Holiday readings

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I’ve been taking advantage of having more free time by devouring some fun reads over the holiday break.

Back in Sydney, between school and work, I’d barely have enough time to relax and give my beloved books the attention they deserved. I’d often find myself skimming through a mere chapter before going to bed, making the process of finishing a thick novel and really getting into the story lengthy and tedious. In fact, I’ve got Wolf Hall to finally attack when I get back, it’s supposed to be excellent and yet its dark red spine has been staring at me from my bookshelf for the last six months. How sad.

Here are the books I’ve been able to enjoy over the last five weeks:

1. The Angel’s Game: If you liked Zafón’s first best seller, Shadow of the Wind, then you won’t have any problem getting into this semi-sequel. A well-written mystery novel that blends magic with history and above all the raw love for writing and books.

2. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter: Poignant and nicely written, this reminded me of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, simply because of how little dialogue is actually said between the characters and yet there is such electricity and weight in the air.

3. Fables: Your favourite fairy tale characters have had to leave their magical kingdom and are now finding their way in New York. A dark fun ride.

4. 100 bullets: Imagine you’ve been badly wronged. Your life is in shambles, the people you love have been taken away from you, and you want revenge. Now imagine someone offering you the purest chance at it. You’ve been given a briefcase with an unmarked gun and 100 untraceable bullets for you to do whatever you want. What would you do?

5. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist: Loved the movie, but the book was so much better. Unlike the film where they’ve put the characters into cookie-cutter moulds: bitch, geek, pretty girl, etc. The book puts less emphasis on the stereotypical lines and gives the characters better conversations and more complex personalities.

“ I know Norah would love for me to sing her the song right here in Ludlow Street. But I’ll wait for next time. Because I know there will be a next time. I was looking forward to next time the minute I met her.” – Nick