20 things that make you a true Booknerd

1. You update your Goodreads more than your Instagram.

2. The times you update your Instagram though, it's almost always pictures of books instead of yourself. 

3. Or, pictures of yourself with books.

4. You call your books your babies.

5. You call your bookcase your husband. 

6. When was the last time you bought clothes or things other than books???

7. You cry when a character dies or when you found out what really happened.

8. Songs can remind you of a particular book, and make you feel all the feels whenever you listen to it.

9. You buy more books even though you already have so many at home waiting to be read.

10. You see nothing wrong with having 50 unread books on your shelves. In fact, you think it's an okay amount because some people have more than 200 unread books on theirs. (yes, this is reality)

11. Everytime you finish a book, you spend a few hours on a hangover. 

12. And then you spend another few hours staring at your shelves wondering which book to read next.

13. You can hold 20 books in your arms but can't carry a baby for shit.

14. You can easily identify book genres and tell the difference between Urban Fantasy, High Fantasy, and Paranormal, and you are proud because the rest of the idiots in society don't. 

15. You easily know the difference between Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult, and are proud because the rest of the idiots in society don't too.

16. You don't even have a favourite author because all the books are so good anyway.

17. You can spend hours in a bookstore. Literally hours and not get bored at all. (As long as you are alone, because if you go with someone they'll drag you out.)

18. You know people who 'cry' over The Fault In Our Stars are just fakes who don't even read books at all. (I gave away my copy of TFIOS because I just hate that book so much)

19. You actually spend more time with books than with your other half. (I guess it isn't his fault since he's in camp, but it doesn't change the fact that he actually legit feels threatened by my books)

20. You were called a Bookworm in your childhood; now you are part of the society that calls themselves Booknerds. 

Ending off this post with a picture of me looking lovingly at bae.

the Unpopular Opinions book tag

Yes. I am doing this despite the fact that I am still invisible to the book lovers community (":
This was a tag made a few months ago, I'm just doing it because why not......

A popular book or series that you didn't like

THE MARA DYER TRILOGY. I have to caps this because I just DON'T UNDERSTAND THE HYPE AROUND NOAH SHAW AT ALL. He's just a creepy weirdo and I just don't get the romance between him and Mara Dyer.

A popular book or series that everyone else seems to hate but you love

We Were Liars. Yes, I love this. And yes, many people say they don't like it at all, they saw that coming, blah blah blah whatever, I love it.

A love triangle where the main character ended up with the person you did NOT want them to end up with or an OTP that you don't like

I didn't really like Day and June from the Legend series being together. I much prefer Day and Tess, considering how they've been there for each other way before he met June. And also, I dislike romances that I just don't get at all. 

A popular book genre that you hardly reach for

Fantasy. It just isn't my thing. I can read ten contemporary novels straight in like 20 days, and still fall into a really bad reading slump if I touch a fantasy. Sorry to say.

A popular or beloved character that you do not like

Uh...... Noah freaking Shaw.

A popular author that you can't seem to get into

I'm not very picky about authors... I usually see more into the genre than the author, if that makes sense. 

A popular book trope that you're tired of seeing (examples "lost princess", corrupt ruler, love triangles, etc)

I hate seeing "The next Gone Girl" or "The next Hunger Games" on books because most of the time they're not similar at all.  

A popular series that you have no interest in reading.

Don't hate me for this, but........ Harry Potter. I have good reasons: they're best read while growing up; it's fantasy, which is a genre I don't usually enjoy; the fandom always shamelessly puts spoilers up everywhere on social media, which just kills the desire of reading it. 

The saying goes "The book is always better than the movie", but what movie or TV show adaptation do you prefer more than the book?

I have a few answers to this: The Giver, If I Stay, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. But that's because I read the books after I watched the movies. It's better to watch the movie first and enjoy it as it is, and then pick up the book and love it even more, instead of loving the book wholeheartedly and then being disappointed by and hating the movie despite all the effort put into making it. 

No pictures for today because I am tired, as usual :) I haven't bought a single book this month, and I think that's a good thing! 

Night Film / Marisha Pessl

This is the story of horror film director Stanislas Cordova, who hasn't been seen in public for forty years or so. 

He is the mastermind behind 15 incredible horror films, which had been filmed in his very own estate, whose actors and actresses disappear to the remotest corners of the world after filming. Shown only in creepy secret underground screenings, the films are so disturbing that while some people lose their minds after watching them, the rest dedicate all their lives into the theories of these films.

When his daughter Ashley Cordova is found dead in a warehouse, it is speculated to be suicide, but journalist Scott McGrath doesn't think so and for some reason needs to know the truth as if his life depends on it. 

That's it for plot... because some books are better enjoyed if you jump into them without knowing much.

Night Film is a psychological thriller with photographs and articles, and there's also an app with extra content, though you don't miss out on the actual story even if you don't download it. (I didn't.)

First of all, this book is about 600 pages long. Thrillers aren't really my thing, they stopped being interesting after my excessive adult thriller phase about five years ago. Yet, I flew through this book, because it was just impossible to put down.

The plot wasn't rushed, but it wasn't draggy either. I enjoyed the bits where the characters would tell their own tales, because I thought they were interesting, and the articles in it helped me to understand the plot better too.

I wasn't exaggerating when I said this book really creeped me out. The writing was so good that I kept feeling afraid to even turn the page, even when I was reading in broad daylight. It would make a really good movie; I could just imagine the jumpscares and me closing my eyes the entire time!

To make a long story short, this is the kind of book where you would enjoy the journey more than the destination. The things that Scott unearths will mess with your mind like it did mine, make you go WTF???

As for the characters, the three musketeers who journey together aren't the most loveable or relatable, but I didn't exactly hate them. In fact I loved Nora for how passionate she seemed during the whole investigation, and she was so cute, believing everything she was told.

I didn't really like the ending but at the same time I think it's perfect, because it left me confused as to what was real, and that actually fits the plot of this book... You'll get it if you read it.

Now I am wishing Cordova's films are real, just to see how it would affect the people in this real world, how grotesque it could get and whether lives would change after viewing them. Even if they are real, I would not dare watch them at all.

Ps am I the only one who thinks Ashley Cordova looks like Cara Delevigne somehow???

Sovereign. Deadly. Perfect. 

A to Z Bookish Survey!

This is so nostalgic. I loved doing these kinds of surveys back when I was in Sec 1, which was.... freaking shit, eight years ago. Am I old already???

Found this survey on Books, Biscuits & Tea :)

Author you’ve read the most books from: 
If you count all the way from my childhood, it's no doubt Enid Blyton hehe. If not, it's actually Cassandra Clare, considering how I've read the Infernal Devices trilogy and the first three books from the Mortal Instruments.

Best sequel ever: 
My definition of 'sequel' is usually 'the second book', and that is no doubt Catching Fire, book two in the Hunger Games trilogy. It was just too darn good, and I flew through it in one day.

Currently reading:
Trying Night Film by Marisha Pessl again. Just fell into the peer pressure because almost all of Bookstagram and Goodreads are reading creepy books for this Halloween.

Drink of choice while reading: 
I usually don't drink or eat while reading, and vice versa. But at work, I love to buy chocolate milk tea from Gongcha to drink whilst eating my book ;)

E-reader or physical book: 
Definitely physical books. Not like I've ever tried E-books, but I can guarantee it's just not the same.

Fictional character you probably would have actually dated in high school:
I was a loser in secondary school (maybe still am) and my standards were kind of low, heh. I would have dated anybody that reeked of sweet talk and desperation.

Glad you gave this book a chance:
All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. At first I thought "meh, another suicide book" and I wasn't planning to buy it. Then my mom said she would buy me a book this one day, and I didn't see anything I liked and ended up picking ATBP randomly. My expectations were really nothing, but boy did that book surprise me. I ended up calling it my favourite book of 2015 so far :p

Hidden gem book:
The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares. I found this book at a used books store, hiding among other murky paperbacks. It was only $2.90, really yellow but still in readable condition. It really was a hidden gem, because I heard of this book in my childhood and never actually read it. The story was beautiful, the friendship was unbelievable, and all 4 characters were relatable in some way or another. The movie was made in early 2000's, but it was so good, making me laugh out loud at some points and crying at the end.

Important moment in your reading life: 
Seriously, I am forever grateful to that very moment I learnt how to read, and that very moment I discovered a love for books.

Just finished: 
Love Fortunes & Other Disasters by Kimberly Karalius! This was so cute. My book review here!

Kinds of books you won’t read:
There are a few genres I really just don't enjoy, the major one being Fantasy, with swords or magic, stuff like that. I don't know, I tried, but it just isn't my thing.

Longest book you’ve read: 
Brave Story by Miyuki Miyabe. This one was more than 800 pages, which I took a week to read. It did help that I read it during the time I was suspended from class and had to sit at the office for the time being.

Major book hangover because of:
We Were Liars! I finished it last year at school during my lunch break, and the moment I closed it, I ran to the toilet and bawled my eyes out. And I may or may not still be having that hangover now.

Number of bookcases you own:
I only started seriously collecting books early last year, so I don't really have many bookcases. I just bought my current brown-black tall one last August-ish, but my collection is evergrowing so I may need another one soon!

One book you have read multiple times:
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. I have no idea why, I don't remember what made me love this book so much. Knowing my 14-year-old self, it was probably because of the cat on the cover.

Preferred place to read:
I like to read in the library, any National Library here in Singapore. If not, I usually read at my desk in my room or at work during my dinnertime. As much as I love trains I do not enjoy reading on a train or bus ride because I prefer looking out the window instead :p

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:
"Be a little kinder than you have to." from We Were Liars.

Reading regret:
I read mostly Adult Fiction during my secondary school years, which I really regret, because I could have watched how Young Adult fiction evolved had I gone for those instead. Also, I may or may not regret having not grown up on the Harry Potter series, but then again, my younger self just knew it wasn't my kind of thing.

Series you started and need to finish (all books are out in series):
I really need to start and finish on the Heroes of Olympus series! Rick Riordan is killing me with all his other new upcoming series.

Three of your all-time favourite books:
2013: The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
2014: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
2015: All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven (so far)

Unapologetic fangirl for:
I'm not that obsessed with any series, so I guess I'm not a fangirl, sorry!

Very excited for this release more than all the others:
I don't usually anticipate any new releases, I just either buy a not-so-recently-published book, or buy a book just because it was new release. Get what I mean?

Worst bookish habit:
Book-hoarding! Buying so many books at one go despite having so many at home that I need to complete. Then again, any true booknerd would have this problem :p

X marks the spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, by E. Lockhart. I haven't read this book, but it was a gift from the love of my life for my 20th birthday just last month :)

Your latest book purchase:
I almost bought We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach when I saw it discounted on Popular Online. I asked one of my best friends to buy it for me as I didn't have a credit card, but when I asked for her bank account number so I could transfer her the money, she refused to give it, and to take it as a belated birthday present!

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):
I don't usually read books all night, mainly because I always sleep early :)

That's it for now! This survey was fun. More to come :) Ending this post with books that spell out my name.

Love Fortunes & Other Disasters /Kimberly Karalius

"Love stopped at the town of Grimbaud, weary and limping upon a twisted ankle." 

That is the first sentence of this book, which was what compelled me into buying it.

Love Fortunes and Other Disasters is about a town that is literally obsessed with love. 

We have Zita's famous Love Charms Shop that produces 100% accurate love fortunes which the people of Grimbaud have followed every year. It was a tradition, and just mentioning the possibility that these fortunes might be wrong was absurd.

Fallon Dupree comes from a family where generations have successfully married their high school sweethearts thanks to their fortunes. However the year Fallon goes into high school, she is stunned to receive a fortune telling her that she will never find love.

Fortunately for her she isn't the only one with a bad fortune, and she soon realises a rebellion is stirring. She wants to take control of her own fate, which may or may not be impossible in this town almost possessed by the mysterious Zita and her fortunes.

If I had to describe this book with one word, it'll be cute. It was just really cute how everyone believed in love so much, how the town seemed to run on and get its energy from love.

At first thought, this book may seem like a contemporary novel but it actually leans towards magical realism, considering the magical aspects of it. They have these things called charms, weather charms and confidence charms, little 'spells' to help you with your daily life.

I rarely stumble onto magical realism books but I really enjoyed this one. It was fast-paced, the characters were likeable, and the storyline was neither too depressing nor too cheesy. It was also realistic, the thing with the bachelor and spinster villas, how they were seen by the other happy couples; it's just like in society today where being alone or single is looked down upon.

I really enjoyed the characters' relationships with one another. How Fallon and her best friends were constantly supporting each other; Anais with her insecurity in showing her boyfriend Bear the real side of her, and Nico with his trying to get his crush Martin's attention. They were all so willing to go through great lengths for another.

Fallon and Sebastian had great character and relationship developments. I liked how Fallon had grown up with parents  and an elder brother who were obsessed with clean environments and high quality clothing, and how that changed because of Sebastian. Likewise, I liked seeing Sebastian changing his womaniser ways after the interactions with Fallon.

If you know me, you know I dislike books that have random romance. For me, the romance between these two weren't sudden. You could see how Fallon really detested Bastion at the beginning, but over the course of the book she slowly develops a crush on him and it's just the cutest.

This book deserves 4 stars from me because while I really enjoyed it and liked the characters, it was not completely mind-blowing and I do not exactly relate to Fallon and her friends. There were also some parts that did not make sense especially towards the end but I guess that's just how magical realism is.

Overall if you are looking for a light, cute and unique book, this is one for you to try :)

This is an honest review.
Love Fortunes and Other Disasters is available at Popular bookstores, go get it :)

Quotes From Books: 16/10

I guess lists like these should be a Friday thing? Or maybe it shall depend on my off days. Maybe once a week? Quotes are an easy thing to collect afterall.

This shall be a quick one :)

1. "She could do anything. Solve anything for anyone. Except for herself."

I Was Here, Gayle Forman

2. "I did something brave, then. Or stupid. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference."

The Evolution of Mara Dyer, Michelle Hodkin

3. "That's how fear grows. When you keep it locked inside and never let it out, it starts to eat you alive."

Nightmares!, Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

4. "The villain is the hero of her own story. No one thinks they are a bad person."

The Retribution of Mara Dyer, Michelle Hodkin

5. "Finding the truth was like chasing the horizon."

A Sense Of the Infinite, Hilary T. Smith

6. "You are all the colours in one, at full brightness."

All The Bright Places, Jennifer Niven

7. "I had once thought that I wanted to get revenge by dying. But getting revenge by living was much sweeter."

This Song Will Save Your Life, Leila Sales

8. "How will I ever soar with the eagles if I'm surrounded by turkeys?"

Please Ignore Vera Dietz, AS King

9. "If you want to live where people are not afraid of mice, you must give up living in palaces."

We Were Liars, E. Lockhart

10. "Do what you are afraid to do."

We Were Liars, E. Lockhart

Thank you for reading, hope these will inspire you in your everyday life :) I have some of these quotes on a post-it up on my mirror where I can see them every morning.

Top 5 Wednesdays: Diversity in Books

This is my first Top 5 Wednesdays post! *clap clap clap clap clap*
The topic for today: favourite diverse characters.

When you see the word 'diverse', what do you think of? The first thing that usually comes to people's minds is race. But I am not going to pick out 5 books with entirely different races other than white. That's just kind of weird.

So instead I'm gonna list 5 things that make a character different from your usual protagonist and give you some examples :) easy enough? No pictures for today because I am so tired from my 3 days of training!

*edit: after writing my first 3 points I realised the title 'favourite diverse characters' doesn't really cut it haha! I'm so sorry to the Top 5 Wednesdays group for not sticking to the title! Will be changing it to 'diversity' instead.*

1. Race/religion
The first thing that comes to people's minds when it comes to diversity. Race i.e. culture/skin colour, more of the physical stuff, and religion i.e. beliefs and more of the internal stuff.

Most of the books that have characters of different races usually focus so intently on that fact, that the entire book becomes all about the problem.

I seldom read books about eg how a Muslim girl lives in the United States, what she puts up with etc even though I am Muslim myself, because somehow it just doesn't interest me to read a whole book whereby her being different religiously is the only plot of the story. Do I make sense?

Instead, I prefer books whereby a character's ethnicity is normal to the people around her, where at no point of the story does anyone touch on a racial/religious issue.

Some examples: To All The Boys I've Loved Before and PS I Still Love You, by Jenny Han. The books aren't about how Lara Jean Song has trouble coping because she is Asian, blah blah blah. Instead they are about a girl and her love life. Simple.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell also has a Korean boy, and while the author does highlight some of the problems at school that he faces, the book still revolves around a bigger love story.

2. Sexuality
Same with the above ^ I respect books that talk about a character's struggle to be accepted by society because of her/his sexuality, but I love it more when a girl's interest in another girl is normal, a boy's in another boy.

Everything Leads To You by Nina Lacour is one example. Emi works in the film industry: you see all the props and furniture in a scene of a movie? It's her job to make sure it all matches the script. Oh, and she has a girlfriend. One that she's gone back to too many times even after all the times she's hurt her.

Oh yes you should read this book because Emi is so cute! She was my second fictional girlfriend after Tessa Gray.

Other examples: Love Fortunes and Other Disasters by Kimberly Karalius, which I'm currently reading. One of the characters Nico has a crush on this other guy named Martin and his best friend Fallon is trying to help him. Again, this isn't the plot of the book which I love. It's just the side quest.

Also Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, although this one sort of focuses on the sexuality issue in a way?

3. Age
Sometimes I read middle grade fiction, my main reason being because there are no sex scenes or random romance. I get irritated with instalove really easily, because I swear sometimes the 'love' is just too sudden! I personally don't think it takes you only two interactions for you to wanna sacrifice your life for this person. (I'm talking about the Mara Dyer series and Fire and Flood, I can't stand you)

Best way to settle this annoying problem? Read middle grade! Or at least protagonists that are 12 or 13. Most of them focuses on family, like Violet Ink by Rebecca Westcott: a 12-year-old girl has been close to her sister their whole lives, but when she started dating, Izzy feels lost and rejected, distant from her beloved sister.

Or friendship, like The Hidden Summer by Gin Phillips, whereby two 13-year-old best friends sneak off to spend their summers together secretly after their mothers had a fight and told them never to see each other again.

But the best middle grade book I've read so far is Nightmares! by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller. Read it and you shall know. You definitely want to read it. READ IT.

4. Mental illness
Books with mental illness. Yes, they are abundant. Yes, you may feel like they aren't so special anymore. You may feel like you aren't special. But sigh, you are. Especially because you are reading my blog. I love you so much!

Social anxiety: the main character of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, Cath, suffers from this.
Depression: Violet suffers this in All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, after her sister's death.
Books about suicide in general, in case you are interested: My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga; I Was Here by Gayle Forman.

5. I don't know what to title this point but characters that aren't human
Yes! They are also characters of diversity. If you realised I only touched on contemporary Young Adult novels. (that's my favourite genre anyway so I think it doesn't matter hehe)

Here may be where the fantasy and magical realism fiction come in. You have the Percy Jackson and The Olympians series by Rick Riordan where we have sons and daughters of Greek Gods; The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare, with our beloved shadowhunters and warlocks; even Cinder by Marissa Meyer, with my favourite cyborg Cinder and android Iko!

REMEMBER: DIVERSITY DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN RACE OR RELIGION!

There you have it. Diversity in books. Not just your usual white or straight characters, not that there's anything wrong with any of them. Just in case you want a change :)

p.s. I only mention books which I've read before :) and these books can easily be found at Popular bookstores, if not, Kinokuniya or the library. Read them okay!

Books for those who can't live without music

This post is exactly what the title says. I see no point in dilly-dallying so let's just get right into it: my book recommendations for the people who can't live without music. ***a very quick post as I am tired from work as usual!***

If I Stay / Gayle Forman
Yes yes you've watched the movie. Yes yes you know it's about music. But what's so special about it to me? It's how music was the reason two people were brought together, and also the reason they were almost torn apart. Music was what led Adam to Mia, and music was also the bricks that kept building up between them.

Eleanor & Park / Rainbow Rowell
This isn't exactly revolving around music, but one of the best parts of it was how Park would always let Eleanor listen to new songs and she'd always love it. Their love story started with comic books and music. This book takes place in the 80's, so you see a lot of talk about Walkmans and cassette tapes, which just touches further into the whole music thing.

This Song Will Save Your Life / Leila Sales
Not only will you relate to Elise for how she was never accepted into society no matter how hard she tried, for how she'd always plug in her earpiece and go for walks; but she'll remind you of you, when she finds a love in DJ-ing, in being able to run from her problems with music. You may not be a budding DJ, but if you're an aspiring singer or always on your guitar or piano, then you'll be walking so easily in her shoes.

Maybe Someday / Colleen Hoover
This is a book in the New Adult genre, which is usually meant for those 18 to early-20's of age. What's so special about this book is there's an actual soundtrack for it as well. You see the two characters writing songs together, you see the lyrics printed on the pages, but there's also the real music that was made specially for this book. (and they're really good too!)

I'm so sorry for the rushed post, but I hope you'll pick up these books soon especially if you can't walk 5 steps alone without being plugged into your headphones. Trust me ;)