Enigmatic

The Hate U Give by  Angie Thomas get it  here BOOK SUMMARY Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life. BOOK REVIEW 5 STARS "That's the hate they give us, baby, a system designed against us. That's Thug Life."    T

The Son by Aaron Meizius get it  here BOOK SUMMARY Eddie Creighton is a young FBI analyst in Tampa, working in a maze of cubicles until he receives a summons from a senior agent in Denver. In an instant, he is pulled into an investigation far above his pay grade, searching for a serial killer with no discernible pattern and a strange personal interest in Eddie. As the case unfolds and the body count rises, Eddie must track down the killer and determine what their personal connection is before it's too late. BOOK REVIEW 4 STARS *A free eBook version of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.* Immediately after reading the first chapter, I already knew that I would love this book. It is definitely an easy read, one that you can read to pass time yet get invested in the storyline. Eddie Creighton is a brilliant analyst with photographic memory and an incredible brain that happens to even think of the wildest things. When I was first introduced to Eddie,

The World is a Dark and Lovely Place by Carol Chu Mei Yin get it  here BOOK SUMMARY A poetry chapbook that describes nature, the fear of drowning, friendship, love and loss in a world that is at times dark but beautiful. My writings here are heavily influenced by the classic language of Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost for I am a fan of theirs but the words are entirely my own.  BOOK REVIEW 3.5 STARS A collection of poems that shares about highs and lows of life.  Carol has a way with words that makes you think deeply about this life that we live. There were poems that dealt with loss, missing someone, faith and love - many different aspects that makes us, us.  I believe that if anyone were to write a good poem, it must be poured out from the deepest part of the heart. It is very evident in the writing here. It was raw and intimate, telling of the griefs and the little things that we don't often pay attention to. It's great to read a poem and find that you

Meet award winning author and playwright, Alretha Thomas. It has been a decade now since her first novel,  Daughter Denied was launched and now she is back with a mystery novel, The Women on Retford Drive. You can read the first chapter  here . We had the opportunity to interview the busy Alretha Thomas and ask her about her latest release!  THE WOMEN ON RETFORD DRIVE Julia Pritchard, an aging sitcom star making a comeback, and her stepdaughter, Blythe Pritchard, an aspiring attorney, form a pact to start fresh and pursue their dreams. But their plans go awry when Keith Pritchard, Julia’s soon-to-be ex-husband and Blythe’s father, goes missing and is presumed dead, the day they plan to move out of his mansion. The women are filled with bittersweet emotions when they consider the idea that Keith, a tycoon and functional alcoholic, could be out of their lives for good. Moreover, they fear the police will name them as persons of interest because of the abuse they suffered at K

The Ladies' Man (Finding Mr. Right #1) by Jessica Edwards get it  here (US)  or  here (UK) BOOK SUMMARY Twenty six year old Lisa, is single and miserable.  All she wants in life, is to find the perfect man.  After going on disappointing dates to tedious dates, Lisa is convinced that there is no man out there for her.  With her best friends' help, Lisa is soon introduced to a variety of men, but which one of them will be her Mr. Right? BOOK REVIEW 4 STARS A fast-paced short story that ended far too early (at least it is the first of the series!). Lisa, 26, and old-fashioned when it comes to dating. On the day her 26th birthday, she spends it the same way as she usually does - sobbing over her favourite romance movie and questioning why is she alone. This night her best friend, Laura promises it will be different. She is there to help her out. Do be warned, this book contains swearing. All her life, she met guys who have ill-intentions. Lisa is now 26 and is l

September passed awfully quickly. One moment I was sitting for my semester finals, the next moment I'm in Japan eating my weight in food, and after that I'm back in college for my last semester. Time flew by extremely quickly. This month marks the start of author interviews (link) on this blog! It was daunting at first since in my culture, we typically consume and not ask. However, ever since the last few years of secondary school when I was taking SPM (similar to the GCSEs), I became more fearless, after all, what's the harm in asking. It was a great experience because I was able to understand more about the author, the story and learn more about the thought processes the author had when writing each scene. After all, it's great to be an active consumer! In terms of books, this month was an interesting month. I've read a lot more books that I thought I had.  1.  The Back Door of Midnight  by Elizabeth Chandler A friend of mine lent this book to