Innercity Blues.

Again The Magic.

2012-01-25T21:33:00.001+08:00

Again The Magic by Lisa Kleypas

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rating: 3 stars

“I want morning and noon and nightfall with you. I want your tears, your smiles, your kisses...the smell of your hair, the taste of your skin, the touch of your breath on my face. I want to see you in the final hour of my life...to lie in your arms as I take my last breath.” - McKenna

This was an exceptionally quick read for me. I bought this book after hearing that this was essentially the prequel to the Wallflower series by the same author. And I LOVE that series sooo sooo much. And because I read that series first, my expectations for this book was undeniably high. In which case, this book, in my opinion, does fall short compared to its other compatriots of the same series. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable read and I still love Lisa Kleypas's writing.

The story is about a stable boy named McKenna and Aline, a girl from a distinguished family. They grew up together as playmates and eventually fell in love as they grew older. However, after their affair was found out, McKenna bore the brunt of the consequences and was sent away by Aline's father who threatened to destroy him for thinking of 'reaching higher than the stables'. In her efforts to protect McKenna and prevent him from coming back to her and in turn, facing the wrath of her father, Aline broke his heart and purposely sent him away. McKenna moved to America, a bitter broken-hearted man and decided to make a name for himself, vowing revenge on Aline and her family. Twelve years later, McKenna returns to Stony Cross not as a servant but as a guest. He had become a rich businessman and hatched a plan to woo Aline and ruin her reputation, as she had ruined his heart. What he didn't know what how Aline had changed since his departure and the secrets that she harbored in the twelve years that has passed.

There is also a subplot romance between McKenna business partner and friend, Gideon Shaw and Aline's younger sister, Livia. Both romances are really great. Though I find the names Aline and McKenna seriously strange. I keep thinking of A-line skirts everytime I read her name. But then again, that doesn't matter as much. All the characters are pretty good though McKenna takes the cake for his brooding nature and that sort of bubbling passion underneath a seemingly cold man. My favourite character in the whole book is actually Marcus, Aline's brother who I think is the only rational and realistically portrayed character in the book. His attempts to protect his sisters were endearing, eventhough he can get a bit meddlesome. But he isn't over the top and is the most genuine one in my opinion.

My only gripe(s) with this book is the excess of "passionate" scenes that ruined otherwise poignant romantic moments. I mean, I already FEEL the sexual tension. I just wished that it was held longer. And I didn't care for the countless scenes where they ALMOST get there and then the guy sort of pushes the girl off and "gathers his wits". I mean, hell, they were practically doing it so go on then! LOL!! Another thing that was a pet-peeve were the girls practically BEGGING to be bedded. The guys had to refuse them so that they can keep their dignity intact. I'm like "C'mon now ladies. Keep your skirts on for 5 seconds". Especially Livia who only knew Gideon for 2 weeks before she ran after him (like a smitten puppy) to London and practically charged into his bedroom demanding for sex. Keeping in mind that this is the victorian era, even in TODAY'S world, that sounds pretty desperate. So I can only imagine how scandalous her actions were at that time. And it makes me think that her love for her previous husband was not even legit.

Other than the rushed romance of Livia & Gideon and the excess of passionate scenes, there are several scenes with McKenna and Aline that were truly touching. I especially loved the bit towards the end where Aline tried to send McKenna away again. It was really heart-breaking. And McKenna should get an award for his confession, it was enough to make ANY girl swoon. Soooo freakin' romantic, omg. THIS is why girls love historical romance novels. His grand speech, professing his love can melt any girl into a puddle. This is something Lisa Kleypas is very good at, making absolutely swoon-worthy male characters.

While too good to be true. They are such lovely fantasies to indulge in.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. But it's nothing too spectacular, and not one of Lisa's best if you look at her work. It was overly raunchy in my opinion and at times loses the "victorian feel" in certain moments (that made me raise my brow *ehem* Think Rubber). But otherwise the romance between Aline and McKenna is very endearing!

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Woes of an NUS undergrad.

2012-01-13T15:18:00.002+08:00

*breathe in* annndd *breathe out*

OKAY, HANAN. CALM YOURSELF. CALM YO ASS DOWN.

*goes off makes some tea*

Okay, I'm back and I am somewhat calm.

This post is a rant. So you are warned...

SERIOUSLY. What is UP with my life lately?! It is just a bloody MESS. A BLOODY fucking mess. For the past week, I've missed school entirely and was practically bed-ridden thanks to a major flu bug, fever and throat infection, which LASTED DAYS~!!! Like literally DAYS. I was in bed for 5 whole days and that is record 'cos I usually feel better in two days tops. But I was miserable. Blowing my nose and I had about a gazillion drugs to take. I was like a drugged cow. I am finally getting slightly better. The weather is just seriously freezing and I find myself sleeping with three layers of blankets.

JUST AWFUL.

And then I went out with Keetha yesterday just to make myself feel better. My mom says I should get up and try and do smth normal since I am starting to feel better. So I just went out with keetha to just chill and walk around. But obviously since I was still under the weather, I didn't bother much with my outfit and face. AND OF COURSE, just on the day when I probably look like absolute SHIT, I bump into 023984093284093284 people I know. OF-COURSE. Though it was nice to see Wan Cheng and Julin, I really looked shitty and they were so glammed up. Gosh.

Well, whatever.

THEN TODAY, I wake to find myself under a pile of crap as I had to research and print out forms in the morning. Mainly 'cos I have to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan for the rest of my University fees, which I would have to slave my way into paying back. It's fantastic that I would graduate with a ton of debt. Just makes my existence on Earth just about THAT much rosier.

So I would have to go into DBS bank early in the morning tmr and get this sorted out. Or else, I might not even be able to graduate. On top of that I found out that I had clashing tutorials and lectures and the bidding rounds for my modules were over. SO BASICALLY I WAS SCREWED. I had to call up a bunch of NUS people and finally had to drop a module and write an appeal to replace that module with a different one.

...UGH....

IT IS A NIGHTMARE.

JUST ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER. And on top of that, everything just feels so so much worse with a splitting headache and a stuffed nose. I just wanna curl up and forget all the awful problems and ... I dunno. =(

It's like nothing is making me feel better. My books lay in a pile, forgotten 'cos I just feel too exhausted to even pick them up. Makeup and products are not making feel any better 'cos I can't afford most of them and my skin is looking quite ruddy (which is just a nicer way in saying that it looks like absolute shit on ice), after being sick all week and having 'that-god-awful-Time-of-the-bloody-month'. So no makeup looks good on me anyway.

*sigh*

I have just about a million things to do tmr. And I have a wedding job thing at night. I honestly NEED to find some energy and willpower. I honestly dunno how I will survive this semester. I feel exhausted already. And it's only the beginning of the semester and January.

OKAY.

RANT OVER.

Resolutions Come and Go.

2012-01-08T12:59:00.003+08:00

Gosh, I am horrible at html. Can you believe this took me like the whole night to pick a blogskin and figure it out? Epic FAIL. Anyway, I managed to change my blogskin. Finally. I don't even know how long I had the previous one for. Probably slightly more than a year. Well, I just picked a simple one for easy usage. No clicking and stuff. What you see is what you get.

so what does this blog has in store for you this new year... Hmmm. Still figuring that out. Probably just a documentation of my life, in general and mostly what I'm reading. I'm gonna try and blog more, but now that I have two blogs it gets a bit hard to keeping posting stuff.

I know that I said I don't wanna be doing resolutions. But I thought it would be good to stick to some RULES that I will be governing myself to and perhaps some small things I can work towards this year.

☛ Go visit Jen in the UK. (huge dream that I've been trying to achieve since last year. Still in progress.)

☛ Buy less makeup/skincare (God knows, I have way too many)

☛ Restrict to only two nail polishes each month.

☛ Only allow myself to buy TWO pairs of shoes for the whole 2012. (Whoa.)

☛ Read all the books on my shelf. (Seriously need to get this done)

☛ Buy less books. (There just isn't anymore space after I hauled afew before the year end. Will have a post on that haul soon)

☛Lose weight. (Every year. And FAIL every time.)

☛ Redecorate my room. AND KEEP IT CLEAN. (somewhat.)

☛ Always find cheaper alternatives. Prevent splurges.

☛ Pass this uni sem

☛ Accept everything that happens and get through it calmly. (BE A HIPPPIE. Channel my inner-hippie)

☛ Write more. Poems, etc.

OKAY. I think that's more than enough. And THAT, my friends, are my mini goals. As you can see I'm not an over-achiever. I won't be all "Get GPA of 4.9, Save 100000 bucks by end of year, Get my weight down to 39kg, Read ALL the books in the library, Write a thesis on the origins of homosapiens, invent a time-travelling machine..."

...

...Yeeaaaaahhhh, let's just leave that to Phineas & Ferb.

Things I loved in 2011.

2012-01-01T13:10:00.006+08:00

Why, hello, there~ It's my first post of 2012.

Another year of blogging (irregularly) ahead. Another year to get through. Gosh, I am such a ball of sunshine, aren't I? LOL. Excuse my cynicism. I am just not your "Happy New Year" kind of gal. I know people get pretty excited about new years and make resolutions and stuff. But I feel no different today than I did yesterday, eventhough I essentially leapt through time and the earth has just completed it cycle around the sun. Resolutions made today are just as importnt as resolutions made at any time of the year. Honestly, don't get what's so amazing about a new year. Only that I am so happy that 2011 is over. Horrible year. cannot even think of many fond memories made and tons of crap generally happened so I dunno to what extrent 2012 will suck or NOT-suck. We'll just have to see, shall we? But it has not started well.

I thought I would do a post of the stuff that I actually liked from the previous year. I know I never actually done this before but I've watched afew "Best of 2011" videos and really got me thinking about the stuff I enjoyed that year. Just wanted to list them down. This will be a mix of products I've used and also some random stuff.

Let's jump (in no particular order):

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2 movie

OMG. Another reason why 2011 sucked. 'Cos it officially marked the end of my childhood. Not only is my favourite series of ALL TIME officially over with no more movies (or anything) to look forward to, but it perfectly coincided with me turning 21. Which is just a kick in the butt out of the bubble of my youth and into adulthood. Besides that horrifying fact, I enjoyed the movie IMMENSELY. I know people were whining about the movie and nit-picking everything. It's not perfect but it's pretty hard to meet everyone's soaring standard of perfection for such a beloved book. So I think they did a great job. I was on the edge of my seat and I really enjoyed the entire movie. I only wished that they made Snape's part alot more comprehensive, but otherwise it's great and a good memory of 2012.

2. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

(I have to consciously stop myself from beginning every paragraph with OMG) This is hands down my FAVE book of 2011. And trust me, I read TONS that year. TONS TONS TONS. I have always been a bookworm (just not that vocal about it). BUT THIS BOOK IS ... AMAZING. Gosh, I don't think I can recommend it enough. It's about a world where Love is considered a disease and they have found a cure for it. At a certain age, every one has to undergo a procedure where they will be cured of Love and the story follows a girl who at first was scared of love and then realized the flaws of the world around her. It's so fantastically written. So many phrases struck chords in my heart and I love the quotes that start each chapter. The world that she created seemed so believable and convincing. Most of all, this book made me TEAR UP in PUBLIC (when I made the mistake of reading it on the train). I'm not the most emotional person, I can definitely control it. But this one totally caught me off-guard at how beautiful she worded the events. YOU GUYS NEED TO READ THIS ONE. I'm looking forward to the sequel which will be out this year, if I'm not wrong. YAY~

3. Goodreads

This is a website I found while browsing and looking for some new books to read. It's a site for book lovers where you make an account and you can review books and read other people's recommendations. You can also contact the authors themselves as lots of authors have their own accounts on the site. Basically a social networking site for nerds like me. I made an account on a whim and have been LOVING it so much. It may come as a surprise for those who don't know me or have seen my room (which is FILLED with books, every since I was young). Everyone kept asking me what is up with my reading kick recently. But it's not a recent phenomenon. I have been reading, just that I haven't been blogging about it or buying much 'cos I usually read from ebooks online. It's only after getting into this website that I started reviewing the books I read, which I found SUCH JOY in. I know no one actually reads my reviews, but it's just nice for myself to reflect on the stories that I read more deeply and actually pen down my thoughts on them. So I can just look back on all the stuff I read.

OH, but one of the highlights of this year was when one of my fave authors, Daisy Goodwin, tweeted my review on her book and even contacted me saying that she's glad I enjoyed it. =)

3. Youtube

I never really got into youtube until 2011. And holy shit. I don't even watch TV anymore. I've subscribed to SO MANY channels and I always have something new to watch. I mostly subscribe to beauty channels and booktubers. So I always know about the latest books and new products regarding skincare and makeup. Also, it's a great community where you can comment and chat. I think I might die without youtube. It got through so much crap last year.

4. Vichy Normaderm Tri-Activ Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care

One of the best finds of 2011 for me. 201 was a horrible year for me, skin-wise. I had to go to the doctor for it several times and now have to deal with acne and sensitivity issues. But this moisturiser is literally HOLY GRAIL status for me. It's so so light and sinks into my skin in seconds while keeping it soft and hydrated. Plus it smells HEAVENLY. It's the only one that I bothered repurchasing. It claims to help fight acne, but I think it was my oral medication that helped clear up my skin. What I do know is that it doesn't break me out (which is GREAT 'cos so many other products do) and I don't get any rashes from it or allergies, which I often get. I really don't think I will change, eventhough I know that the ingredients aren't exactly the best and that it's parent company is L'oreal.

5. Michelle Nail Polishes

I found this shop that suddenly started selling nail polishes in 2011 and am extremely impressed with their line. You can find them at cineleisure and I'm sure almost every girl in Singapore knows about this. They sells dirt cheap polishes with an impressive array of colours that they constantly change up. At only 2 bucks a bottle, I have accumulated quite a collection of their polishes this year (I LOVE nail polishes). They are guilt-free purchases with great value for me considering the amount of product you get. Plus they go on smoothly (much better than face shop polishes) and opaque after two coats, which is GREAT!

6. Seche Vite Fast-dry Topcoat

I cannot go on without mentioning this topcoat. I only started using topcoat in 2011 and am amazed at the difference it made to my nails. Not only does it leave my self-done manicures looking glossy and totally professional, it DRIES INSTANTLY. So it essentially cut down my nail polish application process. Also, my nails go completely UNCHIPPED for WEEKS. So I can literally keep my polish on the entire week before it starts showing signs of wearing (usually at the tips). Perfect for busy weeks where I can't be bothered with doing my nails every other day.

7. Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish in 'Celeb City'

THE BEST NAIL POLISH OF THE YEAR. Probably EVER. I might wear this for months and months. I always fall in love with many different polish shades but I get tired of them really quickly and usually change it up after a few days. But I've been obsessed with trying to find a foil polish for AGES and was looking into getting OPI's Designer De-better before I laid eyes on this one. And it was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. I have been wearing this polish for a month now and I'm still in love with it. Words cannot explain how happy I get when I gaze at my nails when I have this on. They go with anything and they literally look like a layer of crushed diamonds and white gold on my nails. They don't have that grey cast that most silver polishes have and are attention-grabbing while still being chic. The wear is AMAZING, very opaque and shiny after 2 coats and last FOR-EVAH with a topcoat on 'cos it's such a thin formula.

This is ME in nail polish bottle.

8. Lanvin 'Marry Me!' Eau De Parfum
This gave my signature scent of Davidoff Cool Water a run for its money. I've been really into scents in the year 2011 and finally invested in another perfume after using my Davidoff for YEARS. I really fell in love with this scent. I just felt like a needed a PROPER perfume that is girly but still me ('cos I tend to go for manlier scents). THIS SMELLS SOOO GOOD. It smells really floral with a hit of jasmine and dries down to a subtle fruitier smell. It's very young and I always feel so pretty when I spray this on. It's so light and sweet.

Top Notes: The composition is based on luminous tonic mixed of bitter Tunisian orange and sensual essences of Sambac jasmine. This surprising combination is wrapped in sweet zest of peach and sophisticated jasmine tea aromas.

Heart Notes: A sensual heart is painted with jasmine enhanced with magnolia blossom and romantic, non-chalant rose petals.

Base Notes: Union of white flowers and fruit zest melts in juiciness and warmth of powerful hot amber and musky trail.

9. Bourjois Mascaras

I have discovered this in the year 2011 and I dun think I will be using any other brand after discovering this one. Their mascaras are AMAZING. AMAZING. I have really pathetic lashes and I usually use brown Covergirl mascaras 'cos I was more into "natural" looks when I was younger but in 2011, I've been wanting really dramatic black and thick lashes. But it's really hard to achieve that with my sorry lashes. Most formulas make my lashes brittle and flake. Their line of mascaras are as good as high-end ones and are great for contact lens wearers with sensitive eyes. I especially love their Volume Glamour Ultra Care mascara which instantly thickens my lashes. THEY ARE AMAZING. Better than anything I have tried from Maybelline, L'oreal, etc.

10. L'oreal Super Liner Liquid Eyeliner

BEST EYELINER I HAVE EVER USED. Period. It even made me stop using my Maybelline Eye Studio Gel liner (which was my love for years). So I KID YOU NOT. Easy to use, lasts ALL DAY. It one of my fave finds of 2011.

11. Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment

I know I've talked about this 2309480394802394 times. It's just so freakin' good. On to my third tube of it already and I use it every night without fail. Heaven sent for my INCREDIBLY dry lips. (It's like the freakin' desert without this stuff)

12. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

One of the best series I have come upon in 2011. So awesome that it is being made into a movie that will be out this year, if I am not wrong. But GOSH, SO action-packed and just fan-freakin'-tastic. It's about a dystopian world that is divided into different districts and each one has to send a boy and a girl to compete in the Hunger Games each other where they have to kill each other for the viewing pleasure of the Capitol. Sounds like Battle Royale, but it's really so much more than gruesome deaths. I don't really like a lot of series, besides harry potter, but this one is FAB.

Also, I AM SO IN LOVE WITH PEETA.

13. Sarah Dessen's books

ALL HER BOOKS in general. I have read a TON of her books in 2011. And they are all so so so good. They are perfect light reads for when I just wanna pass time but they pack a punch 'cos I always end up so emotionally invested in the characters. There is a perfect blend of romance, teen issues and general life lessons in her stories that really leaves me in thought long after the book ends. I've accumulated quite a collection of her books in just one year so I highly recommend picking it up.

14. Mc Cafe

HAHA! Okay, I cannot not include this 'cos it literally brings me comfort even on my lousiest days. I LOVE my coffee and teas. But as much I love Starbucks coffee and Coffee Bean's teas (LOL, what irony), they are certainly luxury items for me. And I consume so much coffee I would just be broke if I continued to buy from them. So, I have been loving McCafe's coffees and teas instead which are half the price of Starbucks and equal in quality and taste (sometimes better). You get such a generous amount for 4 bucks or less and you have a wide selection. My favourite is the 'Himalayan Tea Latte' which is just cinnamon-y goodness in a cup and their 'Caramel Macchiato'. IT IS SERIOUSLY GOOD. I doubt I will ever be willing to splurge so much on starbucks anymore to be honest.

15. La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water Mist

This just sounds like water in an aerosol bottle and sounds pretty stupid for me to spend 10 bucks on it. But I bought it one day when I needed some immediate relief (this was when my skin was going through a very rough patch) and was surprised at what a difference it made. It INSTANTLY calmed my redness and blotchiness that I get often and soothes my skin so that it's more well-behaved. I've since then tried the Vichy one and the Avene one but THIS IS THE BEST. The others just felt and worked like regular water. This one is really a life saver especially when I'm outside and my skin starts feeling irritated.

16. Reed Diffusers and Scented Candles
I never really bothered with this until 2011 when I went through a scent-frenzy. I was just obsessed with smells. I think 'cos smelling something nice really puts me in a better mood and I've been in a foul mood throughout most of 2011. The scents help me stay happy. I love entering my room and getting a whiff of my favourite room scent. I also cleaned up my room SIGNIFICANTLY in 2011. I got into a bit of a cleaning kick and arranged my stuff and started putting up actual SHELVES for my books. Anyway, I realize that I should make my home nicer since I always come back to it after a long day. So I've been obsessed with home scents. My fave is the scented candle my sis got me when she was in australia - Ginger Spice and Cinnamon. OMG. HEAVENLY.

17. Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Solution

BEST MAKEUP REMOVER EVER. Nothing beats this stuff. Gets rid of all my makeup so gently and doesn't irritate my skin like all the other ones did. I cannot stress how incredibly sensitive my skin is. I get red from just BLOTTING my face. So this is a BLESSING 'cos it literally feels like water. It's a cleansing water and it's amazing. I'm so glad I found out about this.

18. Gossip Girl TV series

OBVIOUSLY. This is self-explanatory. My obsession with this show continuous as long as this show keeps running. But in 2011 in particular, it was practically my reason for living and the only thing I look forward to in the week. Dunno what I'd do without this.

19. New Girl TV series

I HAVE FOUND MY NEW FRIENDS. And by Friends I mean the Sitcom. I LOVE THIS SHOW and it's absolute genius. I have never laughed so hard in my life. I love all the characters. It just seriously reminds me of Friends. I love it so much! And Schmidt is the best. He just cracks me up all the time.

20. Clinique Airbrush Concealer

I have never really been so into concealers until 2011 'cos of my skin issues. I usually just wear powder and it will already cover all my problems. But with my acne (which I now have scars), I will not leave the house without popping at least some concealer, even on bare face. This one is THE BEST for me 'cos I can't deal with the tougher, more cakey ones. I found out about this through Lisa Eldridge's videos. This one's liquid but gives great coverage if you apply in thin layers. Plus it merges completely into my skin and covers up all my blemishes and spots. And I can use it all over my face, under my eyes to cover dark circles and on my scars and blemishes so that I can cheat everyone into thinking that I have okay-skin. LOL!

Well, there you go. A couple of great finds for me in 2011 which I will continue to use this year as well. I know I should be reminiscing about actual moments in my life but these are much better.

The Queen's Lady.

2011-12-31T03:10:00.000+08:00

The Queen's Lady by Eve Edwards

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rating: 3.5 stars

Gosh, I dunno why I took so long to finish this one. I think it might be due to the lack of encounters and witty dialogue between the main characters. But overall, I really did like this one. I am becoming a huge fan of Eve Edwards' writing. Her style is so befitting of this era, it has the ability to immediately transport me so it's easy for me to get 'into' the book, even when I picked it up after a while.

The story is a continuation of the first book in the Lacey series. But this time it follows Jane and her life after friend, Ellie wedded Will Lacey (her initial betrothed). So we see a more mature Jane, even from the start of her book as she was now a Dowager. Married to a rather old (but extremely wealthy man) who is on the brink of death. Despite what others may think, she truly does bear affection towards her husband but love him as daughter would. It also follows the story of James Lacey who has recently returned from a war, a changed man. He has lost all zest in life and now adopts a jaded outlook on life. He finds it difficult to feel emotions like he used to and developed a rather violent streak. Haunted by nightmares of the war, he has become a ghost of the man he once was. James and Jane had a couple of sparks before the wedding of Ellie & Will. Now they meet again as two completely different people. Meanwhile, Jane's stepsons were after the wealth her husband left her, her father is attempting another betrothal for her (for the sake of his business) and she is occupied by the Queen's requests as she was a lady in the Queen's court. James is battling the scars of war and thinks himself completely unworthy of Jane. In order to regain his former self, James sets out on a perilous journey across the sea to discover new lands and himself.

The characters, though the same, are completely different from how they were present in the first book. I was quite surprised to find Jane so much more mature (she used to be a total brat) and James to be so violent and moody (he used to be the witty, cheerful one in the Lacey family). But they were not SO different that they feel like entirely new characters. I still find hints of their old self. There is also a subplot between Diego (Jame's African servant) and Milly (Jane's old friend), which I find quite entertaining. They provided a good buffer of romance as James and Jane do not get as much time together. All of them are really lovable and the 'villains' (like jane's father & brother & stepsons) make me so freakin' pissed. You WON'T BELIEVE the things they did to Jane. In other words, they are perfect villains, who make you root for the protagonists.

James is not very romantic as he is more a soldier than a gentleman. He does not have a way with words, but his straightforward nature makes for very swoon-worthy moments (especially towards the end). I do get annoyed when he's so hard on himself (ALL THE TIME). Jane is alot more likeable in this book. She suffers SO MUCH though. I seriously feel so bad for her and all the things she had to go through. My favourite character though, is Christopher Turner who is Milly's neighbour who is a theatrical actor. He's so extravagant and charming. Adds some spice to the mix and makes me laugh! Also, he is a very three-dimensional character 'cos we later find out so much more about him. I really hope this won't be the last I see of him.

The plot is my only pet-peeve and the reason why I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the first one. There is more emphasis on melodramatic events and plotting that it lost some the charm from the first book. Jane and James have too little scenes together and there is not enough dialogue between them for me to truly believe and invest in their love. Things also hit quite a plateau when James left for his journey, leaving Jane behind. That part was quite one-sided 'cos lots of crap was happening to Jane (and she was so helpless that I got quite annoyed). And I'm not really interested in their journey to America. I don't really care, though I know it was a necessary thing for James. There was just too much stuff about the Indians that they found in America and blah-blah. Overall, it wasn't as romantic as the previous book.

But it was still a good read thanks to the wonderful writing. I really love the way Eve Edwards write. From what I see the next story might be about the third Lacey brother. I'm really excited to read the next installment to the series. It's so enjoyable, especially for historical fiction fans like me (who don't really like the raunchy, soft-porn romance novels that usually infest this genre). This series is so so lovely. =)

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Gloomy Update

2011-12-29T13:26:00.003+08:00

Well, hello there.

I know I went on a huge blogging/reading kick after the semester ends and now I practically went completely MIA the later half of December. Like literally, MIA from my blog, facebook, twitter... Basically I just stayed offline, most of the time. And to be honest I have no idea why. It's not like I don't use my com, I do. I just feel really lousy lately. I guess this always happens towards the end of another year.

My year is ending on a low note as I'm so stressed from all the uni stuff. There were not enough funds on my dad's CPF and then I can't get my exams results and now I can't bid for my modules. So I'm pretty sure that my coming semester (if I can afford it) will be filled with horrible leftover modules once everything is sorted out. Christmas was uneventful as Jen is currently in Perth on a holiday with her family and most of my friends are working. I would've loved to get a job but I couldn't find one so on top of everything, I am dead broke. It's not a nice feeling to end the year with. And to be honest, makes me dread 2012 even more.

I'm just so super stressed. I missed out the first two bidding rounds. I'm probably doomed for next sem.

Also, the Christmas sales are haunting me everywhere. But I kinda can't go as crazy as I would like to. I had a skin freak-out moment and had rashes all over my face (AGAIN) thanks to my ultra sensitive skin. Which was why I stayed home for the first week of December. I spent most my money on medication and switching out my skincare routine again. I am, however, shopping a little for some clothes which I desperately need. I have been repeating clothes like there's no tomorrow. It's quite sad. But I'm glad I got at least a couple of good buys this season. I'm going on a buying ban next month (hopefully), simply 'cos I think I have gone WAY over my limit this season. Eventhough majority of my money went to skincare stuff.

BUT I HAVE TO TRY. At least one month where I don't go crazy with sales. Especially since I don't even have a job. THIS IS A MUST for me to conquer. That means, no book hauls, no more bags or shoes and DEFINITELY DEFINITELY NO MORE MAKEUP. DEFINITELY. But that one is soooo hard to actually stick to 'cos I always subscribe to so many beauty channels and there are about a BAZILLION products that I would love to try. But oh well. I will try and not spend any more on makeup (nail polish excluded, 'cos I love it way too much).

I suppose this is the time where I have to look back on 2011 and think of new resolutions for 2012.

But I think I will leave that post for another day. 'Cos I am not really a new year resolutions kind of girl. I am pretty aimless. Just try to get through each day as it comes. On my blog, I wrote these as my 2011 resolutions...

"This leads me to my main three goals of this 2011:

1. Earn/save enough money to visit Jen in UK
2. Learn another language
3. Lose weight ('cos weighing the same as my friends who are heads taller than me is embarrassing)"

Of which I have failed most. So... YYEEEAAAA.... I am not too sure about making up a new list.

On a brighter note, I just realized that I have had this blog since 2005. So I have officially been blogging on this thing for about 6 years. WHOA. This is practically 6 years of my life and thoughts randomly recorded. Time seriously flew by.

Admittedly, this is an extremely pointless blog post. I just wanted to let everyone know that I am still alive (fortunately/unfortunately). Everyone's buzzing about the new year and I'm moping about alone. *sigh* Well, I promise more reviews to come and more updates.

Do check out my second blog for more girly things.

Forbidden.

2011-12-09T07:18:00.001+08:00

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rating: 4 Stars

I finished this book at about 3AM in the morning, in which after that I lie awake in bed for a full 3 hours trying to get to sleep and end up typing out this review instead. Safe to say, this story left its mark on me. There's a bazillion things going around in my mind thanks to this book and I can't say that I'm not at least a little bit traumatized by this experience. But it was not a horrible experience, as I had feared it to be. Just that, right now, I feel as if I've been mind-raped and heart-broken. All over a book.

The story is as simple as the synopsis suggests. It's about a boy and a girl who fell in love. Only problem was that they happened to be brother and sister. And it is told in that manner. In the manner that their biological relation comes second to their greater love for each other. Like it's an inconvenient truth that becomes the biggest obstacle they had to endure. Lochian (the boy) is a smart and handsome boy, but he is also a deeply disturbed one. He is burdened with the weight of his familial duties thanks to a drunk, useless mother and a father that left them. An extreme introvert, he struggles to trust others outside of his family. Maya (the girl) is a bubbly, fun-loving girl who was forced to grow up quickly in order to fill in the position that her mother left vacant too often. Robbed of a proper childhood, these two siblings are the helm, trying to keep their family of 5 (they have 2 younger brothers and a youngest sister) together.

The writing is very well done, as Tabitha Suzuma writes from both perspectives of Lochian and Maya, alternating between each one. I felt that this is necessary so that the readers know the inner thoughts of each character and for us to realize the extent of their love for each other and that it is mutual. While there were a couple of family routine scenes that I felt were one too many, I realize that it is necessary to show the dynamics of the family and how each character within functioned. It's pretty crazy. Also, I felt that some aspects such as Lochian's thoughts and their love was described in a fashion that was too melodramatic. Other than that, she made their relationship convincing and genuine, which is part of the reason why it's so scary. 'Cos it seems so real.

Under the circumstances, I understand why Lochian and Maya fell in love. They had literally no one to turn to but each other. And their family and life is seriously screwed up. But I find myself having conflicted feelings because, while I do understand, I can't truly accept it and their physical intimacy made me squirm (more than a few times). But not once did I doubt their love. They were so dependent on one another such that I felt that one wouldn't exist without the other. While Lochian's love was obsessive (he literally can't breathe without her), Maya's was possessive (unable to see him with any girl). They are so close that their own love consumes them, and I am overwhelmed by it.

Truly it overwhelms me.

Other characters were were not developed as fully, not being the center of attention. I despised Kit, the first younger brother for his self-centered teenage ways. He lacked the maturity that his even younger siblings had, and even though he developed as a character. In the end, it was his own selfishness that brought the family down.

I felt that even though Lochian was the one shouldering the greater burden of school and raising the family, I think mentally and emotionally, Maya was stronger. Lochian had some serious mental issues. Extreme nervousness and being a complete social introvert had him being alienated by everyone else. So he never belonged outside of his home. Even then, he had the tendency to jump into the worst scenarios in his head and gives himself panic attacks. His thoughts and feelings are so extreme that at times, I struggle to empathize with him. He whines a whole lot and gets really emo about everything in life. Yet he pulls himself together and made it through several ugly situations and more than once saves his family from being hauled to Social Service. He was the protector of the family and his love for Maya runs so deep, it is there in every breath he takes. I think he depends on Maya far more than Maya depends on him.

Maya is a great character and I think the most relateable in the story. She is the peacemaker, the calm one and the one that preserves the sanity of each family member. Constantly consoling and talking sense into each one, she shows great maturity but still with hints of playfulness, especially when with Lochian. I think her character makes the biggest journey and change from start to finish 'cos by the end of it, she's a much stronger person.

There were no real climaxes to the story until the very end, where I find myself literally at the edge of my seat and biting my lips with anticipation. Instead the book is mostly filled with the lives of these two protagonists. There is something about Tabitha Suzuma's writing that makes it as though their experiences were my own. And that the character's memories are mine. It's quite unnerving. Towards the end, some phrases and words just trigger instant images in my head of Lochian's and Maya's memories as if they were my own flashbacks. That made me feel so much more for the characters than I would have been comfortable with. And it made me emotionally vulnerable to everything that happened in the end. So vulnerable that it left me quite shattered and emotionally drained.

This is one INTENSE book. Everyone is seriously flawed and messed up. I don't recommend picking it up unless you are mentally and emotionally prepared and venture with an open mind. Even after finishing it, I still struggle to comprehend how two siblings who grew up together can feel this way and my own moral judgements impedes when some sexual scenes were described. Yet, I can't say that I don't feel their love for one another. So I am still conflicted, confused and left questioning a billion things. I can just conclude that this is something no one can fully understand and fully iterate without experiencing it themselves. But I applaud Tabitha Suzuma for her admirable efforts and for a truly heart-breaking, thought-provoking story.

Recommended, but read at your own caution.

View all my reviews

The Other Countess.

2011-12-06T11:38:00.001+08:00

The Other Countess by Eve Edwards

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rating: 5 stars

OHMYGOD, I LOVE THIS BOOK~!! Love, love, love IT! Alright, now to be fair, historical fiction is one of my favourite genres anyways, especially when there's romance involved. It just brings out the girly-girl in me. But even if you aren't a huge historical fiction buff, I think you would still like it. THAT is how a good book should be. And this one is one, mostly 'cos the romance runs parallel with larger issues related in that period. Okay, now before I go gushing any further, I will do a quick rundown of the plot.

The story has two main characters Eleanor Hutton & William Dorset. Both are equal characters and the story is told from both their point of views. Ellie is a girl with a Spanish Title that deems her a Countess, passed down from her mother who had passed away. The title held very little meaning as she lives in England. Furthermore, she is completely penniless thanks to her father's obsession with alchemy (spending all their money on ingredients for his experiments). Her father's alchemy has also caused her to be on bad terms with many families as he is viewed as a menace with his lab explosions and for dragging many families down with him, as they finance his experiments. One such family was the Dorset family (Will's). Will is the Earl of Dorset, after his father passed away, leaving his family scrambling to survive after spending all his fortunes on alchemy experiments with Ellie's father. Because of this, Will hated the Hutton family and had to marry for money (finding a woman with a large dowry) in order to save his own family and estate. But things start getting messy when both start to fall for each other. It's a match that cannot be. Especially in a troubled time when there is a Catholic uprising threatening the Queen.

Where do I start?! Hmm, okay, firstly the writing is fan-freakin'-tastic. I've read a substantial amount of historical fiction and I usually don't like YA ones much, simply 'cos they tend to simplify some of the language and customs used. This one really surprised me with such beautiful prose that is reminiscent of Austen. It is written in a way that I am immediately transported to that era. There was no need for lengthy descriptions on the setting (which can be total drag sometimes), as the way the writer wrote this conjures up the perfect atmosphere. The banter between characters is sparkling. The dialogue stands out by not being too dated while still staying true to the ways of that period. It's fresh and witty, without trying too hard. Another plus point is how the plot revolves around a love story in a context of something larger. There is substantial plot-building on the Catholic threat and how people are turned to extremists in the name of religion and loyalty to the country. Also, each character is plagues with the dilemma of following their heart and doing their duty.

Speaking of the characters, they are such a breath of fresh air! Ellie is not the usual damsel in distress, but also not the stereotypical rebellious heroine either. She is an intelligent young lady who bears the burden of her father's actions with grace and dignity. I really liked her ALOT. She's not so chaste and angelic, but not disillusioned. Ellie understands the limitations life has brought her and does the best with what she has got. Also, she's still flawed often torn between love/devotion and selfishness (like how she loves her father but wants to run away from him at times). She feels like a REAL PERSON and extremely relateable. Will is also a great character 'cos he is not the typical knight in shining armour. He is not a rich earl who would save Ellie in every single situation. At times, he too makes stupid mistakes but not due to his arrogance but merely due to lack of better judgement or in order to protect his family. You can see how torn he is between his duty to provide for his family & the villagers that count on him and his heart. I really sympathize and feel for him. I love how he works with what he has 'cos life is usually far from the ideal. This makes his character far more charming and gallant, in his unashamed nature and all of his flaws.

What's great about this book is also that there are no "proper" villains, like some historical novels. Everyone has a bit of good and evil in them, some more than others. I love the development of Lady Jane who started out as an aloof, disillusioned girl who is rather spoilt. But after knowing how she is battling her own demons and mistakes, I warmed up to her. She grows so much as she befriends Ellie and learns how to become a better person. The vile characters who I hate (like Sir Henry) are not really "evil" per say. They are just selfish.

This story also sheds light on the dangers of being too extreme and how religion can be a handicap rather than something that brings you enlightenment. The Christian and Catholic extremists here reflect on a period where social rules are constructed from religion and that your individual wants should come second to the country and the Queen. It's frustrating but it adds a real depth to the circumstances the characters are in. Life back then was not all corsets, balls and carriages. There are grave social issues and stigmas that have yet to be addressed and overcome.

AND THE ROMANCE! I literally am like...

Gosh, it is absolutely swoon-worthy without being too over the top. It is the PERFECT amount of mushy stuff. The fact that the author doesn't write it from one point of view makes such that the reader can really see how the characters feel and how genuine their love was. Will didn't have to come ridding in a white stallion to save Ellie from some doomed fate and they didn't have to proclaim their love with extravagant phrases. It's the little things like Will riding past Ellie's place just to catch a glimpse of her and Ellie refusing Will so that he can be happy with his marriage of convenience. IT IS SO HEART-WARMING. Often I find myself grinning from ear to ear while reading a particularly witty conversation between them or LITERALLY SIGHING with contentment at the ending. It's just so so genuine to me. Their attraction lies further than mere looks. None of those raunchy over the top scenes, Ellie and Will seem to accept one another as they are.

Also, the ending is such a breath of fresh air. There is no fairy tale ending, no happily ever after. Things are still shaky, uncertain. The future is still a huge question mark, but that is precisely why I love it. Life, in general, is a huge question mark. The writer leaves the readers content with how she wraps things up, whilst still giving a realistic representation of what's to come. There are consequences for their actions and she reflects that in her ending. But it did not lose it's romantic charm, making me sigh with contentment and happiness. 'Cos even though not everything was resolved, there is hope that it will be. Which to me, such a fresh take on an otherwise cliched ending.

AAHHH~! I honestly can ramble on and on about how much I like this book, especially since I honestly did not expect to like it as much as I did. The quality of the writing, plot and the romance... It's just perfect for me. There are lots of complex details and added dimension to the stories and characters and it's just such an impressive piece of historical fiction. And I really enjoy Eve Edwards's writing a whole lot. She's definitely on my list of favourite writers now and I CANNOT wait to read the next book in this series. It's just so enjoyable.

I LOVE THIS!!

View all my reviews

Buried In Books giveaway.

2011-12-04T00:54:00.006+08:00

More giveaways~!

There are just tons going on and I feel like some are just too amazing to pass up. Such as the Kindle Touch giveaway being held by Buried in Books. Plus inside it would include the novella Skid Out by Anne Frohoff, which from the sound of it, sounds super badass. To make things even MORE epic, as if this wasn't enough, the contest is international! So all are free to enter.

The winner will be announced on the Heavy Influence Trilogy Facebook Page so make sure you check the page out!

It is quite amazing! I am hoping and praying to God that I win 'cos I am just positively DYING to get a Kindle. But it's so expensive, especially here in Singapore. This is your chance, people. For all you nerds out there. Just click on the link below and it will take you to their page.

Good luck! =D

City of Ashes.

2011-12-03T20:59:00.002+08:00

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rating: 3 stars

As promised, I gave it another chance and went on to the second book of the Mortal Instruments series, even though the first book, City of Bones, literally traumatized me with that bizarr-o twist at the end. I figured I would give it another shot 'cos this series is so well-loved and popular. There must be something that I'm missing. This would be an honest review of this book, so I am by no mean trying to bash Cassandra Clare's writing 'cos I absolutely LOVE the Infernal Devices series written by her. I must say that compared to the first book, which I absolutely hated, City of Ashes is a great step up and a huge improvement. Maybe it's 'cos I got used to the characters and the whole brother-sister thing, but in general I felt that this one had much more action.

The book picks up where City of Bones ended with Valentine taking possession of the Mortal Cup and entire Clave being in utter chaos, trying to track him down. Jace and Clary were still trying to sort out their feelings, while Simon tried to take his relationship with Clary to the next level by confessing to her. Meanwhile, Clary's Mom lies unconscious in a hospital and Luke is trying his best to stay by her side at all times, while still looking out for Clary. The Inquisitor of the Clave was certain that Valentine was using Jace as his weapon and spy against the Shadowhunters and threw him in jail. Things get heavy when there was a huge break-in at the City of Bones and the Soul-Sword (another Mortal Instrument under the Silent Brother's protection) was stolen by Valentine, whilst Jace was in the very same location. This brought lots of doubt to Jace's loyalty. Turns out Valentine was trying to carry out a ritual with the Sword that requires the young blood of each Downworlder. Obviously, they have to stop him before he gets more powerful than he already is and use the Mortal Instruments to take over the Clave and destroy all Downworlders.

Writing-wise and plot-wise, this book is pretty good. I felt that the pacing was great and there was never a stagnant lull in terms of action and revelations. Lots of things were usually happening all at once, which gets a thumbs up for me. ALSO, I am glad that there was more focus on Valentine and what he is plotting rather than Clary's conflicted emotions and relationship issues. This is a huge plus. I liked that we got to see the other side and see what Valentine was doing as well. I do have a few issues in the way the writer writes some things. Like she uses 'unprintable words' as euphemism for 'fuck', but 'bastard', 'bitch' and 'asshole' is perfectly fine? Feels abit inconsistent. Also, I feel that if the story can feature a romantic subplot between a 300-year-old male warlock and a 16-year-old boy, I think it's safe to assume that the readers are mature enough to handle afew swear words. But those are just nitty-gritty issues. The overall writing is quite enjoyable!

Character-wise, I still don't like Clary. Although I tried really hard to. Granted that she is far less useless than she was in the previous book. She finally discovered her talents and her powers as a Shadowhunter (and maybe something more), and she isn't just screaming in one corner everytime danger comes along. I really do think her power is pretty cool. However, I just don't like her. I don't like the way she is just dragging Simon along while she secretly pines for Jace. I don't like her back and forth emotions and how she handles things. I think it was obnoxious of her to ask for Simon to just sit there and wait. For instance, when Simon tried to move on Clary said, "But you don't love her-". Simon replied, "Maybe I could someday." "Maybe I could love YOU someday." was her reply.

WHUUTT??! OH NO SHE DIDN'T. My heart WRENCHED for Simon. It was like a slap in the face. She basically is implying that 'I don't love you, eventhough I know you love me. But y'know maybe in the future I will, so stick around. You may never know". SO OBNOXIOUS. But Simon still said he'd wait. And I got SO MAD. I just felt like Clary didn't deserve Simon. =(

Jace was much better in this book. Much less cheesy one-liners. Though I don't think he is as swoon-worthy as everyone else seems to. He's still arrogant but he also showed his vulnerability here and his bravery as well. My only pet-peeve is how he always seemed to think that everything was his fault and that he was the center of everything. But I guess that could be accounted to his innate arrogance. I really admired Jace's dedication to Clary, but I didn't like how he kept pushing and pulling her like some sort of yo-yo. He partly attributed to Clary's indecisive feelings. SIMON was AMAZING in this book. GOSH, I am so happy that Cassandra Clare got him more involved in the plot. Tons of things happened to Simon (which I shall not say), but he just gets more awesome in my eyes. Also, I really admire his devotion for Clary, although I do find it extremely blind and one-sided. I really liked the ending and how Simon dealt with the situation in such a mature manner. He's easily my favourite character AGAIN.

Along with Luke, who is just the best person in this entire book. He is caring, mature and so reliable. To me, he can do no wrong. And I feel so bad that he had to go through so much crap in his life for the sake of those he loved. Yet he faces each challenge without a word of complaint. Seriously amazing guy. I really like the Inquisitor as well. She reminded me alot of Umbridge from Harry Potter, in the sense that you just LOVE TO HATE HER. She was mean, irrational, wretched and hard as nails. She seemed completely heartless. But after some revelations, I think her character had a lot of depth and I really understood her plight and position. Also, I respected Magnus Bane alot for helping out the Shadowhunters (mostly Alec), eventhough it was very hard for him. I felt that more gratitude should've been showed. They just kinda use him whenever they feel like it.

I think the fact that I had some time to sort of let the whole brother-sister thing sink in and sort of try to see it from their perspective, the story got alot more enjoyable. And I can see why Clary and Jace are so torn up. I still don't approve of how no one seemed to notice and those who do don't find it the least bit disturbing (like Valentine). I was hoping that it somehow wasn't true. But we shall see things wrap up in the third book.

Overall, the best point about this book are all the revelations and all the action that took place. Especially at the end, it almost felt like I was in some sort of game where we had to slash demons for points. I enjoyed this book MUCH more than the first one, and I am relieved at that. But I still don't find it as amazing as everyone says. It wasn't un-put-downable, even at some action parts. However, it is still quite exciting and easy to pick up again. So I will continue with the next one, hoping that the trend will continue and that the series will only get better.

View all my reviews

Lena's giveaway.

2011-12-03T00:45:00.001+08:00

Alrighty , everyone!

As you know, the Christmas season has arrived and that means TONS and TONS of giveaways. Like blogs and youtube channels are conducting giveaways left and right. It's quite amazing. Plus, most are international. SO do check out your fave youtuber and blogs to see if they have anything special planned this season.

One bookblogger I follow, Lena Sledge, is giving out a FREAKIN' Kindle Touch. Can you imagine that?!! She recently hit 1000 followers and this is her gift to all of us. Of course there are like lots of entries, but it never hurts to try and who knows?? The prize is certainly KICKASS 'cos I have been DYING to get a Kindle since for-ev-ah. I know my fellow Nerdlings are too. So hop on the Rafflecopper and try your luck! =) It runs till 18 Dec.

You can just click on the link below.

December To-Be-Read

2011-12-02T12:14:00.006+08:00

Hello, fellow Nerd-lings!!

I'm watching tons of the December To-Be-Read vlogs by all the booktubers and I am so tempted to make my own. 'Cos I feel that this month I probably would be staying at home most of the time seeing as it's always gloomy and rainy outside and I'm kinda going through a weird phase with my skin. It's really freakin' out and I dun wanna piss it off more by slapping on makeup and trying to cover up all the breakouts. So, I'm just gonna stay at home and let my skin settle down. I was contemplating going back to the doctor, 'cos you guys might not know this but I finally got off my acne meds. I guess, my skin is kinda trying to get used to things and it's obviously more prone to breakouts now, now that I dun have the meds to help it out. I was so so so tempted to go back and DEMAND for him to put me back on the drugs, but I got lazy thanks to the rain... And I feel like I shouldn't rely on antibiotics and chemicals too much.

HENCE, I'm just gonna let my skin PURGE. If things get wayyy too nasty, I might go back to the doctor. But for the meantime, I really wanna try and make-do without.

SO, seeing as I will spending tons of time at home, you will be guaranteed more blogging and more reading will be what I see in the near future.

I decided to try a hand at the whole December To-Be-Read pile and I do have quite afew books lined up. So you guys can look forward to these reviews that are most likely to come up, IF I dun get sidetracked and read another that is out of the list.

1. The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
2. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
3. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
4. Persuasion by Jane Austen

I will just leave it AT THAT. I dun read incredibly fast so I'm hoping to get through all that. PLUS, I get super distracted with the internet and youtube and blogging. It's hard to keep up with my reading schedule. SO ANYWAYS, that will be the four main books that I'mma try and finish this December. AND ALSO, I MIGHT (MIGHT MIGHT MIGHT) pick up one or two more books 'cos Prologue is having a sale for members and OMG, it looks amazing. a bazaillion times better that the Bookfest deals (which kinda pisses me off). BUT WHATEVER. I might go have a look this weekend and cheap some stuff out.

HOPEFULLY, I can restrain myself and not buy any. (I can't resist not checking it out)

ALSO, another good christmas sale or deal that I think loads of people will be interested in is the one for STARBUCKS.

As you know, I am a coffee addict. I love my coffee, teas and lattes. I will literally fall off the face of this earth without them and would probably be in mental ward by now 'cos they keep me sane and happy. Especially the Christmas flavours at Starbucks. They are just AMAZING-NESS and DELICIOUS-NESS of EPIC PROPORTIONS. Do not even get me started on Toffee Nut Latte. OMG, that stuff is orgasmic.

Starbucks is having a Buy 1 get 1 free for Grande Sized Holiday drinks and also some cool discounts on their gorgeous Tumblers (which I will definitely pick one up). But the offers are different on different days from 1st to 12th Dec. Go to their facebook page, to check them out. Here is a preview on the upcoming treats. =)

new blog.

2011-12-01T00:25:00.003+08:00

HELLO, HELLO~~!!

Oh my goodness, I am finally done with my exams and that means that I am finally done with my third Semester in NUS. Can you believe that?! How fast is time flying by right now. Anw, I dun wanna talk about how I have majorly screwed up this semester, eventhough I literally studied my ass off. But I got quite unlucky...

AAARGH!!

Okay, I dun wanna talk about it. 'Cos I will probably die of regret and sadness. Anyways, I was supposed to do some MAJOR reading the whole day today before I start going out. I know that I owe y'all a review and I'm currently giving the Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare another chance, eventhough the first book TRAUMATISED me to no end. I still gave the second book a chance. I PROMISE a good review on that soon.

But what got me so occupied today was setting up my new beauty blog! Gosh, setting up a blog is HARD. Wayyyy harder than maintaining it. First I had to choose which one wordpress, blogger, livejournal or tumblr... I just stuck with blogger 'cos I have an account and I am most comfortable with this one, after years of blogging. BUT I TOTALLY FORGOT ALL MY HTMLs. I practically had to re-learn everything. It was such a hassle. And it took the whole night!!

BUT IT IS NOW UP AND RUNNING!!

YAYYYY!!! I just wanted to make that announcement. So any of you girls (or guys) wanna check it out, just click at the link below. I did a blog post to start it off. More will come soon. =D

Beauté Blabber

Congrats, LC!

2011-11-27T00:24:00.002+08:00

Another quickie, you guys!!

I know that no one actually reads my blog, but I thought it would be good for you guys to know that LC is hosting a giveaway with tons of cool packs at her blog. The books looks absolutely DROOL-WORTHY and best part is it's international. Yes, LC doesn't discriminate. LOL! She's doing this to celebrate her 1000 followers. CONGRATS!! Imagine that!! I can't even imagine having 5 followers let alone a THOUSAND. Amazing stuff! So, I'll leave you with a button to direct you to her page. Feel free to enter!

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE. And to all you Nerd-lings, you're very welcome. HAHA! =P

Book Haul #9 (Book Fest)

2011-11-25T21:06:00.006+08:00

HELLO FELLOW NERD-LINGS!!

I know i should be studying. And I really really should. It's just that I've been having lots of bad days, consecutively. And I feel really awful. Not only do I feel awful, I'm exhausted and my skin is totally breaking out like a bitch. It's pretty tragic. So I decided to take a day off my studying (though this would mean that I have to cram like there's no tmr during the weekends) and visit the Singapore Book Fest at Suntec. When I'm down, nothing like books to cheer me up and provide the best escape from my lousy ass reality.

The sale wasn't amazing. I was pretty disappointed. It was just 20% off and some special buys. But the books under the special buys were not on My List and I dun wanna deviate from my list too much. I swear, I felt so bad I wanted to buy every damn book on my list. But I managed to restrain myself. It was really hard. I just bought a few on my list and I bought ONE splurge, which actually is a great buy.

LET ME SHOW YOU~~

Okay, so first up on my list is Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. Quite upset that I got the UK cover, which isn't as cool as the US cover but whatever, it's the inside that matters. To be fair, this is supposed to be a middle-grade book. It was in the Children's Section but I am not one to discriminate. I love Enid Blyton books just as much now as I did when I was younger. A good story is a good story, regardless. ALSO, I am such a sucker for Steampunk. It might one of my fave genres ever. I just LOVE that type of fantasy where they mix the old victorian times with futuristic technology. I just love everything from teh fashion to the setting to the inventions. So I jumped at the chance to get this book 'cos I heard lots of good things about, eventhough it is middle-grade. And there are ILLUSTRATIONS!! HAHA! I can't remember the last time I bought a book with actual drawings in them, but I LOVE THEM!! The drawings made me wanna buy the book even more.

You would think I would've grown up by now. Apparently, NOT.

Then, to go along with my middle-grade theme, I got The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey. I watched one of my fave booktubers, The Readables, review on this and she loved it alot. She said that it was gory and action-packed. Which is weird, considering that it is a 'children's book'. I LOVE the cover. Reminds me of Edgar Allan Poe. The book is about a people who study and slay monsters. That's about all I know about it. But I am definitely looking forward to this one. It won some sort of Book Prize, so must be good quality stuff, eventhough it's technically for kids.

My splurge, and I usually would never pick these books up if the cover wasn't so darn pretty, but I got the Jane Austen Box Set, with all her novels in them. So, all six of her novels in this gorgeous little set. The books are really small and cute and much easier to carry around than my other bulky novels. And it looks so elegant and pretty. I couldn't help myself. Also, I was thinking when I passed by this offer value set, I like historical fiction, so how come I never read a single Jane Austen novel?!! I should be ashamed of myself, really. I mean, I've watched all the movie remakes but they aren't the same things. HENCE, although this was not part of my list, I got this to cheer myself up and legitimize myself as a proper book reader by reading my classics. (And also so that my entire purchase won't be made out of Children's Books)

Sounds like alot of stuff. But all this (8 books in total) costed me slightly over 50 bucks. BARGAIN, BITCHES~!! (Also this would be my last purchase, most probably. Due to overwhelming broke-ness)

ANOTHER EXCITING THING!!

I enter quite a number of giveaways. I always do, though I know that the chances of winning them are NIL. But I just enter anyway. It's so easy. WHO WOULD HAVE KNOWN that I actually WON SOMETHING?!! LOL! I got an email for one of the book blogs I always go to and I found out that won Eden by Janelle Stalder.

I never heard much hype about this book but Victoria LOVES it. And she hosted a giveaway, to share the love. And out of all the entries I WON. HAHA!! I'm so surprised and happy!! So, she just ordered the book and it will be shipped to me. =D OMG. I think this was the highlight of my month (it was a shitty month overall). THANKS, Victoria!! =DD I'm super excited to receive and read it.

SO that's about it. I think I have procrastinated enough. I should probably start on my Pop Culture readings. Check y'all later~! I promise more stuff for the nerds.

(And also I will be working on my Beauty Blog too. TIS THE SEASON~!)

Update, beauty blog??

2011-11-23T16:49:00.002+08:00

Alright, people, apologies for the lack of updates on my blog. This will be a quick entry 'cos I just can't stand stagnant blogs. Being an avid blog reader (I follow like a BAZILLION), I hate it when I go to someone's blog day after day hoping for a new post but TO NO AVAIL~~! So I had to update mine, even though I know that no one actually reads it. BUT WHATEVER.

So, the reason why I haven't been blogging or reading much is 'cos it's the EXAM PERIOD right now. In fact, I just did two and I have one more paper tmr. Next week I have two MORE papers before I can call it a sem and go back to my awesome routine of surfing the net, youtubing and reading. Actually, I have tons of things to share with you guys but I kinda need to take a short nap before I start on my cramming session tonight.

Basically, I am thinking of starting up a separate blog for all my beauty related and girly pursuits and leave this blog for my personal updates and book things. So I think I'll be working on that in December. I'm really excited 'cos I have tons of beauty products to tell you guys about and I dun wanna make this blog too confusing. I mean, technically this is my own personal blog... I dunno if I should use my tumblr as a beauty blog... WELL, I shall decide later. Probably once my exams are over. I know that I have lots of tell my friends and recommend them. Plus, they keep complaining that I know way too much about all these superficial girly things (It's really unhealthy to be this obsessed) and that they find it hard to find good stuff in Singapore since most beauty gurus and blogs are based in the UK or US. I just thought it would be a project I enjoy 'cos I just love sharing great finds. =)

SO KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR THAT.

In other news, I recently attended my cousin's 4-day wedding extravaganza. It was very fun to hang out with all my cousins again, but at the same time COMPLETELY draining. And all that wedding makeup I caked on really took a toll on my skin. =/ But it really got me thinking about marriage and how my future will be like 'cos people, lets face it, I am kinda old. I will be of age soon enough and from the looks of things, I think an arranged-marriage might be my only way into the 'family lifestyle'.

MORE THOUGHTS ON THAT LATER. I really do have a lot to rant about. Unfortunately, tmr I have my dreaded Human Rights paper. If you dun recall, this is the module that I am most terrified of. Simply 'cos Human Rights is HUGE with tons of international commissions and covenants and treaties. It's so hard to keep track of them, especially on the international law aspect. The theories are fine, it's the mechanisms that KILL ME. And besides, I already told you how I'm not exactly the most passionate about human rights. I advocate it, yes. But not like my fellow classmates who debate and fight for stuff... Good for them! More power to ya, mate. But I'd like to reserve the right to be a tad bit self-centred... FOR NOW. Who knows what kind of person I'll be in the future?!

And who knows how much I'll screw up the paper tmr?! We shall have to see, eh?

The Hunger Games.

2011-11-07T20:29:00.004+08:00

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rating: 5 stars

I JUST finished this and let me just take a breath *hyperventilates* OH MY GOD. I actually didn't think I'd love this book so much. Simply 'cos I tend to stay away from all the hype. Not because I'm trying to be hipster or whatever. But because I get so afraid of the book not meeting my super high expectations thanks to all the hype. This happened quite a few times to me. Which just RUINS the whole series for me 'cos I probably would've liked it if my expectations weren't so high.

BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. Ohhhhh, no. This book met my expectations and went far and beyond them.

Okay, I suppose I should try and do a proper review by starting with a brief synopsis. I'm afraid that otherwise this would just turn into a Love Rant about Peeta.

The story is about a girl named Katniss Everdeen who lives in a dystopian world where the earth has exhausted all its resources and the land is divided into 12 different districts, each focusing on the production of a certain good. All of which is controlled by the Capitol. Every year the Hunger Games are held for everyone to watch. The Hunger Games is basically a morbid Battle-Royale-cum-World-Cup event where one boy and girl from each district are sent to the Capitol and then put into an arena where they have to kill each other off. The last one standing would be the victor and he/she and his/her entire district will be rewarded with food and other amenities that are sorely lacking in places outside of the Capitol.

That is the gist of it. And Katniss has to choose between dying and killing. Dying would mean an honourable death and sort of flipping the finger at the Capitol who is manipulative and playing God with people's lives. But killing and staying alive would be fueling the games and playing right into the Capitol's hands. Also, things are made complicated with Peeta, the boy tribute from her district (district 12), who is clearly in love with her and would protect her, even at the expense of his life. Would Katniss bear to kill him to be the victor?

THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH ACTION. And I don't mean just random fight scenes thrown in. I mean edge-of-seat life or death situations and survival situations that the readers can only imagine in absolute horror. It's sort of Survivor (the reality show) meets Battle Royale. So there is tons of mind games that helps with the tension throughout the book. I was suspicious of everyone, even Rue. I was so sure she was gonna stab Katniss in the back, literally. But that 'flower scene' broke my heart. Simply 'cos Katniss merged the identity of her younger sister, Prim with Rue (her competitor) and she ended up feeling as though she was fighting against her own sister.

The pacing and writing is really spot-on. I never felt that any scene was too draggy. Even when Katniss was starving or dehydrating. I thought it would be pretty boring but the way it is written, I was still rooting for her. Willing her to stay alive that I was kept engaged throughout the book. AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE TWISTS. HOLY CRAP. My heart literally skipped a beat each time a twist was introduced into the story and totally changed the course of where I thought the plot was heading. It was totally unpredictable and I was so confused and kinda scared of what might lay ahead. But that was what's SO GREAT about this book.

Characters were ALSO great! I liked every one of them. Even the 'villains', even the Capitol, 'cos they were so morbid and strange. It was like reading of a new species altogether. Katniss was a great protagonist. She was strong, resourceful and hardened by life which means that she wasn't the usual whiny heroine we tend to read about in YA novels. Plus, she's totally badass with the bow & arrow. She can easily pass of as a Ninja (and that is the highest compliment I can give ANY character). I do get abit annoyed with her as she seems a total devoid of emotion. And everything she does is calculated and done with a motive behind it. Even the 'funeral' she staged for one of the tributes (won't say who), though it was done out of respect. I felt that she just wanted to show the Capitol up. And her 'love' scenes with Peeta. It was all... an act. Literally. Which BREAKS MY HEART 'cos I know how much Peeta loved her. Although I doubt she realizes how much she is relying on Peeta and sort of falling for him, she is all too aware of her relationship with Gale (her childhood friend back home) to let any of her feelings develop. It was like trampling on flower buds before they popped out of the ground. Such a waste.

And Peeta. OH PEETA. Peeta, Peeta, Peeta... I am so in love with him. It's not even funny. I mean, yea, to be fair there wasn't enough 'airtime' on Gale for me to feel for him. Although I do find him chivalrous and there is a something true about his partnership with Katniss and the way he looks out for her. But as awesome as I think Gale is, Peeta is just... amazing. He's so gentle and awkward, thanks to the fact that he isn't nearly as badass as Gale and Katniss. But despite his shortcomings he tries his best to keep Katniss alive, even though there were times when I thought he had abandoned her. I SHOULD NEVER HAVE DOUBTED HIM. Katniss kept emphasizing how good Peeta was at "acting" in love with her for the audience who were watching the hunger games. But we readers knew better. He would've done ANYTHING for her. ANYTHING. And my love for him just quadruples with each pages. Until finally my heart was wrenching in pain at the end of the book. (I got really pissed off at Katniss. make up YOUR MIND WOMAN) I felt so bad for Peeta 'cos I knew that the relationship was very one-sided, but he pumped so much love into it that it was completely believable and sincere, looking almost whole.

Okay, I should stop gushing about Peeta and mention other characters I enjoyed. I liked Cinna, Caesar, Cato and Clove. Dunno why they all happen to start with the letter 'C', that's strange. The only downside to this book is that I felt that the characterization wasn't thorough enough. I wanted to know more about the characters to make them less 2D. Even Peeta and Katniss, I felt like I needed to learn more about them. But I guess there will be more of that in the next 2 books in the trilogy.

I also particularly enjoyed the flashbacks about Katniss's father and his connection with Mockingjays. This back story really allowed me to relate with Katniss more and made her character more likeable, as otherwise, I felt that she was kinda heartless at times. I was so relieved to see the softer side to her.

Overall, this book is totally EPIC. It's the only word to describe it. It also left me breathless quite a few times and I had to stop reading for fear of what would happen next. That is usually a good thing and an indicator of the 'Thrill level' this story has. I'm glad that the hype on this series is not misguided and well-deserved. I am looking forward to the next two books as I wonder what is next after the Hunger Games are over. What would happen then? Gritty fast-paced writing laced with lovely characters and the constant foreshadowing of something darker, more dyer up ahead.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. =)

View all my reviews

Great finds.

2011-11-06T00:36:00.002+08:00

Next week will be the last week of school~!! OH MY LORD!

As happy I am about that, I can never be fully happy about it as this just means that the exams are coming up. As I am constantly reminded by the people studying left and right of me. Instead, after I was done with my presentation, which I really enjoyed (although I did 90% of the work), was to chill and do absolutely nothing. WELL, not absolutely nothing. I'm reading my 'Hunger Games' trilogy and I did go out shopping and found some amazing finds.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, it's Christmas time again. I AM SO PUMPED!! Christmas is my fave season ever. And I know I dun exactly celebrate the birth of Jesus and whatever. But I just love the whole festive atmosphere and all the lovely Christmas season fashion and products that all the major companies come up with. ESPECIALLY the gift sets. I love gift sets. I buy them for myself, 'cos 1) I dun have anyone to buy them for me and 2) Ain't nothing wrong with giving yourself a gift. I mean, hay, the world is tough enough as it is, why not reward yourself.

So anyway, right now as I am typing this my entire room smells of MISTLETOE. That's right MISTLETOE~ The story here is very simple. Firstly, I got super jealous of all the youtubers that I watch who do Christmas hauls and bath hauls. They always rave about their scented candles and they always says that they never go without burning one. I've never really wanted to try them but I was never tempted until the autumn scents came into the picture and they start describing the spicy, fall scents or fresh, pine winter scents. I GOT SO JEALOUS. I was like, "WHY CAN'T MY HOUSE SMELL NICE?!!" I mean, so what if I live in a tiny-ass HDB and that their rooms looks like something out of an IKEA magazine while mine looks like... crap. So I've been in search of good scented candles and home fragrances. The Bodyshop sells some great reed diffusers and scented candles but THEY ARE SO EXPENSIVE OMG. And the smell isn't exactly fantastic. Well some of them are... The Christmas series, obviously. I am absolutely OBSESSED with the 'Candied Ginger' line. It smells EXACTLY like Chai Tea Latte to me. But then I headed over to Tangs and found 'Yankees Candle' in the aromatherapy section. My sis and I went crazy sniffing tons of candles and essential oils. We got into a bit of a fight 'cos we couldn't agree on a scent. I like spicy and rich smells for the house (like 'Christmas Cookie') but my sis likes floral ones like 'Christmas Rose'. FINALLY, we decided on 'MISTLETOE' which is

"The woody scents of mistletoe, berries, pine boughs, and holly create this holiday tradition."

DECK THE HALLS~ bitches!! It smells like I'm walking through a forest filled with pine trees and mistletoe. It's so woody but still so fresh. I am so in love with this. My whole room smells AMAZING. And what's great is that I got the reed diffuser so I won't have to burn a candle to get the scent and it will last much much longer. (PLUS the bottle is absolutely gorgeous)

Okay, another thing that I am loving to death and I have been using for a couple of months now is the 'Seche Vite fast-dry Top Coat'.

Girls (and guys too, hay) THIS IS THE HOLY GRAIL OF TOPCOATS. HOLY GRAIL. It makes SUCH a huge difference in my nail polish application and the finish it gives. It's ridiculous. 'Cos the difference with this top coat is that when they say 'fast-dry', THEY MEAN FAST. Like 30 secs or less. By the time you're done painting the other hand, your previous hand would've dried completely and is perfect. Seriously, this is the best investment ever. You can make crappy $1 nail polishes look like professional manicures. And it's so incredibly convenient that I can go about with my business as soon as I am done with my nails. Literally AS SOON AS. AAARGH~! LOVE THIS. Get this now, Girls! (And YES, I AM LOOKING AT YOU, JEN!)

Also, since I am in a really good mood all of sudden (I guess from talking abotu stuff I love), I have to tell you guys how EXTREMELY (yes, I mean capitalized) excited I am for my Deathly Hallows necklace that will be arriving in my doorstep soon. Well, not so much my doorstep as Diyanah's 'cos I bought it in her name but whatever, technicalities. I am just so freakin' excited to get my hands on it. 'Cos as you all know, I am a geek. And this post won't really be a post by me unless I've inserted some weird book-related fact in it. So, I recently bought myself a deathly hallows necklace. And it looks like THIS,

HOLY MOLY GOOD GOLLY!! How effing cool is that?!! And I love that it's made from silver wires and not that boring metal pendant (where the points look like they would stab your neck). I am gonna start my collection of harry potter related or book related stuff. Diyanah totally judged me 'cos I wanna get the snitch pendant and also this one that looks like the actual deathly hallows book. AND I want this bracelet that has harry potter book charms, like actual mini-sized versions of the actual books dangling around the bracelet. It's SO COOL!! But well, I'm short on cash at the moment, so I will be content with my deathly hallows pendant... for now, at least.

God, I am such a geek. UGH.

Book haul #8

2011-10-29T22:54:00.005+08:00

ALRIGHT. I realize that this is probably over-kill since I just posted a book review and I am now about to post a book haul. OBVIOUSLY, to the average blog-walker, it would seem that my life revolves completely around books. And I have to say, while that is quite true to a certain extent, I do like tons of other things and I guess I do have stuff that's happening. Just that to me, they aren't as fun to talk about than books. Which just proves what a total nerd I am. And not even in a smart way, 'cos real nerds, they are super smart. Book nerds are just people who use books to escape the crappiness of life. Like me, for instance.

I am just so glad that I survived this week. I only have to deal with one more presentation and then it's over. Just the final exams to come. Which BY THE WAY, makes me wanna puke everytime I think about it. I never really cared much, and I study like I am supposed to. But as you know, NUS is the place of over-achieving human robots who know NOTHING of living life in MODERATION. So, there are posters EVERYWHERE and emails on 'Overnight Study Sessions' and that the library will be open 24 hours for people (who have no homes to study in, apparently) to study literally overnight. From AM to AM. 'Cos that is how they roll in NUS. It just scares the shit out of me. SCARES ME TO DEATH. If only the fucking 'bell curve' isn't there. Then I wouldn't give a rat's ass if these kids are studying till their eyeballs fall out. But I am forced to be in competition with them, and I just KNOW I will lose.

I'm just glad that I am done with my assignments. AND I wrote a 4000-word essay on bureaucratic corruption last weekend, in just 2 days. I was pretty proud of myself. HAHA! Obviously, I am not expecting an 'A' (I never do). But I felt like I deserved a pat in the back for achieving that. Just finishing, to me, is amazing.

SO, I rewarded myself with a Book haul as Kino was having a 20% off for members. And HELLS YEAH I am gonna put my card to use. But some stuff I also got from the flea market in my school. They sell really cheap second-hand books. OKAY, I have rambled on enough.

Let's get nerdy.

OKAY!! I got the Hunger Games Box Set~!!!! I already bought the first book, but I sold it to Munira 'cos I really wanted to get the box set. AND SO, now I have all three books in the trilogy. MUAHAHAHAHAHA! So technically, I got myself 'Catching Fire' & 'Mockingjay' by Suzanne Collins. You guys have NO IDEA how excited I am to have this. I am so happy 'cos I heard that nothing but good things and it's even gonna be turned into a movie. I better get started before the film gets out. I'll be reading this next. OMG CANNOT WAIT~ I wish I were one of those speed readers. Or at least read faster than the pace I do now. I have the tendency to read really slow and it annoys me, but at the same time I can't force myself to miss out words and I always need time for the words to 'set' in my head. If that even made any sense at all.

Anyway, moving on...

I got ANOTHER Sarah Dessen book. 'Cos I am obsessed. Although I was kinda disappointed with the last one I read, I heard that this one was really good and I loved the cover. It was pretty cheap too, compared to the other books in the YA section. It's called 'This Lullaby'. And I think it's about a girl with commitment issues and how she falls for a guy and blah-blah-blah-the-rest-is-history. OBVIOUSLY it will be better than that, but that was what I gathered from the synopsis. And I KNOW that Sarah Dessen synopsis's are the WORST. They should fire that person.

I got 'Rumours' by Anna Godberson. I heard that the Luxe series is really good (sucker for historical fiction, especially if it's romance, no matter how trashy). This one's the second book. I found it at the garage sale in my school for ONE DOLLAR. Holy crap!

Also, at the same garage sale, I got 'If You Are Afraid of Heights' by Raj Kamal Jha. HOW CREEPY IS THIS COVER? I'm guessing that it's one of those literature-y books, that's super deep and tough to follow. 'Cos the book sort of comes in three parts but it all makes one story. In Part One, a man and a woman meet in a midnight road accident and fall in love. In Part Two, a reporter arrives in a small town to uncover the story of a child's rape and murder. In Part Three, a young girl, shaken by suicides in her neighborhood, begins to fear for her parents' lives. I got this super cheap at the fair too. So I didn't feel too bad picking up a book that I probably would never even look at in real life. Although, I did look at it thinking it was a book about a girl with a fear of height (aka ME). I'm curious to read it though. Probably when I am freer as I think it would one of those books that you have to really concentrate to get into.

I also got 'Trash' by Andy Mulligan. I dun really know much about this book. It was just lying around at the fair and I picked it up 'cos it was in amazing condition and it was hardback. The cover is RIDICULOUSLY GORGEOUS. And I know I'm not supposed to buy a book simply 'cos of the cover, but whatever. I'm a rebel. I dun go by the rules. The story is about dumpsite boys who find something that was not meant to be found while they were doing their usual scavenging. And then they get caught up in some sort of huge conspiracy. The inside was filled with glowing review-quotes so I assume that this will be a great book. Otherwise, it will still look pretty on my shelf. Haha!

FINALLY, I got 'Sister' by Rosamund Lupton. You guys have NO IDEA how I have searched high and low for this book. I watched afew booktubers who were reviewing this book and it sounds really amazing and suspenseful. It's about this girl whose sister commited suicide. But she's sure that her sister was murdered eventhough no one believed her. So, she sets off trying to unravel the true mystery of her sister's death and whilst discovering the secrets, realizes that perhaps she never knew her sister at all. DUDE, THIS LOOKS AMAZING~~~~ I heard nothing but good things about this one and even if I didn't look at the review, just from the synopsis I would pick it up. It was so hard for me to find this book 'cos most bookstores only stock up on the new novel by the same author called 'Afterward' (which I think is the sequel, I dunno). So when I saw it at the fair, I freakin' GRABBED IT, not bothering that it was pretty pricey for a secondhand book. WHATEVER, I AM SO GLAD I GOT IT.

***

OKAY OKAY. I promise that I won't be doing anymore book hauls. I mean, I haven't been able to read much thanks to my shitty school schedule that will be the death of me, no doubt about it. I actually bought afew make-up stuff as well, but I dunno whether to blog about them 'cos there are like 100000 blogs about makeup reviews that will be so much better with swatches and stuff.

I always go into Sephora and MAC and I look and swatch all the lovely products that I can never buy or afford. It pains my heart, seriously.

OKAY I WILL GO NOW. GOODBYE.

Lock and Key.

2011-10-29T22:41:00.000+08:00

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rating: 3 stars

I am a huge fan of Sarah Dessen. And I own quite a few of her books. Many have chosen this particularly one as their favourite and I have heard nothing but glowing reviews. I guess that raised my expectation. That, and the fact that I have enjoyed all of Sarah Dessen's work so far. I must say that this one fell a TAD bit short of my expectations, and I am sure it isn't anyone's fault. It's just one of those things that comes to personal preference. Nevertheless, it is still a really good book and I did enjoy it.

The story is about a girl named Ruby who lives with her dysfunctional mother in a ratty old place. One day, her mom just packed her stuff and left, which was fine for Ruby as she always felt that she never needed anyone's help and was determined to be independent. However, child-services came as she was still below the legal age and she ends up living with her older sister whom she had lost touch with for years. Her sister, Cora, lives a life that is the total polar opposite of Ruby's. And Ruby is overwhelmed by her new life. Being in a new family with Cora and her husband, Jamie and with the possibility of making new friends, even potential more-than-friends relationship with the boy next door, Nate. Ruby doesn't know if these changes were good or whether they were changing who she really was, what she did know was that it was overwhelming and she would have to face them alone.

Plot-wise, it's a really good teen drama. Lots of familial aspects and some romance. I did think that the pace was abit slow at parts, especially after Ruby got over her 'rebellion phase'. The plot got abit tame after that, in terms of stuff happening. But as all of her books, Sarah Dessen likes to leave those heart-wrenching wham-bam moments towards the end. And that did not disappoint.

The characters were all very lovable and relatable. Moreover, there is a huge variety. Every single one has a flaw. With Ruby, it is her overly enthusiastic independent mindset that made her keep everyone at an arm's length away from her. She had some major trust issues, and very understandably so, thanks to her screw-up of a mother. Nate is the most complex character, in my opinion. I can't seem to get him 'cos once I sort of made up my mind about him, I learn something new that TOTALLY changes my perspective of him. It is hard to understand the reasons behind his actions sometimes and how he can bear to be so cheerful on the outside, despite harbouring such a dark secret inside. Needless to say, my favourite character of all is Reggie (who is a dude who runs a Vitamin stand near the shop that Ruby got a part-time job at; He's in love with Ruby's boss Harriet). He is the NICEST, MOST AMAZING GUY EVER. It just amazes me how incredibly sincere and patient he is, waiting for Harriet, being there for her when she needed a friend yet not afraid to putting himself out there, letting her know of his true feelings. I seriously love this guy. He's so positive without turning me into a diabetic with his sweetness. I was rooting for him all the way.

I think what I wished the book had was more information on Ruby's mother. I know what she's like from the back story that we were briefly told, but I wanted to know the reasons. I couldn't understand why Ruby wouldn't go over to her mother immediately when they finally located her. I would've demanded to know what was the point of leaving your child on her own with NOTHING. I wanted to know what made her mother that way. She's the biggest mystery of this plot.

There were tons of nice images (dominantly locks and keys, as the title would suggest). The idea that an object could be a key to unlocking your past, as it brings back memories. The idea that your true self is locked until that special someone holds the key to open it, helping you realize things about yourself and your potential. There were also lots of swimming references. About water, sinking and fishes. I read it to be that each connection and relationship you make with another (be it friendship, romantic or familial), it is a leap of faith. You would never know what lies under the surface of the water, until you take that deep breath and plunge. With them.

Lots of good messages, but they were focused more on family and the true meaning of family. Sometimes you can choose them. Lots of nice images. So that part I did enjoy.

Overall, it's a good book and I can see why it is popular. I just don't find it my cup of tea, as I am not into family themed or family-driven plots. Also, I felt that there wasn't enough dramatic events or huge revelations that would make the plot more fun to read. Of course, I still love Sarah Dessen as the book is still beautifully written. I guess, I couldn't really relate to Ruby and her constant pessimism and I felt that her relationship with Nate wasn't very authentic. I would recommend it, nonetheless. Especially if you like family drama and identity crises.

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giveaway, I try.

2011-10-23T17:09:00.002+08:00

Okay, you all know I am a stinkin' nerd... Well not really a nerd 'cos nerds have to be ridiculously smart and all. But I am a huge bookworm on top of being a makeup-junkie. And my blog is by no means a book blog but I dunno, somehow it became infested with book related posts and I know 'cos Keetha constantly complains to me about how freakin' boring my blog has become. Can't help it! And technically, it's still a personal blog.

Sort-of.

Meanwhile, there are TONS of book blogs out there that I read from time to time so that i know what to buy next in my book hauls. And almost all have a giveaway of some sort, which is AMAZING. I entered so many, but knowing my luck, as expected, I haven't won a single one. It's amazing how unlucky I am. But I still try anyways. Here's only of the book blogs that I do love to read. Natalia (the blogger) is have an autumn giveaway. Amazing selection of books! =)

Wintergirls.

2011-10-17T03:04:00.001+08:00

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rating: 4 stars

This book was really tough to read, but hard to put down 'cos I feel like I have to stick to it to the end. I felt like I shouldn't give up on the main character, even though she literally scares me. I picked up 'Wintergirls' as I felt like there aren't many books like this. Stories that aim to tell the truth.

The story is about a girl named Lia, who is a Wintergirl. Which means that she's a girl whose feelings have frozen and sort of not living nor dead. Her recently-turned-ex-best friend, Cassie, was found dead in a motel one day and the day before she died. She has called Lia 33 times, but Lia never bothered to pick up. With the huge weight of guilt weighing her down, she goes on a mission to get lighter, in hopes of feeling lighter. We delve into the warped mind of Lia, who sees Cassie everywhere. She is haunting her and claiming that she's waiting for Lia to join her. Meanwhile, Lia copes with her over-bearing but too-busy-for-anything mother, her promise-breaking father, her flawed stepmother and her step-sister who idolizes her.

It deals with eating disorders, particularly anorexia. Which is a tough subject to write about (so kudos to Laurie Halse Anderson) and a tough one to read about. I got really depressed reading this, although the ending made it worthwhile. The writing style is very unique. It's disjointed, sometimes I dunno if Cassie was truly haunting her or if it was just a figment of her imagination and a manifestation of her guilt. Lia's mind was a total nightmare to be in and I don't envy being her at all. The writer plays around with font alot. We get to read Lia's true feelings which were written and then crossed out. And her guilt nagging at her everyday is written in tiny fonts that pop up in between paragraphs. It was a maze of emotions. But I enjoyed it.

Lia is an EXTREMELY complex character. Actually all the characters in this book are complex and three-dimensional. Even minor characters such as Elijah, who I totally couldn't figure out, even till the end. But I knew he meant well. Lia battles her demons everyday and it's harsh what she does to herself. At first, I thought she was being stupid. Then I started rooting for her 'cos I felt that she's a decent girl deep inside. So much so that I ended up thinking like her and was taken along through her mission to get thinner and thinner. Like I would get worried for her when she eats in front of her parents to defiantly prove that she's perfectly normal so that she won't be sent back to rehab. I kept thinking "OH NO! Her daily calorie intake is bust". Which is WEIRD!! 'Cos it wasn't written there. But when she started to get scary, when she started talking to Cassie and really spiraling. It was tough for me to root for her. I got super pissed at her character when Emma (her younger step sister) found her cutting slits all over her body and her family fell apart, all because of her. All the money that they are paying for her medical bills and shrink sessions. It felt like she was being such a hassle, such a deadweight, such a waste of time and effort. What was the point of trying so hard to help someone who refused to be helped, and just throws the kindness back in their faces?? I literally wanted her to just die, at that point. And I think so did everyone 'cos her parents and step mother cracked.

At the same time I understood her plight. I felt that every word was true. Those ugly words that she says to herself when she eats. Her obsession with weight and all that calories counting and over-exercising. It easy to empathize, I think everyone has been there at some point.

But when she started hurting others, I lost my sympathy for her. She did redeem in the end, when she fought with her demons and faced Cassie once and for all.

There were TONS of symbolism and metaphors in this books. It's not plot driven, but image driven. Lots of nightmares being described. The fact that Cassie ate the 'See-glass', I felt, was like Cassie taking Lia's hopes and dream to her deathbed. She regains herself only when she realizes it was right there and she could see through it again if she was determined enough.

Oh my gosh, I am starting to analyse this book. I should stop. But the point is that there are several aspects in this book, besides the plot and the focus on anorexia that will set you thinking. Not just about your perception on food and family, but on life as well. It's the kind of story that sticks with you long after you flipped the last page. And it is one where you'll find something different, each time you read it.

My fave character is Lia's biological mum, the busy-surgeon. At first I thought she was the enemy. Overbearing and obnoxious to think that she even had a say in Lia's life when she's too absorbed in her work to even care. But then as I got to learn more about her, I realized that she too has her demons and that it kills her that the only person she can't seem to cure is her own daughter, who's dying before her very eyes. Dying in her own hands. My heart really went out to her and I felt like she's the only one who cared enough about Lia to give her the tough love she needed. In order to set her straight. I really admired her strength, even though she is not without flaws.

Overall, this is a solid and amazing piece of literature. I think it is not for the average reader. You definitely need to be mentally prepared to enter Lia's mind as it is REALLY dark in there. I think you have to be strong enough to handle all her emotions and thoughts. 'Cos it WILL affect you. And though it is not plot driven, I was curious about Cassie's death and cared enough about Lia to read on and reap the benefits of this story. It made me reflect. And I enjoyed pondering on the hidden meanings behind each imagery.

Highly recommended, but only if you dare.

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October will be the death of me.

2011-10-16T20:02:00.003+08:00

I'm pretty impressed that I got through this week. Although it is arguably one of the worst weeks EVER. I had THREE whole essays due this week. All of which 2500 words along with tons of research and citations to deal with. Honestly, University is such a bitch. They need to have more sense in their system and not just LUMP everything is one week as if I have no other modules to worry about. And the questions made my brain ache. As I typed out my paragraphs, the further in the I got, the more I realized that I was just writing a bunch of crap. HENCE, I am pretty darn sure that I will be scoring majorly low on them. 'Cos I didn't even think I answered the questions properly. I was too busy trying to meet the deadlines. 'Cos to me, bad essays are better than late essays. So yea~

On top of that I had my speech contest to deal with, and I was stressing over that for AGES. I saw all the contestants and it was SO IMPRESSIVE. Everyone was friggin' AMAZING. And I could see who the clear-cut winners are. It's the preliminary rounds, I know that this is a good oppurtunity, but it's only a good one when I stand a chance to win. What's the point of being top ten when you OBVIOUSLY know that you won't win anything. It's reserved for top 3. So, I hope I dun make it. I really hope I dun.

I'm really happy that I have the entire Sunday to myself and I finally get to sit down and do nothing but read and watch animes and eat. It feels great that I dun have a deadline looming above my head. Well, I do actually, and I have to get started on my presentation next week. BUT, I will deal with that when monday arrives, sort of. I just want to take ONE DAY and really just enjoy it without all this crap clogging my life.

I'm sorry I sound so depressing and angry. It's hard to be all cheery and la-di-da when you've had a crappy week and an equally crappy week ahead. But despite all this madness, I managed to continue reading. At least some chapters here and there. And watched afew more episodes of 'Ao No' Exorcist', my FAVOURITE anime at the moment. I am so in LOVE with Rin, it's not even funny. Seriously, I think I will be alone forever thanks to my bloody Otaku mentality that just makes me unconsciously compare guys around me with Anime characters (who obviously pwns them in every way humanly/inhumanly possible). NO ONE can live up to them. Sometimes, being an Otaku is tough. LOL!

Highlight of this week would be meeting up with Diy finally, after what felt like ages. And hanging out with Gaya. I appreciate every single moment of social interaction that I am bestowed with 'cos they are truly rare and precious to me. Uni has turned me into a hermit, against my wishes. And I am too busy trying to meet deadlines and worrying about things, not bothering to make friends, 'cos what's the point? They'll once the semester ends. So, I got to shop a little with Gaya and bought the Body Shop Lip roll-on thing. Feels really good, but thanks to my super sensitive lips, I can wear it as often as I'd like. Mineral oils irritate them a little (just like EVERYTHING ELSE apparently, except vaseline). AND I got to play Timezone again, which is the best stress reliever ever. I always feel so good when I am concentrating on shooting zombies and spies, all the worries I had are immediately pushed to the back of my mind.

Anyways, I have a really tough week ahead. AGAIN. I really hope I have enough strength to get me through this month. It is ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE. HORRIBLE. HORRIBLE.

The Summer I Turned Pretty.

2011-10-11T17:55:00.002+08:00

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rating: 3.5 stars

Also another teen romance novel that received plenty of hype. And this one comes in a trilogy which is really unique I think as it’s quite a realistic teen romance, no vampires and werewolves involved. As the title suggests, this would be a go-to summer read. And since it’s always summer where I’m from, I felt that I should give this book a shot. I must say that this book met my expectations in the “lightness” of the read, if that make any sense at all. I breezed through it SUPER quick.

The story revolves around a girl named Belly (which I found extremely distracting and unromantic at some tender moments), her real name is Isabel though. Every summer she would go to Susannah’s (her mum’s best friend) summer house with her mum. Susannah has two sons who grew up with Belly and became her childhood friends, along with her brother, Steven. Belly had developed a huge crush on the older of the two brothers, Conrad, since the age of 10, which later evolved into full-blown love. This summer was different than all the summers, as this was the summer where Belly emerged from her “little sister” shadow and turned pretty. She tries to get over Conrad by finding new love in Cam (a boy she met a party). But other things were different about this summer too. There was a dark secret that weighed on the entire house and people were hiding it by putting up the façade of perfection. When Belly find s out the reason as to why people around her were acting so weird, she knew that the summers after this would never be the same.

The plot was good and the writing style of Jenny Han really pulled at the heartstrings as we learn more about each character. The pacing was jumpy with her moving from memories to the present in a staggered manner. Sometimes, it gets a little confusing and I feel disrupts the flow of the story, but I guess it is to illustrate the importance of each moment in the present that is directly caused by the past. It’s a nice change from the usual linear narrative, so I didn’t mind it so much.

Belly was an endearing character who always felt left-out even in her own home. She realizes her shortcomings and also her strengths and that is something I admire of her. Also, I felt like I grew up with her as all her childhood memories were revealed. So I was really rooting for her. But I did find her very childish at moments when she throws tantrums when she’s left out or when she CONSTANTLY sticks out her tongue (I can’t even count how many times). I guess this made her maturity at the end of the book more obvious. And generally, I felt that she was way too hung up over Conrad. She almost turns poetic. When I can't really understand her devotion to him 'cos Conrad isn't very nice to her and I felt that there was not enough tender moments to justify such devotion.

But then again, she's 16, so I guess emotions are always at extremes when you're at that age.

I have to say that my fave character is Cam. HE IS SO INCREDIBLY SWEET! And such a nice guy. I get quite angry when Belly complains or picks on Cam's shyness and awkwardness. Not everyone can be as brooding and nonchalant as Conrad. But it is really obvious that she was just using him to get over Conrad. And I kinda hated her for that as I felt that Cam was really sincere in his feelings.

Jeremiah also deserves a mention for being a sweetheart too. And being another reject of Belly, thanks to her Conrad-obsession.

The thing at the end, I expected it. Belly was just too self-centered to notice anything. But it doesn't take away from the impact of the revelations. I think everyone sort of fell apart and my heart went out to the characters. Including Belly's mom who I thought at first to be a really cold, unapproachable woman.

Overall, this book is good! I have no major complains about it except for the Conrad's bad boy routine and the staggered nature of the writing that moved from past to present, sort of disrupting the flow. But it is really the perfect Summer read. It's light-hearted but still heartwarming and not overly "blah". It deals with rather real teenage emotions, so I would recommend it at any time of year, whatever season. =)

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Book Haul #7

2011-10-04T21:51:00.004+08:00

Why hello everyone~!

I haven't been blogging much simple 'cos Jenny has left for UK so my social life has dwindled to the point of non-existence. Thus there really isn't nothing much to talk about. Besides school, and we all know how foul my mood gets every time I start talking about it. But since we're on that topic, ALL my assignments are due either this week or next. So I am pretty much screwed. I should be sloughing my ass off this moment on one of my MANY essays which are due very soon, but instead I choose PROCRASTINATION. Lovely. I can see that I will surely ace every single one of my modules this sem. To add to the stress, even though my midterms are over, I have this speech competition thing to deal with. And it's for my language class and I AM MENTAL for even THINKING of participating in it (simply 'cos I cannot say NO to ppl and my teacher practically begged me). Public speaking is already hard enough as it is (I had a really traumatizing story-telling competition melt-down which left me scarred when it comes to public speaking), but to do it in a FOREIGN language is completely impossible. And my speech is like TWO fucking pages long after my teacher edited it. So I have to go through the torturous process of memorizing it.

If I can't memorize it perfectly, I am very much prepared to just drop out and pretend to be sick that day or smth. 'Cos I will NOT go through the humiliation AGAIN.

Needless to say, I am going out of my mind. BUT to keep myself sane and to cheer myself up, I've bought quite afew books. I bought these in the past few weeks, so I read some of them. Still, I thought I would show you all what I got~!! Books always get me so excited and happy! =)

I got 'Superstitious' by R.L. Stine. Which is one of his very few adult horror/thriller novels as he usually writes for middle-graders and teens. I have never ever seen it around in bookstores but I manage to stumble across it at a fair and I got so excited as he is one of my fave authors. Not that he is SO spectacular in his writing, just that I grew up with his books and I have never read any of his adult novels before. So, I'm really curious to see how the plot is gonna turn out.

Then I got 'Uglies' by Scott Westerfeld. This is a highly raved about book. I heard tons of people loving the trilogy (I also tend to love trilogies in general, as opposed to series). It's the first book and I couldn't recognize it at first 'cos this turned out to be the UK version, which I rarely see around here. Anw, it's a dystopian young adult novel about a society that considers all girls 'Ugly' until they turn 16 where they will go for a certain procedure that will turn them 'Pretty'. So the protagonist can't wait to get her procedure done and be considered Pretty (which is the norm) but her best friend doesn't wanna go through with it. So some stuff happens and she later finds out the dark side to being Pretty and the secrets behind the procedures. INTERESTING~!!!

Okay, next I got 'The Adoration of Jemma Fox' by Mary E. Pearson. I heard mixed reviews about this one. Some seems to either love it or hate it. But I couldn't resist after reading the synopsis. It's about this girl who wakes up from a coma with no memory of herself whatsoever. And then they sort of "show" her, her memories (I think it's set in the future) and she learns more about herself and the people around her. But then, she's not sure if the memories were hers to begin with and if she could trust those around her. Or if she could trust herself, as she learns more about what happened before her accident. GOSH, I gotta say, how can I resist that?! It's mystery, dystopia, identity all rolled into one. I'm gonna read this and form my own opinion about it. And just shut my ears and go "LALALALALA NOT LISTENING" to the rest.

I then got 'Lock & Key' by Sarah Dessen. OMG, I am starting to have a collection of her books. Without even meaning to. I just happen to stumble across good buys and they happen to be her books. NOT THAT they are bad or anything. In fact, I REALLY love them. To the point where I sometimes even crave her books. Especially when I'm down and in need of a heart-warming story to pick myself up. I didn't really read the synopsis for this one, I just grabbed this book. I find that the best way to enjoy her books is to just go into it blindly. =)

Then I went to Kino and was looking around, just wandering. Just BEING there makes me feel so happy. I almost JUMPED for joy when I saw 'Anna and The French Kiss' by Stephanie Perkins. And it wasn't the friggin' expensive hardback version either so I can actually afford it. Needless to say, I SNATCHED IT UP. I heard nothing but good things about this book, to the point where I was OBSESSED. I NEED to see what the hype is about. I even stopped reading my current book (The Taker by Alma Katsu) to read it. Also, 'cos teh pages flew by eventhough I only meant to just read the first few chapters. LOL! I already have the review up today. Just scroll DOWN!

In my hunt at Kino, I also FINALLY found 'The Summer I turned Pretty' by Jenny Han. This is also another teen romance drama story. I dun really know much about it. All I know is that it's something about summer and I'm pretty sure there's a love triangle in it. STILL, it got rave reviews and everyone LOVES the Summer Trilogy (another trilogy, hells yeahhhh). I think I will be reading this next. 'Cos it's been rainy and lame these past few days, I'm in need of a light pick-me-up sort of read.

Finally, I got 'The Duff' by Kody Keplinger. DUFF stands for the 'Designated Ugly Fat Friend'. LOL!! Well, I have really hot friends so I do feel that way at times. And it's not like my love life is super happening or anything. So I think I AM the Duff. The cover got me interested and the reviews were good! So I just popped it into my basket, sort of last minute before I headed to the cashier. It's about this girl who isn't exactly very spectacular in the look department and how she's dealing with this obnoxious (but hot) bully who keeps labeling her as the Duff. but things started getting crazy when an unexpected turn of events ended with Wesley (the bully) and her kissing... and then her falling for him. Omg, sounds so scandalous and fun~!

ALRIGHTY!! That's it! It's a pretty big Haul now that I look at it. but it's not like I bought it all at one go. It took afew trips. ANYWAY, I am super excited to start reading them. Although I realize that most of the books I bought this time are all girly, and teen-y. I guess that's the theme I subconsciously went for.

GOD I AM SUCH A GIRL.

Anna and the French Kiss.

2011-10-04T12:39:00.001+08:00

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rating: 3.5 stars

After hearing so so so many raves about this book, I decided to just purchase it and give it a try. I suppose I never was drawn to this book 'cos of the cover which really bugs me. It looks so cliche and almost childish, in my opinion. Also, it's really obvious and tacky. It's just not something I would gravitate towards or get me curious about the story behind the cover. But I finally gave it a try and I'm really glad I did. It was a sweet and endearing story. Though quite common in themes and plotlines, it is not at all as tacky as the cover. So I am extremely relieved that it was totally worth my money.

It is a romance story about a girl named Anna Oliphant (weird surname made me laugh) who was sent to a boarding school in Paris on her senior year. Although it sounds like it's something to rejoice over, she'll be leaving her family, friends and basically her entire life and live in a completely foreign country all by herself for a year. Also, she doesn't speak a word of French, so it seems like she's gonna be screwed. Fortunately she managed to make some good friends in the School of America in Paris (SOAP). One of them being the hottest guy she ever laid eyes on, aka Etienne St. Clair. Just as things were turning round, drama happens as she is forced to deal with the problems of long-distance relationships, being independent and falling in love with the "wrong" person (as St. Clair has a girlfriend).

To be honest, the plot was everything I expected it to be, which is a not-too complicated, light-hearted sort of read. Nothing too jaw-dropping happened, but that doesn't mean that it was not engaging and exciting. Definitely the drama that was unfolding as we getting further into the story totally sucked me in, simply because Anna was a likable heroine and I was rooting for her to get the guy. The stand-out of this book is definitely the witty dialogue and writing style and literally had me laughing out loud.

Another stand-out is of course, Etienne St. Clair who is a delicious male protagonist and any girl's dream guy. He simply has such a way with words and there are some very sweet and romantic moments (the sort that makes girls' hearts melt and flutter) with Anna. But what I like most about him is that he is not TOTALLY, unrealistically perfect. I mean, yea, he seems too good to be true (especially towards the end), but he also has a very real side as he deals with the family problems that's plaguing his life and his torn feelings towards Anna & his girlfriend, Ellie. Also, he is prone to making mistakes and screwing up. So that gives his character a nice human touch. I got really frustrated with him 'cos he kept leading Anna on, but I'm glad that the writer addressed that issue and resolved it nicely.

Anna is also a very funny and entertaining protagonist. I love her sense of humour and I find her very down-to-earth and flawed, but still likable. She isn't obnoxiously whiny and reflects on her mistakes, more importantly acknowledges them and tries to right them. So eventhough she pisses me off (like the whole drunk scene), the fact that she tries to right things again and realizes her shortcomings makes me root for her and want to be her friend.

The other characters could have been developed further. I really wanted to know more about Josh, who seems so mysterious in a tortured-artist sort of way. And I also wanted to learn more about Rashmi and Meredith. Other aspects, such as St. Clair's artwork and the reasons behind Anna's neat-freak mentality, I wish could have been explored further.

My only problem with it (besides the horrible cover) is the suddenness of certain realizations. Such as how Anna instantly, over the holidays just spontaneously realized her deep love for St. Clair and calls him Etienne. Another part that bugs me is how exaggerated some scenes were, such as when Anna saw St. Clair, she literally swooned on the sidewalk and people around her thought she was sick. She's also abit stalker-like in her thinking. (But I guess that is just part of being a teen, the raging hormones) And I wasn't too convinced on how deeply they felt for each other when he confessed, simply 'cos the lines then were pretty cliched (but still sweet).

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and BREEZED through the entire thing. It wasn't so AMAZING as all the hype was surrounding it. It wasn't like-changing. BUT, it's such a fun and easy read. It is a great pick-me-up when you're in a foul mood or having a bad day. Though I do prefer a more intense romance, I do love the endearing quality of Anna and St. Clair's relationship. And this book is also filled with little messages about how to be a good friend and the true meaning of home, which I thought was an admirable touch to this story, making it a more meaningful read. It made me wanna fly off to Paris and find myself a British-American hottie. LOL! Chances are NIL. (Only in books, really)

ALSO WARNING: This book is SO incredibly sweet that it will either make your heart flutter and puts a grin on your face OR make you completely dismal and feel kinda pathetic (especially if you have a non-existent love-life like me and don't live in a place as remotely cool as Paris).

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Lanvin Love.

2011-09-24T01:37:00.005+08:00

Recess week is nearing the end and I feel so UPSET. I wanna just yell out, "TIME!! I COMMAND YOU TO STOP THIS INSTANT!!!" and maybe call over a Time Overlord to someone make it obey.

BUT of course, this isn't some high fantasy novel. So naturally, school will begin and I will be in hell all over again. In fact, I have a test to greet me into the second half of the semester. BUT WHATEVER. I'm already halfway through. I just have to stick to it abit more. And I'm not too concerned about being brilliant and scoring aces. Pls God, just maintain my GPA. All I ever ask for.

I hung with Jen alot this week. =)

Taking advantage of my somewhat free-er time before she leaves for UK next Wednesday. And I will be all lonely and a hermit all over again. Well, life happens. Anw, I decided to treat myself a little. Eventhough I dun think I deserved it, but I did have a test (and passed it) and did up my Group Project's proposal this week. Also, I'm planning to do at least a bit of revision before the test on Monday. So I do think I deserve it a little.

Thanks to Jen, I've been hooked on Perfume shopping. I think I never got into it, 'cos it's so expensive and no one wants to go with me. But Jen's fave thing apparently is Perfume Shopping. While mine is makeup shoppping (I can go for HOURS), hers is perfumes and she has opened my eyes to the AWESOMENESS of perfumes. It says so much about who you are. And there are SO MANNY gorgeous scents. We spent hours at Sephora sniffing and commenting on scents. Then analysing them and trying to pick out the notes. I liked quite a number, but I have never been too picky about scents 'cos I'm quite content with mine. It has been my scent for 4 YEARS. Literally. No kidding. So much so that I think it is practically my signature scent. And that is my Davidoff "Cool Water" for Woman.

It has a slightly masculine scent at first and the slowly it will become more feminine and milder throughout the day. What I like most about it is that it smells 'clean' and fresh.

But I feel like I want a more feminine scent. And I think I should change it up a little. I was pretty set on getting Marc Jacobs "Daisy" until I FELL IN LOVE AT FIRST SNIFF with...

MARRY ME! by LANVIN, eau de parfum (woman)

Fragrance of dating and love, romantic and sensual, elixir of good mood! The perfume aims at all those who enjoy infatuation, love, unity, fulfillment. This intuitive and shamelessly direct fragrance says without fear: “Marry me!”

The new fragrance by Lanvin was created with an intention to suggest a strong bond that each woman has with the perfume she chooses. You need a lot of love and emotions for a right date and chemistry which happens between her and the fragrance which is like her second skin, which follows her like a shadow and says a lot about her emotional state.

Marry Me is presented with a floral composition as optimistic as a cheerful smile. Combination of good humour and femininity intertwines with lovable, gentle dreams about love, similar to an embrace by a person you love. Perfumer who managed to pour dreams of love into a fragrant collage is Antoine Maisondieu. He lines floral notes like a romantic wreath of flowers.

The composition is based on luminous tonic mixed of bitter Tunisian orange and sensual essences of Sambac jasmine. This surprising combination is wrapped in sweet zest of peach and sophisticated jasmine tea aromas. A sensual heart is painted with jasmine enhanced with magnolia blossom and romantic, non-chalant rose petals. Union of white flowers and fruit zest melts in juiciness and warmth of powerful hot amber and musky trail.

***

GUYS, IT SMELLS SOOOOOOOO GOOD. I love it~!!

It's not just a floral scent, eventhough the first thing you would notice is the Jasmine scent. It's not a sickly florally scent thanks to the sweetness of fruity top notes such as hints of peach and bitter oranges to add a lighter feel to an otherwise overly perfumey scent. ALSO, the best part about this scent is that it is girly without being TOO sugary 'cos it smells SUPER light and CLEAN!! Which is what I LOVE. I love clean smelling things. It isn't burdensome for day to night wear as it smells clear and fruity fresh at first spray and slowly turning into a muskier deeper floral scent as it mingles with my skin and wears throughout the day.

Perhaps now that I have found my perfect girly smell, I will be able to find the right guy who would eventually say "Marry Me!". HEEEHEEEHEEE!

God. I disgust myself. (And I need a proper vanity)

Anw, I am completely ecstatic about my lovely new scent and I love Lanvin in general. So although it was a tad bit pricey, I think it's TOTALLY worth it. =)

I'm an Emo Bff.

2011-09-19T19:44:00.005+08:00

It's recess week right now. And I know that everyone else in NUS is probably going into hyperdrive, studying and taking this time to catch up on readings blah-blah-blah....

YES, I know I should be doing that as well. I probably will, eventually. But instead, I think I'm gonna end up using my week, catching up on my reading. As in NOVELS and not those dry-ass scholarly readings I have to plough through eventually. I love reading as much as the next person, probably more, and I still can't help but fall asleep or totally not get the stuff that is written inside these university readings. Plus, as interesting as some of them are, they are so redundant in future. Theories, in general, are redundant and rather useless when you think about it in practical terms. When will I ever need to know which scholar wrote which book on whatever theory...? Never. Unless someone holds a gun to my head and says, "TELL ME THE ARGUMENT OF CONSTRUCTIVISTS REGARDING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND WHO WERE THE PIONEERS OF THIS THEORY, OR I WILL BLOW YOUR BRAINS OUT".

Needless to say, I find that highly unlikely.

I just find that university focuses so much on theories, they dun really prepare you for the future at all. It's just for that piece of paper at the end. Which I think is pretty stupid.

But let's not get too deep and dark and all slice-of-life type. I think I've had enough of those posts. Updates on what's up with my life, nothing much. Except that I am really excited to have some extra time to read some of the new books I got in my to-be-read pile (which is increasing by the day). Also, I have been going lipstick crazy (after that awful phase where I had a lip infection, I guess I felt like I have to take advantage of my cured and healthy lips) and been wearing and buying lots of lipstick. I enjoy wearing them so much!! While I wear my coloured eyeliners to school, I wear dark lipsticks when I go out. I've been REALLY digging the Goth look, or like rebel and badass type of makeup. With smoky eyes or dark eyes and dark lips. I recently bought Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in PLUM. It's a SUPER friggin' dark purple burgundy shade. People would think I'm nuts but I seriously love that shade to death. And I am also planning to buy the Revlon Matte Lipstick in 'Really Red', which is exactly what the name suggests, a really red matte lipstick. I tried it on and I felt like a total pin-up girl. Like I've traveled back in time where women are all sophisticated with dark eyes and super super red lips. It made me feel so sch-mancy. So I'mma be getting that soon. Here's a look at my Plum lipstick. Mind you it's after a whole day of wearing it so it has faded abit and not as dark as when I initially put it on.

Dark lipsticks are so AWESOME. And I I LOVE being emo. I feel like I can take people's attention away from the imperfections on my skin and focus them on all the heavy stuff going on in my eyes and lips. Plus, since my hair is pretty light, I won't look SO emo and scary. Imagine if I had black hair~

Here are also some pics of me and Jenny on our days out.

I've been hanging out with her alot 'cos she'll be leaving for UK very soon and I wanna spend as much time with her as humanly possible. I will miss her again, 'cos my life is SO much better when she's around. I always have someone to talk to, someone who's always up for things and just lovely to chill and hang out. Someone to text when I feel bored or when I'm down. AARRGGHH!! Okay, I'm gonna get emotional. She's not leaving YET so I have to CHERISH these moments.

Just Listen.

2011-09-18T02:58:00.002+08:00

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rating: 4 stars

Once again, I tremendously enjoyed Sarah Dessen's writing. More than I expected to, and this time I really expected it. I've learnt my lesson and realized that the synopsis at the back does not reflect the contents of the book at all. They make the story sound so lame and childish, but it really isn't. And I was right!

The story is about Annabel who at first glance seemed like a perfect girl. The one who 'has it all'. She was a model and had a family that loved her. She was also one of the more popular girls in school and got invited to alot of parties. However, the plot starts when this illusion was shattered instantly, when she had a fallout with her best friend, Sophie. There was a huge EVENT that made Sophie hate the very sight of Annabel. And instantly made Annabel the enemy as rumour has it that she made a pass on Sophie's boyfriend. Meanwhile, her 'perfect family' was also falling apart at the seams as her sisters had personal problems and her mother dealt with the death of Annabel's grandmother. In the midst of everything, Annabel kept in control and kept to herself at all times. Afraid of letting her feelings show and letting the truth out. Living in social exclusion, she met Owen who was obsessed with music. And "obsessed" was really the only word to describe his attitude towards music. Somehow, the Girl who never speaks and the Boy who always listens, struck up a friendship that would be integral to face the hardships of life ahead.

I really loved the story. It was not as predictable as I thought it would be and the pacing was great. I loved how smoothly Sarah Dessen's writing moved from past to present, weaving flashbacks effortlessly into the main story. It didn't break he flow at all and it kept adding new elements and layers to the present, changing my perspective of characters and happenings each time.

Speaking of which, the characters were GREAT. They are very realistic and very relate-able. The main girl, Annabel was not at all spoilt or annoying as I would imagine pretty models like her would be. And she was not perfect. There were times when I wanted to smack her in the face for doing something completely stupid or being too scared to speak up. But this wasn't done in an annoying way. Her flaws somehow, just made her more real and I could understand her better. 'Cos she herself admits her shortcomings and follies. I find that admirable in a character. While others might see her character as abit bland, I find her likeable and real. The fact that she wasn't so vocal about her problems, is something I think many people can understand.

Other characters were well done and explored well. Owen was not just a mysterious handsome knight in shining armour. He too has issues he's dealing with and he doesn't always do the right thing, but he always tries and that was what I found so endearing about him. I loved his character alot! Sophie was that bitch that everyone loves to hate but even then, it is hard not to sympathize with her 'cos she is not just mean for the sake of it. She has her scars too and a victim in her own ways. My only wish was that Clarke's story would be explored abit more as I think of her as an important part of Annabel's life. Whitney's story shed light on a very important contemporary issue, anorexia. I felt that her character and the way her story was told, was done maturely and well. Just enough for readers to draw their own conclusions and make their own judgements.

I do realize that Sarah Dessen's stories can be rather formulaic and predictable if you have read enough of her books. And I don't see anything wrong with that. I feel that it just adds to the style and her genre. It usually centers around girls with problems who meet handsome guys who help them and they end up falling in love and at the end, the girl realizes something profound about herself/the world. But the thing is, I LOVE this formula. And the themes that she explores in each book are different.

I liked how, in the story, one photo at different times could be seen in a totally different light, signifying change in oneself. The idea that each song was mental time travel machine that brings you back to exact moments in life that you relate them to. This book actually dealt alot with perception. Which got me thinking alot. And while music tells alot about a person and helps us express ourselves, silence is needed as well, for only then will you be able to hear your true self.

There were several poignant moments in this book that made me stop and reread them again, then reflect a little by myself. So while the story seems quite simple and predictable, the words that are used to tell this story is what's important and holds more meaning and function than just simply telling the story. Which is why I love Sarah's books so much.

It's not just about the story, but the way it is told.

Overall, a lovely and quick read that can be a sweet teenage romance story or something more, depending on how you wanna read it. =)

View all my reviews

Too long a response.

2011-09-13T23:56:00.003+08:00

To Anon (who commented on my chatbox),

I dunno if I am the person to ask when it comes to advice on NUS in general. Simply 'cos of my supreme bias against it. I detest the atmosphere there and HOWEVER, I have to highlight the fact that I am not exactly majoring on something that I am particularly passionate about. So that prbably contributed to my dislike of that place.

To be fair, I know of lots of ppl who enjoy it there at FASS, but it's hard to make good friends 'cos you tend to say goodbye after the semester is over and have to make new friends in your new modules when a new semester starts. unless you have a good friend taking the same major as you, then you can probably stick together.

I have a HUGE problem with the extremely competitive nature of the people there. I dun believe that everyone is inherently so competitive (and wanting to be the best at everything, not that there's anything wrong with that). It is mostly 'cos of the "Bell Curve" system that we have, so if someone gets an A, it is less likely that you will get one. And also, just 'cos you did well, if everyone else does, your grade will be considered average. Which is think is ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT. I mean, they should give credit where credit is due and not compare it with other ppl. but that is just me ranting. The point is, the ppl there wanna get their As and get their honours with first class and they are willing to do all that it takes. Be it participate 100% in class or read extra readings, blah-blah... I am not like that, OBVIOUSLY. But I tend to be the exception, not the rule.

Also, despite all the fluffy nonsense that they say about giving everyone equal oppurtunites for overseas programs and exchanges and all sorts of interesting university experiences. They dun look at anything but your Grade Point Average (you score). Due to limited space for such things, they disregard anyone below a 4.0 CAP (even if they say everyone can sign up). They just DON'T CARE about anything other than academics. They will say that I'm wrong and that they will interview you and see your CCA and blah-blah. A whole load of crap that they are feeding us. I know that I will never get to go on such things 'cos I dun get straight As or A+s. So they won't even take a glance at me. To them, the average person isn't worthy of such things. I know I am probably demonizing them. But I am just saying it as it is, they way I see it. 'Cos so far, I haven't seen anyone with a bad score ever get anything. Even if they are passionate about what they do.

Dun expect much help from those around you. No one really helps anyone there. It's all on your own type of mentality and you have to watch your own back. Also, the bidding system where you have to bid for your modules in FASS makes it such that sometimes, even if you get the major that you want, you might not get to do the module that you want. It all depends on your luck sometimes.

I know I'm just complaining like crazeh now. HAHA! I must sound so bitter. I have to say though, that smart and competitive ppl are everywhere, so I doubt that you can escape them. Especially in University, where ppl tend to show off their passion and smarts. I can't say is the situation is the same in other universities, but I can say for NUS FASS, it is not slack at all, 'cos the ppl are most the over-achieving kind. You just can't be intimidated and give it a shot. If you have the chance to come here, you should! But at your own risk. Who knows, you might fare better than me! =)

City of Bones.

2011-09-13T04:09:00.003+08:00

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Rating: 2.5 stars

Let me just start by saying that I wanted to love this book so badly and I end up having a love/hate relationship with it. It's not completely unreadable, but it really disappointed me. Maybe it was 'cos I read 'Clockwork Angel' first and so my expectations for this series were pretty high. Even then though, I know that I probably would still not be so crazy about this book. I honestly don't get what all the hype is about.

The story is about a girl named Clary Fray who suddenly notices lots of strange things and is later plunged into a world that she never knew existed but have always had. It was a world of Shadowhunters, Warlocks, Demons and all sorts of supernatural, mystical beings. One fateful night, she stumbled into a scene that involved a couple of Shadowhunters and her life changed forever. She later finds that her mother was kidnapped by unknown forces and it is up to her to find her and unravel all the mysteries that lay in her forgotten past.

I expected this to be 'Clockwork Angel' but in a contemporary setting. Mind you, I expected to like it a bit less as I am a historical fiction buff, but this book is really... *sigh*. The premises of the setting and the Downworld in itself is very entertaining. However, it starts off extremely slowly. And the pacing of the book leads to afew anti-climaxes. Just when I think that the pace is picking up, it lulls down again. But after sloughing through the first half, the second half of the book, by contrast, was extremely action-packed with revelations happening left-right. Almost hard to keep track off. Still, the second half was much better.

Another thing that ticked me off was the similarities to other stories that I found throughout the book. Not only did it bear uncanny resemblance to Clockwork Prince. There were lots of Harry Potter elements to it as well. Luke reminded me of Sirius Black (which instantly made him my fave character). The Simon-turning-into-a-rat episode, really reminded me of Ron's pet rat incident. The flying motorcycle reminded me of Hagrid's. And the Portal reminded me of Portkeys. Plus the term 'Mundanes' that used to call humans reminded me ALOT of 'Muggles'. I dunno if it's just me, but I am just naming afew.

The characterization was... okay. I really disliked Clary. Alot. I mean, she's almost ridiculously useless to the point where her only purpose seemed to be to just watch the scene unravel in front of her, so that we can see what's happening through her eyes. Her only saving grace was the fact that she helped get the Mortal cup. But 99.9999% of the time, she played the Damsel in Distress card and YET, at the end she was being praised for her 'bravery' and being a 'warrior princess' by Luke. At which point I literally laughed, 'cos that HAS to be a joke. Also, she is dimwitted to the point where I can't HELP but roll my eyes. HOW COULD SHE NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT SIMON LIKED HER?! Like I knew from page 2. And the fact that she was so surprised just ticked me off (also that she hurt Simon with her utter social blindness and stupidity pissed me off too). All she did was scream and be dragged around by people, she was SUCH a deadweight. She got better towards the end when she had to face Valentine, but still, she had to be rescued in the end.

Jace was obnoxious. I have nothing else to say about him. He is the typical wounded bad boy who hides his scars with sarcastic comments that are so lame, it almost makes you cringe. Still, he plays a very significant role as he does most of the rescuing and fighting. And he was very sweet and loving at the moments when Clary and Him were alone together. (the greenhouse scene)

Simon and Luke were my favourite characters. I HATED the fact that Clary simply USED Simon whenever she felt like it. And by the end of the book, it seemed like Simon was more like her driver rather than her childhood best friend. I kinda hated it when he lets Clary walk all over him like that. But he is SO SINCERE and nice. AND he was FAR and BEYOND more useful that Clary ever was. He even saved the Shadowhunters at a crucial moment. I felt that Clary didn't deserve his devotion and friendship. Luke, at first, I thought was a betrayer. But then, he turned out to be the best person in this book. LOVED HIM TO BITS. I enjoyed the chapter when he was telling his story the most.

If you look past the cheesy dialogues and Clary's stupidity, there are redeemable qualities to this book. Such as the interesting Runes and the world of the Shadowhunters in general. It really interests me. The action sequences are very well written and fast-paced. Easily the saving grace of this plot. There were also very nice tender moments such as when Clary was remembering her memories of Luke being a part of her childhood and when Alec got hurt and the others rushed to help him.

But I can't get over the HUGE ASS TWIST in the end that literally made me go "WTF?!!". And NOT in a good way. There are several themes touched nonchalantly by Cassandra Clare, that I felt was quite disturbing and cast in too trivial a light. First of all the issue of homosexuality, just thrown in there (as if to spice things up) and the almost pedophilia nature of Magnus Bane's attraction to Alec. It creeped me out. But I was willing to brush that off. THEN the issue of incest just POPPED out of nowhere totally blindsiding me and I felt, totally unnecessary to the plot. It just traumatized me. I mean, THEY KISSED. And had very romantic and tender moments together. WHY would you let them do that first?! I literally gagged. And the fact that they were still sort of flirting after the huge revelation made me nauseous. I wanted to just slam the book shut and forget what I read, but I read on in hopes that it will all be explained and it is untrue. That it was joke. BUT NO. It wasn't. And I am traumatized.

The issues were not even addressed properly. They were not justified. What was the purpose of that? The plot would've been just fine without them. Also, Valentine wasn't as badass as I thought he would be. I mean, being held at sword-point ("gunpoint" sort-of) by a 17-year-old boy isn't exactly menacing. I never actually feared him either. I was more terrified of the Silent Brothers actually.

Overall, the book was good, in terms of bringing action and fantasy. I love the Downworld and the Institute. I think the world in itself has infinite potential. However, the super gross twist and alot of failings with the pacing and characterization really bummed me out. I have the rest of the series, so I probably would read them eventually. But it won't be my top priority, sadly.

I won't discredit Cassandra Clare though, as I thought that the Infernal Devices Series is well-done and I am looking forward to 'Clockwork Prince'.

View all my reviews

Ripped Lips & Makeup Hauls.

2011-09-10T14:53:00.005+08:00

So, since I had a hard week, I went out to an Expo beauty sale with Jenny after my lecture and I have to say, it was TOTALLY worth the trip. Eventhough I ended up spending on stuff I didn't really NEED per say, they were SUCH great bargains. Both of got a HAUL of goodies. It wasn't like a huge, huge sale, like the Borders one. More like a fair? The point is it was really great. Though I probably won't be able to buy anything for the rest of the month. STILL, buying make-up is the best feeling EVER.

There were tons of brands like L'oreal, Maybelline, Garnier... etc. They even had hair products like Redken and even skincare brand like La Roche Posay and Vichy. It was pretty random. All I know is that they were practically BEGGING you to take their products and clear their stock. Literally, there were signs that said, "ONLY $5, JUST BUY IT". LOL!! It made Jen and I crack up. I kinda went a little crazy. I bought my Vichy Normaderm Day Moisturiser as it was selling super cheap and I have a feeling I'm gonna run out soon. It's basically the ONLY moisturiser I use on my face, like once a day. Then, I went crazy with the liners. As you all know, I am an eyeliner JUNKIE. I've been having this huge obsession with fun liners, since I hardly have time to put on eyeshadow and stuff. Especially for school. It's a quickest way to dress up a look. And I NEVER leave the house without a type of liner on me. 'Cos I feel so naked without it. It makes me SO uncomfortable. Plus, ppl won't be able to find my eyes without it anyway. So I LOVE LINERS.

I got Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liners, which are THE BEST EYE LINERS EVER, in brown and purple. I am not done with my black one and I had that since forever. It comes with a brush to apply the liner with and that thing is AMAZING. You dun have to wait for it to dry, unlike liquid liners. But they dun smudge like pencil liners. It's the best of both worlds and it glides on soooo smoothly. They were only selling for seven bucks so I just got both of them. I dun have a purple liner anyway and my Elf cream liner in brown is absolute CRAP. Another liner I got was the L'oreal HIP metallic liners in Gold. It's a pencil liner but with a really creamy consistency. And it lasts a friggin' long time. I am SUPER impressed by this liner. I think it even beats out my favourite LA Splash or Rimmel one simply 'cos it's so pigmented and sooooo smooth & long-lasting. So yea~ REALLY HAPPY I GOT THOSE.

There were a couple of great eyeshadow duos and palettes. Jenny got 2 duos from L'oreal and they look friggin' gorgeous. One was greenish and the other blue. I didn't get any 'cos Keetha got me a HUGE Coastal Scents palette that has like a bazillion colours in them. So I dun think I ever need to shop for eyeshadows EVER again. LOL! But I did get a couple of lip glosses. I refrained from buying lipsticks (as I already have SO MANY), eventhough I am always so attracted to them. I got the L'oreal 6 Hour Glam Gloss in 'Strawberry Mix' (it's a ridiculously flattering shade of dark pink). Keetha raves on and on about them, so I thought I would give it a try. It's really pigmented for a gloss, I really love the sheen as well. But it tingles a bit when I put it on, but maybe it's just me and my super sensitive lips. I also got another gloss, but this one in tube-form. I got the Maybelline Fruity Jelly in the shade 'Golden Papaya' (which is a shimmery, almost metallic coral orange). Simply 'cos I loved the orangey shade. Orange just seems to complement my skintone for some strange reason. Although it is really sticky, the colour is really nice and it was like $3. I can't really complain.

I was really apprehensive about buying gloss actually as I just recovered from a really really bad lip infection. Turns out I had an allergic reaction to Smith's Rosebud Salve. I bought the one in Mocha Rose 'cos it smelled like CHOCOLATES. It's soooo good. And I love that it has the consistency of vaseline as I HATE waxy lipbalms. I didn't even know that I was reacting to THAT 'cos I initially thought it was the tester that gave me the problem. BUT NOPE. I knew it instantly as I tried to put the lipbalm on again after my lips got a bit better and it started to burn on my lips a little. I immediately wiped it off and spiralled into depression. WHY? 'COS THAT THING costed my $14!! SO depressed about that. I just ended up giving it to my sis.

So I was worried about the glosses. The L'oreal one tingles on my lips... I dunnp if it's supposed to do that. But I will wear it anyway, 'cos it makes my lips look seriously luscious.

Another savior for my lips, besides the antiseptic thing and pills the doctor gave me for my infection (IT WAS SO BAD. I had sores and cuts ALL over my lips. And it was swollen. Hurts to even open my mouth). After my infection got better, I found a FABULOUS lip balm that provides the SERIOUS moisturisation that I need. It's called 'Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment'. Not the usual lip balm, this one means business. And you dun mess with it. It is LEGIT medicated. There are active medical ingredients in this, but it's not a doctors-prescribed-only thing.

I won't lie to you, it smells like crap. It's like super medical and gross smelling. I hate it, but the scent fades after a while so, I dun really have an issue with it. It has active ingredients to battle sores and all that. When the ointment that my doctor gave me became too powerful for my sort-of-healed lips, I kept up with the moisturisation with this.

It leaves a white cast. Slightly. But that's 'cos it is an opaque white gel, rather than the usual glossy lip balms that are around. I actually dun mind this AT ALL. People complain about that all the time, but helloooo~ It is a treatment. It's not GLOSS. And funnily enough, the white cast fades after awhile and my lips look SO juicy and muted down, I would even USE it as a gloss. But that's me. The BEST part about this is that the texture is unlike anything I have used. It's not too slippery and slick like vaseline and it isn't too waxy and hard like some balms. Instead, it is a mix of the two?? It penetrates, as it REALLY PENETRATES your lips (it tingles, feels so cool), so you dun have a film of product sitting your lips. It softens my lip immediately and makes them feel so plump and smooth.

I SERIOUSLY LOVE THIS THING. Saved my lips.

Mind you, I have ridiculously weird lips. It absorbs moisture SUPER fast. It just absorbs things really quickly and gets chapped and torn really easily too. Also, it's sensitive, as you can tell. HENCE, I am super impressed that I dun have to reapply like 9348573409857 times with this thing, eventhough it is not thick at all. I just have to apply like ONCE and it stays on my lips and keeps it smooth even after fading a little (after I eat and drink). THAT IS IMPRESSIVE as I can go through an entire tub of vaseline in 2 months. I usually have to reapply alot. But, I only recommend this as a treatment for people with slightly dry lips. Just slather it on at night before bed and you will wake up with plump and moisturised lips.

I'mma keep this with me AT ALL TIMES.

Book Haul #6 (mini)

2011-09-09T00:43:00.003+08:00

I just finished my 2000-word essay on the liberalism in the International Bill of Human Rights and its discussion on the universality. RIVETING STUFF. *note: heavy sarcasm* I was too busy with my presentation so I only managed to start it this morning. I rushed it and when I finally got it done (with all the bloody citations), I realized that I misread the deadline and missed it. It was 12.00PM not 12.00AM. SO HAY! I will penalized for a late submission. Eventhough I slaved the entire day away trying to get it submitted on time.

Life screws me over again.

Well, I've calmly accepted and just submitted the paper anyway. Whatever. Late submission. I dun care. I am just glad that this week is coming to a close and that I survived the shit presentation (which went HORRIBLY btw, the class shot me with questions and the other presenters were wayyy too good). Now that the essay is over and done with as well, I am left with my weekend to grill for my upcoming oral test and my language exam which will be in the week after next. I guess, technically, I can't really relax, and I can't say that it's all over. BUT, I prefer studying for my language class than read boring crap about politics ANY DAY. So, yeeaaaa~

I'm gonna reward myself with a bit of reading tonight. I'm gonna try my best to finish my book quickly and get up a review. SO FAR... It's all right... Not really loving it. But I'm hoping that the series gets better. I was thinking of completing the series in one shot, but I think I might need a break from Cassandra Clare and read a book from a different genre next. BESIDES, reading. I'mma go reward myself tmr with a little beauty shopping at a makeup sale that Jen and I will be going to, after school. I'm hoping to get some good bargains. =)

MEANWHILE, I will show you guys what I got from the borders sale last week that Diy, Munira and I went to. Lemme just say that it was CRAZEH. There were a bazillion people and the line for the cashier snaked for MILES AND MILES. We stood in line, waiting to pay for like an HOUR. The buys were great and Munira and Diy each got themselves a HAUL. Since I had a pretty big haul quite recently, I FORCED myself to stick to my "To-read" list. Unfortunately, I couldn't find many at all. I only managed to get two books. But they are from a series that I am really dying to get started on. (Too bad I am not the type of person who can read several books at one time)

So I got "The Other Countess" by Eve Edwards. Just LOOK at that gorgeous cover! How can anyone resist. This book is set in 1582 (HELL YEAH~!) and it's about this man named Will who is dirt poor and needs to marry back his family into fortune, but ends up falling in love with a penniless girl, with nothing to her name except a worthless Spanish title. THIS SOUNDS FREAKIN' GOOD!!! It has been FOREVER since I indulged myself with a good old historical romance novel. I used to read nothing but that. I've stopped ever since I started to get into the hyped up and young adult genre books. I am so glad I managed to find it SOMEHOW in that mess that was the clearance sale (it was ridiculous).

I miraculously also managed to find Book 2 in the Lacey Chronicles (this series) and got "The Queen's Lady" by Eve Edwards. I'm not too sure about what this book is about. But I think it's along the lines of Lady Jane falling in love with a guy who then had to set sail to America. Meanwhile, her life starts falling apart and they dunno whether he will return to save her in time. Ohhhh, mannnn~ EXCITING!!

Honestly, I feel like just dropping the book I am currently reading (City of Bones) and starting on this series ASAP. 'Cos I miss reading historical romances SO MUCH. But I'mma wait. 'Cos I have this thing about finishing books that I've started. So, I won't start anything until I am done with this one.

If only I had this much discipline when it comes to things that matter such as school.

LOL. THAT IS SUCH A JOKE. (never gonna happen, people.)

Anw, I am off to read a few pages before hopping into bed and getting ready for school tmr morning. It's like I never get a break. THE NEVER ENDING CRAP.

Procratinate update.

2011-09-05T23:49:00.001+08:00

Quick quick update.

I am only taking a short break eventhough I shouldn't be taking one. Honestly, this is my worst week ever. It's like just when I think life in NUS cannot get any worse, life happens and the bloody school proves me wrong yet again. This week in itself, I have to prepare for a 10 minute oral presentation on an article critique (one of the readings) and I also have a friggin' 2000 word essay to deal with regarding the International Bill of Human Rights. On top of that I have to memorise my script for my Oral Exam this Thursday. So basically to sum it up in two simple words: I'M SCREWED.

But what is life without its ability to screw us over. All I'm thinking about is the weekend and if I can just make it through this week, I can reward myself with a little something at the weekend. Also, another sucky thing that happened is that I had an allergic reaction to my SUPER EXPENSIVE Smith's Rosebud Salve in Mocha Rose (smells like chocolate, omg). And so I suffered from a major lip infection where I had sores and cuts all over my lips. Plus it was super dry and chapped the entire time. I had to go to the doctor and take oral medication on top of putting on this liquid thing, WHICH BURNS LIKE A MOTHER when I put it on. It feels like putting alcohol on open wounds... but instead, on my lips. Sooooo, yea. Safe to say I screamed like a mad woman everytime I put it on.

But thankfully it is somewhat cured. Only slightly red and I just have to be careful. Apparently, every damn part of my body is sensitive now. Which I assume is a just a sign of old age catching up. 'Cos this was never the case when I was younger. I could slather radioactive sludge on myself and still be immune.

Oh. Well.

I cannot even explain how exhausted I am, but I am determined to finish up at least the point of my presentation tonight. And then deal with the points of my essay tmr. So that I can start crafting out an essay of some sort on Wed onwards. THIS IS VERY SYSTEMATIC (and idealistic thinking in my part). 'Cos I am not taking into account my short attention span and the allure of youtube (my greatest weakness). I'm gonna try my best though.

Because of all this shit happening this week, I hardly have time to read my 'City of Bones', which is turning out pretty good. Instead, I have to read dry-as-desert theories on realism, liberalism and constructivism. FABULOUS. Who wouldn't wanna trade action-packed fantasy adventure filled with warlocks and shadowhunters with theories on the security dilemma and cultural relativism in human rights?! Bloody hell.

Anw, I wanna talk about the Borders clearance sale I went to with Diy and Munira (who went crazy with the books). Thankfully for me, I managed to stick to my list and only got 2 books, which I will introduce soon. =) I promise to do another mini-haul soon.

And Hopefully do a review for City of Bones, if TIME would somehow allow me to, and my strength enables me to get through this horrid week.

OKAY. I think I have procrastinated enough. Off to work.

*shoots myself*

Delirium.

2011-08-29T22:08:00.001+08:00

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rating: 5 stars

I wholeheartedly think that this is one of the best books I have read EVER. While I am a fan of Lauren Oliver's writing style, I never expected to love this book and enjoy it as much as I did. It came to me as a huge shock and I was pleasantly surprised at how gripped I was by the story. Most of all how affected I was by the words and the characters. I am in total awe by this book. to be honest, I picked it up partly 'cos I like Lauren Oliver and partly 'cos of all the hype this book was getting ever since its release. I am not a huge fan of YA novels, so imagine how surprised I was when I realized that I was trying to prolong the story as much as possible for fear of finishing it. IT WAS THAT GOOD.

The story is encapsulated with the caption on the cover, "What is love were a disease?". That is the essence of the novel. It is set in a futuristic, dystopian United States where scientists have found that the root of all conflicts and violence is in fact, love. Or the ability to feel strongly. The logic is that if one is 'cured' of love, then one would naturally be unable to feel hate. So, Love was officially a deadly disease. The public, at the age of 18, would have to go through a procedure where their brains are altered and they will no longer be able to love after. The story follows the protagonist, Lena, who is counting down eagerly to the date of her procedure as she was incredibly terrified of this 'disease'. Her mother and father had died 'cos of the disease. Her mom committed suicide after the procedure failed to 'cure' her after several attempts. That traumatised her. All her life, she thought of the peace and stability the cure would offer her (not knowing that this was all a lie). Until she met Alex and she was introduced to a stunning world outside of the protective bubble of Portland. And her world is turned upside down.

I don't even know where to begin. I have nothing negative to say about this book at all. The pacing was perfect. It started out slow and dreary to reflect the stale lives of the cured people who live without love and feelings. Then as it continues, it picks up and gains momentum and towards the end, I was literally at the edge of my seat, gripping the pages in excitement and horror. The world, in itself, was a really scary and terrifying place. The author did such a great job describing the rules and propaganda. The stifling nature of the city, that is built on lies. And the 'regulators' who are sort of the 'policemen' that catch Invalids and infected citizens were truly horrifying. They are completely vicious and merciless thanks to their lack of emotion or sympathy. They scared the crap out of me.

The characters were FANTASTIC!! Lena, at first, was a timid, goody-two-shoe. I got abit annoyed at her at first and then slowly we learn of her background and the reasons why she acts that way. She grows on you and towards the end when she grows and develops into someone filled with courage and love. I ended up rooting for her, hoping that she would somehow be safe and come out a hero. Her relationship with Alex is another reason why I like her so much. Alex is the most perfect, awesome person ever. Not just in superficial sense, but the bravery he possesses and the vulnerability that he allowed Lena to see, made me fall in love with him as the story went on. He seemed not like a dreamy, unattainable guy. But instead, a real and genuinely good person, which made me love him more. Together, their love for each other surpasses any young adult love stories I have read. It felt intense and true and sincere. It was all-consuming without being overly dramatic and did not sound fairy-tale-like. The moments that they shared in the book touched me. So much so that you just want them to be happy and together. The only word that comes to my mind when describing their love is 'powerful'.

The other characters were well-developed as well. Which is why I loved the writing so much. It somehow manages to incorporate everyone. Hana, Lena's best friend, was a spunky girl who acted brave to hide her fears. And Grace, Lena's niece, who was the opposite. She looked fragile but was actually incredibly strong. Aunt Carol and Rachel made me wanna punch them. But I do realize that it is the Cure and the government that is making them act that way.

I cannot go on enough about how much I love this book. However, for those picking up this book, thinking that it will be an action adventure dystopian novel (like divergent), they will be sorely disappointed. 'Cos while this story is packed with its own fair share of heart-thumping action (especially towards the end), it focuses more on the the world that Lena lives in and the messages that the author is trying to put across. Which is to fight for what you believe in and not to be afraid to dream and be different, despite what the institutions and society tells you. To love without holding back, no matter how hard it may seem. To realize that bravery comes in all shapes and forms. To realize where we stand in the grander scheme of things. There are TOO MANY great messages within this novel. So I recommend this to EVERYONE. Everyone should read this.

I love how Lauren Oliver starts each chapter with a quote or poem or a small extract that tells us more about the type of world that Lena lives in (which is HORRIBLE one). I really do LOVE her writing style. It hits me right at the heart and I can't help but feel for the characters.

I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. It made me laugh, smile, gasp and cry (like buckles, in public, which is so bloody embarrassing). I am so excited to hear that there will be a sequel (although I dunno how the plot would be able to move on after what happened, but I am excited nonetheless). This is probably gonna be one of my all time favourites. There were as many exciting things as there were sad and beautiful things within its pages. And when I was done, so many phrases and scenes were wedged in my mind and I replayed them again and again.

It is so so so amazing.

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Book Haul #5

2011-08-27T03:09:00.004+08:00

School is crazy. Like crazy.

Not only is it making me completely insane, one module in particularly is killing me. Literally breaking me down. That would be my 'Human Rights in International Politics' module. I was so determined to drop this module at one point. But then I realized that I would probably have to do 6 mods in one sem to make up for it. So obviously I have no choice but to stick with it. I am so sure I am just gonna screw this shit up and I will probably be the bottom of this class. 'Cos honestly I am the dumbest person in the module. AND one of the very few people that is not so enthusiastic or passionate about human rights in the first place. My tutorial scared the shit out of me. I almost pissed in my pants 'cos everyone (except me) was in a heated debate for no apparent reason (without much prompt from the tutor) about the universality and application of human rights. Things got pretty heated and everyone was so eloquent and outspoken about it. Not only that, they were mentioning and quoting the readings, referring to scholars and their views.

I was like what. the. fuck.

I was just cowering in one corner, refusing to open my mouth for fear of being shot down by the smart alecks in the room. 'Cos they were bringing in evidence and current affairs. And honestly, I really dun give a rat's ass about it all. I just wanna get through this sem in one piece. IT WAS TRAUMATISING. What's worse is that I found that I have to do a 10 minute presentation on a scholarly article we've individually chosen, in TWO WEEKS. And there's this smart London exchange student in her 3rd year of political science who chose the EXACT same article as me. And we'll be presenting on the same day. So basically I will just look like absolute crap compared to her. And I think I will flunk this part, along with sounding like an IDIOT. I am just preparing myself mentally for an epic fail.

Everything else is like consuming my life and my time. It's not as if I am so passionate about it either. All I ever think about it just getting through the day and getting through the semester. Anything else I leave it till later. I refuse to entertain ANY thoughts about the future.

OKAY, moving on~

I wanna say that I shouldn't be buying so much books and stuff 'cos obviously I would not have much time to read as I would be reading the RIDICULOUS stack of readings they throw at our faces every week. But there was a book fair and MPH had a warehouse sale, so I couldn't resist. I will eventually read them, probably to relax since I dun watch the TV anymore. So reading novels, tumblr and youtube are my only source of relaxation and entertainment. ALSO, I can probably read them all during my christmas break. So I used this logic to excuse myself from feeling guilty and got a HUGE HUGE book haul!! Check them out!!

As you all know, I am a huge fan of historical novels. Not just historical romance that is trashy and stuff. But legit historical fiction. So I do enjoy reading Philippa Gregory's books. I have read Red Queen, which is book 2 in the Cousins War series. It felt logical that I should get book 1. Here it is 'The White Queen'. Which tells the story of the White Queen who was the enemy of the red queen. It'll be hard for me to not take sides, but I am very interested to read her side of the story. REALLY looking forward to this one 'cos from the red queen's point of view, she was a witch who stole the perfect life from her. Hence, I am curious to see if things were as perfect as they seem. This is a medieval novel with knights and stuff. I'm really happy I got this on hardback too.

I also got 'The Other Boleyn Girl' by Philippa Gregory. This is her most famous novel and the one that received the most critical acclaim. It was so good that it was even made into a movie with Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johanson and Eric Bana. Everyone seems so LOVE this story. As a fan of her writing, I have high hopes for this novel.

Going through the theme of movies from books, I also bought 'I am Number Four' by Pittacus Lore. This was also made into a movie filled with hot ppl. But I am a firm believer that the books are almost always better than the movies. Also, I got this in hardback and it looks friggin' cool. I didn't watch the movie but the synopsis of the novel sounds really interesting. Furthermore, I am into teen fantasy and action. This looks promising.

I then got 'Wintergirls' by Laurie Halse Anderson. I AM SO EXCITED TO READ THIS ONE. It seems like a very deep and mature story, even for a young adult novel. It's about this girl who lost her best friend and after her friend died, she became obsessed with becoming thinner. Essentially she became anorexic and self-destructive. The story then tells about her journey and how she coped with the events in her life. It looks so intense and it's dealing with a very contemporary issue, so I am dying to read this one. (But I'll probably read Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series first).

Next I got 'Lovely Bones' by Alice Sebold. This was also turned into a movie and was directed by Peter Jackson, if I'm not wrong. But I know that the book had RAVE reviews and everyone sort of found something about themselves or cried after reading this book. For some reason or other. Of course, this peaked my interest and since I saw it selling for cheap at the secondhand book fair in my school, I decided to grab it and give it a go (eventhough it is totally not in my to-read list, in fact a lot of these books aren't. GOSH!).

I also got 'Just Listen' by Sarah Dessen. After totally falling in love with the last book I read by her, I practically jumped for joy when I saw a decently worn copy of this at the fair. As usual, the synopsis is rubbish. Whoever writes this is seriously an idiot. It sounds like another cliche teen novel, but I have faith in Sarah Dessen's writing to bring a predictable plot into something special. GOSH, I cannot wait to read this one. I really love her books alot. (The cover's rubbish though. I'll feel so kiddish reading this on the train).

The final book in my haul is 'The Suicide Club' by Rhys Thomas. I saw this randomly at the MPH warehouse sale (which is abit horrible 'cos they dun bother to alphabetize anything and they just dumb books on tables without even stacking them or arranging them nicely. IT IS SO HARD to find anything. Tres disappointed). I read the back and it sounded really good. It's about a guy who saved a boy from committing suicide and after a series of events end up creating a sort of club. I'm not too sure, but I know that it sounds really cool. AND the cover art is WICKED. I love it! So I just got it. I'm hoping that it will be a good read 'cos I haven't read any reviews on it.

SO THAT IS ABOUT IT.

My shelves are filling up quickly. Haha! I'm really glad with the books I got though. And they were all on sale so I dun feel too guilty about this haul. HEHE!

Divergent.

2011-08-17T06:26:00.004+08:00

Divergent by Veronica Roth

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rating: 4.5 stars

This is one of the BEST books I've read in the whole of 2011. Which is quite a surprise to me 'cos I thought I wouldn't like this book at all. I have never been into dystopian fantasy novels. The appeal for me stemmed from the reviews claiming what a thrilling read this was. And I have to agree with them whole-heartedly.

The story is basically about a dystopian world set somewhat in a post-apocalyptic future where the human race is divided into 5 different factions (or clans), each living by a certain value that is held dear to the people. There's 'Dauntless' (bravery), 'Abnegation' (selflessness), Amity (kindness), Erudite (intelligence) and Candor (honesty). So, the people of each faction are to live their lives solely by that one particular value that their faction is associated with. For instance, the Dauntless would engage in extreme and dangerous acts to prove their fearlessness and adorn piercings and tattoos while the Abnegation would dedicate their entire life to being selfless by helping everyone before themselves and wearing gray & plain clothing. Each faction take things to the very extremes. The story revolves around Beatrice, a girl who found out through a test that she fits into no particular faction and has qualities that make her suitable for many. She is deemed as 'Divergent'. This is a dangerous fact that she has to hide at all costs. At the Choosing Ceremony, she chose to leave her own faction (Abnegation) and family behind in order to join Dauntless. This is where she is put through ruthless initiation exercises whilst discovering more about herself and what sets her apart from the others, as she is divergent. In the midst of all this, tensions grow between factions (even though the world has been in peace ever since the creation of the factions). We follow Beatrice as she creates friendships, enemies and even romance, also realizing the truth about being a Divergent.

I can't say anymore without totally spoiling the book for everyone but tons of things happen in between. With every chapter, we are thrown deeper and deeper into this alternate reality and discover more about the world that Tris (Beatrice) lives in.

At first, it took me a while to get into the book. Simply 'cos I couldn't grasp the concept of the factions completely. I didn't get why the Dauntless must dedicate themselves to doing such idiotic and dangerous activities (such as jumping off moving trains, climbing towers and learning to fight) just for the sake of proving their fearlessness. I didn't understand how the Abnegation had to be as plain as humanly possible to prevent selfish thoughts that come from vanity and always serve others before themselves. It seemed too simplistic and one dimensional. It was a difficult concept for me to grasp. Especially so during the Dauntless initiation training, where I thought that they were just crazy and masochistic. I then realized that this was the flaw of the alternate world. And the reason why being divergent was so special. Tris was unclassifiable in a world that depended on order and classification to bring about peace.

But with each chapter, I get sucked further into this world and was swept away by the break-neck pace that the story ran towards the end of the book. There were SO MANY twists and turns that left me in shock and gasping. Not to mention, cringing and totally at the edge of my seat at the vivid action sequences that doesn't leave out all the gory details. It's FANTASTIC! In the midst of all this action and the unveiling of a conspiracy, there are many tender moments as friendships and romance is explored. The romance that blooms between Tris and Four (that's his name) is surprisingly tender and heartwarming. The few scenes that they share were not at all childish, but believable. I felt the intimacy and passion between them, which was the only delicate thing in the harsh, cutthroat world they lived in.

Tris was a character that I needed time to warm up to. I did not fully understand her rationale when she did certain things. Especially when she was being mean towards her friends and family. I couldn't understand her obsession with proving her toughness and fearlessness. But towards the end, I grew to understand her much better and accepted her flaws as her complex character was just part and parcel of her being a Divergent.

Let me just say that the ending was RUTHLESS. I am dying to know what will happen next and I cannot believe that I have to wait months before the sequel comes out. While I did make some correct guesses at the plot, there were so many things that caught me off-guard and made me look at things at a WHOLE new perspective. And the action towards the end was RELENTLESS. It doesn't pause even till the end. I was literally BREATHLESS as things unfolded at a fierce pace. I also teared up at certain moments in the book (especially at the end, OMG OMG).

I only wished that certain relationships and characters were explored further and the logic and history of the factions were further elaborated. But who knows, more may be revealed in the next book. I CANNOT WAIT. This is a book I HIGHLY recommend. It might be a bit tough to get through at first as it was hard for me to grasp the concept of the new world and I thought Tris was rather annoying. Somehow, it sucked me midway and I breezed through the rest of it. It was violent, gory and thrilling.

Ruthless and relentless.

I'm gonna gnaw at my nails in anticipation for its sequel.

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old pals.

2011-08-16T22:38:00.004+08:00

Last saturday, I went for Nithiya's dance recital, where she gave a performance at Jubilee Hall to commemorate her graduating after years of dance training, in classical indian dance. She invited all her friends to come watch her performance. So it was a big event and most of my secondary school mates came. Hence, I got to see a number of my old school mates. Everyone looked totally different. And I have to admit that I too look rather different from my old school days.

It's like two different people, really.

Anw, at first I wanted to wear my Indian traditional outfits to fit in the theme. But at Jen's request, she didn't wanna be left out so I went for an ethnic-hobo-gypsy style instead. If that even made ANY SENSE. Basically, I looked like an Asian version of Esmeralda from Hunchback of Notre-dame. I kinda regret this afterwards seeing as Jen dressed so formally and GORGEOUS in her structured black & white Dorothy Perkin's dress. And I just looked like someone in need of a tambourine. And I regret not putting on more makeup for the special occasion. 'Cos Keetha and Gaya totally looked red carpet ready with DROP DEAD makeup and ridiculously beautiful indian costumes.

Especially Keetha's makeup. IT WAS SO PRETTY!! She did a gold and green shadow. That day, she really looked like a model. It was like whoa. I keep looking around and thinking, "ALL MY FRIENDS ARE SO HOT. I have such great taste". For the first time ever in my entire life, I felt under-dressed. This is such a strange experience for me, as I am usually over-dressed. All the time. I guess I was right about me changing.

Nithiya's performance was incredible. I had no idea she could dance for so long and holding such difficult positions. NO WONDER she has such a rockin' bod. I should seriously take up some sort of dance as a workout.

After that, a bunch of us grabbed some Starbucks and supper before settling near the esplanade to chat and talk about senseless things. It was a really fun night! I missed seeing everyone.

I dun have that many pictures but here are some

Apologies for the atrocious quality.

Anyway, I just felt like blogging about some stuff in my life that does not revolve around books. Which is RARE since that is pretty much the only thing that is sustaining my life. That and coffee. The only two things that are ESSENTIAL to my continuing existence.

School is so rotten. I was devastated to find that I was unable to get a single free day as I lost out my desired tutorial slots. And also, my odd weeks are FILLED TO THE BRIM with tutorials. I dunno how in the world I will even manage. My 'Human Rights in International Politics' class scares the crap out of me. We have some presentation and the essays look ridiculously challenging. I might just DIE this sem. I just hope I won't fail it. I always forget how intimidating everyone is in uni. They all speak so eloquently and they all seem to know what they are talking about. Feels like I am the only one having problems and flailing around.

It always amazes me how I am always in over my head over there.

Pls, God. Just get me through this.

SCHOOL TMR. (fuck this shit.)

The Truth About Forever.

2011-08-12T09:37:00.001+08:00

The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rating: 4.5 stars

THIS is not a book I would ever have picked up if it weren't for all the glowing reviews it got that finally got me interested enough to give it a try. Just reading the synopsis, which is over-simplified, made the story out to be some kind of cliche teen story about moving on from a death in the family. It just seemed like a rather childish book, to be perfectly honest. Not to mention cheesy. So I went in thinking that this would probably be an okay-book. I am not the type who likes reading about family drama and teen problems.

ONCE AGAIN, I am proven wrong.

This book totally took me by surprise and I was shocked at how much I got into the story and how much I empathized with the main character, Macy. I ended up whizzing through it, and totally devouring it. Even getting a bit emotional at the end.

(Note to self: I will never underestimate a YA teen romance book again)

The story is basically about a girl named Macy who is coping with her father's recent and sudden death. Both she and her mother chose to hide their grief and adopted a facade of themselves moving on, when in reality, both of them are still haunted by the tragedy. Instead of facing the incident and the grief that came with it, they chose to focus on other aspects of life such as work and school, determined to upkeep the facade of perfection. Not realizing that it was literally eating them up from the inside. Macy's 'perfect' boyfriend, Jason, kept her in-check and practical. He too was the organized, brainy and perfection-obsessed sort. It wasn't until he had to leave for Brain Camp that Macy was left alone, without someone to navigate her and she strays from her strict routines and falling into an unexpected job in a chaotic family-owned catering company. There, she meets a bunch of characters who are all unique and flawed in their own way. Befriending them, she slowly learns to step out of her comfort zone and face her emotions, along with the consequences that came with them. Meanwhile, as she come to grasp with the changes within her, she slowly falls for the main catalyst for her change and that is a guy named Wes (who is an artist who also works at the catering company). We go through the journey with her as she sorts out her feelings and wonder if she could ever take a risk and wear her heart on her sleeve for once, let Wes know how she felt.

That's the main plot. It really does sound rather simplistic and cliche when you look at it. But it is not really about the plot, so much as it is about the way the author writes it. Sarah Dessen writes BEAUTIFULLY. The pacing was comfortable and the pages just FLEW by as each scene flowed to the next seamlessly, like a really good movie. The dialogues were witty and made me laugh out loud more than a few times. This made me like all the characters in the book as they are all so different and explored sufficiently for me to feel attached to them. Especially the catering crew. I felt as if they were my friends too. (Such that I got SO SUPER pissed when Macy's Mom banned her from seeing them in one scene)

Macy is an extremely mature and likeable. Unlike most teenagers, she is very much in control of herself and is very adult in the manner which she approaches situation, albeit in a shy, socially-introverted manner. This made her so easy to connect with and feel attached to. I could understand clearly the way she felt and why she thought that sometimes, it better to just not complicate things and hide aspects of oneself. I really, really like her. And I was SO ROOTING for her to get together with Wes, who is the most perfect guy imaginable. And I don't mean this in just an appearance sort of way, I mean it as a person, he is such a genuinely nice guy. At first, I thought that he would be one of those typical male bad-boy protagonists. But as Macy got to know him, I find myself liking him more and more. He too was very mature for his age and he and Macy shared a deep connection that even I, as a reader, felt. Somehow, even though they were teens, there is a certain charm and sincerity in the way their relationship developed. It felt genuine. It felt like, maybe this is how love is truly supposed to be.

Jason, Macy's boyfriend, seriously TICKED ME OFF to the max. I had no idea why Macy was still putting up with him. He was condescending and so into his himself, that he disregards anything that doesn't concern him or match up with his goals. I guess, while I at first thought it was weak of her, I realized that I started to admire her patience with such people. Like her patience with her mother, who is so uptight and so withdrawn from her family and emotions, she feels almost like a stranger.

AND GOSH~ The ending was wonderfully done. It felt so right and so well-put. I totally got caught up in the moment and the way she told it. I kinda got emotional, as I got so attached to each character.

(I only wished that she had explained why Wes chose to pass that last question. And I wished that the author had let us into Monica's story as well. 'cos she seriously baffles me. Plus she's so mysterious. And also why Bert is so obsessed over Doomsday theories. I wish I got to know the other characters deeper, that's how much I loved them.)

Otherwise, THIS IS A REALLY GOOD BOOK. Seamlessly written and never dull. I felt as if I was one of them. As if I were friends with all of them. And there were many great messages within this book that made me think about the way I am living my life. Also, it made me think of what is my version of 'forever'. It is a book that will make you want to take chances and truly live. I'm glad I took a chance on this book, although it was not my usual cup of tea.

It was a rewarding read. =)

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Misacalleneous buys.

2011-08-11T01:56:00.003+08:00

I have been shopping alot lately. I should stop. But I recently got TWO more books. Eventhough I am not done with my last haul. Just that they were on SALE and it was such a good bargain. I got both of them for less than $13 each. LIKE WHOAAA~!! How can I NOT get them?? PLUS, they are in my to-read list. So I was gonna get them anyway.

They are 'Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins. This is the first book in the hunger games trilogy. It's a fantasy adventure thing. I'm really excited 'cos it received TONS of great reviews and it's about kids fighting each other in a battlefield or smth like that. It just sounds so badass. I'm really looking forward to this one.

And I got 'Delirium' by Lauren Oliver. Which is a book that I have been DYING TO READ since I saw it on the shelves of Kino, but it was so ex. I never had the heart to buy it. Until, I found a smaller paperback version at the Kino in Bugis. They also had a 20% for members today so I GOT IT DUH. God is basically screaming at me to get it! It's probably the next book I am reading after I am done with 'The Truth About Forever'. Heeeheee~ I am THAT excited about it. That's right.

Oh, the story is about a world where Love is a disease that has to be cured. IT IS SO INTERESTING.

Okay, enough geeking about.

I met up with a bunch of my friends and I seriously miss them. I've been having loads of fun chatting, after a month of silence. Feels good. I met up with Jen on friday after her work and we had the BEST girl time ever. Time just FLEW by.

We both got a pair of pumps (omg, I cannot believe I got pumps. They are my first ever pair. I used to hate wearing them 'cos they tire out my feet and give me blisters, weird I know, but I feel like expanding my shoe collection and I COULDN'T say no to these pair). They are sparkly and glittery, which I know sounds gross and girly. But honestly, it looks like I have diamonds all over them. They look SO FANCY. And totally eye-catching. I kinda love them alot. Jen got one is a champagne beige with silver sparkles all over. And I got the same one in red with multicoloured sparkles. Actually I dun even know what colour mine is. It has every colour on the rainbow. I really like it ALOT. And just saying, the box is really fancy looking. I'mma use it to store stuff.

Today, I met up with Diyanah and Munira to have our day out at Geylang. Diy and I have this tradition EVERY year during the Ramadan fasting month. They have such nice things over there. Although I did get myself a SUPER CUTE colourful bracelet made out of colourful stones and stuff, my only other purchase is an alarm clock. HAHA! It's SO ridiculous to go there to buy an alarm clock. But it looks so pretty. It's a vintage old-school alarm clock with the bells on top. I got the bright yellow one. It's SO ADORABLE. I've been meaning to get a clock for my room and I'm really glad I got this one. I'll take a pic of it soon. It's really simple and goes well with my blue wall. Diy also got me my birthday present, which is the Avene Mineral Cream sunblock SPF50. I needed one for my face and decided not to get the La Roche-Posay one 'cos the Avene one was tinted slightly.

I just hope it's good.

Clockwork Angel.

2011-08-09T12:53:00.000+08:00

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rating: 4 Stars

I am so happy that this fantasy based novel is set in the regency era, around 1800s England. As I have such a soft spot for regency books. But most of those books are either historical fiction or romance, so I find that this is such a nice change to the usual books I read in this era as it is a full-blown fantasy genre novel with warlocks, vampires and what-not. At first, I was a little worried that it would be a bit boring and childish, which is what I found in some YA fantasy books. Especially with regards to the supernatural. They seem to not have enough of a danger element or much of a plot to keep me interested. Thankfully, that isn't the case for 'Clockwork Angel' and it's why I love this book so much.

The story revolves around a girl named Tessa who comes to England from America after her Aunt died and having to sell off everything she owns to pay off her brother's gambling debts. She moves to England to be with her brother who is working there. However, things take a turn for the worse when she was taken hostage by the Dark Sisters and is forced to do their bidding as they torture her to do 'something' that will reveal an entire new world to Tessa. The moment she steps on England soil, she is swept into a dark adventure against her will where there are vampires and a secret society called 'The Pandemonium Club' after her as their leader the 'Magister' is determined to marry her. Meanwhile, she seeks refuge with the Shadowhunters, who are descendants of the angel 'Raziel' and are sworn to protect humans from demons and the police force of the Downworld. In the midst off all this, Tessa is torn between two Shadowhunter boys, Will and Jem.

That is the basic gist of the plot, without giving too much away. There are alot of funny terms that are always fun to read about in YA fantasy, when authors weave a new world within fiction. Although I do find that some terms and some aspects of this Downworld (something like a supernatural underworld) a bit cliched and predictable. There are some new and fresh ideas, especially regarding the Shadowhunters and the Institute that they live in. The plot is fast-paced, with only few breaks taken only to explain certain terms essential for someone who is new to the Downworld. The action rarely takes a pause and new things are constantly happening. There are also lots of action and fighting scenes in this novel, which I totally LOVE as the author does a great job in describing the fight scenes in a manner that is fast-paced and almost breathless. This gets your adrenaline pumping as the fight scenes are usually supernatural in nature and involve lots of magic and glowing seraph blades. It's so bad-ass!

All the characters are rather interesting. Eventhough it was a decent-length novel, there was not much character development involved as most of the pages are taken up by explanations for this new world. There is still alot of secrets buried and ready to be uncovered. I think the author is saving that for the sequel to this book. I do like the heroine, Tessa who holds a very unique special power. But I don't necessarily feel attached to her... yet. Maybe I will be able to connect with her more in the next few books. Will is the typical bad boy, ridiculously handsome and witty and all that stuff. What really bugged me about him is that he is CONSTANTLY leaning on something. He is forever 'leaning' on something. Which kinda annoyed me. I get that he is supposed to be a laid-back, I-don't-give-a-crap-about-anything type, but is that the only pose he can adopt? Other than that, I think he's a good character. I love the mystery behind him as he reveals very little about himself in this book. My fave characters are Jem, Thomas and Jessamine. Jem is the opposite of Will. He's the Good Guy. Very gentle and caring, but tragically vulnerable. I kept wishing that Tessa would fall for Jem 'cos he is such a nice guy and much more clear-headed than Will. BUT OF COURSE, Tessa would be more attracted to the bad boy type, which really irked me. WHY MUST THE GOOD GUYS COME LAST?! Like Thomas. He's a servant in the Institute and is in love with Sophie, who barely notices him. I felt so bad for him and was genuinely grief-stricken at the end. I felt that the author could've included Thomas more rather than just make him a sacrificial lamb at the end. Jessamine is a bitchy, self-absorbed Shadowhunter who we all love to hate. And that is precisely why I like her character. She added a little spice to an otherwise rather honorable group dynamics. All she wants is a normal life and she refuses to do her Shadowhunter duties. Yet, when the time comes, she displays bravery and skill. I felt her character had alot more dimension than most of the female characters in this book.

The plot was GREAT!! Loved it. Especially the twist at the end that completely caught me by surprise and left me wide-eyed, going "OMG". The last few chapters were jam-packed with action and revelations especially. They were real page-turners. In the Downworld, there are sides that you have to choose. While the Shadowhunters are viewed as the 'good guys', I don't find myself rooting for them as I feel that they are a self-involved group. They feel themselves superior to demons, warlocks and even humans, who they are sworn to protect. I felt that they are not carrying their duties with the pure intention of protecting humans (whom they have a very low opinion of) but instead, to establish their laws and power over the supernatural world. And I kind of understand the 'bad guys' intentions for wanting to rebel. The bad guys are established only by the people that they killed. I liked the fact that there are lots of gray areas even with the good guys in the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and the epilogue was rather skillfully written such that you will be DYING to know what's gonna be revealed in the next book. Though certain elements and characters could have been developed more, I felt that the face-paced writing made for an adrenaline pumping journey into England's supernatural world. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that it's set in the olden English times and that there are tons of fight scenes. Also, I am in love with Jem. Haha!

I honestly, cannot wait for the sequel to this one. =)

View all my reviews

Bookshelf Tour.

2011-08-08T22:40:00.004+08:00

I should stop going out on my own. I end up buying a bazillion things. I know that my doctor told me to stay off makeup. BUT omg, seriously. How can that even be possible? I know that I shouldn't be so superficial about it. I shouldn't be so insecure without my makeup on. Blah-blah-blah-self-motivation-talk-blah... I GEDDIT. I know I shouldn't be so attached to my makeup, but I can't help it that I am. And since school is starting, that means I can't hide out at home any longer. I have to wear my makeup. LIKE HAVE TO. I suppose I will have to cooperate and not wear SO MUCH. I probably would have to skip my foundation and just put a tad of concealer on my acne scars. No powder after that. I will have to keep my oil blotter with me at all times and also my La Roche-Posay face mist, which helps when I get red in the face.

THANKFULLY!! We both agreed that I can wear as much makeup as I want on my eyes and lips. SO YAYYY!! 'Cos eyeliner is the most important thing to me. Like THE TOP MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER. So that was a relief and also, lipsticks are great for attracting attention to my lips and not on my skin, so that is lovely. And I can continue on my dark lipstick fetish.

My new thing now that I have been completely obsessed about is bright-coloured eyeliners. They are SO AWESOME. I used to be a black liner fanatic, then I moved on to brown 'cos I felt that the black was too severe for me (and kinda made my already small eyes smaller). NOW, I LOVE COLOURED LINERS. They are my staple for the new sem. I just bought a few sticks. L.A Splash and Rimmel make FANTASTIC coloured liners at really low prices. Plus, they aren't the pencil ones that you have to sharpen all the time and lose tons of product that way too. I got only the automatic ones.

L.A Splash has a wide range of colours. When Jen and I were busy swatching the testers. We totally fell in love with 99% of them. And every time we swatched one, it made our decision to get one so tough. 'Cos they were all so awesome. And pigmented and the colours are so eye-catching. After MUCH deliberation, I got the 'Neon Blue' one (like electric blue). Then today, I got Rimmel eyeliners in 'Aqua Sparkle' and 'Perfect Plum'. I got another blue one, but this one is much lighter and has sparkles. It's an aquamarine shade and the plum one just GORGEOUS.

I HEART EYELINERS.

They much less of a hassle than eyeshadows, where I would need to blend and stuff. Eyeliners are so much easier. OH, and the Rimmel one comes with a sponge tip at the end to smudge out lines and create a smoky effect. How awesome is THAT?!

Btw, I was so pleasantly surprised to see that Watsons has started importing stuff from UK's superdrug!! YAYY!! I was so surprised to see some UK superdrug brands being featured on their stand thingy. I was about to buy a sunblock for myself. 'Cos that is THE most impt thing for my body. Not moisturiser or anyth. Just sunblock. I was about to get the cool Biore Aqua UV one but instead, I got 'Solait Sun Lotion' instead. Which is a superdrug brand. I got the SPF50++ For Sensitive Skin. I figured it cost less than the Biore one and there was more product. Sure it didn't dissolve into water on my skin, but I kinda like the feeling of having smth on my skin. So that I feel like I am being protected from the sun and there is a physical barrier there that won't let those nasty UV rays through.

Enough of makeup talk. I'm finishing my current book and I have already decided on what to read next. I wish I could read faster. I wanna read so many! Unfortunately, I am a rather slow reader. I am the type who has to read every single word and like to re-read descriptions that I like, or scenes that I like again before moving on. I should learn to read faster. But anyways, I already have a new to-read list, which you can check out at my goodreads page. I won't be starting on that list since I still have LOADS more to read up. Now that I got my shelves up, and they are all displayed nicely, I thought I could give y'all a peek at my collection. It's not massive or anything, but I really love them. (PLS EXCUSE the low quality photos. I took them with my lousy ass camera phone)

This was my old shelf. MY SUPER OLD SHELF. The one when I was a baby. It has lots of junkie books, children's books, comics, encyclopedias and stuff. Excuse the mess, but I always find it hard to arrange these books nicely. Mostly due to all the textbooks that take up some space as well. Behind the picture of Frank Iero (from My Chemical Romance) is my complete encyclopedia series that my dad got me. I didn't get through the entire thing. I do however, love my 'Bookworm' collection. Anyone remember that old local series??

This is my second oldest shelf. I ran out of space, as you can see, so that was why I had to get new ones installed. THIS was made by my dad. HAHA! Which explains the rough workmanship and the sudden blue shelves and wooden side that he forgot to paint over. He made this from my old bed frame. Pretty handy, even if I do say so. And it could carry quite a bit. Here are my collections from my childhood. My 'Goosebumps' series (I have 40 of them I think?) and my Enid Blyton ones. My favourite one was the Malory Towers series. I also have my manga collection (which isn't much) and a couple of random books, and my journals take up an entire small shelf. I've been writing in my journals since primary school and I've kept at it, till today. So I just gathered all of them. (And yes, that is my super old My Chemical Romance poster that looks like crap. All tattered and torn. I refuse to put it down, eventhough I have their Danger Days poster. Simple 'cos Bob is in this poster. I MISS BOB)

These two are the latest shelves that my dad helped me install in July. I only filled about One and Half of the space, but I found that particularly impressive since it only took me about slightly more than a month to fill that space up. HAHA! I am abit worried that I might need more shelves in future. Since I filled them up so fast. These are just the ones I own. Granted that some of these books in the second shelf were given to me by Gaya. Also obviously, I have some ebooks and stuff. But I feel that the real thing, the actual book, gives so much more gratification than just reading them through a screen. That's just my own personal opinion.

I dunno if I will be hauling any books in August. As I am trying to prevent myself from stepping into any bookstores lately. I am hoping to expand my collection, of course. But maybe later~ When I'm not so broke.

Alrighty, that's all for now. =)

School.

2011-08-07T16:01:00.002+08:00

Today is the last day of my holidays before my sem starts again on monday, which is tmr. And of course, that would mean the end of my life and the end of anything fun in my life as I bury myself in the ridiculous amounts of work, whilst geniuses make it a hard time for me to even remain on the average standard for my modules.

Wow, that was a long sentence.

But I meant every word. When I look back on my holidays, I dun exactly remember much good times. Besides, certain days when I went out with my friends and I clearly remember all my book haul days which were totally the highlight of my summer. Other than that, I didn't go overseas or did anything adventurous. All I can remember is being stuck at home 'cos I suddenly had some major skin problem and had to stay at home for most of my holidays. So I suppose, I can't call this holiday the best one. Nevertheless, ANYTHING is better than school. ANYTHING. I hate school. Not school in the general sense. I like learning new things and stuff. But I just hate NUS. It's not the most lovely place to waste the rest of my youth.

Oh, Well~!

Lip crazy.

2011-08-03T23:08:00.005+08:00

My sleep pattern has officially been SCREWED up. I dunno what is going on with my body at the moment but I really hope that it will get fixed by the time school starts or else this is BAD. I am so wide awake ALL THE TIME, eventhough I am so exhausted and I really do wanna sleep. Just can't seem to sleep. (Uh-oh, is my insomnia problem coming back??) I would sleep only at like 4am or like yesterday, I only fell asleep at like 9AM. THAT is when people GET UP. But I suddenly felt super sleepy at 9am, after a whole night of restless awake-ness. And slept till about 2pm. Then I am super awake again. THIS IS SO WEIRD. Sometimes I sleep as little as half an hour in a whole day. Or sleep as much as 12 hours, on certain days. But I think those were the days when I was down with the flu and had MAJOR antibiotics that completely knocked me out. Now, I just sleep at weird times. And sleep less and less. =S

ANW, I won't worry about that, at the moment.

These past few days I've been buying lip products, like crazy. I dunno why. I think it's 'cos I can't put on all my usual makeup. Also, 'cos I have been encountering alot of lipstick sales lately. Like everywhere I look there seems to be lipsticks sales that I CANNOT RESIST 'cos I am a lip product junkie. These days especially, I am attracted to really dark colours. Dark browns and maroons really make me wanna grab them. I think it's 'cos I have been into sort of dark looks lately. I used to be really into natural looking makeup. But now I like STRONG and dark looks. Maybe I'm turning into a vampire goth emo kid. HAHA! I dun think it's that bad though. 'Cos as much I can't live without my eyeliner, I tend to only use brown ones. I stay away from black as much as possible, as they just make my already tiny eyes look swallowed up in darkness and even less noticeable. SO FOR NOW, I am only a partial vampire emo kid. Seeing as my skin has gone SUPER PALE thanks to a month of staying indoors.

I have to tell you guys about the faves I got out of all the ones that I bought. Just a rough mention of some of the products that are really good, seeing as I got through lip products like people go through tissue paper.

Needless to say, Revlon's lipsticks are the best of the best. Honestly, they are as good, if not better than all the high end lipsticks. They have great pigments and glide on well. I really love their Colorburst collection due to it's super classy packaging and REALLY GORGEOUS colours. They have lots of solid colours, all the essentials. But this line is rather pricey. The one I just got is the Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick in 'Toast of New York'. Which is a true brown shade. Yes, BROWN. Actually it's kinda reddish brown. I thought I couldn't pull of this shade, thinking it would look better on tanner ppl.

BUT WHATEVS~! I just bought it 'cos I really do like how brown wears on me. Eventhough, my mom thinks it makes me look older. It emphasizes my lips and brings some colour to my pale face.

I have tried most of the drugstore lipsticks. For sheer and wearable colours, you can find them everywhere. I would recommend Maybelline's Watershine lipsticks. THEY ARE SUPER DUPER MOISTURISING. It's like putting on lipbalm. I love them!! And the colour pay off is decent. Perfect for nudes and everyday colours. 'Cos they are so moisturising, you might have to reapply them more often, but I dun think that's a major problem. I rather like the texture of it.

One of the most pigmented lipsticks I found, with a super silky texture that simply glides on, is none other than... SilkyGirl's Moisture Rich lipsticks. HAHA!! I cannot believe I just typed that. Everyone, including myself, tends to just blow off SilkyGirl 'cos it just looks abit cheap and kinda bad quality. I only picked these up 'cos there was a buy 1 get 1 free for this lipstick line and I tried out a tester... OMG! SHOCK. It was EXTREMELY pigmented. One glide and the colour pops on my lips immediately. And it's soooo smooth. I seriously underestimated this cosmetic line. I shouldn't be so stuck-up when it comes to makeup, I guess. And be more open-minded. Plus there were 18 colours to choose from and many other colours in their other lines. SO, there is actually a wide array of colours to choose from. GRANTED that they look really boring in the tube, but when you glide them on your hand or lips, they REALLY POP. I was spoilt for choice 'cos they were all really good and really dirt cheap. Like S$11.90. It didn't occur to me to get nudes, 'cos why would I waste such fantastic colour payoff on nudes?! I wanted to try 'VAMP' which is a purplish red colour. But as much I LOVED how it looked on me, my sis told me to take a less purple shade and more maroon instead. So I can achieve my dark look without looking like all the life was drained out of me.

I got 'NAUGHTY', which is a deep maroon colour. I thought it would be similar to my Revlon 'Toast of New York' but it's much more plum and maroon rather than brown. (It looks a helluva lot darker than the pic they gave at the website)

And I also got 'HOT', which is the brightest red I own. It is a deep cool-toned red. Most of my reds are warm toned with orange hints (like fire-engine red), this is a really bright and true red. And a deep shade. I LOVED HOW IT LOOKED ON THE LIPS. ALL I can see are LIPS. It just POPS. I think also 'cos it has a hint of fuscia as well.

Hopefully, I won't be spending anymore on lip products. 'Cos I bought some lip crayons as well. Before I go, I have to mention my fave lip balm of all time. This is my go-to lip balm. I always have this, just in case the ones that I am trying out suck. And TRUST ME, I have tried 209384209384209384 lip balms. I suffer from majorly dry lips that always seem to suck moisture out of everything. So I constantly have to slather on lip balm. And I always switch my balms and try out different ones. I reapply like 6 times a day at least, no matter what 'cos it just absorbs everything. But the most moisturising lip balm is 'Bioglo Perfecting Lipbalm'. It's 40% aloe vera so it really does sink into your lips rather than sit on top of it, like most lipbalms. Furthermore, the texture is so smooth. And it leaves a subtle sheen on your lips. I really hate waxy balms that dry out after a while. This one doesn't.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

Friend Report.

2011-08-03T01:39:00.004+08:00

OKAY~!! HAHA! I know that it has been nothing but BOOKS GALORE in my blog lately. And Keetha has been complaining to me how she is bored to death with my posts and I would probably lose more readers this way. But honestly, nothing is going on in my life that is even WORTH reporting about. And I have been doing little shopping for clothes and stuff that is worth mentioning, 'cos well, I feel what;s the point of buying pretty clothes when I look like crap in them?!

Until my skin heals properly and stuff, I probably won't be so hyper about clothing. Which is weird 'cos I LOVE fashion and I still do. I like looking at the trends and all the cool things that fashionable and hot ppl wear. But I dun necessarily think that I can do that. Last time, it was different. I was dead set on being different and standing out. NOW, my priority is blending in and not attracting attention. THUS, my dressing style has definitely changed. I still wear all my loud clothes. But I tend to tame them down now. Although I do wish sometimes that I can be my old self, so confident of whatever I am wearing and looking to turn heads, now I realize that being invisible has its perks. And it is definitely alot easier.

It makes me ALOT more boring, however. Hopefully, my friends won't mind that and will still stick with my boring new self.

On the other hand, my best friends have been embracing style and blossoming and coming into their own. Jenny is now adding more variety into her wardrobe and is venturing into bolder colours and brighter prints. Different from her usual pastel and florally self. She is trying out new styles with her new slim figure and she is looking like an Asian goddess. HAHA! I love it when she tries out new things. She just gets prettier and prettier.

Speaking of pretty, Diy has been totally turning into a fashionista and setting trends left and right. She is the new fashion queen on the block simple 'cos she is so full of style and confident of whatever she's wearing. Gone is the old tee-jeans-sneakers combo. Now she is layering skirts with flannel shirts and is decked with accessories from HEAD TO TOE. With her awesome hair style (currently sporting blonde streaks), everyone is at awe with her. Just when I think she can't get any cooler, she does. And everyone is taking notice! =)

On Monday, I met up with Gaya, Keetha and Diy to hang out at town after what seems liek ages. I have not seen Keetha and Gaya for a loooooong time. Granted that it is partially my fault for going into house arrest, thanks to doctor's orders. And being cooped up in my house for a month has taken it's toll. I finally met up with them. THEY LOOK SO DIFFERENT!! Keetha just bought her Jose Eber straightener (WHICH BTW FUCKING ROCKS!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) and I saw her with straight hair for the first time ever. She looks drop dead gorgeous, as usual. But more so with long straight hair. Gaya looked like her usual fashionable self only cooler with her thick bob. Her hair grows seriously fast, man.

I wanted to look pretty for them. I wanted to look pretty after like a MONTH of ugliness. So I went against doctor's orders and wore makeup. I was very careful though. I wore only a little of my clinique foundation, without primer. And I didn't do all the toning and all the other things, I kept it minimal. But I couldn't help unleashing all my pent up yearnings. I wore my new maroon dress with lace neck detail (I wish I had taken a pic, what's wrong with me) to match my maroon lipstick. And I braided part of my hair into a a snakey thing. And I wore my black wedges. I SWEAR, it was like girliness PUKED all over me. I was SO girly. But I can't help it. I haven't dressed up and made up in ages. I dun think I looked particularly great, but I loved my dress alot.

I had to be careful though, kept my la roche-posay face mist with me at all times to cool down any heaty rashes that might appear. And OF COURSE my oil blots and I ate my medicine beforehand. *SIGH* It is so hard.

But nevertheless, I am so happy we all got to catch up and I got to see my friends. And so happy that I get to look presentable again.

I bought new shoes that day... Apparently, that is one shopping habit that REFUSES to disappear. But I couldn't resist the pair of gray and blue oxfords with chunky heels. PLUS they are soooooooo comfortable. They will be my everyday shoes from now on. And I also got a coloured lip balm thingy from Etude house... OH OH!!! AND that day, Diy was so kind to accompany me to the seller and I bought FIVE FEAR STREET BOOKS!!!

SO HAPPY WITH THEMMMMMM~~!!! As you know, Fear Street was my fave book ever when I was young, so I kinda collect them. They are SO hard to find 'cos they are so old. I'm so glad I managed to get them. Even Diy bought two. It's like finding an old TREASURE! =)

FEAR STREET FTW.

Looking for Alaska.

2011-08-03T00:39:00.000+08:00

Looking for Alaska by John Green

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rating: 4 stars

What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said? I'm sure people are aware of the huge hype over this book and of course, John Green and his massive fan base. I was reluctant to succumb to the hype but I finally bought the book and decided to give it a try. It is definitely a quick read thanks to the easy flow of the writing and lots of light-hearted and humorous moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud. I have to say that this book is deserving of its hype. Not 'cos of the storyline or plot, which is rather commonplace in many YA books, but mostly 'cos of the way the story is written and how the author executes his plot.

The story centers around a boy named Miles (who was later lovingly nicknamed Pudge by his friends) and his pursuit for the Great Perhaps as he chooses to transfer schools from a public school to a boarding school in Alabama. Through his smart but badboy-ish roommate nicknamed Colonel, he meets a girl named Alaska and the story is how his life is turned completely changed and turned upside-down by her. It is also about him falling in love with this impulsive, unpredictable, intelligent and self-destructive girl.

I loved how the book is divided into two parts 'Before' and 'After', with countdowns to the Major Incident that happens within the book that rocks everyone's lives and is the clearly marked turning point of the whole story. It sort of gave me the thrill of what is the BIG event that will kind of change everyone. Like a countdown to fireworks, only of course, far far sadder. And the 'after' we see how each character, especially Pudge copes with it.

Another thing I love about this book is the richness in characters and the adventures that Pudge embarks on with his friends, who are all bad-ass, rule-breakers and all about living life on the edge. Pudge was a total nobody before transferring. He had no friends, and he didn't mind not having any. He was the epitome of nobody-ness. Then after befriending Colonel, he to changes into someone less socially introverted and is not afraid of taking risks. Their recklessness was about enjoying every moment in life to the fullest, but at the same time, it also hides the problems that they try to ignore or bury and most of all the sadness that is within these teenagers. Alaska is so mysterious and extremely unpredictable, even at the book, Pudge resigns to the fact that he didn't know much about her and neither do we, the readers. We only catch glimpses of her past and she changes her personality and moods so fast that even I am confused as to who is the real her. But that just makes it harder for Pudge who fell for her and fell for her hard. Even though, she kinda just played around with him and kept leading him on. We too never know for sure what her feelings for Pudge are.

To be honest, I kinda hated how mysterious and temperamental Alaska was. But maybe it's 'cos I'm a girl? I find her cool and intelligent. But her self-destructive nature and how she leads Pudge on made me dislike her. I kept wishing Pudge would just get over her already and forget about her. I felt Lara was a nice enough girl (LOL, for more than one reason, the BJ part was seriously a shocker). I felt that Alaska was an obsession for Pudge. and it certainly manifested till the very end.

Beneath the lightness of the pranks and high school drama, deep issues are tapped on and explored. Sex, love, life and death. The idea that life itself is a labyrinth of suffering and that some times we may think that the only way out is straight and fast, but it takes more courage to choose to stay instead. It left me pondering alot about life and how I felt towards it. Whether I was as cynical and jaded as Alaska and Colonel and if I were, why is that so? It's a great book to discover yourself with.

My only pet-peeve is Alaska herself. I know that the whole point is not understand her, to not be able to figure her out. But she's so complex and mysterious that I find it hard to like her, or imagine why anyone would fall in love with her. That is just my own personal thing. Also, I dun really advocate the whole fuck-the-rules mentality that most people in this book seemed to have. I guess, maybe I am just too simple-minded.

Overall, though, this book is top-notch stuff with writing that strikes deep into our darkest thoughts and voices out our own insecurities about life. At the same time, its easy flow allows us time in between to ponder and discover something about ourselves along the way.

Really, really lovely.

View all my reviews

I'm a liar.

2011-08-02T01:41:00.002+08:00

I have realized this for very long but only now am I really bearing the brunt of my dramatic personality and over-the-top way of talking. I need to re-access things and maybe change some things about myself. Everywhere I go, people (even the people closest to me) doubt my sincerity and the true-ness of my words. While that is not exactly like being deemed as a perpetual liar, it's not exactly the best situation to be in 24/7. Sure, I love being dramatic and blowing things out of proportion. Like how awful I feel and or how awesome I think something is. So maybe when I say, "I feel like killing myself", I dun exactly mean that I am suicidal and deeply depressed. But that doesn't mean that I am not feeling awful or feeling completely rotten. All exaggerations are based on truths. Truths that are either too boring or too embarrassing to just spit out the way it is.

They are not lies.

But lately ppl have been treating every word I speak with doubt and casting shadows on them, dismissing them. If that is the case, then why bother to speak? I am torn between being myself and enjoying myself as I try to entertain the ppl who are around me with my antics. I've realized that being fun means ppl dun take you seriously. They dun believe you when you have an actual problem. Or when you actually feel like absolute shit. That is the price we pay for trying to show only the best side of ourselves. The good side, the fun side. Always trying to look as good as possible. They dun really bother whatever it is that lies underneath it.

I guess, I am just tired of being doubted all the time. Just 'cos I react to smth intensely, doesn't mean it's fake. Yes, it may look theatrical, but has it occurred to ppl that it may be genuine? That I feel things intensely, therefore I react intensely? And why do I have to whip out proof for things that is happening in my life? Who knows better than myself?! I realize that ppl just dun take my word for it anymore. I get it if they dun take my word for a product or website that I may be in LOVE with and perhaps raving about. I dun feel hurt when they doubt that. I mean, sure, the product or whatever maybe just over-rated. But I do get hurt when I have to prove myself for things that are happening in my life. For the way I'm feeling.

I guess, feelings and problems are over-rated.

Maybe there's just too much of it around for them to care, or to listen and take seriously. Maybe they are busy, getting caught up in their own messes.

I guess, well, on the bright side, I never ever need to say "Just Kidding" 'cos apparently it's written all over my forehead or smth.

Probably I am just tired of convincing ppl. I'm tired of talking.

Balance.

2011-07-31T15:15:00.000+08:00

Hello, everyone!

Thankfully, I am not here to report on another book haul. Although I might not be able to say that tmr 'cos I will be out on the hunt to buy a bunch of Fear Street novels, from this seller who is selling away his/her collection. I am super excited to get my hands on them. I know I just bought a ton of books but I definitely cannot miss this chance. R.L.Stine, when I was younger, used to be my fave author of all time. I have TONS of his Goosebumps books and I remember being so happy every time I got my hands on a used/second-hand Fear Street books. 'Cos they are so rare. They dun sell them anywhere in Singapore. Not in any bookshop I've ever been to. I guess 'cos they are rather old. But I know that they were my fave books ever. And I would LOVE to expand MY collection as they are so hard to find here. =)

I predict that I would get at least 5 more books tmr, all Fear Street. I dun really read Fear Street anymore, it's a younger read. Not exactly adult fiction, but I think it would be nice to relive my love for them again. I mean, eventhough I probably can guess who the killer is really quick now, and I probably won't get as spooked by the ghost stories as before, it's just nice to travel back in time in my mind to when I was a young girl who loved horror books. I AM SUPER EXCITED!!

I am slowly losing all the new bookspace I just put up, omg. What is wrong with me, seriously. Nevertheless, I get so happy when I look at all my books all shelved. I think as I get older now, I feel myself revert back to my old self when I was in Secondary One. I sometimes get the same feelings as I read my books and wear my specs and all fresh faced, no makeup. I look in the mirror and I am 14 again. Not in a youthful kind of way. But in a bookworm nerd kind-of-way. I thought I had blossomed since then into a pretty young woman. But ever since my skin became horrible and books became my only friends for a while, I felt myself revert into my old socially introverted self. Maybe I'm just balancing myself. Since I'm an adult now, I need to become someone who is balance. A balance of my new self and my old self.

I still want to be pretty. But I think it's okay that I'm not. Not everyone can be pretty. Sometimes it's good to be plain and boring. Maybe someday I'll find someone who will appreciate that.

I MISS WEARING MAKEUP SO MUCH. I MISS WEARING MAKEUP. OMG. I realize that my face is MADE of makeup. I am NOTHING without it. NOTHING. I still can't wear too much. And I still have yet to talk to my doctor about it, but I am hoping he will let me wear my foundation, blusher and the works again. It has been too long. I miss looking presentable.

I'm gonna wear makeup tmr. Hopefully, it will turn out okay. =)

The Red Queen.

2011-07-30T22:45:00.003+08:00

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rating: 3.5 stars

I had no idea that this was part of the Cousins War series and that 'The White Queen' was the first book in the series. Somehow I was more attracted to the Red Queen, which turned out to be the second book. Now, I am really excited to read the White Queen but at the same time I am worried, 'cos there is a clear division between the House of York and the House of Lancaster. You are either on one side or the other. And the Red Queen, Margaret, is on the House of Lancaster, the true Royal bloodline of England. The book makes you choose sides and I am worried that I will be swayed to the York side, if I read the first novel (If that makes any sense).

Basically, it is about the Cousins War in the 1400s, England where the land is divided into two separate houses that are both fighting for the throne and the right to rule. The land is constantly plagued with war between the two sides and it never ceases as each side thinks of themselves worthy of being in the royal court. They are both cousins, however. Which I found really scary that they would kill each other so easily to satisfy their thirst for power. We follow the thoughts and adventures of Margaret Regina who is a direct line in the Lancaster house, the original Royal family when King Henry was in the throne seat. She's an EXTREMELY pious girl. She constantly sees God's will as her own will and spends most of her time praying. And we follow her as she changes as a person to fulfill her destiny. We can see, from the very first chapter when Margaret was still very young and about to be married off that she is no ordinary child. As she is extremely ambitious and she herself admits that she is destined for greatness. She thinks very highly of herself, thinking of herself as being favoured by God and similar to Joan of Arc (who is sort of like her role model). She claims that she has the "knees of saints". It's hard to feel sympathy for a child who is so proud. But her circumstances are unforgiving. She was forced into a rough marriage and almost died giving birth at the age of 13. Then when her husband died, her mother (who is the most evil, heartless woman I have EVER read about) married her off again to a man who is twice older than her. She is constantly used for the benefit of others. Whether it is gaining an heir or gaining wealth and name.

Things get rocky when the House of York led an uprising that successfully dethrones King Henry and Lancaster was beaten for the first time. This meant that the son that Margaret bore was no longer in line for the throne, with the Yorks ruling. She then begins her mission (which she claims as God's will and her destiny) to put her son on the throne.

It is interesting to see the wheel of fortune that binds the two queens (the red and white queen). When one rises the other has to fall. And Margaret is constantly jealous of the white queen's success and beauty, claiming her to be a witch and in cahoots with the devil. She is jealous that she cannot get her way so easily, unlike the White Queen. When in reality, she is the one with the royal blood in her veins. Then we see how Margaret realizes this and transformed from being "used" to the one "using others". It's amazing to see how she strategizes and manipulates people. But when playing with sharks, be prepared to get bitten. For everyone is double-crossing everyone else. There is no sense of loyalty at all, even though loyalty is mentioned a hundred times in this book. Every man has only his own interests in mind and the war slowly becomes not a righteous battle for the throne but a web of schemes and backstabbing, in which not the strongest or most righteous will survive, but the smartest and most determined. And while Margaret has many, many faults, and stops at nothing to get what she wants, one has to admire her unfailing faith and determination. Which ultimately caused her only and final success, to put her son on the throne as King of England.

The only thing that bugged me was her misinterpretation of religion and how God's will somehow ALWAYS would coincide with her own. And she often hides behind the name of God to excuse her for all the sinful things she had to do to achieve her ambitions. Also, I get kinda upset with her midway through the book when she was married to Sir Henry Stafford (who was the ONLY person in this whole book I totally respected and loved) and she kept looking down on her husband and kept demanding great things to happen for her, but she won't get off her ass and DO anything. All she did was pray and pray for what she wanted. It took her a while to realize that she would have to fulfill her own destiny, she can't just PRAY for it to happen.

What I do like was Sir Henry, Margaret's second husband, who was the dude who was twice her age and could've been her dad. At first, I was ready to hate him, 'cos I hated her mother for marrying her off so quickly to this old, wrinkly man. And I felt so bad for Margaret who would have the duty of bearing his child. But the writer made my feelings change for him slowly as I grew to respect him first as a caring and considerate husband. Also, I had tremendous respect for him for having his own mind and not just blindly fighting for his side. He does things cautiously and carefully, thinking of the good of his people and his family first, before anything else. I then loved him for tolerating Margaret's annoying ways and childish behaviour, thinking him a coward and loser, when he is the only sane person in the kingdom. Unlike the rest, he was not driven by his own greedy ambitions. He just wanted to live his life in peace. I really love this character alot and was so freakin' sad when he passed.

Overall, this is a fantastic book for those who appreciate historical fiction and is not too caught up in the nitty-gritty (like me). I am not expecting a historically accurate documentary. I wanted a book that will transport me to another era and get me caught up in the epicness of battles. This book does just that, with outstandingly detailed writing that conjures up the essence of that era, perfectly. My only pet-peeve was that I didn't like Margaret's cause and I could not feel for her much as she is such an aloof and self-righteous person. Even at the lowest point in her life, she was proud and indignant. Also, I wished that her relationship with Jasper could have been explored more. Other than that, I really loved the Epic nature of the story, the deviousness of the characters and the unpredictability of what would happen next in times of war.

Cannot wait to read the White Queen and the rest of Philippa Gregory's works. =)

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Book Haul #4

2011-07-29T21:26:00.004+08:00

Erm... This is crazy. I know I said I won't be buying any more books until I finished the ones I just GOT. But I met my friend at Northpoint and was just chilling and hanging, and I wandered into Popular. Thinking of getting some notebooks for my new sem. OMG. Popular sells good books!! I never knew that. They always displayed so little, and they have so few books compared to the OTHER stuff they sell, like stationary and etc. But I was SO SHOCKED, I saw 'Clockwork Angel' by Cassandra Clare.

And it was 20% off!! WHUT?!!! I practically screamed and grabbed it. It was like 13 bucks. So crazy! Then as I walked around, I saw TONS of cool new books that I was planning to get. Thankfully, not all are on discount and they seem the same price range as Kino. So I had to problems.

UNTIL.

I saw a BOX SET. It was Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments trilogy. It just caught my eye. Eventhough it was hidden in an inconspicuous corner. And it was the last one. I was like OMG. I was planning to try out this series anyway. But it was kinda pricey if I buy them one by one. The box set was really cheap for THREE brand new, perfect books. And I can get the entire trilogy in one go. For only 12 bucks a book. I couldn't help myself. I COULDN'T. IT IS CRAZY.

So I got Cassandra Clare's 'City of Bones', which is Book One.

'City of Ashes', which is Book Two.

And 'City of Glass', which is the final book, Book Three.

It came in a pretty box set. And I got them. At freakin' Popular Bookshop. I have been turning my nose high and away from this local place, thinking it will never stock great books. Which is true, it's adult cooks collection isn't impressive. But what they do stock up on is Young Adult fiction, which this series falls under and they also stock up on all the bestsellers. So, most of the good books are there. Even 'Looking for alaska'!! I was so surprised to see it there. Like I could've gotten it ages ago, if I had bothered to enter that place.

Lesson learnt is that I shouldn't dismiss Popular so easily, thinking it's just a stationary and textbook shop. It sells, good book and great prices as they are more likely to have discounts rather than those posh bookshops like Page One, Kinokuniya and Borders.

My friend, Wan Cheng, also got me 'The Hungry Years' by William Leith

'cos it was on sale for like $3.90. And she saw that I felt so guilty for splurging on these books when I JUST had a book haul. This looks really interesting 'cos it's also about emotional eating and how cravings affect people and their lives. I am always interest in this topic. And since 'Skinny' was such a let down, I am hoping this one would be better. =)

Although I KNOW I shouldn't be getting anymore, I really shouldn't. But I am getting 'Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins in the mail soon. 'Cos I saw it selling cheap on ebay. It is also on my to-read list so once again, I couldn't resist. I keep thinking, I'm gonna get it anyway. So might as well get it now and get it cheaper. Tmr, I'm heading to Eunos to meet this seller who is selling away her R.L. Stine Fear Street collection foe like 3 bucks a pop. My sis is really interested in it and as you know, R.L. Stine was my fave author EVER when I was younger. And I do collect his books, 'cos Fear Street especially, is rather hard to find.

SO YEAH. MORE HAULING AND MORE BOOKS.

I'm feeling really guilty, but at the same time, I feel SOOOO happy seeing them on my bookshelf and I get so excited just thinking about reading them. =DD

Book Haul #3

2011-07-27T21:48:00.006+08:00

A bunch of things happened and amongst them is me having a major reaction to my acne medication, I dunno if it's some allergic reaction or smth, but my face went CRAZY. I woke up one morning with HUGE patches of red all over my face and they were swollen. I looked like a monster. Even my mom was scared for me. I can understand. She must be scared that her daughter might end up deformed. It must have been a shock for her as well. She rushed me to the doctor where he immediately told me to stop all medication and to even stop using ALL my skincare products and all my makeup. On top of that I had a flu and cough. So basically, he called for a house arrest. In which I had to stay at home for an entire week. He told me I could go out, if I had to. But that is a JOKE, 'cos there is no way in hell I could EVER leave the house looking like THAT without a mask on.

So, I had to stay at home until the swelling and patches subsided. But it took forever. Even now as I approach a week, there is still a pink patch on my cheek that refuses to go away. And every time I get heaty, it would turn a BRIGHT red and it's so embarrassing 'cos I can't even wear makeup to cover it up. Due to my boredom at home, I think I was driven to actual madness. Because on sunday I just went CRAZY. I was possessed by some demon or smth and I just felt like cleaning up. Or do SOMETHING. I got out some trash bin bags and started throwing junk out of my room and went on a cleaning frenzy. I didn't know what got into me. All I know was that I was sick of doing nothing and I really, really wanted to have some new bookshelves to house and display all the books I bought.

My mom was AMAZED. I have NEVER cleaned my room, like PROPERLY clean it for YEARS AND YEARS. And all of a sudden I went on a frenzy and made it spotless. It took me hours but I didn't even realize it. I just kept throwing stuff out. I am SUCH a hoarder. I keep holding on to things for sentimental value when I dun even use them anymore. Suddenly they all seemed pointless to me. So I threw everything out. And I painted my walls (a gorgeous aquamarine colour), ALL IN ONE DAY. I never knew I had it in me. Nevertheless, I did everything myself, without ANY help. Even the painting job. And by the end of the day, my room was neat and organized and an pretty shade or white and blue.

I AM IMPRESSED AT MYSELF.

WOW. The things that I can get done when I set my mind on something (in this case, getting shelves). For those who dunno me, THIS IS A MONUMENTAL STEP. 'Cos I have not seen the FLOOR of my room for YEARS. Literal YEARS. There is always shoes, clothes, books and junk all over the floor. The table is piled to the top with no space for even a 10 cent coin. NOW, I can SEE the floor. I have space to WALK and the door can open without pushing through a mountain of things. I feel strangely accomplished and clean. As if I did some sort of mental detox.

On top of that, I have TWO NEW SHELVES on my wall and I am sooooo excited to fill them up. My books are looking so pretty on them. And to commemorate this auspicious day, I went on a shopping spree with Jenny. After a quick stop at Starbucks (as usual), we head to far east where Jen got herself a gorgeous dress and also some accessories at New Look ion. I got myself some pretty bows (I am a sucker for hair accessories, gosh) and a CUTE marc jacobs-y laptop casing for my new sem. Then after seeing Jen off, I went to Kino to get some NEW BOOKS.

BAD IDEA.

I should NOT have gone ALONE. I had a list of books I was planning to read and get. But I thought I'll maybe get 2 or 3. I wanted to get 'Clockwork Angel' by Cassandra Clare. But they were out of stock. So I got a couple of other books (which SURPRISINGLY all happened to be at the young adult fiction section. I was quite upset about that. I hardly EVER go to that section, 'cos I feel like I graduated from it. And I kinda got over the whole high school stories anyway. But from all the rave reviews, most of the books on my to-read books are in this section. So I decided I shouldn't be so stuck-up about it and just enjoy them.

So first, I got Sarah Dessen's 'The Truth About Forever'.

This book was so hard to find. They had all the latest ones but not this one. But thanks to my sharp eyes and my determined-ness, I somehow found one stuck at the back of the shelf behind all the other books. Pfft. As if it can HIDE. Anw, I heard lots of good things about Sarah Dessen's novels. So I', excited to read one for myself. Although it is definitely something I would not buy if I were to just read the synopsis. I dun usually like those family drama types of stories. Divorced parents, angsty teens, etc. But I feel like I should keep an open mind and try this book out since it got such a great response from so many ppl.

Then, as I was getting a basket for my books (OMG I WAS SO EXCITED!! I'm finally gonna be one of those ppl who buys a BASKET of books at once, like a BOSS), I caught sight of 'Divergent' by Veronica Roth.

It is in my to-read list thanks to RAVE reviews on goodreads. It's a Young Adult fantasy novel about some dystopian society and the adventures of a sixteen-year-old protagonist. I dun really know much of the story, only that it is in the fantasy genre. But it gives similar vibes to Artemis Fowl. Anw, SUPER excited and curious to see what all the hype is about. I intend to find out for myself and make my own judgements about this highly talked-about book.

So I dropped that into my basket and looked high and low, ticking stuff off my list. I finally, finally found and got 'Looking For Alaska' by John Green.

Turns out it was in the young adult gifted writers section and not at the 'literature' section, where I tried to look for it last time. Pfft, who would've known?! It looks like such an artsy book. But this book had critical acclaim and many book prizes so, I am pretty sure that this will be one of those life-impacting books. It's about a mysterious girl named Alaska. That is all I know about this book. Nonetheless, I have been dying to read this one for MONTHS. So I am SO HAPPY I managed to get it this time. =)

As I headed for the cash counter, I walk slowly looking around as I walked. BAD MISTAKE. Those sly Kino ppl, always have stacked of cool-looking books at your reach as you make your way to the counter. And it's so HARD to resist the urge to flip the back and read the back when one of the covers or titles catch your eye. AND MANY OF THEM DID. Especially when the covers are sooooo pretty. BECAUSE OF THIS, I got three more books that were NEVER even in my list in the first place. Just 'cos I thought they looked so cool and the story sounds so interesting.

I got 'The Taker' by Alma Katsu.

I wasn't gonna get this book 'cos it was kinda expensive. But the book itself is GORGEOUS and entirely black. And the story sounds SO interesting. ALSO, I found out it's a historical fiction... MY GREATEST WEAKNESS. UGHHH!! I couldn't resist. It's also a morbid sort of love story. So, I dropped that into my basket against my better judgement.

THEN, beside it I saw 'The People Next Door' by Christopher Ransom.

The cover looks so mysterious and scary. Seriously, the cover art of books these days are so freakin' amazing. They MAKE me wanna have them. So, then I read the back. And it sounded SOOO scary and good. It's about this mysterious family who lives next door and have a dark secret and a dark twist at the end. It promises to 'shock and thrill' and I read a snippet of the story on the inside of the cover, it sounded so good. And I realized I didn't have a thriller in my book pile. SO, I threw that in the basket as well.

Finally as I reached the cashier, I was forcing myself not to look anymore. For fear I will fall for another book. My eyes caught on this curious-looking book that looked out of place and it looked like a diary. With a fabric cover and a band holding it. Turns out it was a NOVEL!! It just looked so unique and the synopsis sounded like a heartwarming story. It was 'The Sky is Everywhere' by Jandy Nelson.

So I threw that in ('cos it's SOOO PRETTY) at the last minute and sprinted to the cashier.

I ALMOST DIED when I saw the total. But THANK GOD for my privilege card. It totally saved me a bunch. But it was still a SUPER huge buy. I PROMISE myself not to go into Kino until I have all these books. Which might take a while, seeing as school is gonna start soon.

I've realized that my Book Hauls are getting bigger and bigger. But I just felt like I deserved to treat myself to the luxury of using the Kino Plastic Basket. After getting my shelf up and cleaning up my room.

I AM SO EXCITED TO START ON THEM. They look so good on my shelf. =DD

The Death Instinct.

2011-07-24T13:35:00.001+08:00

The Death Instinct by Jed Rubenfeld

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rating: 4 stars

This book is a total MAZE of plot twists and deception. It started of with a bang and the scene of the explosion at Wall Street was shown from different points of views until we reach the views of our protagonists. We have 2 main characters who are Younger (a doctor who served in World War I) and Littlemore (a captain in NYPD), who happen to be near the site of the bombing. The entire story was set in the era slightly before 1920s. To be honest, I was so excited to read this book 'cos the synopsis gave the impression of a 'Sherlock Holmes' style of novel. But it is definitely NOT. While I do get amazed at Littlemore's power of perception and how he can make correct assumptions out of seemingly ordinary things, it is not just about solving a case.

This story is SO COMPLICATED I have no idea where to even start. 'Cos one thing leads to another and another. It's revelation after revelation. And I dun wanna spoil this book for anyone. Basically, Younger is back from serving as a medic at the WWI where he brought back with him Colette and Luc (her younger brother). Colette is a french girl who was helping medics in the war field by providing them X-ray services with her Radium Van. She's a scientist who was mentored by Marie Curie herself. Her brother was thought to be a mute as he has never spoken ever since their parents died during the war when Luc was still very young. Colette wants to find ways to cure her brother and to track down a man named Hans Gruber, who was currently in prison. Younger fell in love with her during the war and devotes himself to helping her achieve what she wants. He brings her to a psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud who was his mentor at one time.

Meanwhile, Littlemore was trying to solve the case of the bombing on Wall Street which had killed hundreds of people. Several political figures and Bureau heads were blaming anarchists and terrorists from Russia and Italy. But the deeper Littlemore delves into the case, the more information and evidence he uncovers, the more complicated the case becomes. The motives of the bombing evolved from a terrorist attack to a cover-up for a robbery to a signal of war. IT WAS MINDBOGGLING. I was rooting for Littlemore the whole way and as a reader, I have so much respect for the way Littlemore plays by the rules and never got his hands dirty, even when he was given the opportunity for an easy way out. He was the pure one in a city that is infested with corruption.

I cannot summarize all the major happenings in this novel 'cos there is just too many. It is absolutely jam-packed with action. With killers hunting Colette and a radium conspiracy looming, there are alot of things happening at once. The point of view constantly switched from one person to another (usually from Younger and Littlemore) so the reader has to keep alert or else it is easy to get lost in the maze of the plot. Personally, I liked the switch in point of views. It is a great way to keep the readers guessing and wondering who are the ones telling the truth. Simply 'cos everyone is LYING. Everyone is lying and deceiving everyone else and I get suspicious of EVERYONE.

The ending was a GREAT twist. I never saw that coming (maybe 'cos I was too busy being suspicious of everyone to make a safe bet on a whodunnit) and the last few pages left me BREATHLESS as the whole case was finally busted wide open and the true criminals unveiled themselves.

The only issue I had was the relationship between Younger and Colette, which I never approved of. Honestly, I kinda hated Colette as I felt as if she was just making use of Younger and his money and connections in the medical world. Also, I felt that Younger himself knew that Colette was making use of him and despite that he LETS her take advantage of him. He comes to her rescue a billion times and has risked his life, even killed people for the sake of this GIRL. And this while I was thinking, WHY?!! They only met in the battlefield, so I assumed it was something like love at first sight. Also, Younger scared me with his darker side and the 'possessive' love that he had for her. Midway I thought Colette was evil and that Younger was evil as well. But this just shows the richness of the characterization. They are not perfect people. They are flawed and fighting their own demons as well as the demons of criminal world. There is a constant struggle between good and evil even within the characters and not just within the main plot itself. I just felt that the deepness of their love was not shown until the very end when Younger almost died trying to protect Colette (AGAIN).

Bottomline, this book freakin' ROCKS. Sometimes it gets confusing as there are so many characters to keep track of and some many conspiracies overlapping each other, you might wanna take a break and clear your head for a while, before diving back into the story. But it is SO worth it at the end, when the truth finally surfaces. I love how the entire book is in shades of gray. No one is perfectly good and perfectly evil. Everyone (as in real life) has a motive of their own and at the end, justice doesn't always prevail and sometimes, justice can come in a different form, not just a jail sentence or death. The author's writing style is objective and doesn't get too emotional so, the reader can keep a clear head on who are the culprits. (Though I did get emotionally attached to Littlemore) And it perfectly captures the mood and feel of the 1920s, which was a rather depressing time.

Fast-paced and everything is accounted for. Every single thing is a clue and is connected to something else. Mindboggling stuff!!

I CANNOT wait to read more of Jed Rubenfeld's work.

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Tweets & Gifts.

2011-07-20T22:16:00.004+08:00

Hellooo~!

Okay, quite a number of things happened. But the COOLEST THING, easily, is the fact that DAISY GOODWIN. As in the author of 'My Last Duchess' a.k.a 'The American Heiress', TWEETED ME. Like she freakin' tweeted me. She saw my review on goodreads.com somehow and was like "Thanks @H_shar for the lovely review" and I almost wet my pants in awe. She actually READ my humble review. Which I didn't even think much. I should've put more thought and analysed it or smth. But instead, I just kept gushing about it. So I tweeted her back, telling her that I am a fan and I was looking forward to her next work (hopefully a sequel). She TWEETED me back AGAIN.

AGAIN.

Can we take a moment, ppl, and appreciate the AWESOMENESS of this?! Here she is, a bestselling author tweeting me and replying my tweets. She is the nicest person ever, seriously. I instantly followed her, DUH. She replied a thanks again and... GET THIS... LINKED MY REVIEW TO HER TWEET. She tweeted my ACTUAL review on goodreads, where all her followers can see it. OMG. Not only is that actual proof that she read it, it means she LIKED it and wanted other ppl to read it too. THIS is the best thing that ever happened in 2011. NO JOKE, man.

GOSH, I can't get over how amazing and absolutely RANDOM this is. I was innocently writing my review of a book I liked like I usually do, and the author reads it and thanks me for it. WOW. Seriously, WOW. This makes having a twitter account worthwhile. 'Cos I hardly even USE twitter.

Other than that, I have just been hanging out with my best friends alot. I know I've been spending a BOMB on things. So I am currently on a shopping hiatus. Until August rolls in, and everyone knows that once school starts the ONLY thing that keeps me alive is shopping. That cannot be helped. My biggest splurge has to be the Clinique Superbalanced foundation, which my Mom and Diy made me buy after much much much deliberation. I DETEST foundation shopping 'cos I can never find the right shade for my skin and the good ones are always so expensive. Plus, my skin is CRAZY right now so I am super apprehensive about putting anything on it really. But of course, I have to wear foundation 'cos I have to cover up my acne.

Besides that I have buying tons of tops and other miscellaneous objects. My favourite purchase being my Revlon Matte lipstick in 'Toasted in New York'. It's a SUPER rich dark brown colour. I honestly thought dark brown would just NOT work on my skin. I thought it was more for warm tones. But I recently tried it out when I was hanging at Jen's place. She had a reddish brown lipstick that her mum bought her. And I was SO SURPRISED at how nice it looked on me. I immediately went to buy a similar shade. I couldn't find one that was exactly the same but the revlon one is close enough.

ALSO, JEN gave me the BESTEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER!! Ahhhh, thanks so much Jen, seriously I love you. A million hugs and kisses!! She totally surprised me and was all sly about my gift. She made a bunch of our photos look all old and vintagey and got me ALL the things I was dying to get in UK. Which included my Boots No 7 Illuminating lotion and Lush Lip Scrub in Chocolate Vanilla. OMG. I freakin' almost DIED when I opened my gift box at the bus. I am DYING TO USE THEM!! Gosh, I'm so happy right now. Btw, the Lush Lip Scrub TASTES like HEAVEN. I can lick them on my lips all day. And they make my lips so silky soft. =)

The Last Duchess.

2011-07-15T13:44:00.001+08:00

The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rating: 4 stars

I was so excited to read this even though the reviews weren't exactly raving about this novel. But I was drawn by the beautiful cover and it just looks like a movie that I would totally watch. Also, do keep in mind that I am an absolute sucker for historical fiction. Especially regency eras and victorian. So , I really expected to love this book. And it certainly met my expectation.

The story is basically about Cora Cash, who is an insanely rich American heiress, who has an overbearing ambitious mother and how she eventually fell in love with a Duke and married him. It is SO much more than that though. There are tons parallel stories that run along-side Cora's story. I particularly like the story about Bertha, her loyal African-american maid and I also liked Teddy's story. First and foremost, I love the way Daisy Goodwin wrote this book. It is unlike the usual regency stories I am used to where the romance is closely linked to the passion between the two main characters. Here, instead is a story about Cora's journey into the harsh and unforgiving world of English Society and how she eventually matures from a rather spoilt heiress to a respectable mother and duchess. Cora is extremely lovable and very innocent and all in all, you can tell what a good person she is. And I get so pissed off with all the aristocrats who always try to wrong-foot her. They were, of course, just jealous of her fortune and her marriage to the Duke of Wareham. The Duke is later revealed to have some sort of secret liaison with Charlotte (his past lover) and then Teddy (Cora's past lover) was also thrown into the picture.

The drama is never ending and it kept me reading. The pace was perfect and the flow was so easy and pleasing. Honestly, I loved Cora alot and I wanted her to go with Teddy instead of that stupid Duke. Ivo had redeemable moments but I just dun think he loves Cora the way Teddy does. The way Teddy loved her from the start and got scared of his emotions for her. Ivo just needed her. He needed Cora for an heir and for her money. And he eventually 'fell in love' with her but I felt as if he loved her out of a sense of duty. Although he tried to prove himself at the end of the book. His confession failed to move me. Simply because I kept thinking of how he treats Cora, with that distance and indifference and all the secrets he kept from her all this time. But Cora loved him, deeply and was ready to accept him no matter what. I was really sad when Teddy was left alone on the train platform, waiting for her and eventually learning to move on. Sure he had been a coward, and he only gained courage when it was too late. I still felt that Teddy's feelings for Cora were far more genuine than the Duke's. Honestly, I kinda hated Ivo. Cora deserved better.

On a brighter note, I am rooting for Jim and Bertha's romance to bloom somehow. Even against the numerous obstacles that lie ahead of them. In a sense, I felt as if their love was greater than any of the other romances in the book. I HOPE THERE IS A SEQUEL. It was such a pleasure to read!! Suspense and drama and a realistic portrayal of the world then. There was none of that over the top romanticism that occurs in other historical romances.

I felt this was a breath of fresh air. =)

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In hiding.

2011-07-14T20:59:00.003+08:00

Well, I haven't left the house much although I did have a great time with Jen shopping the entire, drinking coffee, chatting over lunch and buying lotsa staples for school. I bought tops (mostly from pull & bear, my fave store ever) and I also bought boyfriend fit jeans from uniqlo. They are my favourite style now. A loose guy's tee and loose straight jeans. They hide my body which is GREAT. I dun feel so stressed, having to suck in my stomach all the time. And I can eat my chocolates in peace.

I have been eating chocolates and doing lots of binge eating. Against my better judgement of course. But I've been feeling... really sad lately. As in really unbelievably sad. I rmb the last time I felt this way was afew years ago, when my lovelife took a nose dive. However, I reckon this comes a good second. In fact, really close. My acne isn't going away. The moment one starts to heal, another one pops up. And then next thing I know my face is just... is just... just gross. Disgusting. Horrific. I dun think I know enough adjectives to describe how desolate and helpless I feel when I look into the mirror. How frustrated I feel when my make up can't cover up the disgusting bumps on my face. And then I am forced to cancel all my plans that day and stay at home. So I've been cowering at home. Afraid to face the world with my new face. I suppose I just need time for my skin to settle and for me to settle into my skin.

It's hard to accept it when people keep thinking that you still look like your old self. But I dun. I have had at least 7 people, including Jenny who told me, "You look different." I just brush it off, saying that it's my hair (now I actually have to show my entire face and keep my hair out of my face to prevent more breakouts). But it goes deeper than that. The aura I give is different and my face is different. Besides my skin, I am exposing my entire face for the first time without any bangs to cover up all the unsavoury parts that I despise such as my forehead and the sides of my square jaw. Also, I am less assured of myself. I dun like how I look now and it shows I guess. But I expect this to change as I work on myself and my new body and skin.

I have to learn to accept myself.

Other than cowering at home and hiding from the rest of the world, I have been reading my book haul. I have just finished my 'Last Duchess' book which was FABULOUS. OMG. I seriously love that book. It's so skillfully and tastefully written. I loved every line in it. The only thing I didn't love was the bloody Duke, who was the hero of the story. I seriously hate him. I mean, I literally almost BURST INTO TEARS when Cora dumped Teddy (her childhood love) at the train platform and stayed with the Duke instead. I was like, "NOOOOOOOOOO". Then my mum rushed into my room all worried-like and threw her spatula at me for worrying her with my scream. NOT COOL. She got gravy all over my bed and I had to change the sheets. She was yelling, "IT'S JUST A BOOK" and then grabbed her spatula and left in a huff. Mothers, I tell you.

It's not MY FAULT I got too into the story. Geez.

So anyways, I AM SO HAPPY Munira got me that book. I didn't expect to love it so much. I am of course, really biased thanks to the gorgeous cover. But now I have to move on. I am thinking of going into 'The Death Instinct' for a change of pace. I was actually thinking of starting on the 'Red Queen', but I didn't wanna overlap the story with Cora's one. I AM SO EXCITED to get started on it. Although I had VERY little sleep last night. I was finishing my last book with a torchlight in my bed 'cos I dun wanna disturb my sis. LOL!!

Another thing to be excited about is definitely HARRY POTTER. Diy booked tix this saturday and I am, needless to say, excited. But also very sad that my childhood would officially end by the end of this last movie. Nevertheless, these are things that won't be forgotten and the books are still very much a part of my life, I guess. However, I do expect a RIVER OF TEARS AND SNOT to flow down my face on saturday so I will keep that in mind and wear waterproof makeup, just in case.

Skinny.

2011-07-10T15:49:00.001+08:00

Skinny: A Novel by Diana Spechler

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

rating: 2 stars

I kinda regret purchasing this book. I wish I could return it somehow, but oh well. The idea behind it was great. Exploring the connection between emotions and eating and how our body's impulses reflect our hidden thoughts and desires. I got into the book right away after I read the first few chapters and bought it. But then I got out of it quickly. The main character, Gray, alienated me with her thoughts and her actions. I couldn't sympathize with her. I couldn't connect with her, even though some of the phrases used in this book was poignantly written.

She kept thinking that she killed her father and the guilt made her eat. I understand that. I understand the self-loathing that she describes after a binge. She went to fat camp, only because she wanted to meet her long-lost half sister (a by-product of an affair she thought her father had had). I understand that when she hooked up with Bennet (as unbelievable to me as that is), that it filled her up temporarily. But I found her too extreme. She either eats a RIDICULOUS amount or eats NOTHING at all, and just have SEX the whole day. And over-exercising. I also couldn't get over how badly she was treating her boyfriend Mikey whom she had left behind while she was at fat camp. I mean, yea, not like Mikey was the perfect boyfriend, but he was patient with her and loved her no matter how skinny or fat she was. Then she had to sleep with Bennet and started complaining about Mikey and how he was never right for her. Gosh, seriously, this Gray girl is one of the most self-absorbed people I have ever read about. She links everything to herself and she complains about everything in an emo kind of way. It was hard to get through the book and emerge at the end.

Nothing much happened in between. The book skipped from past to present in a slightly confusing way but nothing too bad. It's just that it was REALLY slow and really, nothing happened. Nothing but life. The writing was good though. At some parts, there were sparkles as the words struck a cord in my heart. I felt some affinity in her struggle to stop eating and the idea of letting go. But it was like finding a few sparks of stardust in a massive blackhole.

The ending was depressing. Although I felt some closure was made with her feather's death and Mikey leaving her (GOOD FOR HIM), she went back to they way she was before fat camp. It's like the battle never even happened. And that was SO discouraging. It's almost saying, "Why bother trying? It'll be wasted effort. You'll just end up back at square one."

Overall, I found this book depressing. And discouraging. And I dun like ANY of the characters in this book. The only silver lining is the writing that at times, hit the nail on its head when it comes to life.

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Book Haul #2.

2011-07-09T20:07:00.003+08:00

Hello everybody!

Today was a really awesome day, only damper to my day is this MASSIVE-O headache as I am typing this entry. Like SUPER bad, but I can't really take much painkillers and stuff. 'Cos I'm on other medications. And I dun wanna screw my body up, as it is already screwed up. I dunno why but maybe it's 'cos of the medication I've been taking but I have been SO EXHAUSTED everytime I get home. THE MOMENT I get home, I just feel like I MUST get into bed NOW. It's so scary. I even slept at 9pm last night. And couldn't wake up to meet Munira this morning for our book shopping trip (she's my official Book Buddy). THAT IS SO STRANGE. 'Cos usually my body clock is wired. I would immediately wake up at 6.30am - 7am without fail. With or without alarm. Everyday. So I would either go to work or go back to bed. But now I just feel SO EXHAUSTED, like my head is being stuffed with tissues and my eyes are dry and sore. I feel like I cannot get enough sleep. IT IS SO STRANGE. My body is seriously messing up. I dunno what the hell is going on, but I'm pretty sure it's the antibiotics that the doctor gave me.

I went to my GP as he has my entire health history to see what the fuck is going on with my skin. I mean, I have had perfectly normal skin, not too oily not too dry for years. Even as a teenager and BAM. Suddenly it freaks out, gets super oily and I get acne. Something is wrong. And my breakouts were getting SO BAD. Like all over my face such that I couldn't even cover them up with make-up. It's horrible. I really felt like crying my eyes out and hiding under a bridge like some monster. 'Cos I look like a monster. The doctor was shocked as well when he saw my face. He thinks it must be some hormonal change. We're hoping it's temporary. I wanted to get on Roaccutane and get RID of my oiliness and acne once and for all. But he didn't wanna poison me and start me out on smth to strong. So he prescribed a cream and antibiotics first. I have to go back to him after a month, I dunno if it's the medication, but my eyes are SO SORE and tired and my head is stuffy and I AM SO EXHAUSTED SO EASILY. Whatever, I just want my skin to clear up. Or else I won't be able to go out, ever.

Yes, so it's really bad for me at the moment. So I felt like to accompany me on my days at home, being sick. I thought I should get some new books, seeing as I am done reading all the books from my previous haul. I was meeting Munira this morning at Kino, 'cos she was gonna buy me a book as a belated b'day present. Also, I was lending her a HUGE BAG of books to bring to Qatar to read over her month holiday there. I had a list of books I wanted to check out, but I was disappointed that Kino didn't stock a few of them. So then, Munira just got me the book that I have been DYNG to read called, 'My Last Duchess' by Daisy Goodwin.

LOOK at how pretty the cover is!! I know I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but whatever. The nicer the books look, the more I wanna buy them. Fonts and covers play a HUGE role my decision making for books, okay. They have to look all pretty on my shelf. Anw, this is not your average historical romance, but it is set in 1890s America. It's about a spoilt heiress and her journey as she matures in society. I am sooooooo excited to read this, I CAN'T EVEN contain myself. This is DEFINITELY the next book I'm attacking after I am done with the current one I am reading.

WHICH IS 'Skinny' by Diana Spechler.

I bought this book last week, when I happened to be in town. I just popped by Kino, just to see if there's anything new and stuff. WRONG MOVE. I KNEW I shouldn't step in there unless I have prepared some back up cash for impulsive buying. I saw this book which is about emotional eating and obesity and the connection between food and a person. I decided to just read afew pages to see what it's like. I ended up reading 4 chapters standing up, and so I just got the damn book. My legs were getting numb anyway. I shall do a review once I'm done with it.

Getting back to today, I was really happy with my single purchase at Kino. Munira bought 2 other books there so she will have LOTS to read. That plus the books I lent her (LIKE ALOT). We got to sit down and talk for a while as she gulps down her breakfast, naturally I ate the leftovers that she couldn't finish (I just dun like to waste food, Haha. It's a pet-peeve thing). She had to go off early for work so I was in town, ALONE... AGAIN. I decided to go to Starbucks and redeem my free drink that my SUPER SWEET colleague gave me (along with a Starbucks tumbler) on my last day on the job, yesterday. I got my green tea latte and was walking around, sipping it from my tumbler (I felt so cool and environmentally friendly) and munching on my sun-dried tomato bagel from Bread Society (my FAVE thing EVER). I felt super happy, and for a BRIEF moment, I forgot all about my acne problems and my looming uni major and module decisions. It felt SO good. My good-feeling lead me to wander into Borders, eventhough I'm usually a Kino Girl. They sell books at a cheaper price AND there is a larger variety compared to Borders. But I dunno, I wandered in...

And bought 3 books. JUST LIKE THAT. I dunno what came over me. Borders has this buy 2 get 1 free thing. And I thought it was gonna be those lousy books. 'Cos they weren't books on my actual 'To-Read' list. I usually stick to my list religiously. After all, I researched on those books and know all the reviews they got. BUT I DUNNO. Must be the good feelings, messing up my rational thoughts.

I got 'The Red Queen' by Philippa Gregory.

This was the BOOK that made me wanna enjoy the promotion. I mean, might as well, right? I was planning to sort of read this book anyway. Not really this book, I wanted to read 'The Other Boleyn Girl' by the same author. But I might as well read this anyway. I was hard choosing between 'The Red Queen' and 'The White Queen', which is sort of a parallel story. I chose the red one. 'Cos I generally prefer red. Stupid reason, but as I told you. I left all rational thought outside when I wandered into Borders, against my better judgement.

Then I took FOREVER picking the next two books 'cos I dun wanna waste my money on lousy books. After circling the ENTIRE store, looking at all the books with the '3 for 2' sticker. I found two books that I am genuinely excited to read. They are not my usual cup of tea, but I thought I should try something different and sort of challenge myself. I got 'The Death Instinct' by Jed Rubenfeld.

It's a suspense, detective thriller set in the 1920s. Like Sherlock Holmes on crack. From the synopsis and comments, it looks like it has a very complex plot. Hence, I wanna get crackin' on this book soon.

I also got 'Found Wanting' by Robert Goddard.

This is another thriller... I think. It's some mystery that this dude has to solve and he has to go from London to Northern Europe and look into history of the Romanovs and how his present is completely changed due to the happenings in the past. I dunno WHY I got this to be honest. But I just felt like it's gonna be a twisty mystery that involves the Tsar and Russian history (which I am kinda interested in, thanks to Prince of Dreams). This one I literally just grabbed 'cos it looked like it's a quality book. So, I'm curious to see if my gut feeling was right.

Hmmm, I just realized that ALL the books I bought today has something to do with the past/history or is SET in the past. What is up with me? Am I like obsessed with the past or what? I guess I am just tired of contemporary novels (especially chick lit). I think I've grown tired of them. And ever since I got into Regency Novels, I am turning into a historical fiction freak. I'm hoping to branch into something else the next time I visit Kino/Borders.

I probably will stay AWAY from those places at the moment, until I done going through my haul purchases. 'Cos I KNOW, I will just end up purchasing something that happened to catch my eye while I'm there. It's awful. I should think that after 21 years, I would have some restraint, but apparently, I lack that and logical thinking when it comes to shopping.

I MIGHT only step in there to sign up for their membership/privilege cards. I never really NEEDED these, but I have been BUYING books NONSTOP lately. So I thought I should at least get a discount the next time I buy them. I mean, it is better than always going there and paying full price for everything. I thought my sudden thirst for books would wear off, or is some sort temporary possession of some spirit. But apparently, it's been sticking. And perhaps getting worse, so I SHOULD get a membership card thingy.

ANYWAYS, I AM SO HAPPY with my purchases. I went into town thinking I was gonna just get one book and ended up with my largest book haul yet. GOSH.

OH, and Borders had this autograph signing session by Lauren Kate, who is the author of the 'Fallen' series. She's a new york times bestseller author! But there weren't many people there as I think the event wasn't advertised well. I mean, I didn't know of it. I just happened to be there. And I thought I should just buy her book and get her autograph at the same time. I felt kinda bad for her and it's a win-win situation. BUT THEN, I sort of read the synopsis and I managed to find an open book... Duuuddeee. I couldn't waste my money on that. It's just NOT my thing. It's a young adult novel about fallen angels and magical creatures, I dunno. Something twilight-y. It just gave a SUPER twilight vibe. And the dialogue and everything... I was like, Sorry, Girl. I ain't buying this, eventhough I wanna help you out and get your autograph and stuff. I am allergic to twilight-vibes.

I was gonna talk about my last day of work and other schtuff, but my head is killing me. I'm gonna just grab some green tea, read afew pages and knock out.

Prince of Dreams.

2011-07-07T21:49:00.000+08:00

Prince of Dreams by Lisa Kleypas

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rating: 4 stars

I am so immensely relieved that what I had predicted about the Stokehurst series was true. As it turns out the previous book (Midnight Angel) was just an appetizer to this lovely main course. I didn't really enjoy Midnight Angel as much as I enjoyed Prince of Dreams which had all the elements to make a good historical romance read. Prince Nikki is a great hero with lots of secrets that are fun to discover as they are slowly unveiled. Also, I love the fact that he did not shy from his feelings and was man enough to own up to it. Despite his flaws, I was seriously falling head over heels for this guy, and that is essential in a romantic novel such as this. The female protagonist is lovable as well. Very head strong and stubborn. Kinda reminds me of Beatrix Hathaway (one of Lisa Kleypas's other series) 'cos she's so into animals and is a social outcast. My only pet-peeve is how cynical she is about compliments and how she seems to be unable to ACCEPT that she's pretty. I mean, geez, gurl. How many times do I have to hear her blow off compliments.

The story mostly centers around Nikki's story which is strangely interlinked with his ancestor's story. And how they were somehow reincarnated and fell in love again in another lifetime. Showing how Emelia and Nikolai somehow managed to be together in the end, only after afew hundred years of being apart. It's really romantic. This is NOT for the once-in-a-while chick lit or romantic comedy type of readers. These are for those hardcore romantics. And because I am one, this book was very enjoyable from the start to the end. There was an easy flow and I can't help but seriously root for Nikki to get the happy ending that he deserved after such a horrendous childhood in Russia.

Lisa Kleypas did not disappoint in this story that had a mixture of old english and old russia, which I thought was a breath of fresh air to the stuffy english atmosphere that most historical romance novels are set in. The story is paced well (although a bit draggy at the parts where they were describing Nikolai's story) and really great characters. Definitely a keeper!

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Hideous.

2011-07-06T19:42:00.000+08:00

It has been a while since I've updated this. Not because I've been so ridiculously busy being a social butterfly and being the belle of the ball. Quite the opposite really. I've been doing lots of lonely shopping trips where I end up spending an insane amount of money at one go. Also, I am FAR FAR FAR from being the 'belle' of anything 'cos I have been transforming. Although perhaps I shouldn't use the word 'transform', more like 'deform'. Shouldn't it be that as you grow older, you would blossom and become a better looking person? I feel like I'm going the opposite direction. The wrong way, like Benjamin Button. As I grow older I my skin gets worse and worse and I battle with acne and breakouts. Not to mention my body is ridiculously bloating in a horrendous fashion. I literally wanna puke everytime I glance at myself in the mirror. I have NEVER had acne when I was a teen. I mean, sure, I get a occasional pimple. And my skin isn't all that great with blackheads and stuff. But I dun really have to take care of it and it stays relatively clear. Of course, as I am older I pay more attention to it. And the next thing I know, I am facing ACNE. Like wth? Who faces acne when they are adults?? And not when they are teens? IT CREEPS ME OUT.

But to say that I'm traumatised by the recent turn of events and the recent changes in my body is not an exaggeration at all. I was not exactly so happy with my body and face in the first place. So for this to happen… It made me realize that I should've been more grateful back then and at the same time, it made my self-loathing increase exponantially. I cannot BEGIN to describe my horror at the state of my skin. I feel like bursting into tears everyday and now, I am past that point. I am just so close to giving up. I feel like nothing is working. So, today, I decided I would try again. My acne reduced a little in June and now it's BACK with a vengeance and I can't deal with it. I decided okay, I will just switch up my skincare routine. Today, I spent a BOMB. LIKE A HUGE FUCKING BOMB on the Vichy Normaderm skincare line. I was debating between that and Clinique. Clinique had such extremes in reviews. And I didn't like the smell or consistency of their moisturisers and toners. Which I know is a rather dumb thing to put into consideration. I mean, who cares about the smell and feel if it WORKS? But whatever, I decided to buy the Vichy line first.

I went to a specialist booth so that they can do the skin test thingy on me. Upon which I realized that I have the worst skin type in the world. Very oily, acne-prone and dehydrated skin. WHUT? It's like the 'worst of both worlds'. I'm just glad I'm not sensitive as well. 'Cos that would just suck. So, I have deformed from normal/combination skin to oily, acne-prone/dehydrated skin. GREAT. And since there are so many skincare lines that target acne-prone skin, it's hard to match it with dehydrated skin. Thankfully, Vichy is one that supposedly targets acne without drying out the skin. We'll see how it goes. I had such a difficult time finally deciding to go with Vichy. There were so many other brands out there. I didn't know whether to get ProActiv, La Roche-posay or splurge on Dermalogica or Murad or Mario Badescu… Omg, my head was literally spinning. And it didn't help that most of my friends have great skin. I couldn't ask for their opinions 'cos their skin is normal and nowhere near as bad as mine. The only other person I know with Acne got hers treated at a dermatologist. And I ain't got that kind of money for consultations AND prescriptive skincare. I wish I could just get Roaccutane and be rid of of acne once and for all. I would rather have dry skin than oily, acne-prone skin any day. But well, sadly, I dun have the money. If all else fails though… I would just save enough money to go to a derm and get pills.

Last time, my relatively bad skin was still conceal-able. I could give the illusion of good skin, at the very least. But now, it is SO BAD, like SO HORRENDOUSLY bad (I'm talking 'before' pics at skincare ads bad) that even make-up cannot conceal it anymore. Not even with thick liquid foundation and good quality concealer and foundation powder. I feel like I cannot show my face to the world. Not that I'm saying that ppl care. That the world revolves around my face. I'm just saying that I can't look at ppl straight on, knowing that they would be distracted by all the shit that is going on in my face. This is not just that ONE zit girls tend to get at that time of the month. THIS IS ACNE. Something I never had to deal with even when I was a kid. Not to mention I've already accumulated some acne scarring from my previous batch of breakouts. 'Cos by now they are constant. I get breakout batch after breakout batch, without a pause or any period where my skin is clear. I am not kidding.

So there we go, this is what I've been battling these few days. I wasn't gonna blog about it. But it's impossible to hide my skin. So might as well, just address my issue here. I can't believe that on my 21st year, I have to start my battle with acne. When I never needed to when I was a hormonal teen. It honestly just baffles me. I have to apologize if I may go MIA or disappear from gatherings and stuff. But I honestly dun think I am fit for public. I feel way too self-conscious. The only reason I go out is for work and it's not like I have a choice there. I am truly, truly, truly extremely hideous at the moment. Like just plain ugly. Gaining weight, disgusting skin… it's the stuff out of horror movies.

Whatever little self-esteem I had, it just evaporates into nothingness the moment I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror and am reminded of how ugly I have become. Oh, God. What happened?

Where She Went.

2011-06-30T23:50:00.000+08:00

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

rating: 2.5 stars

Maybe it's 'cos I read 'If I stay' and totally underestimated it, but I felt like I over-estimated this one. And it fell below my expectations. Which was a bummer as I would have loved to love this book as much as the previous one. After all, it picks up from where the last book left of and even better, from Adam's point-of-view. So I though I would like the new perspective on Mia's tragic life. But now I wished that I hadn't gone inside Adam's mind, 'cos it totally changed my opinion of him. And not for the better.

The plot picks from up from the last book but fast forward a few years and things have changed drastically. Mia and Adam were no longer together, eventhough both of them are becoming really successful and making their mark in the music world. Adam's band has gone to become grammy winning and attained commercial success but Adam is emotionally and mentally a failure. He TOTALLY changed. I don't even recognise the person I'm reading about. He's dependent on drugs and cigarettes and sex to somehow forget Mia and fill in some sort of void that even he can't explain in his life. And all he does throughout the book is MOAN and COMPLAIN and EMO all the freakin' time. I swear it was SO WHINY. I could barely stand it. He was drowning himself in so much self-pity that I couldn't add any sympathy to whatever it is that he is experiencing. As in, I get it that he's in alot of pain. But I don't need a reminder every 3 sentences. The pace was really slow as well. Nothing much happens. Most of it was just flashbacks and explanations as to why Adam was spiraling into depression when in reality, he was doing this to himself. It was Mia's family who died, it was Mia who had to go through all that surgery and therapy and shit and HE is the one WALLOWING in depression?! I'm like ARE YOU SERIOUS, BOY?

There were some sweet moments and certain images were good. But it left me feeling rather empty. Devoid of emotions,unlike the first book that snuck up and totally tore at my heart strings. This book explored distances between people, love, grief, anger and letting go. But instead of allowing the readers to experience it, I felt that these issues were merely described and reported. Not allowing me to connect with Adam and from an uninvolved reader, Adam's whining got really annoying. The ending was rather sweet although it was totally not satisfying at all. I was like WTH?! That's IT?!! We were left hanging again. But not in the mysterious, heart-stopping way as the last book. Instead, it was ended in a rather lame and uncertain way. There is no indication of their future together. Plus, I honestly, don't think that one night was enough for them to face the problems and the walls that are between Adam and Mia. They were apart for 3 years and then after one magical POOF!! All is forgotten and they somehow found the courage to get together and start the relationship afresh?! Pretty unbelievable.

On the lighter note, Adam's thoughts could be what celebs are thinking and his problems could be what they are suffering from as well. Being in the public eye and everything, but maybe it's just me, but I find it hard to sympathize with a rock star who has everything. So I felt that the only good thing was that he traded his stardom for Mia. 'Cos you can't have everything in life and it is an indication of the pure and sincere love I caught a glimpse of in the previous book.

Overall, the last book was better. I was deeply underwhelmed by this sequel. But perhaps my expectations were too lofty.

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Before I fall.

2011-06-30T23:42:00.001+08:00

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

rating: 4 stars

I just finished reading this book and it left me feeling extremely disoriented and sort of grasping at the random thoughts that flooded my brain after flipping the last page of the epilogue. There was no real closing or finality to it. No huge questions were answered either. Like why she was reliving the last day of her life over and over again. Is she really dead? Is she in a limbo between life and death? Was there some sort of mission she had to fulfill? It left me screaming, wanting to know what the hell is going on here.

But I guess that's the beauty of this book and why I think it surpasses the usual Young Adult genre that we are all so used to. First and foremost, it is beautifully written. There are many phrases and paragraphs in this book that I read again and again 'cos they took my breath away. There was so much depth to it. Secondly, it reflects so clearly the horrors of reality and the problems people face, regardless of age.

I do admit that I had a hard time getting through the first half of the book. Not because it was badly written or anyth, it was simply 'cos I hated the Sam (the protagonist). GOD, I HATED HER so much and I hated her and all her horrible friends and all the awful things she did. So much so that I felt as if I couldn't care LESS what happened to her or whether she died. Thinking, the world is better off without another superficial bitch. HOWEVER, if you do stick it out till the end, I promise you, it will be worth it.

Despite her flaws, I can somehow connect with her through her journey and I can see how she changed and how she is trying to set things right again. As she changes, my opinion of her changed as well. This book will leave you thinking about a million things all at once. At least for me it did. How one small act can change the course of an entire day and that day can change the course of your entire future. Not just your future but the people around you as well and how we are all like cosmic particles that bounces of one another, feeding off of each other's energy. Our life not entirely dependent on our decisions but other's as well. And then I think, how lucky Sam was to have at least Kent, who loved her for who she was and how sad it was that she only realized it when it was too late. And at the end, I question if those moments she had with Kent, those meaningful moments where they finally kissed. I wondered if they even happened in reality. How sad would it be if her moment of true love was a fabrication of this space between life and death.

I highly recommend this. It helps you set your life into perspective. And left me pondering for hours.

View all my reviews

Whiny emo.

2011-06-27T23:42:00.001+08:00

So once again, I spent the weekend doing nothing but processing oxygen into carbon dioxide and turning food into waste (more like wasted energy and fats). Not that I'm complaining. However, Jenny is back from UK! So I will be meeting up with her soon. THUS, I at least have SOMETHING to look forward to this week. As pathetic as that sounds. I am in desperate need of a friend, and I'm really glad one has arrived, ready to spend time with me.

I finished that book 'Before I fall' over the weekend and it seriously dealt some damage to my emotional stability towards the end of my weekend. I was so distraught aft reading it, I couldn't even pick up the next book 'cos I was so preoccupied with thoughts. I couldn't even do anything else except emo around at tumblr, which is the only place acceptable to be emo, without looking TOO poser. Haha! The last chapter and the epilogue hit me HARD and I was literally breathless and I could FEEL my throat choke up and tighten. THAT is a BAD SIGN. 'Cos that means I'm not just gonna tear up, but I'm gonna freakin' bawl my eyes out. Usually when I tear up a little, my nose would just feel tingly and my eyes would water abit. Nothing too drastic. But when I feel my throat tighten or choke up without warning and my eyes start to prickle, THAT IS IT, MAN. Bring on the waterworks. And I cannot control this one. Not like tears that I can hold back. Then my breathing becomes all weird as well. THANK GOD, I was at home. STUPID BOOK. Screwed up my Sunday. UGH.

First of all, I dun even LIKE the main character. I DETESTED her to the core, I dunno why I even feel sorry for her at the end. And then the stupid phrases in the epilogue somehow struck a cord in my heart and made me feel SO EXTREMELY sad. And made me think about my life and how much I would change of my life if I could. DAMN YOU BOOK! You made me REFLECT on my life! Like some psychotherapy session, only without the pills afterward to make me feel better about everything at the end of it.

It was a really good book though. Really hard to get through, but once you do, the words just stick to you like GLUE. Can't shake those things off. It's kinda depressing.

I dun have much going on. So I regret to continue blabbing about books again. I swear, no one reads my blog anw. As in, no one PROPERLY reads it. So I guess, it's okay that I indulge in the only thing that is filling up my life right now. I'm on to my next one. Actually, I'm kinda halfway through it already. It's the sequel to 'If I stay', titled 'Where she Went' by Gayle Forman. It's from the boyfriend, Adam's point-of-view. And I thought that would be a good thing. BOY, am I wrong. Adam CHANGED totally. Like Stephen did in 'Until You', which made me kinda hate that book. Adam changed from being a passionate, romantic, understanding boyfriend to this WHINY, prissy, WHINY, WHINY, self-pitying, self-loathing, pill-popping, WHINY rock star. He whines & complains in melodramatic fashion, being SO effing emo. It's an emo that even I cannot stand. And I am a little bit of a emo myself sometimes. So that is just saying smth. I caught myself rolling my eyes billions of times at him. This dude, seriously needs to grab a hold of his balls before it shrinks down to NOTHING. He's really pathetic, in an unsympathetic way. I can't feel sorry for him 'cos he keeps feeling sorry for himself. It's super annoying. But as usual, I'm sticking it out. I'm already halfway anyway. So might as well.

Who knows? He might change or the ending might be really good. The book got great reviews anyway, so it's worth finding out.

Book Haul.

2011-06-25T23:52:00.000+08:00

I have finally, finally finished that book 'Until You'. Thankfully I didn't have to lose so much sleep 'cos it finished a lot quicker than expected. Mostly 'cos the ending was SO rushed, it totally left me unsatisfied after the torture they had put me through at the first part of the novel. I mean seriously, Stephen's "apology" was a few short pages and it was so insincere and pretentious that I was hoping against all hope that Sherry would just flung the apology back to his face. For all the pain that he had caused her and his stupid, smart-ass attitude, he should be no less than groveling on the floor and begging for forgiveness before Sherry can even CONSIDER giving him a second chance. He made Nicholas LIE to her to get her to meet him and then purposely met at a church, with a vicar on standby. He already decided for himself that they were to marry. And just 'cos HE decided it, he ASSUMED that she will just fling herself into his arms after a few murmurs of apologies and sweet nothings so had the vicar on standby to seal the deal. HONESTLY, what kind of pompous apology is that?! He barely even apologized. Actually, he just proposed to her. That's it. That was the big apology and reconciliation. I felt so cheated. And then at the end, Sherry's family just appeared out of nowhere after being absent almost 90% of the novel. Which is ridiculous as Sherry and her dad had a very close relationship. I'm sure he would've played an active role in the plot, if he weren't "thrown in jail" for gambling. LIKE WTF?! It's as if Judith completely forgot about them and just THREW them in at the end to wrap up the story quickly.

Whatever it is. I am GLAD it is over. SO that I focus on my new books.

OH BY THE WAY, GUESS WHAT?! I FOUND RETRIBUTION!! As in the book by Jilliane Hoffman. MY FAVE thriller of all time. I have been searching for it for very long. But I can never seem to find it. ANYWHERE. Not even KINO. And I thought that I would have to resort to ordering it online, which is such a hassle. So I kept putting it off. UNTIL TODAY. By some miracle, I was browsing through 'Page One' Bookstore at Vivo City. I've been there tons of times as it was near my workplace. But it never occurred to me to search for that book there. I was always buying smth else. Then For some reason, I just had this gut instinct and strange inclination to go to 'Page One' specifically to check out Jilliane's books. And coincidentally on that day, they started the 20% off members thing that they had discontinued for quite some time. THEN VOILA!! I FOUND IT!! One rather tattered looking copy hidden in an inconspicuous corner. ONE copy left. I practically SCREAMED in joy. Then I rushed to get my friend's member card so I even managed to get it at 20% OFF!! WHAT LUCK!! It was so weird but I just went there 'cos I felt like it to check and there you go. It must've been God' will or smth. Some divine force was behind my reunion with this book. That is the ONLY plausible reason.

The point is, I GOT IT!! I'm gonna re-read it and share it will all my friends so that they won't miss out on such an awesome story. That's the point of owning books, so that you can share the love.

Today, I wore my hair in curly pigtails to work with my blue combat boots 'cos it's casual Friday. So I can be myself. Everyone stared at me all weird. I guess that's expected, 'cos no one in the right mind would dress this way to work, eve if it is casual Friday. Which apparently doesn't exist to some ppl. Casual Friday is my fave day of the week! =D I think I look like a teen in my outfit today, especially with my hair in two low ponytails and less make-up. I thought the security was gonna stop me. But I think they are used to me already with my outlandish way of dressing. LOL!

ALSO, I had a huge ass book haul today. I bought 3 books in total (like a BOSS. I NEVER buy so many at once.) and I'll be getting another book as a present from Munira, once she gets her pay. LOL. I felt kinda guilty but kinda exhilarated as well. I dunno how to explain. I get this HUGE RUSH when I look at the books and there's this huge explosion where in my head I'm just chanting, "OMG I WANNA GET THIS! I MUST GET THIS! I WOULD SO READ THIS". But there's just soooo many. I usually have to take hours to cut-down and then finally decide on one. But today, I decided I should just buy what I want. I still had to cut down though. LOL! There was way too many. But I definitely bought more than usual. I felt so cool at the counter. So here's all I got today:

This is Jilliane Hoffman's 'Retribution'. I'm gonna read this only when I'm done with the rest in my reading list. LOL, which would take some time seeing as I have a long-ass reading list. But I've already read this before. I just bought it 'cos it was wayyyyy too good to not have. AND I've been searching for this book since forever. SO YAYY!! I am so glad I finally got it. =D

Then I got 'Prince of Dreams' by Lisa Kleypas. You all know how much I love her books. This is one of her older series in the 1990s. I already have the first book in the series, this is the second one. I am REALLY EXCITED to read this 'cos it's thicker than the previous book and I am interested in the continuation. It's a historical romance genre book which I was SET on getting, the moment I was thinking what to get from KINO. I HAVE to get at least one book from this genre, man. It wouldn't be right if I didn't.

FINALLY, I got 'Before I fall' by Lauren Oliver. This was the last book on the shelf as well. I'm really glad I got it 'cos it's rather difficult to find as well. This had RAVE reviews. I was recommended to try this one since I liked 'If I stay' so much. Apparently it's also a young adult novel. Which bums me out, as I dun really like teen books. But I would keep an open mind for this one. As I heard it was written well AND the story is about living the last day of your life over and over again. Sounds so interesting, I'm gonna read this one FIRST!

I'm REALLY HAPPY at my haul 'cos I realized I got one from every genre of books that I like! I got a thriller, romance and slice-of-life young adult genre. So I didn't just waste it on only one genre. And opted for variety, although it was a subconscious decision.

Until CRAZY.

2011-06-23T19:12:00.002+08:00

UGH. WHY JUDITH, WHY?!! WHY must there ALWAYS be a STUPID, gargantuan misunderstanding between the two characters?! And WHY must the two leads be SO MIND-NUMBINGLY STUPID that they cannot avoid this situation at all?! THIS BOOK ('Until You' by Judith McNaught) is making me all sorts of emotionally distraught and frustrated and annoyed. It's exactly like 'Whitney, My Love' but like even more frustrating 'cos these people are SO STUPID. UGH. Plus Whitney and Clayton is there to ADD to the stupidity. UUGGGHHHH!!

I CANNOT READ ANYMORE… For now.

I need a BREAK to gather my wits 'cos this book is picking at my patience like a needle to a scab. I knew this moment was coming when Sherry (the female lead) was gonna regain her memory. I knew there would be some major ass conflict. 'Cos that is the only thing that can happen. So I have foreseen this. But what I could not foresee was the STUPID, BASELESS conclusions that everyone immediately jumps into. They immediately think the worst in each other and they make the stupidest decisions like RUNNING AWAY instead of explaining. I'm like, "GURL, what the hell you go running away for?!!! GO SIT your ass down and EXPLAIN to him that you HAD NO IDEA you were not Charise." And then she went to Nicholas Duville's (this hot French dude that I loved since the previous book in the series. He's the ONLY silver lining to this story and the only character I like) instead and I was screaming, "YOU STUPID GIRL!! UGHHHHH!! Now he'll just think you're a SLUT. WHY ARE YOU ACTING LIKE THE GUILTY ONE?! HE LIED TO YOU TOO!!!" and then the LAST STRAW was this entire chapter devoted on how Stephen (the male lead) thought the ABSOLUTE worst in Sherry and thought her to be a deceiver and a schemer when like a freakin' chapter ago he was professing his undying love to her and proposing. YOU BAFOONIC, MORONIC, IDIOTIC, FICKLE MAN!!! How am I supposed to ever believe in their 'love' when they doing this shit to each other?!

THEN when Sherry wants to finally face him. He brings TWO GIRLS dangling on his arms, to rub it in her face. I was like "No, no. nooooooo, you didn't just do that, boy!!"

And then Whitney and Clayton had to join the 'Stupid Party' by blaming Sherry too. I was thinking furiously to myself, Why are these idiots still here? They are like presidents of the Stupid Party, I guess they cannot be outdone by Sherry and Stephen. I cannot begin to describe my reluctance to read the next few chapters before they reconcile. It would be nothing but absolute TORTURE. I am so tempted to just SKIP that entire chunk and go straight to the end where I know they will somehow be together. And then there're these irrational and unnecessary flashbacks of Whitney and Clayton's story, along with conversations between the two. I DUN NEED A REMINDER OF THEIR STUPIDITY.

Dun get me wrong, I really do like this book. As in the first half of it. But I simply dun have the patience for the gigantic misunderstandings and false presumptions and assumptions that ALL the Westmoreland Series books have. THANKFULLY, 'Kingdom of Heaven' was not like that. And only the girl was stupid (especially when she betrayed her husband by siding with the enemy), but at least Royce Westmoreland was a proper character who THINKS. But Clayton and Stephen Westmoreland are idiots. Like I would NEVER have married them or even FORGIVEN them if I were the female character. But then again, the females are equally stupid so I guess they deserve each other.

I realize I sound like I despise these books. It's just that I'm at a very emotional moment right now. So, I have to vent out all my frustrations somewhere. And no one else is here to listen to my ramblings. Hence I just type them out. BUT HONESTLY, they are just getting on my nerves. I can sooooo predict that Stephen's probably gonna be drowning himself in alcohol and sleeping around, maybe he'll go back to Helene (the courtesan) and be the most emo Earl around. Moping in self-pity. I SWEAR I really dun like Stephen! Ever since the start of the book where he was all arrogant and thinking SO LOWLY of women ('cos he was betrayed by one but WHATEVER. His attitude stinks) and then I was half driven to madness at his long ass whiny self-loathing, where he just arrogantly assumed that everything was his fault. I mean, I have NEVER read about a more whiny, arrogant, cynical and frankly, stupid Hero EVER. I really liked Stephen in the previous book 'cos he was so charming and easy-going. Now, he turned into another 'Clayton'. WORSE. Version 2.0, upgrade in stupidity, bad decisions and horniness.

I have to get this book done by TONIGHT. I will force myself to read it all the way to the end. 'Cos tmr, Munira and I will be having a Book Haul at Kino and we're gonna be buying new books. I wanna clear some off my to-read list before I start on a new one. I wanna start on my new book this weekend. I'm really excited! I always get super excited when I buy new products or books. It just makes me feel so happy. Right now, I just have to get through this one and hope that my eyes are still in their sockets after I'm done, 'cos I probably would be rolling them non-stop.

LOL.

2011-06-22T20:09:00.002+08:00

Today, I think I read the most hilarious description ever written. I literally laughed and had to clamp my hand over my mouth when I read it and was shocked that such a phrase escaped the eyes of the publisher. It was in Judith McNaught's book 'Until You'. This isn't saying that she's a bad writer. I mean, it's not like Stephanie Meyer-bad. It's just the super exaggerated sort of weird and awkward phrasing. It must be a freak accident 'cos she usually write beautifully. In describing a tender moment between the two protagonists, he looked at her with "a smile so warm it could have baked bread".

........
.....
...HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

IT COULD HAVE BAKED BREAD!! WTF?!! OMG, you have no idea how much my cheeks hurt from repressing my grin when I read this. IT IS SO FUNNY. Who in the hell would say that?! Is that even a compliment?! HAHA! I kept imagining a bakery with his bread-baking smile. LOLOLOL!!! I can't get over this line seriously! I wrote it on my post-it pad, so that whenever I need a laugh, I just look over and TADA. I too would have a smile that can bake bread… HAHAHAHA!

YOU KNOW, it's almost as bad as one of those super BAD pick-up lines. Like "You're so hot, I'm melting" or in this case, "With a body so hot, you could fry an egg." LOLOLOLOL!! WHO in the hell would say this shit?! HAHA!

Oh, LORD,

2011-06-21T19:55:00.001+08:00

Seriously, I have to stop reading these Historical Romance novels. They are messing with my brain in a very alarming manner and I think I might be going slightly insane 'cos of them.

FIRST of all, they tend to make me daydream and do tons of wishful thinking. Which is so not me. I tend to only do wishful thinking when I'm with Diy and we discuss our future and 'What ifs'. But now, I catch myself staring into space when I'm listening to sappy songs (that I've started to listen to more often) and dreaming about stupid things that I am too embarrassed to even type out 'cos they are SO STUPID. It's moronic. GOSH, these books are transforming me into some sort of sappy romantic SAP. I have to literally SNAP myself out of it and get my head screwed on straight. I mean, not like a dashing tall and muscular knight/earl/duke will come GALLOPING on a white horse and sweep me off my mrt seat, just 'cos I am dreaming about it.

SECONDLY, I've started to speak all of weird. As you all know, I have a fondness for the regency era. Constantly wishing I was born then, eventhough it only rocks to be born then if I am part of the Noble Ton or the Quality (which is just a term referring to the posh ppl with blue blood). For the peasants and servants, especially women, it would suck to be born in that era. And c'mon, NO INTERNET and NO BUBBLE TEA and NO MATCHA GREEN TEA and NO VIDEO GAMES and NO MAKE-UP… That would be a dark and brutal world. Not to mention UGLY world. But still, I just love all the other aspects of it. So now, I'm even starting to speak like them. Usually I do it in my head, or when I'm talking to myself. But it's been spilling into my normal speech in the most worrisome way. Like my friend told me that she managed to convince her parents into letting her go abroad with her friends and my immediate reaction was, "My heartiest felicitations!!". I ACTUALLY TYPED that out on my phone and sent it to her without thinking. But you know, friends dun judge other friends so she just replied with 'LOL'. You know, a 21st century term. I was amazed at myself. Who in the HELL SAYS THAT?! FELICITATIONS!! UGH. ALSO, like how last time I used to bow ALL the time thanks to all the Japanese manga and anime I was reading, now I've started to CURTSY. Especially when I wear my swishy skirts to work. I accidentally curtsied at the dude who held open the door for me to go into the office. It wasn't like a FULL-BLOWN, your-royal-highness sort of curtsy. But I did bob down while holding my skirt while saying "Thank you". The dude was ANGMOH some more. I was thinking, GREAT, HANAN, GREAT. You have just INSULTED his culture and tradition and probably disrespected his ancestors and maybe even Abraham Lincoln. Not to mention the Queen of England. GREAT JOB, DOUCHEBAG. So I just rushed off, but he was smiling so I assumed that he wasn't too insulted. I abstain from wearing swishy skirts now. Just in case I get the compulsion to curtsy again.

THIRDLY, I've been drinking RIDICULOUS amounts of tea. Not like bubble tea or bottled tea, but hot tea. I keep making tea for myself and drinking them all the time. Nothing wrong with that. But too much tea is still not that healthy for my body. Especially since I drink them with enough sugar to kill a diabetic and to send a normal human into a sugar coma. I can't help it that I like my tea to be sweet. Plus I hate condense milk, so I just used sugar. AND TONS OF IT. I tried to lessen it but I just ended up forcing myself to drink it, not enjoying it at all. Which defeats the purpose of drinking tea in the first place. Along with the tea, I've been eating lots of sweet pastries and brownies. =( WHICH IS BAD 'COS I am gaining weight. I'm supposed to cut down not eat MORE. But they are always having tea and tarts and scones in the books. I always find myself craving for those things, thanks to my insufferable sweet tooth. HOW do those women keep thin after eating all that tea and cakes?! Oh, right! THEY ARE FICTIONAL CHARACTERS!! UGHHHH. So annoyed with myself, right now.

Other things as well like me going, "OH MY LORD" instead of OMFG, as I usually would. (But that is also Tobuscus and Assassin's Creed's influence. HAHA) Also, lately I've been wearing less and less makeup and pushing my hair out of my face (even revealing my forehead. WHICH I NEVER EVER DO in public) and tying in braids. But I can't seem to stop myself. I KNOW, I dun look good in it. But I dun seem to care and I keep going for the 'natural' vibe 'cos the characters I've been reading, dun wear any make-up and like wearing their hair in braids and keep their bangs off their faces. BUT the difference is that they were in a different era so they didn’t have a choice, and they are natural gorgeous and flawless and THEY DON'T EXIST. GOODNESS.

I am literally giving myself a reality check so that I dun get so caught up the whole regency thing. Next thing you know I'll be wearing corsets (and I do own some. LOL) and lace gloves. I think part of the reason I've been talking to myself and blogging, almost everyday is And losing myself in these stories 'cos I dun have anyone to talk to. No one to gab and gossip and chat with. No one online, no one by text either 'cos everyone is all just way too busy to spare me any really. So I have to resort to turning to books and practically immersing myself in them. Perhaps a tad bit too immersed, seeing as I have started acting like someone from the 1800s. I tell myself IT'S OKAY. You know why? 'Cos 25th June is coming and when Jen arrives, I'll have someone to talk to. FINALLY. 'Cos that's what we always do. Now that she's coming back, the HUGE gaping hole that she left when she was gone would be filled again. =) I honestly CANNOT WAIT. She'll be spending her weekend with her family, but at least I can text her. HOPEFULLY, if all goes well, she and I can have a sleepover next week. =)

Then goodbye lonely Bookworm, hello social butterfly!

If I stay.

2011-06-20T22:03:00.001+08:00

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

rating: 4 stars

Okay, to be honest, eventhough this book had such rave reviews. Some ppl either love it or hate it. Others are moved by it, found it kinda slow. I can't decide which group I belong to 'cos I'm abit of both. I'm not much of a Young Adult fiction reader, simply 'cos it's getting hard for me to relate to the laments of teens. If not written properly, they tend to sound whiny. Thankfully, this book is not like that. In fact, it is written in a very comfortable and rather beautiful style, despite its casual tone. It reflects the youthfulness of Mia without making her sound too naive. The story is basically about her and her family getting into a car accident. She is somehow alive but in critical condition and her 'spirit' or 'soul' is hovering between life and death and she reviews her life and whether she wants to stay or not, essentially. Thinking who left her and who's left behind. She has to make her decision.

The first half of the book was rather slow for me. Not in its pace but, in its impact. This book CREEPS up on you and its effects only come at the very end and lingers after you turn the last pages. It's like you only get the kick at the end when you realize what she'll go through if she stayed alive. At first, it was hard for me to empathize with her 'cos her life before the accident was so perfect and filled with happiness. Like almost too good to be true with the perfect friends, boyfriend and family. She's even talented. Then I realized, Forman had to paint a lovely picture, in order to show how badly this picture will be ruined. 'cos these happy memories are all she has left and this would contrast so greatly with the rough future ahead if she did choose to live. The transitions of those left behind, how they forced themselves to 'let go' was SO beautiful. I freakin' teared up at the end. You realize that maybe she should stay, just for them.

The only weird part I thought was the sex scene which was filled with music-related euphemisms (this whole book is very very music oriented. A theme that is present throughout the story) that was kinda weird. It was almost funny. I know of the symbolism that was presented in that scene, I just felt it was awkwardly phrased. Otherwise, the rest of the book was very well-written.

This book really caught me by surprise. I didn't expect to devour it so quickly and to be so emotionally affected at the end. It was like a blind suckerpunch. I never saw it coming. But it really made me think alot about my life, whether if faced with the same situation, would I have stayed? It exceeded my expectations. A good novel for all ages. =)

View all my reviews

Lazy Saturday.

2011-06-18T23:16:00.005+08:00

HELLO! EVERYONE! =D

I had a wonderful day at home, with the rain outside making me lazy to do anything (except eat non-stop and drink unhealthy amounts of tea). So I had a really 'unproductive' day. No shopping, no even looking through things that I wanna buy on the internet. although, I already have a mental list in my head.

It's like my shopping list NEVER ever decreases. Once I've bought smth, another thing pops up. Which explains why I am perpetually broke. I brought it upon myself, really. Right now, I am thinking of getting a make-up brush set. 'Cos I am INSPIRED by Lisa Edridge, who is a professional make-up artist for the star and for leading magazines like Vogue and stuff. But she does youtube videos and tutorials. And seriously, this Lady is a make-up wizard. Right in front of my eyes, she turned a splotchy acne-suffering teen into a FLAWLESS, radiant photo-ready star. It was AMAZING. I wish I could do that to myself. I thought I was good at make-up. Apparently, I am absolute rubbish. So I am learning tons from her. For all my girlfriends, you HAVE to check her out. She is so amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/user/lisaeldridgedotcom

Okay, so now I am bent on getting myself a proper make-up brush kit and expanding my make-up collection. Which is pretty dismal. I have lots of lipsticks... But that's about it. And blushers?? Though I dun really know to use it. I dun even have a proper foundation or concealer or proper eyeshadow palettes I can use. I DO WEAR alot of make-up. Despite what it might seem. I never leave the house without make-up on. Like EVER. 'Cos my face without is just MONSTROUS. People might stone me to death, thinking I'm a creature from Aliens Vs Predators. But it's mostly just eyeliner and mascara and powder. I need the WORKS. Keetha has a gigantic make-up collection. I WAS SO ENVIOUS. Like OMG. HUGE collection of everything. It's a wonder why someone who wears SO LITTLE makeup could have SO much lying around at her place. I was shocked myself.

Besides that I have a few more books in mind to buy. I'm thinking of buying them all at once. In one huge Kinokuniya Haul. I bought a book to read over the weekend (which was what I was doing the entire day) and I had such a hard time picking out what to buy. It was like choosing tops and then realizing that they all look good on you, so you wanna buy all of them, but you only have enough for one. It's the most frustrating situation ever. And then you see these bitches with armloads of clothes (or books, in this case) at the counter, ready to pay without even blinking an eye at the financial consequences of their actions and you're like...

Well, that was the look I gave them. Especially this lady with a BASKET filled to the brim with books. I was like, DUDE. Do you live in some alternate dimension where you have ALL the time in the world to read THAT much?! But I know that was just me being bitter and jealous 'cos I would NEVER be capable of doing that. At most I'll buy like THREE at one go. But I hardly do more than that. This friday, however, I'm hoping to meet up with Munira and we can go Book Shopping together!!

YAY!! I have FOUND someone who doesn't get bored and waits around for me when I'm at the bookstore. All my other friends get so bored when I'm there. SO I tend to go myself. Which isn't nearly as fun. 'Cos it's the same principle as shopping. You would need a second opinion and stuff. What if you buy the wrong book and it's a total waste of your money?! I have made some BAD shopping decisions, man. And 99% of it was done ALONE. Emotional Shopping (done alone) is THE DEVIL.

I finished the J.D Robb book today. The first of her 'In Death' series titled "Naked in Death". I went in there totally blind 'cos Cherlyn recommended it. So I assumed it was good. And at first I was like, "WHAT SHIT IS THIS?!", practically GAGGING at the futuristic setting with their passcodes and autochef and weird as things like lasers and stuff. DUN JUDGE ME. I like sci-fi stuff as much as the next person. I mean, heelloooo~ Star Wars fan here. But I just find the whole setting kinda childish. And I never really liked reading books about the future. I prefered to watch 'cos then the graphics would leave me at awe. But it was bearable. After a while I got used to it, and I focused on the characters and plot and the mystery. WHICH BY THE WAY, was not much of a mystery at all. Like a quarter of the way though, after some very non-subtle clues, I had already decided in my brain that the murderer had an accomplice and I ALREADY KNEW who the two killers were. I was like this is so DUH! I just read on to see if I'm right.

And I was.

HAHA! I hate being right when it comes to mysteries and thriller. It just takes the twist-edge out of the entire story. And then there is no surprise element. The only thing that got me emotional was the whole incest thing. That creeped me out 'cos it's so gross. But the entire plot was so predictable. At least for me it was. Maybe 'cos I've read so many, and since this one wasn't such a complicated read, it was easy for me to guess. I was quite disappointed though. AND the female lead is SO ANNOYING. I can't seem to feel a single shred of sympathy for her. Eventhough she had such a horrid past. And I dunno why that is so. Maybe I just need to get to know her better. She's just SO rude and vulgar, though. I can't get myself past her dialogue which just offends me. The male lead, Roarke, on the other hand is WAY TOO PERFECT. So perfect that it's almost hilarious. But he was the only factor that made me kept going till the end. I won't rule this series out just yet. I mean, it's the first book, so it's bound to be not as entertaining? I will give it another chance. After I'm done with the books on my 'To-Read' list.

ALSO, I am gonna watch 'Ballet Shoes' which is a movie with Emma Watson in it. AND it is set in the old times. SO naturally I LOVE IT. I love the old English-style clothes and the classic vintage make-upon Emma Watson just looks DIVINE. I doubt I have ever seen her looking more beautiful than in this film. DAMN YOU, EMMA. Why must you be so pretty?!!

OKAY. I'm OUT.