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The Kitchen God’s Wife – Amy Tan

The Kitchen God’s Wife – Amy Tan

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I read this book when it first came out (yep, I am one of those readers who keep rereading the same few books that they have read. I have read Harry Potter’s first few books like 5-8 times. I have even read Gone with the Wind for 4 times??). Once I decide that I like a particular author, I typically start stalking the shelves for her books. I started off with Amy Tan’s “The Joy Luck Club” before progressing to other books.

Her books focus on mother-daughter relationships. I can almost see myself in the role of the daughter. Like all children, I sometimes find myself irritated when my mom keeps reminding me or doing certain things over and over again in her own way (not my way… just like any self entitled kid, I want it “my own way”.) We think we know better, we think we are smarter.

I forgot that, long ago, my mother was young once, reckless once, and probably was a wild one. Maybe, I should document her stories (inspired by Amy Tan). *ponder* I spend more time now, listening to her talk (my late father used to be her sounding board and I guess there’s no one to listen to her now), sometimes repeating the same story a few times. I find myself looking forward to hear her chatter about anything under the sun, because it means more to spend present time with her than to spend time regretting not spending enough time.

So Amy Tan’s books serve as a good reminder of that.

The Kitchen God's Wife
The Kitchen God's Wife
Half a Man

Half a Man

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Ever since I discovered Michael Morpurgo, I have been borrowing his books from the library. BUT, til now, I have still yet to find his award-winning book “War Horse”. I shall endeavour in my search for it! Meanwhile, I am reading any of his books that I can get my hands on, from the National library.

There are just some books, that once you have read them, they stay in your mind for a long time. “Half a Man” is one of them. It’s short and thin (which makes it a short read, and therefore it’s very ideal for a busy day), but it packs a punch. It’s thought-provoking and invokes feelings that I seldom feel in my busy, everyday life. I admit that I wasn’t particularly impressed with the book cover, which showed a man in a fishing boat. Ok, I admit, I’m a shallow book reader. I sometimes borrow a book if I like the book cover. Hehe. But, it was a Michael Morpurgo book. So, ya, I borrowed it. And that was one of the best book decisions I have made.

Michael’s grandfather was a man scarred physically and mentally during the war. Whenever he visited, everyone would not dare to look at him in the face. It was only when Michael spent a summer with him that he was truly able to see the man behind the burns. Grandfather told the whole story to someone for the first time.

“It was years before I discovered why he never smiled. It was because he couldn’t. It was too painful. The skin simply wouldn’t stretch. When he laughed, which wasn’t often, it was always with a straight face. And when he smiled, it was with his eyes only.”

“No one wants half a man, and that’s what I was, Michael, half a man. That’s what I still am.”

Half a Man by Michael Morpurgo
Pinocchio in His Own Words

Pinocchio in His Own Words

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I have never read a Michael Morpurgo book in my entire life. Heck! I have not heard of him until Hwee’s Book Club in FB mentioned about him. And Sistic started blasted ads about “War Horse”, which is an award winning play based on a children’s novel he had written. So, the last time I went to the library, I headed to the children’s section and borrowed 3 of his books off the shelf. The intention was to introduce his books to my children. I usually read the books before I pass them over.

I grew up reading Pinocchio books and watched the Disney Pinocchio. Seriously, I wasn’t expecting much from the book, but yet another retelling of the well-loved tale. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Sure, the important parts of the story remained true to the original story but he’s rewritten it from Pinnochio’s angle. It’s like walking around in Pinnochio’s shoes and feeling it as a first person.

You won’t know it yet, but when you get older, your childhood will seem like a long dream; sometimes a happy dream, sometimes a bit of a nightmare, sometimes so unlikely you can hardly believe it happened. But it did. You were there, you know. My dream of childhood was just like that. But I know it happened. I was there.

Pinnochio in his own words – Michael Morpurgo

It’s not just a children’s book, it’s for adults as well. When I read the book, I could totally emphatise with Pinnochio – the trials and tribulations of being a child, the temptations of money, sweets, school truancy and the draw of wanting to be Mr. Popularity, all the stupidity, lying, broken promises and regrets. I was seeing myself going through similar situations and making dumb decision just like Pinnochio. I am sure a young reader who hasn’t been through that much in life won’t be able to identify with most of it. To him or her, it will just be a fairy tale.

I teared (yes, this children’s book made me tear) when I read about how Gepetto sold his only warm coat to buy a book for Pinnochio so that he could use it in school, because it reminded me of my late father, the sacrifices he had made to give me the best that he could.

And at the end of the day, irregardless of all the follies and sins Pinnochio had committed, his parents still loved him unconditionally. If there is one takeaway from this book by my children, this is what I want them to know.

So yeah, Pinnochio in His Own Words, is not just meant for kids, adults can read it too and reflect on our own experiences. And Michael Morpurgo has been elevated to the status of being one of my favourite authors. Although I didn’t read his books as a child, reading them now gives them a a different flavour.

Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs

Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs

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小小宝贝 brought home a book from school for his weekend reading. Children’s book, how exciting could it get? He picked this book – “Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs” from the little library in his classroom.

It’s a very simple children’s book about the author’s childhood which he spent with his Nana Upstairs – his great-grandmother and Nana Downstairs – his grandmother. It was beautifully drawn with short, easily comprehensible sentences that described the activities he had indulged in with his grandmothers, down to poignant little details, that seemed a great deal to a child like the sharing of mint candies, sitting tied to chairs so that they didn’t fall off. All these would have been very mundane activities to adults.

Then one day, his Nana Upstairs died and she was no longer sitting in her usual position in her bed. The drawing of the bed took up a whole page, the void was amplified.

Tommy began to cry.

“Won’t she ever come back?” he asked.

“No, dear,” Mother said softly. “Except in your memory. She will come back in your memory whenever you think about her.”

From then on, he called Nana Downstairs just plain Nana.

And then Tommy grew up, Nana Downstairs also grew old and moved upstairs and then she, too, joined Nana Upstairs with the stars.

With its simple sentences and beautiful drawings, it tugs at the heartstrings of both adults (me) and children, while reminding us that passage of time spares no one, even our parents who have grown old without us realising it. Cherish the time with them if you are lucky enough to still have them with you.

What I've Been Up to…

What I've Been Up to…

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What I’ve been up to lately? Besides juggling my full time job of being home butler and numerous other ventures, I’m trying to put together my travel photos (in vain) and yes, I’ve picked up reading again. 

Sorry ‘Cher! Not the regular classics from our booklist, but it’s better than nothing right??? ?

It’s probably due to the lack of good dramas to watch at the moment. No decent ones with good looking male leads (a definite MUST!) and reasonably entrancing plots. I refuse to squander my time away on watching substandard ones. 

I’ve managed to finish a few fantasy books by Trudi Canavan (an Australian writer). I’ve loaded her books into my Kindle then forgot all about them. ? She’s no Rowling or Tolkien but her first set of books still managed to keep me glued to my kindle. 


I got bored with the 2nd set though. Sigh! Why is it so difficult to find a good fantasy genre writer?? Eagerly waiting for Rowling’s cursed Child. 

So now… I read Chinese Internet Novels! ??? Surprise! I know I know! Eh! Stop twitching your brows! 

The last time I read Chinese novels was in Germany!! When you’ve nothing to read, anything goes!! 

China drama was the spark that ignited the chain reaction. I’d always been anti cdramas because I found them boring (think 红楼梦！ Gah! I was forced to read it for my book review in school! Couldn’t stand the wimpy Jia Bao Yu!) Only the 还珠格格 was watchable. Everyone told me that 步步惊心 was good. I downloaded it into my iPad and conveniently forgot about it. Haha! It seems like I keep downloading stuff without reading or watching them. 

I finally watched it years later (like 2 years ago) when I was overseas, without wifi. For a gadget addict, no wifi is like going through drugs withdrawal!! Ya! Couldn’t play my games! Go ahead! Plunder my bases!! ? 

I went through my downloads and decided to give 步步惊心 a shot. No fish, prawn also good yah?? After the first episode, I was hooked. That started my downward spiral into cdrama addiction….

It was based on an Internet novel by 桐华. I’ve a habit of reading the novel after watching the movie/drama to find the details that have been missed out. And vice versa… Complain about the details missed out on the movies based on my favourite novels… (Nitpicker I am!) 

(Side story : I hunted down the Chinese translated novel of The Ring after i watched it in the cinema. And gave myself more nightmares after that! It’s truly a brilliant book that explained the loopholes in the movie plot.)

Back to 步步惊心 novel, it’s extremely well written with the right touch of humor, romance and chim literary description and poems (I admit that I skipped some of these, just like how I skipped the bits with the incessant singing of Tolkien’s hobbits). No wonder she’s now elevated to the statue of 中国四宝. 


Once I find an author whom I like, I will not rest til I’ve finished reading all her books! She has the ability to draw the readers into the world that she’s created, imagine the scenary through her lyrical descriptions and step into the shoes of her characters, sharing their joys and pains. Once you start reading her books, you wouldn’t want to put them down. Even with some descriptive parts, being a little more chim, her books are extremely easy to read (well, at least I didn’t have to keep referring to my Chinese dictionary!). 

Another author whose books I’ve read is 顾漫. She specialises in writing modern novels that are quirky and fun to read. Though they are not as 文采绚丽 (in other words, chim) as 桐华’s books but I still like them enough to want to buy the physical books. Hehe. I like the way she names her characters in creative puns. The only complaint I have is that all her male characters are brooding epitomes of perfection and the females are competent when alone, but ditzy in the presence of the omni powerful male partners. 


Oh well, I’m still looking forward to the new cdrama which is based on one of her books. I’ve decided I’ve had enough of the angsty palace drama and I need some light hearted modern comedy. Look out for 微微一笑很倾城！

Recently I discovered that the library is well stocked with these books!!! Yay!!! ?