, it's easy to be judgmental.

Slipping ourselves into the same shoes the person is wearing; in this case, it would be Dr David Henry, and look at the scenario from his eyes.
1. He is a doctor with a past experience/knowledge of the complications which may arise from such cases resulting from the syndrome.
2. He loved his wife and knew her well enough to know that she will not be able to accept the fact about their daughter and further anticipate her death in the future, would be too much for her to handle
3. He was afraid to suffer the same loss and pain similar to his sister's which also tore his own family apart
4. He did not know what to do at the point of a time

It is not untrue; nobody would know what to do when it comes to situations like these especially since we live in such a superficial and materialistic society which seems to focus on everything that is good and perfect in appearance and looks.
Even someone with slight imperfections would be disregarded immediately; and how would they survive and hold their heads up in the world in the future?
It was split of a second and I believed that as a father, Dr David did tell himself that would be the best thing he could do to ensure that there is happiness for the family and also at the same time, special care for the child.

Morally, what he did was of course, wrong because he is the father of the baby girl; whether she was born perfect or with a defect.
No matter what, it is not reasonable to abandon your own flesh and blood like she's just unwanted garbage. It was too cruel to a certain extent.

Secondly, he did not even make it a point to discuss with his wife and had immediately made his own decision.
His wife was right, he did not even give them a chance to decide on what is right and best for the family.

It was truly a touching and thought-provoking story and the author has written it so beautifully. It could warm your heart and soul; and I am truly touched by the whole story from the birth of Phoebe to the reunion with her mother and brother.

The Other Adonis by Frank DeFord

This is an interesting novel which is about reincarnation; a true love which passed the test of time and travelled through different eras.

It was exactly what happened to Bucky Buckingham who had a strong feeling towards Constance Rawlings the first time he met her. Although they were complete strangers at the first meeting, they felt an instant strong attraction to each other and the familiar feeling that they know each other.
They longed for each other deep down inside their heart but they did not take it further as both were also married to their respective spouses and have a happy family.

Bucky thought he was going insane and sought the professional advice of psychiatrist, Dr Nina Winston who was also dealing with her own affairs. When Bucky related his overwhelming affection for a stranger whom he had only met for 3 times, Dr Nina associated it to his playboy and philandering ways with women until Bucky requested her company to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and showed the piece of painting, Venus and Adonis by Peter Paul Rubens and how he passionately reacted to the painting did Dr Nina pushed aside her skepticism and agreed to conduct hypnotism on her patient to find the truth or to prove that it was all an illusion by science.

During the hypnotherapy, the doctor was surprised to find Bucky transformed into a different person; in fact, a gentle woman who seems to behave like a lady from four centuries ago and calls herself Margareta. The woman does not seem to speak much English and the doctor, fascinated with her findings decided to summon Constance Rawlings to fly in from New York to conduct hypnotherapy on her as well.

A search for identity initiated out of curiosity turned into a dangerous journey as they moved into the past and unravelled the violence and hatred from the characters; the man, who loved Margareta and how the whole story intertwined with their present life.

The story started off very well; and it was filled with suspense and excitement as I was kept wondering on the past and how did these two protagonists met each other and loved each other in their past lives.
It was a fast-paced and moving story; which was not only filled with romance but also plenty of dangerous and thrilling moments.

The phenomenon of two people who have inexplicable feelings for each other are termed as the Double Ones in this novel; which explains how they are fated and meant to be with each other across the various lives they go through.

It was lovely; and I think the author really did a marvellous job in such an entertaining and suspenseful story which kept me guessing and even gasping towards the end!
I recommend this book; a good read and you can learn a thing or two about the folks in Netherland; especially their style in the 17th century.

Kasanova oleh Meor Shariman

Sebuah novel yang bertemakan kisah cinta; seperti yang dijumpai di dalam kebanyakan novel Melayu yang pernah dibaca and dimiliki.

Cerita bermula dari kisah seorang gadis bernama Zuraida yang baru tamat pengajiannya dalam bidang komunikasi dari universiti dan sedang menghabiskan masa di bandaraya sementara tinggal bersama kakaknya yang seorang.
Zuraida seorang gadis yang kuat imamnya dan berdikari; namun sepertimana gadis biasa, dia juga turut mempunyai fantasi terhadap bakal teman hidupnya yang dibayangkan bagai seorang putera.

Diperkenalkan pula Eddie, model lelaki berbangsa kacukan yang amat tampan dan bergaya; yang mampu menawan hati setiap gadis yang ditemuinya. Eddie memang bangga dengan rupa warasnya dan tidak pernah keraguan untuk menggunakannya dalam memenangi hati dan tubuh setiap gadis yang diminatinya.
Sebagai seorang yang optimis dan bebas pendiriannya, Eddie tidak mementingkan komitmen dan cuma menggunakan gadis-gadis yang ditawannya untuk memuaskan nafsunya sahaja di mana gadis-gadis tersebut akan ditinggalkan dan disisihkan selepas mencapai matlamatnya.

Rozana merupakan seorang gadis yang pendiam dan konservatif; namun dia tewas di tangan Eddie dan kehilangan maruah tubuhnya apabila dia tertipu dengan janji manis Eddie dan menyerahkan tubuhnya kepada lelaki tersebut; justeru meragut maruahnya sekali. Rozana masih menagih cinta daripada lelaki yang disangkanya bakal menjadi suami tercinta tidak dapat menerima apabila perangai lelaki tersebut berubah dalam sekelip mata selepas asmara pada malam tersebut.
Rozana terus merayu kepada Eddie supaya kembali kepadanya; namun dihina berkali-kali sehinggakan gadis tersebut merana dan di kala itu, Rozana merancang untuk membalas dendam terhadap lelaki itu; dan bersumpah akan membuatkannya lebih sengsara daripada kepahitan yang dialaminya.

Eddie yang memang tak berbelas kasihan akhirnya menemui nasibnya apabila mengenali Zuraida; gadis yang menyebabkan Eddie jatuh cinta buat kali pertama dan pada pandangan pertama apabila mereka bertemu.
Eddie mencuba sedaya upaya untuk menawan hati tersebut dan tidak kecewa apabila Zuraida turut membalas cintanya.
Namun, ketika cinta mereka tengah berputik, Rozana pula muncul dan menceritakan kisah kasanova Eddie yang membuatkan Zuraida jijik dengan perbuatan Eddie; sekaligus membaling segala kebaikannya keluar daripada hatinya.

Eddie amat dukacita dengan perubahan Zuraida dan cuba dengan payah untuk memenangi kepercayaan dan cinta gadis idamannya itu.
Akhirnya, Zuraida menerimanya apabila Rozana yang enggan melihat Eddie dan Zuraida yang tidak bersalah merana semata-mata untuk memuaskan dendamnya dan dia yang membantu dalam mengeratkan hubungan mereka ke atas pelamin di mana mereka akhirnya disatukan sebagai suami isteri yang sah manakala Rozana pula menemui teman hidupnya.

Cerita ini memang sebuah kisah cinta yang tak lari daripada plot yang biasa tapi cukup romantis untuk menambat hati pembaca.
Lagipun, apalah salahnya untuk ditawan oleh sebuah lagi kisah dramatis tentang kuasa cinta yang begitu agung dan mampu mencairkan hati setiap peminat kisah cinta, bukankah begitu?

Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong (translated by Moss Roberts)

I knew I just have to have this book the first time I set my eyes upon it in the bookshop and boy, did I not regret it anymore!

This book is a novel-based telling of the chronological events in the history of the period of the Three Kingdoms. It was written in a fact-based form but also with the style of a story-telling as in a novel that we read anywhere.
The introduction of all the characters was done in a factual-style and a fashionable manner where they were all introduced through their given name, middle name/style and the description of their physical appearance.

Of course, this cannot be compared to the historical textbook on the sequence in Three Kingdoms but this novel is definitely following very closely to the events.
It started from the Han Kingdom and the Yellow Turban Revolution led by Zhang Jiao and introduced a young Cao Cao with his father who was the minister at that time to the downfall following the death of the Emperor and how the throne was succeeded by a son which was undeserving; resulting in a revolution and thus invoked the greed and ambition in his serving ministers.
As most were eyeing the throne and the weaker Emperor Xian, it then led to battles to wipe out the revolution around the country.

The climax of the story is the battle of the Red Cliff, which was so famously discussed among the fans and was even made into a movie by John Woo.
This battle was said to be unofficial initiation of the separation into the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu and Wu; where Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Quan are the respective rulers.

Amidst the numerous characters introduced in the book (trust me, there is way too many characters that it becomes confusing and difficult to keep track; especially if you are a novice at the events of the Three Kingdoms!), my personal favorite is none other than the wise and suave Civil advisor in the form of Zhu-Ge Liang; styled Kong Ming who was assisting Liu Bei.
He was also known as the Sleeping Dragon and agreed to help Liu Bei following the latter's visit to him for three times and Zhu-Ge Liang was said to be touched by his sincerity and was also in awe of Liu Bei's nobility.
The reason I love this character is his wisdom (as in Merlin's wisdom). Despite him staying in an isolated area and spending most of his time hibernating in his nest, it was amazing how much he knew about battles and strategies as he continues to throw out one after another of his baffling strategies in countering his enemies; especially Cao Cao whose army clearly outnumbered that of Liu Bei's and even Sun Quan's.

His Eight strategem, his acquisition of the arrows from Cao Cao, his plans of attack to defeat Cao Cao's troop and how he escape unharmed each time was truly the most interesting and climatic read for me; and thank goodness the novel had not one nor two but several chapters dedicated to Zhu-Ge Liang's tales of wisdom.

This is truly a recommended book for all Three Kingdom's fans and I enjoyed every bit of it!!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

What can I say, this is after all, a classic novel and one that most have heard of, if not read it before in their lifetime.

I enjoyed the story told from childhood and how they fight against the racial discrimination in their conservative community.

It was definitely not just a simple story of the children growing up; as they tell their story but it also shares on the elements of love and values of life in a community which believes in the majority rights and only in what they believe.
It was a difficult place to grow up in but they had the guide of their strict father who was also a lawyer who fought not only for money but also for justice.

He led the family into the target of the town's fury when he took up the case to defend a black man who was accused of raping one of the townsmen's daughter.
Knowing that there is no chance of the black man being freed in this town of white men, he fought will all his might as he know that the black man is innocent and he may have lost the case but he won his children's support and in implanting the right values and attitude in his growing children.

It was a touching novel; once which I shall always remember with the vivid descriptions by the narrators who were the proud children of the just lawyer.

Quote: Lawyers, I suppose, were once children

Crossings by Danielle Steel

One of my favorite authors, Danielle Steel spins a story about a woman who had grown ahead of her age (as all the female leads in her stories), and had to confront her true feelings for a man while waiting for her husband during the war period.

Liane Crockett, was the young and only daughter of the famous Crockett Shipping merchant, Harrison Crockett when she caught the attention of the de Villiers; the French ambassadors' Armand and his wife, Odile. Back then, she was being treated like their daughter; particularly by Odile, who doted on her. Following the wife's death, she even entrusted her husband to Liane for her to accompany, and this led to the blossoming of the love between the duo despite the huge age difference (also another commonality in DS's novels).

She was happily married to the French ambassador, Armand who loved her more than anything in the world and the due had two daughters, much to Armand's delight after unable to conceive with his first wife.
Then in a twist of fate, Armand was requested to be back in France, his homeland again which sent the whole family on their journey on the famous and beautiful Normandie (a famous French ship).
On board, they met Nick Burnham and his spoilt wife, Hillary, whom Liane and Armand could tell were not in a happy marriage.

Liane became close to Nick and realized how unhappy he was with his wife, whom he loved dearly but she, due to her pampered ways at home, tried to dodge her responsibilities in the marriage and even cheated on him by sleeping with other men.
At the same time, Liane felt neglected by her husband while on the ship due to his time being occupied with work. It became worse when they landed in Paris and Liane found herself often wondering about Nick and his wife.

When war struck, where Paris was suddenly attacked by the German Nazis, Armand had to arrange for his wife and daughters to be sent back to America. On the ship, Liane met Nick again and their teamwork in helping to save the victims brought them to realize their feelings for each other and love blossomed on the ship.
However, they made a pact that all must end upon reaching America.
Fate decides the better for them when they constantly crossed paths with each other, and Liane has a hard time dealing with everyone accusing her husband as a traitor to his own country when Liane knows the truth about Armand.
Nick was also having a hard time fighting for the custody of his son; while parting ways with his temptress of a wife who finally re-married after their divorce.

Will they get back together?

As usual, DS concocts a tale of dilemma and tough decisions between the two protagonists of her stories and make their love story so hard for each other.
However, it will all end well as you go through the story, but no doubt, you will always end up feeling so much emotion for the characters and yearning for them to be with each other.
DS remains one of my favorite authors :)

P.S, I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

Already a major motion picture, this is a unique romantic tale of how a husband who knew his death by cancer, plans ahead for his wife, by preparing letters For each month after his death for his wife to get herself busy with the activities and in the meantime, learn to live again.

Holly and Gerry were a couple who often argued in the beginning, as Holly starts to recall after Gerry's death by brain tumor/cancer. Their arguments always center on Holly's mother who does not seem to like Gerry and at the same time, their small apartment. However, after each argument, as Holly lovingly recalls, they will make up to each other and kiss.
When Gerry finally succumbs to his illness, Holly's whole world collapsed and she refused to go out of the house, which worried her mother and her best friend to no end.
However, she was soon brought back to life when a parcel arrived for her containing the letters Gerry prepared ahead and telling her what to do each month which Holly diligently obeys.
As the time passed, the letters are heading towards the notion to get her to free herself of depression and to slowly let go of Gerry, telling Holly to find her life again.

A truly touching tale, and a unique idea of how powerful true love is.
It is very true that when you love someone so much, you would always want to see them happy.
You do not have to own someone when you love them; it is sufficient that the love grew in your heart.

I love Gerry in this story; as the thoughtful and wonderful husband as recalled by Holly in the various parts of the book.
The author truly know how to fiddle with the real human emotions and to tell us through this story how love lives on even beyond death.

Shadow of Ashland by Terence M Green

A story which started from the death of the narrator's mother; to whom he was close to.
His dying mother's wish was to locate her long separated mother and thus, Leo Nolan embarks on a mysterious journey back to Ashland based on the letters he starts to receive from his long lost uncle recently while the letters were posted back then in 1934.

He started on his journey by driving back to the last place his uncle wrote about in his letters, and stayed in the same hotel where he met the same people his uncle talked about.
In his quest to find out the truth about his uncle, he was thrown into an imaginary world based on the letters, his uncle's description, and the story as told by the owners of the inn whom his uncle was close to.
As he starts to uncover the story behind his uncle's disappearance, he plunged into a little romance with the local waitress at the Woolworth's he frequent for meals.

It started off with a sad note, and the writer captured my interest by the intrigue he has built.
However, as the story moves deeper when Leo, the protagonist is in Ashland, that was where the climax starts to die and I felt that the story had gone into a weird route; where you seem to feel out of the flow.

It did explains things though; but I guess it started off with too much of a high note which could lead to a low-key ending which was supposed to be simple and explanatory; but it was not meeting my expectation :(

Overall, the little book made it easy to carry in my bag whenever I need a book to read.

Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah

A true story on the author's childhood and the life she led as the unwanted daughter in the family.
It was a story which touched my heart, and at the same time, it reminded us of our unique ethnicity as a Chinese through the depictions of the traditions, culture and the typical family mindset during those tumultuous era.

Her birth signifies the death of her mother; and due to that, she was scorned upon and disliked by her own siblings. To make matters worse, their father has since remarried a French woman who had two more children by him, making them a group of 7 siblings.
However, their French stepmother is practising double standards in the treatment of the children, favoring her own biological children compared to the other five.
Ostracized by her own siblings and the evil stepmother, she was constant ridiculed and ignored in the family.
Despite her shortcomings at home, she excelled at school and had the love of her grandfather and aunt Ba Ba who were the only ones who were true to her.

She had to put up a front in school; telling tales that she was much loved at home.
However, due to the constant turmoils in the country, her family had to run away from the unstable states which resulted in her being transferred from one school to another, and yet continuously excelling in her studies.
She was even left behind in missionary schools by her family until she was saved by her French stepmother's own sister who treated her with such love and care that she half-wished she belonged to that family.

It was heart-wrenching when her beloved grandmother died and she was separated from her aunt Baba.

Lady Luck finally shone unto her when she emerged as a winner in a script play writing competition and won the admiration of her father who agreed to send her overseas to further her studies; a dream she had longed for and thought had lost due to her being a daughter in the family.

Her father frowned upon her dreams to study English or writing and decided to place her in medicine. Better than none, she accepted it as the golden opportunity to independence.

A truly touching story, and simple enough for anyone to understand.
I felt the stirring emotion for Adeline as I followed her through her plight and her life story.

P.S:I would love to get my hands on the prequel; Falling Leaves :)

The Last Empress by Anchee Min

An engaging story about the life and thoughts of one of the most prominent female leaders struggling amongst the thorns in the conservative society in China back then.
Empress Dowager; Tzu Chsi (or Orchid) as she is fondly known as.

Anchee Min spins the tale in a way that it was narrated from the lady herself; detailing her thoughts and emotions.
It was cleverly told, and the narrator assumes her role and responsibilities from a normal brought-up peasant and ordinary girl just like you and me, and how she too, goes through traumatic times in making life-threatening decisions.

The contemporary world has formed a perception of Tzu Chsi as a tyrant; and a cold-blooded ruler who would do just about anything, to protect her authority as she makes her way up to the top; including murdering her own son.

This story shows us the other side of Tzu Chsi; a Tzu Chsi who may have been misunderstood by the world, a lady who have her own difficulties in explaining to the world on everything she has done; for the pride and dignity of her country and at the same time, protect her own son, the emperor from further humiliation.

It was a realistic depiction, and I felt like I was reading the Empress's thoughts; and seeing her human side compared to the cold portrait that has been painted based on the stories I have heard and read about her throughout all the years.
The author has injected a touch of humanity and a tale of compassion into this famous female ruler who had to protect herself and the throne from all the conniving men surrounding the two widows and the son who was the true heir to the throne.
When her own son has contracted a deadly disease which was too disgraceful to be announced, Tzu Chsi was torn between true compassion and depression and at the same time, being realistic to understand the consequences of the news to the empire.
During that time, there were foreign forces which were particularly interested in the Chinese empire due to their strong influence and resources.

Tzu Chsi had to be careful with her every move, as there is no one whom she can trust in the palace. It was an internal battle itself, behind the palace walls, as she struggles to make the right decisions and forming her own very trusted allies; comprising of the devoted General Yung Lu and her eunuch who died somewhere in the novel.
Initially, Prince Kang was another allie who soon found his way out to his own interests and Tzu Chsi was left with no other choice.
Her close and intimate relationship with General Yung Lu ignited the sparks among themselves and also the whisperings along the palace corridors and the main hall. However, the author told about the empress as a lonely widow but still one with rationality and traditional mindset to swerve towards any form of behavior which will be frowned upon.
At the same time, Tzu Chsi was still human after all, and all those suppressing of her own inner feelings for a man has those times when she just wanted to break away from tradition and follow her heart, just a thought that occasionally seeps into her mind.

It was a poignant tale; but brilliantly told to show us a personally expressed story by the protagonist herself.

I love this novel; and this is actually a sequence to the Empress Orchid which starts the tale from how she became the empress; from a young peasant girl.
This novel itself; is the sequel in which her tale continues from the death of the emperor and her assuming her role as one of the Empress Dowager and at the same time, the mentor and guide to the budding young emperor who was her own son.

This is a book that I will definitely read again; to revive that compassion and heartfelt emotions of the glorious and yet humane empress.

Rating: 4.5/5

Hidden by Katy Gardner

A Hide and seek game between a mother and daughter went very wrong when the daughter could not be found.
Poppy, a seven-year old girl had been living with her mother (Mel) since she was born; just the two of them.
When Mel met with her prospective customer whom she was doing her valuation work for his place, it soon turned out that he was also his prospective love of her life.
The whirlwind romance soon became steady and Mel married Simon Stenning and moved in with him; into a warehouse which was under renovation works in Kent.
Mel then gave birth to little Joey; fondly known as Jo and together the family of four was happy.
When Poppy started getting sulky about changing to a new environment and having to make new friends, Mel constantly got cross with her.
Things got worse when Poppy started claiming that she had seen a ghost in the house; across her room, and the ghost is sometimes in the form of a fat shape.
She was terrified and Mel brushed her off as her desperate way of gaining attention.

However, during the period when Poppy went missing, Mel was forced to recall all the incidents which had happened with the comfort of Sandra; an officer who was trying to help her and her best friend, Trish whom she met at the park when she just moved to the new place.

Mel could not help getting suspicious of Simon who was also missing at the same time when Poppy went into hiding and it was his car that she heard at that time, driving away.
When police reports that the car was spotted on the highway with a little girl fitting the description of Poppy's, Mel was forced to face the truth and to recollect all her memories of the sinister past of Simon with his mother whom he never liked/trusted, and his on-off relationship with his ex-girlfriend Rosa Montague who was reported missing, and his one night stand with prostitute Jenning who ended up killed, and of course, her stunned reaction when the cops just appeared at her doorstep yesterday to take a sample of DNA from Simon and to hold him arrested for a murder case.

With all evidence pointing to Simon and the increasing hours of Poppy missing, Mel has to be fast to recall every little detail of her relationship with Simon and to provide the clue to finding Poppy.
It was a race against time; as both Mel and Detective Dave Gosforth hits the trail of the murderer and the consequence of Poppy's disappearance and making sense of it all.

The story started off at a good pace but then lagged in the middle as Mel seemed to be stuck recalling all the details of her life with Simon.
There were too much details and it became draggy and boring as the writer spent a huge amount of words to describe the chronology of the events.
However, the pace picked up again towards the end as the story breathlessly reveals the true identity of the killer, in a most fashionable and surprising manner.

As the tagline on the book says, "The Killer is in the last place that you look"

I shall not reveal the spoiler...but this was well-thought and brilliantly written to take your breath away!

Deadly Lust by McCay and Marie Vernon

Based on a true story of the series of killings by a sex fiend in the states of Florida (St Augustine) and North Carolina where he was finally caught.

The authors have compiled their research and wrote this book based on the recorded details from the PD and also the interviews with the officers who were in charge of the case at that time, and also with the relatives and friends of the murderer and also of the victims.

The murderer himself was actually a normal man; who, however, had a bitter and rather pitiful past of abuse and negligence.
He lost both of his parents in a freak car accident and then was adopted by a couple who was only too glad to take him following their own grief over the loss of their own son.
His foster mother had a strict manner of bringing up the children and often commands control over them. He was rather afraid of her; and had been suppressing himself in fear and frustration over the years.
When he finally met the first woman whom he fell in love with and wanted to marry, he became possessive and turned to abusing her. At the same time, he was involved with another woman whom he met at the bar and this led to the divorce of his first marriage where his first wife was still rather furious with his infidelity.
His second marriage was also not too smooth and there were no accounts as to how violent he was, since his second wife is no longer available to share her opinions.
However, based on the interviews with her relatives and families, they revealed that he was not exactly an angel with his second wife as well.

Having come from such a bitter past, and then he was also found to be diagnosed with cancer, he turned to killing.

Whether it was his past or his way of venting his frustration on those women whom he believed deserve to die for their sins, it was no way to justify his actions and the amount of grief and pain he had inflicted upon the victims and their families.
He targeted mostly women who lived off the streets, had a connection with crack cocaine and using their own mean by prostitution to earn their way to obtaining the crack.

Initially he targeted the white women only; and then he started with the blacks after one who tried to rob him of his money and he killed her.

Although he admitted to seven of the sex slayings, there were suspicions that the number was between 12-20.
It was a rather shocking story revealed and the cruel and heartless way in which he committed the crimes proved that William Lindsey (the crime offender) has no way to justify his own sad background to cause so much harm to the innocent victims and at the same time, the torture that he put their families through who had already suffered to see their lovely daughters' addiction to the hazardous cocaine and selling themselves on the streets.
What could be more horrific than hearing the next news; on their daughters' death and in the most gruesome way anyone can think of; mutilation and sexual abuse prior to their death by murder and then abandoned in a hidden place for weeks before being discovered?

A well-researched book and truly an insightful story on how the man was brought to justice finally.
There are also actual photographs included in the book; of the victims, the murder locations/where the victims are found and also of the PD team who solved the case and brought justice upon the victims' families and the culprit.

I have enjoyed the book and at the same time, I can't say it didn't give me the chills as I read about how these young women lost their lives.
It was definitely insightful and serves as a reminder that nowhere is safe in this world and that extra precaution is no longer a form of paranoia.

Apocalipstick by Sue Margolis

This is an extremely fast-paced, wittingly funny and enjoyable book.
The story is about Rebecca Fine; a young and unnoticed beauty columnist for the Daily Vanguard fashion and beauty magazine.
She secretly yearns to be a investigative reporter and finally had her chance when an ex-employee of Mer de Revres (a famous cosmetic producer), Wendy sought her help to expose a secret ingredient in their latest product in the market; a pot of antiwrinkle cream which may pose a threat to the health of the women out there.

Initially skeptical, Rebecca soon saw this as an opportunity when she is again and again disappointed in her sort-of boyfriend Max Stoddart whom she accused him of two-timing her with another gorgeous reporter, Lorna Findlay.
Rebecca soon found herself flying to Paris with her soon-to-be stepmother; who ironically was her high-school classmate who bullied her during those days.
Since her father had taken so long to find the one he loved since her mother's death, she left it at that and unregrettably after she spent time with Bernadette; nicknamed Lipstick.

Their mission to uncover the biggest scandal in the beauty world turned out to involve also political struggle and Rebecca soon finds herself trying desperately to talk to the Prime Minister of England; Tony Blair to warn him of these potential threats which could cause war between England and Nigeria.

I will not spoil the rest of the story for others but suffice to say, it was hilarious as you read the crazy thoughts and antics of Rebecca as she struggles to gain position in the magazine, and trying to prove her capability; then accepting her father's will to marry a girl her age (her classmate even who was not even her best friend in high school), her crazy best friend who had problems with her own husband's sexual incompetence, her on-and-off struggle in a relationship with a suave and handsome Max, and at the same time stay SANE.

I liked the story and of course, the cover of the book which is so PINK!

Definitely recommended chic book; to read and to laugh and cry with the girls!

Simple-O-Logy by Mark Joyner

This is an interesting book; it's not motivational type; rather I found it thought-provoking and something that gets the mind reeling!
The title is definitely trying to tell you something already; that everything is simple; which is quite true. More often than not, we always find ourselves thinking of a complicated and Einstein's way of solving a problem or even fundamentally, looking at a particular situation.

I enjoyed the illustrated examples through the comic strips and each chapter's not too long for you to get bored.


It's not a thick book; and I enjoyed the different perspectives conveyed by the author; it is an intelligent read, I must say!
At the end of it all, all the simple steps to having it, is summarized in all the short sentences in order.
Funny how they still navigate my mind through the chapters when it is all summed up in short, precise sentences which is the whole idea of the book =)

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult writes in a captivating manner; that's all I can say about Plain Truth.

The story of the known Amish Community in the state of Pennslyvania, United States of America, it follows the lifetsyle and strict religious beliefs practised by this enclosed community lining the outskirts of the country.
The peaceful community lives in a world of their own and make rare contacts with the outside world; unbothered by the news and happenings in the world, until one day, a newborn baby boy was found dead in the barn of an Amish family and this hailed all the outsiders including the cops and the lawyers to the closed community.

The evidence led to a shocking discovery that an unmarried 18-year old Amish girl, Katie Fisher may be the mother of the baby boy and also, the murderer of her own son.
Despite the protests of the community and the denial of the suspect herself, the law enforcers had to step in to bring justice to life.

The story then leads to the appearance of Ellie Hathaway; a lawyer who appears to have her own personal and work issues, who is brought into defending Katie against the conviction.
Thinking that it was just the same as all her other cases, Ellie suddenly finds herself being thrown into the Amish community herself as part of the deal to keep Katie in her custody during the trial.

It was rather annoying when Katie kept denying that she had given birth despite all the evidence and even medical reports that her health condition and the bleeding points to her being a recent mother.
Ellie started off annoyed with Katie's constant denial but the longer time she spends with Katie, she found herself more drawn towards her.
She discovered more and more information about Katie which continues to point towards the strong motive Katie has to kill her own baby.
During the process, Ellie has to struggle with her own past and her own relationship issues and trying her best not to be influenced by the emotional tag she has with Katie.

It was a good pace, and the way the story is unraveled is really great.
I found myself hooked onto the story, and understanding (losing that annoyance) with Katie Fisher.

Touching and definitely a recommended read.
Teaches a few things about life's lessons and it's all about perspectives!


This must be one of the best books I've ever read!

The Daughters of Cain by Colin Dexter

A New Inspector Morse novel; which I found very disappointing.
I was looking forward for a twist in a crime story; suspense, excitement, mystery and all that we can look for in a detective novel and this was nothing that could even get me there.

The writer writes in a rather monotonous way and I find the depiction of Inspector Morse who is ironically supposed to be the protagonist in the story, really ridiculous.
There is an air of confusion and somehow this Inspector Morse did not earn the respect and admiration of readers but rather just left me wondering, how absurd can a detective get?
The dialogues are uninteresting and uninspiring and not a book that will keep the pages turning.
The plot itself is simple and not much twists of agony to depict an intelligent crime in the making. The motives and even the way the murder was committed was just plain and it didn't take much of a guess.

If you want a good mystery/crime/detective novel, I definitely do not recommend this book.

I don't usually not recommend any book; since I just love reading. But this was not my cup of tea, definitely

Most Amazing Mistakes! by Michael Johnstone

History is full of mistakes, so this book says.
Compiled in year chronological order, all events in history from Greek mythology/legend to the most famous/notorious murder case.

Some of the mistakes can make you laugh your head silly, but some make you really angry at how those 'little' mistakes have turned out costly, and have even snatched innocent lives.
Troy, Pearl Harbor, Titanic, murder case in London, tragic plane/train crash, etc, it's really insightful. All these are not just plain tragic but they are neither accidental nor incidental.
They are all caused by human mistakes, it's really sad.

A book that will make you laugh, cry and sigh over the mistakes made, enjoyable!

Troublemaker & other Saints by Christina Chiu

The debut novel by Christina Chiu; and it is a intertwining story of three families, all Chinese immigrants and prominent figures in the society.
Hailing from Hong Kong and China, the stories were told from the different perspectives of the people involved and how they deal with the negative reactions from the conservative teachings in their own family, peers and the society.
Christina also spins the tale creatively to differentiate the generation gap in the behavior and minds of both the young and the old and creates a thought provoking tale as we wander into each of their minds.

The collection of tales are told from each individual perspective and how they perceive the situation they are facing. It gets complicated as you traverse from one chapter to the next, but they are all linked as the character recalls the character who appeared in the previous chapters.
Of course, since we are dealing with three different families here, it gets a little more complicated than that.

At the same time, the interesting part of this novel is how cleverly Christina inserts the issues of concern into the tale and spins it in a way to show how it is seen by different people in the society.
In Nobody, it is a story of how a girl feels deprived of attention and constantly feels like her existence is of no importance to anyone at all in her life and school. Dealing with a demanding father and her own grief over the loss of her own grandmother whom she is close to, she is constantly on the verge of suicide and depression. She found company in her neighbor whom also made her feel insufficient when she was not stood up for in times of humiliation.
The same girl moved on to be a third character in another story as we see from this young Chinese doctor who married a black man as her husband and was considered an outcast by her own parents.
The mention of her own husband silences the whole family faster than you can spell 'apple'.
At the same time, she is the doctor overlooking an anorexic girl whose heart is failing and she has to deal with the conservative parents of the patient who refused to agree to tubes and machine aid to maintain their daughter's life.

Another story tells of how a mother deals with her daughter's bisexuality and there is another, how the mother deals with her son's homosexuality.
Christina also explores into the stories of property tussle within siblings, sexual relationships, eagerness to please, and stealing/abuse, etc, all part of the common issues plagueing our society these days.

It was interestingly told and yet, it appears confusing at times.
I must say, I was impressed by the simplicity and yet complication which arises along the storylines.
You must have a pretty good memory to put those jigsaw puzzles together; and the overused four-letter word in the story may prove entertaining to some, or not.

A recommended read for Amy Tan's fans as well, as this is another perspective into the Chinese immigrants in the United States.

For One More Day by Mitch Albom

From the author made famous by "Tuesdays with Morrie" and "Five People You meet in Heaven", this is yet another philosophical not to mention inspirational piece exploring the inner conscience/true feelings of a person before his death.

Starting with a tagline "Every family is a ghost story", this book is about the life and death decision of Charley "Chick" Benetto who was about to kill himself after his life was wrecked apart and at the final straw when his only daughter did not invite him to her wedding for fear of disgrace.
He tried many ways to kill himself and yet decided to take one last journey back to his old house where he grew up before his departure.
It was there that he met his mom; a woman whom he had seen buried and covered with flowers at the funeral.

He could not believe it; and yet he saw his mother.
From then on, we were taken on a journey backward while Chick recalled all the memories with his mother; which to his surprise were not very memorable as he recalled the times his mother had stood by him and he, on the other hand, well, failed her.

As a child, Chick was told by his father “You can be a mama’s boy or a daddy’s boy, but you can’t be both.”
So he chose his father and was later disappointed when his father just walked out on his life as he was approaching adolescence.
He was embarassed by his mother and constantly blamed her for his father's disappearance.

The writing was pretty simple and comprehensible for any age.
In fact, it was a story told so many times that we just did not take much notice into the true underlying issue or reminder in our lives.

It was a heart-warming tale of how Chick re-explored his relationship with a mother whom he never knew and yet one of the greatest love of all.
It was a tale of compassion; whereby we are all reminded of our time on earth and with the people we love.

To me, I was truly touched and in fact, I have even gained a different perspective/new light into my own family relationships.
I have even conjured up my very own list of the times my dad/mum/bro stood up for me and the times I did/didn't stand up for them.
It is at this time that you feel guilty and realized how far you have come and how much they weigh in your life.

Chick had lost his mum without him even having the chance to make any amendment; and in fact, he never even got to see his mother before her very last breath because he made up an excuse and prioritized another event.

How many times have we actually failed our very own family by putting them as second priority to our work/love relationship/event/friends, etc?
How many times have we said 'I Love you' to the person next to you and your siblings/parents?

When you are given one more day, you will find that all you ever want is for time to turn back for you to change and to give it another chance to do it even better.
But why do we need to look for a chance to turn back time (which we know will never happen) when we can do it today?
Why put off to future something we can do today?

I certainly do not want to wait for one more day to tell my family; especially both my parents how much I love them.
It is today that we see them and we should be with them and stand up for them all the time.
I do not want to have a list in which I look back and say, "Those are the times I did not stand up for my mum/dad"

The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan

“LuLing Young is getting old and – while she still can – she begins to write down her memories of life as a girl in 1930s China.
One day, while tending to her ailing mother, LuLing’s daughter Ruth uncovers this extraordinary memoir of a childhood spent in the remote mountain village known as Immortal Heart. In this ancient world, steeped in magic and superstition, lie the deep secrets of LuLing’s heart and the tragic events that changed the path of her life. As Ruth’s understanding grows, mother and daughter discover together that what they share in their bones through history and heredity is priceless beyond measure”

I do not have to start with those commentaries by the big names from the press or the journalism world on Amy Tan as a wonderful writer.
This story again, touches on a poignant tale between an Asian mother and daughter who obviously didn’t see eye to eye with each other.
Ruth was an Asian American who is co-habituating with a divorced American man with two daughters from his previous marriage. Her relationship with the man in her life was in chaos and at the same time, she had to deal with her mother’s constant intervention in her life. She never did get along with the mother she saw as ‘know-it-all’ and constantly at her neck. When her mother was diagnosed with dementia, she starts to spend time with her mother and see the happenings through her mother’s eyes. She read LuLing’s diary, and all of a sudden, things start to fall into place as she sees the real reason behind her mother’s puzzling behavior all the years and how she never really knew her mother.
A touching and emotional journey through her own roots in her family history; tracing back to her mother’s childhood and the grandmother she always thought was someone else. She starts to see her mother in a different light; and joins the mother-daughter relationship bonded through their blood connection.
As mother starts to fail in her memory due to the age and health, she starts to realize her true role of being a daughter and granddaughter and at the same time, explore her own relationship with her own family.

It is a wonderful read; one of the best piece by Amy so far which was deviated from the usual mother-daughter relationship stories. She explored deeper into the history of the family and traced her character to their roots; which touched the hearts of her readers as we start to follow in the emotional path of the characters.
I enjoyed every page of this book; and couldn’t stop putting it down when it came to the diary part.
I would put it on the shelf to re-read and read again and again; it made me feel so warm and lovely and how lucky I am to have a loving mother and to love my own mother. I feel thankful that I’ve always taken an interest in my mother’s life story and it made me more keen to know even more, to make sure I don’t miss a single moment in my mummy’s life.

An insight to the true meaning of family relationship and appreciating your bloodline.
I would highly recommend to all mother and daughters; whether you think your relationship is already great or you felt like you never did understand each other.

Books I have read

Welcome to another new blog of mine; which I should have started long ago, to pen down all my thoughts and inspiring stories which I have read since I have learnt the chronology of ABC.

I have read numerous books, and am still enjoying reading to this very day.
Books, as I have termed, are my vital soulmates; and reading is something which I consider a very solitary activity which I love to curl up in a corner and just read and read like there's no tomorrow.

To be able to write to command a reader's interest and to be able to 'feel' the characters and the flow of the story is the capability of the writer
To be able to read, enjoy and be in the character's shoes is the enjoyable art of the reader

Having read countless books in my journey, I have been intrigued by authors like Enid Blyton, who was truly the Queen of Children's stories as she was known. She is truly an inspiring figure of imagination and creativity and I have always enjoyed reading her books; even till this day.
At the same time, I shall not forget the classics of Charles Dickens, a truly descriptive writer who never fails to impress me with his way with the words; from he describes a boy standing there to the point that you can picture him down to every single detail that he seemed to be really standing right in front of you.
Marvellous writer; and indeed a great choice for a literature reading.

Speaking of classics, one shall not forget the names of William Shakespeare who seem to be the king of classics after all, and all the wonderful writings of classics, namely; Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer's Night Dream, Othello, Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice, and many more, works of the articulate writer.

Enter the classical romance genre, we have the works of the Bronte Sisters; Charlotte and Emily Bronte who have given birth to the wonderful Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights which have never failed to touched the heart of each of us; to the warmth of hope of the existence of true love.
That includes the works of Jane Austen who is also one of my favorite writers

I have enjoyed many more classics; which include all the adventures and island stories such as Treasure Island, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Gulliver's Travel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Anne and the Green Gables, The Wizard of Oz, Black Beauty, The Wind in the Willows, and many more lovely titles from that shelf.

Exploring into other genres such as mystery and thrillers, we have the big names of Agatha Christie to boast of. She is one of the very best, in my humble opinion, with her careful thought into planning each of the little plots and the actual murder culprit. I am and will always be intrigued by her imaginative mind which just blows you off with a total surprise. My favorite character is Hercule Poirot (who doesn't like him anyway:)
Then there's Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and also Alfred Hitchcock's stories which were slightly more towards the children's mysteries.

Contemporary and modern writers who explore the women's heart are Danielle Steel, Sophie Kinsella, Amy Tan, Lauren Weisberger, Meg Cabot, Sidney Sheldon, Nora Roberts, etc.
There's also wonderful authors like Jodi Picoult, Mary Higgins Clark, J.K Rowling, C.S Lewis, Georges Simenon,R.L Stine, Christopher Pike, etc

I have so many authors and books that I could not possibly list them all down here; and I will share along the way in my blog; which I am really looking forward to..GEE!

It makes me feel so happy and I can't wait to start sharing on my books or books I have read from everywhere, of course, my shelves!
My books/reviews will be categorized according to the genre and the authors, hopefully you will be able to find something you like in the future, once the blog is running fast:)

Enjoy reading 'From my shelves' and hope I get some good recommendations from everyone on probably many books I have yet to read.

Reading opens the window to our soul *winks*