Hooked on Books

It's often a trap I always fall into... Pick up any old novel especially the ones that involve crime, mystery well anything practically... I don't drop the book till my eyes are sore realizing that the sun may be about to rise the next day.

Haven't read many books the last couple years, but the books I've read this year have been quite interesting.

This school year's first non-school book I picked up was Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah. Something I picked up on my flight back from Malaysia in November. Extremely quick read finished it in 6-7 hours. A short summary: It's a memoir written of Mah's childhood and youth, the entire story revolves around about her life in Hong Kong when many fled from Guangzhou to Hong Kong. Her life depicted has been very tough facing a stone hard mother who would always favor Mah's step brother and sister. The memoir simply shows the harsh life of a child during that era. For me it was more of a historical read and something to learn more about HK.

The next book I picked out was one written by my tutor, Jason Ng, Hong Kong State of Mind. A collection of his essays varying from his adventures to nearby countries and of course his own reflection of Hong Kong as a whole. His expatriate view of HK is very similar to mine, and evoked some peculiar thoughts about societal life here. Anyway, another great read.

Two or three weeks ago, I picked up Hong Kong Rose by Xu Xi. Thought it would be a good read, again it's memoir, based in a more modern HK. However, I've never actually gotten to finish it. As much as there was a plot and all that, it wasn't a very motivating read. I've read the first 4-5 chapters but there is seemingly no progression in story nor have I seen the conflict. Other than the hinted shadows of Rose's past that plays out in the story with her upper-class boyfriend.

Today, I scored a deal while I was out mailing out something to my friend in Canada. Shocking, snail-mail!! Anyway, it was just in the open area of the mall by my flat. Buy 2 and get the 3rd free. At first, I wasn't very intrigued, I just thought to myself, "Probably some outdated books and in Chinese anyway." Well I was wrong, I took another look and there was a corner of English covers of some bestsellers. Not a huge Twilight fan so I skipped that immediately, I crossed over some Mitch Albom, Malcolm Gladwell. All great authors and books, but not anything I was looking forward to read. Then I came to the non-fiction, looked through the piles then I saw it. Steig Larsson's Millenium series. Something that I've meant to read for a long time but never got to it?

Anyway, I picked it out came up to a total of $160. Which is a crazy deal. I started an hour ago and I'm quite intrigued by the plot. Going to start making up a summer reading list and I need to find a way to get rid of the books at my place that are stacking up. (Knowing HK's flat's sizes, I'm running out of space!)