Spooky Review: True Singapore Ghost Stories Vol.7 & Vol 8 by Russell Lee

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The Almost Complete Collection of True Singapore Ghost Stories (also True Singapore Ghost Stories or TSGS) is one of the bestselling book series in Singapore. With over 1.5 million copies sold,[citation needed] the series has become a household name since its inception in 1989. Russell Lee, a Singaporean author, compiles reports, stories and interviews about the supernatural. Light and entertaining, each book, which comprises about 30 stories, appeals to both children and mature readers.

Most of the stories take place in Asia but some take place in other parts of the world. Lee also includes articles about the paranormal, featuring detailed investigations into the occult, witchcraft, vampires and other similar topics. Lee stresses[citation needed] that the articles are for reading pleasure, not research. WIKI

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October was really busy and I was planning to post my reviews for TSGS especially also because it was the spooky month. 

I also thought I had written a review already but apparently, I did not. I found these books by accident. I found volumes 7 and 8 at a local library and it sucked me in with all the creepy stories and also because their Asian stories, it made it even scarier. 

Here's a complete summary of my reading adventures with TSGS (from my IG)

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True Singaporean Ghost Stories by Russell Lee vol.7

I bookmarked this with a flyer and it was still on the shelf at the library, where I left it last. It's not very scary. So far "Thriller part two" seemed a bit on the supernatural side everything else is just spooky ghost hauntings. It's definitely a fun book to read ......during the day.





Fun fact the author Russell Lee wears a mask to signing events and nobody knows what he looks like.

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Finally finished True Singapore Ghost Stories Vol 7! I hope I don't get nightmares lah😅

Excerpt from one of the last stories: 

"It all happened last year when my cousin and I tried to unravel the secrets of the supernatural. We thought we could get the dead to help us in our studies as we were doing really badly in our exams" - Dim-witted Deal pg. 139.

The Author Russell Lee likes to comment on every story. This story was definitely a bit scary: maybe exam pressures are way higher in Singapore than in Su: alamak, I would never go to supernatural lengths, man.

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True Singapore Ghost Stories vol 8 by Russel Lee! 

I love these books and very sad that the library does not have the other volumes. I would definitely recommend picking this up for a read or if you want to question every sound and bump in the night and just increase your anxiety just a bit.



The cover design actually has a skull imprint on it that I didn't even notice.




_9/10

Guest Review: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

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“It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime." 

Amir is the son of a wealthy Kabul merchant, a member of the ruling caste of Pashtuns. Hassan, his servant and constant companion, is a Hazara, a despised and impoverished caste. Their uncommon bond is torn by Amir's choice to abandon his friend amidst the increasing ethnic, religious, and political tensions of the dying years of the Afghan monarchy, wrenching them far apart. But so strong is the bond between the two boys that Amir journeys back to a distant world, to try to right past wrongs against the only true friend he ever had.

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

A sweeping story of family, love, and friendship told against the devastating backdrop of the history of Afghanistan over the last thirty years, The Kite Runner is an unusual and powerful novel that has become a beloved, one-of-a-kind classic.

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My thoughts:

When I started this book, I knew something horrible was coming. So I didn’t rush to read it quickly. After reading the part I was dreading, I felt so emotionally exhausted and sad. 

The rape, the war, the deaths. At one point I stopped reading because I just wanted Amir to go find Hassan. To see him and reconcile. It broke my heart when I read what happened to Hassan. Losing a loved one while reading this book, made it even harder to finish it. 

The day after we buried my beloved uncle, I finally finished and felt at peace. Reading this book, I shed a lot of tears. I am grateful every day that I have a safe place where I can eat and sleep comfortably. This book made me realize not everyone is as fortunate as I am.

favourite quote:

"For you, a thousand times over." 

_8/10

GUEST REVIEW BY CLARA ROWLKIN

Review: Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

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Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet.

So begins this exquisite novel about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favourite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that she will fulfil the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling them into chaos. 

A profoundly moving story of family, secrets, and longing, Everything I Never Told You is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait, uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another.GOODREADS

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I'm gonna start off by admitting that I picked this book because of the cover and the synopsis about a Chinese  American family.  A family of two identities and two generations.  I identified with the expectations from parents to be perfect and the conflicting roles you can feel towards family members. 

The book starts on the day Lydia goes missing, there are some flashbacks to when the parents meet and to an important event and then it all comes together when they find the body and the aftermath of that. This is definitely one of the strong points of the book because it helps build an understanding of each character; especially the parents. Parents expect the best from their kids, they want them to do better and achieve what they couldn't. This is common in Asian immigrant families and this very expectation can be way too heavy sometimes.  

Favourite quote from the book

"If her mother ever came home and told her to finish her milk, she thought, the page wavering to a blur, she would finish her milk. She would brush her teeth without being asked and stop crying when the doctor gave her shots. She would go to sleep the second her mother turned out the light. She would never get sick again. She would do everything her mother told her. Everything her mother wanted"

_8/10 

Review The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Originally published in 1972, William Goldman's delightful, so-called "abridgement" of S. Morgenstern's classic swashbuckling tale of true love and epic adventure, The Princess Bride, has reached an enormous audience, thanks greatly to Rob Reiner's wonderful film version featuring Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Billy Crystal, Andre the Giant, and William Goldman's sharp and vivacious screenplay. If you enjoyed the movie -- and I've never met a person who didn't -- you're certain to treasure this 25th-anniversary edition for many years to come. If you haven't yet delved into its enchanting pages, you'll find it utterly delightful, romantic, and entertaining read. GOODREADS

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I, like many people, have seen the titular movie. Although, I saw it when I was a kid on tv. Much like the child who heard a retelling, I too was exposed to only the movie version. I remembered bits and pieces and for a while, I was under the impression that Inigo Montoya was the man in black. Inconceivable, I know.  

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I was very excited when I found the book at a book market. I snatched it right away. It was a second-hand copy, some of the pages were glued together. I didn't mind, however, while reading the book it broke in half. I was very saddened by this, but I eventually used the half I finished as a bookmark and kept reading. 

From start to finish, it was very much a journey. Nowadays I think reading a book is a bit more predictable; you know what's gonna happen and can recognise the formula in a story. I went in this thinking I already knew what would happen and who the bad guys were and I was pleasantly surprised at the end.  

Of course, all the characters were awesome. I would even go so far as to say that even the villain was intriguing. Definitely a way better villain than Thanos.  My only pet peeve was Goldman interrupting the story sometimes (Hi, it's me, pick up the book and you'll know what I mean. One thing that I have learned by his interruptions and thoughts about the original book, is that I have no interest whatsoever in reading it). 

(Goldman also has a great sense of humour. I'm gonna add this here in case you want to help him stick it to the man)

Favourite quote from the book

"I'm not trying to make this a downer, understand. I mean, I really do think that love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops. But I also have to say for the umpty-umpth time, that life isn't fair. It's fairer than death, that's all."

10_/10

The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop by Lewis Buzbee

In The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop, Buzbee, a former bookseller and sales representative, celebrates the unique experience of the bookstore--the smell and touch of books, getting lost in the deep canyons of shelves, and the silent community of readers. He shares his passion for books, which began with ordering through The Weekly Reader in grade school. Interwoven throughout is an historical account of the bookseller's trade--from the great Alexandria library with an estimated one million papyrus scrolls to Sylvia Beach's famous Paris bookstore, Shakespeare and Company, which led to the effort to publish and sell James Joyce's Ulysses during the 1920s. GOODREADS




The easy way to explain this little book of delight to people is to say, it's a life story about a person who loves books. As a bookworm, reading about another bookworms life, I found it easy to identify with a lot of things. The wonderful sensation of walking into a bookstore, that temptation to rescue a book from a neglected corner, the sense of connection to the other people in a bookstore browsing.  There's just so much, that I don't feel alone in my world. I know there are others like me out there now.

This book was definitely a surprise and went beyond expectations. There are interesting bookish adventure stories that a fellow bookworm can identify with, wonderful tidbits about the book trade and the history of books.  I would like to have my own bookstore in the future so this book was definitely enlightening. The history parts of the book were amazing, I actually found myself chuckling once or twice under my breath ( I was at work).

This is definitely a book you should pick up fellow bookworms.   

The Shadows by J.R Ward

Trez “Latimer” doesn’t really exist. And not just because the identity was created so that a Shadow could function in the underbelly of the human world. Sold by his parents to the Queen of the S’Hsibe as a child, Trez escaped the Territory and has been a pimp and an enforcer in Caldwell, NY for years- all the while on the run from a destiny of sexual servitude. He’s never had anyone he could totally rely on... except for his brother, iAm.

iAm’s sole goal has always been to keep his brother from self-destructing- and he knows he’s failed. It’s not until the Chosen Serena enters Trez’s life that the male begins to turn things around... but by then it’s too late. The pledge to mate the Queen’s daughter comes due and there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no negotiating.

Trapped between his heart and a fate he never volunteered for, Trez must decide whether to endanger himself and others- or forever leave behind the female he’s in love with. But then an unimaginable tragedy strikes and changes everything. Staring out over an emotional abyss, Trez must find a reason to go on or risk losing himself and his soul forever. And iAm, in the name of brotherly love, is faced with making the ultimate sacrifice... GOODREADS

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It's been a long time since I've actually been engrossed in a book. A very long time. I'm happy to say that The Shadows was such a good read, so good it reminded me of not only why I so much adore the Black Dagger Brotherhood series but also reading. I was drawn in by the very first chapters, with the simplistic and enjoyably gangsta writing of the Warden. The references to pop culture, the brothers!, especially Rhage. The set up for Ward's upcoming spin-off series, Legacy, centring around the training of new recruits and more of the brothers, as we knew them from the earlier books. 

I was excited that there was a new book coming out because it was a BDB book and not so much because of iAm and Trez. I liked these characters before, but I didn't like the set up in The King (DNF). However, I was very surprised by The Shadows. I loved how there wasn't too much of a spotlight on the back-story, it was done in even portions spread throughout the book. Trez and Selena's story was already set up in The King ( I think), so things pick up very fast and progressed nicely. Although, if this was solely a Trez-Selena love story the book wouldn't have been as enjoyable. It would have been your cliche lover-dying-of-deathly-sickness-story. There was a lot going on in the background with the other characters and, iAm, which made this so amazing.

There were less Lesser-centered conflicts. I like the Lessers as the main villains in the BDB universe, but I found them to have had a too much of a big role in previous books. I'd rather focus on the Brothers than have to be in the minds of dumb evil Lessers because clearly, they're less fun. The Shadows has successfully used the Lessers as a villain without having to give them too much attention.

We also see a mutiny take place in the Band of Bastards (BoB). A failed mutiny, Throe tries to undermine and take over the BoB by arguing that their leader, Xcor has become weak. I.e. Xcor has become whipped because he has become infatuated with a Chosen (Layla). Xcor is very impressive when he tells his men they can choose between him and Dumbass Throe, which to his surprise they all choose to stay with Xcor. This was a nice scene because maybe it means the BoB are turning into good guys ( anti-heroes?). Seeing as Xcor now recognizes Wrath as a democratically chosen leader and no longer wants to take over the throne.  Throe, on the other hand, defecting means we have a new villain (which I highly think is a possibility, the dude is up to no good).

Hollywoooooodddd yeah! Any self-respecting BDB fan loves Rhage. Dude can turn into a dragon and I bet since Lover Eternal, you haven't looked at a tootsie roll the same way. Rhage is experiencing panic attacks and what I think could be PTSD ( then again I'm pretty sure they all have PTSD). What made this all the more interesting was that Trez and Selena's situation resembled his and Mary's. and V and Jane's situation, but could end up like Tohr's and Wellsie. Rhage is having difficulties dealing with all of this and feeling guilty. Feeling bad that this is happening to people he cares about, wishing they can also have a miracle happened to them as it did for him and Mary. But relieved it's not him, which makes him feel guilty. This is great! horrible, yeah for Rhage, but great. I felt like the other similar stories were addressed because as a reader I felt like Trez and Selena's story had already been done. However, I didn't expect the ending to their story.

In the end, it seemed more like iAm's story, even though the bulk was focused on Trez and Selena's romance.  It was a sad ending, I didn't cry but I was moved.....a tiny bit.

Note, Lassiter !! I luv him! He's amazing and the banter between Lassy and the brothers delivers as always.

What are you doing ? Go read this one now!

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Far in the future, the World Controllers have finally created the ideal society. In laboratories worldwide, genetic science has brought the human race to perfection. From the Alpha-Plus mandarin class to the Epsilon-Minus Semi-Morons, designed to perform menial tasks, man is bred and educated to be blissfully content with his pre-destined role.

But, in the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre, Bernard Marx is unhappy. Harbouring an unnatural desire for solitude, feeling only distaste for the endless pleasures of compulsory promiscuity, Bernard has an ill-defined longing to break free. A visit to one of the few remaining Savage Reservations where the old, imperfect life still continues, may be the cure for his distress…GOODREADS





O brave new world !? No, no thank you. I'd much prefer this cruel and horrible reality than be cowardly. Brave New World and 1984 have always been two books on my TBR list that I've thrown in the same category; not even having read them yet. I expected to enjoy 1984 more than Brave New World, however, Brave New World turned out to be easier and more engaging than 1984 ( which I have yet to finish).

The story starts out with an exposition of the laboratory where the mass human capital is produced and more information of how the future society works and is structured. I personally enjoyed these starting chapters, even if some of the science stuff escaped me, The process of producing human beings like that and conditioning them was very sociologically interesting to me. However, the scene where babies were being "conditioned" to hate reading and flowers was disturbing. The entire method used to condition people was disturbing. People are being conditioned to accept their place in society and like it and not want to rise above their stations. To do their jobs, enjoy and buy new things. Work and enjoyment! Everybody belongs to everybody. Individuality isn't allowed neither is monogamy. 

Bernard Marx is our main character at some point this changes to the Savage. Bernard Marx was disappointing, I first thought it would be interesting. He would be a self-aware member of this superficial society, however, that's not the case. Bernard Black is an Alpha, a status that grants him certain privileges but, he's defected. He's shorter than normal alphas and is bullied by other alphas and is not recognized as an alpha by people below him. This has caused him to question things and that makes him self-aware. Then again, if he wasn't defected and treated so unfairly, would he still have become self-aware? This makes him an interesting character. But Bernard after returning from the Savage Reservations becomes popular and receives a lot of attention from his peers. He becomes the alpha he was meant to be. This was disappointing in a way and answers my question, no,  he would not have become self-aware.

Bernard and Lenina go on a trip to the Savage Reservations. Life in the Reservations is supposed to depict the old and imperfect life. The uncivilized life, I felt uncomfortable about this, because it felt a lot like the stereotype people might have of natives and how they're "uncivilized"'.  Even Lenina's reaction to life on the reservation was strongly ethnocentric. This wasn't a shock though, I suppose it is to be expected. The conditions in the Reservation were horrible and don't adequately show what the other imperfect life was really like. I assumed the 'uncivilized'; the opposite would be housed with normal families and traditional cultures. NOT a place that resembles a prison for people who wouldn't confirm. In this place, Bernard finds the Savage, the child of Linda somebody from the civilized world who got stuck in the reservation. Bernard brings the savage back to the civilized world.

Enter the Savage: The Savage is my favourite character and succeeds where Bernard failed. The Savage is a stronger character ( well excluding him being young and having a severe case of blue balls). Him being from the reservation means he was never conditioned in the way Bernard and Co were and was very critical of the Brave new world he was in. The Savage learned to read in the Reservation and he read a lot of Shakespeare. I liked this about the Savage because he used Shakespeare to convey his thoughts, however, this had a downside because when Lenina makes sexual advances to the Savage he reacts badly. He reacts like an idiot, but I suppose only reading Shakespearean plays isn't the right way to form a very strong opinion of women.

The last chapters and the ending were interesting and entertaining. If I were to use one word to describe how the book ends. Well, I'll just say it was a............. tragedy.  


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