overwhelm with eastern promise.

exactly wat comes to your mind if you see me holding a book like tis? u dun have to lie now. naturally, the first thing u'd ask me is, "chris, are you reading a porn?" i wouldnt blame you, as i've gotten such remarks so many times while i was reading it. even my younger sister gave me a sheepish smile look when she spot me reading the book. and i wont forget to mention about the amount of stare i get in lrt. men and women gave me a judgemental look while thinking whether i was out of my mind holding up a porn like that in the broad daylight. well, i'm reading such an interesting cultural book mind you! now stop being envious of me for having the ability to choose such a great read! wahahha.. *evil laughs*

let me share with you the synopsis of 'sputnik sweetheart' by haruki murakami here:
twenty-two year old sumire is in love with a woman seventeen years her senior. but whereas miu is glamorous and successful, sumire is an aspiring writer who dresses in an oversized second-hand coat and heavy boots like a character in a kerouac novel.

surprised that she might, after all, be a lesbian, sumire spends hours on the phone talking to her best friend k about the big questions in life: what is sexual desire and should she ever tell miu how she feels about her.

frustrated in his own love for sumire, k consoles himself by having an affair with the mother of one of his pupils. then a desperate miu calls from a small greek island and asks for his help, and he discovers that something very strange has happened to sumire.

i have long heard of murakami's books from karen. and i was delighted when borders was having a promotion on titles by the eastern authors. which means, more books, books, and books to add to my collections!! have you read any by wei hui? the author of 'shanghai baby' and 'marrying buddha'? those are very interesting reads as well. 'shanghai baby' was reportedly banned and burned in china due to its controversial portrayal of wei hui's generation of urban women, born in the 1970s, as they search for moral grounding in a country of shifting values. interesting, doncha think? read that, and then follow up by 'marrying buddha'. i guarantee you, these books are a real eye opener. i am used to reading a lot of chick lits and autobiography, eastern titles are now adding to my list of interests as well.

i am sharing more books by the eastern promise:vintage book collection that has been released recently here. do check 'em out. i have bought norwegian wood by haruki murakami, autobiography of a geisha by sayo masuda, the sailor who fell from grace with the sea by yukio mishima, and waiting by ha jin.


*surrounded by books* now will you excuse me, i still have more than 20 new titles stack up on my book shelves waiting for me.. i have lost count.