Another book on Paris and you would think "Ah, another book waxing lyrical on this overrated city". Not entirely in Lebovitz' recount on his food adventures in France though. He offers an offbeat and hilarious insight (interspersed with recipes!) from the questionable mannerisms of the Parisians to its delicious delicately-made confectionaries, allowing readers an honest … Continue reading The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz
Category: books
My Favourite Bookshop Booked Out
I swung by Booktique yesterday before it closes its chapter at Citylink Mall. I joined my friend and her colleagues from Ethos to surprise Anthony in his bookshop. It was a bittersweet feeling as I looked around the cosy, welcoming space for one last time. The walls and shelves of books were witness to my … Continue reading My Favourite Bookshop Booked Out
Quiet by Susan Cain
A book about introverts and how we function. This book is everything for an introvert like I. Well-researched and easy to read (there are even surveys for you to find out where you fall in the introvert scale). A great book for introverts to embrace introversion in its full glory and feel less alone in a … Continue reading Quiet by Susan Cain
Pilgrimage by Isa Kamari
What I find unique about this book of poems is that it's bilingual - the English translation of the puisi (poem in Malay) is available right beside. I enjoy reading some of the puisi about Umrah (or lesser pilgrimage), some of which I resonate with, but I must admit that the English translations for some of it is underwhelming - … Continue reading Pilgrimage by Isa Kamari
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
Murakami, like sushi, green tea, and all things Japanese, is an acquired taste (to me, at least). I started out with Norwegian Wood (didn't quite like it), then to After Dark (not bad, one of my favourites!), dived head first without warning into Kafka On The Shore (because too many crazy metaphors and magical realism which slightly … Continue reading What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
A Commentary on Ibn Taymiyyah’s Essay on The Heart by Dr Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
A light and essential read on the heart which clearly explains the function and purpose of a heart and how we as Muslims are supposed to safeguard it. I think there are many books currently that address the purification of the heart and soul, but I personally enjoy this one where it heavily emphasizes the … Continue reading A Commentary on Ibn Taymiyyah’s Essay on The Heart by Dr Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami
I can't quite put a finger on what it is about this book that I'm enchanted by - the colourful and quirky graphics, the fact that it all happened in the library aka my favouritestest place in the world, the fact that I could finish reading the book in less than an hour or the … Continue reading The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami
A Temporary Gift by Asmaa Hussein
I hold this book close to my heart. Asmaa lost her husband in a protest in Egypt to a senseless army sniper. The traumatic incident pushed Asmaa to pour out her thoughts and reflections in navigating through her emotion of shock, loss, and all the feelings that come after. She writes about the love of … Continue reading A Temporary Gift by Asmaa Hussein
The Sound of Sch by Danielle Lim
The Sound of Sch will let you in on the realities of mental illness, addressing the social stigma associated with it. Danielle witnessed how her uncle's life went on a downward spiral after being diagnosed with schizophrenia. The words move so softly and achingly, like the emotions embedded in the story; the use of the … Continue reading The Sound of Sch by Danielle Lim
The Hapless Teacher’s Handbook by Phil Ball
How else do I describe this book other than HILARIOUSLY APT. This autobiographical account follows a fresh English major who has no clue what to do with his degree and so decided to enrol himself in PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) which is the equivalent of Singapore's PGDE. He talks about the horrors of … Continue reading The Hapless Teacher’s Handbook by Phil Ball
The Book Jacket 