books that have changed my life

Ok, so these books haven't changed my life. I mean, i'm still plodding along on towards the same destination as I would have been had I not read these books, but they've definitely done something. Maybe I should have titled this post: books that have made a dent in my life.

(in no particular order)

Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume. Aside from the dozens of Choose Your Own Adventure books I read as a child (and being kia-su I used to go back and choose all the different options to make sure I had experienced the best outcome), this is the only book that stuck in my mind. I read it in Year 5, when I was 10, and when my teachers found I was reading this book, confiscated it because there's a sex scene in the book, where heroine sleeps with the guy while she has a period, so they do it on a beach blanket to hide the mess. I have no idea why I remember that! This was probably my first inkling into grown up fiction.

Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown. Either Dan Brown had magnificent timing, or he secretly planned the assassination of the millenium. This book was released in 2005 and I read it literally just before the death of Pope John Paul II. Reading this book taught me about the processes of conclave, and the meaning of the white or black smoke. This book also taught me about Rome's architectural history, and fictitious or not, provided me with an enormous amount of appreciation when I finally made it to Rome in 2009. PS - not so crash hot on the movie.

The Bride Stripped Bare, anonymous. Wow, I don't even know what to say about this book except that it clearly left a mark because I've recommended it everyone (except my mother) and it has left the same mark on them. A fictitious story based around the concept of the discovery of a journal belonging to a woman who hurled herself off a cliff, this novel details (and when I say detail I mean detail) her most intimate and explicit feelings, leading up to her mysterious death. Every woman should read this book.

Night, by Elie Wiesel. The true story of Elie Wiesel and his Jewish family, and their experiences in Auschwitz and Buchenwald through the second world war. Slim book, but heavy. Heavy.

Twilight, by Stephenie Meyers. Need I say more? I had to force myself not to place this book on the top of this list, because it is afterall meant to be in no particular order. This book made me fall crazily, shamelessly in love with a fictional character like I have never done before. It made me inhale all four books in the series within a week, it even made me pre-order the movie on bluray, and consequently watched it too many times. It's now made me download the preview to the sequel and secretly watch it whenever Panu walks out of the room. That's dedication!

The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini. The protagonist of the book is indeed not the Kite Runner of the title. The Kite Runner refers to his best friend and servant, who has the most profound impact on his life - childhood and adult. This book had me in the first paragraph, and I was glued to the very last sentence. It's written so richly that I was so sure it was non-fiction, but it's fiction... and the most colourful humanitarian story I have read in my life... from his privileged childhood in Kabul to his struggle in America, you really do believe Amir is real.

The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls. The complete opposite of The Kite Runner, this book chronicles Jeanette Walls' astonishingly impoverished childhood to her building a successful like in New York. And this story is real life non-fiction. Sure it might be embelished for artistic credit, but the story of her childhood is amazing, tear jerking, and really makes you appreciate what you've got.

American Gods, by Neil Gaiman. I don't think this book so much changed my life, nor did it dent it. It did however, throw a complete curve ball at me - I have never read such a bizarre book, with such crazy imaginative authoring... and this is a serious book, tackling the very real issue of modernisation vs religion. If this ever gets made into a movie, I'll be the first in line. Amazing, original, mind-boggling, addictive stuff.

the host

Like many other fans of the Twilight series, when i got to the final page of Breaking Dawn, i felt lost, helpless, hopeless... and without a desire to ever read any other series again. Ever. I'd wander through Borders, touching random book covers and reading blurbs of books whose spines had caught my attention. But... nothing. In despair (oh, me the drama queen), i picked up the other Stephenie Meyer book, The Host, hoping that well, if she did so good with Twilight, she might just do good again.

The Host for me, was a roller coaster ride... I didn't immediately take to it, but then I grew to love it. And then I lost interest... and then it peaked again. And then i hated it. So, I can't recommend nor can I not recommend this book to anyone. I think it's up to you. The storyline is original, set in an alternate Earth where alien souls have taken over human bodies (and wipes our minds in the process). A particular soul Wanderer, takes over the body of a girl Melanie... who refuses to give up her mind. So together they go in search of Melanie's lover (who is still human and in hiding)... and together they become friends, and both fall in love with Jared....

Again, Stephenie Meyer has managed to turn a potentially thrilling sci-fi story into a love story instead - a great art she mastered with the Twilight series. I did like most of the book... but not the ending, and it's a pity that's what sticks in my mind.

still here

apologies for lack of blogging over the last week. it's been a hectic week to say the least. been working a couple of nights to meet a deadline and been in a workshop for most of today. i promise i'll be back to tell you all about our wonderfully relaxing, albeit grey and dreary Easter weekend last week!

Ciao.

ps. got a replacement phone - life is swoit again!

pps. watched Twilight again last night (oh don't act so surprised). Got Mags into loving Edward too!

got my little hands on...

this blu ray dvd yesterday...

still in love

did you think i'd forgotten about him already? Hah, not quite!

at the brink of finishing Breaking Dawn, and I'm still magically, breathlessly, tragically in love with edward.

And now, i've found someone else equally obsessed as me. I won't name her, she'll kill me.. but m'dear how glad I am i can share this with you! Can i come over and watch Twilight with you over and over and over and over again??

all tech'd up!

Wow it's been 5 days since my last post? This week has passed in tedium, but at least it has flown. I can't believe it's Friday, but surely not unappreciating the fact. It's been one of those weeks where one day blurs into the next effortlessly, which again, is appreciated.

I know though that I've spent way more than my allocated weekly allowance this week. My week's shopping list looked a little like...

1. Bose iPod Dock ~ the music quality of our little apartment just improved by about two billion times (i exaggerate you not!). Assisted by the natural acoustics of being in the basement, with wood flooring throughout, i cannot even begin to express how awesome this system is.

2. Samsung NC10 netbook ~ oh yes people, netbook, not notebook. for those who aren't in the know, netbooks are the product of what would happen if two small notebooks got together and fornicated. these are baby tiny little laptops, mine's 10.2" and weighing in at only 1.3kgs. My new toy!

3. Sennheiser earphones ~ because my toxic ear sweat continuously destroys any ear phone that I have, I thought i'd invest in a good sturdy sports pair. Enter, Sennheiser. This purchase was a bummer though because my ears are so miniscule, they don't fit properly and fall off when I run. Back to the drawing board.

4. Pressies ~ pressies for friends and babies back home in Oz. This I can't elaborate on, because they read this exact blog... so... i can say that i am proud of the pressies though, gee I did a good job!

In other news, I am still morbidly in love with Edward Cullen (I know, even I'm getting sick of this obsession), and am reading New Moon. I dont want to ruin it for anyone else about to read it, but ok, there is just too much Jacob and not enough Edward! Come on!

Incidentally, I watched a few youtube clips of interviews with Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward Cullen in the movie. He does nothing for me at all. I really mean at all. In fact I found him somewhat irritating. He giggles! Edward broods. Give me the brooding vampire any day.

Guess that confirms that I should just head back to my early adolecense then and continue having a schoolgirl crush on a completely fictional character.

mmmm... edward cullen

I know he's a freaky vampire and all that. but i love him. edward, you can immortalise me any day....

incidentally, Quidam was quite disappointing... Varekai blows it out of the universe.

today...

Today is one of those days where I have a billion thoughts running through my head. Arbitrary, disconnected feelings, but all with enough intensity to propel me from of elated highs to muddled lows. Randomly...

• I finished a brief at work, completed exactly to the tee by the stakeholder’s requirements... and of course once presented, turns out it isn’t what they wanted at all.
  
• On the flip side, completed another brief, which was absolutely perfect.
  
• We managed to get discounted last minute tickets to Quidam, which I am ecstatic about.
  
• I’m battling my own formidable feelings of double-standardness.
  
• I’m not as trusting as I always thought I was. Jealousy rears its ugly head.
  
• I’m madly in love with Edward Cullen (as is every other female I’d imagine).
  
• .... and starting to feel sad about being away for a month (I know, I’m a softie).

it’s one of those days where I could open the floodgates and deep-and-meaningful anyone’s ear off. Philosophical, intense and lofty thoughts, all whisked up like fairy floss in my mind.