12AM thoughts

I realized I have not blog as per my schedule. Just been too bogged down with work, and when I am home, I just want to lounge and/or sleep. Even with the holiday season coming about, the work has not lessen. If fact, it's crazier than ever!

I have a few ideas in mind for blog posts. That will hopefully go up soon. I may start a series,  something that I can easily write and post weekly about. Perhaps.

On another note, this year (as with the last 2 years) I attended the Big Bad Wolf book sale with the bestie. Doing better than previous years - and by that I mean I was really good with my spending, and managed to limit myself, I picked up about 37 books.

Thoughts of this year's BBW: many of the titles are books I saw in previous year's BBW, as for the new titles, there were not many. However, it was great that I manage to pick up complete trilogies or find books to complete my trilogies/sets. But with that said, apart from a couple of books and trilogies, there was nothing newly interesting.

Well, I wouldn't say it's all bad as I was still able to manage a decent haul this year. My dreams of owning a floor to ceiling bookcase full of books is coming closer.

Okay. I am going to sign off now. Time for some TV time before bed (then work the next day! Boring.) Ta...

of leaking ceilings

my current activity lately is reading! i've got my reading mojo on and have been reading a book after the other. but whilst reading just 5 minutes ago, i had the sudden urge to write! to put pen to paper (or in this case, type-blog) and the closest thing i have to a journal is a dairy where i keep track of dates. i have this sometimes, the mood to write-type..and that's why i have kept the blog going, eventho i hardly blog anything of worth or substantial! haha..this post is getting abit..well unlike my usual silliness. but i guess everyone has these moments, some more than others, and i'm having one right now.

i don't know why sometimes when i read..and it comes to a part of the story where it is at that in between stage, where nothing is really happening but that explanation is still somewhat vital, or it introduces the next scene..during those parts in the books, my mind wonders away. i just recently found that about myself. how odd! LOL.

well, my mind just then and right now was/is wondering, thinking, questioning, deciphering, imagining...of everything and nothing at all. odd, but hence my mood to write..but nothing at all to say.

well, the next post will very likely be of book reviews of the books i've been reading.

its abookalypse!

so, every year The Big Bad Wolf brings books at a cheap rate..so cheap that u're just FORCED to buy! it is crazy! and you'd be crazy not to buy! most books are at a RM8 price range! DO YOU KNOW HOW CHEAP THAT IS FOR A BOOK?! when i first heard about the sale, i was sceptical, because most of the time, books that goes for cheap are shit titles! but..this sale has a good range of book titles for all! 

LOL. that sounded like an advert for them! i swear i am not being sponsored by them to say that! I WISH!

anywho, i went to the sale, and needless to say..i SHOPPED! and shopped! and 1 trip was not enough (as they were cheeky and release new titles every now and then, that i had to keep going back).

but i was really happy i went the many times i did! i discovered new books to read, books i was curious about before, and books i had on my wishlist for forever.

decisions!

my buddies throughout this fiasco was Ewie, Jing, Zhi, Yee Keong, & Justin!

the dilemma of TOO many books!

i went to the sale, a total of 6 times..and bought something each time!

so without further ado, here is my massive book haul of over 6 trips! :)
yes, i feel extra nerdy now, and i am in serious need of a new bookshelf because of it.

MASSIVE BOOK HAUL TIME,

 Day 1 (07.12.12)

22 books (RM 178)

1. Pop goes the Weasel by James Patterson
2. Cat and Mouse by James Patterson
3. Mary, Mary by James Patterson
4. Cross by James Patterson
5. Double Cross by James Patterson
6. Toys by James Patterson
7. Alex Cross's Trails by James Patterson
8. The Lost Symbols by Dan Brown
9. The Gift by Cecelia Ahern
10. Girl in the Mirror by Cecelia Ahern
11. Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Green
12. For one more day by Mitch Albom
13. Starting Over by Tony Parsons
14. Department 19 by Will Hill
15. Lament by Maggie Stiefrater
16. Ballad by Maggie Stiefrater
17. Final Friends (Vol. 1) by Christopher Pike
18. By Midnight by Mia James
19. Darkness Falls by Mia James
20. Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton
21. The Stone Testament by Celia Ress
22. Let's Kill Uncle by Rohan O'Garady

 Day 2 (10.12.12)

13 books (RM 106)

1. Watchlist by various authors (et al) 
2. The Book of (Even More) Awesome by Niel Pasricha
3. The Cry of the Sloth by Sam Sawage
4. The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley
5. Hector's Search for Happiness by Francis Lelord
6. Hector and the Secret of Love by Francis Lelord
7. The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver
8. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
9. My Swordhand is Singing by Marcus Sedgwick
10. Shamanka by Jeanne Willis
11. Numbers 2: The Chaos by Racheal Ward
12. How to Survive Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu
13. Skarlet by Thomas Emson

Day 3 & 4 (14&15.12.12)

3 books (RM 24) + 5 books (RM 40)

(day 3)

1. Number 3: Infinity by Rachel Ward
2. Bloodline by Mark Billingham
3. Sleepyhead & Scaredy Cat by Mark Billingham 

(day 4)

1. Matched by Ally Condle
2. Crossed by Ally Condle
3. Violets are Blue by James Patterson
4. Death Message by Mark Billingham
5. There Once was a Woman Who Tried to Kill Her Neighbour's Baby by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya

Day 5 (21.12.12)

7 books (RM 106) + 1

1. Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
2. Perfume by Patrick Suskind
3. The Girl with the Glass Feet by Ali Shaw
4. Snow is Silent by Benjamin Prado
5. The Diary of Nobody by Grosssmith
6. The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope
7. The Penguin book of Vampire Stories (by various authors) - edited by Alan Ryan

the (+) 1 book that you can see that is peeking out of the bag still is a book I bought as a gift. no, i am not being a cheapo and bought someone a RM8 book. this book is one of those HUGE history like picture books, it is heavy, and at normal price it would be in the hundreds! i just happen to know she would love this book, & even with the discount, the book was not cheap. but i am not mentioning it cause i have yet to pass the present to her. 

Day 6 (22.12.12)

4 books (RM 52)

1.  Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
2. Room by Emma Donaghue
3. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifrater
4. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

RM 506 (+), 54 books (+ 1), and 6 days later.......

total: 54 books + 1

my bookshelf is overflowing now! and would need more shelf space if i should buy more. <3

DOUBLE STACKED!

OH, and since this is a book haul, I've decided to also add the books i bought PRIOR to the book sale!

The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling
RM 69

From Popular Sale

1. One for my Baby by Tony Parsons (RM 7.90)
   
   (Classics, buy 1 free1- RM 8 each)
2. The Secret Garden by Francis H. Burnett (Classics)
3. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (Classics)
4. [not pictured] The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (Classics)
5. [not pictured] The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (Classics)
   Total: RM 23.90

so, really. the total of new books that I got (for myself) at the end of last year comes up to about: 59 books!

well then! i'm all set for 2013!

till the next Big Bad Wolf sale! psssstttt i got preview passes! :P

bookworms unite!

Tag: Harry Potter

well, how can i not do this tag?!

here it goes!

1. Favorite book
   the last book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!
2. Favorite movie
   i like the first two films mostly of the way in which it was filmed! its darker, it had more elements of mystery..and it follows the book more.
3. Least favorite book 
   hmmm..for me i think its the fifth book: Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix! 
4. Least favorite movie
   would be the third one: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban! hmm..but it maybe cause i am not used to the new director after the 1st 2 films? but i just didnt like the change in the lighting of the overall movie and the new Prof. Dumbledore! with that said..i didnt like the way Dumbledore acted in the Goblet of Fire as well! where when Harry's name first poped up..and they were in the back chamber..in the book Dumbledore asked Harry calmly and all, in the film Dumbledore practically attacked Harry asking if he put his name in! very out of Dumbledore's character!
5. Parts of the books/movies that made you cry
   the one where Dumbledore died! cried like a baby! and i teared a little when Sirius and Fred died. also felt super sad during the scene in the last book when Harry walked through the Great Hall where they laid their dead after the 1st attack.
6. If you could hook up with any HP character who would it be?
   i LOVE the Weasley twins!
7. Favorite character
   like i said..i LOVE the twins!
8. What would your Patronus be?
   well, from my understanding..your patronus reflect the caster's personality..with that said, mine would probably be a pig! or a sloth! =__= but if i get to choose...i would want a dolphin maybe? or something cool and fierce.... :)
9. If you could have the Resurrection Stone, Invisibility Cloak or the Elder Wand which one would you choose?
   either the invisibility cloak or the elder wand! but with what the books say about the elder wand bring early death to the owner..i will go for the invisibility cloak!
10. What House would you be in?
    well, i would obviously want to be in Gryffindor..but i think i might be a Slytherin or Hufflepuff! :(
11. IF you could meet any member of the cast who would it be?
    Emma Watson! and i would love to get my books signed by JK Rowling!
12. Have you played any of the video games?
    yeah..once..and in all honestly..the games sucks! i played the PS1 version of, i think, the Chamber of Secrets!
13. IF you were on the Quiddich team which position would you play?
    well, i would be a really bad chaser..n if i was a beater i might end up just hitting myself..so a keeper or a seeker!
14. Were you happy with the ending?
    yes! i love the ending! and how Voldermort was killed with his own spell. and how the spell that saved Harry in the beginning is cast upon everybody! and the significance the fight held when the fight took place in the Great Hall!
    ..but i hate how they killed off Lupin and Tonks and Fred! :( my few fav characters!
15. How much does Harry Potter mean to you?
    in a way..its my childhood! love it! and i think it will always be part of me! it is in a way what sparked my liking towards fantasy/supernatural genre in books and movies/series. its happy, its fun..and I DO BELIEVE IN MAGIC! ;P

Long live Potter! a #PotterHead true and true! :)

Bookmonster #2

decided to blog.

here is a little book review. :)

so, one fine afternoon, i decided to read!

so i whipped up a book i bought some months ago, settled with some coffee & a sandwich..and read.

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

genre: historical fiction

book description (from Amazon): Brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of the Plantagenets. They are the claimants and kings who ruled England before the Tudors, and now Philippa Gregory brings them to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women, starting with Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen.

The White Queen tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in secret and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores this most famous unsolved mystery of English history, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills.

my views: (3.5 of 5)

well, this was new and a first for me. mainly cause i hardly read historical fiction. im more of a romance, crime, thriller, fantasy kind of girl. ive always wanted to venture into reading historical based books, but never got around to it. so i finally did with this book. 

ps: ive never really did any book reviews before..and i dont really know how. LOL..so spare me while i type what comes to mind.

and i must say, i did enjoy this book! finished the book in 3 days.

and i was pleasantly surprised that i didnt get bored of the book like i feared. history never being my strong suit. LOL. the author really did her research (i read the author's note) and i was really impressed by it. the fact that most of what happend are what really happend! the mist, the great rain, and the missing princes! through the book i learn bits of the history behind the English royalties. it was actually a fun way to learn about the history behind it all. and honestly, this has intrigue me a little. :) i admit i did some Googling about it after i finished the book. :3
well, i wouldnt rave about the book as a must read, for ME, personally, simply because like i said, its not my genre of choice. but nonetheless, the book was a good read and worth the time to read it. i do recommend it! especially to people who love historical fiction. i would say the book did not bore me nor disappointed me. i enjoyed reading it, it was good and it entertained me as well as educated me! LOL. i would say, i dont think you would regret reading this book! :)

and i do plan to read the other books in this collection, The Red Queen.

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

the book its not a sequel to The White Queen, but an  parallel story to The White Queen. the story happens the same time as The White Queen, but it follows The Red Queen.

book description (from Amazon): Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin Henry VI fails to recognize her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into madness. Her mother mocks her plans, revealing that Margaret will always be burdened with the reputation of her father, one of the most famously incompetent English commanders in France. But worst of all for Margaret is when she discovers that her mother is sending her to a loveless marriage in remote Wales.

Married to a man twice her age, quickly widowed, and a mother at only fourteen, Margaret is determined to turn her lonely life into a triumph. She sets her heart on putting her son on the throne of England regardless of the cost to herself, to England, and even to the little boy. Disregarding rival heirs and the overwhelming power of the York dynasty, she names him Henry, like the king; sends him into exile; and pledges him in marriage to her enemy Elizabeth of York’s daughter. As the political tides constantly move and shift, Margaret charts her own way through another loveless marriage, treacherous alliances, and secret plots. She feigns loyalty to the usurper Richard III and even carries his wife’s train at her coronation.

Widowed a second time, Margaret marries the ruthless, deceitful Thomas, Lord Stanley, and her fate stands on the knife edge of his will. Gambling her life that he will support her, she then masterminds one of the greatest rebellions of the time—all the while knowing that her son has grown to manhood, recruited an army, and now waits for his opportunity to win the greatest prize.

In a novel of conspiracy, passion, and coldhearted ambition, number one bestselling author Philippa Gregory has brought to life the story of a proud and determined woman who believes that she alone is destined, by her piety and lineage, to shape the course of history.

the other books in this collection are

• The Lady of the Rivers (Amazon) -- which is about The White Queen's mother who is said to be the descended of the water goddess, Melusina.
• The White Princess (TBA- the author mentioned this in her note at the end of The White Queen) -- it will cover The White Queen's daughter, grandmother to England's greatest queen, Elizabeth I.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:
ive finish reading The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy (right after exams ended)

The Wolfs of Mercy Falls trilogy
(Shiver; Linger; Forever)
by Maggie Stiefvater

my views: (2.5 of 5)
it was a pleasant and easy read. if ure looking for love-fantasy like books that are easy reads to pass the time, then this book is up your ally! mmm..and thats all i have to say on these books. it was a good pass-timer.


Happy Reading! :)

BOTD #8

so,..... i bought more books today! to use my the RM200 voucher!

of the day/night series:

A Bend in the Road; Message in a Bottle; The Wedding
by Nicholas Sparks

[30.03.2012]

total = RM102.70

bookshelf

2nd UPDATE!: bought 2 new books yesterday (27.03.2012) with the coupon again!

The Red Queen
by Philippa Gregory

this book is the parallel book to The White Queen.

can't wait to start reading these books!

A Discovery of Witches (from the All-Souls Trilogy, book 1)
by Deborah Harkness

i didnt know this book was a trilogy! noooo...
and the 2nd book is set to be released in 10 July 2012!

depending on how i like the book, i shall look forward to that day!

Also, last night, i have finished reading The Hunger Games trilogy! i wouldnt say i super love it like Harry Potter, but i LIKE it enough! :) but i think the ending should give more ... like at least a brief sweep on the changes and what happend to Panem! rather than just focusing on her only. (shall.not.leak.out.spoilers.)

id keep updating my "Currently Reading" section! keep a look out on what im reading! :)

UPDATE: new book! bought today! (11.03.2011) LOL!

The White Queen
by Philippa Gregory

RM35.90 @ Popular

(bought with the RM200 book voucher)

***

this blog deserves an update! as ive mentioned in my previous post, i am having problems with my SD card! so no real updates with pictures!

but here is an update that i am able to provide that allows me to "steal" the pictures online! xD

see over the course on my 3 months break, i have spammed the bookstores sales and book fairs alike! MPH was generous with their prices during the fair (and when i say fair, i just mean like a medium-sized set up infront of the actual store that sell certain titles for cheap!). so, ive been to a few of those, a relocating sale (also MPH), book sales at Popular, and have hauled a relatively good amount of books.

also, this is somewhat a haul post, so id skip the reviews on the books ive read,  kay? :)

i am going to group the list into 3 (so i wont have to keep repeating myself):

1. Books that i bought cause it was cheap! and the back sounded cool/appealing/good-enough!

Night World Series book 1 - 3
by L. J. Smith

RM9 per book

ive only read the first book, it was ok, but i stopped cause i found out that the series was incomplete, and i didnt want to be left hanging, so i stopped. the 4th book and final book, i think is just released.

Everyone Worth Knowing
by Lauren Weisberger

RM9 @ Popular

(read)

2. Books that i have been meaning to get!

The Wolfs of Mercy Falls trilogy
(Shiver; Linger; Forever)
by Maggie Stiefvater

the box set cost me RM52.90 @ Popular!

again, i have only read the first book, Shiver; and as ive mentioned on Twitter,

i have stopped reading the second book, Linger (am currently in about the first quarter of the book), to start reading The Hunger Games.

Safe Haven
by Nicholas Sparks

RM10 @ MPH relocation sale

3. books that the little blurp behind enticed me.

The Pretender; The Empress Last Days
by Jane Stevenson

both books was about RM15+/- @ the MPH relocation sale

i have not touch these books cause well, they are book 2 and 3 respectively!

i couldnt find book 1, Astraea.

so naturally, i need to find book 1 first!

The Courtesan and the Samurai
by Lesley Downer

about RM19 @ the MPH relocation sale

Black Magic Sanction
by Kim Harrison

about RM19 @ the MPH relocation sale

this. again. is another series. a series with 10 books! and this is book 8!

=_____= clearly, i didnt know this.

now i have to collect the first 7! 

not to forget e-books.

the new additions are,

The Hunger Games trilogy
(The Hunger Games; Catching Fire; Mockingjay)
by Suzanne Collins

am currently reading, The Hunger Games! and i am hooked! xD

so, the first half of my holidays, i was really into my books. and book sales was just fueling my addiction. LOL. (i say the first half cause towards the end of my holidays, i was hooked watching TV, so not much reading was done.) but now its back! mainly because there is nothing for me to watch! or more specifically, nothing that i have interest in watching. 

needless to say, my list of wanted books have expanded! and trust me there is more to come! what with the RM200 book voucher! :D

ps: my Uni has started! and oh boy! so much for it being a easy and smooth sailing! T.T

LAST SEM! I CAN DO THIS!

update & BOTD #7

been spending a lot lately..despite my empty bank account!
anywho, here’s a brief update on the past week or so!
` my youngest brother (smelly boy, Kin Sing) turned 14 on Saturday [23.07.2011]! *confetti in the air* HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOYYYY! YOUR PRESENT WILL COME SOON! :P I PROMISE!!
` I finally booked my flight for a last minute holiday trip to Hong Kong with my sister! im just going to bunk off her like a useless younger sister should! :P <3 much love che, much love. just fyi, im going to Hong Kong on the 14th of August and returning on the 18th!! *excited!*
` read up a lot during the hols I must say..I finished most of my Cecelia Ahern books that I bought/borrowed that I never got round to reading! I finished A Place Called Here and Where Rainbows End..and am currently reading The Book Of Tomorrow..

mini review: A Place Called Here didn’t suck me in at the beginning! the 1st quarter of the book, it was mmmm..okayyyy..I started reading it I think in May I would say, but I stopped cause of school work and stuff..but u know, I didn’t get my usual urges to pick up the book again..and I only picked it up when I had nothing to do one afternoon…but I enjoyed the rest of the book.
Where Rainbows End, for me at first it got me wondering if the whole book would be in notes, letters, instant text form..and for a moment I didn’t think id like it..I mean I do read those kinds of books and enjoy them, but I wasn’t sure for this book..as it went..I loved it! I must say I like this book more compared to A Place Called Here. but I got annoyed at the characters at one point! *one line spoiler alert!* cause well, their love is SO strong and obvious but it took them SO LONG to admit it! grrr..but the book was good.

lol! I know that in my sidebar, the book listed under “Currently Reading,” is The Witching Hour..but I have that on my ipad and I don’t know where the heck the ipad is!! my siblings have taken possession of it and I have yet to see the shadow of it! I should update the sidebar! id do it after this post!
` remember the previous post about me applying for an overload in subjects!? well I GOT IT! WOO HOO! need to go to Uni to sort out the timetable!! which brings me to the next point,
` today marks the last day of holidays, and tomorrow would be the first day of my fourth year in Monash, my final year! and this semester, id be going FIVE subjects!! oh please have mercy on me…
` on a random, I-don’t-know-why-im-blogging-about-this note…I wrote a draft of my resume on Friday (to apply for intern, yes I know im late! but I didn’t think id be able to do intern this year..but it turns out I can!)..and LOL I didn’t know I did so much shit in highschool! I got certificates for the FUNNIEST things and even things I don’t remember doing..like winning FIRST PLACE FOR MALAY POEM WRITING!!! LOL wth?! where did that come from! I got that cert in form 2! heck my Malay then was,..shall I say, not very fluent yet! LOLLLL!! heck even now, my Malay is still inferior to many! majority! how the heck did I create a Malay poem?! LOL! ok shall stop LOL-ing at myself now!

of the day/night series:

[24.07.2011]

I FINALLY bought my much wanted Evil Eye charm (#790529EB, Dangle Eye Blue Enamel) from Pandora!!
can finally cross this off my “Wish Upon A Star” list..

I don’t have / didn’t buy the Pandora bracelet/chain..
I just really want this charm!

id show u what I plan to do with this charm when I do.. :D

but for now..im off..

ps: I started watch Heartstring..
and I like it..

Bookmonster #1

what im reading:

been reading quite abit lately! and recently tweeted that since i came into possession of the iPad2 ive been reading like crazy!

and now, im reading THREE books at once! really, its counter productive! it is taking me longer than i usually take to finish one book now! and the thing is, those 3 books are of different genre!

A Place Called Here
by Cecelia Ahern

The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger

The Witching Hour (of The Mayfair Witches series)
by Anne Rice

LOL.
right now im reading The Witching Hour more than the other 2 books cause this one is on the ipad and i bring the ipad around more than the books cause i dont want to damage my book! im anal that way about my books! ive damaged one before cause i brought it around, i dont want that to happen again! so yea!

thus, im changing my "Currently Reading," section (on the sidebar) to The Witching Hour!

and you know, i read alot of fantasy books i realize!
more on Vampires, Witches/Wizards, romance fairytale! i admit! i like me my fantasy books!

ok, im done updating for now.