Book 45: Magic Bakery (魔法蛋糕店)

Title: 魔法蛋糕店 (Magic Bakery)

Who wrote it: 張小嫻 (Amy Cheung)

Whom I borrowed it from: Queens Library (Forest Hills)

What is it about:

- 11 inter-connected short stories
touching upon the various aspects of
romantic relationships, from puppy love
in high-school to long lost love & loneliness --
while a lot of them evolve around
desserts / bakeries...

What went through my mind:

- What can i say? One can never expect
something too deep / moving from this author,
but her stories are always easy to read & relate;
i guess in a sense, it's commercial & easy enough
for most teens / college age crowd,
which explains the level of popularity of her books.

I guess i would have liked this book a little better
if i were still in high school...?!

- The elaborate & alluring descriptions
of German cakes definitely increased my
interests in tasting them one day : D

- The author is observant that
there is a direct correlation between
desserts & romance : 0
how both bring people sweet memories
& desire to revisit the experience in the near future : )

Favorite Quotes:
- "愛情讓我們愛上自己、懷疑自己、
恨自己、憐憫自己，也了解自己。"
(Romantic love allows us to fall in love
with ourselves, second-guess ourselves,
hate ourselves, pity ourselves,
as well as understand ourselves.) (Pg. 5)

-"有人說，男人離不開舊愛，
女人無法拒絕新歡。"
(It has been said, men cannot forget
their previous relationship(s),
women cannot reject their new pursuer.) (Pg. 200)

What came out of this:
* Goal: Look into German style cakes! : D

Why Should you read it, too?

A super easy read, and it's somewhat
fun to be a total bystander
to some romantic drama at times ; )

Book 44: Knife (刀)

Title: 刀 (Knife)

Who wrote it: 重松清 (Shigematsu Kiyoshi)

Whom I borrowed it from: Queens Library (Forest Hills)

What is it about:

- 5 Short stories evolving around the topic
of BULLYING -- portraying the thoughts,
beliefs, emotions of the victims & their families,
as well as the interactions among the
bullies, bystanders & victims.

What went through my mind:

- Since this is a Japanese novel,
it inevitably operates within the
Japanese school system,
as well as traditional Japanese beliefs,
like Men have to stand up for themselves --
hence victims are seen as weaklings even by
their own parents --
which is quite sad for some kids,
because they simply cannot get help
anywhere despite the cruel acts that
are inflicted upon them.
I can't help but imagine how it's like
in America? I heard that there's bullying
here too... '_' how do kids deal with that?

- The novel mentioned that some kids choose
not to report to the teachers & pretend that
all things are fine when they're with their parents --
i cannot imagine that if i were in their shoes : 0
Why would i choose pride over protection?
mmm... or am i too trusting / hopeful?

- One of the interesting ideas this book
mentioned was that some victims actually
look up to their bullies...
They admire the bullies' self-confidence,
strength, braveness... exactly the qualities
these victims themselves lack!
Recently, i come to meet a new friend,
of whom i realize evoke similar emotions
in me -- i hate it that she bosses me around,
invades my personal space & privacy,
is rude and disrespectful...
yet at the same time, i can't help but wonder,
what if i were as confident as she is???

Favorite Quotes:
- "個性不合的夫婦還可以
離婚，但是個性不合的父子
該怎麼辦才好．．．。"
(If a couple can no longer
get along with each other,
they can pursue divorce;
but what can a parent and a child do,
when they're in situations like that?) (Pg. 129)

-"長期住院的孩子．．．太過習慣
放棄及忍耐．．．或許是他們已經
沒有追求什麼或夢想的力氣了。
還是，因為出院這個最大的夢想
被封鎖住了？"
(Kids that are hospitalized for a long time...
are too used to persevering and giving up
on things... Perhaps they've already lost
the energy to pursue after anything,
let alone the desire to dream.
Or better yet, their biggest dream --
to be discharged from the hospital
is deemed impossible?) (Pg. 168)

- "因為我很努力，
所以才有辦法忍耐。"
(It's only because I'm trying really hard,
that I'm able to persevere.) (Pg. 184)
* This is almost like my motto!

What came out of this:
* Insight: A better understanding of
the insider world of BULLYING,
as well as how culture affects
family relationships /friendships.

Why Should you read it, too?

This is a very well-written book
with a realistic approach on the
specific issue, while bringing hope
to the readers despite the brutal topic.

Book 41: The Love at 7-Eleven (7-ELEVEN之戀)

Title: 7-ELEVEN之戀 (The Love at 7-Eleven)

Who wrote it: 蔡智恆 (Zhi Xing Cai)

Whom I borrowed it from: Queens Library (Forest Hills)

What is it about:

- 8 individual Short stories consisting of
various (post) college-age characters,
weaving realistic portraits of life through
familial/romantic relationships & friendships.

What went through my mind:

- You know how sometimes, after reading a book,
you remember next to nothing about the story,
but the intimate feelings & self-revelation
the book brings you?
This is one of those books : )
The stories themselves seem pretty simple
and straight-forward...
sometimes it might even appear amateur...
But in a way, it's like drinking
a clear, pure glass of water.
You might not call it tasty,
but it leaves you a satisfying aftertaste.

Favorite Quotes:
- "帥哥與美女一樣，
你愈證明你是，
你就愈不是。"
(Handsome men are just the same
as pretty ladies,
the more you have to prove you are,
the more you're not.) (Pg. 153)

-思念是用腦子想；
相處是用眼睛看。
可以思念的感情總是比較美．．．
因為腦子容易美化．．．"
(You use your mind to miss someone;
while you watch with your eyes
when you're together.
A relationship that requires you to
miss that person with your mind
tends to be more beautiful...
because your mind is likely to
paint a prettier picture than
the reality...) (Pg. 140)

What came out of this:
*Nostalgia: I miss those days back in h/s...
when we hung out at 7-11 everyday
after school : 0

Why Should you read it, too?

If you'd like to pick up an easy/light-read : )

Book 30: Naked

Title: Naked

Who wrote it: David Sedaris

Whom I borrowed it from:
Queens Library (North Forest Park)

What is it about: A collection of short stories
centered around a fictional family of David's,
creating a maddening / humorous /
half-believable memoir, constantly stretching
the reader's imagination, while subtly bringing up
questions about the true nature of humanity.

What went through my mind:
- Is this author crazy?
This question lingered in my mind the whole time.
- This book would have worked just fine
even with half its length.
- I have not read another book quite like this,
i'd have to admit.

- If he's not crazy, he must be very
observant and imaginative.
& i guess he's not that crazy,
given his superb literary techniques.
- It's amazing how the single literary trick:
Constantly creating climax/anti-climax
during the exposition of the story, aka
leading the readers on & surprising them
with twists & turns --
really made this book stand out from the crowd.

Favorite Quotes:
- "... the next few hours would pass like days
or maybe even weeks. Our watches would yawn,
the minute and hour hands joining each other
in a series of periodic naps." (Pg. 54)
* Such fresh, non-cliche expressions : )

- "Acting is different than posing or pretending.
When done with precision, it bears a striking
resemblance to lying. Stripped of the costumes
and grand gestures, it presents itself as an
unquestionable truth." (Pg. 105)
* Intriguing thought...?

- "It occured to me that everything we buy
has been poked or packaged by some unfortunate
nitwit... Vegetarians look at a pork roast
thinking about the animal. I'd now look at them
wondering whose job it was to package the
shallow Styrofoam trays. That's where the
real tragedy lies." (Pg. 170)
* Poignant & Observant : / & also sad...

- "Because I was lazy, I'd adopted the philosophy
that things just happen. It was much easier to
blame others than it was to take initiative." (Pg. 190)
- "I suppose we all bend ourselves to what
we perceive as other people's expectations..." (Pg. 220)
* Honest & insightful.

- "I had known people who said... to their parents,
"I love you," but it always translated to mean
"I'd love to get off the phone with you." (Pg. 240)
* ...... (speechless)

What came out of this:
* Reminder:
Being observant is one crucial quality for writers.
hmm... yes, even for the semi-crazy ones.
* Question:
Why do Americans like using foul language
in their writings so much?

Why Should you read it, too?
- If you want to enter an upside-down world,
where madness is common sense,
you should take the chance & pick up this book.


p.s. I borrowed 2 of his other books, too:
- Me Talk Pretty One Day
- Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
but i'll take a break from reading them back to back,
just so my brain won't be messed with too much -> damage.