4th read, as it is my comfort read when life gets messy (well, messier)

Still poetic and beautiful as ever 💚

Randomly love this. Love does take so much effort.

An average read of one of my all-time fav authors but I enjoyed it immensely with such a view. Perfect for a quick read on vacay. 😍

This is the most beautiful dam in Thailand imo 💚

Judging from my rant these past few days, no doubt it is a pick! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

P.S. That‘s my sister, a typical Asian working woman.

OMG I internally screamed at this book about a hundred times. It‘s the kind of book you need to pause every other chapter to take in. And you‘ll need many coffee for that.

I guess all Asian countries have similar roots of patriarchy. Though Korean are far more sexist, each and every situation told from Ji-Young‘s POV is eerily familiar to me. It‘s relatable to a point that it‘s almost uncomfortable.

Gosh, I need a short break!

My BFF was in a toxic relationship and just got out. She read this book and said it helped her see her worth. A feminist take on a dark patriarchy side of South Korea. She was so deeply impressed she lent me this for a week. Gonna start the journey now!

A beach trip with my BFF and we coincidentally both brought a book. So we ended up reading side by side in the sun. 🌊🌴☀️🕶

Thank you @zezeki for the tag! And @Eggs for hosting #wondrouswednesday

1. Lots! 😂 But the first on my list is Garth Nix‘s Keys to the Kingdom series.
2. When I was in grade 5 and stayed up late with my father reading HP and the Half-blood Prince the very first day it came out. (The only time I‘ve ever read with father.)
3. Kelsier from Mistborn 😍

I‘m gonna tag @CBee @TrishB @charl08 @MidnightBookGirl but no pressure! 😁

Asking for an opinion: should I continue this one or bail?

I‘ve read the first of the four parts. It‘s interesting but painfully slow. It‘s been sitting on my shelf since last August. Plus, I‘ve just found out what the author had done to her child and that made me hesitate.

But people either gave 5 stars or 1 star for this. I really don‘t know what to do next. Please help! 😂

I‘d contradict a saying that a good book is one you couldn‘t put down. There are lots of great books I enjoyed and still took me days or weeks to finish.

But this isn‘t one of them.

Finished in one sitting. Exactly my kind of pleasure reading. It has a vibe very much like Uprooted. You get the idea.

Thanks @TheLondonBookworm a bunch for introducing me to this! 😘🙌🏼

This is a Christmas present from @TheLondonBookworm years ago. Sorry it took me so long to start. 😅

But I‘m not able to stop! It‘s sooooooo good. A retelling of Arabian Nights by an American-Korean author. My type exactly. Halfway through and I‘ve just clicked the pay button on Bookdepository for its sequel. Look what you‘ve done to me Laura! 😂

The #readharderchallenge2020 task 13 “read a food book about a cuisine you‘ve never tried” is a real challenge bc I don‘t wanna read a cookbook nor a chef‘s memoir. I‘m not into the art of cooking no matter how much I enjoy eating.

This book, y‘all, nails it. Adventurous plot, historical war theme, lovable characters and FOOD. The most exquisite cuisines one could conjure up in the middle of the ocean as if one‘s life depends on it.

Halfway now.

I‘ve never competed in @bookriot ‘s #readharder challenge before because, admittedly, I didn‘t have the nerve. I didn‘t think I can make it.

But there‘s a first time for everything! So, this January I‘ve already checked 3 tasks:
#8 An audiobook of poetry
#9 The last book in a series
#20 A middle grade book that doesn‘t take place in the US or the UK

Now I‘m on to #13 a food book about a cuisine you‘ve never tried.

Oh I‘m sooooo enjoying this!

And now I taste my tears

I just can‘t get enough of these poetic words.

This simple sentence touches my soul deeply because, for the first time, someone looked into my eyes and I felt exactly the same.

Sorry Mr.Dresden, I think this one kinda drops a little. And I do hate how female characters are portrayed.

But, but, but I‘m gonna continue on the next book. I still have high hopes for you. 😉

Saw this from @RestlessFickleBookHoarder ‘s post and I already signed up. 😁 I think I‘ll tackle down the Dresden Files series as many as possible. I‘m so glad it‘ll be 8 am to 8 am in my timezone (finally morning readathon)!

Anyone joining? 🙋🏽‍♀️

This book is a BLAST. Audiobook is amazing too.
I adore Harry Dresden. Bus he does have flaws. I‘ll leave Murphy description of him, which I completely agree, right here:

“Dramatic death scene. Noble sacrifice, right? Tragically misunderstood? Hah! I understand you, buddy. You‘re such a pompous, arrogant, pretentious, chauvinistic, hopelessly old-fashioned, stupidly pigheaded . . .” 🤣

Have I mentioned that I‘m a fan of Sherlock Holmes since forever? Complete works & translated box set here and I also have an audiobook by Stephen Fry plus two or three comic books (as a gift from my father). I saw some Littens did a #sherlocked read a few years back. I think I‘ll be doing mine this year. 🤓🕵🏻‍♂️💪🏼

When I read the word thaumaturgy, I instantly thought of The Name of the Wind. Later on, I saw Mr.Rothfuss‘ review on goodreads an completely agreed with him. THIS BOOK IS A BLAST. Plus, if he says next audiobooks are even better, then they really are and I‘d better go get the second one stat.

PS. Harry Dresden can be really annoying with his “old-fashioned gentleman” thingy. I hope to see some development as many reviews suggested, though.

Heard raving reviews on this audiobook so I decided to give it a try. A bit skeptical though, since I was not impressed with the Demon Accords series which has a very similar ring to this one. But a Wizard detective? Why not?

As you all might have guessed from my previous rants, I LOVE this final installation of Wicked Years series. It‘s better than the previous 3 books combined in all aspects. Plot, pacing, punchlines, character development, etc. And far more passionate.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

...wounds the heart. 🎼🎤

I do love Maguire‘s humorous tribute to the musical version of Wicked. Can‘t stop reading this in tune. 🤣🤣🤣

Its prequels are all melancholy despite being thought-provoking. But this one gave me too many emotional blows. I apologize for having doubts about you, dear book. Right now I‘m very so in love with you. (80% read) ❤️📚❤️

This scene reminds me of the parents of a child with some kind of developmental disease. Believe me, I‘ve seen a fair number of such cases. The feels. 😢

Maguire‘s writing can be bleak, despairing and surprisingly emotional somehow.

What a quote from a prologue. And on Monday too! Don‘t know about you guys but I always feel somewhat caged on Monday. 😞

I know I said this too many times but hey, I‘m back! 😊👋🏼📚

This focuses mainly on Cowardly Lion, the infamous collaborationist. He sought out Mother Yackle to get some information on Elphaba‘s past and ended up, quite involuntarily, recounting his own.

Like previous books, the pace picked up at the latter 1/3. The end served storyline well & was satisfying enough. However, I was barely engaged & had only a little sympathy for Brrr. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Yay! One more public library down. I‘m impressed with the collection and, of course, the tree house! 😍

I‘m going to Singapore for a short holiday trip this weekend. So everyone please, any suggestions apart from usual tourist attraction? I plan to visit the National Library for one and probably Kinokuniya too.

If I remember correctly, you live in Singapore, right? @RealLifeReading Do you have anything in mind? Or, if you‘re available, would you like a #litsymeetup ? 😁

It‘s either a pick or a pan for this one. No compromises. Just like Elphaba herself.

It‘s completely different from the broadway show but also very similar. Full of drugs, sex, politics, philosophy magic and religion, it invokes conflictual questions with no provided answer. The ending is far from satisfying. The writing style is hard to get into and I don‘t think I understand half of it. Still, it got a pick from me. Weird.

A bit late but here I am! 🙂
1. Done.
2. Wicked by Gregory Maguire. I was surprised to find this one had been banned in many countries despite the successful broadway show.
3. Too many. And they ban too many books!
4. You only make (a certain group of) people want to read them more. Anyway, what RIGHTS do you have to tell me what I shouldn‘t read? That‘s a very primitive communist way!

I‘ve given up halfway once but I want to give myself a second chance. Also, I dearly need a company to keep me awake during the flight this early. 😴

Please welcome my friend to the community. @padadadadapa She‘s the third Thai Litten I know to have joined (and there are probably only three here). 🎉🎉😁👏🏼👏🏼 Feel free to suggest your fav Littens and accounts. :) #LitsyWelcomeWagon #LitsyFamily

I‘d drop ones of most celebrated here: @litsybookclub @LitsyHappenings @bookriot @Liberty @MrBook and of course @LitsyWelcomeWagon

(Pic stolen from the internet)

Love Stephen Fry‘s work on the Sherlock Holmes definitive collection audiobooks. And many thanks to @SerialReader for a handy, easily accessible way to read a classic. I‘m on 3rd story right now and I have to agree with Fry‘s foreword; The opening line of this one was the most remarkable and later became one of signature lines of Holmes collection.

“To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman.”

Saw this on twitter, read the article and then got lost in the series (again). This time I picked book 19, The Departure, which turns out to be even more heartbreaking than I remembered (2 years ago?).

Feels like I‘ve been rereading Animorphs forever. 😅

P.S. The link to the article is here. But beware, IT CONTAINS SPOILER. https://thespinoff.co.nz/media/02-09-2018/i-read-all-54-animorphs-books-in-five-...

A 24-hours book fair where I can get all these in $30 sounds pretty amazing, isn‘t it? 😎

I managed to read a little further from my goal (and fell asleep and woke up late 😂). This is and amazing race! Thanks all of you ‘thoners and of course our amazing hosts. @24in48 See you next Jan! #24in48

I started 3 hours ahead of the EST which is 8 am from where I live. Now I‘ve just finished the third book of His Dark Materials series and picked up my phone and this time I aced it! 🏆🎉💪🏼 #24in48 Oh, I‘m so proud.

Well, my work starts at 9 am so I guess there‘s no harm in reading onto The Book of Dust, is it? 🤔 That‘s what this rereading was for in the first place.

#Hour12 A whole new world challenge;
If the “ambisexual” world where everyone can choose and change their gender couldn‘t open up your eyes to a whole new world, I don‘t know what could. Just the concept alone leaves a sober thought to ponder for days.

#24in48

A very get-to-the-point opening line since this is a book about a man called Ove. 😉

#Hour6 challenge of the #24in48 readathon.

It‘s this time of the year again and again I‘m on duty all through the weekend! (Honestly, is there such a weekend I could be totally free?) But that won‘t stop me for trying. 📚🤓💪🏼

-> sign up at 24in48.com

A story of Alyce, a young witch whose mother had been burnt alive by the Witchfinders. She soon found herself trapped in the war between Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary of Scott. Fast-paced and gripping, although there‘re small holes in the plot but they could be overlooked. I really liked Alyce especially in her opening scene.

A quick pleasant read. And the most beautiful cover ever! Thanks again for the gift. 😘 @TheLondonBookworm

As in my previous post, I‘m participating in #ArmchairAudies in Fantasy category. All these finalist titles are very promising. And almost all of them are the first of a series, an independent prequel or a standalone. Only one exception is Snake Eyes but I‘m willing to read book 1-10 to get there. (I‘m on book 3 right now.)

P.S. Oh, I‘ll try not to be biased even with my fav author Cat Valente on the list.
P.S.S. Anyone wants to join? 🙋🏽‍♀️

Around this time of the year, the #ArmchairAudies is usually held by @LitHousewife to listen to Audie Award finalists and predict the official result. Sadly, this year she isn‘t able to run it. (I hope you‘re well, Jennifer. *virtual hugs sent*) But Miss Dee and Miss Susie (no Litsy account) are helping out this time. 👏🏽

I‘m participating in Fantasy category. If anyone is interested, please don‘t hesitate to reach out! 😉

My friend wanted to order a book (a soccer book of some kind) from Book Depository and I thought shipping halfway across the world is a serious journey and I ought to order some too to make the trip worthwhile. I ended up ordered 3 while my friend got only 1. 🤣

And I‘d like to give credits to Book Depository, as this is the first time I use their service. They took care of the packages really well!

After reading 4th volumes of the Earthsea series, I decided I like Ursula Le Guin‘s voice in female protagonists way better. Or maybe it‘s just because I like Tenar so much. This book spoke strongly on feminism and totally worth reading. 👍🏼

Bought a piece of cake and made myself a nice cup of tea ready for the crazy amount of paperworks. But who could ever work when there‘s a tempting book at hand? One of the most beautiful covers I have.

>> I‘ve read a few chapters and OMG @TheLondonBookworm you know EXACTLY what I like! Thanks for this amazing Christmas present! 😘❤️🎁

I opened my dorm room and found this book in a bag hanging on the doorknob, with a simple post-it note “HBD” and no signing anywhere.

But I knew by heart it was from one of my friends who I‘m currently having a quarrel with and this is definitely his way of making-up. How can I still hold grudges after this? I mean, not all your friends buy books as an apology, right?

P.S. It‘s an extremely belated BD gift. Almost a month actually! 😂