I had my doubts about this book initially. Never even read a single Jane Austen novel. But was impressed with the movie versions of her books. Plus the cover of this book (not the one depicted above) is very appealing.

I'm glad to say that it was cleverly and deliciously written. Surprisingly interesting and very funny. I was hooked and kept thinking about it until I finished reading every single delicious word in it.

Shall put more memorable quotes from the book here when I have time later.

Simply marvelous!

(****)

Memorable Quotes:

"It takes one 10 weeks to get into shape and 10 days to get out of it"

Yes! I've finally got the LOTR boxed set + The Silmarillion and am well on the way to be a true-blue fan of this marvellous epic. After I watched the original DVD with the loads of special features packed in it, I found that I wanted to know more. More background, more insights... just more of anything LOTR!

Never mind that it's draggy at certain parts and all. This time, I'm going to brave through it all... yeah!



First, I'm starting off with The Hobbit. It is truly enchanting and not at all draggy. Bilbo Baggins is an endearing character and I learned lots about dragons and dwarfs. Didn't know that dragons are a very nasty lot. I'm halfway through the book already so am expecting to finish reading it soon.

Till the next post, ta!

I went to Klang Parade's MPH yesterday to check out their clearance sale - 30% off all books! Unfortunately, I went there too late - most of the shelves were bare

So I left empty-handed. Should have been there when the sale started earlier this month. *sigh*

Just got my first mail order from Payless. They throw in a book for free (got one from their bargain bin stock) for the first 100 mail orders received and I'm no. 93. They charge RM5 for courier services though. I did not ask them if customers could collect the books personally from one of their branches to save on courier costs.

Making a payment is a bit of a hassle - they do not accept credit cards online as yet so have to bank in the payment to their Public Bank account. But it sure beats having to ransack their rather disorganised shop for a gem of a book that you absolutely must have!

To place your own mail orders, go to www.paylessbooks.com.my and click on the mail order link. To download the list of books available, go to www.paylessbooks.com.my/Listing.xls

Went to MPH, Klang Parade on Sat and found William Goldman's The Princess Bride! Been looking for the book everywhere and it finally turned up where I least expect it to - Klang!



Also found Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding.

And after the monthly Bookcrossers/Bookcafe meetup, I got more books to read.

So now, my To Be Read list looks like this:

1. Assassins - Tim La Haye & Jerry Jenkins
   
2. The Indwelling - Tim La Haye & Jerry Jenkins
   
3. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
   
4. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
   
5. Chocolat - Joanne Harris
   
6. Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination - Helen Fielding
   
7. The Lakehouse - James Patterson
   
8. She's Come Undone - Wally Lamb
   ....
   (to be updated!)

Thanks to Irene who raved about the Big Bookshop in Atria, I traipsed over there yesterday to check it out.




On the way to Big Shop, I stopped at Payless, Atria (of course) to check out the latest in their stocks. And I found the Penguin version of 'Chocolat' for RM12!!! I grabbed it like a shot. I was tempted to get some of Carl Hiassen's books but refrained myself. Maybe later...

Big Bookshop was awesome! Saw some Christian fiction books there which are selling cheaply and can't really be easily found. Shall spread the word to my cell group members who are part of my unofficial book club. I can almost imagine their glazed expressions. Tee hee hee!

At long last, I succumbed to the Popular pull. I became a full-fledged POP Club member over the weekend. I couldn't resist the 25% discount on Sheila O'Flanagan's 2-in-1 omnibus. And the 20% discount on Mitch Albom's the 5 People You'll Meet in Heaven. And the 10% discount on all other items.

I mean, for the RM10 membership fee, you get a whole lot of frills and thrills. What's not to like about it? Exactly. (Starting to sound like Rebecca Bloomwood already... hee!)

I also got some Roald Dahl books on the cheap, namely The Twits (RM7.90 - 10%)and the BFG (RM9.90 - 10%).

And thanks to a tip by Tim, I bought "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd at Payless, Jaya Supermarket for RM12. What a steal!!! I also saw Wally Lamb's 'She's Come Undone' selling for RM6 but refrained from getting it because it's not really my cup of tea.

All in all, it was a weekend that satisfied the bookaholic in me

It's a wonderful and touching read. Read it within two hours - simply couldn't bear to put it down. The pages just flew together with the heart-stirring story. I couldn't help but be drawn to the world of Suzanne, Nicholas, Matt and Katie.

Suzanne, especially, is someone you wouldn't forget in a hurry. Her character development was good - being the author of the diary helps the reader get a peek into her thoughts and incredible personality.

The strange thing was, there was not one baddie in the story. Just brave souls who go against all odds to live life and live it to the fullest. James Patterson is a truly versatile writer. In fact, I think I enjoyed this book more than his Alex Cross novels!

(****)

Decided to join the contest organised by MPH Bookstores - www.mph.com.my . The closing date is 31 Aug, so those who are interested had better hurry!

Here's my top ten list of great reads:

1. Tuesdays With Morrie - Mitch Albom
   
2. About a Boy - Nick Hornby
   
3. Bridget Jones' Diary - Helen Fielding
   
4. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
   
5. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
   
6. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
   
7. Can You Keep a Secret - Sophie Kinsella
   
8. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
   
9. The Horse Whisperer - Nicholas Evans
   
10. The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
    

It's a heartwarming book and a good page-turner. Before I knew it I was nearly finishing it. The easy style in which she wrote about a money-maker turned philanthropist because of the love of a good woman and her adorable child makes it a delightful read.

Be forewarned that there are some rather far-fetched things that Jude throws into the picture. The brother who makes his devastatingly handsome brother stay with the woman he loves in order to win her heart (What a duffuss!). The woman who allows a perfect stranger to live in her home to babysit her kid (Is she for real??). The child who produce a masterpiece while painting a room (Huh??). And that's just the top of what I can remember from it.

To enjoy this book fully, just kiss your brains goodbye for a while and allow yourself to sink into the pure pleasure of the age-old story of man meets woman, man falls in love with woman and man changes for woman.

*happy sigh*

(***)

I thought I wouldn't enjoy the book because I wasn't a fan of horses. But from the first paragraph onwards, I got hooked by the enthralling way Nicholas Evans wrote. It was so easy to be part of Annie, Grace and Pilgrim's world. You'll definitely enjoy it even if you don't like horses, Evans has a real talent for doing that. The bittersweet ending made a good poignant closure in a complicated romance.

(*****)

I went to Popular and was nearly bowled over by their 30% sale off selected items. Thank God I did not buy 1st Degree the other day. I had thought it was cheap at RM19.90 but now, it's 30% off!!!

Here's what I bought there (all Hardcover!):

1. 1st to Die - James Patterson (RM13.93)
   
2. Violets are Blue - James Patterson (RM11.83)
   
3. Zombie Lover - Piers Anthony (RM11.83)
   
4. The Dastard - Piers Anthony (RM11.83)
   

And here's what I got at MPH because I had an RM10 giftvoucher to utilise before Sept 04:

Sophie's World - Jostein Gaarder (RM9.12 - as it was on 20% off for MPH's Reader Circle members)

Feeling rather proud of myself for getting these books at such a good bargain

I felt so sorry for Maggie Bradford having to live with two abusive husbands, and having the love of her life taken from her so suddenly. It's not a bad read but I felt rather relunctant to turn the pages for fear of reading more bad tidings for poor Maggie. Thus, I could not finish the book in one sitting.

(**)

My first Sophie Kinsella book and therefore, the second chick-lit I'm reading after discovering that I am a chick-lit fan. I was hooked when I first heard of the simple but brilliant story line. Imagine sharing your deepest and darkest secrets to a total stranger, never expecting to meet him again, only to find out that that person was your Big Boss whom you have never met?

Sophie Kinsella did not disappoint and I enjoyed reading the book thoroughly. Couldn't put it down once I started it today and finished it in a matter of 4 hours or so. Delightful!

(****)

One of Christie's best. Finished reading it within a day... And this is a re-read!

Two cases embroiled together creating the effect of a highly complicated and suspenseful mystery. Of course Hercule Poirot states that it is but a simple case. And it reminded me of what a bible teacher used to say, that when something is complicated, break it up into two or more parts.

I guess I liked this book because of the romance factor and the fact that children were featured as important eye-witnesses, and not to mention the many cats appearing in the story. Even the protagonist, Colin Lamb was a cat lover!

(****)