Book Read 2012

Less than 50% accomplished. i read only 35 books last year. 65 books short from the initial target.

35. The Cross Gardener by Jason F. Wright

34. The Hidden Oasis by Paul Sussman

33. Ugly by Constance Briscoe

32. Gideon's Corpse by Preston & Child

31. The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

30. 10lb Penalty by Dick Francis

29. Heart of The Matter by Emily Giffin

28. A Clash of Kings by George R.R.Martin

27. Spud by John van de Ruit

26. Horse Heaven by Jane Smiley

25. The Mesh by Lisa Gansky

24. Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood

23. Brother Gardeners by Andrea Wulf

22. Fruitless Fall by Rowan Jacobsen

21. Code to Zero by Ken Follett

20. Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan

19. The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson

18. The Front by Patricia Cornwell

17. The Girl in The Glass by Jeffrey Ford

16. A Theory of Relativity by Jacquelyn Mitchard

15. Under Orders by Dick Francis

14. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

13. Texas Sunrise by Elmer Kelton

12. The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank

11. Thin Blue Smoke by Doug Worgul

10. Things I Want My Daughters to Know by Elizabeth Noble

9. Outcasts United by Warren St John

8. All The Sad Young Literary Men by Keith Gessen

7. Over and Under by Todd Tucker

6. Sarah's Garden by Kelly Long

5. What The Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell

4. Belonging by Ron Butlin

3. Leaving the World by Douglas Kennedy

2. Dead Heat by Dick Francis

1. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami My best 5 pick would be: 1. Thin Blue Smoke  2. Leaving The World 3. Fruitless Fall 4. A Theory of Relativity 5. The White Tiger For 2013, i'll read more on food, running and shit.

The Cross Gardener by Jason F. Wright

because on the back cover of this book, the first line introducing the content is : What would you do if those you loved best in this world were taken away from you? caught my attention. 

this is a sad love story.

a story of loss and encouragement to all of us to celebrate life anew.

pg 179:
'remind me again how long you had?'
'nine years with Emma Jane'
'nine years?'
'yes, what of it?'
'almost three thousand three hundred days'
'i guess'
'God created the world in six. then He gave you three thousand three hundred with His daughter. what a gift'

count your blessing one by one. you'll see how abundantly endowed you are.

its almost to the end of the year. in Ranau, where i'm heading this weekend to be with my family, its also the season of mass wedding, a true celebration of starting anew in life. its also Christmas time, a celebration to remember the joy of peace and the reason for us to live. For He was born to give us life and a chance to start anew.

Merry Christmas.

greener grass

its so frustrating to be in KL on December 6th and fly home on 7th only to be notified that the BIG BAD WOLF sale started on 7th. i've been waiting all year long for this one sale. my heart is suffering a serious damage. if you're one of those people who actually read printed goods, you'll understand the level of my devastation. so, ya, i envy you people living in Klang Valley. 

and if only i lived in Selangor today, i'd be celebrating my birthday the Royal's way. public holiday.

being older and wiser and hopefully braver never change the fact that i am the same idiot who believe (or sometime believe) the grass is greener on the neighbour's lawn. maybe, at 32, i should look closely and appreciate my own 'greener' lawn.

family, friends and loved ones (yes, you). thank you for your love, support and encouragement all  year through. each of you means the world to me.

so what if i missed the book sale?. people, all i want for my birthday is a book from each of you! haha!

November has been good to me. despite the non-stop, back to back traveling (i tweeted that if i had a husband he'd be divorcing me), money dissipating journeys and unpaid traveling claim. November has been truly good.

so, its december and i'll be 32 years old in a few more days. i should be worried. but, because of November, naaaah.. i'll rejoice and learn to eat turtle's eggs. and maybe i should go for vit C injection, liposuction, straightening my hair or curling my hair, shaping my eyebrows, get a tattoo, a puppy or finally go for a proper grooming class.

you know the shortcut for a perkier you? be in love. thats what November gave me. i fall. hard.

happy birthday jen.

sebanyak-banyak batu, batu apa yang suka menolong?

huh?

batulung-tulung.

haha..


p/s: Jane:
banyak batu pigi rumah kau,
indak tekirim tu jarum dan benang
banyak taun kawan sama kau
kau jugalah yang paling manang

mun oghang segawak madah buang batu
maksudnya dah lupa dirik kitak
di hagi mulia birthday kawu hagitu
mek nak madah, sik ada mek buang batu dengan kitak

November: rush

its only the first week of november and many things happened at workplace. my immediate boss will transfer to Putrajaya (rumour has it that he clashed with the bigger boss over something, bigger boss appealed to Putrajaya, Putrajaya settled it). so, after over 12 years of service in Kuching with a little over 4 years for retirement, he's force to face Putrajaya instead of having it dandy down here (where he's a superhero with thick mustache, macam pelakon jagoon kaling). he's Indian, by the way . i wish i have anything nice to say about him or for him. except maybe, Happy Deepavali, sir?. 

and because of that argument over something (the sacked boss vs bigger boss) i suddenly find myself

handling a mess that will make me sweat and ache all over by the end of this month (and most probably for more months to come)

then, there's a malay girl (only over a year and not confirmed yet in service) got her transfer to KSKB Sg. Buloh. since when that option is available? ingatkan after confirm baru boleh apply transfer?

next, a good friend of mine, informed me via SMS on monday that she'll be out of job come January. she have a game plan and i am excited to be with her for the plan. but, i am also very concerned over her well being and financial situation. for her, i am here for you babe. (cheh! jiwang giler..). but, yes, i am dead serious and that's a promise. 

yesterday (thursday) my younger brother went for his first interview. i hope he got it. 

bring it on November.

Only one post for the whole of October? lazy me.

3.5/5

4.6/5

2.8/5

not done yet with book #5 of Ice and Fire series.

When did september end?

My September flew. a week and a half vacationing with the parents and my two younger brother. and 2 weeks for work related course. when October came, i was a bit surprised and i'm asking myself, when did September end?

There's a saying that goes: when we're having fun, time flies. with that, i reckoned, my September was load of fun.

Heart of The Matter by Emily Giffin

i make a separate post for the second book read over Merdeka weekend, so, it'll be easier for me to do the linking at the end of the year to conclude my reading counts.

A very light reading relative to the first book. a story, you'll be able to get, even if you skimmed it through (as i did). another attempt at dissecting the cheating spouse phenomenon. a good attempt because at least it was told by the two inflicted women.

okey, here's the summary: Tessa and Nick are happily married with two great kids (Ruby and Frank). Tessa, decided to quit her academic profession to take care of her demanding children and to have more quality time with her family. Nick, a renowned plastic surgeon supported her decision.  a year into her homemaker role, Tess suspected her husband to have an affair. Nick befriended a single mother, Valerie, whose son Charlie involved in a nasty burn accident. Valerie, an independent and stucked up lawyer was drawn to the warm, sympathetic doctor. and Charlie needed a father figure, someone's missing in his whole life. Tess, by aid from her tennis buddies found out about the affair. Tess confronted her husband of 10 years. Nick was to decide what he wanted in his life. he chose his family.

No twist in the story. it's expected. Maybe, all married couple should read this, to brace themselves with the inevitable. and just because this book talked of man cheating, the reality of any relationship to work is that it takes two to fulfill, even an affair is sort of relationship. if you know he's married, he's untouchable. this remind me of a colleague who found her 'jodoh' with an older, married man and her nasty "nak buat macamana?, dah jodoh saya" comment. She broke family apart and said that? palui!. she refused to be second wife. so the first wife with 4 children was divorced.

just watch Private Practice where Dr. Addie bitterly declined advance of Dr. Noah Barnes in season 2 of the series to understand the longing and chance of an affair thrown away. in life, love and passion are not everything, baby.

Rating: 6/10

merdeka weekend and A Clash of Kings by George R.R.Martin

Over the long weekend for Merdeka day, i managed to read two books. despite the time taken for rumah terbuka and entertaining a penggilan (wedding invitation).

[friday: a barbecue at Pok Sahari's (5-11pm); Saturday: rumah terbuka (raya celebration and house warming party) at Isz's and to Pok Sidik's (1-6pm); sunday: Kumpak's penggilan (8am-1pm)]

The first book was easy, as i've been through 2/3 of the book earlier of the week. i may change my mind after i read more of the series (this is the second book of the planned 7 and i haven't read the first nor watch The Game of Throne series). but, the book is boring. reading the law of ancient Mesopotamian and Sumerian law are way more entertaining (ya, i read to articles about these to find if there's law regarding legality of marriage~wife in the Mid-Bronze Age, Abraham's time. Hagar was not his legal wife.).

Back to the book. i faced a hard time remembering the characters. let alone the terrains and their realm. maps are provided, but, hahhaha.. i have no talent comprehending maps. The Stark's family is quite interesting, especially because they have direwolves and I'm drawn to side with them, (to Arya and Bran). my sister read the series and i might pick it from her. but, for now, i am not overtly crazy over the series.

because of the low key lup-dup i experienced throughout the reading, i rate this book at: 4/10

the handsomest newborn baby ;)

Name: Izz Naufal Mohd. Shaiful

Mom: Mimi Fazah Zainudin

Thank You God for trusting us with this amazing handsome prince. we've been praying for him even before the mom (Mimi) said yes to wed her handsome hubby, Epul. baby, your mom and I had been talking about you, long before you were conceived. and here you are, completing our lives.

Baby, teach us to love one another despite our differences. to cherish each other, while we have the chance. to support and hold each other dear in our heart.

my your namesake: Izz Naufal be true, you to grow a strong man, bringing glory and prestige to your family, your God and to be always generous, the way your mom and dad do. in everything you do, know that, you are loved by many. (including this aunty).

mimi and Epul: How can i ever congratulate you? he is yours. a miracle.

and now, i'm longing for a baby myself. sperm donor please? tsk!tsk!

Spud by John van de Ruit

i bought this book while holidaying with the family in KK last week. i brought a Doris Lessing book (Sirian Experiment) from Kuching, but, really, i have trouble reading extra-terrestrial type of book. if you've read my closing post for last year's best book i'd read, its a Doris Lessing (so i thought, i'd be blown away by Sirian Experiment too). no, i was not with Sirian.

so, after a heavy dinner at Brooklyn with a long time dear friend, Dawn and my sister Popong, we decided to stop by at Times (1Borneo) to look at books. we're not planning to buy any, just browsing over. Dawn with her newfound Linsanity thingy and Popong still have quite a lot to go of R.R Martin. then i saw spud. SPUD!. never heard of the author, and that's a good thing, because, i wont expect anything. he's South African by the way. at least its a penguin, so, it must be quite good.

the book was written in a diary format, nothing new in that. i'd read several books with that format. but, this one stand out for being almost real. written in perspective of a 13 years old boy, white, boys boarding school in South Africa in 1990, the year Nelson Mandela was released from prison. oh! spud is the narrator's nick name, refering to his not so developed yet penis. 30% of the story is sex-related, as one should expect from a hormone raging age. no details past the heavy petting though, so, go get yourself a Grey instead (i heard its quite intriguing).

Spud is interesting because it voices out the longing of a teenage boy, in a sincere and straightforward way, that make it highly humorous. and at the same time, the honesty stabbed right through heart. this book reminds me of forgotten years of carefree, friendships and young hearts. this book is wickedly good. 

rating: 7/10

august: update

its August! so, realistically speaking, my 2012 wishlist will not be a 100% checked. but, i'm working hard on it.

#1. the weight is still far from ideal. but, i have more than 4 months to shave it off
#2. skip.
#3. next month. frenzy with arrangement.
#4. skip.
#5. remind me again not to put this item in my list. ever.
#6. 50 is a more sensible number
#7. skip
#8. skip
#9. skip
#10. will do this sometime in october.
#11. click on the link to know
#12. owh...