Sundays At Tiffany's by James Patterson

Okay, this story has nothing to do with Breakfast At Tiffany's.

James Patterson is one of the author whose novels I have enjoyed more than once. That includes Along Came A Spider and Kiss The Girls, both books and also their film adaptations. Being so used to his thriller genres, I was somewhat amused to find this novel on the shelf because it seemed like a romance novel. However, I have no problem to indulge myself in a romantic story, even more with my current "love-dovey" heart. So, I finished reading the book in one night, a skill and a habit long forgotten since the golden days of Muna the voracious novel reader, haha. In a nutshell, it's a nice, sweet story, the kind that warms your heart. Mr. Patterson collaborated with another writer, Mdm Gabrielle Charbonnet in this novel.
The story is about Jane, who as an eight-year-old girl, had an imaginary friend, a thirty-something Michael. Michael had been her best friend, her only companion during her childhood, the only one who listened and care for what she thinks, as Jane was a lonely child, and didn't get the attention, love and affection from her broadway producer mother.

As any imaginary friend, Michael had to leave Jane on her 9th birthday. Like any other 'cases', Michael had prepared Jane that she would forget him as she grows up. That's how it is supposed to be.

Anyway, twenty-three years has passed. Fate finally brought Jane and Michael together. As a grown woman now, Jane is quite successful, although working under her mother's rather dictatorship wing. She is a playwright in her own way and working on a play she wrote about a little girl with her imaginary friend. So, Jane has never forgotten Michael, which is something unusual here. As Jane meets Michael, both of them are seeing each other in different perspectives and guess what, they fell in love. Now here was the confusing part for me, as I read through. Expecting this story to be a realistic one, I figured that the Michael whom Jane met later was actually a real person who has the same appearance and personality. But, it wasn't like that. Michael was real, but in a different way. Something of a little bit like "City of Angels" here, with almost a tragic ending....but again, "almost". Someone at the end of the story is facing death and I had guessed it wrongly. Ah, I should've known better.

Perhaps the fantasy-like concept of the story is the only thing that is a bit of a 'downer' for me, because I prefer a more realistic story in a novel. However, it is not hopeless too. The story made my mind did the 'time tunnel' thing back to my childhood years, wondering if I ever have an imaginary friend. Of course, I didn't remember having anything or anyone like that, although I was a bit of a loner and a dreamer too...(still a dreamer now ;) ). Like the rules said, we are not supposed to remember that after 9-years-old.

One of excerpt from the story that I like:
 "I don't know Vivienne had a kid," one of the other stick figures said. "Hello, Jane. You're as cute as a button."
 A flock of gazelles, they moved into the huge living room, leaving me to wonder if I'd ever seen a button that qualified as cute. (page 25)

And there is something from this part,
 I was a thirty-two-year-old woman who had everything and nothing going for her at the exact same time. I had a good job that was theoretically fascinating, but it consumed my hours and days and gave me almost no personal satisfaction. (page 113),
 which somehow I can relate to it.

And then I wondered who had written this part,
 I should figure out a way to be happy, not for a lifetime, but for an hour or two. Maybe there was somebody out there who wanted to sit around with me, and order in Japanese, and not hate watching a DVD of You've Got Mail or The Shawshank Redemption for the fourth or fifth time. (page 114),
 because those two movies are my favourite movies and I have been watching them more than three times each.

So, finally...this book is still a good read. It is simple, sweet and nice. The language is simple, the story line is not so complicated, and there's something to learn about love. Enjoy.

Movie : Misery

"I am your number one fan."

If you are a writer or a novelist, those words might be the best thing you want to hear. But maybe not for the famous author, Paul Sheldon (James Caan). Especially, after the horrendous experience he had encountered in Silver Creek.

This psychological thriller is based on Stephen King's brilliant novel of the same name. This 1990 classic is probably one of the best adaptation of King's books based on the critics comments. Honestly, I haven't read the novel, the same with King's other brilliant works. However, my sister has been a fan since her college days and thanks to her, I knew about him. I prefer to enjoy his work through movie adaptations, like Carrie, It and The Green Mile. I considered this movie a classic, because it is a great movie since 20 years ago and it can still be enjoyed now with the same enthusiasm as it was before.

Paul Sheldon, most famous for his series of "Misery" novel, is finishing his latest book in his favourite rural retreat in Silver Creek. Once finished, he headed down to NYC to send his work to his agent. Unbeknownst to him, a blizzard is coming. While on his way, he met with an accident. The accident might ended his life there and then. Fortunately, (or should I say, unfortunately..) he was rescued by a nurse, Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) who happens to be his number one fan. Since she rescued him, (a strong woman, she is) she had been caring and curing him like any admiring fan would do. She kept saying that the phone line is still unavailable or the road is still not opened since the blizzard every time Paul asked to contact his family and his agent. All seems well, until a significant amount of time had passed, Paul is getting restless and worried, and Annie has shown some of her "real colours".

By now, Annie has shown Paul, that she is fanatic of him, and having mood swings. Sometimes she could be very nice and gentle, and other times she could be harsh and temperamental. At this point, Paul knew that there is something wrong with her, just he didn't know how serious it is. Paul, incapacitated by the accident, was helpless and had to rely on Annie's care, although now he felt trapped and held captive in her house. The maniacal 'freak'ness of Annie has escalated as she read the novel manuscript which Paul had finished written. She loathe it and asked Paul to write another novel instead in her honour. She wanted him to continue writing another "Misery" novel. In all the time he was in her captivity, we could see how Paul tried desperately to find his way out with only one good arm and has tried to outsmart Annie just to keep her in good mood and save himself more time to live. I couldn't help feeling sorry for him every time his effort failed. And Annie could be so cruel to him. So Paul had no other choice than to write the story she wanted.

At this point, everybody is looking for Paul, including the local sheriff, Buster. I really like Buster's character, the old sheriff with a sharp mind, along with his deputy sheriff wife, Virginia. Their on-screen husband-and-wife chemistry is very entertaining to watch. My favourite line of Buster is this, "You see, it's just that kind of sarcasm (sic) has given our marriage a real spice.", when he replied to his wife's remark about his 'literature affair'. (You just have to see the movie.) And I couldn't help feeling sad when something bad happened to Buster near the end of the movie. It's the same with the relationship between Paul and Annie. Although this is a thriller movie, a 'psycho' one to describe it better, there were times I laughed to see Paul's expression when he was trying to comprehend Annie's unstable mood. Kathy Bates portrayed the fanatic Annie extremely well, no wonder she bagged the Academy Award for Best Actress in this movie.

And so, back to the story. Paul knew now that as the end of the novel is coming, so is his life. While he tried to escape, he had learned some scary facts of Annie's past history. He knew she is capable of killing him. He knew he had to do something before Annie kills both of them. And finally, you know the ending. Haha.

Ok, so I like this movie. I know it is an old movie and maybe those who love reading, especially Stephen King's or thriller lovers, you would have known everything already. But some of you may not know it and I recommend you to watch it and enjoy it. Till the next classics, au revoir.

Photo credits: Cover (bokunosekai.wordpress.com/2009/0.../misery/)
                      Scene (from the dvd)

Movie : Date Night

A trip to the cinema for some sort of mind therapy was initially with the intention to watch Shutter Island. However, the unplanned trip landed myself on showtime issues. So, I opted for the best available one, Date Night, in terms of showtime.
     Honestly, I didn't know what to expect, since I haven't read any synopsis, previews or reviews on this one, but, jolly good! It has done me good! It is zany and hilarious. An ordinary couple who's having a monotonous married life, has been living in a phase where everything is in a routine. And the routine includes a weekly date nights at the same restaurant, having the same menu and making stories about couples who dined next to them (..so funny!). To cut the not-so-long story short (only 88 minutes), due to an effort to spice things up for their life, they decided to take up on a no-show reservation at an exclusive restaurant. Somehow, with a mistaken identity, what started as a peaceful dinner changed as an all night long of cat-and-mouse chase between the couples and a pair of goons who had them mistaken with a con couple whom the goons believed is having a flash drive with an incriminating information of their boss in their possession. So, this couple spent all night trying to save themselves, and while doing it, discovered the true facts about their marriage. Aaawww, at some points, it touched this lovey-dovey heart of mine..(sigh..).
     Somehow, we can expect how the story ends. The story line is rather smooth, the plot is not that heavy, anyway it is a comedy film. It is not complicated at all. And it really is 18PL. However, this movie is so funny and very entertaining with no stupid jokes or slapsticks. And I haven't been laughing that hard for quite a long time. A good movie to light up the gloomy heart. The moral of the story is..do not take up on somebody else's reservations..ha ha..

Food for thoughts..

Just now I was thinking...how to optimize your spending on food when you are not cooking on a daily basis and when 70% of the cost per preparation is born by the person who cooks at that time? It means when I want to cook I would have to buy the main ingredients like meat, poultry, vegetables and others by myself but I shared the 'dry' things like salt, pepper, gas, sugar, onions and things like that with my housemates.

Then also, it is not just about the spending..it is also about the amount of food that you buy, and the amount that you cook. One good thing about buying things on the day that you want to cook is that you definitely would buy only the things that you want to use and in the amount that you want to use. If you buy in bulk or buy things for a week's ration, the case is you might not be using everything during that week and they will just go to waste..and there goes your money. And when you cook, there might be a possibility that there will be some leftovers...and depending on the mood and the time, those leftovers might be going to be stale too..and there goes your money too..into the thrash bin. However, if you are living with your family and cooking everyday, buying things by the weekly or monthly basis is a much better choice(and cost-effective..ultimately).

As I watched The Biggest Loser, I am interested to the tips they gave in that show where they told you to plan your food for the week and put portions of food in small packets so that it will be easy to prepare them and also to maintain the healthy portion of food that you consume everyday. Yes, planning is good for everything. I wonder if I can at least plan what I am going to eat tomorrow? I am not even sure if I'll be in the mood of cooking or not for tomorrow? It might be okay with the current working hours I am having now but next month will be different. It will be the usual 5 days a week 8-to-5 routine and I might be getting myself home later after 5pm. I guess eating out will be inevitable.

So, what should I do? It is not just about spending wisely, it is also about eating healthy. Eating at Subway might give you a healthier choice but it surely costs 2 simple meals for one sandwich. It's a matter of choice. The choices can be in the form of scoop size you take for your rice, or choosing fresh ulam instead of fried vegetables. The choice is yours. The choice is mine.

Book Heavens

Cartoonist Syem is making a caricature of me!

Within the last two weeks from this post has been a fun time for me to do book-shopping. Why not? There is a major book fair still going on at PWTC until 28th March 2010 where I spent two consecutive days seeking the desired titles and also entering new realms of books. I am also happy that these days we could easily find interesting-looking books and novels for kids and pre-teens. There are also motivational or informational books for them which are written and presented in such a way that it looks pretty and fun to delve in and enjoy the content. This is quite important for me because I would love to nurture the reading habit to my young nephews and nieces and to provide them another option to learn things. And also, giving them another choice to fill up the time rather than watching tv, playing computer games and other not-so-beneficial things or let themselves get carried away by the stresses created whether directly or indirectly by the adults around them, enduring sometimes hard life themselves.

With the author of "How To Think Like Mahathir"..the author spent 6 years with the man himself to conduct her study of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

...or maybe I am the one who got carried away in this post..haha..Anyway, the point is, I love all the books that I bought...perhaps it would take the whole year to finish reading all of them, with the time that I sometimes find it hard to organize. Perhaps, I can write about some of them in this blog...that can be an enjoyable thing to do, sharing with like-minded people.

Then one day I decided to spend some free time before starting my shift, where else but at Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya, the mall that has been no stranger to me since it is very near to my office and it has several book shops which can make me dried up of $$$ if I didn't control myself. The latest addition to this book heaven is Book Xcess. If I'm not mistaken, this bookstore started smaller in one lot before upgrading itself to bigger lots. 

The vast collection of my favourite genre..filling up the entire wall!!

And many books are with a deliciously low price! If you go to its website you can browse its collection and the price it offers.

Ah, I am so happy..it's time to enjoy them.....

Much ado about talking

Talk.
Talk is the best remedy when you have a great partner.
Talk is thought-provoking when challenged.
Talk is panic-stricken when attacked without warning.
Talk is constipating when everything goes wrong.
Talk is silence when in doubt.

Talk is an important element in a conversation. A moment of conversation is priceless when it is being done in the right way. Talk does not have a complete meaning without listen. Talk and listen are the couples of a mighty boost in a relationship. Talk well. Listen well. Stay together.

Music: "For Your Entertainment" Adam Lambert

This album is the first music cd I bought after several years of not doing so and after several years of not keeping up with the latest tune on the scene. For some quick info, this singer is the first runner-up of the American Idol Season 8 ( a show which I never follow..the same with other singing reality shows..) and first conquered the music scene with the first single "For Your Entertainment", an OST for the movie "2012" and this album. Truth be told his first single didn't amaze me that much to buy the album. Anyway, it was the second single and a little bit Youtube browsing of his live performances that made the call. Well, I am a fan of live music. Anybody with a great live performance is my favourite. So yeah...and here is my two cents in this album..track by track.

Music Again
The rocking intro of this track quickly set the pace and make you start moving right away. At some point I thought he sounded like Mika..but anyway, it's a good fast tune. My favourite line from this would be "But now you're giving me back my raison d'etre, and I'm inspired again.." which made me learn a new phrase, raison d'etre, meaning reason or justification for being or existence. It is inspiring to meet or find something that make you bounce back to life and make you feel like a brand new person, isn't it?

For Your Entertainment
Most probably this track does not mean anything to me other than the singer's statement that "I'm here and gonna rock your world with my music". Good tune to dance. But not my favourite.

Whataya Want From Me
When I first heard this track on the radio I didn't know yet who's the singer but I already like it. This is one of my favourites in this album. Just that I like the music and part of the song is about keep holding on to love and try to work it out, which is somehow connected to my life at the moment.

Strut
This is a fast tune but honestly, I didn't quite like this one more than the others. However, hearing through the lines..."....and get yourself some validation. You got something to say, your hands are tied. Open your mouth, open it wide. Let the freedom begin." Yes, liberation is what I want...

Soaked
Listening to its grandioso intro, I thought I am in an orchestra...feels so 'orchestratic' if the word even exists. Then the tune start to mellow and even feels like crawling...at once I thought the sound seemed familiar. Like a Muse song. Looked for the songwriter and it's Matt Bellamy..of course, that's why I thought there's a Muse influence there. I don't like the slow crawling rendition but I love the 'orchestratic' part but all in all, it's not my favourite.   

Sure Fire Winners
Kinda like this one. I can keep replaying this track. Hearing it feels like it's a song with boosting confidence and going all out in this world with high self-esteem. One of my favourite fast tunes.

A Loaded Smile
This track is obviously about a fading love to someone or a love turn sour...I felt so stuck in my mind with this slow number...can't go anywhere..so melancholy..the keyboard solo is not to my liking..so, not liking it so much. Probably a person who can get connected with the story inside would feel more about this song.

If I Had You
A nice tune to dance but not one of my favourites. Other than that, I am quite neutral about this track. Nothing more to comment.

Pick U Up
This is Rivers Cuomo (Weezer)'s song. I like this track. Really, I actually don't quite get the meaning of this track but how I understand it is probably about waiting for something good to happen to you but you can enjoy all the things happening right now..cherish the moment, have a blast. The track has the 'let go' feeling, nothing stressful. Free.

Fever
This is the song that he collaborated with Lady GaGa. Not so much to my liking. I can skip this track anytime. I learned another new phrase in this song, though....ménage à trois, hah, what a meaning..I don't have the heart to write it here, please find it yourself. But it is as silly as the line goes "Just you and me and the bar, silly ménage à trois..." lalala..

Sleepwalker
One of my favourites. The music is rather haunting, a Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic)'s work. It is about still being haunted by old memories after a break up...or at least that is what I understand. Though the meaning is not connected to me in any way, but I like the music. And great guitar solo there too.

Aftermath
My numero uno song in this album! And it happens that the singer himself wrote this strong, beautiful track. The first few lines of this track, at first I thought his voice sounded like Daughtry. There are some parts in here where his voice is a little bit deep and the whole piece is well-rendered. I really want to hear this being sung live, couldn't find it anywhere yet in the Tube. But I'm guessing that with a terrific vocal ability that he has, I doubt that I will be disappointed. "..Take a step before you leap, into the colors that you seek. You get back what you give away, so don't look back on yesterday." Love this song.

Broken Open
The longest track in this album. This one also has the haunting and mysterious feeling when I heard it. I am quite neutral about this song too. It's just too mysterious to me that I keep wondering what it is about. " I know the battles, chasing the shadows, of who you wanna be..." Uff, hit the spot there.

Time For Miracles
This is the bonus track, the OST for the movie "2012". Like it. Another song about not giving up on something that you hold so dearly.

So, that's it. It's cool that the singer co-wrote many of the songs in here. And to me with half of the tracks here are my favourites, I think the album is not too bad. Enjoy.

Life choices

Life is about making choices. It is whether to choose a healthy sandwich or a beef burger with cheese for take-out lunch. It is whether to stay at home or spend RM18 for a movie ticket when your pay day is still two weeks to come. It is whether to be a sucker at work or Ms. Commitment. It is whether to continue your sad, unhappy life or change it to be better. It is whether to keep wishing for the things you don't have or to start appreciating the things you already have. You can never know what or how will you choose until the time comes.


Sometimes, things can be done either way...it doesn't matter which one do you choose. You feel that it works for you no matter how. It's like 'no biggie'.  Anyway, feeling that way for most of the time, it is as if you don't have a direction to go. It is as if you want other people to choose for you and you depend on that option. As if you don't know what do you want. So if it doesn't work out well, who do you blame? Yourself or the person you depend on?

Oh..sometimes it is too difficult to choose...

How to get through a difficult phase in life

Sometimes you felt that you have accomplished nothing after all the years that you've been through. Sometimes you felt that you've been living the same old life, stagnant...and being the same old self, boring...

Sometimes you wondered by yourself...why you have to put up with all the things that are not giving you the satisfaction that you wanted ?

And then the inevitable question would popped out in your mind, "Have I been on the right track?"

Those years that had passed, they cannot come back. They will not come knocking at your door one day and give you the chance to mend or improve again. Time is irreversible.

BUT time is also not going to wait for you.

You can't help feeling regrets sometimes. But you don't have to live with it all your life.

In life, you cannot see your future. Although you can plan it based on your interests, your capabilities and your strength, sometimes some people do not know what is their strength, what are they capable of doing, what do they want at that time. And so, you just grab whatever chance that seems to be working for you at the moment. Sometimes, it went well. Sometimes, it did not. And sometimes, you, by so far, are able to stay safe in your situation but inside your heart, you are suffering. You analyzed your situation and you found out that your options are limited. Frustrating isn't it?

But don't be sad. Yes, all task or would-be task seems very daunting to do, but if that is what you have to do right now, then you have to do it. Even if you do not like it, do it as best as you could. Work out your plan to redeem the lost years. Learn about yourself. Find that X-factor in yourself that you can cultivate and nurture for your own satisfaction. When you have found it, and when the time is right, then do not look back anymore. Go forward and pursue your true calling. And be content with your life.

You don't have to do great things to be happy.

You just have to do the things you love the most.

When you love it...you shine on it...the rest will take its own course..

and a great and happy person is reborn...

H.E.A.R.T.

Love. Fall. Deep
It came when I never expected it to come.

Isn't it exciting when we are in love with someone? Love changes a person in becoming the better version of oneself.
Love makes me see flowers as amazingly beautiful and enchanting wherever and whenever I see them.
Love makes me enjoy colours other than black and blue.
Love enhances my self-confidence and makes me happy even in my rainy days.

Love has given me someone I can trust and rely on, a confidant, a motivator,
...who can accept me as I am and care for me
...whom I can be myself without any worries.

Love makes me see myself differently, and all the while wondering why I haven't seen these qualities in me before.
Love makes me believe that I have the right to be happy, the right to be loved, that I have my own place in this world and I can do anything that I want.

But
Love tends to fade...
Love can break my heart...
Love can be challenged by all means...
by diversities...

The possibilities...the prospect of this love is too overwhelming to think.
But as long as this love exists, I'll keep it safely in my heart.