BOOK REVIEW: The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
Growing up in Malaysia, I was never far away from the many folk tales and superstitions regarding the parallel worlds of the living and the dead. From penanggals (violent ghosts of female heads with entrails hanging from them) to toyols (imps which are used to steal money from households, being fed human blood from the owners themselves), my childhood and adulthood was and always revolves around the inhabitants of the spirit world.
The author, Yangsze Choo, being a Malaysian herself, has masterfully woven an eerie yet beautiful story of the custom of Chinese ghost marriages that will set you rethinking about the boundaries of our world and the afterlife.
In 1890s Malaya, 17-year-old Li Lan receives an unwonted proposal: marriage to the recently departed son of the respected Lim family. Li Lan knows what this means for her impoverished father. She has to appraise it prudently.
The Lims' opulence and splendour is dizzying, but Li Lan has her sights set on another - undoubtedly she has to be certain of her heart's true desire before pledging to a life with a ghost?
Night after night, Li Lan finds herself trawled into another world. One where the thresholds between reality and dreams are hazy, and where the afterlife shows itself to be a place of dread, enticement and delight.
Li Lan must uncover the mysteries of the ghost world, and be united with her true love, before she is confined there for all time. A stirring, eye-catching and passionate ghost story.
Intricately woven throughout the story is Chinese folklore and the Chinese believes of the afterlife, underworld and all things supernatural. There are even snippets of information at the end of the book regarding ghost marriages, Chinese notions of the afterlife, Malaya, Straits-born Chinese, Chinese dialects, Chinese names, meanings of names and Malay spelling.
This book was entirely refreshing from the macabrely scary stories of the spirit world filled with blood and gore. An historical romance set amidst the bushes of the spirit realm, it was a beautiful book from start till the end.
BOOK REVIEW: How To Raise a Reader by Pamela Paul and Maria Russo (courtesy of Times Reads)
Now this is what I consider a definitive guide to parenting. What can be a better aid to raise kids in a wholesome way than through books? Not to boast, but my childhood purely consisted as books as my playthings. My parents being avid readers, the gentle nurturing for me to become a reader has chiselled the voracious reader that I am today.
Do you remember your first foray into a library that left you mesmerized? How about curling up for hours on end to discover the secret of the Sorceror's Stone in the Harry Potter series? These are vivid moments that can only be provided by the magical realm of books.
Combining clear, practical advice with inspiration, wisdom, tips and curated reading lists, this book shows you how to instill the joy and time-stopping pleasure of reading.
Divided into 4 sections, from baby through teen, and each illustrated by a different artist, this book offers something useful at every turn of the page, whether it's how to develop rituals around reading or build a family library, or ways to engage a reluctant reader. A fifth section, "More Books to Love: By Theme and Reading Level", is chockful of expert recommendations.
Throughout, the shining authors, mothers of readers themselves, debunk common myths, assuage parental fears and deliver invaluable lessons in a positive and easy-to-act-on way. It's an indispensable guide to welcoming children to the reading life.
This book was entirely relatable with some of the techniques similar to how my parents instilled reading in me since the age of three. Absolutely necessary in a family setting, I give this book a major 10/10 on my rating scale.
BOOK REVIEW: Culinaria Greece - Greek Specialties by Marianthi Milona
Books are portals into new worlds, allowing us to explore countries in the cosy comforts of home. That just goes to explain why, as a foodie, I'm very much intertwined with books relating to the world's varied cuisines. In this book, it is no exception as mouth-watering pictures and illustrations coupled with food porn writing allows you to embrace the country of Greece and its cuisine.
This tome takes us on a journey, stopping off at the tables of the symposia of classical Greece, discovering the refinements of the haute cuisine available in major Greek cities, and sampling the simpler fare of fishermen, farmers, and shepherds.
Comprising oodles of colorful illustrations, this book will take you behind the scenes and will delight anyone who loves Greece, its culture and cuisine. The many authentic recipes contained in this book guarantee that it will prove to be an equally pleasurable experience for the palate.
Be forewarned though, massive drooling episodes plus excessive hunger pangs await readers who peruse this foodie heaven of a book. Happy reading and eating dear readers!
