My Reading Pleasure in Holidays

A great thing about holidays: I got to have more time to read books. Most of movies that I’m interested in, have I catched up already. And one can only take so much of holiday TVs. (100th time of “Sound of Music” or “Home Alone” isn’t exactly a thrill in the least. ) I developed a weired hobby nowadays. Instead of buying books, I now go to bookstores such as Barnes & Noble or Borders and sit there and read books for hours (not exactly the favorite customer, I suppose.) One good thing about this casual fun is that I can’t finish a book in a day so I preserve the curiosity and hold the thrill till the next time. I feel like I have gone back to a 6th grade or something.

Books that I’m reading nowadays:

Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe by Bill Bryson

The author wrote this travel essay based on his travel experience in Europe after living in London for a decade. I’m almost 1/3 into the book. Not a single page has passed without making me laugh so hard. It is a hilarious and witty essay and it makes me want to go to Europe once more. I’m absolutely going to read other Bryson’s travel essays after this book.

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Don’t know what was drawn to me about this book. I’ve only read the first story but already felt the heartbreak. It’s been a long time since I feel such an emotional roller coaster while reading a novel. Waiting for the next story to be another gem.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

I started reading this book in early 2005 in Boston and found the stories really funny and entertaining. Didn’t have enough time to finish it then and for some reason, I forgot about this book until recently. While reading this book from the beginning without knowing that I have already read half way through it before, the time and place I first encountered this book popped up my mind. I guess the incident was personal enough for me to remember. Still enjoying this delightful book.

Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss

It is not a grammar book nor a language book, yet still gives you the best approach to punctuation with full of hilarious examples and real life experience. As a non-native speaker, I found this book much helpful, but I bet it is to the natives as well considering the book is written for them.

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

Nick Hornby is the author of “About a Boy” and “High Fidelity”.

I’m about 50 pages into this book and can totally see this book turned into a movie. There’s a certain quality to Hornby’s books that is perfect for movies. The book starts with 4 people who come to the roof of a building in London on New Year’s Eve to commit suicide. Isn’t it already intriguing? Hornby’s humor and warmth already started to win me over.

ETA: Upon further Googling I found this: Johnny Depp is producing this movie. haha.