Book Review: Remember Me?

Fiction: Remember Me?
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Genres: Romance, Comedy, Chicklit
Rating: 3/5

I haven't had such fun reading a book in a long time - especially staying up until 2am to finish it. I had expected Remember Me? to be something of the usual, something that mirrored her Shopaholic series, in which the main character carries on as if she wants to buy the whole world.

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I liked Alexia from Remember Me? immensely. She's a girl who suffers from a car crash and wakes up without any idea of what's happened in the last three years. One word: amnesia. The interesting take on this is that the last thing she rememers is that she'd been a pretty average girl with a pretty average job in a pretty average life.

However, waking up in a private chamber of a London hospital, she realizes that she'd changed immensely. She is now two sizes smaller with a beautiful, toned body and gorgeous, unbelievable clothes that she had no way in hell of paying for before. But the most surprising thing of all is that big, fat diamond ring and gold wedding band with her intials carved into it. Yep- she's married; and to a Greek God no less. In three years, she'd gone from nobody to someone with a perfect life.

As great as things may seem, her ventures into this brand new world makes her feel as if she's living the life of a different person. In the fab and glam of it all, she seems to have lost herself. No one's able to answer her questions until, that is, she meets a guy who seems to know everything aout her. Suddenly, nothing's normal. Why in the world does he feel like her other half when she's already married?

Remember Me? is poignant in its narrative of finding an anchor in a lost and almost senseless world. The highlight of the novel is the heroine's road to self-discovery, complimented by the gradual collection of new memories and at the same time mourning the old.

Kinsella was able to bring to life the hopes and fears of an individual with astounding success, and the exploration of human emotions is something that hasn't graced her other works in such a realistic style. I was truly touched by the end of the book, and the only upsetting aspect was that there wasn't more for me to read. This is without doubt a wonderful literary escape.

Ps. Why is there a sunflower on the front cover, you ask? It is the cutest thing ever, and I was so touched by it that I felt like I was falling in love with a fictional character...

You've got to find out yourself!

Six Words

Can you tell a short story in six words?

I recently read a Times article that reminded me of an English class last year. Our teacher asked us to write a short story using six words. Why six? Because Ernest Hemingway once wrote this sentence:

For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

After reading it, I'd say most people's initial confusion would eventually give way to profound understanding (or supposed profound understanding, as the name 'Hemingway' insitutes a direct correlation between awed admiration and the need to associate oneself with such ingenuity, even when personal opinion might differ).

Either way, this short story is a great representation of his literary creativity. It provokes boundless questions from readers - why is someone selling baby shoes, especially ones that haven't been worn?

Could it be that a baby had passed away? Perhaps a woman had miscarried?

And along it, a sense of nostalgia and insight. Six words, and a world of feelings.

I guess I should contribute personally to this discussion by providing my own six words. I would, but I really haven't been able to come up with something worth posting. When you try it yourself, you'll realize how difficult it is to tell a whole story in such a short number of words.

However, maybe I can take a stab at 8 words:

In winter dreams, down summer lanes, sayonara blue.

Can you guess what I'm trying to say?

- Annie

Manga Recommendation: Honey Mustard

Shoujo: Honey Mustard
Author: Yeo Ho Kyoung
Genres: Shoujo, Romance, Comedy
Rating: 6.5/10

I wasn't exactly excited about reading this series, since I had my hands on only one volume. However, the plotline in the one volume was amazingly exciting, setting up the story for lots of action in the future.

A quick summary from TokyoPop: Ara, a pretty high school student, finally gets the chance to cozy up to the guy of her dreams, but she blows it and ends up kissing the wrong boy under fairly compromised circumstances. Hilarious complications, mistaken identities, and misinterpreted signals ensue, and Ara soon finds herself being backed into an arranged marriage she at first wants no part of ...
But, as we all know, one love has a way of blooming in the unlikeliest of places ... and, of course, one love eventually conquers all!

If anyone has ever watched the Korean drama series Delightful Girl Choon Hyang, you can easily spot similarities between the two plots. In fact, I believe the drama is based off the manga, if not the other way around.

Since this isn't a review, I'm not going to delve into the rhetorics of the art and pacing, and only say that this manhwa is worth checking out. It's most suitable for someone who wants a light, enjoyable laugh without too much concentration on serious topics. The only downside I can see is that I've only been able to read one volume, and haven't looked further into the series to see how it progresses as the initial drama dies. Chocolat is an example of a manga that failed miserably after the first volume, but I do not believe Honey Mustard is like that.

- Annie

Published Again!

Hehehe.

I'm happy to say my essay regarding the decline in voter turnout, which I submitted to Elder and Leemaur Publishing, was among the top 3% of over 5000 essays submitted. It was a competition open to high school and university students in the whole of North America.

What does this mean? I'm getting published for the second time! :D

It's going to be in a book called Challenge the Experts, and it will be viewed by an individual panel of judges in late September to determine whether or not I deserve to receive the possible $1000 scholarship.

I'll post the essay on here sometime after it gets published. It's called Couch Potato Conglomerates.

Hehehe.

Book Review: The Ruling Class

More Mean than the Mean Girls

Cat fights aren’t the only deal when girls are pushed to the brink

Fiction: The Ruling Class
Author: Francine Pascal
Genres: Teen, Drama
Rating: 1.5/5

It’s often easy to be swayed by the outward appearance of something to make a faulty judgment of what’s inside. The Ruling Class is like that, a book that at first seemed to be only describing scenes directly from a Mean Girls situation, but turned out to be much more. This book touches on an important issue that plagues almost every girl at least once in her life - bullying. Even though some cases can be more serious than others, it’s something that happens constantly in all age groups. This book – encompassing the backstabbing, intimidation and plain meanness of such people, delivers a riveting account of one girl who isn’t afraid to stand up to them.

Perhaps being a new girl at a rich high school when you’re poor isn’t what most people would consider their best experience in life. In fact, it’s beyond horrible for Twyla Gay Stark, who is constantly being picked on by a group of girls named the Ruling Class. Made up of the stereotypical cheerleaders, superrich snots and a few all too eager suck-ups to Jeanette Sue, their leader, these girls rule the school by terrorizing those they believe are in their way. Unfortunately, Twyla falls into that group. Having been picked on time after time, especially after Jeanette’s boyfriend Ryder shows interest in her, Twyla takes a stand. There is nothing for her to lose anyway.

One of the most outstanding qualities of this book is the feelings it invokes in the reader. As you watch the main character become a target of the Ruling Class, it is hard to extricate yourself from your personal emotions that compel you to take action along with this brave girl. Exasperated, the only thing to do is to flip another page and continue reading. There is also the feeling of satisfaction when Twyla, at certain times, becomes successful and outsmarts them. The fascinating characters and meaningful plotline are especially attractive to those who love teen drama.

Aside from such good qualities, there are certain aspects of this book that can be frowned upon. The circumstances Twyla is faced with often seem just a bit outrageous, which makes everything less convincing. The climax seems hurried and unexpected, in the sense that you wouldn’t have recognized it except for the number of pages that were still left. The falling action is quite weak, and there could definitely have been more strings to tie up the loose ends. However, these drawbacks do not draw away from the existence of a good story and the impact of an inspirational message.

- Annie

Manga Recommendation: Beauty is the Beast

Shoujo: Beauty is the Beast
Author: Tomo Matsumoto
Genres: Romance, Comedy, Shoujo
Rating: 6/10

A stolen summary:

When bubbly eleventh-grader Eimi Yamashita finds out that her parents are relocating for work, she decides to strike out on her own and move into a dormitory for girls. Little does Eimi suspect the exciting romantic adventures that await her there!

Eimi's fellow residents are a little bit crazy but a whole lot of fun. They've got a secret mission planned for Eimi's new resident initiation...and it has something to do with sneaking into the boys' dormitory across the street and returning with a special keepsake! Can Eimi pull it off without getting caught by one of the handsomest (and cruelest) boys in the dorm?

It's not a review, so I shall not go into the details. I'm only recommending it, and saying with all honesty that you should check it out.

I really enjoyed it, mainly because the author could take a very simple, everyday occurance and turn it into an experience. Though I've read pretty original/strange/unique plotlines, this one - which stresses simplicity was able to carry me all the way through till the end. However, I will warn you that you might not be satisfied with the end. I wasn't, but it's nothing to complain about.

I forgot to add this to The List, but if I had to, it would be in the Honorable Mentions.

Manga Review: Chocolat

I started this series today - Chocolat. Five volumes later, I'm reviewing it.

Shoujo: Chocolat
Authors: Written by Shin Ji-sang and illustrated by Geo 
Genres: Romance, Comedy, Shoujo
Rating: 4/10

I hate summaries, so here's one from Wikipedia:

All Kum-Ji wants in life is to meet her favorite boy band, DDL. When she finds that the roster for the fan club is full, Kum-Ji despairs on ever having the chance to meet them face to face. Just when she believes all hope is lost, she decides to con her way into the boy band circuit by faking an interest in another band, Yo-I, and joining their fan club. Once in, she will have access to other bands, including her beloved DDL, who often performs at the same venues. However, even the best laid plans frequently go awry, and her deception is discovered by one of the band members, E-Soh. E-Soh originally decides to blackmail Kum-Ji into doing whatever he wants, but he never planned on falling in love!

I enjoyed myself reading the first volume. After that, it took an effort to concentrate. I was not impressed by the storyline, as there was nothing amazingly original, nor was there anything worth pointing out. So another average girl hits another cliched jackpot. So what? Not to mention, the girl has some serious issues. In possession of one of those bipolar personalities - she stands out for not giving in to the hot guys' charms, and often uses her fists to wreck havoc. But in other circumstances, when she's faced with a group of rapid fangirls, she's back to a crybaby and unwilling to do anything about it. It's so frustrating to see this concept used so consistently in the countless mangas out there! This is why mangas like Hot Blooded Woman stand out, because the girl doesn't get pushed around by other jealous fangirls.

On the other hand, I did like the art, not to mention the bishies. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have continued to read it. There were quite a few moments when I laughed aloud, as well. If there is anything that even slightly saves the day - it's the comedy.

Of course, it's not as hilarious as Girl Got Game (that one had me rolling on the ground), this one gave me quite a few chuckles.

If you're going to read it - be prepared for a sagging plotline (it becomes pointless after the first volume or two), and an annoying main character who is so juvenile that it hurts, and of course, some pretty boys - the selling point.

Complete

My goodness.

The deadline I gave myself was Friday. Wait - today is friday.

Well, it feels like I finished early.

Exactly 337 pages. Of my novel. Completed. From prologue to epilogue. Three years.

Completed.

Finally.

Hair!

Though I've dedicated this blog to books, manga, etc, I don't believe that my personal life is too out of the ball park. Sure, my life isn't as exciting or memorable as the stories in all the mangas and novels, but it does get a little out of hand sometimes.

So, I'm going to tell a little story - about my hair.

My hair is very thick, as thickness goes. I cut it last year, and it grows quite slowly, so I'm pretty uptight about not cutting it until I have another one of those fantasies in which I am riding on the back of a speeding motorcycle and my short, sexy hair is fluttering in the wind.

Right now, it's probably four or five inches past my shoulder, and I'm ok with it. But at one point less than a month ago, I was definitely not ok with it.

I'd just washed my hair - perhaps half an hour ago, and it was pretty much dry. I was one of those people who doesn't brush their hair until they remember to brush it (as opposed to out of habit), and so when I stepped into the washroom to comb it through, I intended to be quick about it.

I had one of those heavy-duty (if that even applies to brushes), curling brushes. The big, round ones - with tiny spikes.

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I was at the left side of my head when the brush got stuck. I'm not going to go into detail regarding how I got it stuck, because I'm not so sure myself, but I probably didn't comb it through before lifting it out and up to repeat the procedure.

So the brush got stuck - really close to my head. At first I was completely calm and professional (and by that I mean I wasn't screaming or anything). I tried untangling it - I really did. I simply got myself in a bigger mess. There was no one I could go to, for I lived alone at the time.

Ten minutes later, I was still by myself, stalking the bathroom, and trying the yank the thing out of my hair. You can totally see how that would go downhill, as opposed to actually being somewhat productive. It hurt too. If I took my hand away, the brush stayed there. It looked like a humongous lump on the side of my head - while pulling all my hair out.

At that time, I named it "the monster", because it was eating up my energy, my patience, my intelligence (as I thought about all the possible ways of dealing with this monstrosity)... and my hair.

Next step - I tried washing it. Goodness gracious, let's not go down that road. I stood right outside the bath tub, put only my head in, and turned on the showerhead. I'm cringing as I write, because that was such a wrong move. My hair was now wet. And tangled. Overall, in worse shape than before.

I brought out the hair dryer and started blowing.

I admit, I'd changed a couple of levels from being "calm" into "panicky". Not only did the whole bathroom floor get soaked with water, I had a consistent flow of healthy images in which my hairdryer (plugged into the wall right beside me) starts fizzing up and electrocutes me.

But I survive that part. Half an hour later, my arm very tired from holding the thing up, I'd tried nearly everything except the one thing I didn't want to do. And so, I walked around the house, looking for other inspirational ideas to fight "the monster".

During my psychoanalysis, I took notice of the spikes of the brush. They were the "teeth" that wouldn't let go of my hair. Suppose, I thought to myself, I cut off all the spikes of the brush. Would that work?

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I put on a face of bravery towards the daunting task before me. There were probably a hundred or so of those spikes. I finally took out a pair of scissors, with absolute conviction that it wasn't going anywhere near my hair (like that was possible), and it was only going to cut the spikes off of the brush.

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Looking back, if those spikes were made of rubber or something, I might have actually succeeded. But they were something close to iron. Scissors, obviously, did not work against them.

And so, as I sat beside the sink in my bathroom... the tears started coming on. I am so embarassed to admit this, but I guess it adds to the story. If I'd known what was waiting in store for me an hour earlier when I walked into the bathroom, I'd probably not touch my hair for two weeks.

There I was, bawling my eyes out, questioning the great Heavens why I was being treated so horribly; shadowed by what could only be bad luck.

Soaked in self-pity, I took out the pliers. One by one, I started wiggling each of the "tooth" out of "the monster".

Can you imagine me? Sitting on the bathroom counter, tears streaming down my face, a humongous lump on the side of my head, a pair of pliers tugging out bits of iron...

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How on earth did I manage to get myself into this situation?

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As I continued my ill-fated journey, I came to a certain self-acceptance.

Simply put, I accepted what had befallen me, and was prepared to deal with the consequences.

Ok. Change that last sentence into:

Screw this BS. I was sick and tired of having dangerous instruments with me alone in the washroom, weeping with hatred. If I was going down that road in the first place, I'd have a razor in my hand, not pliers.

Next thing I knew, I'd snatched my pair of scissors to start chopping away at my hair. It only took one minute (or less), and the brush was out. As well as a whole bunch of hair.

I looked into the mirror. I'd officially labeled myself as a freak... as if I wasn't a freak in the first place for going through all that drama and ending up with the same result. I cut bangs for myself too.

So now? I have half a small muchroom cut on the left side of my head, uneven bangs, and significantly less hair (which isn't too bad of a thing).

But I'm not a pessimist. With a clip and some hopeful wishing that the people around me are blind, I function as well as I used to.

Well... that was just one of those defining moments of my life. I have a couple more, but I guess I'll save them for later.

Hopefully you enjoyed a few chuckles at my expense,
- Annie

Olympics

Wow.

Don't know how I've managed not to talk about the Olympics up until now.

Yesterday night, at approximately 12:00am, I was sitting on the edge of the sofa, gripping onto the side for dear life, and hardly breathing.

I was watching the Women's Gymnastics team finals.

I couldn't believe what took place before my eyes. It was soooo dramatic! Better than a good movie. It was mainly between the U.S. and China (I was watching NBC, so it was especially about the U.S. team), and I couldn't believe I was gasping away along with the audience.

Well, the first thing was the actual moves they pulled off. For me, the scariest is the balance beam. All that jumping on something similar to a tightrope.... amazing.

The girls of both teams did really well. And I mean REALLY WELL. The race was pretty close too, except at the very end.

I think in this case, it's hardly a case of skill, but rather a case of nerves, optimism and delivery. All your competitors are in top shape, millions of people are staring at you (19 000 are there personally to stare at you) and this event embodies the pinnacle of your career. Imagine the pressure! I get shivers just thinking about it.

Though the United States won silver, they were very, very close. Nastia Lukin, wow. That girl got 16.9/17 for the bars. That's gotta be something to be proud of.

And the Chinese won gold. They deserved it, as was said by the NBC commentator. One of the girls, I don't know her name, but she was the all-around gymnast... I was blown away by her. How could anyone be so amazing onstage... I don't know.

It was definitely a thrill watching the Olympics last night.

On another note, Michael Phelps just became the first person in history to win the most career gold medals (11 at this point), and going on to win the most gold medals at a single Olympics (8, was it?)

I am speechless, watching him swim. He makes it look so easy 'cause he's so relaxed! Everybody else is flailing around him, and he's just going steadily on. Goodness, he broke like 50 World Records. And what does he do after winning the 11th gold medal (I wonder if it's possible to ever be tired of standing on the podium)? He easily takes off his swimming goggles, looks at the board and seems slightly angry that he broke the World Record by less than he wanted to.

I have wonder if he's the best swimmer this world has ever seen...

Also, South Korea is doing REALLY well right now. It's third behind China and the States with 6 Golds. I'd have thought it would be Russia or Germany (from past Oympics), but I'm pretty proud of them. There was this swimmer (forgot his name), that fell into the pool right before the race started at the 2004 Olympics and GOT DISQUALIFIED. Goodness, that must have felt so bad. He was really embarrassed too.

Anyway, this year, he went and won the first gold medal in swimming for South Korea. I think anyone in the world, no matter what nationality, would have been proud of him.

There are so many other stories I have regarding the olympics, but I'll save that for another time.

I'm finished Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs, and have decided not to do a review. I think I'm doing too many book reviews at this point. I'd like to focus a bit more on manga.

Yesterday, I discovered the manga Kakan no Madonna. I REALLY, REALLY liked it. It reminds of Red River/Anatolia Story so much. But of course, nothing I've found could actually compare.

I am not reading this post over. I don't have grammer check, spell check, etc etc. So, spot anything wrong, Comment or Shout me.

Manga Recommendation: The List

I've been referring to a "List" in some of my posts. I'm recommending the TOP 10 SHOUJOS on that "List" for me, including some other titles. However, things aren't set in stone. I might change the list today, tomorrow, never, who knows? One thing is for sure: You've GOT to check them out.

Note: They're in no particular order (I'm thinking of them as I go along).

TOP 10 SHOUJOS/ WINNERS

Hana Yori Dango

One of those timeless masterpieces. If you haven't heard of it now... I'm amazed. It's spawned the creation of countless dramas (4, in both China and Japan), an anime, and anime movie. It seems that Korea is planning to make another drama based off of this wonderful work.

Basically, it's about this poor girl who stands up to these 4 tough, super rich guys at her prestigious school. Before you know it, she's crushing on one of them and another one's crushing on her.

Hana Kimi

Similar to Hana Yori Dango in the overwhelming response it's received from fans around the world. Basically, it's about a girl whose admiration for a world-class high jumper causes her to dress up as a guy and attend the all-boys school he goes to. Guess what? They even end up as roommates. Hehehe.

Anatolia Story/ Red River

Not much more I can say about this title apart from reiterating that it's awesome. Perhaps my favourite manga of ALL TIME. And that's really saying something, as I've read too many mangas to count.

Best described by my review. Click Here.

Itazura Na Kiss
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Whenever I think about this manga, I smile. It's such a bittersweet work of art that continually makes my heart pound. First of all, I'd like to point out that the drawing/art is horrible. Yes, it's horrible, sketchy and will probably hurt your eyes. But ignore all that. Because the plotline is either my favourite of all time, or at least the second.

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It's about a girl who has a crush on the smartest, cutest, most popular guy at school. When she confesses by giving him a love letter, he doesn't even read it. She thinks that's the end. But it's not. Through weird, fantastic circumstances, she ends up living at his house...

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For once, it's not about some lovesick average little girl hitting the jackpot at first glance with the most awesome guy. I mean, does that even happen in real life? Not every girl's story is a Cinderella story, and I just had a lot of fun reading about one that wasn't.

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Koukou Debut
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Sometimes I wonder if everyone can relate to the usual, cute little girl with absolutely no backbone. Because I can't. I hate reading about girls whose only goal in life is to snatch up a handsome guy and crying and wailing when that doesn't work out. I love strong characters. This manga has one of them, and I suppose she's relatable more than most I've seen so far.

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It's about this girl who has trouble getting guys. So she asks one of the most popular guys in school to help train her. He agrees, but first tells her, "don't fall for me." Like that's possible. Hehehe.

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H2O

I bet many of you haven't heard of this one. I came upon it one day during my endless browsing for good manga titles. I'm not sure if it belongs in my top ten, but I have to admit that there must be something special about it for me to think of it now.

There are two plots to this story. Two girls and two guys. Ok, it's hard to describe. You've got to check it out for yourself. I simply love the poignancy and the artistic abilities of the author.

Hot Blooded Woman
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I've already recommended the author - Hwang Mi Ri, and this is really the reason I came to enjoy all of her works. When I first heard of the title - Hot Blooded Woman, I got goosebumps. Why? Because the name was probably the worst name you could possibly name a manga series. Who'd want to read it after hearing that? But, despite everything telling me "It'll suck! Just look at the name", I decided to check it out.

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It turned out that you can't judge anything based on the name or the cover. Just because the author screwed up with naming the series doesn't mean the whole lot of drawing isn't good.

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Anyway, it was wonderful. There are so many underlying currents I never got about this series until I finished and thought it over. For the very first time, a manga series made me think. That has to say something. Not to mention, I just absolutely adored the storyline. Stop reading this recommendation, and check it out for yourself!

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100% Perfect Girl

This is the reason for this website. Ok, maybe not the reason, but the inspiration behind the name - J is looking for J. You've got to read my first post to understand anything.

I loved it more than I probably should've. There is so much drama - I cried. And I laughed. And .... WOW. It completely blew me away. It was such an awesome literary escape, I was speechless after reading all the chapters that were available to me.

Some might complain about all the seemingly impossible circumstances that the main character, Jay, is thrown into, but I just think that it makes for an awesome read. Again, no summary for you. So that means you've better check it out now.

Mars
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This is probably the deepest, most meaningful manga I've ever read. It simply dealt with everything - life, death, love, hatred....

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I can go on and on about this manga, but if you want the truth, it's hard to find the right words to describe it. Simply put - if you want an experience, not just two minutes of a quick escape, this is what you're looking for. It'll leave you emotionally impaired, and yet at the same time, fulfilled. It's one of those timeless mangas that becomes much more than just pages of art. It becomes a story that'll stay with you for a long, long time.

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The Bride of the Watergod
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This title is probably the one I'm the most unsure of being on THE LIST. I haven't read enough of it to make a very good judgment, because for all I know, it could suck really badly later on. So far, Oh My Goodness. The art is the BEST I've ever seen.

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I have never seen anything SO well drawn. Every page can be entered into an art competition and win. That's the main reason this title is here - simply looking at it (not even reading), makes me breathless.

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On another note, the storyline so far is very good too. I'm beginning to feel more secure in my awarding this series such a prestigious space on my website. :D

~*~

I guess I should show you what I mean (these would make great backgrounds):

Some that almost made it/ The shortlist:

Basara (Too political for me, very similar to Anatolia Story)

From Far Away (Also very similar to Anatolia Story, but not as good)

Snow Drop (Loved it. I just wished that there would be some more characters that could have supported the main characters in the development of both personality and romance)

Marmalade Boy (Some would argue that this is better than H2O or some other titles I've listed in the top ten. They might be right on some accounts, but I just never saw what made the girl so great that the guy overlooked every single girl he'd ever encountered just to be with her)

My Girl (I had a great time reading this. It's definitely worth checking out)

Sugar Addiction (After I finished, I couldn't believe I'd come across it through browsing, and not through some sort of recommendation. So I'm recommending it)

They, Too, Love (It's a manhwa with a very original perspective of telling a story. Quite a fun, enjoyable read)

Peach Girl (A lot of people liked this, so I thought I'd check it out. It fulfilled my expectations. I wasn't too excited about some parts, though)

Vampire Knight (One of the most popular titles right now, I know. I gotta give it to them, it's an interesting story)

Bokura Ga Ita (This one is interesting in the sense that it's much more realistic than most mangas. The art is very well done and chewed off half of my hand looking for more)

No way in hell would have made it, but were enjoyable/ Honorable Mentions:

Girl Got Game (Ok, this shouldn't even by under Honorable Mentions by a long shot, but I just had a really good time cracking over the absolutely hilarious parts)

Fruits Basket (I never got over the fact that the girl was so juvenile with her impossibly huge eyes... the art bugged me to death)

Akuma de Souru (It's a good story, but I kept on getting bored and looking for other stuff to read)

Goong (Drawings = amazing. Story = ~so so~. Overall, something you should take a look)

Hot Gimmick (Despite what some reviewers say, it's not a pointless story that only revolves around smut. I'd say also drama. I'm not against drama. And I like smut at appropriate places. If it doesn't belong in this list, then it belongs in the Shortlist)

You're So Cool (Reminds me of Sugar Addiction. Very good manhwa overall)

Kiss in the Blue (I loved this manga. It's not shortlisted because I'm not 100% sure it belongs there. But almost)

Legend of Nereid (Again, similar to Anatolia Story)

Lovely Complex (It is the most comedic, romantic, cute read ever. It breaks a lot of the overused plotlines and cliches. Check this one out for sure)

Yaya (I kept on trying to remember the name of this series. I love this type of drawing, and the plotline kept me interested the whole way through)

Ao No Fuuin (by the same author of Anatolia Story/ Red River, which in itself should be checked out)

Vanilla Ice (It's the name that stuck with me, more than anything else. The plotline is very unique and original - something I haven't seen in quite a while. Definitely worth checking out)

Want You (Hwang Mi Ri again. I loved this series. Almost shortlisted)

~*~

Finally, at the end of this post...
Arguably, Angel Sanctuary, Fushigi Yuugi, Glass Mask, W-Juliet and several other works (as I'm sure other people will start pointing out to me) could have made any of the lists. I cannot judge as I have not read them. The lists were only compiled based on what I've read up till now.

On another note, maybe I've forgotten some awesome titles that should be pointed out/ mentioned/ fits on any of the lists. There are too many works floating around my head, and it's hard to think of them all. If you notice anything, comment and point them out to me.

Book Review: To Catch a Pirate

More Valuable than a Kiss
A swashbuckling adventure sure to keep you to the edge of your seat

Fiction: To Catch a Pirate
Author: Jade Parker
Genres: Adventure, Romance
Rating: 2.5/5

This page-turner is a quick and happy read. It has a very compelling plotline that moves along at a very fast pace. Even though this book conforms to the stereotypical view of pirate adventures, the ingenuity of such convincing situations is sure to sweep you off your feet.

On a ship with her father to New Providence, Annalisa Townsend is suddenly thrown into a world of action and adventure when her ship is boarded by pirates. Trading a kiss for her life, she is saved by a young pirate named James Sterling. However, her father is in grave trouble for losing the money they had to the pirates. One year later, Annalisa is back on the seas to take back what they had lost. Only this time, she had unwillingly put her heart on the line.

For such a short book, it takes a talented writer to fully develop attractive characters and sizzling situations, as it is in this case. The reader is often mesmerized by Annalisa’s innocence and James’ mysterious nature. It’s easy to be fooled by the daring exploits of the couple and for precious moments, believe that you’re apart of this incredible story.

Like all books, this novel also has its drawbacks. Despite the fact that the whimsical characters do more than just play their roles in the book, the fiction does not always satisfy the reader’s curiosity. There is an unfulfilled feeling of not been given enough to chew on when the reader wants to know more – especially about the backgrounds of the characters. However, it might not be a bad thing, as readers are more willing to learn more about these amazing people thrust into daring circumstances. We can only wish that there will be a next book.

- Annie

Manga Recommendation: Author - Hwang Ri Mi

Author: Hwang Ri Mi

Avg. Rating of Her Works: 7/10

Selected Works:

• Deep Kiss
• Die or Like Me
• Hoosamguk High
• Hot Blooded Woman
• Imitation Love
• Legend of Nereid
• Love SOS
• The Sexy Simpleton
• New Sexy Simpleton
• The Descendant of the Dynasty
• Want You

My first recommendation is my favourite manga/manhwa author: Hwang Ri Mi. I was not impressed by her art at first (the weird eyelids, choppy lines, unexpressive expressions). However, after reading 10 pages of Hot Blooded Woman, I knew that the manhwa was something special. The storylines are extremely good. Hwang Ri Mi likes to do "school-life" plots, and it's usually for a more mature young adult audience. The characters are very relatable (as much as the circumstances are not), and there is a certain addictiveness that keeps you reading late into the night. After reading HBW by her, I checked out many other titles by her. I have to say, I became one of the thousands (or millions, who knows?) of fans out there. Out of all other authors out there, she has the most number of mangas on my "Memorable List". Her works are definitely something to check out.

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Book Review: Darkwing

I don't usually lavish praises like what you'll see below, but I wrote this as a positive review. That means I didn't write the paragraph containing what I dislike about it (which is suggested for reviews). Therefore, this book review is a little biased. Don't start thinking that Darkwing is better than Silverwing, because it's not. However, it's still a pretty good book. Oppel's bat series can be compared to Watership Down - in the sense I'd like try being a rabbit or bat for a day or two.

Fiction: Darkwing
Author: Kenneth Oppel
Genres: Young Adult, Adventure, Historical, Animals
Rating: 3.25/5

Darkwing brings to life the hauntingly poignant memories of Kenneth Oppel’s previous works. As the fourth book describing the incredible tales of lifelike bats, it sets itself apart by bringing with it a sense of wonder and imagination equaling its predecessors. It is remarkable how the vivid adventures of the protagonist are not only able to capture the audience’s attention but also able to win over the hearts of minds of the readers. Darkwing is the rare type of novel that can be enjoyed by everybody, regardless of their inclinations.

65 million years ago, Dusk is a newborn bat in a world where only the strongest and fittest survive. Unfortunately, though he is born to a colony sheltered within the boundaries of an almost paradise, he has certain attributes that mark him as the outcast of his society. The fact that he can fly and see in the dark pits him against the conventional characteristics of his bat colony. However, when things begin to change and their perfect haven is not nearly so desirable anymore, Dusk is the only one with the power to save them. He is the only one who can lead his kind a step away from extinction.

Proven over and over again, Kenneth Oppel has the ability to bring to life fantastical characters that are easy to relate to. His refreshing take on a time so different from today is only a fraction of his achievement, for he should also be applauded for keeping the story fast-paced and appealing. Simply put - Darkwing transcends the borders of age and preference and establishes itself as a fiction worth reading and keeping.

- Annie

Book Review: All Quiet on the Western Front

I've decided to first add some content to this blog before continuing with the layout. This means taking some old reviews out of the drawers and dusting and polishing them a bit for this site. There will be reviews of classics, though I don't think I'm going to do them in this format. I'll play around with a more consistent one later.

Fiction: All Quiet on the Western Front
Book by: Erich Maria Remarque

Genres: Historical, War

Rating: 3.5/5

In a little dark corner of the library, wedged between imposing hard-covers, sits a book that holds unimaginable power. This slight, flimsy novel is called All Quiet on the Western Front, written by Erich Maria Remarque and published in 1929. Looking at those four tiny numbers, you might wonder if it’s another old, grotesque narrative with moth-bitten English that you’ll find feeding the dust bunnies underneath your bed in a week. Well, far from it.

It is a book that presents World War One through the eyes and mind of one German schoolboy-turned soldier, Paul Baumer. Refreshingly, it’s different from the victorious perspective that we are usually associated with. The German boy, fresh out of high school, is swept up by the war and thrown into front-line trenches along with others from his class. It is through his eyes that we see Germany ripped apart; his hometown, family and friends taken away from him one by one.

There are funny parts and sad ones, describing every aspect the war and excluding nothing that pertained to his experiences and feelings. Through Baumer’s entertaining stories, we are able to understand that the war was everything to him and his generation. Before the war, he had neither a job nor a family of his own. During the war, all he knew was to kill and the terror of being killed. To him and others his age, the opportunity of life afterwards was bleak. The war took everything from him, and yet without it, he would have nothing.

“This book shows us very clearly that war is something else: war is not about heroism, but about terror, either waiting for death, or trying desperately to avoid it, even if it means killing a complete stranger to do so, about losing all human dignity and values, about becoming an automaton; it is not about falling bravely and nobly for one’s country, but about soiling oneself in terror under heavy shellfire, about losing a leg, crawling blinded in no man’s land, or being wounded in every conceivable part of the body.”

This novel does not spin or weave or tell its story to the reader. It shares the horrors and delights of something that took the lives of millions and made others that much richer. We laugh with Baumer as he skirts an exploding shell unscathed while carrying a stack of hot potato pancakes. We cry with him when he sits peacefully by a dying comrade, waiting for him to die so he can get the leather boots. All Quiet on the Western Front does not try to persuade or change the views of its reader. It only shows what happened to one particular soldier in World War One, with his happiness and grief, his insecurities and dreams.

- Annie

Origin of the Manga Review

First of all, what is manga?

From Wikipedia:

Manga (in kanji 漫画; in hiragana まんが; in katakana マンガ, Manga?) listen (help·info) is the Japanese word for comics (sometimes called komikku コミック) and print cartoons. In their modern form, manga date from shortly after World War II but have a long, complex history in earlier Japanese art.

You get the picture. However, Manga Recommendations will not only about manga, but also manhwa, comics and basically illustrated literature. Based on my personal preferences, I will mainly be focusing on Shojo, but of course, Shonen will always be welcomed.

Origin of the Book Review

Books are a part of human life. It's something you can't get away from even if you want to (and who in the world would want to?).

I have loved reading ever since I was young, and continue to enjoy them on a daily basis. If you're here, I'm betting you also like them.

Therefore, Book Reviews will be here to bring you all the books that have caught my eye, are special, stand out in some way, etc, etc...

Hope you check back often for the updates!

Young Voices

I'm getting published in Young Voices! Cool, isn't it?

My short story - A New Face in a New Country won the entitlement. To be honest, I wrote this between the summer of grade eight and grade nine, so it wasn't exactly my best piece ever. However, when I thought about stories I could send to the Toronto Public Library annual young adult magazine, this was one of my only stories that delt with a topic that seemed appropriate.

I think you can guess what the topic is about just by looking at the title. It's very short (approx. 500 words) detailing the first day of school for a Romanian girl who just arrived (in Canada?)... it really could be anywhere. She goes on to being humiliated, but in the end finding a good friend.

Cheesy, huh? Well, it's not my usual cup of tea, but my fingers were itchy to try out a lot of stuff back then. I've explored a variety of genres since then, including an awesome love story that all of my friends like. It just goes on to show how I've changed.

On another note, this is my first time being published (I think... if you don't count letters to the ed. and all that stuff). I'm looking forward to seeing it in print.

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Q&A

I came across these questions a while ago. They were interesting so I stopped to answer them.

1. Do you have any fixed time to write your stories?

Nope. Though I like writing in the morning and working throughout the day as opposed to starting at night. However, that can't really be helped with school work and stuff like that.

2. Do you need any special stationery or type of paper for writing purposes?(maybe ink, stone, wood, cloth etc... to each one's own devices...) OR, do you use the laptop/ desktop, instead?

Hardly. I write on anything and everything. My writing is scribbled all over the place and it's hard to find them afterwards. I love using the laptop, but i type faster than the speed my ideas come to me. That's a problem because half the time I'm just sitting there and thinking. And when I'm just sitting there, I get easily distracted. So oftentimes, I write on paper and then transfer it onto the computer.

3. Do you any beverages/food to accompany you during these times?

A can of sprite is awesome.

4. Do you use music? or Is music your main influence?

No, I find it's distracting sometimes. I like the quiet, so I can focus on what's happening in the story as opposed to what the lyrics are. I have tried it many times... I find that my work quality decreases in those cases.

5. Do you need to write everything down in one sitting or more?

Never. Unless whatever it is happens to be due the next morning, I don't usually do everything in one sitting. I usually do a rough, look over it and leave it for a while. I'll come back to it with a fresh mind for the good copy.

6. Do you have your own muse?

He/she (transvestite, I suppose) lives in my head. Heshe doesn't come out often, but if there's some food and a sprite nearby, Heshe takes over and pours out ideas on every writable surface. No.

7. Do you keep a notebook/diary for listing any sudden inspiration?

Most of the time no. However, if I do happen to come across something amazingly interesting, I will find paper and pencils to record it down. I don't walk around with a pad of paper in my hand (though I bet I'd be more productive if I did).

What Makes a Good Book (Part 1)

What makes a good novel? When I was young, I would read anything. Anything and everything. Basically, I've seen my share of books. Then... I became picky. I would no longer read works of fiction that wasn't good in a way I liked. I'd rather not waste my time reading stuff that I'd be unsatisfied with in the end. So what do I look for in a novel??

Characters:

I look for someone who I can relate to. Once I've attached myself to him/her, I'm basically inseparable. So I get pretty heartbroken if the character suddenly changes into a bad guy. Like Nathaniel in the Bartimaeus Trilogy.

I look for someone who is realistic. No matter what world or story it is, there are always imperfections. Or else it would be a utopia... and they all end up burning into ashes at the end anyway. So I like my characters REAL. They've got a real life, real friends, real problems, among others. They make mistakes, but they also learn. They succeed and they fail. I like it when they're not completely perfect.

Plot:

I like a plot that goes my way (as superficial as that sounds). When people end up the way I want them to or when the right side wins in a competition. It gives me a warm feeling inside. I'm not talking about one that's so expected that you know how the book is going to end after you've read the 3rd page. I enjoy one that has lots of unexpected twists and turns, but I like it when I keep on having to guess and then not being too far off the mark.

I really dislike books that the author forces. Let the story flow and take the reader on a spin. Don't make everyone walk one way just because this was how the author planned it in the beginning!

I like most closed endings with the hero prevailing. I know that makes me seem extremely shallow... but I can't help it. Really, it's just because I don't want to cry over a random book I decided to read or spend one night before my exams wracking my head over what could have happened next. I know if these situations do happen to befall me, the book must have been good. However, I just don't like them much. And I avoid them whenever I can.

Climax:

(Yes... it's got its own category. That's because it's really important for me. The climax of a story is when everyone in the story is standing on their tippy toes at the edge of a cliff and waiting for your little finger to push them over. From there, you can basically expect to either find spread wings, broken bones or cracked heads at the base of the cliff.)

I like drama, and I like it when things are fast and exciting. I don't like it, however, when the climax is so fast that it's over before you've even blinked your eyes. I mean, the whole introduction and rising action is supposed to be building up to the climax... how can it end in 2 seconds?? I shall not discriminate and name any books here.

Pace:

I like a pace in which I don't get bored or disinterested. One way to tell if a book's got a good pace is to close your book at a random page and ask yourself if you want to keep on reading if your friends are calling you to go out. Some might think that it's really the content of the story... but I disagree. Every book's got its own good points and interesting parts. It's just the location of these interesting parts that separate the good from the bad. So... if they're perfectly located, you should want to keep on reading.

Conversation/Dialogue:

(Some books don't have conversation. It's rare, I know but take a look at The Little House on the Prairie series. But most books do, and it's also something I look for in a novel.)

I like communication between people that is natural and has a purpose. Let me tell you, every good writer has a purpose for the words they make their characters speak to one another.

Take this for example:

"Have you seen Isabella? Did she leave?" asked John.

"I last saw her at the coke machine. She was talking to Jason, I think," replied Lianne.

This is sort of obvious. The writer might want to use this convo to insinuate that Isabella was with Jason. The way John asks the question also conveys a sort of urgency that sets the mood and tone.

But you might think that you've read some convos that seem completely unnecessary.

Take this for example:

"I've always liked dandelions."

"Is it because you're like one? I prefer roses myself."

Usually, this type of communication is used for character development or to progress the story in a way that's hard to detect. Perhaps the author is using it to expand the relationship between two people or in reference to a hidden symbol.

I don't like trashy stuff that are filled with convos with no meaning. Dialogue that is both witty and requires reader involvement is something that can only be achieved through practice.

There's a lot more to consider for WHAT MAKES A GOOD BOOK, but those are saved for later.