Friday 23 January 2009

Books To Read

I am now reading Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine 30th Anniversary Anthology, Edited by Sheila Williams. I borrowed it from the library recently. Some stories are lame and some are quite interesting. Overall, it is engaging. Will give a proper review once I'm done with the book.

For weeks, I tried to finish reading Sepulchre but I finally put it away on Monday, as I could not bring myself to go beyond the first 1/3 of the book that I forced myself to read (with great discipline, since I paid money for it.) Although it is a light read with easy language and straight-forward narrative, the plot is slow, hasn't picked up in pace at all 1/3 into the story and it lacks a good hook. I wasn't able to get involved in the book or characters and loathed to read it. I didn't have an urge to see how the story develops at all.

I felt so sorry I bought the book instead of borrowing! Maybe it's the wrong timing, since I read it immediately after I finished The Road. Perhaps everything else pales in comparison to The Road? I feel it is the book that has defined 2009 for me. My only misgiving is that I purchased the copy with an ugly cover that features a still from the up-coming movie. I didn't expect that I would love the book so much. It would have been nice to have a copy that has a beautiful cover for keeps.

Hopefully, after a few months, I'll be light-hearted enough to want to delve into the flimsy world of Sepulchre, but right now, I will read sci-fi and the other books I picked up recently, from the library and also from the bookshop sales.

I thought I'd make a To Be Read list, including those books I purchased before Christmas and haven't gotten round to reading (all delayed due to trying to plough through Sepulchre). I intend to watch Doctor Who and Korean dramas, and read, read, read this Chinese New Year holiday. I also intend to return to more reading and watching K-dramas this year. I think my boring life needs these sorts of dramatic injections to keep me from getting too bored and shopping too much.

The To Be Read List in no order of preference (and since I'm such a bargain-hunting person, I will list the discounts I obtained when I purchased the books):

  1. New Moon (purchased at 20% discount yesterday)
  2. Eclipse (purchased at 20% discount yesterday)
  3. Breaking Dawn (borrowed from the library)
  4. Anathem (purchased at 20% discount before Christmas)
  5. The Graveyard Book (purchased at 20% discount before Christmas)
  6. Never Let Me Go (purchased with 30% discount coupon at Borders)


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