The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Selasa, 22 November 2016

Random House Children's Books | November 2016 | 384 pgs

Source: Purchased

This is a story about love, fate and the universe. Wait, you'd probably wonder: What has the universe got to do with what seems like a YA love story here? Everything. It revolves around this Earth, the connections among people, humanity, and of course the characters in this story. 

Natasha believes in science and facts, not fate. She definitely does not foresee herself meeting a boy and falling in love with him. To be in love requires chemistry between two people and that definitely falls under the science department, isn't it? But Natasha isn't worried about love and relationship, she has more things to worry; such as her family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica after her father's DUI which led them being discovered for undocumented immigrants. Natasha doesn't want to leave America; how could they when they have spent most of their time and life here, doing what everyone is and living the days as they go by. 

Daniel's parents are from South Korea but have moved to America with the help of a relative who'd been doing well for himself in NYC. Daniel and his older brother, Charlie, were born in America. Daniel has always been the family's good son, unlike Charlie. He is also a good student too; and one who live by their parents' high expectations although he does have his own dreams. But seeing Natasha changes all that. There is something about her that makes Daniel think that love at first sight (or second sight) exists and that it happens despite Natasha's skepticism. 

As Daniel and Natasha connect through their conversations, they found out that not only love is magical and involves chemistry (yep, definitely science here) but also the endless possibilities in the universe. These led them (as well as this reader) into pondering about the every moment in our lives might have brought us to a single moment which may change our life or see things in a new light. The possibilities are endless... which one would we be it? 

I also loved Nicola Yoon's insightful views when she wrote about immigrants, whether they are undocumented or not. What really makes this novel about connections is aside from the two lead characters, readers also get to know the perspectives from a few people surrounding Daniel and Natasha and how they will impact them, or vice versa. I found myself teary-eyed when I turned the final page because it was a moving story and a meaningful one as well.

� 2016 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

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The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia

Selasa, 08 November 2016

Imprint | October 2016 | 384 pgs

Source: Purchased 

The Lovely Reckless is a YA contemporary romance filled with complex characters, fast street racing scenes and enough suspense to keep me racing through this book from beginning to end. 

Seventeen-year-old Frankie Devereux is a cop's daughter. Her father works as an undercover with the Regional Auto Theft Task Force and his job is to bring down those car thieves and cracks their operations. Frankie leads a privileged life in the Heights with her mother and her stepdad until a reckless drunk driving forces her to leave her beautiful life behind. Frankie is a good girl who lives by her parents' standards but the death of her boyfriend haunted her and she wishes she has remembered the face of the assaulter who had killed Noah. Her reckless behaviour leads her to moving in with her dad; where she will transfer to a public school in the Downs where fistfights and illegal street racings are not uncommon within the neighbourhood. 

Marco Leone is the complete opposite of Frankie's perfect late boyfriend. He is tough, but he also oozes charm and confidence which Frankie couldn't ignore. Frankie doesn't want to get involved with him, but an incident has thrown them together and Frankie begins to see a new side of him the more they spend their time together. However, Marco does some wrong things but for some right reasons and this has put a strain to their relationship. After all, Frankie's dad is a cop and he has all the rights to put Marco behind bars no matter whatever his reasons are. Then, there is the case which Frankie needs to remember who had murdered Noah and what risks she should undertake to make things right again. 

The Lovely Reckless has a nice combination of romance and actions enough to set my heart racing. Issues like stereotypes and misconceptions are presented into this story so that not everything is black and white as we see. This was a wonderful love story but the emotions it evoked is more memorable.

� 2016 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

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Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier

Kamis, 06 Oktober 2016

Scholastic Inc., | September 2016 | 256 pgs

Source: Purchased 

This graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier tells a story about the dead and the Mexican culture of honouring the day of the dead. But that is not all, it also tells a story about sisterly love, friendship and conquering your fears. 

Catrina and her family are leaving their home in Northern California to a laid back old town in Bahia de la Luna (this place was inspired by the foggy coastal Northern California where the artist grew up.) The reason for the move is that Cat's younger sister, Maya, is suffering from cystic fibrosis (a genetic disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, making breathing difficult and leading to frequent infections. There's no cure for this and at times patients need breathing tube to administer more oxygen and that extra nutrition have to be delivered through a port in their bellies while they sleep) and that they think Maya will benefit from the cool, salty air blows in from the sea. 

Cat isn't pleased about the move at first; after all she misses her friends, the convenience and the familiarity of her home town but she tells herself she will get used to it for the sake of Maya. They got to know their neighbour and their son, Carlos, who seems to know a lot of things about ghosts and finding the places of seeing them. While Maya is thrilled and is determined to meet one, Cat wants nothing to do with them. As Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) comes where the ghosts reunite with their loved ones, Cat tells herself she will go, for everything as well as for Maya since her condition doesn't allow her to. 

What turns out eventually is not only Cat conquers her fear but also getting to know more about the deceased who roam about in Bahia de la Luna (they aren't scary at all and are such friendly and enthusiastic ghouls). Raina Telgemeier wonderfully captures the (windy and foggy) atmospheric setting and Cat's emotions and her reminiscences of her late grandmother. And finally I have to share this note from Raina: "Making peace with your ghosts is as profound as the idea of life itself. And at the end of the day, love transcends life and death."

� 2016 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

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Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Selasa, 27 September 2016

Bloomsbury Childrens | August 2012 | 432 pgs

Source: Purchased

I took a little break from thrillers featuring unlikeable and unreliable characters and dived into this YA fantasy series; a story about the journey and adventures of an eighteen-year-old girl who is trained as an assassin and has slaved at the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier until she is given a chance to win her freedom - to represent the Crown Prince of Adarlan in a to-the-death tournament. The winner will be the King's Champion and will abide by his orders for future (assassinating) missions.

Calaena Sardothien is Adarlan's most notorious assassin, and perhaps the greatest in all of Erilea. Calaena knows it's a lose-lose situation no matter which path she chose - it's too torturing working at the salt mines (she has some scars to prove) and she couldn't fathom the thoughts of serving the King who has ruined her country but at least she has the chance of gaining her freedom. And so there begins her training before the duel comes. During her time spent at the training, she gradually became friends with the Crown Prince, Dorian Havilliard, and the Captain of the Guard, Chaol Westfall. While the former loves teasing her, the latter is cold and calm though he is protective of her.

When the other competitors are a threat to her, especially a particular sly and arrogant soldier named Cain, Calaena soon realises that there is something dark and sinister which is the real threat, for her competitors ended up dead one by one and they all died gruesomely. No one knew how or why they were murdered but Calaena is certain of one thing, that some evil force is at work and she intends to find out the truth before she is the next target.

Although I am late in reading this series, I am not new to Sarah J. Maas' work; after all I enjoyed her Court of Thorns and Roses series and can't wait for the third installment to release next year. This first installment of the Throne of Glass series wowed me in many levels. The world building, the plot and the characterisation are all very well done. I enjoyed reading the interactions between Calaena, Dorian and Chaol. Calaena's friendship with Princess Nehemia was also an enjoyable read, as I felt Calaena needs some female companionship and a friend among all the alpha males even though she is not a weakling herself. No, I definitely think Calaena is far more superior when her skills are concerned and nothing could stop her since she has nothing to lose and with that strong dignity of hers. But that is not all, I also liked the idea of the Fae world and the magical element amid the political empire, despite the King banished and outlawed all traces of magic.

I can see why this series is so popular and makes a great fantasy series -  the world building so well constructed by the author, the development of the core characters and finally that wonderful storytelling which had me glued to the pages from the beginning till the end. I can't wait to find out what's in store with the rest of this series.

� 2016 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

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Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm

Jumat, 23 September 2016

Scholastic Inc | August 2015 | 224 pgs

Source: Purchased

The year is 1976, Pennsylvania. 10-year-old Sunny Lewin is supposed to spend her summer vacation with her family at a beach house, but there's some issue at home and she ended up flying down to Florida herself to live with her grandfather for the summer. She is disappointed at first, but thought Florida might be a fun place to visit, after all she could visit Disney World. But her grandfather's place is no fun for a 10-year-old girl; it is a place called "Pine Palms" and is a retirement community for people over 55. Fortunately for her, she met a boy her age there. Buzz's father works as a groundskeeper at Pine Palms and Buzz knows all the fun things to do there (facing off against alligators when they go golf balls picking, rescuing runaway cats and reading all the superheroes comic books they could find).

Sunny Side Up is very much of a reminiscent kind of story and about the simplicity of life living in the late 70s. What I liked about the story:

• the simple introductions of a few superheroes and their qualities 
• Grandpa's witty remarks and his positivity outlook on life
• Pine Palms is very much of a low-end resort with golf course and pools (but no swimming as there are alligators. Hmph!) 
• the tight-knit community where everybody knows everybody and looking out for one another

Finally, the message behind this story over the issue involving substance abuse (drug or alcohol abuse problem), in which Sunny's elder brother is facing and that young readers who are facing these same problems today should reach out to family members and teachers/school counsellors and seek help should they find themselves or anyone having this issue instead of feeling ashamed and scared; and most of all thinking that it is something that has to be kept as secrets. Overall it is a heartwarming story and is suitable to middle grade children without the heavy undertone of the issue mentioned.

� 2016 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

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Charlie, Presumed Dead by Anne Heltzel

Minggu, 31 Juli 2016

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | April 2016 | 272 pgs

Source: Purchased

The story begins with Charlie Price's funeral in Paris, and among the mourners are our two protagonists - Aubrey Boroughs and Lena Whitney. Both girls didn't know each other but they have one thing in common, and that is they are both Charlie's girlfriends. When the two girls found out this shocking truth about Charlie's two-timing them, they decided they should find out more things about his death and the Charlie they didn't know. After all, Aubrey and Lena's personalities differ and it seemed Charlie took on different roles to suit their personality. Aubrey is pretty and cool as a cucumber, while Lena is wild, spontaneous and clingy. 

As much as Aubrey and Lena dislike the idea of "working together", they also knew that they need each other to fill in Charlie's "loopholes" (as in his timeline dating them) and what they have missed by comparing notes. Their search for answers take them across Europe and Asia; their journey becoming more complicated and risky as they find themselves in situations which question not only Charlie's true self but each other's credibility too, for it seemed each girl harbours secrets of her own. 

Charlie, Presumed Dead is a YA suspense and it tells a tale about deception and revenge. The plot is filled with intensity but not fully believable in some circumstances. I found Charlie's method of "death" to be the most far-fetched among all, but I won't elaborate for the risk of spoilers. However, what makes this book a page-turner is the voices of the two girls (we get their narrative alternatively) and the exotic settings as they take readers to places like Kerala, Bombay and Bangkok. While the suspense was great, there are certain parts that are dubious or improbable to believe in my opinion. Still, it was an entertaining read and I've learned something about the various lifestyles and cultures through the protagonists' journey.

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Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier (Silver Trilogy Series #1)

Kamis, 30 Juni 2016

Square Fish | May 2016 | 352 pgs
Translated from the German by Anthea Bell

Source: Purchased

For readers who have read Kerstin Gier's bestselling Ruby Red Trilogy and loved them would be delighted to see her new book - Dream a Little Dream, the first book of The Silver Trilogy. I am new to Gier's books and I figured this book would be a good start of getting to know more about her stories and her writing; plus a story about dreams usually makes an intriguing read, isn't it?

Fifteen-year-old Olivia "Liv" Silver is used to be on the move all the time. Her parents are divorced and Liv, together with her younger sister, Mia, got to live with their mother who is a professor of literary studies and her job requires her to travel frequently as to teach at different universities almost every year. Their latest destination is London. But that is not all, they are going to move into their mother's partner's house; and Mr Earnest Spencer himself has two teenage children - Grayson and Florence. And the two Silver sisters are going to attend the same school as them.

While Liv tries to fit into her new school life, something strange happens when she found out she has gotten into Grayson's dream one night after she had borrowed his sweater. It is a strange dream with mysterious doors but what most intrigued her is finding herself in a graveyard and watching Grayson with his three other friends who tried to conduct a dark magic ritual. Liv thinks nothing about the dream thereafter, but the boys seem to know a few things about her in real life, especially things they couldn't possibly know. How could that be unless they are all in the same dreams?

Dream a Little Dream may be a book about dreams but it has a paranormal/fantasy theme to it. There are some scenes about demonic works but they are not elaborated and I felt there wasn't much elaborations of the world building so I had only this vague understanding that the mystery was revolving around the resurrection of a demon who could grant their wishes if they are to give their oaths and fulfill the seals stated in an ancient book. I thought the overall premise was intriguing but alas, it fell short of character developments and the world building as I had mentioned earlier. However, the good thing is I enjoyed reading the exchanges among the characters and I thought Liv was quite a courageous young lady who isn't afraid to go out of her way to solve a mystery, even if it is a dangerous one.

There is also romance in this story and though there is no triangle love, I felt the romance between Liv and Henry (one of the four popular boys) was a bit rushed. That said, I did like the way Grayson was being protective of Liv, though his main intention remains a puzzle to me and I sensed no romance between them. All in all, it was an enjoyable read given this was the first installment. I am very curious where this story will go given the cliffhanger and hopefully the second installment would be better with the character developments as well as that world building. 

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A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Rabu, 25 Mei 2016

ISBN-13: 9781408857885
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens
Publication Date: May 2016
Format: Paperback, 640 pgs
Source: Purchased

[Contain slight spoilers for A Court of Thorns and Roses]

I enjoyed reading A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) last year; the first book of a new series by bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, who is also well-known for her Throne of Glass series. This second book picks up where it left off from ACOTAR and I've to say it is even better and more intense than the first installment. 

In A Court of Mist and Fury, Feyre continues to face challenges but most often she has questions about her position after her return to the Spring Court and then there is the bargain she had made with Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court after a horrendous battle with the fearful Amarantha (a commander from Hybern) who had left her emotionally broken. 

Though a High Fae now with powers, Feyre remains human at heart and she still couldn't forget what she's done to two innocent faes during her battle with Amarantha and to this day she still has nightmares thinking about her and the powers she had had over her during the battle. 

If the first installment is about Tamlin, High Lord of the Spring Court, then this second installment is all about Rhysand and his role at the Night Court. I mentioned before that I would love to learn more about him and I was glad I have gotten more than enough information about him here. If I had any speculations of him as a person in the past, then this book answered all my questions about him and what made him as he is at present. In fact, what I have learned has far exceeded my perspective of him and it was truly a great reading experience to me because he is such an interesting character. I enjoyed reading more about his world and the few people who are working alongside with him - his Inner Circle, he called them. These secondary characters are significant to the plot and not to mention they made this story so much interesting given their personalities and their history. The world building, the different species of the fae world (be it High Lords, High Faes, Illyrian warriors and spymaster, lesser faeries and other creatures alike. And then there's the King of Hybern) were all so imaginative and a joy to read but truly it was the connection between Feyre and Rhysand, and her role at the Night Court were what made this installment so much outstanding. I also loved it that this book surprised me on many different levels and the emotions they evoked in me while reading a few heartbreaking scenes - simply wow. And mentioning more would be a great spoiler so this is all you got from me. 

Yes, as you can tell I was totally captivated by this second installment. That ending was really something; and I can't wait for the next installment to release quickly!  

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Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell | Misc. Musings

Senin, 16 Mei 2016

ISBN-13: 9781509820832
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Publication Date: February 2016
Format: Paperback, 96 pgs
Source: Purchased

This short story by Rainbow Rowell is part of a handful of selected short reads specially produced for World Book Day and the tale revolves around Star Wars fandom and how friendship/kindred spirits come about when one least expects it. 

Eighteen-year-old Elena is a Star Wars fan. To be exact, it was under her father's influence that she only saw the original trilogy. Anything other than that isn't exactly the "real" movies, at least this is what her father thinks. Well she doesn't mind it anymore if she did watch them now that their parents are separated. And with the new Star Wars movie releasing, she knew she wants to experience the excitement of camping outside the cinema and exchanging news and sharing thoughts with other fans till the opening night. Alas, the queue isn't what she has expected. She is aghast to find she is the last in line but truth be told there are only three people, including herself. 

The two guys in front of her, Troy and Gabe, may be out of her league but over the four days she was with them, she learned a few things about them, especially Gabe. 

Kindred Spirits may be a short story (62 pages) but the characters are quite well developed. I enjoyed the exchanges Elena had with Troy, who is such a huge Star Wars fan that his enthusiasm almost put her to shame. And then there is Gabe, a quiet guy who may not seemed to attract anyone's attention initially but he will grow on you the more you read about him. 

All in all, it was a sweet story about friendship (and potential relationship?) and not to mention Star Wars fandom (well, you don't need to be a fan to enjoy this book). Aside from the cute story, what I admire about Ms. Rowell is the way she could spin off stories out of our ordinary and sometimes mundane lives into something unforgettable and special. I just wished this story could be a bit longer.

And oh, there is an extract of Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard at the end of this book which I think is a story about friendship between two sixteen-year-old girls and how a girl named Suzanne, who is so different from them, will turn their lives upside down. Since it was an extract I wasn't sure where this story will lead but I'm hoping that it would be a book which has some intrigue (or a mystery) in it. 

Finally, before I end this review, I thought I would voice out my confusion over the book cover. The yellow sticker stated "For Older Readers" but it didn't contain any content which seem shocking or inappropriate to me. 

---

Misc. Musings:

I have been slacking in my reading lately. No, it isn't the book(s) but life as well as a few distractions which have kept my reading attention elsewhere. Last week was test week and I was so glad it was over. A few things also include playing Candy Crush on my mobile as well as re-watching Descendants of the Sun for the third time. This time around, I am watching it with my husband and I have a hunch it is his curiosity over the popularity that is speaking louder than the drama itself, ha. 

I am currently reading John Hart's Redemption Road and aside from the great storytelling, it is a book filled with suspense, emotions and questions which have me thinking about righteousness and justice. No, wait. There are many more issues which will set your mind thinking over what is right and what is wrong but yet they aren't really straightforward. This is my first John Hart book and I am enjoying reading it; his writing and his storytelling is excellent in my opinion and I am glad to have discovered an author whom I know I would be reading more in future. 

(My pic on Instagram. Come find me @melody_lee)

Once again, I am finding joy in writing and receiving snail mails. They are such a rare things nowadays (at least to me, aside from the book mails) that a letter would make me squeal in delight. To-date, I had received three mails (including a postcard which is not featured here) from Jenclair, who is a bookish friend from A Garden Carried in the Pocket. We share similar taste when books are concerned. :-) 

What are you reading? Hope you have a great week! 

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Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Rabu, 13 April 2016

ISBN-13: 9780545870986
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Publication Date: August 2015
Format: Paperback, 214 pgs
Source: Purchased

My eldest daughter, who is twelve, got me into reading this graphic memoir by Raina Telgemeier. She told me it has a great storyline and that it would make me smile towards the end, just like the title. And she is right. 

Raina is your normal sixth grader girl who enjoys being with her friends and having some teenage insecurities the way many teenagers have at this age. But one night has changed her perspective in life when she fell and lost her two front teeth. What follows thereafter is a series of frustrating trips to the dentist, the orthodontist, the periodontist... (as Raina mentioned, I didn't know there are this many kinds of "dontists") until she feels like a freak. And that is not all, she and her family have survived an earthquake; she has a crush on a boy who didn't take notice of her and then there are some of her friends who don't feel like her friends at times. 

Through the artwork, Raina shares with her readers her pains and her frustrations visiting the dental clinics, her journey from middle school to high school, and finally how she discovers her artistic voice and what true friendship really means. 

An inspiring coming-of-age story, I found myself being transported back to my teenage years reading Raina's story (well, minus her dental woes, though) and some of the things she had gone through. Her dental experiences made me think back of my fear of being called to the school dental clinic and how small and helpless I felt lying on that patient chair (and even now at adulthood). Despite all the unhappy experiences Raina had had, I was happy to note that they have made her a stronger person and that they had inspired her to tell her tales through writing/drawing Smile. 

Thank you, Raina, for making me smile reading this book. 

Note: Smile won a Will Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens, received a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, and has appeared on many state reading lists. Raina Telgemeier is the recipient of a Stonewall Book Award Honor, and one of YALSA's Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens. 

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The Masked Truth by Kelly Armstrong | Musings & Ramblings

Jumat, 18 Desember 2015

ISBN-13: 9780349002231
Publisher: Atom 
Publication Date: October 2015
Format: Paperback, 352 pgs
Source: Purchased

It seems like I couldn't get enough of Kelley Armstrong�s books lately. After finishing her first three books of the Cainsville's series, I was very glad to find she has a new standalone - a YA novel about hostage situation and survival. I have read several books about hostages but they are more to mysteries and police procedural, rarely YA so I was quite intrigued by this book. 

The story opens with our protagonist, Riley Vasquez, being haunted by a brutal murder of the Porters' family she was babysitting for. At the time of the murder, she had her attention on the child in the room upstairs so the moment she heard gunshots, she hide under the bed with her. Though she was viewed a hero after the tragedy for saving the child, Riley couldn't help feeling guilty for hiding under the bed doing nothing while the murder took place within the house. Her mother and older sister thought it would do her some good if she is to spend a weekend away at a therapy camp, alongside with five other teens who have 'issues'. 

The camp is actually an isolated building which used to be a warehouse; it is then restored with metal steel doors for security and there are no windows. Handphones are not allowed and the exits are all sealed shut. The group's real nightmares begin when three masked men burst into the building and take them all hostage. Max Cross is one of the other victims; a guy who is suffering from Schizophrenia and his condition is controllable under medications. Riley thinks he is full of himself at first, but when dangerous circumstances force them to be together when the others are either hurt or dead, she realised that looks can be deceiving and most of all, they have to rely and trust in each other, issues and all, to get out alive. 

Once again, I found myself engrossed in Kelley Armstrong�s storytelling and the way she writes well-developed and layered characters who made me care for them. Aside from the intrigued plot, what also makes this book stand out is these characters struggle with their own mental issues and how the hostage situation has made them stronger despite their conditions and weaknesses, especially Max. Max isn't a character whom I feel warmed up with at first glance but he grew on me the more I flipped through the pages. I also liked the interactions between Riley and Max; their exchanges could range from humorous to sarcasm, and from honest to sincerity but ultimately it is worthwhile to 'watch' them battle their own demons and the real 'demons' as well. I wouldn't say this story is entertaining given the dark elements but it provides an insightful look at the challenges the mental illness patients are going through and how the society view them. 

---

December is usually a busy month for us all - not only because of the festive season but also it is school holidays; the time whereby many parents would take their time off to spend more time with their children. This December, my husband decided Taiwan would be the destination for our vacation so that was where we were last week. 

We went for a 8-days guided tour package and the journey covered the following provinces: Taichung, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Nantou, Hsihchu and Taipei. We had been to Taipei a few years ago but the other places are new to us. And since we covered these places for merely a few days, the schedules were all pretty tight so it goes without saying we changed hotels every night. 

I took a few dozens of pictures and while it is impossible to share them all here, I created some photo collages highlighting some of the places we had went to. 

Night markets everywhere. One wouldn't go hungry even late at night outside. 

Some of the places we went (clockwise to centre for all collages):

• Beautiful painted walls (situated near the Beimen Crystal Church)
• JingZhaiJiao Tile-Paved Salt Fields
• Sun Moon Lake - this is the only structure which survived the earthquake which had ruined Sun Moon Lake back in 1999
• Beimen Crystal Church
• Wen Wu Temple, that is dedicated to Confucius, Guan Gong and Yue Fei 

• Miaoli's Schokolake, where we made some DIY chocolates
• A vampire-themed restaurant (which I'd failed to note down the name due to my enthusiasm in joining the group to call out a "password" before getting into the restaurant (which is a rule, so the reception staff said)
• Taipei 101 World Building
• Green Green Grasslands, famous for its picturesque natural setting and of course, sheep
• Leofoo Village Theme Park

A few picturesque shots I took: 

• Short cruise around Sun Moon Lake
• Inside Green Green Grasslands
• Inside Green Green Grasslands
• Sun Moon Lake
• Inside Miaoli's Schokolake

A few random shots I took:

• Taiwan High Speed Train
• A beach at Cijin Island
• A beach at Cijin Island
• Kaohsiung Rail Station
• Blue sky filled with cotton-candied clouds (couldn't remember where)

The things we ate: 

• One of our vegetarian meals
• Seaweed wraps
• Vegetarian burgers at Leofoo Village Theme Park
• Cheesy baked rice at Miaoli's Schokolake
• Honey Star honey & butter snacks from Korea. Korean snacks seem to be the "in" snacks in Asia

Some of the attractions at Leofoo Village Theme Park 

Some animals which we saw at Guanshi Leofoo Resort (we stayed for a night there; it was a great experience waking up with the animals, so to speak.)

We travelled via SilkAir to and fro for our trip. The top two pictures were taken by my 7-year-old daughter, who had the privilege of taking the window seat. 

So that is all on our vacation. Reading wise, I have to admit I only read a few pages during the flights and needless to say, no chance to read during the trip. Our Taiwanese tour guide was a man in his mid forties and he was one of the best tour guides I have met throughout our travelling journeys. Funny, knowledgeable and deeply patriotic towards his country, he shared with us lots of insightful things about life (and of course, the history and political stuff of Taiwan), his few working experiences as well as other informations which had either keep us intrigued or entertained. All in all, it was an enjoyable trip. My two daughters said they would like to visit, again. 

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Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Selasa, 03 November 2015

ISBN-13: 9780552574235
Publisher: Corgi Books
Publication Date: September 2015
Format: Paperback, 320 pgs
Source: Purchased

Living a normal life. Falling in love. Such simple little things in our lives yet Madeline Whittier finds doing them is a huge challenge. You see, Maddy is allergic to the world. She is suffering from Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and anything can trigger a bout of sickness in her. And she hasn't stepped out of her house in seventeen years. Her mother and Carla, her caregiver are the only persons she really sees face-to-face; other than that she studies and surf online, read books and living her life in an enclosed room. Anyone who wants to visit has to go through air decontamination and no touching is allowed. It is no wonder Maddy has no friends until a new family moves next to them. 

Olly is an energetic guy who loves parkour and mathematics. He has a younger sister, Kara, and a father who vents his anger onto them when he's drunk or in a foul mood. Olly and Maddy first saw each other through her window the day they moved in, and after that Maddy couldn't get him out of her mind. She is fascinated by his zest, and she wonders what it would be like to be Outside. Olly is intrigued by the mysterious Maddy, too. He made the first move by giving her his email address and a friendship is formed. They talk a lot through IMs and it is Olly who makes Maddy's once isolated life becomes something more alive and meaningful. And the more they corresponded and got to know each other, the more Maddy wants to know the world beyond her confined house and of course, seeing Olly in person. They have fallen in love with each other and finally one day Maddy decides to take the risk and venture outside, despite anything. 

Everything, Everything is a different yet unforgettable story about love and finding oneself. The storyline is simple yet it is powerful and it evoked all the emotions in me. There are laughter and tears; and there are also love and forgiveness. Through Maddy's eyes, she shares with us the meaning of life and taking that leap towards risk for the sake of love and embracing it. The author has captured Maddy's voice beautifully and what I felt about her chemistry with Olly is so strong that it made my heart leaps up and ache at the same time. This is a great debut in my opinion and I also have to mention that the interior illustrations are gorgeous, too. David Yoon (who is the author's husband) created the illustrations for Everything, Everything and they certainly put this story into better perspective through Maddy's eyes. The ending will definitely lead readers pondering but not in the way they have expected. 

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