Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith

 

 Synopsis :

Life is good for Mma Ramotse as she sets out with her usual resolve to solve people's problems, heal their misfortunes and untangle the mysteries that make life interesting.  And life is never dull on Tlokweng Road.  A new and rather too brusque advice columnist is appearing in the local paper.  The Mokolodi Game Reserve manager feels an infectious fear spreading among his workers, and a local doctor may be falsifying blood pressure readings.  To further complicate matters, Grace Makutsi may have scared off her own fiance.  Mma Ramotswe, however, is always up to the challenge.

Blue Shoes and Happiness is the seventh book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series which features Mam Precious Ramotswe and set in Botswana.  I would recommend this series any opportunity I can.  I really enjoy the serenity that this series carries with it.  While it is not blue skies and roses all the time, it certainly comes close to having a good relaxing massage when reading this series.

In Blue Shoes and Happiness, Grace Makutsi nearly made a booboo when she wasn't careful with her speech and she thought she lost the man that would be her husband.  Mr Polopetsi took it upon himself to help Mma Ramotswe in solving a case in the game reserve.  She wasn't very happy about it.  

Mma also tried to go on a diet in this book as she seems to be rather sensitive and pressured when the people around her seems to feel that she needs to do so and make fun of her build.  Even the doctor whom she is investigating as well as the client who came in to ask her to investigate the doctor told her so.

An enjoyable read as expected.

Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich

Synopsis :

Fugitive Apprehension Agent Stephanie Plum has a big problem on her hands: Seven-year-old Annie Soder and her mother, Evelyn, have disappeared.

Evelyn's estranged husband, Steven, a shady owner of a seedy bar, is not at all happy. During the divorce proceedings, he and Evelyn signed a child custody bond, and Steven is demanding the money guaranteed by the bond to find Annie. The money was secured by a mortgage on Evelyn's grandmother's house, and the True Blue Bonds Bail Agency wants to take possession of the house.

Finding a kidnapped child is not an assignment for a bounty hunter. But Evelyn's grandmother lives next door to Stephanie's parents, and Stephanie's mother and grandmother are not about to see their neighbor lose her house because of abduction.

Even though Stephanie's plate is full with miscreants who missed their court dates, including old nemesis and violent drunk Andy Bender and an elusive little old lady accused of grand theft auto, she can't disappoint Grandma Mazur! So she follows the trail left by Annie and Evelyn-- and finds a lot more than she bargained for. Steven is somehow linked with a very scary Eddie Abruzzi. Trenton cop and on-again, off-again fiance Joe Morelli and Stephanie's mentor and tormentor, Ranger, warn Stephanie about Abruzzi, but it's Abruzzi's eyes and mannerisms that frighten Stephanie the most. Stephanie needs Ranger's savvy and expertise, and she's willing to accept his help to find Annie even though it might mean becoming too involved with Ranger.

Stephanie, Ranger, Lula (who's not going to miss riding with Ranger), and Evelyn's lawyer/laundromat manager set out to find Annie. The search turns out to be a race among Stephanie's posse, the True Blue Bonds' agent, a Rangerette known as Jeanne Ellen Burrows, and the Abruzzi crew. Not to mention the fact that there's a killer rabbit on the loose!

Strap on your helmet and get ready for the ride of your life. Hard Eight. The world of Plum has never been wilder

I took the synopsis from goodreads.com as I thought it's quite a good summary of the book than on what's at the back over of the book.

Much as I enjoy Stephanie Plum (I always think she's another version of Becky Bloomwood from the Shopaholic Series)  I am slightly bored already so I am moving away from this series for a while so this would be the last of the post of Stephanie for quite a while.

Hard Eight is slightly different as Stephanie was asked by her mum's neighbour to look for her grand-daughter, Evelyn and Evelyn's daughter whom both have gone missing.  Things took a turn for worse and Stephanie suspect that Evelyn's daughter might have been a witness to a murder.

Valerie, Stephanie's sister who has been around since the last book was rather 'helpful' too.  This is the book when Stephanie introduced her sister to Albert Kloughn who will become a member of the family a few books down.

Ranger lend a hand in helping Stephanie and ended up doing more for Stephanie than she anticipated.  It was a rather good end (for me) for the time being while I take a break from this series.

Where The Heart Is by Billie Letts

Synopsis :

Talk about unlucky sevens. An hour ago, seventeen-year-old, seven months pregnant Novalee Nation was heading for California with her boyfriend.  Now she finds herself stranded at a Wal-Mart in Sequoyah, Oklahoma, with just $7.77 in charge. But Novalee is about to discover hidden treasures in this small Southwest town - a group of down-to-earth, deeply caring people willing to help a homeless, jobless girl living secretly in a Wal-Mart.

From Bible-thumping blue-haired Sister Thelma Husband to eccentric librarian Forney Hull who loves Novalee more than she loves herself, they are about to take her - and you, too - on a moving, funny and unforgettable journey to...where the heart is.


I decided on this book as it's part of Oprah's Book Club. I have totally no idea who the author is.  First page into the book, I was quite hooked as I was partly interested in how Novalee managed to live in supermart for a few months without being detected.  I don't it would be possible in real life to do so.

The storyline was quite predictable with pregnant girl left behind by boyfriend, girl gave birth in dramatic circumstances, girl too trusting and gave money all away, girl left stranded again with newborn baby, guardian angle appear to rescue girl and baby and take them home, the whole community embraced them into their lives, then a few tragedies later everyone live happily ever after, the end.

In that sense, I quite like the book for its survivor message behind the story is rather strong. However, I found it also slightly judgmental and might not fare well with some people.  There might be some who would question on why does the book support teen pregnancy.  I don't think the author meant for it to be such other than just a story of acceptance, love, trusting and hope.  If you like these elements, then I guess you won't find much fault with Where The Heart Is.

'Let's read together for 10 minutes' campaign organised by Sarawak State Library

In conjunction with World Book Day, the Sarawak State Library organised a 'Jom Baca Bersama untuk 10 minit' which translate to 'Let's read together for 10 minutes' recently.

Held at the library itself, the event was officiated by the wife of the Sarawak's Chief Minister, YABhg Puan Sri Dato Hajah Jamilah Haji Anu.

So, what was it all about.  Basically, it is an attempt to promote the habit of reading and almost everyone there will have to read together (silently) for 10 mins from 10 am to 10.10 am.  It is also the library's attempt to break record but I'm not sure how successful that was.

You can say that I was at the right place at the right time as I got to witness and participate in the event.  Participants will either have to bring their own book and if they didn't, a copy will be supplied to them for that 10 mins. I was glad to have brought along with me, my current read from Oprah's Book Club Where The Heart Is by Bille Letts.  Review of this book coming right up!

Even footballers were invited to take part.  They didn't bring any books with them so I am curious as to what titles they were supplied with during the event.  However, I don't think it really matters as the participants were fast and quick in wanting to have their photos taken and autographs signed that the poor guy didn't have much chance to read. 

The Guest of Honour, Puan Sri brought along a copy of her book which I think is just great in being a good role model.  I especially loved it when she says 'a book is a book and nothing can replace it'.  I can relate to what she is trying to say.  She further shared that she read every night before bed so that's one thing we have in common (probably the only thing we have in common).

I think it's a good effort in promoting good reading habits and I applaud the initiative but then same as Earth Day, how effective it would be to read for just 10 minutes and how many present would continue doing so? The PurpleQeenFairy wonders.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

Synopsis:

This first novel in Alexander McCall Smith's widely acclaimed The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series tells the story of the delightfully cunning and enormously engaging Precious Ramotswe, who is drawn to her profession to 'help people with the problems in their lives'.  

Immediately upon setting up shop in a small storefront in Gaborone, she is hired to track down a missing husband, uncover a con man and follow a wayward daughter.  But the case that tugs at her heart, and lands her in danger, is that of a missing eleven year old boy, who may have been snatched by witch doctors.

After years of reading about Precious Ramotswe, I finally managed to get hold of a copy of her first book in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series.  I started the series from book two, Tears of the Giraffe and managed quite well since then with subsequent titles that I wasn't really keen to read the first book.  However, I decided it might if I can review the series in totality and am I glad I did.  The first book is great as it gives an insight into the past life of Mma Ramotswe.  There's the reveal about her father, baby Precious and girl Precious and also on life with her first husband who treated her badly.

Even though I didn't really follow the sequence in the series, it doesn't really matter as each book is pretty much stand along but to be able to read the first book does acquaint me better with Mma Ramotswe.

If you have not read this series, I encourage you to do so. It's very light read but yet enjoyable and pleasantly relaxing.

Seven Up by Janet Evanovich

Synopsis :

All New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has to do is bring in semi-retired bail jumper Eddie DeChooch. For an old man he's still got a knack for slipping out of sight--and raising hell. How else can Stephanie explain the bullet-riddled corpse in Eddie's garden? Who else would have a clue as to why two of Stephanie's friends suddenly vanished? For answers Stephanie has the devil to pay: her mentor, Ranger. The deal? He'll give Stephanie all the help she needs--if she gives him everything he wants...

As if things weren't complicated enough, Stephanie's just discovered her Grandma Mazur's own unmentionable alliance with Eddie. Add a series of unnerving break-ins, not to mention the bombshell revelation leveled by Stephanie's estranged sister, and Stephanie's ready for some good news. Unfortunately, a marriage proposal from Joe Morelli, the love of her life, isn't quite cutting it. And now--murder, a randy paramour, a wily mobster, death threats, extortion, and a triple kidnapping aside--Stephanie's really got the urge to run for her life..

Here I am again with book seven of the Stephanie Plum series.  Aptly entitled Seven Up, things got quite interesting as Morelli kinda accidentally proposed to Stephanie in the ending to Hot Six.  in Seven Up, the reference of marriage popped up and caused some issues between Stephanie and Joe and Stephanie mother making appointment at the bridal shop.

Stephanie's sister Valerie moved back home with her daughters and that brought another angle of fun to the series as they are as different as day and night.  Between the above and having to find a human heart, Stephanie is having it rather complicated in this book.  

Seven Up ended with some unfinished business between Stephanie and Ranger.  You would need to read the following book, Hard Eight to find out what happen.
 

Good In Bed by Jennifer Weiner

Synopsis :

For twenty-eight years, things have been tripping along nicely for Cannie Shapiro. Sure, her mother has come charging out of the closet, and her father has long since dropped out of her world. But she loves her friends, her rat terrier, Nifkin, and her job as pop culture reporter for The Philadelphia Examiner. She's even made a tenuous peace with her plus-size body. 

But the day she opens up a national women's magazine and sees the words "Loving a Larger Woman" above her ex-boyfriend's byline, Cannie is plunged into misery...and the most amazing year of her life. From Philadelphia to Hollywood and back home again, she charts a new course for herself: mourning her losses, facing her past, and figuring out who she is and who she can become.

I didn't have much good experience when I read Jennifer Weiner previously. Good Night Nobody left me rather annoyed with the main character that I am still annoyed with her after so many years.  This Guy Not Taken was a collection of short stories.  While I do like a few of the stories within this collection, it generally left me rather lost.

However, I always remember that in all these book, reference is made to one particular book and that is Good In Bed.  So, when I had a chance to grab a copy of this book at a rather discounted price, I gave it a try (I am nice like that :).  The verdict is ....I am glad I did!

Good In Bed is the best of what Jennifer Weiner has to offer so far.  The story is well written. While it's basically a pick it up and put it down anytime book, it was rather engaging in it's own way.  Cannie is as original and quirky as anyone can be.  I quite felt for her at many levels throughout the book.

I thought she's rather brave in going through what she has to go through with her father leaving the family when she was young and her still needing his approval when she's older.  I guess that translates to her relationship with her boyfriend Bruce and her going after him after their breakup.  While I marveled at her character and strength, I thought she went rather extreme towards the end of the book and I got slightly impatient with her.  I quite feel that after the author having brought her up to such heights, didn't really know how to bring her down and such, caused her to crash fast and furious!

All in all, in my opinion, Jennifer has redeemed herself with this title but that doesn't mean I would immediately go out and get another of her title. Somehow, I feel that this is all she has to offer.