Bloggiesta interruption… o.0 Monkey Alert!

I have to mention there’s a monkey in the neighborhood at the moment. Thought it would be a cute innuendo. =D



And here’s a cat looking scared stiff and not knowing if she should move or not.

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Bloggiesta Time!

Natasha @ Mawbooks is hosting  her annual Bloggiesta which runs from January 21 – 23, 2011. What’s Bloggiesta? is an event most book bloggers would look forward to as in excuse of housekeeping. It’s an opportunity to sit down, discuss on ideas and resources for things regular bloggers would find hard to do during other times. I, of course,  find this as an opportunity to ‘housekeep’ my When She Reads blog, and among other things. *creeps around for nachos recipes from her fellow bloggers*.

Some of you may be asking what is Bloggiesta? In short, it’s a blogging marathon.  A opportunity to cross those nagging items off of your to-do list and improve your blog while in the good company of other awesome bloggers doing the same thing. Our awesome mascot Pedro (Plan. Edit. Develop. Review. Organize) is ready to break out the nachos, enchiladas, drinks, mariachi music and whack a pinata or two!  It’s nothing short of an awesome fiesta!

Check out #bloggiesta in Twitter for fellow bloggers updates, conversations and fun! Of course and occasional Tips & Tricks!

My list if projects for Bloggiesta:

• Cleaning up "Review Books" Page
• Updating the About Me page.
• Write backup posts for rainy day.
• Work up on series posts.
• Write up those articles I have in my notebooks.
• Clean up my template posts
• Create cheat sheets
• Update my Gravatar
• Make fresh business cards!
• Update my GoodReads, Librarything,
• Create challenge progress bars
• Brainstorm weekly post
• Clean up side bars.
• Update publisher links
• Update Review Policy
• List up books I wish to read (good luck Lisa! Teehee!)
• and other things I can’t think of atm

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Btt: Periodical

Hosted by Booking through Thursday.

Even I read things other than books from time to time … like, Magazines! What magazines/journals do you read?

Okay, yes yes.. I do have magazines to read once a while. The constant magazines I read nowadays are

• Cleo (Singapore & Malaysia) – it has occasional freebies
• National Geographic
• Asimov’s
• The Writer
• Writer’s Digest
• Analog Science Fiction & Fantasy
• Ellery Queens Mystery Magazine
• Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine
• Realms of Fantasy
• Sci-Fi
• National Geographic

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Book Review: Buyungku Hanyut; by; Abd. Ghaffar Aris

Buyungku Hanyut
by; Abd Ghaffar Aris

language } malay
genre } children, readers
rating } 8 yrs +
date released } 1996
edition } Fajar Bakti Sdn. Bhd.
isbn } 9766536083
acquisition } work library

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Melur lives with her step-mother, Mak Embun and her step-sister Kembang. Melur does every chore in the house as her step family abused her. Once day, they wish to kick Melur out of the house but has no idea how until one day they came up with a plan.

Quote:
Melur pun berlari-lari ke hilir sungai.
Dia menyeru ibunya:
   Mak-mak, buyungku hanyut,
   turut dayang turut,
   makin turut, semakin jauh

Why did i pick it up?
I was cataloging and waiting for the system to get ready

My 2 ¢ ♠♠♠♠♠

This is another typical Cinderella sort of story. It’s an easy short story to read for the kids that could run for an easy 30 minutes class.  It’s a morale tale of do good deeds and receive good rewards.  Do other wise, and get likewise. Cute beautiful duo-tone illustrations an pretty much a straight forward easy understanding of the book itself

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Movie Review: Magika (KRU – Malaysia)

Magika (Musical)
Rating: ♠♠♠♠♠
Based on Mythology & Malay Legend
Directed by Edry Abdul Halim (KRU)
Starring: Mawi AF5, Diana Danielle, Fimie, Saiful Apek & Senario original, Ziana Zain, Maya Karin, M. Nasir, Raja Azura, Ning Baizura, Sharifah Amani, Sharifah Aleya, Norman Hakim, KRU, Nabil, Adbah Noor, Aznil Nawawi

From KRU Studios

Ayu and Malik, two sibblings is going through their darkest moments of life when their beloved mother just passed away. Malik feels so depressed believing he was the main cause of his mother’s death. During one of the evenings after a fight with his sister, Malik left to take a stroll in the forest. On and on he went until he realised he was lost and the next very moment, he appeared in another dimension called Magika.

Not only had he gotten himself lost, he was captured by a Nenek Kebayan and her follower, Awang Kenit. He is now subjected to be used as an experiment by the Nenek Kebayan to produce Essence of Youth made of human child’s tears. Upon hearing Malik’s cries for help, Ayu rushed to help her brother and she too is sucked in the Magika mystical land.

Ayu had to endure various types of challenges and obstacles in finding and to save her brother in her journey in the Magika world. And so begins the encounters of both the siblings with famous Malay heroes and myths like Badang, Dragon of Tasik Chini, Nenek Kebayan, Puteri Bunian, Pak Pandir, Hang Tuah and the Warriors of Melaka, Puteri Gunung Ledang, Bawang Putih and a lot more characters. The irony of it, all these characters actually sing in their conversation with each other!

Will Ayu be able to rescue Malik and leave the mystical land of Magika? What happens to Badang, Nenek Kebayan and other characters in Magika? Will Malik be able to overcome his dilemma over his mother’s death? Come and watch Magika the movie which is destined to be a phenomenal in the local filming industry while already setting a record to be the first local musical movie and it will be reaching our cinemas in 2010.

I have hold off from watching this movie for a bit while because I do not wish to get dragged in all the hype it is causing. Of course, I got rather curious after hearing it was getting awards after awards even before it reached the mass audience.  Yes.. It is kind of taking example from the movie “The 10th Kingdom”, but hey, I don’t really care about that, at least they are trying to revive and keep the old legends and mythology alive throughout the years. I actually know people who picked up books regarding characters within this movie, just to know their origins. Edry has done quite a masterpiece to this movie. awesome soundtrack and a completely great script in interweaving the literature together into this movie.



Storywise: This movie actually begins with the taboo of playing during sunset,… or you might be kidnapped by “ghosts”.. not exactly ghosts, probably suited if I called them some sort of fairies and some other Paranormal beings. It started fast but what actually keep me watching is to answer the mysteries of “Who is the mother?” and “Why is Malik a brat?” other than it is a great watch.

I’m pretty much emo when I was watching this. I was cursing the hell out of Malik, for being a jackass unappreciative little brat, regardless being a tearful kid.  That’s my summed up for that Malik character. He however made it up later in the movie.

I like to share a few memorable scenes with you guys and these actually popped up to me:

There’s this moment in the movie with Ayu encounter with the Orang Minyak:
Orang Minyak: Kecik ni? *points somewhere in the groin area*
Ayu: uh huh kecik tu. Nampak?
Orang Minyak: Dulu Kecik, sekarang dah Besar
Ayu: Besar? *with this cute innocent clueless look*

I’m not criticizing, but only people who knows the story would understand what exactly is the interaction about. Suppose to be very um.. dirty *laughs*

Does this one makes you want to look for a book regarding it?
Badang (Mawi AF5): Menurut cerita, Naga Seri Gumum ni…tak apalah

I love the cgi with Maya Karin (there are 10ths of her) and the Dragon transforming M. Nasir. That was actually one of the smoothest transformation I have ever watched. That itself is a bravo!



Beautiful colors, beautiful scenery, catchy songs that hooked you from the start. I actually know them by heart after just one watch *tongue in cheek*.

I also like to dub this as the “superstars movie”. All the big names in the entertainment industry are in this movie and it kinda tickles me, they actually hired M. Nasir as the Keeper of Lake Chini. To all of my out of South East Asia friends and readers. N. Nasir is one of the top most big respectable names in the entertainment industry in this part of the world.

Then, there’s Ziana Zain. Her part in this movie will overshadow her past movie parts. *lol* I mean it! That Nenek Kebayan character overshadows everythign else she had done prior to that. :P 

Ning Baizura did an awesome number as an old Puteri Gunung Ledang. 

By casting the Sharifah sisters, Edry has shown the daughters of Cikgu Fatimah could actually sing and not just being her daughters other than just actors..



There’s no big parts in this movie, just small parts that are efficiently done. I don’t fancy much musicals but this has manage to be one of my favorite movie. Not bad, for Edry’s  movie debut. I’m actually looking forward in watching his next movie.

Some of the Mythology & Legendary characters included:
• Pak Pandir & Mak Andeh
• Puteri Bunian
• Nenek Kebayan
• Mahsuri (I’m sorry I can’t get rid of that Ping Pong from my head lol, as well as her flopping in the back drop)
• Hang Tuah & Friends
• Badang
• Puteri Gunung Ledang
•  Orang Minyak
• Bawang Putih, Bawang Merah
• Pak Belalang
• Dragon of Lake Chini

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Sunday Stealing: The Stupid Evil Bastard Meme

Cheers to all of us thieves! Hosted weekly by Sunday Stealing.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 8.15 am

2. How do you like your steak? Well cooked

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Tangled

4. What is your favorite TV show? The Mentalist, Lie to Me Bones, Criminal Minds, Food Tech. MysteryQuest, Caprica, V, CSI (all franchise), Desperate Housewives, Being Human, Stargate SG-1, The Big C, etc etc etc
 
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Anywhere peaceful yet fun

6. What did you have for breakfast? Singapore Fried Noodles

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Japanese

8. What foods do you dislike? Bean sprouts

9. Favorite Place to Eat? Misato

10. Favorite dressing? Caesar

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? Mazda RX-8

12. What are your favorite clothes? Pants and shirt

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Greece

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? 1/2 full

15. Where would you want to retire? Anywhere near water

16. Favorite time of day? late afternoon

17. Where were you born? Hospital

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Wrestling

19. Who do you think will never call you again? No idea

20. Person you expect to call you next? No idea

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to Stealing? Everybody else.

22. Bird watcher? Nope.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? Morning

24. Do you have any pets? Yes

25. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share? Nupe

26. What did you want to be when you were little? Archeologist (still do)

27. What is your best childhood memory? Don’t remember any at the moment

28. Are you a cat or dog person? Both!

29. Are you married? No

30. Always wear your seat belt? not always =X

31. Been in a car accident? Yup

32. Any pet peeves? Yes!

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? Cheese

34. Favorite Flower? Tigerlily

35. Favorite ice cream? Peppermint

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? KFC

37. How many times did you fail your driver’s test? twice

38. Who did you get your last email from? A publicist

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? a bookstore

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? nope

41. Like your job? Yes

42. Broccoli? I love!

43. What was your favorite vacation? mm I have a few

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? friends

45. What are you listening to right now? Cougar Town

46. What is your favorite color? Red, Blue, Black

47. How many tattoos do you have? None

48. How many times have you tagged someone to do a meme? a few times

49. What time did you finish this meme? 2:25pm

50. Coffee Drinker?
Yes! Mocca

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In The Mailbox Monday: 16 - 17 January 2011

Mailbox Monday (currently hosted by Knitting and Sundries) & In My Mail is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday & In My mail can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

These are the ones I got for last week =D Yup THAT many! Got them from friends, publisher, etc =D I'm just worried on how fast I be able to review them. Yeah.. I need to read faster...

   

Alex Archer - [Rogue Angel 28] - Restless Soul (Kindle)
Annabel Lyon - The Golden Mean (Kindle)
Anne Perry - [Pitt 16] - Pentecost Alley (Kindle)
Anne Perry - [Pitt 20] - Half Moon Street (Kindle)

   

Arthur Conan Doyle - The Man from Archangel (Kindle)
Austin Clarke – The Polished Hoe
Beverly Clarke - [The Elusive Lords 02] – A Taste of Desire (Kindle)
CJ Box- [Joe Pickett 03] – WinterKill (Kindle)

   

C J Box - [Joe Pickett 04] - Trophy Hunt

C J Box - [Joe Pickett 07] - Free Fire

C J Box - [Joe Pickett 08] - Blood Trail

D D Barant - [The Bloodhound Files 03] - Killing Rocks

   

David Brin - [The Uplift Saga 1] - Sundiver

Deja Vu - Fern Michaels

Edward Lee - The Black Train

Edward Marston - [Christopher Redmayne 02] - The Amorous Nightingale

   

Elizabeth Bunce - A Curse Dark As Gold

Giorgio Faletti - I Kill

Henry Curling - William Shakespeare as he lived

Hermann Sudermann - The Song of Songs

  

Jill Myles - [Succubus Diaries 00] - Foreplay

Jill Myles - [Succubus Diaries 01.5] - Zane's Tale

Jordan Sonnenblick - Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie

Jordan Sonnenblick - Notes From the Midnight Driver

Jordan Sonnenblick - Zen and the Art of Faking It

Kasey Mackenzie - [Shades of Fury 01] - Red Hot Fury

Lee Strobel - The Case for the Real Jesus

Lisa Hendrix - [Immortal 03] - Immortal Champion

Lynn Messina - Fashionistas

Martin H Greenberg - Zombie Raccoons & Killer Bunnies

Marya Hornbacher - Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia

Maurice Leblanc - The Golden Triangle

 

Meagan Hatfield - Vampire in Her Mysts

Michele Hauf - Seducing the Vampire

Michael Dibdin - [Aurelio Zen 02] - Vendetta

Rachel Vincent - [Soul Screamers 04] - My Soul to Steal

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