Daniel's top 5 favorite movies of 2017

  2018 is waiting to greet us with a big hug. 

Huray! 

It is the time to list my top 5 favorite movies of 2017. A lot of interesting movies were released this year; some movies were really good, while some movies were outright terrible (yes, I am looking at you, Transformers 5). However, 2017 is also the year of divisive opinions, where the audiences were divided into either loving, or hating, some major blockbusters. For example, just look at all the talks surrounding Star Wars The Last Jedi; the critics love it, but the audience hate it.

Anyway, none of the movies on my top 5 list has caused divisive opinions. And so feel free to read on because there could be a few movies on this list that you haven't seen yet. If that is the case, then you might want to surf the wave of the holiday season and check them out.

As usual, I compiled this top 5 list based on my opinions. In other words, while these 5 movies may not be the most well made movies of 2017, but I chose them because every single film here has touched me in one way or another.

Without further delay, allow me to unveil the list.

Number 5:

Get Out 

Genre: Horror/Satire

Get Out is a horror movie without ghosts or monsters. "Huh? Do you mean, it is a thriller?" Well, I suppose this movie can also be categorized as a thriller. I don't want to give the story away, so let me just say in Get Out, a white girl takes her black boyfriend home to meet mom and dad, and then things became REALLY weird. Speaking of plot twists, Get Out was full of it. While I was watching this movie, every time I thought the story was going one way, it would suddenly do a plot 180 and take me by surprise. This movie was also packed with a healthy dose of suspense. The whole time, I was worrying for its protagonist. There was a real sense of danger in this wonderfully executed film. Furthermore, Get Out is also a social commentary and it is humorous! What is it commenting on? Well, check out this movie and see it for yourself.

Number 4:

IT

Genre: Horror/Drama

No cinematic experience can match the thrills of a good remake, of the most horrifying movie from your childhood. At the tender age of 10, I watched the 1990 TV adaptation of IT. The result? I developed a phobia of clowns and bathroom sinks, a fear that only went away when I turned 11. In 2016, the announcement came, about a new movie adaptation in the making, and it got me really excited.

On the day this movie came out, I bought the ticket and walked gingerly into the cinema to confront the nightmare from my childhood – Pennywise the Dancing Clown. This time around, however, the movie did not scare me at all and it was a blast! This movie, a true Stephen King adaptation, is an interesting mix between Stand By Me and Nightmare on Elm Street. The stars of this movie were the kids; it is a story about growing up and confronting your worst fear. While Pennywise was terrifying, but even if they remove the evil clown and so the movie was only about the kids, it would still be just as good. If you haven't seen IT, then make sure to check it out.

Number 3:

Logan

Genre: Superhero

Every good story must have an ending. The problem with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is that it doesn't end!

Therefore, out of all superhero movies that came out in the last 5 years, Logan is the most important of them all. Why? Because Logan gave us, the audience, something we deserve – an ending.

Hugh Jackman's performance in Logan is phenomenal. This movie, heart rending and emotional, is about redemption. It brought the story of Wolverine, a most beloved character in X-men, to a fitting and moving conclusion. There is a (very) slight pacing issue with this movie, but overall the actions were great, its characters were memorable. From the start to the finish, this movie was compelling. Logan is perhaps my favorite superhero movie just after The Dark Knight.

Number 2:

War for the Planet of the Apes

Genre: Science fiction

In 1968, a very influential movie graced the science fiction genre. Starring Charlton Heston, Planet of the Apes featured a mind-bending story about a planet, where the hierarchy between human and apes, were reversed; apes were in charge and humans were caged animals. To this day, Planet of the Apes remains one of my favorite sci-fi movies of all time. But how did the apes become the dominant species on earth? Director Matt Reeve made a prequel trilogy to explore the origin for Planet of the Apes, and this is one of the most satisfying movie trilogy on the market.

This trilogy is about the story of Caesar, a charismatic leader of the apes. In War for the Planet of the Apes, Caesar's story arc came to a soul-stirring conclusion. The special effects in this movie were breathtaking. I would half-jokingly say, the apes in this movie looked more lively than the real apes! Some people have complained about the movie's slow pace and lack of actions. Well, despite its title "War" for the Planet of the Apes, this is actually a character driven story, not an action-packed war movie. For me, I love this movie because it is an emotional story about forgiveness, tolerance, and redemption. Now that the trilogy is completed, it occupies a seat in my list of top 10 movie trilogies of all time.

Number 1:

The Disaster Artist

Genre: Biography/Comedy/Drama

The Disaster Artist is a movie about the making of The Room, arguably the worst movie ever made. 

James Franco played Tommy Wiseau, and this is perhaps his best performance yet. The Disaster Artist didn't just make fun of Tommy Wiseau. Instead, this movie is about one man's determination to turn his dream, of making his own movie, become a reality (even if his movie turned into the worst movie ever made). Admittedly, I did not expect The Disaster Artist to be deep or meaningful prior to its release. However, when the credit started rolling on the silver screen, I realized this movie surpassed my expectations; it was funny, heartbreaking, but also inspiring. It stole the top spot on my list of favorite movies of 2017.

A Book Review: Dancer's Lament by Ian C. Esslemont (Path to Ascendancy #1)

Dancer's Lament, written by Ian C. Esslemont, returned me to the beloved world of Malazan. What is Malazan? This is an epic fantasy series created by two Canadian authors, Steven Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont. The world, and the story of Malazan defy the tropes in fantasy. Erikson's works, Malazan Book of the Fallen, is a titan consisting of 10 books, and it told a powerful story about compassion, and the problem of suffering; if there is such a thing as "War and Peace of the fantasy genre", then this is it. As an avid reader of the fantasy literatures, I consider this critically acclaimed series, the most important books ever written in the genre and it is my favorite series of all time.

The co-creator of Malazan is Ian C. Esslemont (who authored a 6 book series called Malazan Empire), but I have never read his books. During a visit to my local book store, however, I chanced upon Dancer's Lament. The book arrested my attentions. After a glance through the book blurb, I discovered that Dancer's Lament is the first book in a prequel trilogy to Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series.

A preqeuel trilogy? Count me in!

I purchased Dancer's Lament and took it home with me. I set my eyes on the opening paragraph, and I was hooked instantly. Dancer's Lament is not an easy book to read, yet I read the most of it during the weekend nevertheless. Esslemont's writings differ vastly to Erikson's own, but I like it. Out of all the fantasy novels I read this year, Dancer's Lament may be the most satisfying one yet.

Synopsis:

The story is set on the continent of Quon Tali. Regional powers divided this land following generations of warfare. At the onset of a border war, an young assassin known as Dorin ventured into the powerful city state of Li Heng. Dorin has two agendas on his mind. Firstly, he wished to establish his name in a big city as the best assassin of his time. Secondly, he is hot on the trail of a Don Hon mage, a little fellow called Wu, who seemed immune to Dorin's stabbing blade. These two young men, whose fates entwined, plotted a scheme to take over Li Heng from the ruling hand of a powerful sorceress known as the "Protectress". Meanwhile, the Quon Tali Iron Legion laid siege to the city.

Chaos ensued, it is the stuff of cloak and dagger, magics, and knife fights. Or, as Wu would say, it is also a time for... opportunities.

My thoughts on this book:

Those who have read Malazan Book of the Fallen will spot easter egg galore in Dancer's Lament. Unlike Erikson's books which usually have dozens of POV characters, Dancer's Lament only has 4 to 5 POV characters. Lengthwise, Dancer's Lament counted to a reasonable 400 pages, where Erikson's books are usually 1000+ pages each. In other words, Dancer's Lament is a lot easier to read than Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Esslemont also writes his book differently to Erikson; where Erikson dived deeply into philosophy and economy, Esslemont focused more on the storytelling instead. I like Erikson's books and Esslemont's prequel trilogy equally, for each has his own voice and style.

This book is set in a city called Li Heng. While this name may invite one to guess that the story's setting is pseudo Asian, but that is far from the truth. I can not relate the cultural setting in this book to any known culture in our world, or with the world from any other fantasy book. This is because the worldbuilding in this book is unique. Malazan is renowned for its detailed and revolutionary worldbuilding. Its scope is breathtaking. If you think George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire is epic, then wait until you read Malazan. Its world, and the story, are spanning across 4 continents, each continent and its people is abundant with lores and history. When it comes to races, there are really interesting ones in Malazan. You won't see the elves, dwarves, or halflings in Malazan. Instead, Malazan offers fascinating races that stretch the boundary of imaginations. Furthermore, in Malazan, you also won't find the pseudo European setting typical in most Tolkienesque fantasy books. No, every culture in Malaz is one of a kind. Despite its alienness, however, the world of Malazan is also believable, rich, and lively. I think the rich and original worldbulding in Malazan is due to Erikson and Esslemont's trainings, where both authors are archeologist as well as anthropologist.

Dancer's Lament cast Dorin as the main character. It is no universal secret that Dorin's partner in crime, Wu, would later become the founder of the Malazan Empire; where Wu is to become emperor Kellavend, and Dorin would become Dancer, the chief advisor to Kellavend. But somewhere down the line, this duo would advance in their careers to become gods, and therefore key players in Malazan Book of the Fallen series. So how did it all happen? How did a vagabond mage and a penniless assassin found an empire and then ascended to become gods? This book narrated the duo's humble origins, and the misadventures which paved the way to their ascendancy. Writing a prequel can be tricky. In the prequel, the author has to make sure the characters are consistent with the original series, as well as being reflections of their younger selves. In Dancer's Lament, Esslemont did a sterling job at maintaining the continuity of characterizations. In this book, Dorin and Wu were inexperienced and ambitious, but I also saw the personality traits in them, the traits that marked them as Contillion and Shadowthrone in Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Of the duo, Wu is eccentric, his overly ambitious schemes often landed them in the deep ends of trouble, making the partnership between Wu and Dorin uneasy, but also humorous.

In this book, the story's focal point was Dorin and Wu's plan to take over the city. This story was quite complex, it involved stratagems and shady dealings with the criminal underground. Despite its intricate plotting, the storytelling was seamless and exciting. I did not experience a second of boredom while reading this book. Every intrigue was accompanied by fast-paced action scenes that left me sitting at the knife's edge. Speaking of actions, this book had it all; from knife fights on the rooftops, assassinations in the shadowed back alleys, siege battles, to warring mages hurling explosive magics and wrecking havocs. I think Esslemont is a master at writing the action scenes, while his depictions are not as detailed as Erikson's, but Esslemont wrote his action scenes, fiery paced, with lots of thunder.

Aside from Dorin and Wu, Dancer's Lament also featured a cast of supporting characters who were very memorable. For example, I like the Protectress and her five city mages. These characters inhibited a very grim and dark world, but each of these character carried a touch of humor with them, and they were likable. It is also worthwhile to mention, Dassem Ultor appeared in this book. Here, Dassem's career as a remarkable swordsman was just budding at the temple of Hood. Dassem only had a minor presence in Malazan Book of the Fallen series, but he is one of my favorite characters. I am very glad that Esslemont's prequel trilogy is telling the origin story of Dassem. From the look of it, it seems Dassem will take on a major role in the future books and I am very excited about it.

The last 100 pages of this book was a converging event and it was very epic. From there, the book became unputdownable. I let out a sigh of contentment as I flipped over the last page in the epilogue. This is an excellent, action-packed novel that will sate a fantasy reader's hunger for an exciting tale. Veterans of the Malazan world would not want to miss out on this one. On the other hand, I think Dancer's Lament can also be a good starting point for a new comer to this series.

A Movie Review: The Disaster Artist

In 2003, Tommy Wiseau proved to the world, a way to become famous in the arts and entertainment industry is to make a "one of a kind" disaster piece. 

What disaster piece? Have you heard of a movie called The Room? The Room is an independent drama, and it is widely agreed by critics and audiences alike as the worst movie ever made. Today, The Room is a beloved cult classic.

Why would people love a really bad movie? 

Because it is a hella fun!

Although unintentional, but every scene in The Room is wrong; from the narratives, the settings, the directions, to the acting, everything is brilliantly out of whack. Yet, all the "wrongness" in The Room combined in such a miraculous way, to create this indescribable, cinematic experience. Even if you put together, the top ten directors in the world and charge them with a mission to craft a bad movie, the chances of them making a movie as deliciously bad as The Room is like winning the Lotto at the very second of planetary alignment!

If you haven't seen The Room, then you should try it at least once in your life. Really, this movie should be on everyone's bucket list.

The Room is a spectacular disaster and a treasure, but Tommy Wiseau remains a mystery to the legions of fans. You see, in the early 2000s, Tommy Wiseau suddenly appeared out of nowhere, who then took a few million bucks out of his own pocket to make The Room. No one knows where Tommy was born, how old he is, why he speaks with a strange accent, or why his bank account is a bottomless pit (BTW, the man also looks like Count Dracula).

Putting it simply, the guy is a total mystery. That is, until The Disaster Artist hit the cinema this weekend and shed some lights into the story behind The Room's making. And I have to tell you, the story about Tommy Wiseau is even more extraordinary than The Room itself.

Starring James Franco, The Disaster Artist recounts the powerful story behind the making of The Room. Powerful? Yes, I did just use the word "powerful" to describe this movie. While The Disaster Artist is a comedy and abundant with humor, but at its core, this movie is about one man's determination to turn his vision into the reality (even if his vision turned out to be the worst movie ever made).

This movie is funny. When I was watching this movie, my eyes watered and my stomach was hurting from laughing too hard. James Franco did an excellent job at portraying Tommy Wiseau. The moment James Franco appeared on the screen, I thought to myself, "yep, I can believe that man is Tommy Wiseau". The supporting actors and actresses also put up brilliant performances on par with James Franco's own.

The Disaster Artist is a comedy, but underneath the laughters, this movie is heart wrenching and inspiring. Tommy was determined to make his vision come true and he didn't care what other people say to him. This story moved me. I mean, how many of us are letting the fear of failure stop us from doing something that we always wanted to do? Yet, at the same time, this movie also showed the negative side to Tommy's attitude. While it was good that Tommy didn't care about other people's comments, but he overdid it, to the point where he rejected all good advices and constructive criticisms. In this movie, Tommy was the hero, but he was also the villain. This brings up the point, maybe we do need to listen to other people's criticisms of us. But how much should we care? To what extent? I don't know, maybe there is no easy answer to this.

I loved The Disaster Artist. This year is bursting with highly anticipated movies, but my most anticipated movie was this one, and it did not disappoint me. The Disaster Artist is one of my favorite movies of 2017 alongside La La Land, Logan, and War for the Planet of the Apes. I highly recommend this movie.

P.S.

1) You don't need to have seen The Room to enjoy The Disaster Artist.

2) But you really should check out The Room at least once in your life, it is an otherworldly experience; out of space, and out of time.

A Book Review: Unquiet Spirits - Whisky, Ghosts, and Murder by Bonnie MacBird (A Sherlock Holmes Adventure #2)

Two weeks ago, I came upon a book at my local library. The book's cover arrested my attentions; it was white, depecting a faceless man attired in the fashion of the Victorian era. Its title read, "Unquiet Spirits: Whisky, Ghosts, Murder", written by one Bonnie MacBird. A closer inspection at the book revealed it is a pastichie for Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes? I like Sherlocl Holmes. I have never heard of Bonnie MacBird. Yet, I was in the mood for murder mysteries and detective stories. I borrowed the book with no idea of what to expect of it. With the book in my hand, I curled up on my bed and opened it to the first page.

The story opened in December, 1889. Sherlock Holmes just returned to 221B Baker Street after he debunked the "ghostly" hound of Dartmoor. Before boredom found Holmes, a beautiful client came knocking at his door, who then proceeded to narrate a macabre tale of ghosts, kidnappings, and dynamites, all happened at a whisky state in Scotland. Meanwhile, brother Mycroft charged Holmes with an urgent assignment in Southern France, which also concerned the whisky productions. Could there be a connection between the two cases? The clues send Watson and Holmes on an arduous journey, from the sunshine-filled hotels of Southern France, to a haunted estate in the snowy highlands. Along the way, the heroic duo would encounter treacherous rivals, as well as investigating a deadly vendetta rooted in the ghosts of the past. It was to be a journey of whisky, ghosts, and murder. 

Hang on a minute, does Sherlock Holmes believe in ghosts?

What an intriguing premise! Sherlock Holmes, a most rational thinker, meets a claim of the supernatural! From chapter one, this book drew me in. I could not put it down and I read its 500 page contents in 3 sittings. This is a second time I am reading a Sherlock Holmes pastiche, and this book feels like an authentic Sherlock Holmes adventure. The author, Bonnie MacBird, narrated the story in a style very similar to Arthur Conan Doyle. However, where the pacing in the original Sherlock Holmes novels were uneven, Unquiet Spirits told its story at a smooth and exciting pace. This book gave time for its mysteries to develop, but its narratives also sped up and intensified for the actions. The plot was masterfully executed, with many twists and turns waiting to surprise its reader. Furthermore, this book also captured, vividly, the dynamics and the tensions in Watson and Holmes' friendship. In some ways, I like Unquiet Spirits more than the canonical Sherlock Holmes novels.

I don't usually assign a rating to a book in my review. If I were to rate this book, however, then it would easily be 5 out of 5. This book gave me a pleasant surprise. This is why I like visiting the library and just borrow random novels that catch my eyes; among the dusty tomes sitting on the shelf, you never know what exciting adventure is waiting to be discovered. For my next reading adventure, I am tracking down another book in this series titled, "Art in the Blood". Meanwhile, I highly recommend Unquiet Spirits to my fellow readers, especially to those who are fond of Sherlock Holmes and detective fictions.

The Cthulhu Casebooks - Sherlock Holmes and the Shadwell Shadows by James Lovegrove

"The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents."

So wrote, H.P Lovecraft's famous opening line in The Call of Cthulhu. A tale designed to terrify and shatter the mind, The Call of Cthulhu is about the impassive cosmos, the indifference of its eldritch gods, and of our own position therein.

"All right, so the universe doesn't care, what is so horrifying about it?" You said.

I agree. To some, the understanding, that the universe is not designed and therefore indifferent to our existence, is not horrifying but liberating. On the one hand, it frees us from the tormenting questions about the origin of evil, suffering, and the cruelties of these so-called gods; for random chance, is fairer than design. On the other hand, such an understanding inspires us to care more for our fellows and alleviate sufferings, and therefore opening a channel, both rationally and emotionally satisfying, to express our compassionate nature. After all, if there is nothing out there that cares for us, then there is even more reason for us to care for each other.

However, revealing to some, the indifferent nature of the universe, and the cruelty of the so-called gods, may edge them towards insanity and utter despair; especially to those long living with the romantic notion, that everything will be all right because the universe was "meant" to have us in it. The question, is such a pretence beneficial to mankind's collective existence?

Douglas Adams, the author for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, provided some insights:

Quote: "This is rather as if you imagine a puddle waking up one morning and thinking, 'This is an interesting world I find myself in — an interesting hole I find myself in — fits me rather neatly, doesn't it? In fact it fits me staggeringly well, must have been made to have me in it!' This is such a powerful idea that as the sun rises in the sky and the air heats up and as, gradually, the puddle gets smaller and smaller, frantically hanging on to the notion that everything's going to be alright, because this world was meant to have him in it, was built to have him in it; so the moment he disappears catches him rather by surprise. I think this may be something we need to be on the watch out for."

Indeed, if we are not careful, the romantic notion that the universe was designed for us, may yet become the architect of our very own extinctions. So, did Dr. John Watson, and his detective friend Sherlock Holmes, dealt mankind a disfavor when they fabricated the "Sherlock Holmes" stories to shield us from the deadly light of truth, so we may continue to live in the peace and safety of a dark age?

Dear friends, we live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity. Now is the time to voyage far. Now is the time for revelation.

It was in the winter of 1880. An epidemic of insanity assaulted the foggy streets of London. It stripped the city's denizens, men and women, of their wits, and reducing them to gibbering, incoherent, ruins. One ameatur detective, Sherlock Holmes, deduced a connection between the plague and an underground drug lord. During an espionage in a tavern, Holmes encountered and befriended Dr. John Watson. The duo then set out to unveil the criminal motives behind the pestilence in London, but instead they uncovered vistas of terrifying realities...

The above paragraphs are my own attempt to capture the essence, and the mood, for James Lovegrove's novel: The Cthulhu Casebooks – Sherlock Holmes and the Shadwell Shadows. This book is a pastiche to both Arthur Conan Doyle and H.P. Lovecraft stories. It married Sherlock Holmes to Cthulhu mythos, pitting the world's greatest detective (a sceptic) against the supernatural. Does the description interest you? It interested me.

If you are fond of Sherlock Holmes and Lovecraftian horrors, then this book will sate your literary hunger with a plentiful of logical deductions, mysteries, and cosmic horrors. For the book's narratives, the author mimicked the writing styles of Arthur Conan Doyle, while drenching the story with an atmosphere that is almost Lovecraftian. It suffices to say, in this book, the author did a very good job at reconstructing the vibe and the feel of the source materials. However, if you are a purist to the source materials, then you can't help but feel that thematically this book is a piece of fan fiction. Allow me to explain. The book's premise is "Sherlock Holmes vs supernatural". In this book, Sherlock Holmes became a believer of the supernatural, while both Watson and Holmes emerged to be heroes in the end. Yet in the source material, Sherlock Holmes always remained a sceptic even if a case has a strong inclination towards the supernatural (a case in point is The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire). Meanwhile, in Lovecraftian stories, heroes don't exist. The prevalent theme in Cthulhu mythos is this - people who chanced upon the cosmic horror, and come away tormented by the universe's indifference towards mankind's existence.

In other words, this book may have captured the writings of Doyle, and the feel of Cthulhu mythos, but in the process of blending them together to create a new story, the author had to drop the polemic themes from each of the source material – Holmes lost his skepticism, while Cthulhu mythos lost its philosophy about cosmicism.

The purists of Doyle and Lovecraft may find things in this book that irk them. As for me, I am not a purist to these source materials, so this book provided me with hours of fun and entertainment. I enjoyed reading about the mysteries, the actions, the world building, and the deductive prowess of Sherlock Holmes. Will I recommend this book? Yes, definitely. I read this fast-paced book in a few sittings and it was a blast. Those who are interested in mystery, horror, and detective novels may find this book to their likings. 

Stayed tune for my next book review, where I will talk about another Sherlock Holmes pastiche titled, Unquiet Spirits: Whisky, Ghosts, Adventure, by Bonnie MacBird. 

P.S. If you are a fan of Arkham Horror board game, then you will love this novel.

A Book Review: The Eye of the Sheep by Sofie Laguna

  I walked into my book club meeting for October, and the librarian handed me a book called The Eye of the Sheep. Its cover depicted the face of a little boy next to his furry, canine friend.

I thoguht to my self, "What is this?"

I turned the book to its back and read the blurb. At the time I thought the book sounded boring. I came home, set this book on the shelf and forgot about it for the next 3 weeks. As the date for the next book club meeting approached, I gathered this book and thought to myself that I would just skim through it. However, 20 pages into this book, I realized the error of my prejudice - The Eye of the Sheep was in fact, an excellent book and I regretted to having set it aside for so long.

Sofie Laguna, an Australian novelist, wrote this book. It won the 2015 Miles Franklin Award. This is a moving story about how, the effects of domestic violence can pass down from one generation to the next. The story is told from the perspectives of a little boy called Jimmy Flicks.

The story was set in the sunshine state of Queensland, Australia. The time was the early 1980s. Little Jimmy lived in a house with his parents and an elder brother. But Jimmy was not like other boys of his age; he is either too fast, or too slow. Jimmy could not understand the world of the adults, especially why his father was getting so angry with him. Only Paula, Jimmy's loving mother, could manage little Jimmy. She taught Jimmy how to sleep by counting the sheeps, and she steered Jimmy out of his father's way. One day, Jimmy's world crumbled, leaving the little boy on his own to set things right.

The Eye of the Sheep told a riveting story. The author's writings were energetic and effective. The most interesting aspect of the book, I opine, was the way the story presented the views of an autistic boy. I was captivated by the descriptions on how little Jimmy saw the world, and it opened my mind to something that I never thought about before. I used have a flat mate who had severe ADD. Now I wonder how he saw the world and those around him.

Thematically, The Eye of the Sheep explored the tragic effects of domestic violence. In this book, the aftermaths of domestic violence didn't just stop at one generation. No, it passed on to the next generation like ripples in a pond. Minor spoiler: in this book, Jimmy's mother suffered episodes of domestic violence in the hands of her husband. However, this book succeeded in giving each character a rounded portrayal, and it didn't just depict the father as a villain. Instead, the story explained why Jimmy's father was abusive, and it was tragic. This story got me thinking – we really need to be careful about the things we do and say because it is never free; somewhere, someone, will have to pay for our actions and be scarred by it, just as it might go further to hurt those who come after them

During the book club meeting, I expressed my astonishment; although the story was set in the early 1980s (a relatively modern age), but Jimmy's mother endured the abuse in silence nevertheless. My friends at the book club, most of them are ladies and senior to me in age, informed me that in some cases, women would endure domestic violence for the sake of her children. To me, the information was both startling and upsetting. In my opinion, while some traditional views might teach that it is a virtuous act of self-sacrifice for a woman to endure an abusive husband and respond with love, but I think that sort of belief is extremely harmful. It is harmful not only to the victim but also to her children. Why? Because domestic violence traumatizes children, and they carry its shadows with them into their adulthoods and their own family, just like what happened to Jimmy's family in this book. In my opinion, instead of enduring domestic violence, surely it is better to expose it early so the victim and her children can both receive counselling and healing.

I came away from The Eye of the Sheep with a headful of thoughts. I was invested in its characters and I cared for them. Jimmy's story is heart-breaking, but it concluded on a hopeful tone. This is an excellent book and it brings to our attentions, the poisonous effects of domestic violence. I highly recommend this book.

A Book Review: Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

  Among my great discoveries of this year are the books of Carlos Ruiz Zafón. I spent many winter nights curling up on a couch, engrossed by the stories in The Cemetery of Forgotten Books. I like Zafón's writings. His books brought ashore gothic literatures to my reading world. I wanted to read more Zafón. I hunted for his books at my local library, where I found Marina.

Marina's cover depicted a red rose, with a tag line underneath it saying "A gothic tale for all ages". It turned out, Marina is an young adult novel. I am not fond of YA books but I like Zafón. I swiped my library card, and I took Marina home with me.   

What are my thoughts on this book?

Zafón did not disappoint me.

Marina started in the winter of 1979. The city of Barcelona was preparing to rejoice in the festival season. In the heart of the city walked a lonely soul, Oscar Drai, a fifteen year old boy who lived at a boarding school. By chance, Oscar met a girl in a white dress named Marina. She took Oscar to a cemetery, and together they watched a macabre ritual. At exactly 10 am on the fourth Sunday of every month, a coach would bring a woman in black, her face shrouded, to visit an unnamed grave marked only by a strange emblem depicting an opened-winged, black butterfly.

Curiosity drove Oscar and Marina into following the woman in black. Their journey resurrected a forgotten memory from post-war Barcelona; a world of aristocrats, famous actresses, and business tycoons. Meanwhile, a dark secret awaited for them in the tunnels beneath the city streets...

Marina is blend of gothic, romance, horror, and mystery. This book was originally written in Spanish, and translated into English by the poet, Lucia Graves. Admirers of Zafón's works will find many things to like about this book. The writings are fluidic and descriptive, it is properly gothic and very suspenseful. Story wise, this book contains a mystery inside a mystery; the woman in black was a mystery, but Marina also carried a secret of her own. Let me just say, this book delivered a powerful yet unexpected ending that tasted both bitter and sweet. I like this book and its characters, a lot.

I cannot say too much about this book without spoiling the story, so I will stop here. I spent 3 nights with this book and its story captivated me. I think Marina is a good introduction to the literary world of Zafón. If you are fond of mystery, romance, and gothic novels, then make sure to add this one to your list.

A Book Review: Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett (Discworld #23)

Vampires suck. Yet, people are fascinated with them.

Mosquitoes also suck, but on a hot summer night, most people would find mosquitoes annoying than interesting.

Maybe people think vampires are "cool" because they are mysterious, exotic, yet dangerous; the protruding canines, the dark clothes they wear, their pale complexions, and don't forget, the gothic castles they live in. Those things are pretty cool.

But aren't vampires also scared of garlics? Is it cool to fear garlics? Anyway, vampires are usually associated with all the abovementioned things. The question, where will the vampires be without this list of traditions?

"But vampires will never be rid of these traditions", you said.

Well, you are thinking of earth, but I can talking about Discworld, a realm of many possibilities. In fact, on the Disc there is a story called Carpe Jugulum; it is all about the modern vampire's place in the society. Here is how it goes:

A time of enlightenment has descended upon Lancre. The king invited a family of vampires to the naming of the new born princess. The ceremony was to be conducted by a Omnian priest called Mightily Oats.

Hang on, did you say the king invited vampires to his daughter's naming? Who in their right mind would invite vampires?

Well, this vampiric family looked rather normal on the outside. They wore bright clothes, they filed their teeth, and they weren't even afraid of garlics and religious symbols!

But vampires will always be vampires, just because vampires stop living in gothic castles don't mean they won't suck. As soon as they arrived at Lancre, the count and his family cast a hypnotic charm on the whole kingdom so they can suck more (this is the further evidence that people are easily attracted to vampires). Ohhh, big trouble! Fear not, the formidable witches of Lancre, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Agnes Nitt, will save the mountain realm from the vampiric suctions!

In Carpe Jugulum, Terry Pratchett satricited the vampire and gothic literature and the result is hilarious. If you have read, or seen, books and movies such as Twilight then you will appreciate the humor in Carpe Jugulum even more. What makes it even funnier is that this book came out in 1998, which was almost a decade before Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series achieved fame. As usual, Sir Terry's writings are superb, I think he mimicked Edgar Allen Poe's style to create the gothic vibe felt in vampire novels, but on the whole this book is a slapstick comedy. So you can imagine what this book is like. It is something out of this world and it is laugh-out-loud funny.

But every Discworld book is bigger and deeper than the comedy on its surface. Underneath this satire about vampire novels, Carpe Jugulum touched the engaging topic about religion, faith, and modernity. I found it very interesting that only two characters in this book, Agnes Nitt and Mightily Oats, were able to resist the vampire's hypnotic charms. How? I won't spoil it, read this book and find out for yourself.

Theme wise, this book is one of the heaviest in Discworld series. What is the main theme? I think it is about basic morality. Aside from the three witches, the fourth hero in this book is an Omnian priest called Mightily Oats, who entered the story as a priest who was doubting if his faith has a purpose. Initially, the three witches disliked Mr. Oats because his church order had a history of burning people who disagreed with them, witches included. But as the story progressed, Granny Weatherwax and Agnes gradually came to respect him for his decency (and the narratives respected him too). The dialogues between Mr. Oats and Granny Weatherwax were the most profound moments in this book. Eventually, Mr. Oats overcame his crisis of faith and was able to defeat a vampire at the pivotal moment, because Granny Weatherwax (an irreligious witch) reminded him that the problem was never his doubt in his religion, but it was his doubt in humanity and himself that was causing the problem.

However, this theme also raised further questions: Should people always do what their religions tell them to do, or should they do what their inner decnecy tell them to do? And is religious morality compatible with progress at all?

This book touched a handful of topics about religion that reminded me of my own exodus from Christianity; from the schisms within the church, the religious history, to the moral conflicts I always felt about the religious doctrines while I was a believer. But that is enough ranting from me. It suffices to say, while Carpe Jugulum is abundant with humors but it also philosophically heavy. I think this is an excellent book, and what a way for Terry Pratchett to end the witches sub-series.

Until the next time, happy reading!

P.S. "Carpe Jugulum" was thought by Terry Pratchett to mean, "go for the throat".

A Book Review: Maskerade by Terry Pratchett (Discworld #18)

There is a phantom in the opera house!

What phantom? You mean, Gaston Leroux's novel, The Phantom of the Opera?

No no, I am not talking about the phantom in France. I am talking about the phantom who is murdering people in the opera house of Ankh Morpork! Oh, you haven't heard of this one yet. In that case let me tell you a little bit about a book called Maskerade. It is the 18^th installment in the Discworld series. Speaking of which, can we have some dramatic organ music? It would be even more atmospheric to have ever-rising female vocalizations in the background. Oh yes, play the soundtrack from the movie, The Phantom of the Opera. Ah ha, now we have the right ambience.

What is the story about? I don't want to spoil the book too much. Let's just say, in the buzzing city of Ankh Morpork an ex-owner of a cheese factory bought a majestic opera house. To his mind, running an opera house is just letting some people sing on the stage while he sits back and collects the money. How hard can that be, right? Well, this poor man doesn't know, within the walls of the opera house echoes the legend of a phantom, who not only brings luck to the actors and the actresses but also kills people. More recently, this resident phantom is setting loose a murdering spree. It sounds pretty grim, heh? Worry not, because Discworld's greatest witches, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, are coming into town for a night of fun and detective works that will make Agatha Christie proud.

Maskerade parodied The Phantom of the Opera, it poked fun at the world of opera and the high societies. I think this is the funniest (and my favorite) book out of all the Discworld novels featuring the witches. Every bit in this book is comical. Its eccentric characters and their dialogues tickled my funny bone. It is slapstick and I couldn't stop laughing with the story. The previous Witches books were all structured as quest stories set in the countryside, but this book took the shape of a crime thriller set in Ankh Morpork. The worldbuilding in Maskerade is rich and vibrant. This novel reminded me of the City Watch series, which are my favorite books of Discworld.

This book also expanded the character of Agnes Nitt, whose debut in Lords and Ladies was a minor role. I like Agnes and her story. Sir Terry used Agnes' character to touch on the issue of female body image in the entertainment industry. Speaking of the themes, we can always expect a Discworld novel is more than just a parody. In the case of Maskerade, while this book is not as philosophically complex as Small Gods, but it still explores very interesting questions. For example, I particularly liked the theme about masks – like the actors on the stage, we all wear masks to face our surroundings, and each time we face a different situation we put on a different mask. When is the mask on? When is it off? And who is the real you? In this book, I think Nanny Ogg is the only character who doesn't wear any mask. This is also why I like her the best.

Makerade has both style and substance, it reminded me why I fell in love with Discworld at the first place; the humor, the sharp observations about life, and the thought-provoking questions. This book is very different to the Witches book that came before it, and it has to be my top 10 favorite Discworld books.

Until the next time, happy reading.

A Book Review: Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett (Discworld #14)

Have you ever heard of elves?

“Yeah of course, who hasn't?” You said, “Check out The Lord of the Rings, the Elves are beautiful and lovely; the elves are so much better than us and they are like... Lords and Ladies”.

But how do you know the elves are lovely? Have you met them? What if the elves are evil, sadistic bastards?

Ah ha, I see questions in your eyes. There is a book called Lords and Ladies, it is written by Terry Pratchett and it is also the 14^th installment in the Discworld series. What is this book about? On a hot Midsummer Night, the elves broke the barriers of imagination and stepped into the reality. Everyone thought the elves would be nice, but they turned out to be evil, sadistic bastards who like to torture people for fun. After the elves showed up, things quickly went pear-shaped and spooky. Luckily, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Margrat Garlick, three witches who met every Tuesday night, they stood up and took on the elves. But I won't tell you anymore of the story lest I spoil it.

You said, “But Daniel, both The Lord of the Rings and this book are fictions. Elves are fictions. So, what is the point?”

Elves are fictitious, you got that right! Look, aside from the fact that Lords and Ladies is well written, witty, and humorous, but I also think Sir Terry was trying to tell us a thing or two about the danger of myth and the attraction to the unreal. After I read it, I thought the book is trying to tell us that we ought to be more earthy, like Granny Weatherwax, who always plants her foot on earth, then we will discover what appears to be the mundane and the normal in the everyday life are in fact, miracles already and they are worth celebrating; life won't become more fulfilling from chasing the unseen stuff, when we chase air we only end up with more air.

Does this book sound good to you? I think Lords and Ladies is both entertaining and interesting. Read, think, and form your own conclusions. I recommend this book to those who like novels but also looking for something more than just the stories. By the way, Lords and Ladies is also a parody to the Shakespeare’s A Midsummer's Night's Dream. Before you read Lords and Ladies though, you should read the three books preceding it; Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters, and Witches Abroad. Enjoy!

A Book Review: Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett (Discworld #12)

Among the stars that decorate the vast universe swims A'truin the great turtle. Four elephants stand on the turtle's back, carrying a giant disc. Now, don't let any theologian fool you into thinking the world is round! No, instead you should trust the scientists who say the world is as flat as a disc. Indeed, Discworld, the marvel of marvels, is a realm most wondrous, not just on this side or that side of the galaxy, but on all sides of the galaxy!

“Preposterous!” You said.

Well, sorry Mr., Mrs, and Ms, but I beg to differ. You see, I think the proposition about the Discworld is quite possible. Haven't you heard a wise man once said, “If I find myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world”. So, there you go - Since I find myself desiring the marvels of a flat world carried by 4 elephants standing on the back of a giant star turtle, a desire that no experience in this world can satisfy, so the most probable explanation is that I was made for Discworld (i.e. my true home is not this world but the Discworld, it is only intuitive!).

All right, since we have established the reality of Discworld with my intuition and imagination, so it's time to tell you more about it. On the Disc, many things are possible; this is a place where the stories about witches and mirrors are not fairy tales but facts. Indeed, witches, mirrors, and traveling witches, are the stars in Sir Terry Pratchett's novel, Witches Abroad, which is also the 12^th installment in the Discworld series.

Witches Abroad is the 3^rd outing for Terry Pratchett's beloved characters; Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Margrat Garlick. This book parodied the traditional fairy tales, but it also raised the questions - We often tell “stories” to describe the happenings in this world. But stories also turn people into archetypes and branding people according to “sides”. Furthermore, stories give life scripts and then dictating where we should go or what we should do. In other words, can stories account for the individuals? And what happens when a person embraces the power of story too much and subsumes into the identity of an archetype? These are thought-provoking questions, and Terry Pratchett successfully transported his ideas across through this book. Let's just say, he got me thinking.

In terms of storytelling, I found Witches Abroad suffered from an uneven pace. The first half of the book narrated the witches' journey to their destination, which consisted of numerous parodies and references to the classic fairy tales such as; the sleeping beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel, werewolves, and vampires. Sir Terry made sure to add a witty twist to each of these traditional fairy tales and it is quite funny, but I found the first half of the book a bit slow. It was only in the third act of the book when the story suddenly picked up its pace. The book did provide a satisfying conclusion, and I also found the sophisticated theme, about every story must have an ending, to be very powerful.

I have now read three Discworld novels featuring the witches (others being Equal Rites and Wyrd Sisters). Currently, out of the three witches novels, I like Witches Abroad the most. I think this book captured what is great about Discworld; it's about the imaginations, the humors, and how these books are challenging the paradigm of our worldviews.

A Book Review: Origin by Dan Brown

Dan Brown, the king of conspiracy thrillers, is back with his new book, Origin. This is the fifth novel featuring Robert Langdon, Harvard Professor of symbology and religious iconology. Dan Brown requires little introduction because his books are controversial and he sold 200 million copies. So, what is Origin about? There will be no spoiler in my book review but I will tell you the premise. Are you ready? In Origin, Edmond Kirsch, a billionaire and a futurist, made a scientific discovery, and then he told a Bishop, a Rabbi, and a Mullah that the days of religion are numbered.

It would be a lie to say that I did not enjoy reading Origin. This book was a blast to read. It was a page-turner and I read it in the space of 24 hours. Origin is fast-paced and addictive. Pringle's catchphrase describes this book the best, "once you pop, you can't stop". Let me just say, the puzzles in this book intrigued me, and I could not put this book down until I reached the answers to all the mysteries. Having said this, I don't think Dan Brown has improved his writings. He still does that "tourist guide" thing where he drops wikipedia-styled paragraphs in mid chapters and disrupting the narratives. Yet, Dan Brown's strength was never in his writings, but in the sense of mystery that he invoked through the puzzles and the conspiracy theories.

Not many authors can beat Dan Brown at creating puzzles and weaving conspiracy theories, this is his forte and he is as unbeatable as Mike Tyson in his prime. In this book, I was very impressed by Dan Brown's ability to fabricate mysteries and conspiracy theories by stringing together pieces of European arts and scientific theories. This book gave me a feeling that I was reading something that I shouldn't read, it gave me an illusion that I became smarter, a connoisseur of arts and history, from reading it; and I think that is why Dan Brown's novels are continuing to attract millions of readers – his books give you a real sense of suspense and mystery. You can say whatever you want about Dan Brown, but you have to tip your hat to this man for his powerful imaginations.

Structure wise, Origin followed the same formula as its predecessors; Robert Langdon rescued a damsel in distress and together they set out to uncover a secret that will destroy religion. However, Origin is not about pitting science against religion. Instead, the book's main theme is about the role of technology and its impact on the human civilization (which includes religion). This also means, where Dan Brown's previous books were about history, his new book is more about the future. Make no mistake, in Origin Robert Langdon still ran around in cathedrals and underground tombs to decipher codes, so if you are craving for this type of action then this book will give you plenty of it.  

In my opinion, while Origin may not trump Angels and Demons (which is my favorite Dan Brown book), but it is far better than The Lost Symbol and Inferno. In fact, I would go as far as saying that I prefer Origin to The Da Vinci Code. As an entertainment, this book is a success, but it is also asking an interesting question about technological progress, while enquiring about religion's place in a world where science continues to shed light into the deep mysteries previously answered only by religion. Perhaps in the near future, instead of asking "where do we come from and where are we going", we will be asking "where does religion come from, and where is religion going?" 

Origin is unputdownable and it is fun. A word of caution, prepare to lose sleep if you open this book.

A Book Review: The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

In September, my book club read "The Light Between Oceans". This is an Australian historical fiction novel, written by M.L. Stedman. In 2016, the book was adapted into a movie, but I have never heard of this book or the movie. The story is set in Western Australia in the 1920s, and its background is romance and drama. Admittedly, I would have never read this kind of book by my own accord if it weren't for my book club. However, this book surprised me and I ended up liking this book, a lot. I guess this is one of the benefits of joining a book club; it expands our horizons by making us read good books that we don't usually read.

Synopsis:

A newly wed couple, Tom and Isabel, arrived on Janus Rock. It is a lonely island surrounded by the sea. The couple was to be the new keepers to the island's lighthouse, but they were also the island's only residents. Tom and Isabel dreamed of a beautiful future. However, two miscarriages and one stillbirth sent Isabel into endless grief.

One day, the wind carried a baby's cries to Tom and Isabel; the sea brought onshore a boat, and it bore a dead man and a living baby.

My thoughts on this book:

The story is set on a fictitious Australian island called Janus Rock. In ancient Roman religion, Janus, is a god having two faces. He resembles duality, and he looks into the future and the past. So what significance does the name, "Janus Rock", bear in the story? I think it is a metaphor for saying that, when we set aside the biases, then we discover there are two sides to a story, and this is indeed the book's main theme.

In this book (minor spoiler ahead), Tom and Isabel decided to keep the baby without notifying the officials. Was it morally wrong, or right, for them to do so? This book created a situation, where what you do to one side will inevitably cause sufferings to the other. The book provided a rounded portrayal for every character; it explored their feelings, their thoughts, the circumstances, and what motivated them. The more I read about these characters' stories, the more I sympathized with them. I was torn in half, and I became very reluctant at pointing a finger and say who was right or wrong. This is a moving story, but it is also thought-provoking. At the book club, we had a very interesting discussion around the book's main theme.

The book told the story at a consistent pace. It may not be a page turner, but it will grab you with its powerful story and memorable characters. The worldbuilding in this book is rich, the author successfully created the atmosphere of Australia in the 1920s. Personally, I could not find any fault with the story itself. However, a member from my book club shared that she thought the main character's behavior was unrealistic. For me, I am very good at suspending my disbelief, and so I did not find this character's behavior unbelievable. Meanwhile, I will not spoil who was this character or what was this behavior. I leave the would-be readers to decide for themselves if the story is credible. 

The Light Between Oceans is a good book. This is not the type of book I would read normally, but I was surprised that I liked it. The story is powerful, and it reminded me that life is not black and white; verily, when there are two sides to a story, the best way forward is with love and compassion.

A Book Review: The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books #3)

The Prisoner of Heaven is the third installment in Carlos Ruiz Zafón's gothic masterpiece, The Cemetery of Forgotten Books. This mystery novel, set in Barcelona, is a a direct sequel to both The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game. In comparison to its two predecessors, The Prisoner of Heaven is a relatively short book of 300 page. Does its short length make this book better, or worse, than the previous books? Before I discuss this book, let me first provide a synopsis for the story.

Synopsis:

It was the Christmas of 1957, white snow decorated the city of Barcelona into a winter palace. For the Semepere family, it was a time of joys and celebrations; Daniel and his wife Bea welcomed the arrival of their baby, while their best friend, Fermín Romero de Torres, was finally tying the knot with a wonderful lady.

The mood of celebration evaporated, on the day when a dark stranger stepped into the Semepere bookshop. This mysterious man brought with him, a terrible old secret from the early days of General Franco's reign. It is a secret that dragged Fermín and Daniel into a lethal game of exposing Barcelona's forbidden history.

My thoughts on this book:

The Prisoner of Heaven was a delightful read. The writings were superb and the worldbuilding is top notch. This is a rich tale about undying love, revenge, and literature. Zafón's prose brought the city of Barcelona vividly to life. Every description and every scene was oozing with the gothic theme. The Prisoner of Heaven is also partial historical fiction. With a historical backdrop in General Franco's regime, the book explored the question, about what moral actions are acceptable during a war and after the war. The narrative style is non-linear. The majority of the story is told in the first person narrative, from Daniel's perspective. However, certain plot revelations used flashbacks and were narrated in the third person. While the storytelling is non-linear, but the chapter-to-chapter transition was surprisingly smooth. This book moved at a very fast pace and it was unputdownable.

A handful of beloved characters from the previous two books returned in The Prisoner of Heaven. It was very good to revisit Daniel, Bea, and Fermín. This book also shed more light into David Martin's fate after the events in The Angel's Game. My favorite character in this series is Fermín, whom the book described as a little man, witty and brave. In many ways, this book is actually about Fermín and I was reminded of why he is my favorite character in the series. I laughed at his jokes, and I was moved by his brevity and unwavering dedications to his best friend Daniel.

Earlier on I mentioned, The Prisoner of Heaven amounts to only 300 pages. This is about half the length of the previous books. Most of the time, the short length of a novel is not necessarily a demerit. However, in this case, I couldn't help but feel, The Prisoner of Heaven could have benefitted from a longer length and more story expositions. Let me just say, this book feels rushed, and I was disappointed when Zafón ended it with a cliffhanger. I mean, sure, we know there is a fourth (and the final) installment coming to the series, but The Prisoner of Heaven ended in an abrupt manner and it was not very satisfying.

Will I recommend The Prisoner of Heaven? Yes, absolutely. Despite its abrupt ending, this is still a beautifully written book and its story is mesmerizing. If you have read The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game, then you cannot afford to miss out The Prisoner of Heaven. Meanwhile, if this is the first time you've heard of The Cemetery of Forgotten Books and you are a book lover, then you owe it to yourself to read The Shadow of the Wind. It won't disappoint. As for me, I heard the fourth book will conclude this series. Apparently, it is still being translated from Spanish into English and it will be released next year. This is very exciting news and I cannot wait to find out, what is in store for Daniel and Fermín.

Until the next time, happy reading!