Reading Marathon 2018

As at this time tomorrow, I am a 'free being' :) I would have submitted my assignments and with no examinations this semester, I am officially done for this semester. *doing the happy dance*. It's a pretty tough semester with much distractions but come what may, I did my best.

I will thus start my book marathon.   I started it last year and I thought it would be interesting to continue it this year.  The thought of dedicating a whole month to reading sounds very appealing.

Having said that, I still have a lot (and I mean, a lot) of other commitments so I really do not know how I will do but for this marathon but let's just give it a go and evaluate from there.

I have also kinda identify the following titles to take part in my marathon :

• Death In Holy Orders by P.D. James - been in my shelf long enough

• Take A Look At Me Now by Miranda Dickinson - didn't make it to my recent gateaway

• Dark Places by Gillian Flynn - ditto

• The Copper Beach by Maeve Binchy - it has been a while since I read this author

• Simple Genius by David Baldacci - just to have at least one thriller in the marathon

These are pre-selected based on my intention.  I did this selection in between my assignments (as part of self motivating!) I really do not know if I would stick to this selection but I will give it a try.

You might however think '5 titles only mah...what's the big deal?  What kinda reading marathon is this with only 5 titles?' 

If you think like that, I quite agree with you as I had the same thoughts too but I didn't have time to select more titles so yes, there should be at least a couple of titles more.

All I can say is let the race begin!

Weekend Gateaway #4 2018

Image from web.  Credit to the creator. 

Due to some prior commitment this year, I wasn't able to make any long distance holiday plan. In fact, I wasn't able to really make any plans at all as my time depended on some external schedule which I can only know for sure pretty recently.

Thus I can only make short weekend plans as and when I am able to and this trip would most probably be the last weekend gateaway for the year but if possible, I might squeeze in another trip to the capital city.

This time round is just a flight away to the lion city as a reward for the princess after a hard fought public examination. Initially, we were supposed to travel to Osaka but due to some circumstances I wasn't able to bring her to the land of the rising sun this year so a short couple of days trip to somewhere nearer would have to do for now.

We are pretty excited as we have not travel just the two of us for quite a while and to be honest, she has no idea where we are going as it's supposed to be a surprised!  She thought she's pretty clever (which she is) with her guesses and deduction but she mustn't forget dealing with the queen here and she still has much to learn! *smirk*

Anyway for just these few days, I plan to bring just one book with me due to luggage restriction and it's just a short trip.

After much consideration, I decided to bring along either......

Take A Look At Me Now by Miranda Dickinson or Dark Places by Gilian Flynn. One is a chic lite and the other one is a psychotic thriller.  It's a short trip so I can only bring one.

Which shall it be?

Or perhaps I will bring a totally different title along with me at the very last minute.

You will only know from my forthcoming posts :)

In the meantime, can't wait for some R&R (although it's just for a few days)!

Throne of Glass (Book #1) by Sarah J Maas

Synopsis :

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her ... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead ... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined. 

This is what I say :

I heard a lot about this author. In fact, I was recommended her books a few years back when she was in my country for some promotional tour.  I wasn't keen to at that time but have been keeping an eye out for her titles ever since but most of the time, her books are at retail price so I didn't explore further.

I happen to come across this copy as a e-book recently so decided to give it a go.  Throne of Glass is the first book of the series that features assassin, Celaena Sardothien.  From here, the story evolved to another six or so more titles in the series.

Even though classified as young adult fantasy fiction, I quite enjoy this as while Celaena might be an assassin, she is still an eighteen year old girl and there's some level of naivety in her that can be endearing.  However, don't let that fool you as she can just cut your throat at the next sentence.

I think the author doesn't know yet how her character will evolve and thus unable to pair her with either Prince Dorian or Captain Westfall although personally I would think she's better suited for the captain but then we never know.

I quite like Celaena as a character and I quite like the storyline of Throne of Glass.  If  I have the chance, I will get hold of this collection.

The first book is followed by the second title, Crown of Midnight.

Books Blessing

Recently, I posted on Sidney Sheldon's Rage of Angel that I just read and I mentioned that it was a gift from a relative.

Actually, my aunt gave me more than just one book....she gave me a few and I thought I'll share them with you here.

Yes, they are all Sidney Sheldon's title and they are all double titles copies.  Needless to say, I have read all these titles and some of them even a few times with If Tomorrow Comes being a long time favourite and Windmills of the Gods both of which I re-read a few years ago and even Nothing Last Forever which I just re-read last year is here as well.

These are all keepers and I am sure I would want to re-read them again in the near future.

Thank you aunty CK for remembering my love for reading and thank you for these wonderful books.  Much love to you.

On the other hand, although I didn't buy them, these books does add on to my collections and I need to rearrange my collections on my shelves once again

Toy Cemetery by William W. Johnstone

Synopsis :

When Jay Clute was a kid, he was terrified of his Aunt Cary's toy collection- -of their staring eyes and limp arms. 

Now his aunt is dead, and it all belongs to him. Nothing has changed--not the painted smiles, the garish clown-like colors . . . 

or the tiny hands dripping with bright red blood.

This is what I say :

I actually do not know what I just read.  

Toy Cemetery is confusing and disturbing.  It is both fascinatingly disgusting and disgustingly fascinating at the same time.

I actually read an e-copy of this book and have no idea about this author.  The author certainly doesn't mince his words and uses it pretty liberally both literally and figuratively.

The story itself is pretty disturbing and even the ending leave much to the imagination.  I can say the ending of the book doesn't signify the ending of the story.

Actually, I don't know what I am talking about.  I am still disturbed by this title.  Even if you are a fan of horror, I won't be recommending this title to you.

However, in view of Halloween round the corner, I guess this book is at it's appropriate season.

Rage of Angels by Sidney Sheldon

Synopsis :

Jennifer Parker is brilliant, beautiful and bold.  A lawyer, the most glamorous and successful in America, she dominates the court with her sparkling intelligence and persuasive charms.  She seems unbeatable - but is she really?

When Jennifer fells in love, she can hardly believe her luck.  Adam Warner is handsome, smart, destined to be the next President of the United States - and married...

Jennifer finds herself pregnant and abandoned.  Although determined not to allow her broken heart to get in the way of her success, she soon realises that being alone makes her ever more vulnerable to those who seek to destroy her.

This is what I say :

The last time I read Rage of Angels would probably be more than twenty years ago when Sidney Sheldon was the rage then.  I think I used to have a copy of the book but I can't remember where it is now...probably I lent it to a friend and never got it back!

Anyway, one of my aunties gave me a few copies from her collections recently when she' doing some housekeeping.  

This is a double title copy and so far, I only have time to read Rage of Angels.  It's nice to be reacquainted with Sydney's heroine again.  I can't say I enjoy this title now as much as I did the last time but it was still refreshing and enjoyable.

I wonder if the estate of Sydney Sheldon would commission Tilly Bagshawe to write a sequel?

Anyway, I still have a few titles title so I can't wait to go through them during the holidays.

Devils and Dust (A Jack Keller Novel) by J.D. Rhoades

Synopsis :

“You bring death,” the voice said, “and Hell follows with you.” Relentless bounty hunter Jack Keller returns in Devils and Dust, the long-awaited fourth installment of the critically acclaimed series from award-nominated author J. D. Rhoades. 

Keller’s been in exile, living a quiet life in the desert, since his disappearance after the cataclysmic events of 2008’s award-winning Safe and Sound. Now his old friend and former employer Angela has tracked him down and needs his help. Oscar Sanchez, Angela’s husband and Keller’s best friend, has disappeared while investigating what happened to the sons he was trying to bring to America. If anyone can find Oscar, Keller can, but along the way he has to confront his own demons and his unresolved feelings for Angela — now his best friend’s wife. 

Keller’s quest takes him from a corrupt Mexican border town to a prison camp in the swamps of South Carolina and pits him against human traffickers, violent drug lords, and a vicious group of white supremacists perpetuating an evil as old as civilization itself in the name of God. All of them are about to learn a hard lesson: if Jack Keller's after you, he's bringing Hell with him.

This is what I say :

I read this as an e-book.  I didn't have much expectation.  It was a good thing.  It was a pretty good book.  Thrilling and exciting and momentum picks up towards the last few chapters.

Jack Keller can be any of those tough guy.  There are elements of Jack Richer (from Lee Child) in him.  Nothing really memorable about him but like all other heroes, he's very much a tormented soul.

I never knew of this author.  This is a great introduction to this author as I am very open to read his other titles and his other characters which had cameo here....characters like the 'Iron Hourse' squad and the FBI lady which didn't make an appearance but who's name was mentioned with much awe.Overall, Devils and Dust is an easy read and fans of thriller will certainly not be disappointed.