Book Purchase #1 - January 2018

image from web

I decided to keep track of my book purchases this year.

It is part of my resolutions (have been for years) to buy less books so that I can clear my TBR (to be read) pile and I did buy less books last year (2017) but I kinda forgot what I bought as they are all in my shelves and I constantly move them around...don't ask me why!

For this year, I thought it would be quite a good idea to keep track when I do made a book purchase so at the end of the day/year, I would be able to how many books I bought this year (2018) and how long those books would sit in my shelf before I read it and .

This blog has been great to help me keep track of what I read.  It would certainly be an ideal platform for me to keep track of what I purchase.

The first book purchased this year is from Gee.

Photo credit : Gee 

It's a pre-loved copy and still in good condition.  It is a horror and it shall be a birthday present for myself seeing that my birthday is round the corner. heheh...a good but unnecessary excuse :)

So, yup. That's book purchase #1.  Let's see when I will read it. :)

This is Life by Alex Shearer

Synopsis :

This is the story of Louis, who never quite fit in, and of his younger brother, who always tried to tag along. As they got older, they grew apart. And as they got older still, one of them got cancer, and the other became his caretaker. Then they became close again, two brothers on one final journey together, wading through the stuff that’s thicker than water.

Told in anecdotes as his brother remembers them, we discover who this cranky, cancerous Louis once was. That before his brain surgery he had a mind that was said to be bigger than the rest of the family’s put together, and that his heart was—and still is—just as big. That it’s hard getting a haircut with a brain tumor, and that it does no good to help your brother memorize a PIN number when he might not be able to remember where the bank is. We learn along with these two brothers how the little stuff is as big as the big stuff, how tragedy and comedy go together, and how necessary it is that they do.

Inspired by Shearer's experiences when his own brother was dying and written with a warm touch that is at once tender and achingly funny, This Is the Life is a moving testimony to both the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of the simpler things in life, like not taking a dying man’s tea kettle away.

This is what I say :


I read this during the new year break as 2017 becomes 2018.  I thought it would be something uplifting and positive and motivating.

It certainly wasn't uplifting.  It was quite sad but not sobbing type of sadness but more like sad because of opportunities lost, sad because of words not spoken and sad because the opportunity would never come again and the words will never be uttered.

It wasn't the ideal book to read into the new year but then how am I to know that This is Life would be so.  I mean, just by the title alone, it could be a book of life and certainly not of death.

Anyway, no regrets. It's just a book.

Songbird by Josephine Cox

Synopsis :

She was once young and vibrant, a beautiful woman with a promising future. But a dark and dangerous secret forced her to leave everything—and everyone—she cared for. Now she lives alone in a quiet riverside town, her heart breaking as she watches the world change from the shadows. All that is left to bring her joy is her stunning, glorious voice, a voice that enthralls anyone who hears it, including a student named Betsy.

Kind and thoughtful, Betsy is determined to help the woman live her life to the fullest again. But coming out of the dark—and exposing her heart to hurt once more—will not be easy . . .

This is what I say :

My first book by Josephine Cox.  Not really how I expect it to be.  I kinda expect a thriller ala Sandra Brown style for some reason!  However, am not really disappointed by it...just wasn't my expectation only.

Songbird is more like a female drama. Basically it's about the life story of this great singer and how she ended up where she is today.  I find some of the plot a bit far fetched and some part over dramatic but overall it is not too bad.  

Character development could have been better too but I must remember that the characters from a different generation from today's generation so my opinion is that outlook in life and responses to situations would certainly be quite different from women of today. 

I have another title by Josephine Cox somewhere in my TBR pile.  Perhaps I shall check it out and see if I would like that title.

Company Man by Joseph Finder

Synopsis :

Nick Conover is the CEO of a major corporation, a local boy made good, and once the most admired man in a company town. But that was before the layoffs.

When a faceless stalker menaces his family, Nick, a single father of two since the recent death of his wife, finds that the gated community they live in is no protection at all. He decides to take action, a tragedy ensues - and immediately his life spirals out of control.

At work, Nick begins to uncover a conspiracy against him, involving some of his closest colleagues. He doesn't know who he can trust - including the brilliant, troubled new woman in his life.

Meanwhile, his actions are being probed by a homicide detective named Audrey Rhimes, a relentless investigator with a strong sense of morality - and her own, very personal reason for pursuing Nick Conover.

With everything he cares about in the balance, Nick discovers strengths he never knew he had. His enemies don't realize how hard he'll fight to save his company. And nobody knows how far he'll go to protect his family.

This is what I say :

Company Man did not disappoint.  I have high thriller expectation nowadays when it comes to author Joseph Finder.

Buried Secrets was the book that started it off for me two years ago and it was great.  Subsequently I read Paranoia and it was good too.

I found Company Man recently at the same book fair/sales that I found Paranoia.  I am not able to and will not be able to find such titles in the mainstream bookstores as sorry to say, Joseph Finder is not well known at this part of the world which is a pity actually as he writes great thriller.

Nick Conover is like any CEO and certainly not a hero.  In fact, he is quite unlikable although he tried to play the good guy.  Audrey the investigator wasn't very likable too in her zeal to nail Nick down.

However, the story itself was quite enjoyable and certainly thrilling and the unexpected twist at the end certainly made the story more interesting.  

I can't wait to discover the next title by Joseph Finder.

Hello 2018

Last year, we welcomed 2017 in a historical city, enjoying our holidays and we watched the fireworks from the comfort of our hotel rooms as we bid farewell to 2016 and hello to 2017.  I can't believe that here we are, said good bye to 2017 a few days ago and now into day 3 of 2018.  It can be pretty scary how time goes by so fast.

This year, we did not travel anywhere at this time of year as we had our holidays in August (Land below the Wind) and September (land of plastic surgery).

New Year's Eve was spent at home, chilling over a couple of DVDs and munchies.  I did drive out for an errand after the clock struck 12 midnight and while there were cars on the road, somehow it felt like there were less cars compared to years before.

New Year's day was spent sleeping in and after which did some house clearing and I am on my last book of self imposed reading marathon.  I started this reading marathon towards mid of December 2017 and I think I will end, quite aptly with this tile This Is The Life by Alex Shearer.  

What do I expect from 2018? Good things! I expect good things and most of all, I want to have a peace of mind and not to mention, good progress of my studies!

So, 2018, bring it on and let's get going!