One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

A group of couples joins a reality TV show called "One Perfect Couple." The production will be shooting on a brand-new, secluded island. They feel something shady about the whole thing, particularly the theme, the rules, and a glimpse of internal conflicts.

Their first week was a disaster. After the first challenge leaves everyone rattled and angry, an overnight event takes matters from bad to worse. The island was swept away in a storm! Dozens of trees came down, and the whole shape of the beach was strewn with debris. There's no way they can get off the island with no crew left and no communication devices. The worst-case scenario is that one of the contestants and a crew member are found dead.

And the survival situation begins. It's pretty far from what they had intended. They have very limited food and water, and clearly, they need medical assistance. The fact that they're trapped on this island with people who are prepared to tear each other apart is alarming. There's a radio in case of emergencies, but it doesn't seem to be functioning properly.

Surprisingly, I love this reality show gone wrong. The plot is neat and yet full of drama. It exposes not only the secrets behind horrible media objects and their obsession but also the setup and possible motives of human nature.

Resolution by Irvine Welsh

Mr. Irvine, please don't die!  

It far exceeded my expectations. I find the main topic to be so relatable in today's society, which is paedophiles and PTSD. It's important to note that it can lead to a higher risk of developing health and behavioral challenges when the child becomes an adult. 

This is what happened to Ray Lennox. He and his friend, Les, had a traumatic experience of sexual assault that occurred almost 40 years ago. A scene that played out countless times brings back memories of the terror and torment they experienced during what they called the tunnel incident. Although he is no longer a cop, hunting for the sexual predator remains his only interest. When Matthew Cardingworth crossed his path, he believed Mat was one of the three perpetrators. However, he could find nothing to tie Mat because everyone in the town seemed to be in his pocket due to the great things he had done for the community. 

 I found the first half of the book to be a bit slow-paced and confusing due to the narrators, but it was worth sticking through to the end once I got into their stories. Moreover, the visual effects are vivid despite the obstacles created by the slang.

Whole Life Sentence by Lynda La Plante

Detective Inspector Jane Tennison is a dedicated and intuitive detective. She was transferred from Bromley on promotion to DCI and requested a posting to the AMIT (Area Major Incident Teams) team. AMIT is one of the toughest units in the Met and handles serious major crimes. 

Her first case is to investigate a cold case of a missing college student from five years ago. That was in 1986. Brittany Hall was 17 years old when her mother reported her missing. This means the whole plot is set in the early 1990s. However, the author is trying to keep it up-to-date, I guess. 😬

Three boys from the same college were the last people to see Brittany. The information and statements were gathered, and Jane had to prove they were involved in Brittany's disappearance. It's so easy to jump to a conclusion without a second thought. 

Jane knew her boss was giving her an unsolvable cold case to waste her time and keep her out of sight. She feels undervalued and patronized by her male colleagues. But that only made her more determined to find out what happened to Brittany. She had proven she deserved to be on the AMIT. 

It's a slow-paced story, not a groundbreaking piece. The ending was too rushed and not impactful enough when it reached the part where the crime unfolds. Jane survives her ordeal, though. This is the final book in the Tennison series and could be read as a standalone thriller.

Pusat Terapi Al-Nur

Kalau balik kampung memang inilah tempat yang mesti pergi. Mana nak cari tempat urut yang murah lagikan?

Urat yang tersimpul rapi memang terus jadi lega. Aku rasa macam nak tercabut rambut tadi punyalah kuat dia urut kepala tu kan. 

Selain dari tu ada juga servis lain yang diaorang buat seperti bekam, akupuntur, bunyi²kan badan/ cracking knuckles pun boleh. Pekerja²nya pun baik. 

*Ini bukan iklan berbayar

 

Dialog

Seperti yang kita belajar di sekolah dulu kalau nak buat dialog, mesti guna perenggan baru bersama dengan pembuka dan penutup kata. 

Tapi bila baca buku bahasa Inggeris semua tu tak penting dah. Ada berbagai jenis cara yang boleh dikategorikan sebagai dialog. Macam contoh di atas, penulis guna dash sahaja. Sebelum ni aku pernah baca, mereka guna italic tanpa perenggan baru. Contoh:

Bukan saya tak suka dia bang. Cuma dia tu suka sangat mengungkit hal-hal lama saya. Luahan Ahmad kepada abangnya.

Pada aku, aku ok je. Semakin banyak kita membaca, banyak jenis karya yang boleh kita pelajari. Tapi aku tak rasa editor di Malaysia bersetuju dengan dua cara di atas.

 

Nostalgia Part 1

Kenangan di Sekolah Mohd Khir Johari. Waktu tu belum ada Kebangsaan lagi. Tahun 1986. Semua murid perempuan pakai pinafore. Lelaki pakai seluar pendek atas lutut. Nama cikgu kelas kalau tak silap Puan Hashimah. Dia memandu kereta klasik masa tu. Tak tahu jenis apa. Wajah yang penuh sifat keibuan. Style ikat tudung pun sangat klasik. Macam nilah aku pakai tudung kalau mengaji masa tu. 

Kawan baik aku masa tu Rosmary. Aku tak tahu dia duduk mana. Tapi kadang kalau petang² dia ada duduk depan tangga rumah aku. Main sama². 

Masa ni kitaorang pindah Skudai. Shock jugaklah. Padahal sekolah yang sebelum ni kira betul² dekat bandar. Tapi bila masuk Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Skudai aku dapat kelas nombor 2. 6 Dahlia. Kalau dulu top 3. Dapat top 10 dah kira ok. Banyak insiden yang memalukan masa ni. Biarlah aku simpan je. Tak payah buka aib. Kawan baik aku masa ni Haslinda. Cikgu kelas Puan Harison. 

The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

I love this entertaining short story. It's about Mr. Hiram B. Otis, the American minister who purchased Canterville Chase. He was warned by Lord Canterville about his ancestor's haunted place, which no one cared to live in. However, the Otis family is undeterred by the ghostly presence and the ensuing trouble.

The ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville, who murdered his wife and met his own death in 1575, has been haunting and has been seen by living members since then. The ghost was irritated to find that the Otises treated the 'interruption' as a joke. The only person who alarmed him was little Virginia Otis, who was full of wisdom and grace. The delicate conversation between them delves into the meanings of life, death, and love messages without being preachy. One of the themes that stood out to me is that being a good listener can have a huge impact on how people feel and act.

The Exchange by John Grisham

I remember reading The Firm back in 2016, and now I've finally gotten around to its sequel. It's set fifteen years later, and Mitch McDeere is now a partner in a major firm called Scully & Pershing and is living the high life in the big city with an established reputation. A partner in Rome, Luca Sandroni, needs his help. Years ago, an ambitious bridge project was attempted by Muammar Gaddafi. A Turkish contractor signed a contract to build a bridge in Libya. The bridge is completed, but the Libyan government owes the contractor a sum of money and has refused to pay. So, here comes Mitch to save the day.

Unfortunately, he's suffering from food poisoning on the day of the meeting. Luca's daughter, Giovanna, who is also an associate, steps up to the plate and is willing to take on a risky mission: a visit to the bridge with a security team. However, things go haywire when they go missing at a checkpoint. The situation worsens when Giovanna's safe return costs $100 million, and any involvement from the police or FBI would put her life in danger.

There is a minor flaw: repetitive and unnecessary details, as well as too many characters that I think are insignificant. As a result, this legal thriller just didn't stand out to me.

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. All views are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

Happy second anniversary 🦋

 

Sedar tak sedar dah 2 tahun aku guna kindle.

And I really love it.

Aku ada beberapa ribu buah buku.😅

Unintentionally katanya.

Casing dah kekuningan tapi tak koyak, aku ok je.

Check out New Kindle (11th Gen) 6” 300 ppi display& 2x the storage +Free2 Million Kindle eBooks 6months for RM743.50. Get it on Shopee now!

 

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Garam by Ruwi Meita

Seorang pegawai polis, Kiri Lamari telah ditugaskan ke daerah Surabaya selepas berlakunya tragedi pembunuhan seorang pemain piano yang disifatkan sebagai mengerikan. Tubuh mangsa disalut dengan adunan garam. Tidak cukup dengan itu rambut mangsa dicukur dan ditutupi dengan rambut palsu berwarna merah. Melalui autopsi, mangsa mati ketika dibedah tanpa bius dan beberapa organ hilang.

Dalam dia dan pasukannya cuba menyelesaikan misteri, pembunuh itu melakukan dua lagi pembunuhan. Setiap karakter dikisahkan dengan baik. Penulis dari awal sudah menggambarkan antagonis seseorang bernama Lelaki Lavender dengan dendam lama ditempiaskan terhadap mangsanya. Pembaca sudah boleh mengagak siapa tapi sebab dan bukti lain telah disimpan oleh penulis untuk diselesaikan oleh Kiri Lamari seorang. Sebab itu dia diberi gelaran Penghidu Jejak! Kampret Rebus!

Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

The Fletchers were a prominent Jewish American family. Zalig Fletcher immigrated to America from Poland in 1942 and eventually ascended to become a successful factory owner. In 1980, his son, Carl Fletcher, one of the wealthiest men in Long Island, was kidnapped from his driveway on his way to work. The kidnapping deeply affected his family, particularly his wife, Ruth, and their children.

After a week, a ransom was paid, and Carl was rescued, but the intergenerational trauma took a heavy toll on them. Carl became distant and aloof, while Ruth seemed devoted to her husband rather than to her children. The overbearing nature began to surface when the Fletchers spent money recklessly. Their friends seemed to reveal their true colors after the Fletchers encountered financial difficulties.

 This satire also shows readers how the Jewish family sought to fit into their new country by adopting American customs. The author depicts worn-out characters well from their point of view in every chapter in a slow-paced manner. It includes glimpses of Jewish traditional culture and folklore. The revelation of secrets, long-buried tensions, backstories, and the morality play are woven into dark and elaborate tales, which I find compelling.

Pos Malaysia

Eh, korang dah pernah hantar barang melalui pos laju? Aku jarang guna. Tapi baru² ni Pos Malaysia dah berwajah baru. Takde isi² borang lagi. Semua scan barcode je sekarang. Pada aku lebih mudah dan jimat kertas. Sebab Pos Malaysia yang paling dekat dengan rumah aku, jadinya memang aku akan setia dengan depa.

Blog yang mutakhir

Selepas beberapa lama, akhirnya aku dah berjaya menghasilkan blog sendu yang kena dengan jiwa aku yang random ni. Sebelum ni pernah buat 2 blog tapi yang pertama tu dah tak ingat password. Sayang jugak sebab blog tu lebih kepada pengalaman pertama aku sebagai ibu yang mengalami tantrum. 😅😅. Masa ni takde adsense.

Dan yang kedua. Sama juga sendu. Lebih kepada pendapat aku tentang buku yang dibaca. Aku tulis dalam bahasa Melayu. Kalau aku ada masa, aku nak copy paste kat dalam blog ni. Sebab ada buku tu yang aku dah lupa tentang apa dan aku rasa tulisan aku pada masa tu kelakar. 🤣🤣. Masa ni adsense ada problem. Sebab aku share email dengan email youtube.

Dan ini yang terakhir. Harap² aku diberi kerajinan. Nak compete dengan blogger² muda yang lain, memang aku tak mampu. Sebab aku bergerak dalam rumah saja. 

Terima kasih in advance kepada yang klik iklan dan juga tetamu senyap blog ni. 

Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo

Julia Ames is an unhappy person. She's having a little series of breakdowns until she confides her miserable days to Helen Russo, a stranger. Julia finds it easier to get along with Helen after their fateful meeting. Helen helps her become a better mom, wife, and person. She enjoys Helen's company. Their friendship breaks through silence and without explanation. The ending of friendships can be as strange and devastating as romantic endings but sometimes it is necessary.

What I see is the most unlikeable character in history. Julia is a narcissistic sociopath and has no social finesse. She doesn't get along with her mother, betrays her husband, and defaults to negativity. I tried not to hate her but ended up feeling bad as things got out of hand.

This story explores the lives of female protagonists, focusing on their many-layered relationships with spouses, parents, children, and friends. I think motherhood, infidelity, dysfunctional families, and balancing these aspects are too much for Julia. It is an engaging story full of heartfelt drama and reconciliation over time.

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. All views are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

BUKU TERPAKAI

PERHATIAN!

Kepada yang berminat hendak membeli buku-buku terpakai di ig saya, bolehlah jemput tengok dan tekan whatsapp seperti yang tertera. Ada pelbagai genre buku berbahasa Melayu dan English. Harga berpatutan dan penghantaran melalui Pos Laju, pasti terjamin.

TERIMA KASIH

SAYEMBARA CERPEN

PERHATIAN!

BERITA BAIK untuk mereka yang ada bakat terpendam atau idea yang menarik, bolehlah mencuba nasib untuk sama-sama memeriahkan lagi Sayembara Cerpen yang dianjurkan bersama oleh Karangkraf dan Cereka App. HADIAH MENARIK menanti!

Death at The Sign of The Rook by Kate Atkinson

This is the sixth Jackson Brodie mystery and can be read as a standalone. Jackson Brodie is a private investigator who was formerly a policeman. Brodie was approached by a client whose mother, Dorothy Padgett, passed away and discovered that her beloved Renaissance artwork was gone from her residence. The client suspected Melanie Hope, the caregiver, of taking the priceless painting and enlisted Brodie's help to recover it.

Not long before the occurrence, a piece of art went missing from Burton Makepeace House, along with Sophie, a servant for Lady Milton, disappearing without a trace. The modus operandi is remarkably similar. Jackson Brodie was curious if Melanie and Sophie were the same person. Honestly, it is hard not to like this classic country house murder. It's easily predicted the whodunnit and whydunnit, but still, we had to wait to figure it out. The plot progressed well until it became a little off when Burton Makepeace House opened its doors to the public for art lovers and hosted a Murder Mystery Weekend. For some reason, this animated and melancholy that lies in Jackson is enjoyable to read, with beautiful writing and solid characters.

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for this uncorrected proof copy. All views are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

Me

Relatable? 😅😅