Category Archives: books

Christmas books

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And they arrived just in time for Christmas!

Fresh out of the box from Amazon.

Figured that since The Neverending Story is a classic already, buying the hardbound cover is best. Was pleasantly surprised it came in colored! yippee! Totally so Christmassy especially since it’s written in that old fairy-tale stories kind of font which I found out during our Prague trip was really what was used in the olden days, even in their law books.

It came in hardbound but I bought it at Amazon at a cheaper price compared to the paperback copy sold in Book Express in front of Sakuragicho JR station (albeit I was thankful they’re selling a copy of this book. Through them, I learned there IS such a book).

Was equally surprised that the size of The Prophets of Ghost Ants copy was as big as the hardbound ones.

Together with the book I bought last night, my hands are surely full over the holidays.

Happy reading everyone!!

on dates and muji

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Hubs took me out for a movie date this evening. What else! Mission Impossible of course, which proved to be quite interesting and engaging. Go watch now if you haven’t yet.

We have some three hours to spare before the movie started though hence plenty of time to walk around Colette Mare and shop – for more books LOL. Hubs bought his usual number of book purchases while I bought these for the evening.

I bought these books in a matter of five minutes, too short a time for hubs inside Kinukuniya hence I wandered around Colette Mare looking for a stationery box to house our stationeries which are practically scattered about in the house. Wandered towards Muji, located at the basement of Colette Mare. And it made me smile to see this.

Maternity coats. Truly a big help for pregnant women and moms with newborn babies who has to carry their infants around during these cold months.

Here’s another style but I like the first one better.

Before the movie, there’s dinner of course. To celebrate the evening. A romantic chandelier.

And a platter of freshies arrayed beautifully.

On our way home, hyper from all the action in Mission Impossible, we dropped by Family Mart. Decided to purchase this Muji knickknack.

Seeing it wrapped so simply, as is all Muji food products, I didn’t have high expectations on it. But boy we were in for a surprise. Wonder why it is heart shaped as thus?

Frozen strawberry coated with white chocolate. Simply delicious.

Happy evening. Thankful.

what I want to read over the holidays

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Been really busy lately that we are sooo looking forward to the coming holidays. Although actually I don’t daydream or plan much of the holidays yet because of the deliverables at work. I ain’t complaining though because as always, work has been very interesting (and challenging).

But one thing I do look forward to over the holidays though, aside from spending time with the family of course, is to catch up with my reading. Been very busy lately hence I only get to read about 5 pages of “The Art of War” while riding the train; ours is only a short 15 min ride, that’s why. And, well, if truth be told, I really hadn’t been that inspired to read lately. I borrowed 3 books from the library, but I haven’t read it past 3 chapters. Not up to reading much, and I think it could be because I really haven’t gotten over Ishiguro’s “Never Let Me Go” yet. Ever since finishing that book, no other book I have gotten my hands on recently ever caught my interest (except for 1Q84. Murakami’s 1Q84 is still not opened as I don’t have time to read at home since we usually get home around 11pm or beyond). And I must admit, up to now, I am still so much taken by Ishiguro’s book; I can still feel the heartache. And deep inside, I truly wish the book’s premise isn’t really happening or will not happen, ever.

So with the holidays coming up so fast (Dear Holidays, I want you to come fast, but please not so fast. Let me finish all my deliverables on schedule. And Atsushi’s too), I want to erase the lingering melancholic feeling from “Never Let Me Go”. After all, it is the holidays and the holidays are meant for fun and joyful feelings. Thus I started hunting for feel-good good reads that is in sync with the Holiday cheer. Indeed, it is true, search and you shall find. Not long after I started the search, I chanced upon this book in one of Hubs’ favorite bookstores. This is one of my favorite childhood movies. But I never knew it was originally from a book. I should have known better. Perfect for the holidays, isn’t it? It has high ratings in Amazon and Goodreads as well so I know my time won’t be wasted.

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There is one book however that I really really want to read. This book has been dubbed the BEST in 2011 and has the highest rating among the books I’ve read so far.

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Can’t wait to order in amazon.

As for something to be happy today. Realised that slowly, I’m seeing more of one of my personal goals. Happy. Thankful. Inspired.

book review: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

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It’s 3:40am and I’ve just finished the book. It’s a bit unnerving to find 6 book leaves at the back of the book, totally blank; 12 pages of nothingness after having had read that last part of Never Let Me Go that was so profound you’d find yourself reeling in your emotions. It must be a printing mistake, those additional 12 blank pages, but it suited the book just fine. It’s like you need those blank pages to write your thoughts and emotions on.

There’s a big disparity on how I treated this book from the first to the last page. At the start, I find myself getting bored and it was all I can do to will myself to go on reading; oftentimes telling myself that this book hasn’t received all those acclaim for no reason. And I’m glad I persevered. By the time I got to the middle of the book, it was so hard to put the book down in that I find myself trying to squeeze in a few more lines from the book within the last minute during lunch breaks.

One thing I’m thankful I didn’t do before reading this book: to read any synopsis/reviews that may allude to what the story is all about and who Kathy really is. Just go and read it and be surprised and be taken. And be haunted. And be brokenhearted.

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let’s talk about books shall we?

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There were times a couple of months back when I feel so lost and I’d ask – what to read?! It’s like I have this inner urge to read something really worth my time and yet don’t know what book to read. I almost envy Hubs who can get inside any bookstore we pass by and come out with three or four books in tow. Having no recommendations, I almost always buy the ones with the “international bestsellers” tag or ones which won a certain literary prize.

Hence I was really happy when I came across goodreads.com, featured by Aleng on her blog. It’s like finding a cornucopia, a cornucopia of books!

Came across The Prophets of Ghost Ants in goodreads. Can’t wait to get a copy of this one!!!

Anyways, this was the latest book I’ve finished reading a couple weeks back.

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It was the Orange Award winner for 2011 so I was a bit curious with the book. This is the first time I’ve read a book written by someone 5 years younger than me and I must say she has a great career ahead of her. But I’d have to say I was a bit disappointed about how the book ended, almost feeling like I wasted my time reading it. Her narration is quite good though and young as she is and yet already award-winning at that, she has much time to improve her craft.

Was able to get a prized possession last weekend – my much awaited IQ84 English-translated copy, all three books, in one big volume! Felt like I waited for such a looong time for it’s translation that I almost jumped for joy when I found this hardbound three-book volume.

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Hardbound as it is, of course I can’t cart it around with me. It’s gonna be a bedtime book. But I have to hurry reading it. Hubs is next in line. Haha.

I needed a book to read in between train rides and while on a queue (been working late recently that my free time for reading is almost only during train rides. Huff). I’m carting this around right now.

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So much acclaim for this book. But at some parts, I’m bored although it comes pretty interesting on some parts. I’m yet to discover why it’s categorized as a science fiction though.

At the time I bought IQ84, I also came across the Tokyo Michelin guide at a discounted price. The 2012 issue is already out but this discounted old issue is already fine with me. Can’t wait for a good food experience soon!

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