Svetlana's Reads and Views

General Information: Name of Book: Chakhan Gajok/A Good Family ISBN: 978 1 62897 118 7 Publisher: Dalkey Archive Year it was published: 2008 (translated in 2015) Summary: This collection of eight stories cynical and sympathetic by turns represents the author's attempt to document and understand the conflicts, resentments, hatreds, and anxieties of contemporary family life. The title story depicts a mother's busy day playing numerous roles ashamed, fearless, or humble depending on which member of her family she's tending to. In "The Privacy of My Father," a daughter tracks her father to Hong Kong in order to spy on what she thinks is an illicit affair. All in all, says Seo Hajin, family means deception--but these masks aren't so easily removed." Author: Seo Hajin (Translated by Amy C Smith and Ally H Hwang) About the Author: Seo Hajin She was born in 1961 in Youngcheon, North Kyungsang Province. She studied Korean literature at Kyun...

General Information: Name of Book: My Son's Girlfriend/ Nae adul ui yonin ISBN: 978 1 56478 910 5 Publisher: Dalkey Archive Year it was published: 2013 (Original year 2008) Summary: At once an ironic portrayal of contemporary Korea and an intimate exploration of heartache, alienation, and nostalgia, this collection of seven short stories has earned the author widespread critical acclaim. With empathy and an overarching melancholy that is at times tinged with sarcasm, but always deeply meaningful, Jung explores the ambition and chaos of urban life, the lives of hte lost and damaged souls it creates, and the subtle shades of love found among them. Author: Jung Mi-Kyung (Translated by Yu Young-Nan) About the Author: Yu Young-Nan She lives in Seoul. She has translated numerous Korean novels into English, including Park Wan-suh's Who Ate Up all the Shinga? and Yom Sang-Seop's Three Generations. Jung Mi-Kyung She is one of the most distinguished writers...

Name of Book: I mmortality Author: Kevin Bohacz ISBN: 978-0-9791815-1-1 Publisher: self published Part of a Series: Ghost of Gods is the sequel Type of book: Speculative fiction thriller, science, bacteria, water, environmental damage, COBIC, military, destruction, evolution, top secrets, USA government, martial law, plague, god-machine, drugs Year it was published: 2008 Summary: When human extinctions occur in South America and spread worldwide, paleobiologist and genetic researcher Mark Freedman senses a connection to the Chromatium Omri bacteria, the oldest known life form on Earth linked to previous extinctions. The growing virulence in the "kill zones" spurs Freedman to join forces with Kathy Morrison, expert on viral and bacterial pathogens with the Centers for Disease Control. Despite personal losses, Freedman and Morrison find romance and make discoveries about the devastation and what lies behind it. Other colorful characters include dedicated p...

Name of Book:  Corpus of a Siam Mosquito Author:  Steven David Justin Sills ISBN:   9781475116267 Publisher:   Alcibiades Press Type of book: Thailand, art, reflection, philosophy Year it was published: 2008 Summary: This explores the life of a Thai man in dire poverty rising to success and control of his life as a prostitute artist Opinion: This time I didn't even get an opportunity to read word/sentence per paragraph. Why? I was reading an e-version of it, and for some odd reason it formated horribly on my e-reader. From what I can tell though, it seems to be either a prequel or sequel to Nawin, or at least it contained the same named characters which I doubt is a coincidence. I was too frustrated with the e-reader to pay much attention to the story, although it seemed to be the same old song and dance routine that I am familiar with.   Quick notes: I would like to thank the author for the opportunity to read and review the book. 1 out...

Summary: In a sunny California apartment, a young woman and her fiancé arrive to record her great-grandmother's story. The story that unfolds of Precious Orchid's life in China, where she rises from a childhood of shame to become one of the most successful courtesans in the land, is unlike any they've heard before... When Precious Orchid's father is falsely accused of a crime and found guilty, he is executed, leaving his family a legacy of dishonor. Her mother's only option is to enter a Buddhist nunnery, so she gives her daughter over to the care of her sister in Shanghai. At first, life at Peach Blossom Pavilion feels like a dream. Surrounded by exotic flowers, murmuring fountains, colorful fishponds, and bamboo groves, Precious Orchid sees herself thriving. She is schooled in music, literature, painting, calligraphy, and to her innocent surprise, the art of pleasuring men. For the beautiful Pavilion hides its darker purpose as an elite house of prostitu...

Name of Book: Stop Me If You Heard This One Before Author: David Yoo ISBN: 978-1-4231-0907-5 Publisher: Hyperion Type of book: Asian male/white female, interracial relationship, cancer, social skills, high school, young adult, friendship, high school society Year it was published: 2008 Summary: If Albert Kim has learned one thing in his tragic adolescence, it's that God (probably a sadistic teenaged alien) does not want him to succeed at Bern High. By the end of sophomore year, Al is so tired of humiliation that he's chosen to just forget girls and high school society in general, and enjoy the Zen-like detachment that comes from being an intentional loser. Then he meets Mia Stone, and all the repressed hormones come flooding back. Mia, his co-worker at the Bern Inn, is adorable, popular, and most intimidatingly, the ex- long-term girlfriend of Ivy-bound, muscle-bound king of BHS and world class jerk, Ryan Stackhouse. But -- chalk it up to the magic of Al...

Title of the book: The Letters Project, Messages from The Ascended Masters Letters from your Future Reaching for your highest potential int times for great change Author: Brett L Bowden Publisher: Publish Green Publishing Date: 2008 ISBN: 9780615708027 Summary: Dear Ones, We have been sending Humanity instructional letters for some time now. the Letters, collectively known as The Letters Project, started in 2007 and will continue until Humanity has reached its full potential and it is deemed that they will no longer be needed. These Letters are instructions about life and hwo life works from teh perspective of the Spiritual Realm in which we reside. We go by many names for there are many of us here who want to communicate these truths to you. We work through the spiritual energy named Jaipur and are collectively known to this channel as The Counsel of Divine Wisdom. We are energies that reside in teh upper realms of existence. In your modern day temrs you might say...

General Information: Name of Book: This Generation: Dispatches from China's most popular Literary Star (and race car driver) ISBN: 978-1-4516-6000-5 Publisher: Simon and Schuster Year it was published: (2006-2012), anthology form, 2012 Summary: For those who follow Chinese affairs, Han Han is as controversial as they come- an irreverent singer, sports celebrity, and satirist whose brilliant blogs and books have made him a huge celebrity with more than half a billion readers. Now, with this collections of his essays, Americans can appreciate the range of this rising literary star and get a fascinating trip through Chinese culture. This Generation gathers his essays and blogs dating from 2006 to the present, telling the story of modern China through Han Han's unique perspective. Writing on topics as diverse as racing, relationships, the Beijing Olympics, and how to be a patriot, he offers a brief, funny, and illuminating trip through a complex nation that most We...

Name of Book: Perfect Chemistry Author: Simone Elkeles ISBN: 0802798225 Publisher: Walker Books for young readers Part of a Series: Perfect chemistry trilogy Type of book:  young adult, Mexican male/white female, perfection, wrong side of tracks, interracial relationship Year it was published: 2008 Summary: When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created 'perfect' life is about to unravel before her eyes. She's forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for: her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real proble...

Name of Book: So Totally Emily Ebers Author: Lisa Yee ISBN: 978-0-439-83847-4 Publisher: Arthur A Levine Part of a Series: Millicent Min, Girl Genius, Stanford Wong flunks big-time Type of book: 2000s, first love, divorce, friendship, coming of age, interracial AM/WF young adult relationship. Year it was published: 2008 Summary: In a series of letters to her absent father, twelve-year-old Emily Ebers deals with moving cross-country, her parents' divorce, a new friendship, and her first serious crush. Characters: The characters are all likable and tend to be somewhat on the eccentric side; you have Emily's mom Alice who tries to be a hippie, Millicent's family, her parents and grandmother and even Stanford. The characters are seen through Emily's eyes, thus nothing outside her knowledge is revealed about them. (All of a sudden I'm curious about reading Millicent Min and Stanford Wong books.) It's also curious at the way Emily resent...

Name of Book: Sea and Sky Author: Adrienne Leslie ISBN: 978-1-4392-4097-7 Publisher: BookSurge publishing Part of a Series: Bird and fish prequel Type of book: Korean dramas, adult, romance, 2007, interracial relationship asian male/white female Year it was published: 2008 Summary: Cancer survivor Wendy Dale has been busy healing others; her alcoholic husband, her chronically ill daughter and cantankerous mother. No wonder she took a Korean lover. But Hyun Jae Won returned to Korea leaving Wendy unable to heal herself. After discovering her good friend Libby Spring abandoned a baby in Taegu, Korea years earlier, Wendy offers to make the six thousand mile journey to locate Libby's now-grown son. Finally, she has an excuse to find her soul mate. Now, if she can only find out why she's trhowing-up every morning. The eye opening, jaw dropping second book in Adrienne Leslie's Bird and Fish Duology, is finally out. Only this time, in Sea and Sky, t...

Name of book: Lie with me Author Name: Cara Summers ISBN: 978-0-373-79417-1 Publisher: Harlequin Blaze Part of Series: Sequel to Tall, Dark...And Dangerously Hot Trilogy by Cara Summers, prequel to Come Toy with me By Cara Summers Type of book: Adult, Contemporary, romance novel Year it was published: 2008 Summary: Corfu's exotic beaches are a matchless place to meet true love...or at least to have a fabulous fling! And that's exactly what Philly Angelis needs. After all, she's a survivor of unrequited love...and an embarrasingly rejected sexual proposition. Fleeing to Greece to soak in its sexy magic-as well as to find a hot guy to take her mind off her longtime crush, Roman Oliver-seems the perfect antidote. Roman can't believe what's he's doing. Philly is his best friend's little sister-definitely hands off! So why is he following her to Corfu? And why is he taking her outrageously delicious sexual proposition seriously? Maybe beca...