Tag: book review

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Book Review: Sherlock – A Study In Pink by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss…

Okay, i have to confess, this isn’t exactly a book, in the traditional sense. It is a graphic novel of an episode of a TV series. Yes, quite a different creature all together.

But it’s something which caught my eye and i read it and i like it so i’m on here telling you about it 😉

bookreview_sherlockStudyPink20151124i was already a fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories and have already watched a few movies which were based on that series of books by Sir Arthur C. Doyle. Then the BBC TV series came out and i fell in love with Sherlock Holmes all over again. So needless to say when i spotted this graphic novel (which is based on the BBC series) on our summer holidays, i snatched it up immediately.

And i wasn’t disappointed. It is what a graphic novel should be; great drawings and dialogue. Because of the medium, it delivers the story in a faster and punchy pace. There are some drawings of Sherlock which i found hilarious, but it really does convey the mood of the character. And it doesn’t skim on the storyline either. i enjoyed reading it from beginning to end.

Of course, being a graphic novel it’s a fast read but i would go back again and take my time over the illustrations. This is a Japan published one and has both Japanese and English dialogue. It also has a nice special column at the end which gives extra information about the TV series as well as explaining some more quirky English expressions. However this section is all in Japanese only.

i had not realised, when i bought this graphic novel, that Sherlock Holmes already exists in this format from other publishers. So i may go explore those in the future.

Have you read a graphic novel? Do you like this format of storytelling? What would you recommend for a next read in this format?

syc

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Book Review: Kebaya Tales by Lee Su Kim…

i am half Peranakan.

What’s Peranakan? That’s a culture which came about when Chinese traders settled down in Malaysia and Singapore. It is a unique culture with all its quirks, fab traditions, different language (Baba Malay) and sometimes outlandish Nyonyas and Babas (that’s what the womenfolk and menfolk are known as respectively). And i am proud to be a part of this rich culture.

However, it is a dying culture, with the younger generation (me included) knowing only a little about the old traditions and stories. Which is why i love it when a book like Kebaya Tales comes along.

Kebaya Tales is a collection of short stories which Lee has collated and written capturing the essence of the Peranakan culture. And the beautiful pictures of the exquisite sarong kebaya with its beaded slippers and golden kerosang (pins which hold the kebaya blouse together), and the lovely pictures of her family, all make the book a joy to read.

The 13 stories give you a glimpse into a world of laughs, sorrows and unexpected twists; all of which show different aspects of a mentality so special, the world would be lesser without it. There is a touch of the very personal as she re-tells some of these stories which she has heard over the years, simply because it is truly her people, her culture she is talking about.

i also enjoy very much the poems which are slotted in between the stories. i never knew that Peranakan poems existed and even though these took me a couple of readings to really understand their meanings, it was worth the effort.

So i highly recommend this book for anyone who would like a taste of the Peranakan culture and life in this remarkable group of people. Also great for anyone, like me, wishing to re-connect to your roots.

syc

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Book Review: I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb…

i have been wanting to read this book since it came out because there was quite a bit of press about, firstly, Malala herself and then about her book. But i did not read any book reviews on it so i could just read it without any preconceived ideas. Or so i intended… but it didn´t turn out that way.

i went into reading this book with an idea of how it would describe to me her struggle to champion her cause for education in her country and how her getting shot further encouraged her work and others to join her.

While the book did cover some of the above, it wasn´t written as i imagined it. i thought it was be written in a clear decisive voice of a young lady, fighting for her beliefs but it was that of a young child with ideals and of a slightly naive girl finding those ideals shuttering around her.

And while i was a little frustrated during the time i read it, it made perfect sense once i got more than half way through the book. i needed to hear that child-like voice at the beginning in order to see how truly tragic the situation was in Malala´s home country. i do wonder how she is getting along now, personally and with her cause.

i think it does give some insight into the danger involved and the needs of Swat valley and Pakistan. But if you are looking to truly understand the politics or wanting a deep look into the people themselves, i think you might be slightly disappointed. However, if you are in for a story rooted in real life events and in promoting a great cause, this book will deliver.

Would i recommend this book? Yes, i would. It does give an idea of what it might mean to fight for what you believe in and how sometimes we, who have been given a good education, do take it for granted… just sometimes.

Have you read this book? If yes, would you care to share your comments below? If no, do you intend to read it?

syc