Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult

Basic plot

Cassie Rivers awakes in the cemetery but that is the least of her problems. She has no idea who she is. Rescued by a kind stranger, who happens to work for the LAPD, she is soon reunited with her husband. She immediately recognizes him, but then, how could she not? When her husband happens to be America's favourite and most famous actor Alex Rivers. Cassie finds out that the life she has forgotten seems to be the stuff of fairy-tales, full of glitz and glamour, wealth and the adoration of the most desired man in the country. However, as her memories begin to resurface, she figures out that all fairy-tales have a villain. The problem is figuring out who.

What I liked about this book

True to Jodi Picoult's style this book was told both in the present and a series of flashbacks as Cassie slowly regains her memory. Usuallly, I find this style of writing very tedious (like Songs of Humpback Whale) but in this book it did not interfere with the flow of the story. Jodi Picoult managed to take a sensitive family issue and explore it well, potraying both victim and victimizer well. We learn that every monster was created by another monster, and violence is as much a powerful addiction as alcohol or drugs.

What I disliked about this book

The role played by the LAPD police officer as Cassie's "saviour" was not, in my opinion, best suited to this scenario. He was potrayed as a man conflicted with his native American ancestry and the book took great lengths to describe their legends and traditions but somehow it all seemed unnecessary and flat. For me, he could have been anyone, and I found the history lessons somewhat redundant.

A quote I liked from this book

If you were quiet and blended into the background, you were less likely to make waves.

Rating: 3/5

Music Mondays #10: Show me the meaning of being lonely by Backstreet Boys

As the world grieves for the tragedy in Oslo, we pray that we will all be protected from future acts of violence.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

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1st Annual Educare Kuantan/UMP Gambang Sports Day

Everyone was excited, this would be the first ever Sports Day held by the IIUM childcare/kindergarten in Kuantan. Usually in IIUM Gombak they would hold separate Sports Days for Childcare (2-3 year olds) and Kindergarten (4-6 year olds) but because the number of kids in Kuantan was much smaller, they decided to combine both events. 

Firstly, the facilities were brand new, we arrived to see the teachers ripping off the plastic wrapper from the grandstand chairs. It was much more comfortable compared to the Sports Complex in Gombak as there was adequate ventilation (working fans!) and the seats were much closer to the action. 

Of course, there were several hiccups before the show started but nothing major. It began with a "march" past by the kids. The 2-3 year olds were adorable. Some were given little animal suits. Hamzah was an elephant :) The six year olds were the only ones marching albeit each one to his own beat :)

There were 2 performances, one from the 5-6 year olds from Educare Kuantan, and one from the Gambang children. The Kuantan kids did a routine to The Lion Sleeps tonight and Wassini, whilst the Gambang kids did Coconut. Though the routines were a lot less elaborate than I'm used to seeing Aishah and Yousof do in Gombak, the kids did look as if they were having fun.

As usual the games were fun and hilarious with most of the younger participants bawling at the starting line or crying their little hearts out but still trying to finish the event. Alhamdulillah all my kids finished their event without incident. Hamzah came in second for his event (Pick me up!- though he could easily have come first if he had not decided to run back to the starting line before rushing to the finishing line), Aishah also came in second (Ring in the baton) and Yousof finished 4th (Gunny race). 

The biggest disappointment of the day was that while we were waiting for Hamzah's name to be called out during the prize giving ceremony (actually he was determinedly pulling my hand to get on stage the whole time- I had to tel him to wait for his name to be called out), they actually gave his trophy to another child and did not call his name out. When I was sure that he had been overlooked, I immediately informed the Educare manager/supervisor. Poor Hamzah was very distraught. Thankfully, they actually interrupted the prize-giving to call Hamzah to the stage to accept his well-deserved trophy. I'm not sure where the mistake happened, whether the "race officials" submitted the wrong winner, or they wrongly crowned Hamzah at the finish line (if so, they should have informed me). What was strangest to me at the time was that the parents of the child they did call out instead of Hamzah did not protest at all, since all the 1st to 3rd placings were clearly identified with a cardboard tag (see pictures), hence if their child didn't have one, means she didn't win. Right? Sounds petty, I know, but when it comes to seeing my kids disappointed like that, I could not just take it lying down. Am grateful though that the organizers were able to find an extra trophy for Hamzah. Hopefully the future events will be better organized.

A very cheerful visitor

Last Tuesday night, my dear friend Mas & her adorable baby Hayfa dropped by for a visit. Our first official visitors since we moved to Kuantan. Mas is one of my closest and oldest friends, I have known her since I was 14 years old. We were at SSI JB together, MRSM Jasin together and even IIUM Kuantan together. So I was so happy that she came.

Plus it was the first time I would get to meet her adorable baby girl. Hayfa is now 9 months old and has to be the friendliest baby on the planet. My kids loved playing with her and she enjoyed playing with them. So much so that it took alot of cajoling to get them to sleep that night. We had such a nice time talking and catching up (we haven't really seen each other properly since 2005- went to her wedding but who has time to talk to anyone during a wedding right?) & the kids had so much fun playing that we forgot to take a single picture. So I kidnapped one from her FB account.

Aishah has already made me promise to ask that aunty and baby to come back soon, and I also am looking forward to it :)

Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy

Basic plot

Four strangers on holiday in picturesque Greece, all escaping from their problems and past, are thrown together after the sleepy seaside town of Aghia Anna suffers a great tragedy. Thomas, a professor from America, Elsa, a drop-dead gorgeous German journalist, David, a young man from England and Fiona, a nurse from Ireland find themselves quickly forming an easy friendship with each other and the locals. As the town bands together in sorrow, these visitors also find strength in themselves and each other to face their own internal struggles.

What I liked about this book

This is the second book I've read from this author, the first was Whitethorn Woods, and in both she has proven that the strength of a book lies not necessarily in a complex and fast paced plot, but in character development. Each and every character in this book is a person, with feelings, conflicts, hopes, desires and fears. The interaction between each character makes this book a very pleasant and feel good read. 

What I disliked about this book

I would have changed the ending, perhaps answered more questions or reunited more people. As laid-back as the book was, I was still hoping for a dramatic conclusion, but the author chose to end the book pretty much the same spirit as the book itself.

A quote I liked in this book

I don't know either, and I also hope. But remember, no looking back, no regrets, no comparisons.

Rating: 4/5

Music Mondays #9 : Ain't no sunshine when she's gone by Shaun Smith

The reason why I like watching talent shows on television is that I really enjoy watching talented "normal" people achieving their dreams. Many people have sung this song on a singing competition (more famously, Kris Allen on his American Idol final- which I also liked) but I chose this version because this was a first round audition, so it was more raw and unpolished (and his voice is amazing).

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Basic plot

Christopher John Francis Boone is brilliant at maths and physics but he just can't figure out people. Even animals are easier to understand. When he finds the next door neighbour's dog, Wellington, murdered with a pitchfork, he decides to emulate his favourite logical detective Sherlock Holmes and find the killer. What starts as a test of boundaries for this special 15 year old autistic teen turns into a truth seeking journey in a world he does not really understand.

What I liked about this book

Seeing the world through the eyes of a gifted autistic child certainly opened my eyes to things that I have always taken for granted. Simple concepts such as inter-personal relationships, affection and social skills that come naturally to most seem more precious after seeing how the young protagonist struggle with them. It also revealed how often as "normal" people, we sweep things under the rug, blur the edges of truth and are sometimes dishonest just to conform to societal norm. I also developed a lot of respect and empathy for parents of special needs children, the struggles they must face in accomplishing the already mammoth task of raising a child, especially not having their love and affection reciprocated in the usual way.

What I disliked about the book

In terms of writing style, I found the book very refreshing and easy to read. The puzzles, in addition to giving an insight to Christopher's mind also were fun to challenge myself with. My only qualm is perhaps the supporting characters seemed quite 2 dimensional. However, I am uncertain whether or not this was intentioned by the author.

A quote I liked in this book

You have to learn to trust me. And I don’t care how long it takes. If it’s a minute one day & two minutes the next & three minutes the next and it takes years I don’t care. Because this is important. This is more important than anything else.

Rating: 4/5

Music Mondays #8 : Straight up (acoustic cover)

I have always had a soft spot for the acoustic guitar. It tops my list of sweet talents that I love in other people (and secretly wish I could do myself). I stumbled across this video a couple of years ago and thought it was awesome. This guy may not have the best voice, he might not even have killer guitar skills but his enthusiasm is infectious. (I even prefer it to the much gushed over version done by Andrew Garcia on American Idol).

An apt song for my current mood. Life would be a lot simpler if we were Straight Up about things wouldn't it?

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

From Kuantan with love

Last Saturday, we moved to Kuantan. It has only been a week, but so far we are adjusting well. Everything is so laid back here as compared to in KL. The house is huge compared to my parents' house in Gombak and the kids seem to thrive in all this open space. They have THREE playgrounds just across the street and will have a large compound to run around in (as soon as I finally get around to clearing off all this construction/move junk).

Removing old junk from the house (Note the green walls painted by my last tenant)

No, we don't have a pool. Stayed at MS Gardens 1 night coz the house was too dusty.

I think it is amazing that I can leave the house at 8 am and reach the kid's school by 8.05 am. Their "school" and my new workplace (IIUM Kuantan) is literally two right turns away from my house. The campus is ginormous. It is three times as big as IIUM Gombak but with only about a quarter of the population. Several of the faculties or as we call them Kulliyyahs are up and running with mine (Kulliyyah of Medicine) the first one established. Everybody used to be under our roof but now everyone has moved into their own building. 

View of the courtyard from the staircase leading to my office

The main lobby Kulliyyah of Medicine from my office (first floor) terrace

Despite not actually able to report for duty yet (am going to do so ASAP after I submit my thesis), the Kulliyyah have generally allocated me my own room to work in. There are no students yet (new semester starts in September), so other that the fact I am slogging away at my laptop to finish this thesis, life is pretty much relaxed. More importantly, the kids are enjoying their new school and their new life here.

My new office- will try hard not to clutter it

A touch of home

Of course, not everything has been smooth sailing. I lost my 3 month old phone on my first night here (I dropped it at the playground and needless to say some dishonest person out there is enjoying an ill gotten iPhone). I miss my family and friends terribly. But I have cousins here who have gone out of their way to make us feel at home and I have made some new friends too. I am grateful for the wonders of technology for keeping me in touch with people I could not live without. 

As they say in those postcards. "Having a great time, wish you were here." From Kuantan with love.

A thousand splendid suns by Khaled Hossaini

Basic plot

The story is set in Afghanistan and tells a tale of two girls, with lives so different and yet destined to be intertwined. Mariam is a "harami", an illegitimate daughter of a well-off cinema owner in Herat. By birth she is an outcast, though her optimistic nature fails to entrap her in the lowly stature that society had decreed for her. A tragic event sends her to Kabul, where life only gets harder. Laila is a carefree girl of cultured parentage who spends most days with her best friend Tariq. Soon, their playground turns into a war-zone and Laila loses everything only to find strength in someone who has carried more than her fair share of burdens.

What I liked about this book

Undeniably Khaled Hossaini is a great story teller. His depictions of Afghanistan and his characters bring them to life for the reader.

What I disliked about the book

With this book it was not so much of dislike, it was an emotionally trying book to read. It saddened me to read the trials and tribulations that these two women had to endure (even though it was fictional). I found the storyline to be very depressing. Even the tiny pearls of hope scattered across the plot was not enough to take the heaviness of the subject matter at hand. Personally, I preferred The Kite Runner, though tragic in itself, that book had peaks and valleys as opposed to this one which just seems like an endless field of sorrow.

A quote I liked from this book

Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman

Rating: 4/5