China Ghosts: My Daughter's Journey to America, My Passage to Fatherhood by Jeff Gammage

Synopsis

This is the story of journalist, Jeff Gammage and his wife Christine, journey across the world to adopt a child from China.

It line out how he felt about the adoption process in his country which leads to their decision to adopt a child from China. It tells how they fell in love with their daughter, Jin Yu and the worries that they had about her health.

later, it tells the story on how the challenges they faced with when they came back to their home country

It also out line how much their life had changed due to Jin Yu and it led to adoption of a second baby from China

My comments:

Picked up this book from Popular Bookstore Sale last year.

The thing that I liked about this book that the language is easy to understand and the author had describe some things that readers might not know. For example the plague that happen in one orphanage which lead to change of policy in China.

Love the photos accompany with the story.

However, I felt that the title of the book does not really match with the story as it highlighted. It's more on what the author went through instead of the daughter, Jia Yu.

Some parts makes me felt that the author had gone poetic.

For example in page 114 where the author wrote that "I wonder, who took the time to find the likeness in our faces and in our hearts?How did this person know that Jin Yu was a good fit for us, and us for her? How did he or she create a family as similar as a family could be, consistent  and alike but for DNA?"

When I read this paragraph, I was thinking, "Gosh! I don't think the officials in China have the time to do this although there were a lot of stories floating in the printed and non-printed media about China's thoroughness and the red tapes there."

In page 165, the author was talking about how guilty he felt when he was wasting time in going to doctor's office and fertility clinic while Jia Yu was in China all alone, waiting.hurting, wanting and wasting her life. Where he wrote "she needed warmth and food and medicine. She needed laughter and love. She just needed just a little of what I had in abundance, and I did not offer. More appalling, it never occurred to me to do so. Not until I needed something from her, not until I wanted something from China, did I even think to ask."

I my opinion, the author was laying too much guilt trip on himself. How could he had known that Jin Yu was there waiting to be adopted when he and his wife were going through the process of trying to have a baby of their own? They had enough to think about at that time without thinking about the poor children in China, famine in other parts of the world, or child labour or green movement and other stuffs alike. 

All these section, makes me feel that this book is more about what the author had gone through and felt rather than about his daughter's journey. This must have been a hard book for him to write.

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Synopsis from www.goodreads.com

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

My comments

I was pretty much surprised that the grand picture of the story was reveal by the middle of the book. The story was good.

The thing that I found lacking in this novel are the characters, Katie and Alex. I don't feel the "click" with them.

I pity Katie for what she had gone through. Katie makes me thinks of a trapped rat with no where else to run and in the end it was fight or die scenario. Not a pretty sight. For me, this feeling gives me the creeps.

Alex is your overall "good guy". It's kinda hard for me to believe that he is so perfect. Maybe just a tad too perfect.

The supernatural twist in the ending was a bit hard for me to accept but it was nice all the same. It gives hope.

Overall, I liked this novel but for me this is not one of his best work.

The House in Amalfi by Elizabeth Adler

This is the second Elizabeth Adler book that I have read. The first being "Sailing to Capri" given to me by Cleffairy which I had enjoyed very much.

The House in Amalfi tells the story of a widow, Lamour Harrington. Her husband had recently pass away in an unfortunate accident. To her she had lost the love of her life.

Her best friend did not want to see her ruin her life just like that and hence told her a devastating truth about her late husband.

Unable to find peace, Lamour decided to return to her childhood home in Italy. The home which she neglected since the mysterious disappearance of her father many years ago.

Her presence there opens up a lot of old wounds for the people there. There are some people who would not want her to be there nor poke around the past.

She acquired a hostile neighbour and also a suitor. But in this circumstances, can she find love?

This book is certainly has its charms. It describe a place where its Paradise. Wonderful sun, sea and sand. With an admirer or two. The scene was very serene. Good for those who wish for a little escapism.

The little mysterious plot about her father's disappearance also added a bit of suspense in the story.

What I dislike about his book is that she is flirting with both the father and the son at the same time which lower my opinion about Lamour.

Overall, it's an acceptable read for a quiet day.

Late For Tea At The Deer Palace by Tamara Chalabi

Synopsis from www.goodreads.com

A lyrical, haunting, multi-generational memoir of one family’s tempestuous century in Iraq from 1900 to the present.

The Chalabis are one of the oldest and most prominent families in Iraq. For centuries they have occupied positions of honour and responsibility, loyally serving first the Ottoman Empire and, later, the national government.

In ‘Late for Tea at the Deer Palace’, Tamara Chalabi explores the dramatic story of her extraordinary family’s history in this beautiful, passionate and troubled land. From the grand opulence of her great-grandfather’s house and the birth of the modern state, through to the elegant Iraq of her grandmother Bibi, who lived the life of a queen in Baghdad, and finally to her own story, that of the ex-pat daughter of a family in exile, Chalabi takes us on an unforgettable and eye-opening journey.

This is the story of a lost homeland, whose turbulent transformations over the twentieth century left gaping wounds at the hearts not only of the family it exiled, but also of the elegant, sophisticated world it once represented. When Tamara visited her once-beautiful ancestral land for the first time in 2003, she found a country she didn’t recognize – and a nation on the brink of a terrifying and uncertain new beginning.

Lyrical and unique, this exquisite multi-generational memoir brings together east and west, the poetic and the political as it brings to life a land of beauty and grace that has been all but lost behind recent headlines

My Comments :

At the beginning it was hard for me to start reading this book. However, once I got the hang of it; it was good.


I like the way it was presented with photographs peppered at the relevant section of the book.A photo worth a thousand words? 

Not much problem for me to follow in on what described there. Their culture and customs. I can imagine Bibi's worries about her marriage and the ability of giving birth to a male heir.

However, there are parts where I find the book was a bit slow and dragging. Too lenghty description of the politics and stuffs like that. If only the book could be edited down by 100 pages or so, it would be an enjoyable read. Guess, can't do so coz this is history of the family. The flow would not be there if some of the events was edited out.


I feel sorry for Bibi for it took a long time before she could "get back" to her homeland.

Slightly Shady by Amanda Quick

Lavinia Lake have a strong feeling since Tobias March burst into her little antiquities shop in Rome and insisted she and her niece to get away from the shop. He insisted that he was trying to save them as a gang was using the shop to exchange message.

She and her niece went back to England but as fate had it, Tobias March is not that easily banished from their life.

Lavinia was blackmailed by someone and she decided t find out who it is. That was how she bumped into Tobias March again over a corpse. They had to join forces in order to find the one who is holding the secret. And it leads to some very awkward situation for the two of them

I feel that this is not one of the author's better historical romance. The plot at the beginning of the novel was not that convincing as based on Lavinia's strong characteristic, it's quite impossible that she would listen tamely to Tobias and evacuate from the shop and never to go back there again especially her antiques and beloved books are still in the shop.

For me the romance level rated around 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Sweet Dates in Basra by Jessica Jiji

Synopsis from www.goodreads.com


Just when her family should be arranging her marriage, Kathmiya Mahmoud, a young Marsh Arab maiden, is sent from her home in Iraq's idyllic countryside to the unfamiliar city of Basra, where she must survive on her paltry earnings as a servant. Her only asset her exquisite beauty brings more peril than peace. Worse, her mother appears to be keeping a secret about her own mysterious past, one that could threaten Kathmiya's destiny forever.

In this lost Iraq of the 1940s, a time of rich traditions and converging worlds, Kathmiya meets Shafiq, a Jewish boy whose brotherhood with his Muslim neighbor Omar proves that religion is no barrier to friendship. But in a world where loss of honor is punishable by death, the closeness that grows between Kathmiya and Shafiq becomes dangerous as a doomed love takes root. When British warplanes begin bombing Iraq and the country's long-simmering tensions explode, the power of an unbreakable boyhood bond and a transcendent love must overcome the deepening fractures of a collapsing society.

Set during the tumultuous years surrounding the Second World War, Sweet Dates in Basra is the redemptive story of two very different cultures, and a powerful reminder that no walls can confine the human spirit.

My Comments:

I finds that this books is very refreshing from the ones that I usually read. The story here is about young loves and the frustration in life where their love is forbidden.

Am quite surprised that the character, Kathmiya, is quite relax. No terrible torture nor gory involved. Hence, I find this to be a rather fun read. It might have spicy up the story if the hero and heroine got captured and was tortured till half dead. But most of the book about Iraq and Iran have things like that already. Now it had become too common. And at times it makes me feel depressed.

What was written in this book is mostly about Kathmiya emotional life. How she feel and stuffs like that. I can feel sad without being depressed about it.

I like how the author brought Kathmiya to life. Not only that she have her strenght but also portray her weaknesses.

However, there are still room for improvement. I hope I can get my hands on the author's first novel "Diamonds Takes Forever".

The Perfect Holiday by Cathy Kelly

Is there such thing as a Perfect Holiday? That is the title of the book. Well, the holidays of the three heroine were far from perfect.

Claire and Anthony went to this idyllic Greek island to see if they can savaged their marriage and if they can banish the demons that is haunting Anthony.

Jessica was recently widowed with two grown sons. Both were not living with her. She felt that she must do something to heal the emptiness inside of her. This is the first holiday which she took without her husband by her side. Hopefully she can start to heal and learn to live her life again

This holidays is one of Susie last girlie holiday getaway with her best friend, Chloe. Susie will getting married soon. They thought they have booked into a resort with a lot of night life and stuffs like that. Unfortunately, a mis-spelling had cause the dearly.

Things comes to the climax for each of them during their flight home. And by the time they landed, they learned what is important to them and what they most do next.

I like this book. It's a quick read with only 87 pages and the font were big.

But most important of all is that this book gives hope. Yes it did. It teaches that when bad things happen, we must take a step back and look into what is really important to us.

The Vagrants by YiYun Li

It was 1970, a young woman, Gu Shan, was to be executed. Her crime? Loss of faith in Communism. She was a stout supporter of Chairman Mao's believes. So Strong was her believes till her father could barely recognised the person that she had become. But one day she start questioning those believes and foolish enough to let another person know of it.

She was sentenced to jail. For ten years she rot in jail. One day out of the blue, her case was re-trialed and she was sentenced to death.

Her father was sadden by the sentence. Her mother refused to let go. Most of the citizen of the town were united to protest over her death. The plan conceived by Gu Shan's former classmate, Kai and her male friends. Many came and join the protest. Among them were Nini the cripple, Bashi the idler, Gu Shan's mother.

This protest made the Central Government came down harshly against those who were involved in the protest.

It is amazing to read how the story unfolds. The author is brilliant in linking the life of all the characters together.  Story told were vivid and frank. It's interesting to see how the dominoes fell together. Yes, it's a brilliant stroke.

However, I feel there are parts where the story are tedious to read. For example, the part where Bashi's grandmother died and the hassle gone through to bury her.

Now a bad read

The Marriage Proposal by Célestine Hitiura Vaite

Synopsis from www.goodreads.com
 
Not since Precious Ramotswe made her first appearance in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency has a novel's heroine so immediately and completely won readers' hearts. Materena Mahi, "the best listener in Tahiti," is warm and generous, a natural problem solver, versed in the folk wisdom of her native island home.

When a drunken Pito proposes to Materena, she initially thinks it's just the booze talking. But Materena can't help starting to plan for a fabulous wedding. Right away she's off making inquiries on behalf of "a friend of her boss." From Cousin Moeata, Materena learns that the cake is the most important part of the wedding. From Mama Teta, she's given to understand it's the ride to the church that really counts. Cousin Georgette insists that the real key to a wedding is the dancing. As Materena juggles all this helpful advice, she forges on with everyday life--her relatives, her new baby boy, church on Sunday, cleaning her boss's house...it never ends! Soon, though, Pito seems to have forgotten his proposal. Should Materena be fiu of this heartbreaker?

Célestine Vaite's latest tale of big dreams on a small island will leave readers cheering.





My Comments

I have spotted this book at BookXcess a few times but kept forgetting to get it. Then the other day I went to the Big Bookshop Clearance Sale and saw it again. I bought it.

My sister-in-law read a few chapters of this book and said it does not suit her. For a moment there, I thought 'oh no...'

I finally pick up this book to read yesterday. Finished this in a few hours. It's not a Must Read but it's not bad either.

I like the way it's written. It gives me a glimpse of the local life there. Things described was vivid for me.

The way the author give life to Materena is also very amusing. Materena is matured about some stuffs while seems to be very innocent on other stuffs. It was fun to read the  chapter titled "mussels", whereby she got in trouble with the law.

Each chapter is written as a story by itself and yet it's also connected to the next chapter.

I rate this book 3 stars out of 5 stars

I Heart Hollywood by Lindsey Kelk

This is a sequel to I Heart New York.Angela Clark is now living in New York. She is a blogger and have been writing online diary for TheLook.com . She have a sexy boyfriend, Alex, who is in a Band.

Angela cant believe her good luck when she was informed that she is being sent to Hollywood to interview a hot actor. He is none other than James Jacob. He have been link to various rumours and have a reputation as a ladykiller.

This is her first time doing interview, She have no idea how to go about it but she have got the help of her good friend, Jenny. Together they set out to Hollywood.

Soon some minor hiccups start to arise. Then bigger boo boo was Paparazzi catching Angela with James and the spotlights were on them. Everyone thought that there is something going on between them.

How can Angela convince her boyfriend, parents and friends to believe her? She runs the risk of being jobless and deported. Then she found out a secret. The secret could save her  job and live but is she willing to divulge the secret?

At first I thought this is another run of the mill Chit Lit, nice at the beginning then panic in the middle and happy ending at the end but it’s not. There are some interesting moments and there is an unexpected twist near the end of the story.

One thing I don’t like is how Paparazzi conveniently appear in the story. It seems that she is trying to portray Paparazzi kept following James but how come at other times, no paparazzi were about? That part was quite unbelievable.

Otherwise, this is not a bad read.

The Calligrapher's Daughter by Eugenia Kim

Najin Han was born in Korea. She comes from a Christian family and her father is a famous Calligrapher in his time. His work was so famous that it's being commissioned by the emperor. It's the beginning of the twentieth century in Korea. A lot of changes going on and her father is determined to follow the old ways.

She was a head strong girl who is full of curiosity. Her mother wants her to have an education and her father was against it. But with a bit of cleverness, the mother managed to have her ways and Najin went to school.

At the age of 14, her father wanted to marry her off to a twelve year old son of his friend. Her mother defying the father managed to get her sent to the imperial court to serve the King. There, under the tutelage of her aunt, she was presented to the Princess and soon become the Princess playmate. Najin also was given the opportunity to further her study.

Unfortunately, the King was assassinated and the Dynasty ended. She was sent home. Najin was shocked to see that her family have become quite poor. Money were tight but her father held on to his believe that woman should not work. Her younger brother was pampered and had become quite self centred young man.

Nevertheless, with the help of some Missionary friends, Najin managed to find some work and earn some money to help out the family and also save some money to further her studies.

She did managed to further her studies. When she came home, her parents found a young man for her. Surprisingly the young man have a modern view. She fell in love. They got married and planned to further study to America. But unfortunately, Najin's passport was denied. Married for one day and she had to stay back in Korea while her husband journeyed on alone. Unknown to them, this separation is longer that the 2-3 years which they had thought to be.

The War came and the bombing of Pearl Harbour made communication impossible. Najin had to carry on alone and faced a lot pressure from  her in-laws. Later on she went back to her own family and there were hardship too. She was being accused as a spy by the Japanese and was brought to prison.

Over the years, she still feel for her husband. Wondering if they will meet each other again and wondering if he had taken another woman as wife. But during these years, she learn to blend two ways of living together. The old ways and the modern way.

This is the first book that I have read regarding Korea and their way of life. From the book, the old way of life seems to be very strict on women. Not far off from the ancient China.

What I like about this book is its rich in cultural value.When reading the part where her father forbids her from venturing to his part of the house and how Najin did not understand the purpose of it, I was really impressed on how the author presented the view of the father from the voice of the mother. It makes me thing Korean woman have a lot of patient.

Overall it's well written. I only wish that it's more expressive emotionally. This book give me the feeling that emotion are being restrained when writing it. Emotions of the characters were being "described" instead of felt/acted upon.

Montmorency On The Rocks by Eleanor Updale

This is the 2nd book of Montmorency Series. The story is set in Victorian era.

In book 1, Montmorency leads a duplicate life. He was a rich gentleman and his alternate identity was Scarper, a thief.

In this 2nd book, Montmorency had shed off the identity of Scarper and is now and undercover agent of the British Crown.

But during one of his mission in Turkey, he got himself addicted to drugs.This addiction seriously affected his judgement and many times nearly lead him and his partner, Lord George into trouble

Lord George brought Montmorency to his family castle to help him out of his addiction with the help of  Dr Farcett.

Meantime, there was terrorist bombing London train station. They need Montmorency help on that. But he was too weak to help even himself. In view of that Lord George went by himself.

Montmorency and Dr Farcett was drawn to escort a maid, Morag, back to her home which is in an Island when she received news of her baby brother death. When they arrived there, they were intrigued by the many cases of baby dying of mysterious illness on the island. In fact a whole generation seems to be wiped out by this.

Then they received urgent missive from London urging Montmorency to go back to London to help. He had to go. There, the mystery deepens. Montmorency have to summon back "Scarper" in order to help him with the investigation.

Overall, I find this book an interesting read. It's really intriguing to be following two cases at one short. Suitable for teenagers

The thing I don't like about this book is there was no summary of the 1st book. It's hard to read this book without knowing what happen in the 1st book. I feel that a short summary on what happen in the 1st book would certainly increase my enjoyment of this book and make it easier to understand.

The Opposite of Fate : A Book of Musing By Amy Tan

This is a non-fiction book by Amy Tan describing on her thoughts and her family life.

She was born in a family who believe in fate. And being that she had to find balance between the family believe and her "American" way of life to find her own destiny.

It's really fascinating to read about what her family expects of her and how she devise ways to have her own ways.

There are description on how she had the inspirations for each book particularly The Joy Luck Club. She also writes of the reason why she added broken English in her books instead of straight up English.

This has been an eye opening book for me. Yes, I never thought that there are so many reason behind her books. So many scene from the books are based on real life. No wonder her books and the characters are so vibrant and alive.

The Way Things Look To Me By Roopa Farooki

Asif Delcan Kalil Murphy is a 23 year old young man with heavy responsibilities. His parents had pass away and left him to take care of his two sisters, Lila and Yasmin.

Lila have moved out of the house as had abandon the sole responsibility of caring for Yasmin to Asif. Lila is fed-up of Yasmin getting all the attention all the time while she and Asif always takes a back seat. She felt that Yasmin could have been independent if only she have been push to it. She felt that Yasmin have been misdiagnosed when she was young.

Lila tried many ways to seek attention when she was a kid and now she had grown up, to her beauty brings attention. Thus, she took great care of her appearance. But what she wants the most is somebody to show her that they care for her.

Yasmin is diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome when she was a kid. She is very bright but she is unable to express herself. She cannot interpret other people reaction. Her brain is constantly recording things that happening around her till at times she felt that her brain is going to explode. However, recently she discovered something new is happening to her and maybe there is a way that would make everything right.

Asif tried to take care of Yasmin as much as he can but he felt that there is something missing in his life. At times he resent Yasmin. How he wished that his mother die earlier so that they ar forced to stay with their relative and he can continue with his life instead of as now having to take care of his Yasmin. But no matter what, he carry on with his responsibility.

The plot was not bad.

I like the was how the author reveal what is happening in the life of each character. I pity Lila as she so much wanted some attention from her mother and she was willing to do anything to get it. Yes, this part was well expressed in the book.


The character that I dislike the most is the mother. I felt that she had fail Asif and Lila.

Overall not a bad book. Could have been better

Me and Mr Darcy By Alexandra Potter

Emily Albright is an American and is Manager of a book store. She had a string of disastrous relationship with modern men. They just does not have the gentleman charm of the flamed Mr Darcy, a character from Jane Austen's book "Pride and Prejudice". She had it with all modern men. Her dream man is Mr Darcy.

When her best friend Stella invited to a weekend full of "fun" and men in Mexico, she hastily declined and booked herself on a tour to Britain. It a Literature Lovers Tour to explore the world of Jane Austen.


There are no handsome hunks on the tour. It's just a bus load of "Kooks and old people", as Stella put it. The only man who is remotely of her age is Spike, a journalist that got on the wrong side of Emily. But as fate has it, the two of them were thrown together more and more.

To Emily's surprised, she met Mr Darcy during the tour. He is exactly as described in Jane Austen's novel. Gentlemanly and sexy. For a moment there, Emily thought she had imagined it all but everything seems so real. Is he the man for her?

This is sort of like a modern fairy tale. Most of the thing seems to have been exaggerated like the part where her date split the bills with her by counting up to the cost of the pizza topping.

The plot was sort of predictable. It's a smart move to introduce Mr Darcy into the story or else it would be very bland. The kind of girl meet boy, fight and fell in love.

What I like about this book is that it have a hint of "Fantasy Island" and "Love Boat", where everyone in the tour got to know one another well and they went on the tour with problems in their heart. At the end of the tour, their heart are somehow fixed.

The Devil In The Junior League By Linda Francis Lee

Just finished this book last night.

Fredericka Mercedes Hildebrand Ware(wow...what a mouthful), Frede to her friends have the perfect life. She is rich and from the old money group in Taxes. She is a member of Junior League of Willow Creek and is expected to be the next president-elect of JLWC. The members of JLWC are consist of those rich and high power women in the society. They are the trend setter.

She have a handsome husband, Gordon, that is until one day when she found a a mousy woman standing by her door step claiming that she is pregnant with her husband child. She threw her out with her husband. Unknown to her, Gordon had siphoned her money and assets away too.

Her impeccable reputation was in jeopardy and so is her financial situation. There is only one person who could help her. Howard Grout, a shark of a lawyer who is also her neighbour.

The price that he wanted for his services was something that Frede might not able to deliver. He wanted her to get his tacky wife, Nikki(once was Frede bestie), into JLWC.

To make the matter worse, Pilar(another one of her former bestie), who is also in JLWC seems to be up to something.

At first Frede did not really want Nikki to be in the JLWC. But later on she grown fond of Nikki.

My first impression of Frede in the first few chapter is that she is just a shallow and snobbish woman. As I read on, Linda managed to turn Frede into more human.

The part where her starving artist boy friend is actually super rich seems to be familiar. I recall reading a similar plot in Chris Mansby "marrying for money". The ending also seems to be something like "The First Wives Club" by Olivia Goldsmiths.

I just wish she would elaborate more on Frede's no good husband. The ending seems too convenient and easy for him

Overall it's a acceptable read. I give it 3 stars out of 5.

Bought this book from BookXcess at RM9-90 only. Worth the money

Paddington, My Book of Marmalade by Michael Bond

I bought this book from BookXcess after browsing thru the "A Bear Called Paddington" by Michael Bond , given to me by nlyusmilk

As most of you probably know, Paddington Bear LOVES Marmalade.  In fact, he brings it with him everywhere.

In this book celebrates his loves for Marmalade. Story from the invention of Marmalade to his special encounters due to Marmalade. There are many anecdotes there. Can't help smiling.

This is a really good gift book for kids.