Matthias Schoenaerts

OOOOOO... my God!

Kate Winslate said in an interview i watched on YT that Matthias Schoenaerts is a man, man. 

Kate, whatever you meant by that statement, i wholeheartedly agree. I cant even pronounce the guy's name (darn!). I saw him on MAS inflight entertainment movie. Far From The Madding Crowd. That guy is an enchanter. Then, i saw the trailer of The Big Splash.  Egad..

I know The Big Splash might not be on our local cinema. I do hope, it'll go to Netflix. Now that Netflix is available in Malaysia (without censor at the moment). Let's Netflix and chill. 

Pics are from google image.

Matthias asides, and to the heart of the matter of censorship in our country. Is it even relevant at this age? who are we kidding?

The Sum of Our Days by Isabel Allende

"How great the Father's love for us

 How vast beyond all measure 

 That He should give His only Son

 To make a wretch His treasure..."

No one will understand the pain of losing a child like a mother/father do. This book deals about the pain and longing of a loving mom to her dead daughter. 

She recounted the days when her daughter got sick to her dying day and afterwards, when they got visitations from her.

The Sum of Our Days is a captivating read. Mostly for the flow of beautiful prose describing daily happenings in their household and the honest (too brutal) descriptions of each family members (i don't envy any of them for having a lady-writer in the family).

Earlier on the read, i felt reluctant to read on, because, the book was written in a very intimate, confession-like manner. I felt as if i was intruding in an important and sacred personal seance.

But, as a dare and reading commitment for this year, which is; i wont abandon any book i'd started on reading, no matter how uninteresting or unreadable the book is.  I press on.

Halfway through the read, where Isabel recounted the day she met her husband, i cried. I cried for the description of "spiritual connection". It's a soul matter, beyond lust and mere affection. i cried because, i think, that's the only reason why i don't question much about my leap of faith in believing Jesus as my saviour. My soul is sold to that man up on the tree when i got that spiritual connection with him. 

I am  mighty glad i read another book by Allende. I read "Island Beneath The Sea" a few years ago and it leave a deep impression on me. This book, however reluctant i was at the beginning inspires me to get to know my family and close friends (that i consider my family) better and to fiercely hold on to them, loving them unconditionally. 

Second book done! 7.5/10

4 books to Read in January 2016

My USB cable from my (very outdated Iphone) to laptop was faulty and can't be recognized by the device. Needed to upload the pic to FB. Then, from FB to this blog. A long way to do thing, but, it works. (i'm happy)

Ya, just a picture of my TBR (To Be Read) January. I'd done the first book, The Sum of Our Days by Isabel Allende. Each of the book will get a post. (Hopefully- please read this with a wan smile).

I'd be reading the books in this order:

#1 The Sum of Our Day by Isabel Allende

#2 The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

#3 Darling by Richard Rodriguez

#4 The Magician's Land by Lev Grossman

All of these are from my BBW2015 purchase. I am super excited for book #4, because the previous 2 books (in the magicians series) are really good. Yes. Harry Potter is for kids. This is for us, wistful adults. 

Happy reading!

Under The Dome by Stephen King

This is a thick book by Stephen King (and its been many years since i read any of his book). I stopped reading his book after 'The Girl who loved Tom Gordon'. Used to be a faithful follower of him when i was younger. 

In his notes at the end of the book, he confessed that, this book should be thicker than it is if his editor didn't interfere (i'm not sure if i'd read this book if its thicker than this). I spent more than a week to read this book. (and Mr. King spent more than 30 years mulling over the story). So, yeah, we both ended up well. 

I watched the TV series (same title -- Under The Dome) and was hooked on the story. My sister, Linda is a DVD hoarder and i watched the first season while having a break in KK, earlier last year. I initially planned to buy the book at Popular bookstore, but, its quite pricey and the thickness was overtly intimidating. I saw the book at BBW last december, sold at RM10. (Linda bought her copy from Harris- she said she cant wait for the DVD to know the ending of Chester Mill's fate).

My favourite character in this book is coincidentally named 'Linda' (i  think my sister will approve of that other Linda). I rooted for her and she's my motivation to read on till the end (just curious to see if her little family survived to the end). 

If you can imagine being trapped inside a glass (like an aquarium, but in this case, its like a glass capsule) and be curious as to how that would be, this book might be for you.  The story of this book started with the appearance of  'the dome'. encapsulating a little town, named Chester Mill. The story then proceed to the town's struggles under the dome, up until their doomsday.

People reacted differently under pressure. The best way to know a person is to see them behaving /reacting under pressure. Work on a big project with crushing deadline, that's how we know instinctively (at our work place) who to trust and who to ignore. Or, for friends/ loved ones, try travelling with them. A week travelling together might show sides, you've never seen on them before.

Under The Dome makes me realize, that time is of essence in telling how precious we value our friends and families. You love them? show them by giving your time. And make the most out of it.  

First book done! 7/10

How to be Good by Nick Hornby

This book is good, it needs a post on its own. Yeah, i'd mentioned this book in my previous post. I still have 2 books by Hornby in my TBR list for this year, so i might write another post on yet another Hornby's book read soon.

My family generally talked when we're together. gossiping, discussing mundane matters. sometimes, when we're up to it, we discussed matters that matter (but, because most of us are hard-headed, we usually ended up arguing and pointing at each other as 'budu' which is not a super valid argument, usually settled over dinner). No. If you imagined my family talked politely, no, we don't. We shout and out-shout each other. Polite is the face for public.

There was this one time, we were discussing the matter of doing good (charity). Our point of argument/ discussion was on the merits of doing good, based on Matthew 6:1-4.  Do we, Christians, in all our humility and desire to do good, do good deeds with the idea of rewards from God? (i'll continue with this after i tell you about the book)

I laughed a lot reading this book. How can i not? It started with a divorce proposal over a telephone. A wife called her husband asking how's their children are and ended up in a proposal of divorce. I remember reading a FB post over a woman gotten a talak 3 over a phone conversation between her husband and his friends (the husband jokingly told his friend that he's divorcing his wife with talak 3). However, because this happened in England and they're Brits, of course the unfortunate divorce on FB didn't happen to them.

There must be something rotten in a marriage if one party asked for a divorce, no?. In this story, narrated by Katie Carr, a GP, brought the reader to know her little family (husband David and their children Molly and Tom). David was a stay-at-home dad. He wrote column at a local newspaper as "the angriest man in Holloway". 'Angriest man' is not a term of endearment. David was obnoxious. when Katie mentioned divorce and started an affair with another man (not because she really wanted to, but because she can), David wont let her off (just to pissed her off, more). Their relationship became hostile until David met a stranger (DJ Goodnews), a spiritual healer that he suddenly became calmer, different David. Katie, who thought she's a good (better) person now seems to be the baddie.

The story turned to be more bizarre when Goodnews moved into their house. More funny things happened and the 'trying to do good' increase, only to succumbed to a 'not so good' results.

I particularly liked it when David finally remembered the Latin word caritas: "sometimes its translated as 'charity' and sometimes its translated as 'love'. 

Love and charity shared the same root word.

My brother and I agreed on doing good for the sole purpose to make our heart light (happy). Do good only if it'll make you happy. If you're hoping for any other rewards, you're up for a big disappointment. And if you try to do good to change the world, i'd say "good luck". You're shitting yourself. (O! the little faith in me). But, then again, you can argue, some people can only be truly happy if the deeds are made known to public. Yes, i'd met many people like that. By all means, if that's how you'd be happy, please do. (The Bible however, don't recommend this approach)

My brother pointed out, this idea wont sell good for reward-of life, heaven-seeking-folks. because then, whats the use of doing good? 

May all of us (in our own ways) strive to be good (by doing good), for whatever reasons we bring our self to believe.  

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moksin Hamid

I read the book Sunday afternoon (Dec 20th, 2015) in under 2-hour duration in between preparing, cooking and sipping a hearty onion soup. The afternoon was dandy and cool (a real treat to our usual hot, humid tropical weather).

I should be cleaning up the house. Its been 4-week delay from my usual schedule for a thorough clean up. but, meh! let the clutters, cluttered (and me weep when the new year, new hectic life begins, when i will have no time even to change the rolls of paper in the toilet)

For now, let me bask in the proud moment of finishing the book in 2-hour (with distraction). Well, okey. so, the book was lean. very engaging. This is a book (rarely i found) with less words but carry a hefty bulk of value. 

Its opening para was "excuse me, sir, but may i be of assistance? Ah, I see I have alarmed you. Do not be frightened by my beard: i am a lover of America.."

So, the story began at an open market of Anarkali, Lahore. The above person met a stranger (probably an American). Then, the story unfold as he narrated his younger person's story at Princeton to his employment at a very prestigious finance-analyst firm in NY and his relationship with an American girl, Erica.

The flashback story was narrated in a clear first person voice. Realistic enough for a person like me, who never set foot at Princeton/NY/Chile/NJ/Lahore. Somehow the narration give a glimpse of the cities/places and its inhabitants (maybe watching too much Hollywood movies helped constructing  some of the visions too).

I like the way the story turned at the end. Especially, because i didn't see it coming. 

Living in a world where everybody's blaming somebody else for misfortunes and worse still, pointing fingers at a certain religion/race to blame, this book gives the idea of the 'inside' person's perspective. and being an 'outsider', we'll never fully understand the weight (the gravity and meaning) of being an 'insider'. But, at least we can try. 

I'm not sure if this should be the appropriate outcome after reading this book, but, i feel strongly about shouldering our own burden in life. Nobody else will. Burden sharing is just an expression, in reality, to each, their own. 

This realization is so bleak for a brand new year post. Mull over it, will you? 

Book Read 2015

The list of my Book Read 2015

1. Lethal by Sandra Brown

2. Backcast by Lou Ureneck

3. Sunnyside Blues by Mary Carter

4. Not Another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson

5. Slam by Nick Hornby

6. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

7. A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

8. How To Be Good by Nick Hornby

9. The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar

10. Diagnosis by Dr. Anwar Fazal, Dr. Aizzat & Dr. Azah
11. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moksin Hamid

I am pretty sure i read a bit more than the listed books. But, i'm too lazy to dig up. However, I also have no doubt i didnt manage to reach my reading target of 52 books last year. 

I managed to write some posts for the book read. It's linked to the title, so feel free to click on them. its not much, just a little note to myself and a bit of reflection after read. I will try harder this year to write a more constructive post (ahhh..iya *sigh*) for each book read. 

2016 will be a challenging year to all of us. Challenges that will make us keen to be better and stronger. Cheers!! to a brand new year. 

I'm not  a big fan of a Mollywood Bollywood (!) movie, but of Dilawle's Gerua - thats a wicked number.

Books by Nick Hornby

OOOOO.. boy. 

I'm on a marathon read of Nick Hornby's books. So far, i'd read 4 of his books and i have 2 more book at home to read. i got the books from my last BBW purchase. Yeah! i went to BBW 2015, the first day and got 42 books. I tried to buy female authors this time (because books at home are mostly written by male authors), but, somehow i got hooked to these Hornby's. 

I absolutely love Nick Hornby's.

I love the witty, funny and brazen voices of characters in his books. simple daily issues written in a deep sobering thoughts. of the 4 books i'd read, i think, i like best: A Long Way Down. It's a story of 4 suicidal people who ended up being not so-suicidal after their meet up at the Topper tower. I like the way the author give different (authentic) voice for each of the characters.

Nick somehow reminded me of Ika Natassa (Indonesian writer) style of writing. I really like Ika's books.

Apparently, there's a movie for A Long Way Down. So, if you're not into reading, maybe you can try watching the movie. Thank you Google for providing the pic. yeah.. there's YT trailer too.  Pierce Brosnan yaw!

I went to the Philippines last week for a week-long vacation and was awe-struck by the availability of books and good magazines at  a very reasonable  price there. I bought 2 books (95 Peso each - thats about RM9?, its a hardcover btw, and pre-loved of course, but its look okey) and a NG magazine on natural remedies. (I flew Cebu Pacific and didn't buy luggage allowance, therefore the minimal amount of books buy). 

Now, time to read another 2 books by Hornby and Stephen King's very thick book; Under The Dome. That's my TBR for the Christmas holiday.

Cheers! Happy Holiday!

Little Black Dress

I remember making a statement not so long ago, that i can't stand reading a chick lit and specifically mentioned Little Black Dress books. Oh.. well, i need to take those words back.

After an intense couple of weeks doing exam related works with no weekends (yes, the poor kids sat for their exam on weekend too!), its a huge relief to just lounge off on a weekend with books. I read 2 black dress books on Saturday and spent the whole of Sunday of daydreaming. (ya, that's what you do after reading a black dress-sigh!)

Not another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson

Sunnyside Blues by Mary Carter 

I enjoyed both books. But, if i had to point which is better, its the 'not another bad date', maybe because i identified myself with the heroine in that story better than the other. Ya, i secretly wanted my hair to be curly--i tried perming my hair once. it was disastrous. my brother asked me "kenapa kau mau rambut macam om?" (why you wanted a timorese hair?). yes. racist him!

I grew up reading lots of Mills & Boon and Harlequin books (for the lack of options). I guess having read so much of that kind gave me the overdose. desensitized.

Maybe its akin to my dislike for red spinach. There was a year when mom cooked red spinach in every meal at home for months (a community nurse remedy to baby kurang darah). Red spinach and chicken liver! grossest food ever. I refused to eat red spinach and chicken liver until recently. Red spinach and chicken liver are actually okey-ish food. 

Me coming back to that Little Black Dress book is something like that. They're certainly not  my favourite, but, on a lazy, rainy Saturday morning, i'd settle for one. if only to take off my mind from the bleak reality. I know, life is pathetic.

Anyhow, Cheers! it's December. 

Backcast

backcast

ˈbakkɑːst/

noun

1. 1.

   a backward swing of a fishing line preparatory to casting.

verb

1. 1.

   make a backcast.

Backcast by Lou Ureneck

Saya menghabiskan masa lebih kurang 3 hari untuk membaca buku ini. kalau dihitung dengan jam, mungkin dalam 5-7 jam. buku ini tidak sukar dibaca. Ayatnya mudah, perkataan yang digunakan juga biasa-biasa. Ceritanya juga sederhana; seorang ayah yang suka memancing bersama anak bujangnya mengembara ke kawasan baru (Alaska) untuk memancing (hobi mereka).

Penceritaan buku ini jadi menarik sebab ini adalah biografi bapa tersebut (Lou Ureneck) yang melalui perceraian selepas lebih 20 tahun berumahtangga dan kesannya pada kerjaya, hidup dan hubungannya dengan anak-anak. Terutama anak lelakinya, Adam.

Untuk memahami keadaannya, pembaca dibawa kembali ke zaman silamnya melalui teknik penceritaan 'flashback' yang dilakukan bersahaja. Bagaimana dia dibesarkan oleh seorang ibu tunggal, isu beliau dengan ayah kandung dan ayah tirinya. Bagaimana dia mula-mula jatuh cinta dengan hobi memancing dan kesukannya pada alam semulajadi. Dia ceritakan berselang seli dengan cerita 10 hari mereka di Alaska.

Saya suka penceritaan buku ini sebab, si penulis tidak berusaha keras untuk memenangkan diri beliau. Dalam keseluruhan cerita ini, beliau berusaha untuk jujur. Walaupun ada bahagian/ isu yang saya kurang setuju dengan pendapatnya. buku ini memberikan perspektif lain kepada saya terhadap perceraian, nilai seorang bapa dan hubungan kekeluargaan.

Saya dibesarkan oleh bapa yang bukan setakat sayang, tapi akan melakukan banyak perkara yang sukar (kalau saya mahu) demi saya (dan adik-beradik lain). Saya tidak akan pernah ragu pasal kasih sayang dan dedikasi beliau. Mungkin sebab saya terbiasa dengan fierce love seperti itu, saya jadi kaget bila kawan sekolah saya cakap "kau senanglah, bapa kau sayang kamu". Saya jawab "bapa kau pun sayang kau bah. semua bapa sayang anak dia". Dia jawab "Tidak. bukan macam bapa kau sayang kamurang". Saya di sekolah rendah masa itu.

Jadi, rasanya saya faham tu keinginan si Lou untuk menjadi bapa yang 'sempurna' untuk anak-anaknya. Saya rasa, saya faham juga tu keinginan untuk menjadi diri sendiri dan sukarnya mencari titik keseimbangan untuk memuaskan hati ramai orang yang mengharapkan kita.

Bapa saya tidak sempurna. Dia ada banyak kelemahan dia sendiri sebagai manusia.Tapi, saya bangga dengan dia. Dia tidak pernah berputus asa dan saya rasa, dia berkorban banyak, membelakangkan keinginnya sendiri untuk mempertahankan keluarga yang dia bina. 

Pernah sekali, masa saya umur 8 tahun, ibu bapa saya bergaduh besar. saya tidak ingat pun apa yang mereka gaduhkan. Tapi, saya ingat, gama saya sampai mengugut mahu balik ke kampung keluarganya. Saya bagitahu bapa "kalau bapa sama gama berpisah, saya ikut gama". Dia tanya "kenapa? kau tidak sayang bapa?". Saya jawab "bapa akan faham kalau saya ikut gama, tapi gama tidak akan faham, kalau saya ikut bapa".

Sayang itu begitu. Berat kepada yang mengerti.

No. I don't really get all the fishing jargon in this book (and there's a lot!). I'd tried fishing, it requires lots of patience, which i have in short supply. That, and i hate worms too.

Grace

Grace by Richard Paul Evans

image from: www3.vitrola.com.br

This is the 5th book read for this year. I'm hoping to at least reach 52 book read this year. A book for each week. and to write about the read, if i can. 

Last year was quite disappointing. I lost track of my own reading. I can try tracing, but, i'm too lazy to do that. So, 2014 book read compilation will be void. I'm not going to compile the reads. Lets not dwell on that (depress the hell out of me).

Earlier this year, i went with my good friends for a night stay at Mesilau. I never bothered to go stay there because its only about 1 and a half hour drive from our kampung home. i also based my research at Kinabalu Park (some time at Mesilau Research Center) for more than a year for my postgrad study, that i never really have the urge to 'holiday' at this place. I'm glad i went along with my friends.The place is awesome. Maybe, because i was with good people whom i truly want to be with. The 'feel good' feel lingers to this day, whenever i look up pics taken from the stay.

Good friends are hard to come by. These friends i mentioned are my good friends for more than 10 years (except for DC's brother- i barely knew him) but i have a feeling that he's a good man - a gentleman (i've been around for more than 30 years, and that's a rare occurrence). For me, good friends are those who stayed with you through the years, in your ups and downs, without prejudice. Not exactly latching to you, but, around when you need them.They provide comfort and ease. They are your favourite people. 

Because i have them, i truly believe in the grace of God. How else can i explain having good friends like them if its not the grace of God? because on my own, i don't deserve them. Yes, i don't usually text/ call my friends, they do that to me. I am not the most comfortable of friend you can ask. I am way too opinionated, too frank, too critical. I wonder, how can they stand being with me all these years?

One of my favourite quote in Grace by Richard Paul Evans is:

"Have you ever been in love?"

"I don't know, How do you really know when you're in love?"

"When you don't have to ask"

Grace is a story about a run away girl named Grace. She ran away from her abusive stepfather and found shelter at a shed built by two brothers.The story was narrated by the older brother of the two. The older brother fell in love with Grace and did everything he can do to help her (he's 16 and dirt poor) and you can imagine its a hopeless battle. everything went haywire when Grace's parents filed a report of her missing (alleged kidnap case). In the end, the older brother has to let her go back to her family. Grace fought her emotional battle (being impregnated by her stepfather and being ignored by her mother). Her stepfather killed her in a drunken stupor.   

Grace's life might be very short. but her determination, kindness and love inspired the brothers well into their adult life. 

If you have spare time, you might like to read more about the author Richard Paul Evans. Grace is a fiction book, but, the author's spirit and life are dedicated to help children like her. For me, that change my attitude in reading the book. The book changed my perspective of grace, of God's grace.

Its not what we tried to do that matters. Its when we allow God's grace to flow through us for others that make life so worthwhile. and by doing so, we cannot claim that its our efforts that hold a friendship, a relationship, good deeds and so on. We're able to love others (despite all the shortcomings) by grace.

Its a new year, a new beginning. I know, its going to be an awesome year. Happy New Year.

 

Noir means black

I only posted a few posts this year. The year i promised i'd make a proper list of my reading materials and progress and something else on the side too. Duh!

Anyway, not to cry over spilt milk, but i regret the shortcoming very much.

I was in Bangkok last month with 3 of my good friends. I'd been in Bangkok before. I don't get any particular attraction with the city. I like the food and market. Booze was cheap and entertainments plenty. 

When my friend flew out, heading for KL, I flew to Hat Yai. My main aim for this journey is to experience KTM's train shuttle from Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur. 

Hat Yai is a bustling border city. The food are mostly Chinese-Thai. Not as fiery as those in Bangkok. many Malaysians do business here too. I shared the van ride from the airport to the city centre (journey time about 25 mins) with two friendly Singaporean men (they're on business trip) and some other local Thais. They told me that Hat Yai is the 'in' thing to do development investment in SEA. What do i know about investment? meh!

I scoured the city centre on foot until i cant walk anymore. I called out for tuk tuk and paid only 30B for him to take me to the nearest shopping mall. he asked for 50B. I said, i have no money 30B or i'll just walk. he sent me to a large mall (i cant even remember the name). I rushed inside for the aircond. I found the bookstore here.

When i asked the cashier if they sell any english book, the girl looked confused. I'd walk and look around the bookstore, books are in Siam. Even the Japanese mangas are in Siam. Maybe because i look like a Burmese (which i believe, the Thais regard as dirt-rag) who happened to speak English, so, the cashier didn't expect me to asked her the question. After she regained her composure (about 5 mins later) she hand signaled me to a small rack near the stationery section. Tada!

Interestingly, more than half of the books on display are English book about Asia. I took; Phnom Penh Noir, a book about cultural detective and Haddon's The Red House (so, now, i have a complete Haddon books!). The best part? they provide book wrapping service for free. yay!

I read The Red House immediately that night, after having dinner at a quaint but beautifully decorated little cafe, 2 blocks away from the railway station. Then, i bought some street food; grilled meat and mango. i also bought cheap Red wine at  7E. Its too sweet. Argh!

The train departed in the evening (4pm). Its on time. The train was clean, i paid for a lower bunk (RM56) upper bunk much cheaper. No food selling on train. No reading lamp. No charging point. The good thing? everything was clean, even the toilet was cleaner than most public toilet, and the aircond was good. 

30 mins into the journey, we arrived at Padang Besar immigration checkpoint. Bring all your belonging to the immigration and customs checking. Immigration first, after they stamped on the passport, move to customs (they asked to open up bag), then move upstairs (small food court and waiting area) to wait for their cabin check. Everything was easy, until i got the urge to go to the small room. phew! nastiest toilet i ever laid my eyes on. AVOID.

Hat Yai was quite okey. Most of the hawkers speak chinese to me. (bah, iyalah, mungkin nampak macam chinese) when i told them i'm not chinese and speak English instead, they laughed and carry on speaking chinese. some of them even speak malay. (i overheard men discussing escort price at the backalley-publicly negotiating, its kinda interesting, macam nego tambang tuk-tuk)

I arrived in KL sentral around 6.15 am. my next flight to Kuching is 7.50 pm. I go straight to KLIA2 and lepak there with the a group of Indonesian maids (carpeted area on level 2) waiting for their night flight to Jakarta. They thought i was an indonesian too. hahaha.. iya sajalah, told them i'm from Kalimantan. I read half of Phnom Penh Noir here. Its damn good!

When i came to Kl again a week after my Bangkok-Hat Yai trip, i made a mental note to buy KL Noir (4 books). I am currently on the last book (I didnt read in sequence) Red. Yellow. Blue and i'm on White now. If you ask me which is my favourite, i'd say the yellow. 

Ya, if you're curious about the KL Noir book, check them out. Its pretty decent. Read the RED first. 

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A good book should help us to think deeper or broader or both. Sadly, not all who read, think. If you caught yourself reading just to gain knowledge and facts, maybe you should re-think reading. 

Police by Jo Nesbo

 (pic from www.jonesbo.uk)

(pic from www.chicagotribune.com)

So, finally, i read his book. this is the #10 installment of Harry Hole series. police thriller.

The story is good, with lots of suspense and turns. my problem reading this book is the characters' names and name of the places (all are foreign, as foreign can be). 

I didn't go crazy with the series like i did with Larsson's girl with dragon tattoo.

I spent a week to read this book. somehow that saddened me. I used to average 3 books per week. I tried reading some black dress books during the weekend (i just cant stomach it), ended up reading the back cover and tossed its back in the box.

maybe i should get rid of my TV (i bought one, when my sister came to visit me earlier this year). i somehow managed to average more than 20 hours of TV viewing weekly. 

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going back to the book read and contemplation on the local scenario,

This month, in Malaysia, Sedition Act has been the news. its interesting to see how the law being interpreted or misinterpreted. i cant help but to compare the big gun in our police dept with the chief police in this fiction. The only resemblance i guess, is the power bestowed with the title. They're powerful people. very powerful people. 

when powerful people err, the consequences are usually hard to rectify.