Books

I was delighted to discover that it was World Book Day at Popular Bookstore. Well, technically it runs from 20 Apr - 6 May 07. All books are on 10% discount and members like me get 15% off.

There were a few new novels on the rack, nothing really noteworthy except for something that looked like a lad-lit - which is essentially chick-lit written by a lad with a lad as the protagonist.

I ended up getting Ann Batko's When Bad Grammar Happens to Good People. Firstly, the title was very engaging. Who wouldn't want to be thought of as a good person? ahem I never did quite understand how the Dummies series took the world by storm. How could anyone spot a Dummy book and cheerfully declare to the world that "Yes, I'm a certified Dummy!", happily take it and traipse to the check out counter to purchase the darn thing? Well, I'm proud to say that I've NEVER bought a Dummies book (I may have borrowed one or two but surely that doesn't count?).

Anyway, back to the grammar book I bought, I must assure you that I did not buy the book based on the title or nice looking cover alone. I made that mistake before. And let me tell ya, the person who coined the overused cliche was right. A book may look very pretty on the outset but if the innards are boring, nothing on earth can compel a disillusioned reader to finish reading it. This disillusioned reader only ploughed through about 20-odd pages before deciding that she has much more delightful things to do with her time and chucked it aside with an air of relief.

When Bad Grammar Happens to Good People (let's call it WBGHTGP for brevity's sake) is refreshingly different from the other grammar reference book I bought - the very highly acclaimed The Elements of Style by W. Strunk and E.B. White. The latter had a text bookish way of representing things in a bland and utterly immemorable manner. After reading and re-reading some passages of the book, I still couldn't find a proper framework to hang the proper grammar I've picked up.

But Ann Batko explains grammar in a delightful, easy to grasp and most importantly, memorable style. Take for example this bit about when to use who/whom:

Tip: When deciding between "who" and "whom", it can be easier if you use the "m" test: Think of how you would restate the sentence with the pronoun he/him or they/them, and if you use a form that ends in "m", you need "whom."

For example, Who/Whom is the present for? You'd say, Is the present for them? You wouldn't say, Is the present for they. That "them", with the "m" on the end is your clue that you need the objective case form "whom".

Marvellous, isn't it?

And as to why I have quite a few grammar books in my library to date, I have always been unsure about the science of it all. I am well acquainted with the art and beauty of stringing words together, having read so many wonderful books since childhood. And while I know if a sentence doesn't 'sound' right, I don't necessarily know why. The art and the science must come together if I am to be a serious stringer of words. If I am to edit my own writings for work and pleasure.

It certainly helps when I encounter such useful tools as WBGHTGP. I haven't gone through the whole book but I dare say that if you need to choose just one such book for your daily use, then this has got to be IT.

Happy learning!

As any true blue fan of Agatha Christie, it behooves me to do this quiz. Secondary school days were made brighter because of reading her books (amongst others) and till today whenever I need a lift, all I have to do is pick up one of her books and get lost in a world of intrigue, humor and wit. An absolutely marvellous way to pamper my mind.

Here's the link to the Agatha Christie Quiz and here are my results. Click on Continue Reading for details - it contains spoilers!:

29 have taken this quiz
You answered correctly 6 out of 9 questions
This is equivalent to 66.67 %.

I think I've read slightly over 20 books this year. That's something like a book a fortnight. It's not too bad a number considering the vast amount of time I've devoted to my baby since he came into my life. I just finished reading The Secret Life of Bees. Started on this book some time last year. Finally completed reading it yesterday.

It is a truly compelling read. There's mystery, growing pains, strange customs, the great big racial divide issue, strong vivid characters and ah yes, budding romance. A definite page turner despite the fact that it took me so long to finish reading it. Heh.

There's one particular character which intrigued me. Her name's May. Her family tells her that she was born to carry the weight of the world. She lacks the ability to take in bad news without letting it affect her profoundly. Every bad tiding would send her into wailing fits and render her heart broken.

As such, her sisters encouraged her to build a Wailing Wall. The Wailing Wall basically explains May's whole life. She painstakingly builts it piece by piece, carrying each boulder and rock from the river to the back of the house. Whenever her heart is grieved beyond what she can bear, she would run to the Wailing Wall, write her grievances on paper and stick it into the crevice between the rocks. Once she runs out of space to put her bits of paper in, she would extend the wall.

I read about the Wailing Wall, fascinated by the thought of it all. It sounded just like a safe haven to pour out all of one's sorrows. Where each rant and sad moment is written and tucked away somewhere, so that the heart does not need to carry it any longer.

May had her Wailing Wall and I have mine. I'm so thankful for them - safe places of refuge where I can share my every thought, joy and sorrow and know that they are in good hands. My burdens are halved and my joys are doubled. Blessed are those who have Wailing Walls.

The Bookcrossers are having a picnic this Sunday at the Lake Gardens, KL!

Date: 5th Nov 06
Time: 11 am - 4.30pm

Come one, come all! Bring a book/dish/snacks/friend along and don't forget that smile! Does anyone have a nice map of the Lake Gardens so that I can post it up here for directionally-challenged people like Twinnie and myself?