Thursday Night Shopping

Long time, no post. Can't believe it's March already.

My cousin's birthday is soon and she loves My Little Pony. At least I think she does. She does watch it. During lunch I went to Myer and found this toy. Though I think her favourite might be Twilight Sparkle and not Rainbow Dash. Someone at work said, "Oh, isn't 10 a bit too old for toys?" And I was like NO. Children are growing up way too fast. They need to be kids so toys is it! Oh and bubbles to, just because.



I'm off to Jamberoo this weekend for the cousin's birthday. We were supposed to go 2 weeks ago but we had that horrendous, wet, rainy weekend. But the delay gave me time to properly shop for swimming costumes. I am not a beach person. I can barely swim. So I don't have a swimming costume handy. Last time I had to use it I was in high school. And that was many, many years ago.

I had been to Myer at lunch and when I went again after work the sale swimwear section was much neater and the Miss Shop brand of swimwear had been reduced from $7.50 per separate to $5.00. So I bought a bikini top, bottoms and boardshorts for 15 bucks. So yay for sales! Myer had racks and racks of stuff on sale. But I was there on a mission. Mustn't make any unnecessary purchases.


And then I headed off to Kinokuniya to waste some time before my train ride home and looksies! A signed copy of Coraline. I was so going to buy 2 of them and gift one of them to my cousin but I couldn't justify the expense. I have a habit of overbuying and overgifting when I don't have the means to do that. But yay! Signed book!



So yep. Shopping. Maybe "Thursday Night Shopping" posts will be a regular thing? Maybe. XD

Bossypants by Tina Fey, The Book Depository

I arrived home this rainy Sydney day to find a package from The Book Depository (www.bookdepository.co.uk). We all know that books in Australia are majorly overpriced and the truth is it is much cheaper for people to buy books (as well as many other things) online. I haven't bought books online before. I usually go to a book store, sigh and fork over the money for the book. I remember when books were much cheaper. They were right? Since when was the starting price of a book like over $10 or $15?

I chose to buy off Book Depository because they're cheap and have free shipping. Yes. Free shipping. I wonder how they make a profit?

I ordered it on the 21st February, the book was dispatched on the 24th and was in my hands by the 29th.

I love 30 Rock. Love it so much and as a result I think Tina Fey is amazing. When she released this book I wanted to buy it straight away but I think it must have been in the $20 dollar plus range when it came out and I just didn't buy it. (It's still $32.99 at Dymocks). But Bossypants came up somewhere on the website with that low price tag ($10.50) and I could justify purchasing it to myself even though I have many books that I still have not read (I'm looking at you 1Q84). XD





So I'm going to enjoy reading that sometime this week before all the uni readings pile up. Or maybe this is how my uni readings pile up ...

9 to go

Day 2 of shopping. Wandered during the break between classes. Dropped by There Zakka on Quay Street. It's a cute little store with things like necklaces, camera straps, bags, pens, cups, notebooks. A whole range of things. Lots of cute little things which I think are from Korea, judging by the writing. I bought the necklace (below) and a "blue celeste" coloured gel ink pen (not pictured and only 99 cents!) I think it's one of those pens that you can use to write on Polaroid and/or Instax films. I have yet to try it but it seems like it could.



Then went to Kinokuniya after class was over today. So many people in the city!



I've been slowly buying one of my cousins Naruto. He gets some volumes on his birthday and then again at Christmas. Kinokuniya didn't have volume 12. Some early bird shoppers took it! On the shelf there was a quite a jump from volumes between about 13 to then 55 or something, from memory. So, I guess lots of people had bought all the ones in between.




Bought Looking for Alaska for myself. I don't really know what it's about but I've heard of it and seen quotes from it on tumblr. I still haven't finished/started 1Q84 yet either. An assessment is coming up soon so probably now is not the best time to be starting to read non-essential materials.

As I was searching through the bags that we usually keep all the ribbons and stickers for Christmas presents and stumbled across some old photos and some postcards.



This is from a Melbourne trip from years and years ago. I forget which year. 2006, me thinks. My dad had gone overseas and I just planned to go to Melbourne, with friends, without telling anyone except my brother. My dad took the digital camera with him and so I had to make do with disposable film cameras for the whole trip. I love going on the Neighbours tour. I love going to the street. I love it. I love riding on the mini-bus with mostly British/European backpackers. It's much more fun that you'd think because it's something that you only see on TV, usually. It's so much smaller in real life too. I also recommend the Neighbours trivia night. Alcohol, trivia, backpackers and a few Neighbours actors. A surprisingly fun night out. I've been on the tour and the trivia night twice. Great fun both times!



And some postcards from 2009. Bought but never sent. I thought the photos were really pretty and I didn't want to give them to anyone. So selfish. Might frame them. Ah, I want to go again! I wrote a whole list of the things that I wanted for Christmas but I decided all I really want is money to help be save up from a trip to Japan next year. Things. I don't really need things. There's this tumblr post, that I can't find at the moment, that says something along the lines of "life experiences brings more happiness than things". It was probably phrased better but that was the gist. And I tend to agree. So, no things. I want money so I can have life experiences.

Apparently there's good stress, eustress, and that's kind of what Christmas is to me. I kinda like that feeling.

Sleep then more shopping when I wake up. Fun fun :D

Now reading ...

I've been waiting for free time to read for fun. About to start reading 1Q84. I bought it today for $29.95 from Kinokuniya in The Galeries Victoria, Sydney. It looks much better with the jacket cover. I don't like the cover of this version. Some of the overseas versions are much prettier.





Anyone have any book recommendations? I still have A Game of Thrones sitting unread on my shelf.

Because I had 2 hours free yesterday

I had 2 hours to kill yesterday so I headed to Kinokuniya because Twitter had reliably informed me that there was a sale on comics and manga because of the awesomeness that is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY this Saturday (7th May). I purchased GANTZ vol. 6 ($13.36 with 20% off, $10.69) and Superman: Earth One ($23.62 with 20% off, $18.90). So, all in all, $29.59. Buying manga is usually quite expensive so to buy manga at almost 10 bucks a piece is just amazing. Might make the most of it and buy some more!

Oh, how  I missed Superman. I remember seeing a post on LiveJournal about this new RPattz-like Superman. I read this last night, or rather this morning, and I think that my thoughts on this deserve a post of their own.

After purchasing my stuff from Kinokuiya I made my way to the Starbucks at Cockle Bay Wharf. On the way there I reached Clarence Street and spotted Maruyu Yumehiroba, that's the name that appears on my receipt. For simplicity, Maruyu. I first heard or rather read about it on Jennifer Lam's blog at this post. It's a $2.50 shop similar to 100 yen shops in Japan.

There are two levels. Downstairs is basically a convenience store. Firstly, let me say, the interior has much to be desired. The floor is made of old carpets and mats that smell like something familiar I just can't place. But that aside, it has a variety of Japanese snacks and drinks. I didn't really check prices because I wasn't there for food. Upstairs was the actual $2.50 store that I wanted to visit. It was smaller than what I imagined it would be and not everything is $2.50. I think I spied a 40-something dollar Hello Kitty umbrella. There was a variety of household items, kitchenware, random Hello Kitty and Pokemon products. There were also cosmetics but those weren't $2.50. They had Gatsby hair products for around 20 bucks. I spotted some Naive products, you know the one that Ohno advertises, and was so tempted. There's hair dye, false eyelashes, lip gloss and nail polish. I think, post-exams, I'll make a trip and get that Naive facial wash and some moisturiser if it's cheaper than AKA Cosmetics. XD

I felt really bad wandering around, alone, for what felt like forever so I purchased a $2.50 Charming Kitty Hand Mirror by Sanrio. Can never have too many mirrors.

Quick note about Starbucks, Cockle Bay Wharf. I think it's very pretty and clean inside compared to other Starbucks in Sydney. No wi-fi, I think, because I tried. Not as cramped as the others too. Still a bit noisy though but that really can't be helped. People are generally kinda loud when they're all talking at the same time. XD

So yeah ... XD

Happy Friday, you guys!

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay

I finished this while sipping coffee in Market City. As I was getting to the last few chapters and pages I SO WANTED TO CRY. I was on the verge of tears and kept on fidgeting so I wouldn't cry.

I got through this trilogy SO FAST. You get caught up in this world and Collins' cliffhangers just makes you keep reading and the result is that you plough through this trilogy in less than a week. I read this instead of my uni readings this week. YEAH.

Longer post later. Need food.

READ THIS TRILOGY.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Self, you suck at being a law student.

So, instead of sleeping last night I spent most of it devouring Catching Fire the second book in Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games trilogy. Damn book and cliffhangers hanging at the close of every chapter. Not just that, I read Mark's recap/reviews after every chapter I finished. I finally got to sleep around 6am since my eyes would not stay open any more.

Collins' writing has improved but still flawed in some parts, like she doesn't know how to express some parts or convey them well enough that she just tries to get past them as quickly as possible. This is such a better book than the first. Since the world has already been established it's much more fun to just jump straight into the action rather than building up to it and explaining and introducing many other things.

Storywise it's kind of amazing. Fast-paced (sometimes rushed) and unpredictable. Unputdownable too. Obviously, since I DIDN'T REALLY SLEEP. I can't believe it took me a while to start reading this. I have uni tomorrow and I don't know if I can do my uni readings and finish the last book.

TEAM PEETA, by the way. XD

Also, not much of a review or post or whatever. But words fail me. >.<

The Hunger Games: Book One

So I finally finished it despite buying the trilogy in mid-February. When I say "finished" I mean just the first book. I'm sort of upset with who was cast as  Katniss in the film version of this book. I think an unknown or lesser known actress would have been better. The actress (her name escapes me and I don't care enough about her to look it up) reminds me of Spencer Pratt's sister. The one from that reality TV show. I cannot unsee that and I feel that will ruin my enjoyment of the film version. There are some really spectacular moments in this book, that if shot properly, would be such an amazing visual spectacle.

It took me a while to get into reading it properly. It didn't engage me right away. Like that first chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone though not as tough to get through as that. You're introducing the reader to a different world and sometimes in the process of doing that, well, it gets boring. The writing gets better as the novel continues. At first, there was something so impersonal about the narration but then you get used to it or the writing gets better. I didn't like Katniss straight away either. She felt too Mary-Sue-ish and kind of oblivious in that heroine way. But I'm glad she was capable and not completely dependent on other characters. At times I thought the gender roles to be very reversed which amused me muchly. A very strong female lead. Very grateful for that.

I got some Battle Royale flashbacks as I read it. I think Japanese filmmakers have the sensibility to take a deadly survival game and make it more than just an action flick. American filmmakers, well, I haven't seen a film equivalent in tone and style as Battle Royale save for the Kill Bill films but those are likely the exceptions rather than the rule.

I didn't know who was the male lead in this series as we're introduced to Gale first then Peeta. Oh, and this book does some wonderful fanservice. Like something out of a shoujo manga, I felt, sometimes, which is a good thing.

AND PEETA. Another fictional character that has ruined me for men that actually exist (the others include Mr Darcy from Pride and Prejudice like you didn't know and Sawada Shin from Gokusen).

I want to get a start on reading the second book but tomorrow's Monday and I have uni stuff to read. BOO.

Ilustrado - Miguel Syjuco

More than anything this book makes me want to write again.

Without revealing what happens it was an interesting narrative style to take. I remember being told in a creative writing class one day that to switch between different persons (like from 1st to 3rd) would not work. That the technique is more confusing. I thought it worked for my particular short story but he was the teacher and the expert. But looking at the writing style of Syjuco I feel that it's okay to take liberty with the way you write. There is no one way to tell a story. You can experiment. Tell and write the story how you like and the reader will follow you. Because the reader isn't stupid and to treat them like one ... well, that's stupid.

What can I say about the book itself that isn't too revealing? First of all, I have got to Google all these people to see if they're real or not. If the events happened or not. Blending of fact and fiction was just too convincing. It was interesting to see another point of view of the Philippines. I only have the one perception of it - mine. And mine was that there is such a divide between the rich and the poor. That change doesn't seem to be happening any time soon. That there is a lot to fix and it does seem such a monumental task that it may be hopeless.

"Ilustrado" explores such perceptions as well as suggesting that for change to occur it is up to each one of us. To have hope and do anything, even a small thing, because it makes a difference.

The passages in the novel about the arrogance of the upper class were really irritating to read. That's probably what Syjuco intended. I'm not upper class at all so to read about all of these advantages and privileges of the elite is just reminds me of the gap between the have and have-nots. Moreover, this new breed of Philippine elite - the beautiful and the rich - somehow seems so much removed from the reality that is the Philippines.

• Another article with Miguel Syjuco: An Expatriate Filipino Writes of a Parallel Life.

First book of the year: Ilustrado - Miguel Syjuco

The first book I'm going to attempt to read this year is "Ilustrado". I was randomly linked to an interview that featured Miguel Syjuco. It was a really smart interview and he had some pretty interesting things to say (Interview with The Australian and with TIME). A quote from The Australian interview:

In The Philippines, English is the language of education, government and the elite social strata to which Syjuco belongs -- he admits that his Tagalog, the language of the masses, is "embarrassing, conversational", if that.

When I read that I thought, "That is so me." When I was in the Philippines for holidays last year I spoke in English the whole time. I could understand more than I could speak. But speaking in English just gives me away (ie. they'll know I'm a tourist).

From the blurb:

ILUSTRADO opens with Crispin Salvador, lion of Philippine letters, dead in the Hudson River. His young acolyte, Miguel, sets out to investigate the author's suspicious death and the strange disappearance of an unfinished manuscript - a work that had been planned not just to return the once-great author to fame but to expose the corruption behind the rich families who have ruled the Philippines for generations.

To understand the death, Miguel scours the life, charting Salvador's trajectory via his poetry,interviews, novels, polemics and memoirs. The literary fragments become patterns, becomes stories, become epic: a family saga of four generations tracing 150 years of Philippine history forged under the Spanish, the Americans and the Filipinos themselves. Finally, we are surprised to learn that this story belongs to young Miguel as much as to his lost mentor and we are treated to an unhindered view of a society caught between reckless decay and hopeful progress.

This is Miguel Syjuco's debut novel and from all the reviews I've read thus far - it's a good one.

Having grown up in Australia I have very little knowledge about the history of the Philippines. It's not something that you study at school. Good books on Philippine history are rare so I think this would be a good chance to learn something.

I originally bought this book as a Christmas present. It wasn't for anyone in particular but I thought it'd be a good gift. In the end we bought 2 too many presents and this was leftover so I got to keep it for myself. I wrapped it and everything.

Finally have some sort of little break from summer school (not really. I'm pretty sure I have something due soon but I need to read something that is not law related or I think my brain might just die).

I think I ended up reading maybe 5 books last year. Maybe. Not a lot. I have a lot of books I want to read this year. Let's hope I have the time!