May the Odds Ever Be in Your Favor

As many of you know, I am an avid reader and lover of books. Earlier this summer, I have vowed to read more books and I am happy to say that even though I am not reading as much as I would like to, I am reading more than I usually would in college. Though I have read some books in between my last book review, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I have decided to write a review on a very popular craze, The Hunger Games.


The Hunger Games is written by Suzanne Collins and this book finally provides an interesting storyline away from magic and vampires. I will not give too much away, but I will make some references to about what I feel the book is like. The Hunger Games is set in a post-apocalyptic world in which there is no states or cities, but everything is broken up into districts. There are thirteen districts and the Capitol. The Capitol is the centralized government that leads all the other districts. However, the districts rebelled because they were being oppressed and unfortunately they lost. Through the chaos, District Thirteen was wiped out and there lay only Districts One through Twelve. Furthermore, in order to remind the Districts who is in control
of their little lives, the Capitol created the Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games gathers two "tributes" from each district, boy and girl, to enter the Capitol into a battle arena, in which an all out battle royale is taken place. These twenty-four tributes from the ages of 12 to 18, I believe, must fight to the death until only one is proven to be victor. Everything is recorded live as entertainment for the Capitol. And so, it is during this dreadful, inhumane society do we first meet our protagonist, Katniss Everdeen.


Now on to my review of this trilogy. I have to say that it is once again a nice change from magic and vampire books. Personally, I do not think this trilogy is the next Harry Potter series, but I do believe that this book is a lot more interesting than the Twilight series. The invention of the Hunger Games is pure genius to me and I give props to Suzanne Collins for coming up with an elaborate and intricate new world with new rules and traditions.

However, there are some flaws I see with this book. First, is the writing of this book. The writing of this book is very simple and probably not beyond a middle school reading level. However, I feel as though Suzanne Collins noticed the criticism she was getting with her writing and started using a lot more complex vocabulary in her last book, Mockingjay, which is fine but with the way she writes it feels as though those words are forced into the sentences instead of flowing with the sentences. Second, the ending of this trilogy is way too rushed and I had to re-read parts of the last book several times to understand what the heck is going on. Then also, this ending felt a little too Candide by Voltaire for me. I don't want to give the ending away so if you read it, I think you'll understand what I am saying. Lastly, I feel as though Suzanne Collins was too focused on plot twists instead of the character development in the last two books. There are some holes in the plot that doesn't make sense to me, but for the sake of finishing the book or for the sake of the plot twist making sense it needs to be there.

Overall, I feel as though the Hunger Games is a great book and is very interesting. You can't help but fall in love with some of these characters and empathize with these characters. However, as a trilogy, I do not know if I would give it such great marks, but the way the book is written, you have no choice but to read on. Therefore, I recommend reading this book and please drop a comment if you agree or disagree with my views on this book.

Also, I can't wait for the movie to come up in the summer of 2012. Here is the trailer~


"Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to...to the Capitol they don't own me. That I'm more than just a piece in their Games."

-Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

I have finally finished this book which I started a while ago.

I enjoyed The Joy Luck Club and The Hundred Secret Senses, both by Amy Tan, so when an article said that Lisa See is the next Amy Tan, I had to read her work.

I realized that there will be a movie based on this novel. Since I never like watching the movie first before reading the original book, it was my intention to finish the book before the movie was released. It seems like the movie did not do quite well in the box office. Regardless, I plan on watching the movie sooner or later.


The book's main theme is the friendship between two Chinese women in 19th century. Mainly due to the setting of the novel, it contains vast amount of cultural tradition, customs and idealism in 19th century China. Growing up in relatively traditional Asian family, I was able to comprehend many of the idealism and traditions. However, many non-Asian-culture-friendly readers may not understand certain aspects or tilt their head about eccentric customs. What all readers should understand, in my opinion, is that most Asian tradition is based on spiritual symbolism and patriarchal lineage.

The book mostly deals with women tradition and stories. One of those that Lisa See chose to elaborate was the foot binding. The book describes that based on the size and the shape of the bound foot, women can achieve happy life or can be thrown into a pit of misery. The process of foot binding requires breaking bones in each foot to shape them into small, beautiful and perfect "golden lilies." The smaller your bound feet are, the better family you will marry into for better status and life. Based on the book, main characters, Lily and Snow Flower's feet were perfect in shape and size to ensure their happiness.

In case you wonder, like I did, what bound feet looks like or how small they become, I add a picture.

When I visited Hong Kong when I was very young, I remember seeing a small pair of shoes of display in a museum. Please, correct me if I am wrong, but those shoes were to be put on young girls to prevent their feet from growing any bigger. The reason as written on the description panel was that it was to prevent any young women from running away either from their future husband or family. Lisa See repeatedly states throughout the book that women are worthless and is considered nothing more than bearers of children.


Another women tradition mentioned and utilized is nu shu, women's secret writing. In the author's note, Lisa See explains her study and journey to discover and understand the words and songs women used to express themselves. Women in "ancient" China did not have much right to meddle with the "outside realm of men" and were expected to sit in upstairs chambers quietly. Since they were not allowed to be educated or learn "men's writing," women invented women's secret writing, nu shu, to be kept hidden from men's knowledge. It is this nu shu that Snow Flower and Lily write on their secret fan, symbol of their everlasting friendship.


Besides unusual traditions and customs, the journey of two laotong, or old sames, continues, for better or worse, as their lives goes on, changes and comes to an end.


To be honest, I could not hold my tears toward the end of the novel and I believe it is because I saw myself in Lily and Snow Flower. We need and aspire someone to love and someone who will love us unconditionally. Maybe you will find a piece of yourself in Lily or Snow Flower.



Well, now the wait for the movie to be released on DVD!! :]

"When a girl, obey your father; when a wife, obey your husband; when a widow, obey your son. But my mother-in-law taught me another axiom one day, when she was aggravated with her husband: "Obey, obey, obey, then do what you want.""

- From Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See -

Reading: The Lost Art

Hey everyone,

Sorry I've been so MIA, but I was just busy studying (yes, I know during the summer). However, studying isn't my life and there are lot of other activities I enjoy participating in, which includes watching t.v. and sleeping, but I also really enjoy reading for pleasure. I may have mentioned before that during my college years that there was just so little time to read for fun because of all the school studying and activities, but now that I have graduated for about a month now there is no excuse for me to not read.

Recently, I feel as though reading is something that a lot of people miss out on. With the age of technology, we have new types of media that overshadows reading such as television, movies, and video games. I have younger brother who is about seven years younger than I am and he absolutely loathes to read any type of book. He would rather starve than read a book, and I find this a little sad. When I was growing up, I did my share of reading but since both of my parents were immigrants, they couldn't help me increase my reading skills. So, many of my friends would talk about books that I had no idea about. I felt left out and I fell behind in my English classes. However, the younger generation has no desire to read, and they would rather divulge in their iPads or PS3's than pick up a book that really stimulates and open one's mind.

We even now have Amazon Kindle's and Barnes and Noble Nook's that sort of replaces books, and now we read electronically. I am not saying that I am against these devices because I too own a Kindle. Yet, I feel as though nothing beats having the actual book in front of you, turning the pages one by one, feeling the paper run through your fingers, and most of all counting how many pages you have till you finish the entire book.

The book I have finished recently is called, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." I know I am a bit late in reading this book, but I finished it nevertheless, and I would say that this book is quite interesting and fun. This book includes mystery, action, romance, and much more. After reading half the book, I couldn't put it down and had to keep turning the page until I finished the whole book. Even after reading the book I wanted to keep turning the pages that weren't there because it was just so intense and fun. However, some downside to the book is that the beginning is really slow and you don't get to the main point of the story until about 100 or a 150 pages into the book. Also, maybe because the English version is a translated version from Sweden, the phrases can be a little primitive. Furthermore, the author Stieg Larsson, submitted this book after his death so, I don't think he had much time to revise his mistakes or expressions, anyways.



Other than that, this 480 page book is definitely a thriller that I recommend to other people who are interested in corruption and the downfall of perverted men. The ending is both satisfying, yet leaves you with yearning for more, which then you can turn to the sequel, "The Girl who Played with Fire." Have fun.


"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers."

- Charles W. Eliot