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.