mellomouse* » Jodi Picoult

Vanishing to America.

mellomouse — Fri, 29 May 2009 05:46:19 +0000

This time it took me two weeks and a day to finish reading. I usually get to do about a chapter or two each night after playing fetch with Scubby.

I would watch Picoult’s words perform the storyline in my mind, and Scubby would enjoy his belly being rubbed while comfortably snuggled next to my lap. The evening doesn’t get any better than that, and the highlight would be the husband coming home from work

*Spoiler below*

My Verdict:

I found this book a bit wayward. The background stories of the characters were not as engaging as her other books. Hence, it was lengthy to read and I got bored very soon.

The courtroom episodes were too short. It seemed like they went in, and without much fiasco, the father was found not guilty. End of story.

I could usually guess the outcome after a few chapters. So the reason why I keep coming back for more is because of her choice of topics — they are always relevant and “almost” real!

I’m going to take a break. Or I might just get OD-ed on JP after doing a back to back. So tonight I shall dig my way to America with a new Author instead

i’m the Big BadhappyBookworm.

mellomouse — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:42:17 +0000

Two words, Messy and Dusty!

BigBadWolf wasn’t kidding when they claimed to have over 100,000 books. There could have been more, but who’s counting. I was too busy searching for what I might want, my eyes were almost falling off its socket.

All the fictions were everywhere. Books were not organised according to genres or authors — in compared to MPH, Times or Popular’s clearance — hence making it super difficult to find something in particular.

I only managed to grab 1 Jodi Picoult — had no idea where the rest were all hiding *sobs* — and it wasn’t even by the Publisher that I collect from.

The JP book cover that I prefer

But hey, beggars can’t be choosers

So in total, I bought 8 books. I would have gotten more, but I’ve outgrown Chick Lit novels — which was piling by the thousands there — else I would have brought home a container full.

As you can see my choices below, it took me almost 2 hours of scanning countless titles and dusty covers to find each. They are all unfamiliar authors to me, so hopefully they’ll be a good read. The fictions were all going at RM8.00 only

It’s my cousin’s birthday today. This was the first book I grabbed when I reached. I think this would make a good addition to her Chicken Soup collections. Hopefully she doesn’t have this yet *fingers crossed*

Happy Birthday, Carmen!

xoxo

♥ benjac ♥

And not forgetting all Teachers out there:

Happy Teacher’s Day!

♥ Your Student, Once upon a time ♥

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My Sister’s Keeper is coming.

mellomouse — Thu, 14 May 2009 07:08:22 +0000

Oh no! *shrieks*

And I mean, s-h-r-i-e-k-s!

When I first saw the headline minutes ago — perhaps the last person on Earth to — I was literally filled with genuine excitement. But then within split seconds, I was flooded by total Dismay! New Line Cinema has made my must-have-no-matter-what Picoult book into a film *sobs*

Can they pull it off?

They always edit the good parts for the trailer. . .

I know I am being a brat. But I cannot help it. Not when they are turning one of my favourite Picoult into a future Rotten Tomatoes.

We all know the inevitable fate of books turned motion pictures — they Disappoint us firsthand readers. They lack the book’s original depth of details because so much is being edited off.

If I am the author, would I allow it? It sure feels like mutilating my Baby’s beautiful being! *shrieks again*

*Sigh*

I’m not sure if I’d want to watch it. Maybe next year? When it’s available on DVD and I can download it online. Hopefully by then, I’ve forgotten much of the book’s details and can enjoy it without noticing any missing limbs

Who is My Sister’s Keeper?

My Verdict:

This book played hide-and-seek with me for a whole year. I couldn’t find it at any bookstore, warehouse sales or even at KLIA. Finally my sister bought it for me in Indonesia, Dec last year. And it was worth the bounty hunting experience!

When you read the book’s synopsis, you’d expect it to be a tearjerker. It is emotional, heartbreaking and above all, Courageous.

If you’ve not read it yet, then you simply must.

If you are not a Jodi Picoult fan, then this will surely make you one! *3 thumbs up*

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Salem Falls, into a Vanishing Acts.

mellomouse — Wed, 13 May 2009 06:10:40 +0000

At long last, I’ve finished reading Salem Falls yesterday night after playing fetch with Scubby. I am so happy that he finally knows how to bring his chew rope back. It was definitely not easy training him to, and he didn’t comply the first few months I’ve tried. Then one day, he simply just did! *beams*

If you’ve not read this book but planning to, STOP reading here.

My Verdict:

I would have given it a full 5 stars, but there were a few things that I didn’t quite get the closure compared to her other books. I reckon the book needs an Epilogue to give a better ending to us readers. But it could just be me.

Here are the few lingering thoughts that have been bugging me since after putting down the book yesterday. And I’m still curious to know…

Whose semen was it that was found on Gillian’s thigh? If it wasn’t Jack’s, then whose was it?

Why didn’t Gillian and Whitney have a guilty conscience at the end? If Jack got convicted, he’ll be serving a 20 year jail time! An awfully long period compared to his earlier wrongful conviction.

The last sentence of the book, Amos kissed Gillian! *grossed* The actual sentence was, and I quote: Her [Gillian] mind was already a million miles away by the time her father’s [Amos] mouth settled over hers, sealing their deal once again. Unquote. If it was a quick kiss, that’s ok. But “mouth settled over hers” sounds a bit too lingering… *yucks*

Picoult is good. That last sentence actually weaved a new imagine in my mind and made me think that perhaps, Amos was the one who’s sexually assaulting Gillian instead. And in the story, he’s actually a rapist. Along with the Detective-Lieutenant of Salem Falls! What a story! *standing ovation*

Now that Salem has Fallen,
the next book in my Ikea Billy and ready to be devoured is:

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the NutRageous pact.

mellomouse — Sun, 10 May 2009 08:13:29 +0000

I love grocery shopping and I can spend a good few hours — the husband flees screaming! *LOL* — walking along every aisle of Tesco, Carrefour, Cold Storage or any local kedai runcit. Don’t ask me why. But I find it most fulfilling than going on any other shopping spree.

With such fervour, you’d think that I’d know every single brand there is in the supermarket. And where to get the best deals this weekend. Fortunately, there’s still a lot to learn! *eyes gleaming*

Are you familiar with this sinful bar?

I had no idea until late August of last year. And where did I came to know it from? (An undeniable influence of Product Placement in books we read!)

You MUST read this book!

My Verdict:
This book was one of the many JP titles on my wishlist. I had some difficulty locating it at first, and it was a joy — to my depleting wallet — when I found it at Times Warehouse Book Clearance at Hartamas Shopping Centre, going for 30% off!

Located on Line 7 of Page 215, lies this Noun on the very last word of the sentence — NutRageous. And since then, the name has been absentmindedly sitting in my brain. So you can imagine my ~~childish~~ excitement when I found it ~~calling my name~~ on Friday. For RM2.90, I bought it with sheer delight!

The bar is now lying beside this screen awaiting for its Judgment Day. While that day would definitely come no sooner than later, I look forward to finally unwrapping its bright orange protection after almost 9 months of searching! Would it be a disappointment or gastronomical orgasm?

Oh well. Since I’m now on a roll with Reese’s Peanut Butter bars, I’m attempting to find its cousin below. Which I doubt I’ll be able to find them here.

Btw, have you seen Him?

To all Mothers (and expecting to-be),

Happy Mothers’ Day! ♥ heart ♥

Possibly Related Post:
Pregnancy Goodness: Coconut Water.

Salem Falls on Jack.

mellomouse — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:59:38 +0000

I’m currently at page 238 of 541. And if I may — who’s gonna cook dinner? — I want to finish the book tonight itself. That’s how Picoult got me hooked onto her books each time, without Fail.

I bought Salem Falls two months back at MPH’s Stock Clearance Promotions. Books were allegedly going as low as RM2.00! This is one of the reasons why I would never step into a bookshop again to buy a full priced book. Just imagine the Ringgits you can save! *bedazzled* And with the savings, I can invest in a — Some, preferably — good looking bookshelves. A win-win situation I Like!

So why did Salem Falls?

Synopsis

Jack St. Bride was once a beloved teacher and soccer coach at a girls’ prep school – until a student’s crush sparked a powder keg of accusation and robbed him of his career and reputation.

Now, after a devastatingly public ordeal that left him with an eight-month jail sentence and no job, Jack resolves to pick up the pieces of his life. He takes a job washing dishes at Addie Peabody’s diner and slowly starts to form a relationship with her in the quiet New England village of Salem Falls.

But just when Jack thinks he has outrun his past, a quartet of teenage girls with a secret turn his world upside down once again, triggering a modern-day witch hunt in a town haunted by its own history…

I’m now at the part where Jack got arrested — again! — for a crime he did not commit. I know this is a work of fiction, but I can’t help but believe that there’s really such misfortune and mis-justice in this world. It’s quite disturbing and Sad. How many Jacks are there out there?

Looking forward to finish the book, hopefully by the end of this weekend. After that I’ll take a breather before taking another bait of Picoult brilliance. Which should it be?…

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