#QuotsyMay19 Day 22: #fugitive. Not familiar with this TS Eliot verse play.

#MayMovieMagic Day 22: #OriginOfLove reminded me of The Big Question asked in this story from Belgium: “How do you know you love someone?” asks the Elephant. Many of the creatures are pretty learned and shared their insights, with Snow White even providing her own input as to how she knew for certain that the Prince was the one for her. A beautiful allegorical and profound tale - my fave so far this year. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-jvz

#AMonthOfSongs Day 22: I am not #homesick for Singapore yet. Last three days in this gorgeous, magical place. Bali is 💕.

The schedule for #WomenReadWomen2019 Read Along Chat is here for May and June. I have read both books and very excited to discuss them with you all. Everyone is welcome to join! Do let me know if you wish to be tagged.
How are you doing so far with your reading?

#QuotsyMay19 Day 21: Lay siege to the #empire and make it yield. I did not know that Arundhati Roy also published this book. Will try to look for it. Seems like the perfect read given current turbulent times.

#MayMovieMagic Day 21: When ideas are all around, one is tempted to ask #WhereIsMyMind? From Fats‘ review: “In this book, the author combines storytelling, Polaroid pictures, and gorgeous illustrations to remind readers that the world is a source of infinite ideas. From the familiar to the strange, the possibilities are endless. This book is a great and inspirational tool for writers and artists.” Full review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-cLN

#AMonthOfSongs Day 21: #GirlsLikeYou who drive a tractor and sport a beehive hair are rare indeed. When this fierce woman arrived home to a hearty dinner prepared by her loving husband, her daughter unabashedly announced that she also wants to drive a tractor and become a farmer like her momma when she grows up. My review of this glorious picturebook from Spain here: https://wp.me/pDlzr-k7g

#QuotsyMay19 Day 20: From our #Holiday in Bali - four more nights left. I am already missing the place and we haven‘t even left yet.

Reading corner while having lunch. We are chasing waterfalls today in Bali and capping it off with hot springs.
Last five days in this gorgeous place.
#WomenReadWomen2019

#MayMovieMagic Day 20: #TomorrowNeverKnows reminded me of this book that Fats reviewed: “It is a lyrical invitation to welcome a new day, despite the uncertainty it brings. If you enjoy children‘s classics like Guess How Much I Love You & Nancy Tillman‘s books, then you will love Tomorrow is Waiting. It fills your heart with hope, positive thoughts, and good vibes. It makes for a perfect gift for little ones.” Full feature: https://wp.me/pDlzr-jW4

#AMonthOfSongs Day 20: #LoveLies in the sacrifice between mother & child. This is a moving story that signifies a mother‘s dream for her child, and the child‘s determination to succeed to ensure that her mother‘s sacrifice is not in vain. “Though it be far, where the road winds high and low, I will come home to you, by and by. I will come home to you, Mama, By and by.”
My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-jYJ

Reading corner today.
#HorrorPostalBookClub #ScreamsByMail #WomenReadWomen2019.
Halfway through our vacation. 5th Day in Bali.

#QuotsyMay19 Day 19: #Broil and boil and toil = Trouble.

#MayMovieMagic Day 19: #WhenTheLeveeBreaks, then the river shall overflow. As the reader moves closer to this ribbon of water, the frame is gradually removed, and one swims into the pages as the images show an interweaving of the urban landscape and the serpentine river. This is a gentle picturebook that undulates with rhythmic, almost hypnotic words and art that will make even the most jaded reader gasp. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-c9W

#AMonthOfSongs Day 19: Not really #BrokenHalos, but more like hidden angel wings. As Norman faced the prospect of telling his parents & friends about this new, multi-coloured thing that grew on his back, he felt very apprehensive. So, he decided to hide his true self by wearing a yellow coat wherever he goes. It is a powerfully allegorical tale of shedding off appearances, & embracing one‘s rainbow-coloured self. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-iF7

I am in the last few chapters of Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows and eager to begin my second book here in Bali for our #ScreamsByMail #HorrorPostalBookClub and #WomenReadWomen2019. Our private villa has an in-house chef who makes the most mouth-watering dishes. Truly delicious.

#QuotsyMay19 Day 18: And the #museum is you. While I was meh about the movie adaptation, I loved the trilogy. Do not have a copy of the fourth book yet. Is it any good? Worth the loooong wait?

#MayMovieMagic Day 18: #LittliestThings reminded me of this book that Fats reviewed: “Matisse is a little girl who travels to big places and sees big things. She may be little but she could do a lot. One day, Matisse meets someone littler than her—her baby brother! Little Big Girl does a great job portraying Matisse‘s transition into an older sibling with its clever use of the words ‘little‘ and ‘big.‘” Full review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-khU

#AMonthOfSongs Day 18: When there are #NoTearsLeftToCry, this boy goes out in search of happiness. This book prompts the reader to reflect on the things that make them “happy” and for them to define what “happiness” means for them and how to find it. The quote at the very beginning of the book was particularly thought-provoking: “The Secret of Happiness is in seeking it.” – Jules Renard. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-fIG

Book hunting in Bali. Because @GatheringBooks everywhere in the world. Eka Kurniawan it is, because Indonesia. Any other local authors you can recommend? Female Indonesian authors would be even more welcome for our #WomenReadWomen2019.

#QuotsyMay19 Day 17: #Virtual reality as opposed to a physical reality whose existence can be interrogated philosophically. Is a chair really a chair? I have never tried these virtual games tho. I have a feeling it‘ll give this Auntie a huge headache.

#MayMovieMagic Day 17: When you are #HookedOnAFeeling, sometimes you just need someone to listen. Fats‘ review: “With scarce text and tender, soft colored illustrations, The Rabbit Listened is a beautiful picturebook about empathy. Cori Doerrfeld was inspired to write this story after several of her friends went through difficult times.” Full review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-j8S

#AMonthOfSongs Day 17: Fats‘ review: “a little girl helps her color monster friend “sort” his feelings. His emotions were all over the place. His colors were all jumbled up! He was having mixed emotions and he didn‘t know why!” Perfect for #InMyFeelings. Full review of this gorgeous pop-up book: https://wp.me/pDlzr-cC2

The view of the sunset and sunrise from our villa is breathtaking. Bali is Love. Chuckled aloud several times while reading this book. Perfect poolside read.
#WomenReadWomen2019

Reading corner today.
#WomenReadWomen2019
Bali is 💕

#QuotsyMay19 Day 16: To #rescue a maiden fair. I love the devt of Brienne and Jamie‘s relationship in the HBO adaptation, until Episode 5, that is. I have read of the “traumatic creative differences” between Martin and the HBO writers DB & David. I am hoping that the elusive Books 6/7 will provide a different kind of narrative arc that more faithfully embody the characters‘ evolution rather than just an eye towards cinematic/dramatic moments.

#MayMovieMagic Day 16: #LeTempsDAmour reminds me of Swann‘s Way - The meat of the story lies in Swann‘s affair with Mdm Odette de Crecy who played Swann like a flute (and so many other men besides) that his resistance was futile as was his yielding, inevitable and quite obsessive. There is beauty here, so much of it that fills the senses – the thickness of the book, the scent of the new pages, the exquisite art. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-awC

#AMonthOfSongs Day 16: Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low grew up at a time when ladies “were supposed to be dainty and delicate.” It was fascinating for me to read about the life of a privileged, extremely wealthy woman who can afford to break all the rules and was in a perfect position to defy conventions, and went on to organize the Girl Scouts! My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-hx2

Our home for the next ten days. Soothing sound of the raging waves right at our doorstep, our own infinity jacuzzi pool, and books - lots and lots of books to keep us company. Private villa in the northernmost part of Bali. Sunburst captured from our villa. Every day, I promise myself to not take this miracle for granted. And each day, work consumes me and I forget. Such grace to remember and fulfill these promises we make to ourselves.

#MayMovieMagic Day 15: More than just blessed with a #SweetDisposition, HRC is born to lead. The story goes on to show her predisposition towards leadership and community service, as well as the many pivotal moments that inspired her. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-jrB

#AMonthOfSongs Day 15: I have never been to #Havana, but reading this lyrical picturebook transports me there, with its vintage cars, tropical climate, trees swaying in the breeze, and warm intimacy shared among family members. Different aspects of #Havana are portrayed here – from life in the country with all the horses and clothes drying in the breeze to a picture of the city with its bustling, active life. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-hZt

#QuotsyMay19 Day 14: Cheers to the simple, #sweet things in life.

#MayMovieMagic Day 14: I will definitely cry out #SaveMe if these are the women of the galaxy doing the saving. Fats‘ review: “This is a stunning collection that features 75 badass women of Star Wars, heroes and villains alike. Amy Ratcliffe, managing editor of Nerdist, does not merely describe the life stories of these women. She also relates them to the films, animated series, novels, comics, and even games.” Full review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-jT8

#AMonthOfSongs Day 14: Fats‘ review: “the story of Otter who fell in love with his food source, a fish called Myrtle. (It was actually “Gurgle” but Otter had water in his ears and heard it as “Myrtle” instead.) Otter‘s friends from the banks and beyond thought that Otter had lost his mind. It wasn‘t right. It wasn‘t natural. It certainly wasn‘t the way of the otter.” Perfect for #LoveSomeone. Her review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-hsJ

#QuotsyMay19 Day 13: We need to #account for both our verbosity and silence. The latter may be more difficult to rationalize, especially in the face of growing social unrest where people are morally obligated to take a stand.

#MayMovieMagic Day 13: A #SpaceOddity prompted the brightest (almost-exclusively-male) minds to ask Katherine Johnson‘s help given her brilliance. This story focuses primarily on Johnson‘s precocity, passion for maths, the fact that she first worked as a teacher because there were few opportunities for an African American woman like her at the time, notwithstanding her evident talent and skill in her field. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-jSb

#AMonthOfSongs Day 13: Endangered #beautiful creatures are featured in this exquisitely illustrated nonfiction title. Jenkins also writes about creatures that are already extinct such as the Steller‘s sea cow or the marsupial wolf, or animals that are increasingly becoming endangered for a variety of reasons – climate change, human greed, accidents, inability to adapt to the changing environment. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-9qd

Vivid, mundane, extraordinary. I am loving this collection of short stories surfaced from Berlin‘s inner life. It is good that our library has 3 physical copies of the book - returned the one I had (because due date is up), & borrowed the other identical title I scoured from the shelves. I am delightfully discovering so many outstanding female authors, thanks to our #WomenReadWomen2019 reading theme. Millefeuille pancakes, too, for Mother‘s Day!

#QuotsyMay19 Day 12: #Experience. It has been awhile since I have read Jane Eyre. I hope to re-read it this year for our #WomenReadWomen2019, and hopefully it makes me a little more prepared to tackle Jasper Fforde‘s “The Eyre Affair” series next year.

#MayMovieMagic Day 12: #ImmigrantSong reminded me of this nonfiction title that Fats reviewed: “Our New Home is a rich material for content analysis in order to gain better understanding of the immigrant experience in the eyes of a child. It‘s a very light and easy read that adults can share with children, & can also be used as a topic for discussion. This book offers a fresh perspective in the subject of immigration.” https://wp.me/pDlzr-3Q0

#AMonthOfSongs Day 12: Mark is 12yo and he is dying. He thought he had his cancer licked with all the treatments he needed to go through, but it‘s back with a proverbial vengeance. And Mark is having none of it. He decided to do something for himself, damn the #consequences and everyone else in his life, because he felt that his time was running out. Find out why I gave this middle grade novel a Pan in my review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-9yg

#QuotsyMay19 Day 11: The Night #Circus is a novel I wanted to read for the longest time. It has been linked to Jonathan Strange which I also bought as a companion text, but have not read that one too, as yet. Should I move the books up my TBR stack?

#MayMovieMagic Day 11: #ModernLove is depicted in this YA novel which provides a portrait of your post-modern, non-traditional family set-up. It could have resulted as a total caricature or a mere sketch with the token gay character, yet it has a lived-in truth to it that burns with authenticity and is funny as hell. I can not count how many times I was in stitches just reading certain passages from the book. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-c6D

#AMonthOfSongs Day 11: #LoveMeNow says this dreamlike picturebook filled with dream-like light, decorative wishes, and curlicued hopes that convey love and comfort. This is a classic example of a picturebook that is deceptively simple, but never simplistic nor trite – sweet but not overly saccharine, just true: a quiet dream of all things light, wondrous, and beautiful. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-hhY

#QuotsyMay19 Day 10: #Garden in GK Chesterton‘s novel. I haven‘t had the chance to read any of his books yet. This one sounds particularly intriguing.

#MayMovieMagic Day 10: Fats‘ review of this picturebook biography: “William Cameron Coup reminds us that when we love the things that we do – when we put our heart into it – then anything is possible. Obstacles could easily be overcome, and hardly would we feel the demands of the job. Circus wasn‘t just a childhood dream. Circus was William‘s life.” He definitely showed a #LustForLife. Full review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-2Zo

#AMonthOfSongs Day 10: Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates felt like he was #DancingOnMyOwn when he had an unfortunate accident that forever changed Clayton‘s life, but not his disposition, nor his optimistic self. He taught himself to use crutches that were fashioned from two broomsticks when he lost his leg. Soon, he was able to dance again. A remarkable and inspiring story. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-eJE

#QuotsyMay19 Day 9: I only know of Jack London‘s “Call Of The Wild.” This sounds fairly interesting, too. Filled with #Enigma.

#MayMovieMagic Day 9: #YouNeverCanTell whether you will get the elusive A from Ms Keller, the writing class teacher. She is known to be tough as nails and very difficult to please. Once again, Patricia Polacco has managed to blindside me with this story that moved me. Perfect for Teacher Appreciation Week. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-k5D

#AMonthOfSongs Day 9: #ThereWasThisGirl who wanted out out, away from here to retreat into the confines of her imagination, where things make sense, everything is quiet, and she feels safe. This is a great addition to the growing list of picturebooks that feature authentic emotions, and how a young girl is able to manage and regulate feelings that seem to be bigger than one‘s self. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-jZB