August 14, 2013

Good evening fellow readers! So of course I found a new challenge to participate in the hopes of proving myself better than the last. I picked up this challenge from The Chronicles of Radiya and very much look forward to 30 consecutive (hopefully, gulp) days of blogging.

Day 13: Your Favorite Author

I want you all to know that I really tried. I really tried to pick someone other than J.K. Rowling but in the end, she’s the one. Not only did she write THE most brilliant series the world has ever seen, but we’ve seen from The Casual Vacancy and The Cuckoo’s Calling that she can write in other areas and most importantly, WRITE IT WELL.

Let’s look at the Harry Potter series first, shall we?

J.K. Rowling has created a cultural phenomenon with her Harry Potter series and is more than likely the most successful living author today. Even if you don’t like fantasy you have to admit that these books are incredibly intricate. Her stories say so many things and are woven together like a puzzle piece so that connections are strung together every which way. Separately and as a whole, J.K. Rowling has created a masterpiece, plain and simple.

Now, let’s consider The Casual Vacancy.

Complete opposite of Harry Potter, The Casual Vacancy is steeped in reality; it is about the stark truth and bleak normality of the ordinary human life. This novel is not my favorite story by any means, but it is a GOOD story. Every single character was three-dimensional and well fleshed out. They all acted according to their development and circumstances. The story was believable and like Harry Potter had many things to say about the human condition. J.K. Rowling shows that she can go from fantasy to social drama in the blink of an eye like it’s easy peasy. That’s talent.

Finally, but not least, The Cuckoo’s Calling.

…Okay, so I haven’t actually read this one yet, but give me a break! I’m a broke college student that has an expensive hobby, I can’t buy every book I want– no matter how much I want it…oh and I want it. I included it however because I have heard that J.K. Rowling pulls off another great novel with real characters and a compelling story. Since it’s J.K Rowling, I can believe it.

Whether you like or not, you got to have some respect for her. She has shaped children’s fiction today and is proving that her talented is not limited to any one area. The woman is a genius and thusly, my favorite author.

Who is your favorite author? Do you have more than one? Share it below and happy reading!

Harry Potter’s JK Rowling outed as writer of acclaimed crime novel (abc.net.au)
JK Rowling publishes crime novel under false name (guardian.co.uk)
Happy Birthday J. K. Rowling! (awesomebooksforlife.wordpress.com)
“The Casual Vacancy” by J. K. Rowling: Don’t compare to Harry Potter (readerreluctant.wordpress.com)
Book Review: The Cuckoo’s Calling (jannlee25.wordpress.com)
Demand high for new Rowling book (dailyherald.com)

In the famous words of Snow White, “I’m wishing (I’m wishing) for the one I love, to find me (to find me) today.” In this case (actually in most cases) the one that I love is a book.

I came about Wishlist Wednesday hosted by the ever so lovely Pen to Paper. (Please check out their blog, it’s awesome).

Wishlist Wednesday is a meme that allows you to turn the spotlight on a few books that have been sitting on your get-to-eventually list for a while. Books that you dream of claiming their rightful spots on your bookshelf.

This week while browsing on the wonderful site Goodreads, I came across The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo.

Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound.

Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family’s only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price.

After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim’s handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy—including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family’s darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family—before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever.

So I got to admit, the cover kind of hooked me from the get go, but I was determined not to make any rash decisions based on cover alone so I read the blurb…and knew at once that I had to add this novel to my wish list. I’m already intrigued about Eastern culture but I had never come across any references to ghost brides and so I looked it up on the handy-dandy Wikipedia website (no judgement please) and I found some interesting stuff.

First of all, ghost marriages happen for the following reasons:

The marriage of a couple previously engaged before a member’s death
Integrate an unmarried daughter into a patrilineage (because unmarried Chinese women have no descendants to worship her)
To ensure the family line is continued
To maintain that no younger brother is married before the elder brother (God forbid)

Also when a female goes through this there are a number of disadvantages:

Required to participate in the funeral ritual
Required to participate in mourning customs (like strict dress and conduct standards)
Take a vow of celibacy
And immediately take residence with his family

Here are the disadvantages of a male who goes through this:

NONE

Shocker.

So after gaining a bit more insight on the idea I have to say that I am most interested to read this book.I feel like it’s going to end tragically though so maybe I should ask for a box of tissue with it. Did you get that wishing fairy? One copy of The Ghost Bride and a box of tissues please and thank you.

What are you wishing for this Wednesday? Share it below and happy reading!