The Monsters Of Gramercy Park by Danny Leigh

This book was a gift. I am very sure of that.

Let me share with you the synopsis:

Wilson Velez is a gang lord in solitary confinement, slowly losing his mind. Lizbeth Greene is a celebrated crime novelist whose inspiration is beginning to run dry. When Lizbeth decides that writing a book about Velez could revive her ailing career, she begins to visit him in prison. Gradually, she becomes drawn into Wilson’s dark world and the pair engage in a complex and fascinating dance of attraction and rejection. For Lizbeth needs Wilson to kick-start her career while Wilson needs Lizbeth to get out of solitary confinement.

I didn’t’ like the book when I first read it. However, I was intrigued by the relationship between Wilson and Lizbeth, the differences, the similarities, the dependency, the betrayal. I was curious to know how it ended and it wasn’t how I expected it to end but then I couldn’t know how else it should end either. Can I say that in a way, I was sad for both of them?

The title of this book is actually the title of the story written by Wilson Velez and it’s this story that is more interesting. One of the reasons that kept me faithfully reading page after page was the interest to see where this story within a story was going. It certainly wasn’t Lizbeth Greene nor was it Wilson Velez but more the gargoyles of Gramercy Park.

Monsters of Gramercy Park was first published in 2005. There’s nothing much I can find out about the author except that he lives in London and has worked as a musician and a journalist.

Would I recommend this book?

Hesitant to say yes – just for the gargoyles.

Forced to say no – because I don’t want you to hate me.

In the end will say – why not? If you have time and nothing to do. It’s not that bad after all.

How they ended up in my collection

If you are familiar with SS2 town square in Petaling Jaya in the early 2000s, you would know that there are 2 shops there that you can borrow books home for a fee. One is called Walk-in-Rent-A-Book and the other was called Novel House.

The concept is very easy. You go in, browse for the books that you like. They do have a huge selection of books from English to Chinese and even comic books for rent. Once you have selected the book or books of choice, pay a deposit and a fee (the fee varies from book to book) and then you can take the book home for as long as you wish. When you are done with it, you bring it back, check it in and collect back your deposit.

While it might not appeal to some people, the concept does work and is an extremely worthwhile arrangement especially if you love to read but don’t want to spend lots of money buying the books or you don’t want to collect these books. It’s also quite a good way to check out authors that you are not familiar with. I have got to know of works from Dean Koontz and many others from such establishments. Quite similar than going to the library except that these are private enterprises and you don’t have to be a member or register your name or anything. Now, let’s say for some reason you like a particular book and decided that it’s a keeper, you can choose not to return the book and just keep it. You will then forfeit your deposit which ranged from RM10 to RM30 depending on the book.

My entry here is about these 2 books that I rented from Novel House sometimes in year 2006. When I wanted to return them after a month or so, I was shocked to discover that the shop has 'chaplap', tutup kedai, close shop or whatever term you fancy.  Instead, it has been converted to a textile shop. When I asked the sales person in the textile shop, they said they have been there for nearly a month. That means, Novel House closed its business around the time I rented these 2 books. As there are no forwarding contacts, there’s no way I can get my deposit amounting to RM40 back. Needless to say, I was pretty upset over it. I could have gotten a brand new book with my RM40.

And that was how these two ended up in my collections. If they are living beings, they would be suffering from rejection syndrome as I didn't want to keep them in the first place.

Amazon's Kindle

When the Kindle first appeared in the market, it’s only available in the United States. Priced at US$260 or thereabout, it’s not something that everyone can purchase. Couple of years down the road to today, I think the Kindle can now be made available to the rest of the world but are still consider quite expensive.

For me, I can purchase probably about 40+ paperback novels for the starting price of a Kindle. Interestingly, today, I saw in the newspapers that Amazon is slashing the price of the Kindle 3G version to US189 and they unveiled the wireless only version at US$139. Still considered pretty expensive but with Christmas just 4 months down the road, I think that’s an extremely good move. Perhaps now more affordable by the mass market, I am still waiting for the day for the price to take an even bigger plunge before even considered getting one. As you know, getting a kindle is just the first step.

Unless I can get my hand on an actual Kindle, I have no idea about the features. Benefits wise, I can think of many.

While I don’t disagree that e-book is the way to the future but I guess I am still rather old schooled and just love the feel and touch of printed books. It feels more therapeutic to curl up with an actual book than with a machine but then, who am I to argue with technology advancement?

Sleepy Head by Mark Billingham

A review from Birmingham Post, taken from the author’s web, read :

After reading only the first few pages of Sleepyhead I had my first nightmare in years. I woke up in the early hours shaking and sweating..."

No, the book didn’t have such effect on me. It was quite a disturbing book but it didn’t have the nightmare effect but I can vaguely know where that statement was coming from.
Sleepy Head is the first in a series of novels written by Mark Billingham which features Detective Inspector Tom Thorne. It was published in the UK in August 2001 and is the first out of a total of 10 titles.

Classified as a crime novel, the story has the detective inspector investigating a series of murders which involved young women. The latest victim, Alison Willetts survived the murder which made the police thinking that the killer made a mistaken. What they didn’t realise is that Alison was the killer’s success.

To quote from the synopsis, ‘Unless Thorne can enter the mind of a brilliant madman – a frighteningly elusive fiend who enjoys toying with the police as much as he savours his sick obsession – Alison Willetts will not be the last victim consigned forever to a hideous waking hell.’

For you see, even as Alison survives, she is in a stage of what is known as ‘locked-in syndrome’. She can hear, see and feel everything around her but she can’t move a muscle or talk or even scream and that’s how the killer intended for her to be.

That. Is. So. Creepy! That’s all I would say about this book. It’s quite a memorable book as I don’t think I have come across such plot before but I don’t think I wouldn’t want to read it again. Once is enough. However, I quite like the detective inspector, he’s a skeptic but also very persistent in his thoughts and actions. So, if crime and murder stories are your cup of tea, do check out Sleepy Head.

The next book is called ‘Scaredy Cat’. Unfortunately I can’t find it in the local book store. You know what, I am actually not sure where I got this particular book. Was it given to me? Or did I buy it? I have a collection of about 30 novels that I have yet to read, some of which I bought and some of which were given to me, so I’m not sure where this comes from.

About the author : a rather good looking guy, Mark Billingham is currently writing the next Tom Thorne thriller. He lives in London with his wife and two kids. Do you think he would send me his other titles if I ask him nicely? :)

Fame (Firstborn Series) by Karen Kingsbury

The Firstborn Series was first introduced here.

I honestly do not know if I’ll do justice to this book by reviewing it as this point in time. At this moment in life, I don’t feel the book ‘speaking’ to me at all. I dont feel any connection unlike what I felt when reading the Redemption series.

Fame started with Dayne Matthews and the focus is very much on him throughout the book. The book is rather slow in every way possible. I hope that it doesn’t reflect the rest of the books in the series but more as an introductory into the series. I feel Karen Kingsbury is trying to build the readers up to what will take place (perhaps) in the other books but it’s a rather slow and sorry to say, boring build up.

Karen tried to angle the book on the lives of the rich and famous and how some of these lives are affected by overzealous fans and also paparazzi. For some reason, it didn’t come across as being real and I can’t relate to what she’s writing. Hey, I know why…I’m not rich and famous! Hahah…

There’s no sense of urgency when reading Fame. It was just a nice read. For me, it was nice to have a glimpse into the life of the Baxter’s after Elizabeth’s death. Karen wanted the readers to know that the children of John and Elizabeth are moving on and also coping with her death by supporting one another. However, it was sad to read that John has not really move on and is still much burdened by the secret that he and his wife has hidden from the rest of the family members.

The book also introduced Katy Hart, the director of Christian Kids Theater. Like Dayne, she didn’t really make much of an impact on me either. At this moment of writing, I still have a few chapters to go before the book ends. I believe Dayne and Katy would have a long way to go before they can become a couple (if they ever do become one). Anyway, I’m giving both of them a chance and look forward to the 2nd book entitled ‘Forgiven’ where I am sure they will play bigger parts and more impactful roles.

Dorothy Koomson's collection

This is my Dorothy Koomson's collection.

I read My Best Fried's Girl a few years back and was hooked.

Currently, just started with The Cupid Effect.

The Righteous Men by Sam Bourne

The Righteous Men is the 1st of Sam Bourne's novels that I read. However, halfway through the book, I decided to read The Last Testament (also by Sam Bourne) instead, finished reading The Last Testament and then only continue with The Righteous Men. Dont ask me why, I can't explain it myself.

TRM follows New York Times rooker reporter, Will Monroe as he investigates the kidnapping of his wife, Beth. In his desperation to find her, Will finds himself embroils in a sinister plot that can spells the end of mankind. It was difficult for him to know who's his allies and who's the enemy as he finds a link between Beth's kidnapping and a series of muders that's taking place all over the world. What is more intriguing is that those who have been murdered all all classified as being 'righteous' in one way or another. Since is the plot of TRM.

So, what's my take? I didn't really like the novel but I dont dislike it either. Some review has rated Sam Bourne as the next Dan Brown. Unfortunately, I dont think that is the case. While I feel that Sam Bourne manages to tell a good story, he doesn't have that captivating writing as Dan Brown. For the fact that I can start this book and left it to complete another book is somthing that I can't do while reading Dan Brown's work. However, having said that, it was a good read. I find myself rooting for Will all the way through although I do get frustrated with him.

Would I recommend TRM to you? Probably, for a lazy afternoon with coffee or a relaxing evening with a glass of wine.