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#23Title: Fall Baby (Srikandi)
Author: Laksmi Pamuntjak
Goodreads rating: 4.11/5
My rating: 1/5
Disclaimer: I received this book from Times Read in exchange for my honest review.
Did you know that Laksmi Pamuntjak is actually an Indonesian writer? Well, I didn't. This is her work in English though, not translated at all. She is also a poet, journalist, essayist and food critic.
Fall Baby is a story of Srikandi, preferably known as Sri, who is the illegitimate daughter of Amba and Bhisma, the protagonists of Laksmi Pamuntjak’s award-winning first novel, Amba/The Question of Red.
The story enfolds on Siri's initiation into the art world. How the secrets of the past, unknownst to her, shaped who she is. How the history of her mother's past chased into the present. A story of a soul searching artist who thinks she is an old has-been with a huge chip on her shoulder.
It is also a story of Dara, is Siri’s best friend-turned foe. And the tale of Amalina, Siri's step daughter. A story of a love that come with the pain of loss, and guilt, and secrecy. All these amidst Indonesia diversity during its most turbulent political environment, the Suharto regime.
I tried, really did try to get into the story. But it was too artsy for me, with Siri being melancholic all the time, talking and thinking about art and its form. Dara, who is an activitist with many suppressed feelings and wants. Amalina, the antagonised victim.
I had forced myself to read this over the span of 2 weeks. And finally, at page 173 of 348, I decided to not finish it. This is something that I cannot get myself into for now. Maybe another time, at another age, in another space.
This book is now available at all major bookstores nationwide.
#klbacreviews #reviewedbysyaz #SyazReads2020 #MalaysiaMembaca #KLWBC2020 #SuriMembaca
#24Title: The Last Days
Author: William Tham Wai Liang
Goodreads rating: 5/5
My rating: 3.5/5
Disclaimer: I received this book from Clarity Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
The last communist.
Lin Wei is the last man standing from the communist revolution and he carries a lot of secrets of the pasts into the present. Currently in hiding, but was forced to run when he lost his only remaining contact, Ah Kow. Lin Wei ran to Kuala Lumpur and this is where the second story awaits.
Kuala Lumpur, set in 1981, was at that era marked by protests, arrests and where freedom of speech is withheld. A time where the ISA (The Internal Security Act 1960) was still in force in Malaysia.
The story continues with one Gordon Chang, an activist, who was held under the above act for giving a political monologue at a students' assembly. His fiancee, Sylvia, reaches out to everyone she knows to try to get him out from detention. Here comes the other main characters, H, who was Gordon's ex girlfriend and Co founder of Manggis, the infamous journal and Dain, Sylvia's ex boyfriend who is a lecturer but also a hopeful journalist in the making. Yeah, such a tangle! But it was interesting to read the suppression in that era.
Lin Wei and Ah Kow's flashbacks on how the communist party started, the hopes of a new nation not ruled by the British, the hardships of the guerrillas while in the jungle, how they live the life of mercenaries, and how in the end all these youth with hopes and dreams gets killed by nature, corruption and the ruthlessness of their leaders. When Lin Wei ran to Kuala Lumpur, he met H and that was when he asked H to write his story should anything happen to him, as Lin Wei suspected that an assassin has been hired to kill him.
So what happened to Gordon? And Lin Wei? And how intertwined is H's history to Lin Wei's past? And how will Dain save himself and H? Interesting plot twists here.
My only gripe was the author giving the main female character, the initial H. I kept misreading it as He, or Here or His, you get what I mean, so it was a bit confusing initially. Another gripe? That ending.
William Tham Wai Liang's first book is Kings of Petaling Street (which I am now curious to check out!) but he has written fiction and non fiction which has been published in several anthologies like Love in Penang, Cyberpunk: Malaysia, Hungry in Ipoh, KL Noir: Blue, to name a few.
This new book of his was published last month and is now available at all major bookstores nationwide as well as at http://www.clarity8.com/the-last-days...
#klbacreviews #reviewedbysyaz #SyazReads2020 #MalaysiaMembaca #KLWBC2020 #SuriMembaca
25/52 ⭐⭐⭐⭐Blood Heir by Amelie Wen Zhao
For the ending (damn, it's a trilogy?)
And for the too many jargons, terms and tongue twisting names.
For that last few pages that made my heart raced because the ending was so near but yet there were only a few pages left.
Damn it, how long do I have to wait now?
26/52 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graeme
Oh, love this book! The story was simple indeed. If only we all can live as such. I love all the characters except that Mr. Toad who is so vain and boastful. Grrrrr, I feel like giving him a smack, or two! The illustrations are beautiful.
27/52⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Noddy's Pet Chicken by Enid Blyton (creator)
I love Noddy! I grew up reading him and Big Ears and everyone in Noddyland. These were my first books of Enid Blyton's. My maternal grandparents had a few of these and my mom and her brothers grew up reading them too.
28/52⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Tale about Tumpy and other stories by Enid Blyton
How can one not like Enid Blyton? Simple tales that is easy to read, to understand and to follow, as most of her stories have a moral takeaway. What a pleasure to be able to revisit these tales.
29/52⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Enchanted Umbrella and other stories by Enid Blyton
Enchanting tales. Laughed at a few pieces. Beautifully written in simple prose that means what it says and says what it mean!
30/52⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sneezing Powder and other stories by Enid Blyton
A few giggles over this book. Simple reading for simple pleasures.
#31 The Stand by Stephen King 4.5 ⭐
#32 Love in Penang by Various (Editor : Anna Tan)
4 ⭐
#31 The Stand by Stephen King 4.5 ⭐
#32 Love in Penang by Various (Editor : Anna Tan)
4 ⭐
#33 Hungry in Ipoh by Various3 ⭐
#34 The Strain by Chuck Hogan and Guillermo del Toro
5 ⭐
35. This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay⭐⭐⭐
Maybe I was used to my dad telling me similar stories since he was an MA. So it wasn't as gripping as I thought it would be. An insightful reading if anyone wants to be a gynae. I did love at some of his witty notes. It does tell you how the doctors are underpaid and overworked. You do feel it as Adam brings you along with his diary. Hopefully, NHS and every Health Ministry will buck up one day and appreciate all the frontliners accordingly.
36. Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas by Adam Kay
⭐⭐⭐
Honestly, thinking this book is milking on the success of the first book which was just meh for me. Wonder what the hype is all about. Frontliners stories. We all know they are underpaid and overworked. But what can one do about it? Be the change, make the change? Unless you're the King, or Queen, or a Communist President of a country, you might be able to overrule all that. If you decide to be in the medical field, then you need to be prepared and walked into that world with your eyes wide open!
37. The Power by Naomi Alderman
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Electrifying indeed. Interesting ifs. And how the pasts were linked to this dystopia storyline. But that ending. I assumed there's a sequel somewhere.
38. The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise by Thich Nhat Hanh
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is a global spiritual leader, poet, and peace activist, renowned for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace.
The practice of mindfulness is very simple. You stop, you breathe and you steal your mind. You come home to yourself so you can enjoy the here and now.
If we are angry, we are the anger.
If we are in love, we are the love.
If we look at the snowy mountain peak, we are the mountain.
While dreaming, we are the dream.
39. Harlequin by Bernard Cornwell
4.5 ⭐
Such an exhilarating read. I felt like I was at the battle fields myself! Onwards book #2 then.
40. Vagabond by Bernard Cornwell
4 ⭐
Wow, amidst mercenaries and cardinals, friends and foes, I got caught up again with the battlefields scenes! But why did everyone had to die? And why is Thomas so hard to kill? 9 lives indeed. Book #3, here I come! 4 ⭐ for killing off some favourite characters!
41. Bob The Builder Mix and Match Book
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reading with Nicholas. An interesting book that kept Nicholas intrigued and laughing. Easy to understand and read along.
42. Pinocchio by North Parade Publishing
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reading with Nicholas. We love pop-up books!
43. Heretic by Bernard Cornwell
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
44. The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway
3⭐⭐⭐
Finally got to read this classic. OK, I am lost or was I looking too deeply for the hidden messages in the story? Simple clean lines of a simple story of an old man who went fishing and caught a big fish, then got adrifted in the sea where he kept thinking about the boy, himself and the fish.
45. Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon
5 ⭐ for that ending! After such a long journey in this series, I felt sad because I don't know when the next installment is coming!
46. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
OK, this was fun to read. I laughed out loud at bits. I love Crowley and Aziraphale! Devil versus Angel. Good versus Bad. But are they really? Or simply working together? After all, Armageddon only happen once, you know.
47. Andrew and the Junkie by Maran Subramaniam 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I didn't see that coming!
48. Popy by Maran Subramaniam
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
That was kind of surreal. So what the heck exactly is Popy?
49. ROGER ASCHAM AND THE DEAD QUEEN’S Command by Matthew Reilly
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
That was a very interesting short read! But with a predictable storyline and ending. But still a very interesting read that makes me want to read the actual series now! Sigh. So many books, so little time.
50. Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott with Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
276 pages
I cried. Thrice. With snot running down my nose.
This book is beautifully written, as simple as it was. As juvenile as it is. But when death is always just at the corner, love knows no boundary nor age matters. The story is just simply beautiful.
May 2020
51. The Quran
3 ⭐⭐⭐
577 pages
Took me 3 Ramadan to finish it 🙈 This translation is not easy to read or understand. I had to look up many words and phrases to understand some of the verses.
52. Zahra's Paradise
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
272 pages
A beautiful story of a mother's love and a brother's quest to find the truth. Is that how really Iran is? An Islamic state, oppressing its people where the rich gets richer and the poor becomes poorer? So sad. Hope things are better now.
53. My Grandmother Sends Her Regards & Apologises by Fredik Backman
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
340 pages
As all tales, one must have an ending. As this had too. The first half of the book were ramblings, and it went on and on. But as it unfolds, everything comes together and that ending was a happily-ever-after, even though the dragon lives on.
54. The Dome by Stephen King
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
877 pages
That was good. So good. Better than The Stand. Never had I wanted to throttle so many characters in a book before nor swearing when things went wrong or wanted to shout "Noooooooo" to some of the people in this. They were so real, that the story felt so real that I was sucked into it. This is definitely Stephen King at his best!
55. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
4⭐⭐⭐⭐
457 pages
How come I felt dejavu-ed? Did I read another series of a similar story line? I could swear that I haven't seen the movie though. Oh well, most YA are similarly alike LOL
56. The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey
3⭐⭐⭐
300 pages
Not as riveting as the first book but still some plot twist that you didn't see coming. Hope the final book fares better! And why didn't I find any ties to the title eh?
57. The Last Star by Rick Yancey
5⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
338 pages
Oh wow, that ending.
58. The Damned by Andrew Pyper
5⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
304 pages
I agree with the reviews. Pyper is the next Stephen King. This was such a chilling but fast read. You get unravelled in many ways and my heart beat as fast as Danny Orchard did. Phew, that was a thrilling but chilling read, man. Puts into perspective what we think purgatory or heaven or hell looks like. I like how we got to see Near Death Experience (NDE) pov like was.
59. Town Boy by Lat
5⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
207 pages
Ahhh, to be young once again. Frankie, Mat and the rest of the convent boys. A trip down the memory lane indeed. Lat never lets you down!
60. Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand
4⭐⭐⭐⭐
374 pages
Things I like about this book:
* having someone to talk to when you have your blue days
* you don't have to be depressed or anxious alone
* having loads of cousins who loves you no matter what
* family is important and you still can be loved even if you are broken
Stay strong, Finley Hart!
61. KL Noir: Red by Various (Fixi Novo)
3⭐⭐⭐
270 pages
It had such an intriguing introduction on what's Noir and what's KL. Sadly, most of the stories were just so-so. Nothing noir about ghosts, folklores and cannibals!
62. KL Noir : White by Various (Fixi Novo) MCO read #40
2 ⭐⭐
280 pages
18 unfiltered stories, it bragged. More like 18 twisted tales. Some were gross, 1 was too surreal, a few were so meh but some were worth to read. Stories of incest, rape, molestation and perverts in action. I didn't like the book. So don't think will read the 3rd book, Blue, anytime soon.
63. Chamber of Ten by Chrisopher Golden and Tim Lebbon
3⭐⭐⭐
369 pages
This was fascinating! 15th century magician in a body of a 21st century archaeologist. When magic meets archaeological thriller.
64. Sword of God by Chris Kuzneski
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
336 pages
Kuzneski is my new favourite author! Just read this and I hope his other books are as amazing as this one too! I learned so many new things about Mecca, the black stone, Jeddah, and other places of interests surrounding Mecca and Madinah.
I also learned a lot about Jeju Island, its origin and people and places to visit!
And this is from a book that combined action thriller and an archaeological interest! Splendid!
65. The Forbidden Tomb by Chris Kuzneski
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
432 pages
I need more of Chris Kuzneski! As Sword of God, there were so much amazing facts in this book about Alexander the Great. It didn't read at all like a history book but so fascinating that it kept me gripped throughout the book! Aaaargh. Where to find his other books?
66. Lou in Lockdown by JoJo Moyes
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
31 pages
"Not an amorphous monster that kept you locked in your house like a prisoner and threatened to kill your grandparents if you tried to give them a cuddle."
"Pippi went to hug me but her mum snatched her back quickly and we paused, before smiling awkwardly at each other. Pandemic manners."
Lou described Covid-19 perfectly. And her fears, her worries and everything else that she felt and did sums up the lockdown well. This novella is full of heart warming feels, humanity and love. So much love for such a short story! JoJo Moyes, you did it again!
67. Treasure of Khan by Dirk Cussler, Clive Cussler
3⭐⭐⭐
684 pages
Draggy bits, boring bits. Facts were laid out like text book style. Some action bits. Malaysia was mentioned a few times. Once as a place where a wreck was salvaged. A few times as a front company, a broker etc as in a shady place for shady deals *sigh*
July 202068.
Title: The Stray Cats of Homs
Author: Eva Nour
Translator: Agnes Broomé
Goodreads rating: 4.04/5
My rating: 4.5/5
Disclaimer: I received this book from Times Read in exchange for my honest review.
This book will stay with me for awhile. It took my heart away indeed. Finished this book 2 nights ago but was unable to put down words to review it as beautifully as it was written.
It's a semi autobiography of Sami, a boy who grew up into a courageous young man in Homs. Homs is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is 501 metres above sea level and is located 162 kilometres north of Damascus.
It tells a story of Sami's childhood, growing up in a normal family but in midst of a tyrannic government. Sami is a rebellious kind, always going against whatever people think he should do, even to his dad, Nabil. But Samira, his mom, understood her son well. The story unfolds as the rebellions raised up against the army and government. How did Sami choose between being forced into the army or joining the rebels fighting for their futile freedom?
I saw the city and its people, their strength and love for Syria, defeated but yet stood tall and strong. I felt Sami's angst, hunger, sadness, yearning for anything and everything. Torned between the love for his family and country but left with no choice.
I cannot say more without spoilers! This book made me sad but made me laughed too at some pages! You just got to read this when it gets out!
This book is expected to be published in August 2020.
#klbacreviews #reviewedbysyaz #SyazReads2020 #MalaysiaMembaca #KLWBC2020 #SuriMembaca
69. The Fall by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
308 pages
4.5 for that plot twist and bloody ending and that unanswered question of the Lumen by the New Ancients!
70. The Night Eternal by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
371 pages
71. The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
181 pages
72. The Pharaoh's Secret by Clive Cussler
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
400 pages
I am a sucker for anything Ancient Egypt! But this was fast paced with actions and fun facts!
August 202073. The Revelation Code by Andrew Mcdermott
4 ⭐
496 pages
74. Atlantis Found by Clive Cussler
3 ⭐
544 pages
75. The Exodus Quest by Will Adams
5 ⭐
560 pages
76. The Eden Legacy by Will Adams
4 ⭐
480 pages
77. Pulse by Jeremy Robinson
5 ⭐
336 pages
78. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
5 ⭐
352 pages
Between now and then, there is life. OMG. #readgret that I did not read this earlier! But maybe it was not meant then, only know. A beautiful, beautiful story ❤️
September 202079. The Lost Throne by Chris Kuzneski
3 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
590 pages
Quite meh this one.
80. Spirit Abroad by Zen Cho
4 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
284 pages
Some meh. Some funny. Some are psychedelic shit. After awhile, you sense the story line and her style of writing. Guess one or two of these stories gave birth to Sorcerer to the Crown!
81. The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson
3 ⭐⭐⭐
132 pages
"The Murder of King Tut" adapts bestselling author James Patterson's" New York Times "bestselling novel. As we visit the Egyptian landscapes back in the time of the Boy King, we also follow the trials and tribulations of his discoverer, Howard Carter, as he searches tomb after tomb searching for what most other archeologists are certain doesn't exist -- the Tomb of Tutankhamen and the clues to his controversial and mysterious death.
82. 12-21 by Dustin Thomason 4 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
318 pages
83. Séance Tea Party by Reimena Yee
4 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
84. If Malaysia Was Anime : Covidball Z
by Ernest Ng
5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
110 pages
85. Driving Malaysia by Maple Comics
3 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
116 pages
86. Kucing Yang Gemuk by Ain Maisarah
5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
16 pages
87. Mat Som by Lat
5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
November 2020 88. Star Wars : The Force Awakens - Lightsaber Rescue by Phoenix International Publications
5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
14 pages
89. Marriage and Mutton Curry by M. Shanmughalingam
3 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
232 pages
The first half of the book was a total bore. Felt the book title should be renamed "The Wonderful World of VI Boys"! Victoria Institution ni lah, tu lah, that lah. Over glorification of VI it was. I thought these were short stories but most of them were related. I like Rasamah and Chelliah's stories but after sometime, I felt like smacking Rasamah. I was looking forward to reading this with glee, only to be left with a bland after taste and a total waste of 3 nights of my life. Would have given it a 2, if not for that last story in the book. You go, Rani!
90. The Quest by Nelson DeMille
3 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
464 pages
91. Sesembang oleh M. M. Vectoristic
2 ⭐⭐
105 mukasurat
92. Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson, Emily Carroll (Illustrator)
5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
376 pages
93. Innocent Blood by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell 5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
352 pages
94. Blood Infernal by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell
5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
416 pages
95. A Book is a Garden
5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
112 pages
The illustrations are gorgeous. Some quotes are spot on, some just didn't quite make it.
96. Beijing in 5 Days by Mimi Mashud
4 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
102 pages
97. Pahang, Koi Datang by Khazimi Pahmin
4 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
109 pages
Quite a nice write-up on Pahang. A lot of foodie pics. Harap pelukis tahu beza import/eksport sebab salah penggunaan istilah tersebut. No proof reading ke?
98. Grab Me-lah by Nurdilla Zaini
2 ⭐ ⭐
208 pages
This was my book to read if I get stuck in the car. With Covid-19, I stayed at home most of the time, which was why it took me 6 months to read this 206 pages.
Anecdotes of a female Grab driver. Some gold, some old. Appreciated her effort to compile her daily journeys but need to work on keeping her readers intrigued and curious. Too bland and boring. But why did I finish it? Because I paid RM20 for this book!
Bahasa yang diguna santai dan bersahaja. Cerita seorang pemandu Grab Wanita. Ada cerita yang bagus tapi lebih banyak yang "meh". Agak teruja pada mulanya tetapi hambar dan kecewa akhirnya.
99. The Ice Monster by David Walliams, Tony Ross
5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
496 pages
My first book of Walliams! Definitely will not be my last. Read this through just one seating. Loved it! How the story unfolds of Elsie and Woolly, of Dotty and Titch, of Queen Victoria, the Admiral and every characters in this story. You have nothing, without love, indeed.
100. Penang, Here I Come! by Pami Ismail
3 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
107 pages
A few glaring mistakes. Direct translations from BM, I guess. Then contradiction in the ferry dates. And you wasted the whole day of Day 5 in a big outdoor playground that you can find somewhere else??? There are many other places of interests that should have been covered too, like the Batu Ferringhi night Market, the many beautiful temples there etc.
101. Perak, Here I Come! By Sylvia Chin
4 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
107 pages
Read the English version, "Perak, Here I come!" which has not been submitted to Goodreads it seems. I found interesting information on places I haven't been in Perak, plus points there. Love how the food recommendations came under its own few pages. And only a woman will include shopping places as highlights, unlike that previous travel comics I read.
102. Singapura, Aku Datang! Oleh Benny Rachmadi
3 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
99 pages
103. John Henry, Hammerin' Hero: The Graphic Novel (Graphic Spin) by Stephanie True Peters
(Adapter), Nelson Evergreen (Illustrator)
3 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
40 pages
104. The Emperor's New Clothes: The Graphic Novel by Stephanie True Peters
(Adapter), Jeffrey Stewart Timmins (Illustrator)
3 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
33 pages
2. Insults - Lisa Swerling
3. Usik-usik - Kazim
4. Contest - Matthew Reilly
5. The Garden of Evening Mists - Tan Twan Eng
6. The Orpheus Descent - Tom Harper
7. The Ghost Bride - Yangsze Choo
8. The Demonologist - Andrew Pyper
9. The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss
10. Sorcerer to the crown - Zen Cho
11. The Warehouse - Rob Hart
12. Atonement - Ian McEwan
13. The Princess Bride - William Goldman
14. The Wise Man's Fear - Patrick Rothfuss
15. Postscript - Cecelia Ahern
16. Malice - Keigo Higashino
17. All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr
18. Paw Patrol - Emily Skwish
19. Finding Cinderella - Colleen Hoover
20. Born A Crime - Trevor Noah
21. George's Marvellous Medicine - Roald Dahl
22. Homer Price - Robert McCloskey