Tuscany for Beginners

Title: Tuscany for Beginners; The Wendy House
Author: Imogen Edwards-Jones
Publisher: Random House

Funny as in hilarious - especially Tuscany for Beginners. Entertaining - for sure!

These books by Imogen Edwards-Jones serve up social commentaries in a light hearted way. The lady protagonists are full of personality and one of a kind.

Some day soon I hope they will show up in movies or on the telly.

I love BarnabyI

Title: A Place of Safely; Death by Disguise; Written in Blood; Death of A Hollow Man
Author : Caroline Graham

I love detective and mystery stories. So it is no surprise that I should love the British TV series starring DCI Tom Barnaby!

But my love for him was surpassed by the Caroline Graham's novels. Strangely he became more alive to me through the pages of written words than the sights and sounds of television.

I recommend the series of novels and television series to anyone who love to chew on a good mystery and the antics of folks in English villages.

AstroBoy and the End of the World in 2012

Saw two movies this week.

Astroboy and the end of the world..I mean 2012!

Took my little nephew along to watch the Hollywood version of Astroboy. It was a nostalgic trip for me. Long time ago as a kid is used to watch Astroboy on a black & white TV. How time flies. But I think there is no substitute for the original. There is a certain special innocence about Astroboy that has become lost with the Hollywood effects and actors.

Then I ended the week with 2012. Sure is a BIG disaster movie. Sure to thrill but not so sure about the American perspective. I guess if 2012 is truly the end - accordingly to the Americans, only 8 arks will survive with 8 sets of people. For you and I on the little red dot - its truly Sayonara. We won't have any foothold in the arks or 'have any chance of making it in the new risen last continent of Africa!

There will be no Singaporean survivors, bar one. Chin Han. With a name like that, he is made for masquerading as a China chinese and making it as a hero for 2012!

Watch both movie - the first for innocent fun, the latter for ignorant thrill!

.

Julia & Julia

Love Julia. Love Julie. Love Nora. Any surprise why I love this movie?

I first encountered Julia Child when I was working in the city of Rock & Roll handling marketing activities pertaining to food. One of the media representatives presented me with a copy of Julia Child's cookbook. My first book on French cooking.

I watched Julia on TV while in LA.

I watched Julie on TV, appearing in Martha Stewart's programme to talk about her blog.

I watched Nora Ephron on TV, also with Martha, promoting her book "I Feel Bad About My Neck".

Now I watched three terrific women come together in one movie.

Time to dust off that Julia Child cookbook and get back into the kitchen!

The September Issue

This is a superb documentary chronicling Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour's months of preparations for the September 2007 issue.

We are given behind-the-fashion-pages look at the sheer hardwork that goes into producing a highly anticipated September issue of Vogue. And the number of creative challenges that dogs the process throughout.

But as the movie comes to a close and the curtain falls what stays with me?

Anna with her arms folded across her body - in her office, in her car, at the office, visiting with designers, etc. Seeming to be constantly trying to protect herself.

The vulnerability she lets slip when she mentions how her career appears to be "amusing" in comparison to what her siblings are working at. What is poignant about that admission is when we hear her daughter using the same adjective to describe her mother's work. A mother who wants her daughter to follow in her footstep.

The affection she displays when she talks about her friend and long-time associate Grace Coddington.

The Roar of F1

There we were at the 2009 Formula One Nightrace.

Truly thrilling sights and thundering roars of the mean machines.

My Latest Grievance

I have discovered a new love and her name is Elinor Lipman.

She writes contemporary fiction from a different perspective - through the maturing intelligient eyes of a teenager who would later morph into a contemplative young adult.

What is special about her writing is her ability to weave important issues - such as racisim, adultery (as in the two books I just read) into her books. In a simple and frank manner.

Lipman's books may be considered "light reading" by some critics but they certainly are heavy weights when it comes to addressing key life lessons that all of us should hearn.

鹿男

作者：萬城目 學
出版社：皇冠

What a whimsical book!

Many years ago, I visited Nara as a tourist. I love the beautiful shrines and temple and even more those famed deers of Nara. These beautiful graceful creatures were amazingly tame. Even more fascinating were their ability to adapt to an increasingly modern environment - they seemed so adept at co-existing and communicating with human beings - locals and tourists alike, they were even able to navigate traffic !

This charming novel brought Nara and the myths of Japan to life, along with it a sense of nostalgia and warm memories of a wonderful autumn I spent in Japan.

If there is any possibility of showing how human aliens can be and conversely, how completely alienated the human race can become, this is the movie that shows it.

District 9 - A little known, little budgeted, little touted movie from South Africa. The only recognisable name on the marquee - Peter Jackson. Not that the name played any part in persuading me to watch the movie in the first place.

How seamlessly the special effect-generated aliens blended into the scenes and how steadily, the alien"prawn" Christopher (yes, he was actually named Christopher) went from being threatening to sympathetic that somehow I ended up empathising with him more than the human, Wikus Van De Merwe. Poor Wikus who got infected with alien fuel and evolved into a prawn himself!

While District 9 has an alien "ET" who wanted to go home, it certainly is NOT a fuzzy child-friendly flick like Mr Spielberg's ET. District 9 raises questions about tolerance and the issue of human integrity. Perhaps because the heart of District 9 is in South Africa.

Having visited South Africa in the early 90s after the abolishment of apartheid; I can see a parallel between the way the aliens were ill-treated and how the the Africans were mistreated in the years of cruel racial segregation.

A racial struggle and intolerance that continues to be played out in many parts of the globe even in these so-called enlightened days. The crime of inhumanity continues to be perpetuated again and again as the human race alienates itself further and further...

The 19th Wife

Title : The 19th Wife
Author: David Ebershoff
Oublisher: Random House

Celestial marriage, plural marriage, polygamy...it is known by many names.

What is the truth? Or is there even a truth?

When men interpret the words of God and bend theology to suit their own purposes. When women succumb to their faith, swollowing their dignity and justifying a practice that is supported with intimidation, fearing their fate and salvation in the every lasting eternity.

Brigham Young, the 19th-century Mormon patriarch and Ann Eliza Young speak to us across time, recounting the exodus of the Mormon faithfuls and the sufferings of the plural wives.

In the end, it is not only about the trial of the 19th wife, it is about the countless children who have to bear with the consequences of their sins.

Hallelujah for Leonard Cohen!

I fell in love with an older man many years ago.

He is a man of beautiful prose with magical hands that pluck at heartstrings. A man who speaks and sings, of despair and comfort, of faith and belief, of man and spirits.

He is one of the most influential songwriters of our times. With works of depth that touched on many issues, raised questions, yet at the same time made social and civic observations and asked answers of their own.

It has been over forty years and he is truly deserving of the sobriquet of "The Tower of Song."

The Last Dickens

Title: The Last Dickens
Author: Mathew Pearl
Publisher: Random House


Title: 魔术王事件
Author: 二階堂黎人
Publisher: 小知堂

This a curious case. Two novels - one in English, the other in Japanese. Two writersacross the seas.

But one idea on their mind - the last Charles Dickens novel - The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Both publish around the same time.

Is this what is known as serendipity?

Winner of the National Book Award

Title: Winner of the Naional Book Award
Author: Jincy Willett
Publisher: Picador

Frankly, I ain't too excited by this book. But I love the gems of wisdom that speak personal truth to me, since the main protagonist exhibits traits that I share to some extent. Especially when it comes to what reading meant to her :

"Reading was not an escape for me. It was an aspect of direct experience...in no way a refuge from it (the real world) or a refuge from it. Anymore than sleeping is a subsitute for waking..."

It is as its subtitle suggests: a novel of fame, honor, and really bad weather. So this is recommended for anyone seeking the first two and trying to avoid the third.

奇想、天慟

Title: 奇想、天慟
Author: 岛田荘司
Publisher: 皇冠文化

While catagorised as a typical "mystery" story, the underlining permise is about human nature.

What professes a person to silently endured a decades of tortous existence? What evil wrong doings in the history of mankind can ever be justified. The sins of the fathers - can they ever be atoned? In what fairy tales have we cloaked the truth?

As the prose reaches the climax, so does the emotional turmoil when we come to realise that sometimes a criminal act is not simply crime but disguises some greater human failings.

Stuck: Why We Can't (or Won't) Move On

Title: Stuck - Why We Can't (or Won't) Move On
Author: Anneli Rufus
Publisher: Penguin Books

A book for anyone who need to understand why people are...well...STUCK!

Many hard truths that certainly will strike a cord. Especially after deconsructing the many social, emotional and habitual behaviours and delusions that may just account for our generation's failure to take responsibilities for our actions.

Secrets of a Family Album

Title : Secrets of a Family Album
Author : Isla Dewar
Publisher: Headline Book Publishing

“Love changes beauty. When you love a truly beautiful person, they cease to be perfect and you love them more because you, and only you, know their flaws. That’s what makes them yours, the secrets of the flaws. And when you love, for want of a better word, a ugly person, they become beautiful to you. That’s part of the love, the fact that you know they are beautiful.”

And there it was - this one paragraph in the very first chapter “Beauty and Acceptance”. It spoke to me. Never mind that I have already exceeded my reading quota for the month and should probably rest my eyes. This is one book I was determined to explore.

Of warmth and wit
Of spirit and spunk
Of hurt and heart
Of pain and poignancy
Of brothers and sisters
Of feud and familial
Of brothers and sisters
Of children and creatures
Of loss but so much about love

It was frankly, a joy of a book.

Matters of Faith

Title : Matters of Faith
Author : Kristy Kiernan
Publisher: Berkley Books

What do you do when you witness a friend dying before your eyes? How do you live with a sibling whose life is threatened by severe allergy? And what awaits you when you fall in love with a believer who makes you ponder your faith?

A boy began his search for faith - his parents little time for spiritual contemplation. Will their faith function and find redemption?

You gotta have faith – so sang George Michael many years. Yes, I’ve got faith – but not necessarily religion. Which explains why this book speaks to me to some extent.

Read it and ponder over matters of your own faith and the need to believe.

Letters to Sam

Title: Letters to Sam
Author: Daniel Gottlieb
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Co

Letters to Sam from a special grandfather. With wisdom and great love, Pop shared and prepared lessons on life for his Sam. Gently but surely, with life’s many truths, the letters would move you and lodge themselves in your heart.

This book strikes many a cord within me. Brought back memories of my own grandpa who showed me his world during the first decade of my life. And other people’s grandpas who have also been part of my life. Grandpa from Switzerland who wrote me wonderful letters and shared his adventures of Europe. My wise Jewish Grandpa whom in three weeks shared lessons of history which opened my mind’s eyes.

A beloved friend presented me with this book. Someone who has helped me develop courage, reminded me of hope and the need to be steadfast in faith. Someone who let me learn that it is perfectly fine to be different and special. Someone who is both like Pop and Sam.

I hope everyone who read this book will find and treasure the Pop and Sam in their lives.

Departures

Departures. A wonderful movie.

A young musician loses his job and returns to the home of his youth. He has to give up his treasured instrument. He stumbles into a job handling departures. Of bodies and souls.

The taboo subject of death intersperes with moments of living. The "untouchable" job becomes a commitment to provide a dignified, gentle and kind sending off of family, friends and strangers. A final goodbye turns into an opportunity for forgiveness and redemption.

A movie that will make you smile, draw your tears and softly but surely touch your heart.

Not to be missed.

Two Devastating Movie Endings...No Happily Ever After

I watched two movies with riveting endings. In fact one might say they were devastating.

The first was "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" based on a book by Irish novelist John Boyne. It is about a special friendship between two boys and their perspective experience of the Holocaust.

"Suspect X" is also about a special friendship. Based on a book by 東野 圭吾 Keigo Higashino , one of my favorite Japanese authors, its touches on a tragic love affair that never quite got started, but ends immediately in tragedy. Perhaps the movie producers should have kept the original title of the book for the movie version " (容疑者Xの献身). It would have been so much more appropriate. For it is a story about sacrifice.

In fact both books and movies revolved around sacrifices.

In "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas", the Jews were sacrificed in the name of evil. In "Suspect X", a mathematical genius sacrificed himself.

Tragically, both sacrifices were in vain.

The Gaudi Key & 神谕之谜

Title : Le Testament des siècles 神谕之谜
Author : Henri Loevenbruck
Publisher: Global Group Holdings

Title: The Gaudi Key
Authors: Esteban Martin, Andreu Carranza
Publisher: William Morrow

I read both these books around the same time recently. Both translated copies – the former from French to Mandarin, the latter from Spanish to English.

There was an interesting co-incidental element in both. Not because they were both about conspiracy theories along the style of the Da Vinci Code. Or that they involved secret societies. But that they both somehow touched upon the foundation stone of the Christian faith.

In The Gaudi Key’s, we were led into an alternative interpretation to the architecture masterpieces of Gaudi, was guided by clues to find that the rock on which the cathodic church was built upon was a real physical piece of stone. Almost as “astounding” as the premise of the Da Vinci code.

As for Le Testament Des Siecles, the stone became a code to the divine message from Christ. Decoded and re-hidden by none other than Leonardo himself in the Mona Lisa. In other words, another Da Vinci code.

I have read enough fiction to know that the premise of such books is meant for entertainment only. The message from the author, however, is something I feel is worth some pondering upon:

En to kosmo esmen monoi pantaxou tes ges

In the universe, we are alone

And that is why, we must love each other.