The Heart and the Bottle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj5lSmhUhhM

A beautifully written children's book but I wonder if children would appreciate or understand its meaning or maybe it's the adults who wouldn't understand.

I think it becomes harder to face your emotions and take the time to understand them as you age. Sometimes we sweep things under the carpet because we just can't deal.
How many times have we said it's ok, it doesn't matter, I don't care, when in fact it does.
How many times have we neglected to sit down and examine things, the root of the matter, and chose to busy ourselves with other more "important" things. We busy ourselves to forget, to brush things off to the side.
How many times have we chosen to hide our deepest feelings, sorrows, because we do not want to be seen as weak, as emotional? Why is it so hard to talk about these things? Why is it so hard to be vulnerable?

Librarything

I read an article extolling the wonderfulness of the Librarything app (a book cataloging app) and was convinced enough to download the app. I thought such a highly raved app would cost something but alas, it was free! I really love the app after trying out its functions. The barcode scanner offers a kind of cheap thrill for me Coz I get to pretend to be a librarian. The scanner recognizes the isbn within seconds and gives a beep sound when scan is completed. This is the function I love the most from the app. Apart from cheap thrills, the app lets you categorize your books into wishlist, currently reading, read but unowned, favorites. It also allows you to give star ratings. For those serious bibliophile, you can even write your review, enter your reading dates, and other comments (e.g. book was loaned to so and so-a great feature if you tend to lose your books because of friends who borrow and never return). I've entered 70books so far within 20-30min of acquiring the app and that's not even one-third of the books on the shelves. I oftentimes have trouble remembering if I already own a book  and sometimes make the mistake of buying duplicates. This app is definitely a lifesaver for situations like this. Another thing I like is the ability to see the book covers, which makes the app aesthetically pleasing to the eye. A few snapshots of the app:

I really can't wait to finish cataloging all the books ! 

Winter books

I read a post about books to read for winter and the first book that came to my mind was Sherlock Holmes. I read the entire series during my last winter in Arizona and it just felt so right for the weather. With a cup of coffee/tea, thick socks, cosy blanket, and that book, life was good. 

I miss winter. 

Of independent bookstores

I really like these little bookstores such as books actually, littered with books, etc. There are too few of them in Singapore although I think they are starting to gain popularity in recent years. 

I can understand how difficult it is to sustain such businesses when books can be bought cheaply off the Internet and with youngsters going for the convenience of e-books. 

Although I really like the selection at books actually and littered with books and really hope they can stay in business, I can't bear to pay 4 times the price for a book. In the end I bought some used books including Dante's Inferno, 7 lives of Picasso, David Sedaris' I forgot the title, and enlightenment something. There were lovely cats roaming around at books actually and I always feel that cats go well with books, both are excellent companions when you are in need of some quiet time. 

"But I don't want comfort. I want God. I want poetry, I want real danger. I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin." 

So the Savage in Brave New World said. 

Mph sales

Nearing the end of every year, MPH will host this major sales at expo. Think it's probably one of the best in Singapore, in terms of the pricing and selection of books. This year's crowd is much much lesser than the years before, which is great news for me. But I'm also wondering if this spells the demise of books... What with most major bookstores having to foreclose. I pray that the day when all books become digitized will never come.
On another note, I am thinking if it is possible to implement the Dewey system on my small little collection of books. A little of a time-waster but might be fun.
Anyhow I probably need to make a list soon as I don't remember what books I have bought and not read. Always the danger of purchasing the same book.
Quite happy with the purchase today. Of the lot, there's only one book I've read before- I know this much is true. I had borrowed and read it 14 years ago and liked it so much that I purchased a copy to keep. Subsequently loaned it to a friend and that was the last I saw of the book. I think I'm quite fated to re-purchase books.

Great gatsby

I won a great gatsby book. Haha I guess I just have to re-read it to do the winning some justice.

Resolution

My resolution this year is to finish all the books on these shelves. I've the habit of buying books but always end up borrowing from the library! Guess will pen down every single book from the shelves I go through on this blog...
I'm still on the 100th page of musicophilia. 291 pages to go....
It's kinda funny that I can't exactly pinpoint a particular genre of books that I love. It seems my taste varies from travel stories to mystery to romance to inspirational ones.... Like loving the Chocolat series, some classics, some of Mitch Albom's stuff, Tony Parson, Richard Matheson, Dan Brown, PG Wodehouse, Paulo Coelho, Arthur Conan Doyle, etc. they are all vastly different.

The Library

Was thinking that the library should give us a record of what books we had borrowed over our lives. I think that would be pretty interesting. I've already lost track of what books I had read. so I guess it might be a good idea to just list the books I borrow, on this blog from now on. The last round of books were:

Augusten Burrough- You better not cry: True Stories for Christmas
Jill Mansell-Rumor Has It
The Rough Guide to Travel Survival
Bobbi Brown-Living Beauty
The Silk Road

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Limoncello
Atlas of the Human Heart
12,000 miles
Amulya Malladi- A Breath of Fresh Air
A Moveable Feast- Ernest Hemingway
Cant rem the other one..hurhur

Bookfest and More Books to Recommend

I was like a kid in a candystore at the bookfest. Was walking around the place in circles for almost 2hours, not wanting to leave. Serene had to practically drag me out of the place! The books I pushed her to purchase were Tuesdays with Morrie and Eat Pray Love. She chose the latter coz she found it ludicrous to pay $15 for a thin book -_-



The book I forgot to add in my previous list was of course,



Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia



An inspiring read about Elizabeth Gilbert's travels to the three Is- Italy for pleasure (food, specifically), India for spiritual searching, and Bali to find Love. Which explains the title of eat, pray, love. I admire her gutsiness and openness- going to new places, meeting new people, opening up to them, and finding new relationships (friends, lovers, etc). This is something that I find myself not able to do. It's true I like to travel but I am your typical tourist. I do not dare open myself up to strangers in a different land. I think travel is made all the more interesting and meaningful if you interact with the locals, and try to live their way of life. Otherwise, how else can you truly know a place?

My Little Black Book of Books

Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist

Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks
Three Weeks with My Brother

Jostein Gaarder
Sophie's World
The Solitaire Mystery

Mitch Albom
Tuesdays with Morrie

John Grisham
A Painted House

Dan Brown
Da Vinci Code
Angels and Demons

Ian McEwan
On Chesil Beach
Atonement

Frank McCourt
'Tis
Angela's Ashes
Teacher Man

Kinga Freespirit
Led by Destiny- Hitchhiking around the World

Augusten Burroughs
Running with Scissors
A Wolf at the Table
Dry
Magical Thinking