iHate and iLove London.

It's half-term break for us poor saps studying the IBDP in Oxford. Ten whole days of nothing to do-- the lucky ones go home to their relatively nearby countries and the unlucky ones (iMean me) do what I did. Go to London.

London is possibly one of the most annoying places to go once you've gotten used to student life in Oxford. It's loud, crowded and depressing. iAin't putting down the world's city-- it's a great place for shopping and the food is a hell lot better (pardon my french) than Brown-Sauced-British-Stuff Oxford. It's just not the city iWould want to live in. Give me warm and friendly KL anyday.



Okay, enough about my adjustment issues. We all know how boring those can be. iThink that I'll fill you in on something more interesting today. Tintin. You heard me right. Let's hear you say it: A THOUSAND BLISTERING BARNACLES! If iEver grow to love London, blame the Tintin store in Covent Garden. The Adventures of Tintin have been with me since I could put words together so if you haven't guessed it already, this is supposed to be an iLove entry.

As per usual, iAm going to tell you to get up, get out and buy a copy of any Tintin adventure out there. Because iTend to tell you to read kickass books (or in this case, graphic novels) you've never read before. Odds are however, that you do know Tintin through his comics and cartoons. If so, well done! iHope that you will continue to spread the awesomeness of Tintin, Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus. Oh. On that note, if you know where I can get a copy of the first 3-in-1 volume of Tintin's Adventures, leave me a message please.

On to the more serious side of our favourite reporter and snow-white dog. Racism. It was brought up earlier this year that Tintin's adventures -- those in the Congo, specifically -- have shown signs of racism. I'm no expert but iBelieve that this was a legitimate claim and I'm not going to play the part of the diehard fangirl, trying to defend Herge's work. iWould like to state for the record however, that I have been reading Tintin since the tender age of seven or eight (or nine? Mum should know) and have not in anyway been influenced by these racist sentiments.

It's daft that parents don't want their kids reading Tintin anymore because they think it has racist values. If they raised their kids properly instead of plopping them infront of the idiot box or playstation 24/7, then maybe the children would have some chance at independent thought. So here's my message to parents of today and soon-to-be parents. Get off your lazy asses and do some parenting. School teachers aren't going to do it for you, the television isn't going to do it for you and neither is the internet. Don't go around protesting about how violent or racist comics/games/tv shows are making your kids horrible brats when you're the one buying them all that stuff instead of teaching them the basic human values that are supposed to help them withstand negative influences. You can't make 'em better people by taking all the bad out of the world. The world will always have bad stuff in it.


Alright then, iThink that's about it for today. Have a nice day people. Hope I didn't offend or depress you.


Write you later. Go read something.



-The illiterate Blogger-

His Infernal Majesty

"Don't know if I will but until I can find me..."


This is more of my sister's speciality but iLike to think that my taste in music isn't horribly bad. If you haven't heard of HIM... well, no biggie, I didn't know about them until my sis started singing their version of "Solitary Man" in the shower on Monday mornings.

Before iCame to England, I transferred a lot of their songs from her albums to my laptop, just for the hell of it. And for some reason, they're all I've been listening to over the last couple of days. Could this be my weird-poetic-metal side coming out to greet my iLove-Disney-music side? Or have I been listening to so many instrumental pieces that I greatly need something packed full of strange lyrics? Well, go bother. iNonetheless do recommend listening to HIM. All of their songs may not appeal to you but there are a select few that will, whether you like it or not, get under your skin.

In other (hopefully more interesting news), some of you may be glad to know that iFinally have gotten around to viewing Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible as a "Real Book". Y'see-- the novels iStudy for literature classes are generally good books (The River Between, Pygmalion, etc) but I've always had this habit of viewing them as "Literature Class Books" as if they were written for the purpose of being analyzed like hell. But lo and behold! The Poisonwood Bible is a "Real Book"! Praise the Lord and get out of the confetti!


Write you later. Go read something.


-The illiterate Blogger-

Of Cobwebs and Curses.

So I apparently forgot about my reputation as an illiterate blogger. Tsk.


*dusts cobwebs off of website*


As some of you may or may not know, I am now in Oxford, England and studying for my International Baccalaureate Diploma. Exciting, eh? I've been here a month and every day is still a new adventure. But I doubt that you're extremely interested in my personal/social life, so let's talk about literature now. What am I reading for English class? "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver. It's proving to be more enjoyable than I first assumed it was going to be. We're also studying Sophocles' "Antigone."



I would greatly appreciate it if anyone has tips about how to approach these texts from a critical literary perspective. We have a great teacher though, so I'm hoping that my ideas will begin to take a more solid form as the term progresses. To any family members reading this: don't worry, I haven't failed anything yet. ;-)


By the ways, forgive any spacing or structural irregularities. Blogspot doesn't agree with my Macbook, curses! Will leave it at this. Have fun.


Write you later. Go read something.

-The illiterate Blogger-

iDrink Starbucks. Sort of.

iDrink Starbucks. Sort of.

I was recently at a Starbucks outlet in Bangsar village at around half-past nine in the morning-- it was bliss. Don't you love coffee shops when they're nearly empty with not a sound in the background save the the relaxing music, baristas and occassional rustling of newspapers? It's normally like that in the morning... come night time, they're always packed and noisy.

I'll speak frankly: I don't drink coffee, it tastes horrid (smells great though). My drinks range from Green tea or Choc cream chip Fraps. None of that caramel macchiato or whatever.

Anyways.

It occured to me while I was at *points to picture*, that morning coffee shops are ideal places for quiet writing. After all, one is constantly being pestered at home by family members and distractions (a.k.a the internet). The only problem is having to get out of bed too early in the day and drag yourself to the closest Starbucks/Coffeebean. But that's a small price to pay, isn't it? I'm beginning to see why so many writers and workers like coffee shops.

What do you all drink? Are you an iStarbucks or an iCoffeebean person? Perhaps the rogue, Gloria Jeans (personally, iHate GJ)? Or maybe you don't buy into all this commercial crap, as some may phrase it, and brew your own highly-rated coffee/drink?


Write you later. Go read something.

-The illiterate Blogger-

If there's something strange, in your neighborhood...

"If there's something strange....and it don't look good...who ya gonna call?"

You know you like that song. iKnow you do.

Possibly one of my favourite comedy-fiction films of the century, The Ghosbusters is a bag of treats. It's funny in a way that doesn't insult your intelligence, the characters are lovable and who doesn't like that marshmallow monster?

My excursions into old-era movies (a.k.a. movies some people in my age group have never heard of or watched) have numbed me in regard to the special effects glitches, thank heavens. A lesser-Nuri would've laughed non-stop when I saw Zuul! But that's just the CGI-watcher in me talking. Pay no attention.

Why aren't there anymore movies like Ghostbusters around anymore? It's a funny movie that entertains both children and adults without resorting to extremes of a mature nature. We need more movies like that! Maybe they're still out there, being directed. But please don't make a comment mentioning a Pixar film. It's not that iHate Pixar, but only a handful of their movies (The Incredibles, Monster Inc. and Toy's Story, to be specific) have hit the nail on the head.

Movies aside, I'm presently reading "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin after much persuasion from some online friends. It's a long book and entertaining in spite of some vulgarities. Fantasy fans take note: this is definitely something you want to pick up, even if it doesn't suit me much. I'll write more when I'm done reading the bloody tome.

Write you later. Go read something.

-The illiterate Blogger-

It's been one heck of a trip, Mister Potter.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Come now, iKnow you all saw this one coming. Who can resist writing about the darling Mister Potter and his daring adventures? At 4.30am on the 21st of July, I lined up among other youths to get Rowling's latest novel at Kinokuniya bookstores. I made the trip to see the crowd and watch them run, but ended up in the line later on with some acquaintances (for more info on that, check my comment on Bibliobibuli's blog).

Faithful to my role as a Potter reader, I shan't spoil the story for anyone reading this who hasn't gotten or read the final book. But I will say that it was a fun ride.

Nostalgic, thrilling and (inevitably) sad at some points. I can overlook the flaws for now. It's been one heck of a trip. I'm sure that fellow readers will know what I mean when I say that I can neither feel happy nor sad now that it's finally over. Eitherways, the next time you're ever out with like-minded friends, make a (non-alcoholic) toast to our dear friend Harry.

Write you later. Go read something.

-The illiterate Blogger-

iWrite. Do you...?

iWrite. Do you...?

I recently scanned through an interesting article by blogger Bibliobibuli, about how she started writing. It got me thinking about writing in general.

How much do you enjoy writing? I've met many people who tell me that writing is torture, and yet they continue to put pen onto paper because they have a story to tell . Lots of writers have also told me that they write because it's enjoyable, a release of emotions. I think that they're both correct and that it just feels different at different points of your life. Personally, I'm not sure why iWrite. I think it's because iLove words.


But then again-- me and my keyboard? We have a love-hate relationship. Pens are out of the question... left-handers with the hook syndrome will know what I'm talking about.

I'll leave you here for now. It's a short entry today, because Bibliobibuli's article is quite long and I don't want what few readers I have to strain their eyes.

Write you later. Go read something.

-The illiterate Blogger-

Curiouser and curiouser...

The curious incident of the dog in the night-time.

This is one of those books that iAlways hear about and see on the shelves. My friends have recommended it and even the cover presents itself very nicely to my eyes-- iHave this thing for simple covers (but don't acuse me for judging a book as such!).

I'm not sure if the author is faithful in his depiction of an autistic child's perspective, but the book was quite interesting to read. It wasn't ground-breaking in my opinion and there were parts that made me feel like Haddon was overdoing it, because the text was starting to give me a headache.

The way Christopher thought to himself started to become repetitive after I was through with the first half of the novel. I felt like there should have been more text between every sentence of repeated information (like a certain neurotic rule about red and yellow cars) so that it didn't feel like he was trying to point things out to an idiot through repetition. I also wish that there was more description to the book. Not just short moments of observation followed by memories that're connected to them. It didn't feel *real* in that way.

On the other hand, I was compelled to read on and find out what was to become of Christopher. The reader knows more of the world around him than he does because he isn't in-tune with the vastness of human emotions. The mathematical puzzles and little drawings were quite a delight as well.

My conclusion? A good book that I'd rather study in a Lit course than read for enjoyment. iThink that it is the novelty which makes it so charming to readers, though I'd rather not make that a generalization.

If any of you feel like reading more about people with strange minds (that's what I call 'em), iHear that "Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls" by Jane Lindskold is pretty good. Haven't read it myself although I may give it a try once I've recovered from The curious incident of the dog in the night-time.

Write you later. Go read Something.

-The illiterate Blogger-

Of Labyrinths.

"You remind me of the babe..."

Older readers of my blog will probably recognize the quotation on top from the 80's movie: "The Labyrinth." Don't you just love David Bowie?

I like to watch films from before my time. Dr.Zhivago, My Fair Lady, Sangam (classic Hindi film), etc. It's great fun because you get to see how some productions manage to stand the test of time in spite of special effects degradation.

The Labyrinth was reasonably good, even in the CGI era of epic LoTR or Narnia films. Jennifer Connelly's acting is probably the worst thing about it but that doesn't matter-- although she is technically the protagonist of the film, Connelly isn't its 'star'. Center-stage is stolen from the pretty teenager by more eccentric characters... notably Goblin King Jareth (David Bowie), Hoggle and Dydimus the talking fox.

What really makes the movie memorable is its soundtrack: catchy tunes sung by the Goblin King himself and accompanied by some very funky dance movies! I can't bring myself to forget "Dance, Magic, Dance" or the more sombre "Within You". This has definitely been one of the weirdest films I've seen in a while and a classic to boot.

In other news, I'm currently reading Mark Haddon's "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time."

Here's a 'did you know' fact that I acquired from a fellow avid reader: Haddon was the friend of a creative writing lecturer whose son had Asperger's syndrome. He spent a lot of time with his friend's son-- based on this experience, he wrote and submitted the novel without telling the boy's mother, despite knowing that she planned to write a similar novel.

I'll write about my understanding of the book when I'm done with it.

Write you later. Go read something.

-The illiterate Blogger-

of Children's books and Reviewing books.

The Mysterious Benedict Society.

The cover of this novel has haunted me from its place on Kino's shelves for ages until I finally gave in a few days ago, bought the bloody thing and read it. Incidentally, it was exactly what iNeeded to read to get out of my Reader's Block. And yes, I'm sure you can make the connection between that and the more lethal Writer's Block.

Trenton Lee Stewart has never written a children's book before-- this is his first, apparently. You wouldn't know it. Its beginning is simplicity itself and easy to slip into, while the world around you slips out. But adult readers will notice some very non-childish concepts in this book: there is, for instance, a sort of familiarity to Orwell's Big Brother theme. The feeling of something hidden and sickeningly dangerous.

In fact, one of the characters even speaks of how total control is impossible but the illusion of total control equals to the same results. Doesn't that ring a bell? Mention of torture and an ominous place called the Waiting Room adds to the impression. In spite of this, The Mysterious Benedict Society is still very much a children's book. You can tell from the dialog, the caring characters, the slightly cheesy villains and beautiful coincidences that were orchestrated to an unlikely extent. It was as if the author Mister Stewart had taken a menacing bowl of batter and added in sweet things so that the young'uns wouldn't be scared by the spice. To top it off, iAm quite sure he smothered it with extremely sweet vanilla icing.

Hooray for yummy analogies.

This is the sort of book tweens (10-12/13 years old) should be reading. Never mind those 'Gossip Girls' or 'Sweet Valley High's. This has an interesting balance of realism, imagination and sweetness that would be much healthier for the mentality of growing children. Especially the ones who leave that idiot box.

Now on another note...

iSuddenly realized a few days ago that I am not in the habit of reviewing books. I don't enjoy reviewing books, unlike most literary bloggers, if you can call me one. My reviews always end up conveying mixed feelings that make some readers a little tentative about reading the book(s) in question. So I'm going to say this now, before someone comes along and tells me iShouldn't review books. This isn't a blog that reviews books. It is merely about the books I read. There.

Write you later. Go read something.


-The illiterate Blogger- (who can't underline this for some reason)

Honey, iAm home!

I'm back from BC, Canada. The jet-lag is infuriating!

But let's not go into my personal life.... it's boring. iWould rather talk about my latest read.

It's depressing, it's Shakespeare and it's made easy. Any guesses? I suppose the picture's a dead giveaway.

Macbeth!

I'll be honest about my attitude towards Shakespeare. I don't read him much. The only play of his I've truly enjoyed was Twelfth Night because it was amusing. An old age romance comedy, if you will. Romeo & Juliet was tolerable. And now Macbeth. Having spent some of my younger years watching a Gargoyles cartoon where Macbeth was arguably one of my favourite villians, it was interesting to see him in his original form. It also damprened the experience. iWould have enjoyed this one more if it I wasn't so fond of the bloody cartoon character!

Lady Macbeth is pure evil and her relationship with her husband would make for some interesting analysis if one were up to it. What iFound most interesting however, was the mythical aspect. Double, double toil and trouble? The mysterious glimpses of bloody daggers and ghosts? It made the plot more delicious and I can see why an audience would enjoy its on-stage version.

Ah, well. I'll cut this post short. The Hobbit is next on my reading list. I read the first few pages and knew instinctively that I'm going to enjoy reading it. Has that ever happened to you?

Write you later. Go read something.

-The illiterate Blogger-

Canada.

I'm going to Canada tomorrow morning, so there'll be no mind-boggling illiteracy from me for the next two weeks.

Lucky readers!


Write you later. Go read Something.


-The illiterate Blogger-

Little writing and Lotsa writing.

iKnow that the issue following this sentence is an old one and that you may not want to read anything pertaining to it-- but iAsk you to spare me some of your patience, please.


Have you ever read a book that, in spite of its simple English and childlike approach, has completely amazed you? Many people have been saying these days that a true writer doesn't need to use a fancy vocabulary and elaborate descriptions in order to impress readers; I'll plead guilty to this as well because iBelieve that it must be quite difficult to convey a deep meaningful message in so few and modest words. The Little Prince, Totto-chan and The Alchemist are actually three of my favourite books and they do something with the imagination that does not require an abundance of three syllable words.


I do a bit of writing myself however, and there is a part of me that refutes the generalization of such a belief. You cannot apply it to all writers. Sometimes there is no other word to use for that certain story or that certain moment except for a certain three syllable (and possibly difficult) word. At other times, the atmosphere cannot be created without turning to elaborate wordplay because the message you wish to convey is simple and can be tastefully delivered in a not-so-simple way. Good examples? The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Pride & Prejudice. Yes, I know that they represent two forms of literature... iJust daren't mention a modern novel at the moment. Many modern novels fall in the category between simple and elaborate, save for that Mr.Norris novel that I never finished.


My conclusion is that a true writer is about as undefinable as the art of writing. So to anybody reading this, anybody who likes to argue this particular issue-- stop wasting your breath (or internet space for that matter). There is only one way to define what a true writer is-- that is to become one. So get to work, you philanthropic philosophers. I want to see your work on the shelves!


Write you later. Go read something.


-The illiterate Blogger-

To Penang and Back!

Hello again, my non-existant readers!

I've just been to Penang (Malaysia) and back, with the family. iThink that I have gained weight since then-- after all, who goes to Penang Island for the sunshine and sea? It's the food that attracts people! Nasi Kandar, fresh prawns/crabs/whatever and all sorts of kuih-muih. In short, a fun trip.

While I was there, iStopped by a second-hand bookshop in town. There were loads of books (published) from the 60s and onwards and the place reeked of aging paper. I used to be a school librarian, so it was very natural and enjoyable to walk about the place; even bought a few books. Mainly old hardcovers of books I've yet to read (Heidi, Wuthering Heights, etc). I also found a very tattered copy of Alice in Wonderland.


So here's my question to knowledgeable readers and book collectors. Do you know a good book-binder or book-mender?



Once upon a time, iRead a young adult fantasy novel titled 'Inkheart' (soon to be a major motion picture, apparently). There was a character in the book who happened to be a book-binder-- he repaired old books and bound them with new linen covers. Although I've always been aware of these book doctors, it wasn't until iRead Inkheart that I took an actual interest in the idea of binding old hardcover books.


Ever since, I've accumalated a few (note: four to five) old books that could use some new binding....and one that needs major surgery, so to speak. I'd be very grateful if any one of my non-existant readers could recommend a good book doctor in Malaysia that could help me.


Here, my rambling comes to an end for today; iHope that this entry has gotten you thinking about those old and yellowing books you may have stored in a dark corner of your home. Keep them in good condition, poor things!



Write You Later. Go read something.



-The illiterate Blogger-

iLove my Queen of Mystery.

Who is my Queen of Mystery, my QoM?


No, not Mary Higgins Clark (I've not read her in spite of recommendations)


I'm talking about Agatha Christie, who is on my list of favourite authors.

If you've not read any of her books then I demand that you go out and buy or borrow a copy of her novel And Then There Were None!! That was the first of Christie's that I ever read and inevitably the beginning of my addiction. Her writing style is neither complicated nor overly simple and leaves lots of visualisation space for the reader's imagination. However, I am admittedly biased to the ones involving that impeccable Bulgarian detective-- Hercule Poirot.

He's such a funny character: neurotically neat, proud of his moustache, obsessed with those grey cells and fond of sweet things. Some readers may find his ego a turn-off; personally, I think it's interesting to see him justify his bravado. It's one of the things that compels me to read on. Sometimes I just hope he'll get it completely wrong. Plus... well, how many of us have tried to solve a mystery before someone in the novel did?

Anyways...

I recently read "Hercule Poirot's Christmas". Agatha Christie wrote this book for her brother-in-law, who had once remarked that her books were not bloody enough. Hence, she wrote this crime in such a way that the detectives could be certain it was a homocide and not a suicide or natural death (as such is the case of falling off a cliff or undetectable poisons). That is to say... the victim is found with a slit throat and lying in a pool of blood.


Mmmm. Good old-fashioned murder.


This one goes on my list (iLove lists) of QoM favourites. It has all of my favourite factors (You may not want to know what these factors are-- especially if you haven't read the book and are planning to). Apparent violence, a locked room situation, a dinner party of sorts, a dashing unexpected guest, complicated family bloodlines and Hercule Poirot. Like in most of her books, Christie manages to make a psychological display of her characters by using Monsiuer Poirot and the readers' suspicious little minds as her tools.

I think I've dragged on for long enough. Hopefully this entry has not discouraged you from reading any of the QoM's novels!



Write you later. Go read something.


-The illiterate Blogger-

My List of Good books iHate.

iPromised a list, so here it is! Take no offence if you love the books iHate. After all, it must be a good book if it got such a strong reaction out of me, right? It is in my opinion that a good book is a book capable of producing a strong reaction from its readers, negative or positive. This is after putting aside the general critique for a good book (decent writing, a plot that hasn't been done over a quintillion times in the same way, etc). But I won't set anything in stone... books and the critique of books; these two are both ambiguous topics, no?


Now...onwards to the list! These are the books I'd read twice only for an English Literature class!

My List of Good books iHate.

+ The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

+ Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

+ Hard-Boiled Wonderland and The End of The World by Haruki Murakami.

+ The River Between by Ngugi wa Thiong'o

+ Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

+ Mansfield Park by Jane Austen.



+ The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean

End

You may have already guessed it by now but just in case you were wondering: yes, I do use the term 'iHate' loosely. Some of these books are very difficult to hate because they were written very beautifully and provoked much admiration from me. On the other hand... some of them I downright disliked.

I would like to apologize for the first book on the list right now, because I have never finished reading it. That's how much iHated it. You'll probably critisize me for not giving Hosseini's book an honest chance-- I'm just not a fan of books that repel me enough to put them down immediately.

I'll leave you here to think about your own list of Good books you Hate (if you have any). See you next entry!

Write you later. Go read something.

-The illiterate Blogger-

What iWrite and Why iWrite.

Have you ever...


...read a good book but still hated it?


iHave.


You pick up the notorious tome at a library or you buy it because it's supposed to be a literary masterpiece. There's a sort of mild anticipation to devour this book, perhaps because it's won several literary prizes and the recommendation of popular critics. At home, the atmosphere is perfect. A good warm beverage on a rainy evening, you're on your favourite couch with a very lovable and furry pet. You've waited for a time just as such for this special, special book.


Alas, it does not satisfy! I do not mean to say that the book is not good. On the contrary... I concur that it is a very good book with an excellent concept, realistic characters, wonderful style and a unique perspective. But I hate it anyway and wouldn't read it again if you tempted me with all the Jordan Almonds in the world! It is a book that causes me discomfort when I read it, that disagrees with my moral values extremely, that makes me feel extremely depressed-- you get the idea. Sometimes it is even a book that, for some reason unable to be logically elucidated, merely infuriates me. I will later post my current list of these books that I am illiterate to.


This is my conflict with literature, my relationship with all things literary. You can call me silly for it or you can agree with me or you can just never ever visit this blog again because I'm a horrible writer. Eitherways, I'll continue to type at this keyboard about books.... and while I'm at it, I promise to throw in entries about films, society and other funny things.


What iWrite: Books. Movies. Society. Jordan Almonds... 'nuff said.


Why iWrite: Apparently it's not healthy to talk to family members about books they are liable to find boring. Mainly because they're also liable to kill you for trying to do so.


So welcome to my Blog! I am the illiterate Blogger; obviously I'm not literally illiterate but please do try to find the irony in that title. I happen to think that it quite promptly reflects my disposition when it comes to critically acclaimed novels!


Write you later. Go read something.

-The illiterate Blogger-