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Tuesday, December 31, 2019

2019 Year in Review and 2020 New Year's Resolution


Another year has come and gone.

At the last count, I have reviewed a total of 46 books for the year to date. This works out to be an average of 3.8 books per month; almost 1 book per week. Though I have will preferred exactly 1 book a week, I think almost is good enough for me these days.

Year 2019 @ 46 (-16 YOY)
Year 2018 @ 62 (+10 YOY)
Year 2017 @ 52 (■ YOY)
Year 2016 @ 52 (-22 YOY)
Year 2015 @ 74 (-23 YOY)
Year 2014 @ 97

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Review: The Noel Stranger (Noel Collection #2) by Richard Paul Evans


4 stars for The Noel Stranger (Noel Collection book 2) by Richard Paul Evans.

This is a heartwarming Christmas story on forgiveness, trust, hope and a second chance at love.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Review: Timepiece (Christmas Box Collection #2) by Richard Paul Evans


3.5 stars for Timepiece (Christmas Box Collection Book 2) by Richard Paul Evans.

It is not often that I say this but I really like the book title, Timepiece. It leaves a nice, warm, cozy feeling of unspoken marvel, timeless value and classical antiquity.

True to the title, Timepiece is a touching story of hope, love and forgiveness. Even though this is a fictional story, I know many of the names mentioned in it are not. Thus, it kind of set me thinking, and wondering if this is a real story, a secret true story after all.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Review: The Mistletoe Secret (Mistletoe Collection #3) by Richard Paul Evans


3.5 stars for The Mistletoe Secret (Mistletoe Collection book 3) by Richard Paul Evans.

Since the end of last year, right after I finish reading The Mistletoe Inn, I have been looking forward to reading this third, and perhaps final book in the Mistletoe collection. And now, here I am. I have done it!

The Mistletoe Secret is a touching story of two people who overcome solitude, loneliness and loss to find love. One can be alone but not feel lonely, this is especially so when it is one's choice to be alone. On the other hand, one can be in a group yet feel lonely. This sentence, taken verbatim from the book, "nothing makes you feel more lonely than crowds of people you are not connected to", rings so true.

Separately, on acronyms, I find it amazing that author Evans can come up with different variations of LBH to suit his novel. To have some idea on what LBH is, well, for one, it can mean Let's Be Honest.

So, LBH here. Since I love the earlier two books in the Mistletoe collection, it comes as a surprise that I take quite some time getting into the story this time. It is only after sixteen chapters, making it around 35% or so of the book, that I start to really enjoy the story more. So, that is me, being honest. Really.

Though The Mistletoe Secret may not be my favourite of the three in the collection, it is still an inspirational read. I am glad to have read this book finally.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Review: Being Santa Claus: What I Learned about the True Meaning of Christmas by Sal Lizard and Jonathan Lane


4 stars for Being Santa Claus: What I Learned about the True Meaning of Christmas by Sal Lizard and Jonathan Lane.

This is truly a book about the spirit of Christmas; an uplifting story full of miracles and Christmas wonder.

When I read that author Sal's hair and beard turned completely white in his twenties, I am like "seriously, what is the chance of someone looking so much like Santa Claus with the real white beard and moustache"?

In this book, Santa Sal shares with readers many amazing and delightful experiences of his. These include how he comes to personify the spirit of Santa Claus, how he learns to play Santa and be Santa himself, why he feels a growing need and responsibility to maintain Santa's unblemished image in the hearts and minds of children, why he makes a vow to himself that he will never ever leave a child waiting for an answer to a question for Santa, how he answers those so-very-tricky Christmas questions from children - questions such as "why don't I get the present I ask for?" or "where is Santa's reindeer and sleigh?" or "How do I earn the toy I want?" or "Why didn't I get everything on my Christmas wish list?" or "Are you really Santa Claus?" - and many many more.

It is heartening to see how author Sal feels about Christmas, that it is not simply a single day during the year, but rather, as any time when someone reaches out to another with love and a helping hand. As such, it is amazing to see the Christmas magic he creates for adults and children alike.

I believe that the most lasting Christmas memories are created by simple, special moments of togetherness; these are the real magic and wonder of what the holiday season is all about. And author Sal, through his stories, successfully captures these wonderful moments for his readers. Yes, read this book and feel for yourself what I mean.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Review: Christmas under a Cranberry Sky (Juniper Island #1) by Holly Martin


Did Not Finish Christmas under a Cranberry Sky (Juniper Island book 1) by Holly Martin.

If I am to rate this book, the few chapters that I have covered will have earned themselves a 4-star rating.

Christmas under a Cranberry Sky starts out remarkably well with an intense cozy feeling of Christmas in the air. The author brings out the festive mood really well by her association of all things Christmassy. There is mention of stone cottages, stone fireplaces, log cabins, log fires, real Christmas trees, mulled wine, pine cones, Christmas market and even tiny snowflakes dancing in the air.

The story is set in Stardust Lake Hotel, a winter resort on Juniper Island, the most northern island of the Scottish Isles. This hotel seems to be the perfect place to spend Christmas in with gorgeous Christmas trees bedecked in large gold ribbons, tiny fairy lights and red glass baubles. In short, the story setting is filled with Christmas spirit and the festive holiday feel.

However, as the story progresses, it slowly turns from a Christmas-themed story to one of long-lost romance. As it is, my patience for romance novel runs pretty short these days, especially for lengthy ones. So, with the change in tune, I decide to move on to my next Christmas story.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Review: The Book of Christmas: The Hidden Stories Behind Our Festive Traditions by Christopher Winn


3 stars for The Book of Christmas: The Hidden Stories Behind Our Festive Traditions by Christopher Winn.

I like very much to own a copy of this book the moment I set my eyes on it in the library. The lovely cover picture and wordings in gold take my breath away. Even the simple action of holding the book and flipping through the pages give me a sense of peace and the wondrous feeling of Christmas magic.

Naturally, I borrow the book and thought that I will definitely enjoy this read totally. But all too often, what we hope and want it to be may not happen in reality. In this case, much as I love this book of red cover and green flyleaf, it is not an easy read for me.

I love Christmas for the festive spirit, the simple, special moments of spending time together as a family, the giving and the receiving. Over the years, Christmas has come to mean whatever I want it to mean, more as a widely celebrated festival with secular features such as shopping, feasting, relaxing and family togetherness, rather than religious purposes. Perhaps it is for this reason that I find it hard to immerse myself in the finer details of Christmas and its origins and traditions and whatnots. That said, this book is still a good book to have to uncover the hidden stories behind our festive traditions.

Once again, I have managed to hold myself back from buying another book on impulse. While I am still very much attracted to this book with its beautiful cover and charming illustrations, I am glad for the cost savings as I am not sure if I will read it a second time.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Review: The Book of X by Sarah Rose Etter


2 stars for The Book of X by Sarah Rose Etter.

I am not sure what to make of this story after I am done reading. Oh heck, I am not even sure if I like it enough to be spending my time writing a review on it. The only bright side to this post is that it goes towards making an addition to my official list of books read.

Much of this book is focused on the female protagonist, Cassandra X, who is born with her stomach twisted in the shape of a knot, a hereditary condition passed down from the maternal side of the family. Throughout the book, Cassandra is constantly haunted by visions of another life, one which she yearns for and imagines as much better than her current one.

I will say The Book of X is somewhat dark and unsettling. Much is centered on Cassie and her relationship with her family and a few choice friends. The setting is fine but the mood is too melancholy for my taste. What's more? It gets darker still towards the end, like a never ending kind of depression, certainly too dark for my taste.

If you are looking for a sad and disturbing read, this is the book for you. If not, steer clear of this one.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Review: Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls


5 stars for Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls.

A combination of friendship and kinship for both the living and the dying, Ways to Live Forever is a poignant reminder to all of us that each day we live is a gift albeit one towards death.

This story is simple really and reads as if penned by a real eleven-year-old child. Surprisingly, it is this simplicity that invokes in me a maelstrom of emotions so powerful that I cry a few times too many while reading. Words are not enough to describe my feelings for this simple yet beautiful work of fiction. It feels so real, so close and so tender. It makes me think, makes me feel and makes me sad.

It is no wonder that this Children's Fiction is the winner of the 2008 Waterstones Children's Book Prize. Indeed, it is a splendid debut novel suitable for readers of all ages; for anyone who loves an intelligent, moving story.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Review: Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah


Did Not Finish Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah.

The stars must have misaligned when I start out with this book. If not, why else will I keep thinking that this is a fantasy story with paranormal elements when it is obviously not.

This story has a great start. It has all the makings of a powerful story to come, one involving the so-called Ursa Major alien and her Ursa Minor dog. Unfortunately, the potential to excel is not utilised to its benefit. I did try my best to read but soon find myself skipping chunks of the story after the halfway mark. It is a sign to stop.

I will have like to know how the story ends but I also do not want to slog through all the slow and boring dialogues. In the end, I do what I need to do by adding this book to my collection of did-not-finish.

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Review: The Invited by Jennifer McMahon


5 stars for The Invited by Jennifer McMahon.

Through five generations, nine decades and then some, this is an epic tale of family, curses, gifts, secrets, love, death and survival.

Truth be told, if any horror story can be entwined with sadness, then this chilling ghost of a story is the one. A horror and horrifyingly sad story. It is a story that not only centers on the otherworldly and unexplainable that send chills down my spine, but also one that attempts to connect the dots to a sad past, to come into objects that hold tragic memories and reveal traces of people who have touched them.

Some people move into a haunted house. But this story is about building a haunted house. Indeed, it is a dangerous game to play when the lines are blurred between the past and the present, the dead and the living. But then again, this is precisely what invites readers to The Invited and makes it such a great invitation to read.

The thing is, will you dare to be invited?

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Review: Dark Matter by Michelle Paver


5 stars for Dark Matter by Michelle Paver.

There is always a first. In this case, a first time reading a book by this same title again. My first Dark Matter (by author Blake Crouch) was a science fiction which blows me away with its concepts of quantum mechanics and multiverse. While I enjoy this second Dark Matter all the same, it cannot be more different. This is a horror story and it scares the living daylights out of me. No joke.

This book is the result of journal entries by Jack Miller, one of five participants to the 1937 Spitsbergen Expedition. It is a detailed account of events leading to the group's decision to overwinter in the abandoned mining settlement of Gruhuken in Spitsbergen. At first, Jack's entries reads like any other written record of experiences and observations, then, gradually, it becomes a clear documentation of disturbing sightings and distressing auditory imprints.

I shudder to think what it will be like living on a desolate island, let alone in solitary in one of the northernmost regions during the polar night season where night lasts more than twenty-four hours, and weeks without seeing the sun.

The author certainly does an excellent job painting a dark story, literally and figuratively. The story flows so smoothly with shocking prolonged darkness that it affects my mind in ways that I never will have anticipated. I can literally feel the stillness about the land, see the darkness closing in night after night, hear the mysterious clink of metal dragged over rocks, touch the malevolence radiating from the unknown and taste the fear brought about by perhaps an echo of the past. In short, the author has transported me to Gruhuken, an island she creates out of Thin Air (this is a post-dated link; I have no idea that I will be reviewing this book one year on, that is, when I use the term thin air here) that does not even exist on the world map. Such is the power of successful writing and storytelling.

Fabrication of Gruhuken aside, Spitsbergen and Longyearbyen as described in the book are for real. Yes, I have them checked out. Spitsbergen is the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago in northern Norway. Constituting the westernmost bulk of the archipelago, it borders the Arctic Ocean, the Norwegian Sea, and the Greenland Sea. Longyearbyen is the administrative centre and also the largest settlement on the island. It features a hospital, schools, sports centre, library, cultural centre, cinema, bus transport, hotels, a bank and several museums.

Well, I am not sure if I can stand the cold enough to like the Arctic, but I am definitely curious enough after reading this book, to wander about experiencing life in the far north. Perhaps it is worth a visit some day. One day.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Review: The Hunger by Alma Katsu


4.5 stars for The Hunger by Alma Katsu.

I really have no idea that this book is based on a true story, the ill-fated Donner Party, until I read the author's acknowledgements at the end. Once the realisation hit home, I am filled with awe at the amazing way the author weaves a tale by combining history with fiction, and a supernatural one at that.

For the benefit of those who have yet to come across this true story, the following is the gist of it.

The Donner Party was a group of American pioneers who migrated to California in a wagon train from the Midwest. Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada. Of the eighty-three persons who were snowed in at Donner Lake, forty-two perished, and of the thirty-one emigrants who left Springfield, Illinois, only eighteen lived to reach California.

Frankly speaking, because I am not familiar with the above tragic events of the Donner Party, when I look back at The Hunger, I cannot be sure which portion of it is real and which fiction. Good thing is, the author acknowledges that while much else have been changed to fit her story, names, locations and dates have remained.

In the book, there is talk of supernatural elements such as spirits, demons, skinwalkers and the like and then, there is the natural occurrence of things such as human nature, anger, jealousy and resentment. When combined, it makes for a powerful storyline, one where you cannot be sure which is more dangerous when it rears its ugly head.

As to the wagon party, the author does a remarkable job giving life and depth to some of the more important characters. All of them have a reason for making this perilous journey from Springfield, Illinois to the West, to California, the land of opportunity, and each has his or her own secret to tell. Secrets that are revealed through an inner voice that the author cleverly furnishes the characters with.

The thing most worthy to note in the entire tragedy of this story is that of the human mind. Trapped by mountain of mountains, vast desert, endless prairie, wide rivers, deep snow, it is scary to think what the human mind is capable of. The human mind is, after all, susceptible to insidious influence, especially when people are hungry, tired, and afraid.

Much as I love this story and am prepared to give a 5-star rating at halfway mark, I cannot help but feel disappointed with the ending. Not that the ending is no good, but it feels kind of abrupt when there are still some loose ends to tie up. Perhaps it is a deliberate move by the author to go ambiguous and leave it to the reader's imagination. Still, I will have preferred a more definite ending, not one that triggers a need to find out more by reading the real story behind the fictional one.

Then again, regardless of the closure, the Donner Party true story, has piqued my interest. Yes, I will like to follow up on the two books recommended by the author for further reading. It will be an eye-opener to learn more about the events in this doomed wagon train.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Review: Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan


4 stars for Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan.

There are many books I want to read and many others I want to reread. It is not for lack of want but rather the lack of time that I always choose new reads over old. There is just that much time, that many hours we have in a day which can possibly be allotted to exploring new authors, new books that reading a book all over again takes on a secondary role. Not that I am bragging, but by revisiting this book and finishing it one more time, I think it is by all means no small feat.

I first read this book in my early teens. If I have not read it then, I doubt I will have enjoyed it as much when I read it now. I believe some stories, especially the Young Adult novels, are best read when you are young, say in your teens, when you are still a long way off from being jaded by reality.

Glad as I am to read this story again, to undergo the horrors and spine-tingling moments drawn out by author Duncan's superb writing, especially at the end of each chapters, I regret to say that I am not able to find the original edition of the story, the one which I have indulged myself in so many years ago.

For practical reasons, the author feels the need to revise her story by incorporating the changes - mobile phone, internet access, messaging, etc - in technology since her story was first written in 1974. Yes, I can understand all that, but still, I will have preferred the old version as it is what I have grown up reading. For the past many weeks, I have tried in vain to secure a copy - whether new or used - of the original book. It will be really nice to own the first edition version to keep my memories of the author who has passed on three years ago.

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Review: The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs


4 stars for The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs.

It seems like only yesterday that my Literature teacher shared this story with a class full of fourteen-year-old students. Since then, I have lost count of the number of times I have retold this story never mind the fact that I have never read it myself and in all likelihood, have gotten some of the finer details wrong.

Donkey's years later, I have finally read The Monkey's Paw. Surprisingly, I find myself enjoying this short story much as if I am reading it for the very first time.

In truth, the creepy tale of the Monkey's Paw connects to me in a way no other short story does. And perhaps because I learn of its presence for as long as I remember, it feels like a timeless story to me, one with an underlying message - be careful what you wish for.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Review: Tell No One by Harlan Coben


2 stars for Tell No One by Harlan Coben.

I have read so much - too much - positive feedback on author Coben's books that I think it is not a good thing. Because my expectation for his stories skyrockets.

I am greatly disappointed and sorry to say that Tell No One has not lived up to expectations. The story starts out promising with an air of mystery. The accused is an upstanding member of the community with roots and ties. Everything is fine, that is until I come to the part where the FBI and local cops are deliberately and annoyingly incompetent. And suddenly, it is not fine anymore. The plot has somewhat turned unconvincing and unbelievable.

I manage to finish the book but it is a close call for me to throw in the towel. I will still give some of author Coben's books another go but for the time being, I have enough to last me for quite a while.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Review: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr


4 stars for All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.

This book has been on my reading list for as long as I can remember. I am never in a hurry to read it for so many reasons that I can think of. Finally, the time seems about right as I thought to buddy read with my colleague J whose daughter highly recommends it to. In the end when I reach the last page of my book, colleague J reaches the end of her patience, 95% short of mine or thereabouts.

All the Light We Cannot See is a literary fiction that is slow moving but not boring, interesting but not compelling. It may not be my favourite of the favourites for this genre, but the story does have its own unique way of subtly drawing the reader in, if we allow ourselves to.

Set in the time of World War II, this is a story beautifully written to combine true events with a cast of fictional characters. To name a few, it tells of a father's unconditional and boundless love for his daughter, a blind girl's bravery to wake up everyday and live her life, an old man's fear of the ghosts residing in his mind, an old woman's choice to be alive before she dies, an orphan boy's determination to escape the fate of walking the tunnels of the mines where his father has died in, a younger sister's ability to understand more about the workings of the world than her brother.

And then, at the heart of it all is an enchanting legend whereupon lies the entire story and its characters, without which there will be no tale to tell. The Sea of Flames, the size of a pigeon’s egg, the shape of a teardrop, the colour of blue sea with a touch of red at its core, a one-hundred-and-thirty-three-carat diamond, is as rare as the legend goes. Sounds good? Definitely. But the thing is, this precious stone comes with a curse: the keeper of the stone will live forever, but so long as he keeps it, misfortunes will fall on all those he loves one after another in unending rain.

I love the idea of putting forth a folklore, especially one that is so ingeniously weaved into a not-so-long-ago history, to gather up people from all walks of life and thereafter look beyond their facades to see these same people within. With the legend of the Sea of Flames, it is hard to fathom how something so small in size can weigh down the heart of one who possesses it, or the one who pursues it. But then, where matters of life and death is concerned, we can never know for sure.

Now that I have finished the book, I offer to tell the story to colleague J who has decided that she has enough of the story in print. Perhaps she may enjoy listening to the story from me more than reading it by herself. In any case, I am always happy to be the storyteller, especially when the story is a good one.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Review: My Sunshine Away by M. O. Walsh


5 stars for My Sunshine Away by M. O. Walsh.

This book reads very much like a memoir with a good dose of mystery. On the surface, it reads like any other mystery novel to uncover a crime which has been committed, but as I read on, I realise there is actually much more to it, more literary than mystery.

The narrator shares his story reminiscing the pangs of growing up through the onset of his first crush. Through flashbacks, memories of times past with an anchor of before and after, confession of guilt and fantasies, the protagonist tells his difficult years as an adolescent struggling to understand love, responsibilities and what is expected of him.

Sometimes growing up is painful, but oftentimes, it is beautiful too. In this regard, the author does a remarkable job putting them across in print by the use of imagery to create lyrical emotions. I believe, this is one of the reasons that I manage to stop myself from the headlong dash through the book to unravel the mystery, to find out the perpetrator of this horrible crime. After all, it is not the destination but the journey that matters. To this end, I take my time reading and enjoy the story totally.

Indeed, My Sunshine Away is a journey worth travelling, with the destination a bonus upon reaching. I cannot praise it enough. A literary novel with a good dose of mystery where the end of the first chapter is as gratifying as the beginning of the last.

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Review: Death Rejoices (Marnie Baranuik Files #2) by A. J. Aalto


2.5 stars for Death Rejoices (Marnie Baranuik Files book 2) by A. J. Aalto.

This book is a bit of a disappointment after the last one. I guess ideas and expressions, no matter how good, if used too frequently, get stale after a while, cheeky banter and sexual innuendo are no exception.

Then again, perhaps not all is lost, depending on how one sees it. I do get something out of this book which translates to a few more choice words to consider in time of need. Since one never knows when said time will arise, it may be good to know that in place of the widely used "P" word, there are others to select from, such as schlong, wiener, phallus, wanger. You get my drift?

Saturday, August 31, 2019

Review: Touched (Marnie Baranuik Files #1) by A. J. Aalto


5 stars for Touched (Marnie Baranuik Files book 1) by A. J. Aalto.

Going by the book title, one that sounds just so.. Young Adult, I will never have imagined it possible, but the truth is, I have a helluva time with this book!

I have to admit that it does take some getting used to the author's writing style at first, as there is always an element of sexual innuendo, making its appearance when I least expect it. Oh, dont't get me wrong, I mean it in a good kind of way, that the author has a sense of humor that is decidedly quirky. Unusual. Interesting. Appealing. And once I am sufficiently acquainted with it, I find myself really happy to be reading the story, the conversations, the internal thought processes. Yes, the lighthearted banter and dry humor tickle my funny bone to no end.

Humor and innuendo aside, this book one of the Marnie Baranuik series check all the right boxes on my urban fantasy radar. There is mystery and suspense, paranormal and romance, living and undead, power and action.

And then, there is the unconventional to the point of being endearing choice of words to describe some of the characters.

Vampire, the undead or immortal is now addressed as Revenant, or better yet, literally and figuratively, Cold Company. The human who is bonded to a vampire is known as Daysitter, or in Marnie's case, Dearheart. Special Agent Mark Batten, the vampire hunter, depending on what the situation demands, is called Kill-Notch or Brawn or Jerkface.

All things aside, I think I am smitten by a certain cultured centuries-old British aristocrat. His unflagging loyalty and devotion to the female protagonist flutters my heart as much as the way he speaks in old English. In case you are wondering, he is none other than Lord Guy Harrick Dreppenstedt of London, England, a four hundred and thirty-five-year-old revenant.

In one of my earlier posts, I briefly mention my fear of possibly outgrowing the urban fantasy world. That is an understatement. I am in fact terrified. I love urban fantasy novels and want to read as many as I can.

With Touched, I think I may have found the right urban fantasy series to revive my interest in the otherworldly phenomenon and sustain my leisurely pursuit of this alternate world once again. With eight more instalments to go, half of which are novellas, I am definitely in for a treat.

Friday, August 9, 2019

Review: My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing


4 stars for My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing.

I first come across this book in a Kinokuniya bookstore a couple months ago. While the book cover grabs my attention, the same cannot be said for the cliché book title. Regardless, I flip to the first chapter to have a feel of the writing. Hmm.. not bad. Not too bad. First person narratives. Male protagonist. Tobias. Deaf. Man meets woman. Or rather, woman meets man. Uh-uh.. Is this story going to be another sad love mystery novel? I have no idea then. But I know Tobias has piqued my interest.

Now that I am done with the book, I will say that there is no love lost between Tobias and the whoever. Anyway, that is not important. The main point about this story is that it makes me think about the people around us. Do we really know them, including and especially our own family members whom we see everyday and, for most if not all, live under the same roof? Do we know our family as well as we think we do? For sure? For real?

My Lovely Wife is dark and intriguing though not the kind of script where I will fall head over heels in love with, thanks to the way the story develops with disturbing, messed up characters. Even so, I give points to the unexpected twists and turns along the way that do well to match the equally twisted characters. The build-up of mystery and suspense is good, but the ending is kind of anticlimactic; too good to be true and leaves much to be desired.

My Lovely Wife is nothing but lovely; readers will love it. Or.. My Lovely Wife is everything but lovely; readers will hate it. No matter how, My Lovely Wife makes a lovely addition to my repertoire of literary criticism.

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Review: Trail of Lightning (Sixth World #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse


2 stars for Trail of Lightning (Sixth World book 1) by Rebecca Roanhorse.

All thanks to this book "Stranger with My Face" which I read in my early teens, I have always had an interest in stories related to the Diné or Navajo people and their culture. So when I chance upon this book, I know I just have to give it a go.

Set in the rich world of Dinétah, the traditional homeland of the Navajo tribe of Native Americans, the Dinés are isolated from the rest of the world by a 50 foot wall which is constructed to protect the population after the Energy Wars and the Big Water. Though the story is set in a relatively small geographical area, it feels vast and unexplored, with a network of towns and villages populated by a wide variety of inhabitants.

There are witches, monsters, magic, medicine, big medicine, guns and clan powers. I think that about sum up everything. I am intrigued by the first three chapters but thereafter, it seems like a Young Adult paranormal romance novel where the moves can easily be expected.

Perhaps I have read a lot of urban fantasy novels, or that my expectation has changed over the years, I find it hard to be impressed these days. So while I am fine enough to finish reading this book, I am not sure if I am invested enough to pick up the next one. I seriously hope this is not a sign that I have outgrown the world of the urban fantasy.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Review: The Rules of Magic (Practical Magic #0.5) by Alice Hoffman


Did Not Finish The Rules of Magic (Practical Magic book 0.5) by Alice Hoffman.

Once again, I did not finish reading the Practical Magic series, but it is not for lack of trying.

The story starts out well, in fact, more than just well. There is an air of mystics that coats the characters and I like to read on to unravel the mystery surrounding the three siblings, two sisters and a brother, who keep trying and failing to break away from their magical lineage. Alas, what is meant to be is bound to happen, whether they approve or not. What’s done cannot be undone. What’s set into motion takes on a life of its own... Does it not sound interesting? It certainly does.

Unfortunately, at more than halfway mark of the book, there is a twist to the story, a twist which I find unnecessary and thus, hard to accept. And with that, the whole story tumbles downhill. Fast. I struggle on some and then decide that enough is enough. 60%.

Sunday, July 7, 2019

Review: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd


3 stars for The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

I like this story; like it well enough to read it from the beginning to the end, but not enough to give it a high enough 5-star rating. Don't get me wrong. This is a good story, but just one which lacks the propensity to resonate with me.

To begin with, this novel is set in the South America, South Carolina, in 1964, the year of Civil Rights Act and intensifying racial unrest. It is set in a time and place which can not have been more different from the one I am from. As if this is not enough, there is the Virgin Mary or rather the Black Mary story, a story within the story which I did not enjoy reading on.

Regardless of setting and religious connotation, the Secret Life of Bees is a touching story that explores life's wounds, uncovers the deeper meaning of home and shows us the way to come to terms with the past. To live and let live.

Sunday, June 30, 2019

Review: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens


5 stars for Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.

I am never one who is into mystery novel with third person narratives. It is neither my preferred nor usual choice of read. But still, I choose to read this book; this one book which everyone's been raving about. As a booklover, my worst fear is missing out on a good story. And so I reckon I should give it a go.

It is only an ok for me at first. The initial 30% of the story is somewhat slow moving, uneventful, at least that is how it is to me. Then it gets better and better until I simply have to keep the pages turning. I finish the entire book in record two days' time. Unbelievable!

Where the Crawdads Sing is a painfully beautiful story on many levels. It is a thought-provoking story that revolves around the theme of survival, loneliness, isolation and acceptance. A deeply moving story that leaves behind its ghostly imprint even long after the book's been read. It is no wonder that this book clinches the top spot in Amazon best selling list for 2019 (42 weeks on the list so far).

I am glad to have read this book. Even more glad to have read it all, right down to the last page, last word, to the very end. An end that I expect all along and yet am still surprised when I see the words in print. In my opinion, that is the most beautiful part of this storytelling.

And now, without coercion of any kind, I have joined the ranks of booklovers out there in recommending this book.

A must read.

Sunday, June 23, 2019

Review: Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt


5 stars for Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home is not a thriller. Nor is it a mystery novel. And definitely not a romance either. Then why am I so sucked into the story and keep pondering over it?

Because there are so many things to like about this book. The title. The book cover. The short chapters. The writing. The storyline. The setting. The characters. Basically, everything.

Because it is a story, one of its kind. A powerful story that explores the dynamics of relationship within the family. And mind you, it is not skin deep but deep. Heartfelt.

Because it is a sad kind of story. About opportunities. Chances. Second chance. Changes. Dreams. Friendship. Bonding. Jealousy. Sadness. Hopes.

Because it is a tender story. Of love. Love that is lost and found. Of wrong love. Meanness that can come out of loving someone too much.

Because it is a book that reads very much like a non-fiction even though it is not. With facts of the world that fit the story just right, the topic of death lurks in the background and creeps up on you. How do you keep the memories of someone you love alive? How do you seal a promise with a dead person?

Because I see the 14-year old me peeking out from behind the eyes of the protagonist. The good. The bad. The walls building up and up around her and then slowly collapsing and crumbling into nothingness.

Because it just is.

Sunday, June 16, 2019

Review: Grave Destiny (Alex Craft #6) by Kalayna Price


Did Not Finish Grave Destiny (Alex Craft book 6) by Kalayna Price.

I find it hard to believe that I have actually spent the better half of the year reading non-fiction on the account that I am not a great fan of this genre.

After six months of non-stop non-fiction, this is supposed to be a fun return to the urban fantasy world of Alex Craft which I so love. Sadly and unfortunately, the overuse of flowery language suppresses the story and action so much that it makes for an extremely slow and tiring read. I get the unpleasant feeling that it is a test of my patience; a test which I am doomed to fail at less than halfway mark of the book.

I have never thought I will see the day when the Alex Craft series no longer manage to sustain my interest. But alas, the day has come. I feel sad, for myself and for Alex Craft.

Saturday, June 8, 2019

Review: Yakuza Moon: Memoirs of a Gangster's Daughter by Shoko Tendo


4 stars for Yakuza Moon: Memoirs of a Gangster's Daughter by Shoko Tendo.

I am blessed to be gifted a copy of this book in July 2017. I have finally read it. Two years late. But better late than never.

Seriously, this book is not what I will have expected, even though I did not really hold any expectations prior to reading it. Still, I do not expect it to be such a heart-rending story, a true life story that is filled with bullying, delinquency, drugs, imprisonment, love, violence, marriage, divorce, debt, eating disorders, attempted suicide, sickness, and death.

Though this is a memoir by a Yakuza's daughter, bulk of the story centers on herself and her downward spiral to drug abuse rather than that of her family and especially her father, the Yakuza. Yes, this book is a very brave end product of the baring of truths, of a life lived in the pit of despair and misery, but I will gladly welcome more shedding of light about the life and inner workings of a Yakuza.

Wisdom comes with knowledge.
Knowledge comes with experience.
Experience comes with age.
Age comes with time.

With knowledge, experience and time, I hope that Shoko Tendo is finally living her life the way she wants it and is now at peace with herself and her family.

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Review: My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward: A Memoir by Mark Lukach


4 stars for My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward: A Memoir by Mark Lukach.

This is a difficult book to read; not because it is boring or badly written, but because it is a blatantly honest outpour of a husband's innermost thoughts and beliefs and actions that do not sit well with me.

The husband thinks that there is a pill that can and will fix all mental problems. I know it must have been terrible to feel helpless and clueless but it is frustrating and traumatizing to see the husband sending his wife to the hospital and Psych Ward time and again, to be pinned down by orderlies to have medication injected into her body.

It is also equally disturbing to read about the mental health system as described in the book as it goes about its way of admitting and treating patients. It seems like a whole load of self-serving, profit driven structure where doctors dish out drugs too readily and think that they are above all, that their decisions are the best, when in fact, I don't see them putting the patients' interests at heart at all.

Overall, what I see mostly is a controlling husband who does not know how to give space, who suffocates the wife with well-intentioned but ill-managed care, who does not trust the wife to make her own choices and decisions, who tries to control and run the wife's life, and on top of it all, who believes medication and pills are the solution to anxiety, stress and depression.

The above said, at the end of the day, who am I to criticize the husband's beliefs and actions? It is after all his life to live and none of my business. Still, I am glad to have read this book, expressed my view and said my piece.

Friday, May 17, 2019

Review: Cracked: The Unhappy Truth about Psychiatry by James Davies


5 stars for Cracked: The Unhappy Truth about Psychiatry by James Davies.

The book is easy to read, thought provoking and it challenges what we think we know about psychiatry - the study and treatment of mental illness, emotional disturbance, and abnormal behaviour. It should be read by anyone who thinks there is a pill that will fix your problems, and by everyone who is concerned on the basic humanity and social well-being.

The official story we often hear is that psychiatry has the tools and knowledge at its disposal to help us when our lives break down. In reality, the psychiatry industry has often resorted to half-truths and cover-ups. The book addresses the pressing issues with psychiatry, breaks them down and tells it all.

- Why has psychiatry become the fastest-growing medical specialism when it still has the poorest curative success?

- Why are psychiatric drugs now more widely prescribed than almost any other medical drugs in history, despite their dubious efficacy?

- Why does psychiatry, without solid scientific justification, keep expanding the number of mental disorders it believes to exist — from 106 in 1952, to 374 today? What is going on?

- What role does our biology play in our mental distress?

The truth is never far behind. There is no smoke without fire. It is an unfortunate but ugly truth. And the truth is, psychiatry can be explained simply as the lure of power and money putting the pursuit of pharmaceutical riches and medical status above that of patients’ well-being.

Written to create and heighten awareness, this book educates and enables people to be better informed about the current state psychiatry is in; to get away from the escalating craze for psychiatric drugs and diagnoses. As the proverb goes "all that glitters is not gold", we need to be wary of what we read in the news and decide for ourselves what the truth is.

If you are not already aware of the numerous doctors being enticed by huge pharmaceutical rewards into creating more disorders and prescribing more pills, of the psychiatric organization concealing information and distorting the facts, this book is a good place to start.

Saturday, May 11, 2019

Review: Hiroshima: The Autobiography of Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakazawa


4.5 stars for Hiroshima: The Autobiography of Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakazawa.

Keiji Nakazawa was born on 14 March 1939 in Hiroshima, Japan and was 6 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on his hometown.

This book is an account of his life during and after the second world war: fleeing the hell of the atomic bomb in a bustling city wiped out and buried in corpses, overcoming with great difficulty the postwar shortage of food and struggling against all odds to survive.

There is much horror, sadness, anger and unhappiness in Nakazawa's narratives. But there is also hope and optimism as he seek ways to channel his pent-up frustration and bitterness about the war and aftermath of the atomic bomb through the world of manga to create awareness for the next generation.

Saturday, May 4, 2019

Review: To Hell and Back: The Last Train from Hiroshima by Charles Pellegrino


4 stars for To Hell and Back: The Last Train from Hiroshima by Charles Pellegrino.

Annihilation of mankind. This is what comes to the forefront of your mind as I flip to read the first few pages and take on the journey from Hiroshima to Nagasaki on the last train.

This is not a book about the geostrategic issues of great power conflict, nor is it about the rights and wrongs of dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima (6 Aug 1945) and Nagasaki (9 Aug 1945) in Japan.

This is an insightful and powerful book on the subject of bombings. It focuses on the singular mission of chronicling the lives of ordinary and extraordinary people before and after the A-bomb. It brings to life, the experience of the people and the endless aftermath. It transports readers into a world that is frightening and painful.

The horrors as told in the book are based on eyewitness accounts supported by knowledgeable and reasonable guesses about the unknown, such as what happened to the people who disappeared at the hypocenters. It is hell for those who died. It is also hell for those who survived; the burdens the hibakusha carried, and the prejudices against them seemed to know no end. The social stigma attached to being an atomic bomb survivor is so strong in Japan that to live on, these people had to hide their identities and disappear. The scary truth is that it still is a continuing sad story of survivor suffering seven decades on.

Nuclear war is an often predicted cause of the extinction of humanity. If World War III ever come to be one day, it can and in all likelihood will be the cause of total annihilation of humankind.

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Review: Alibaba: The House that Jack Ma Built by Duncan Clark


4 stars for Alibaba: The House that Jack Ma Built by Duncan Clark.

This book is a joy to read.

It is easy to read about the success of people, the founders of so-and-so companies, but it is not often that we get to learn about the difficulties faced or the sheer amount of hard work put in or even the many failed attempts undergone before these people come to be where they are today.

In the book, the author tells the remarkable story of how Alibaba Group Holding Limited - a company registered in the Cayman Islands but based in China, controlled by a partnership which does not actually own the business assets in China, and subsequently listed in the United States New York Stock Exchange - come to be and its goals for the future.

Another reason this book provides enjoyment reading is that the author has a good grasp of the Chinese language. By using the Hanyu Pinyin, a Mandarin phonetic transcription system, together with corresponding English explanations, he succeeds in relating the story content in his own way while retaining the Chinese flavour of what the book is like.

Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, a former English teacher turned businessman, philosopher, philanthropist, environmentalist, has big vision for the company. It does seem as if Alibaba wants a share in everything, from business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce to business-to-consumer (B2C) to health care to environment to sports and entertainment to even the newspaper industry which some consider to be a sunset industry.

Can Alibaba survive long enough in today's cutthroat industry to span three centuries from its incorporation in 1999 to see its vision come to fruition? Only time will tell.

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Review: The Invitation-Only Zone: The True Story of North Korea's Abduction Project by Robert S. Boynton


2 stars for The Invitation-Only Zone: The True Story of North Korea's Abduction Project by Robert S. Boynton.

I feel bad giving this book a 2-star rating given that it is deeply reported and thoroughly researched and that the author has invested countless hours of hard work fact-checking to get this book published.

The thing is, this book reads very much like a boring history lesson, albeit perhaps a necessary one for better understanding as it alternates between the abductees' stories and history of Japan and North Korea.

Regardless of unexciting historical events, this book does address political and social issues such as:

- Why did North Korea go to the trouble of snatching ordinary Japanese people from beaches and small towns?

- Why did Kim Il-sung invite Japan’s Koreans to move to North Korea? With all the challenges it faced in the wake of the Korean War, why would North Korea want such an enormous infusion of people?

- Anyone who is born and raised in the North knows that identity within the society determines fate. It does not matter how smart one is or how hard one works. If identity or public image or presentation is not correct, one will never marry well, will never get the right job and will never succeed.

Sunday, April 7, 2019

Review: Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West by Blaine Harden


4 stars for Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West by Blaine Harden.

Kaechon political prison camp, also known as Camp 14, was established in 1959. At time of this post, Camp 14 is a sixty-year-old Skinner box, an ongoing experiment in repression and mind control in which guards breed prisoners whom they control, isolate and pit against one another from birth.

Born (1982) and raised in a political prison, Shin In Geun is reputed to be the only known prisoner to have successfully escaped from a "total-control zone" grade internment camp in North Korea, one of the world's most brutal totalitarian regimes.

Escape from Camp 14 is Shin's account of the misery of life in the North Korean gulag and his subsequent escape. He is not only a witness to but also an example of North Korea’s cruelty to its own people. His body is a roadmap of the hardships of growing up in a labour camp, a walking proof of those tortures he has been subjected to.

I am very much affected by what I read in this book. It is a depressing story. But what makes it even more disturbing and scary is that these hardships and cruelty are not dealt by enemies but by the country's leaders to its very own people.

Camp 14 and all the other labour camps are clearly visible in satellite photographs. Yet, North Korea government denies the existence of these camps. Read this book to find out more and decide for yourself what the truth is. But be forewarned, not all that is presented in the book is real. In 2015, some years after the first edition of publication, Shin discloses that his life in the North Korean gulag differ from what he has been telling government leaders, human rights activists, and journalists. I will recommend to read the new foreword first to prepare for Shin's admission of fabrication.

Sunday, March 31, 2019

Review: A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea by Masaji Ishikawa


5 stars for A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea by Masaji Ishikawa.

I have heard of stories told about famine and starvation in North Korea. But it is only after reading this book that I realise how dire the situation was and in all likelihood still is. It is indeed an eye-opener, sadly, a very educational but disturbing true story about the conditions in North Korea that is bound to affect the psyche of any who reads it. You name it. The book has it.

Cruelty
Despair
Desperation
Exhaustion
Fear
Frustration
Hardship
Hopelessness
Oppression
Misery
Starvation

Masaji Ishikawa was born in Kawasaki, Japan in 1947 to a Korean father and Japanese mother. In 1960, at the age of thirteen, Masaji moved with his parents and three sisters to North Korea, where they were promised a new life in a paradise on earth. Instead, they were consigned to a living hell. In 1996, after thirty-six years of struggling to stay alive, Masaji made a desperate bid to escape from that impoverished hellhole that was North Korea. He currently resides in Japan.

This is his story.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. There is so much more in North Korea than nuclear weapons. It makes me appreciate my life and all that I have, right down to the very basic necessities that most of us take for granted. Perhaps because it is my first time reading on North Korea, one of the world's most brutal totalitarian regimes, Ishikawa's story leaves a deep impact and impression. Each time I am reminded of Ishikawa's life, the incredible hardship and starvation, I feel so blessed to be where I am and what I am today.

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Review: Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance


2 stars for Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance.

This book follows Elon Musk's life from his childhood up to the time he spent at Zip2 and PayPal, and then onto SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity.

Musk's deep-seated interest in rockets, space exploration, electric cars and solar power technology is astounding. You have got to hand it to him, his optimistic vision and relentless drive to execute.

Well, I am not a car enthusiast nor am I into space travel or Mars or solar energy. I am sorry but not sorry to say it is difficult for me to understand the pursuit of Musk's dreams. But still, I do enjoy reading the first one third of the book before it goes into technical details of rocket making, electric cars, solar panels, funding matters and the ugliness of power wrestling.

This is not a book that I will recommend to just about anyone. Technically speaking, this book is well written and you can tell that the author has done a great background job on all things Elon Musk related. However, unless you are already a fan or staunch follower of Elon Musk, the likelihood of losing interest along the way and skipping chunks of this book is rather high. Read it or not at all.

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Review: Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery by Henry Marsh


5 stars for Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery by Henry Marsh.

Henry Marsh is leading English neurosurgeon. He retires from full-time practice in 2015. Do No Harm is a brutally honest account of his life's work, his 40-year career as a brain surgeon.

As with any human, neurosurgeon Marsh makes his share of mistakes in his life. The stories in this book are about his attempts, and occasional failures, to find a balance between the necessary detachment and compassion that a surgical career requires, a balance between hope and realism.

Having read this memoir, I understand better the difficulties that doctors face. But I also view doctors in a different light now.

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Review: Admissions: A Life in Brain Surgery by Henry Marsh


4 stars for Admissions: A Life in Brain Surgery by Henry Marsh.

I come to know of this book by chance. The title somehow grabs my attention and I know I must read the book.

This book is about medicine and neurosurgery, more than that, it is about life as a neurosurgeon.

Here, author Marsh reveals much of his inner thoughts and feelings:

  • Why he is always a little anxious when waiting to operate and when operating, and why he has to affect a complete calm and confidence, something which he does not inwardly feel

  • Why it is important for surgeons to radiate self confidence

  • Why surgeons feel easily threatened by their own colleagues

  • Why surgeons often disparage their colleagues and even give evidence against one another as expert witnesses.

  • Why surgeons carry cemeteries within themselves

  • Why medical decisions - whether to treat, how much to investigate - are often not clear-cut.

  • Why health care costs are getting more and more expensive, running out of control.

  • Why patients or their families have wholly unrealistic expectations of what medicine can achieve, and take it very ill if things go badly.

  • Why doctors have to supress their natural empathy, to not learn but unlearn empathy.

  • Why it is so remarkably difficult as a doctor to find the correct balance between compassion and detachment

  • Why an awake craniotomy is recommended to remove tumour in the brain rather than with the patient asleep under a general anaesthetic, and how it is done

Food for thought.. what is the role of the doctor?

The role of the doctor is not just to save life at any cost, but also to reduce suffering.

If surgeons operate on everybody, without any regard to the probable outcome, they will create terrible suffering for some of the patients and even more so for their families.

Saturday, February 23, 2019

Review: Palmistry, Orion Plain and Simple by Sasha Fenton


4 stars for Palmistry, Orion Plain and Simple by Sasha Fenton.

This book covers the basics of hand reading. It shows us how easy it is to read hands for fun and to weigh someone up without their knowledge.

Now that I have finished reading this palmistry book, it may be interesting to practice on my friends to see how accurate I can get to their characters, goals, objectives or even long term destiny. I may even be able to impress them with my hands reading knowledge.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Review: Chakras, Orion Plain and Simple by Sasha Fenton


4 stars for Chakras, Orion Plain and Simple by Sasha Fenton.

I have always been interested to read up on Chakras. This introductory book, plain and simple, is exactly what I need.

What are chakras?
Chakras are invisible energy points in our bodies. They are very much like aura which is an invisible result of our body's energy.

Why chakras?
Many considered Chakras to be a very ancient form of survival mechanism that exists in all animals and human beings. The chakras keep our life force moving throughout our bodies. When this important energy is blocked, the result is illness, both physical and emotional. Thus, it is necessary to understand what each chakra represents so that we can focus our healing efforts on the proper chakra. By identifying chakras that need to be cleared, balanced, aligned, mended and healed, we can hasten the healing process on top of conventional treatment and in turn, maintain health and vitality.

This book is divided into four parts.

Part One explains Chakras and how to work with them.

Part Two discusses the physical and emotional systems governed by each of the seven chakras, mainly:

- the base chakra
- the sacral chakra
- the solar plexus chakra
- the heart chakra
- the throat chakra
- the brow (third eye) chakra
- the crown chakra

Part Three is about chakra healing and Part Four is on additional chakras, that is, those beyond the seven chakras mentioned above.

I will recommend this book to those of you who have an inkling of what chakras are and still keen to find out more. Chakras, Orion Plain and Simple is easy to read and understand. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Saturday, February 9, 2019

Review: Numerology, Orion Plain and Simple by Anne Christie


4 stars for Numerology, Orion Plain and Simple by Anne Christie.

I always have this notion that numbers are boring stuff. But this book makes me think otherwise. It gives a good introduction to the fascinating study of numerology and provides us with some tools to understand ourselves as well as others.

Numerology can be scientific but it can also be simple and fun as it enables us to pinpoint areas that we can work on for our personal growth. One does not have to be a Mathematician nor possess any special talent to understand the use of numbers and keywords for numerology.

There are many variations on getting the numbers, depending on the name you usually call yourself, or your full birth name, or your date of birth.

To name a few, the reading on numbers include:
- name number
- personality number
- heart number
- life path number
- destiny number
- karmic number

While it is fun to calculate the numbers and read up on its interpretation, it will not do any good to become obsessive about it. After all, the most important factor in life is to have a positive attitude. So, let's have fun with Numerology but don't be too affected by the readings.

Monday, February 4, 2019

Review: Medicine Wheel Astrology, Orion Plain and Simple by Deborah Durbin


3 stars for Medicine Wheel Astrology, Orion Plain and Simple by Deborah Durbin.

This book introduces the medicine wheel concept, a concept that is unique to Native American thought and encompasses lifestyle, cultural and spiritual identity. It also looks at totem animals and teaches us how to find our primary and secondary totems. In a way, I am glad that the last book I read is Totem Animals, so I have a pretty good idea about totems already.

As the title goes, readers do not need to know about birth charts, Sun signs and Moon signs, nor do we need any prior knowledge of astrology to delve successfully into the world of Native American Astrology.

Here the word "medicine" is used broadly to mean "putting things into their natural order and creating harmony". It explores each of the twelve zodiac sign in the Native American astrological system, along with the traits and information carried for that particular sign.

Unfortunately, I am actually looking forward to reading about medicine in the sense of medication, drug, prescription, dose and treatment. As a result, I am disappointed that this book is more of an astrology kind of reading instead of what I am expecting.

Note:
This book was previously published in 2009 as Simple Native American Astrology by Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., New York.

Monday, January 28, 2019

Review: Totem Animals, Orion Plain and Simple by Celia M. Gunn


4 stars for Totem Animals, Orion Plain and Simple by Celia M. Gunn.

An animal totem is an animal that we feel connected to. Getting to know our totem animal and working with it will allow us to be better connected to the Earth and live in harmony with the natural world and in turn, help us solve life's problems and live a happier life.

This book provides a rather comprehensive list of totem animals, listed alphabetically from A to Z. It is interesting to read on what each of them represents and their unique meaning.

I like the idea of having an animal or a bird as a personal spirit guide to call upon for guidance and security. After reading this book, I now have a pretty good idea which animal is my lifelong animal totem.

Monday, January 21, 2019

Review: Flower Essences, Orion Plain and Simple by Linda Perry


4 stars for Flower Essences, Orion Plain and Simple by Linda Perry.

This book provides a plain and simple introduction to what flower essences are, their vibrational healing qualities and how they can be used to naturally support and maintain our health in a holistic way.

It is a joy to read this book. It is filled with positive vibes and brings about a spiritual sense of purpose as it reminds me that nature is there to bring me peace and support me through life's events.

Flower Essences is all about energy signature; a plant's energy, its life force and its vibration. We learn how to harness what nature has in store for us while understanding our own subtle energies and discovering our own inner world.

The book is divided into three parts.

Part One is all about what we need to know on essences; what essences are, how to choose an essence that is right for us and how to make a bottle of essence. In fact, by using the suggested recommendations, we may find that more than one essence connects with our needs.

To better our understanding on how essences are used to affect our own vibrational energy signature otherwise known as life force, there is an entire chapter dedicated to concepts -
chakras and subtle bodies - necessary for us to understand about our own life force.

Part Two provides information on essences that have been made from flowers, trees and plants. Here the author chooses to share and tell the messages of selected flower essences due to her experience of making them herself.

Part Three provides a glossary of essences and their uses. There are also some case studies.

This book has certainly inspire me to begin my own journey on improving my health and well-being. I will love to step into the world of essences to explore my interest and further my research on the power of healing with flower essences.

Monday, January 14, 2019

Review: Psychic Ability, Orion Plain and Simple by Ann Caulfield


3 stars for Psychic Ability, Orion Plain and Simple by Ann Caulfield.

Do you believe that to be intuitive is to be psychic and therefore, everyone is psychic to some degree? Do you believe that our lives are mapped out for us before we are born, and that our time of death is preordained? Well, if your answer is yes and yes, just as I do, then this book is for you.

This practical guide teaches us to identify and expand our psychic abilities, to unlock our intuition and discover the power of perception, specifically extrasensory perception (ESP) which is also known as telepathy.

Topics covered range from emotional to mental mediumship:

- how to open and develop your psychic centers (chakras)

- how to reveal the history of an object by holding it (psychometry)

- how to read the past and present of the human aura (auric reading)

- how to use tarot as a psychic pathway

- how to perform astral travel

- how to perform psychic healing

- clairvoyance (seeing spirit)

- clairaudience (hearing spirit)

- clairsentience (feeling spirit)

Most interesting of all, I feel, is the chapter where the author explains her belief in fate and relates her insights from readings, sightings and dreams. In my opinion, this book will have been even better if the author chooses to share more of her personal experiences. I will love to read them.

Monday, January 7, 2019

Review: I Ching, Orion Plain and Simple by Kim Farnell


4 stars for i Ching, Orion Plain and Simple by Kim Farnell.

This book is a practical guide to the basics of the i Ching. It explains the divinatory system of the i Ching and provides clear and concise interpretations for each of the 64 hexagrams and the 8 trigrams.

So, what exactly is the i Ching? Plainly speaking, the words i Ching means "The Book of Changes". The philosophy behind the i Ching is that nothing is constant and everything changes over time. So, our task is to adjust to the ebb and flow of changing circumstances.

And what exactly is the purpose of the i Ching? The i Ching is designed to give an answer to a specific question, to help us make decisions that logic alone cannot handle; to enable us to manage relationships more successfully; to tap into our creative mind and intuitive power. One thing to note is that the i Ching is not meant for the telling of future though it does offer guidance about the future.

Here comes the interesting part. Piqued by the divination system in this book, I am keen to perform my own casting and see the results for myself. Following the advice in this book, I bought the ancient Chinese coins, three of them. I also assigned a decorative cloth and kept it with my coins. I did the casting by throwing my three coins gently onto my special cloth while thinking and focusing on my question. I noted down the outcomes of my castings and stopped when I have finished drawing my six lines. Finally, I consulted the table and its interpretations as provided in this book.

WoW! I am awed by the wisdom of the interpretations, but even more so by the mysterious forces that lead me to the outcome of my six lines (from my castings) which form my hexagram. The readings point me to the direction which I shoud be heading and, in doing so, answer my question. Plain and simple. It is unbelievable! If not for my first-hand experience, I will definitely not have believed it. Believe you me, the results from my castings is well worth the effort.

To put it simply, this introductory book on the i Ching informs, enlightens and entertains. At the end of the day, I think this book may very well be the one book on the i Ching that I will ever need.