#nationallibrarysg

[thwl76]

#nationallibrary #nationallibrarysg #nlb #nationallibraryboard #nationallibraryboardsingapore #sunset #building #architecture #architecturephotography (at Bugis Junction x Bugis+) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDl32SwFx-n/?igshid=1par8ua380jrs

[applejackhearts]

The 1000-year-old Boy

by Ross Welford

Genre: Fiction/Children’s Book

Published: 2018

Ratings: 5/5

Alfie Monk, his mother (Mam) and cat (Biffa) were living in a cottage located in the woods, close to the Whitley Bay for many years. They lived in seclusion to avoid curious residents, who heard rumours that Alfie and Mam remained ageless while their acquaintances got older.

Alfie believed that his actual age would have been more than 1000 years old. His body remained as an 11-year-old boy because of a life-pearl liquid he rubbed on his wound, which resulted in him becoming a never-dead.  

Alfie longed for a friend, but his Mam was wary. Matters got complicated before, and the experience with an old friend, Jack McGonagal, had taught Mam to avoid any sort of attention that would resort them to moving house.

Then, tragedy struck.  

Alfie’s cottage caught fire and claimed his Mam victim. For the first time, Alfie felt lonely and vulnerable without his Mam. Mam was best at providing advice on keeping their secret. While the authorities were on the lookout for Alfie to assist in the fire investigation, he managed to struck up a friendship with Roxy Minto and Aidan Linklater.

Roxy and Aidan have been helping Alfie on many occasions. At first, Alfie managed to stay under the radar at Roxy’s garage, with both of them keeping mum. Unfortunately, he was spotted by Aidan’s younger sister, who reported him to the police. Alfie got handed over to the social services department and was made to attend school. Later events proved that Alfie was too experienced for a boy his age.

Alfie’s final grand plan came up while he was grieving for his Mam. Alfie decided to embark on a mission to hunt for the last life-pearl that Mam hid and end his forever existence by resuming the ageing process. He depended on Roxy and Aidan to fulfil his mission by stealing a boat and sail to Coquet Island to find the life-pearl.  

A thrilling read for all ages. There were many interesting characters and historical references added to the plot—references mentioned were fictitious, though. The 1000-year-old Boy is available for purchase at Kinokuniya online store or go to the NLB Mobile app to loan the electronic copy.

[applejackhearts]

Convenience Store Woman

by Sayaka Murata Genre: Fiction Published: June 2018 Ratings: 3/5

Keiko Furukura spent 18 years of her life working part-time at the Smile Mart, outside Hiiromachi Station. As a 36-year-old singleton, Keiko’s lifestyle seemed unconventional to her family and friends.

Since young, Keiko’s problem-solving methods were unorthodox. One specific incident she recalled was when some boys started fighting that caused a big commotion in her primary school. To stop the fight, she took out a spade from the school’s shed, ran over to the unruly boys, and bashed one of them over the head.

Queries about her single hood and full-time employment status were unavoidable while hanging out with her old friends. To not be caught off guard, Keiko consulted her sister to formulate persuasive replies.

The only comfortable environment for Keiko was the convenience store. Working at the store was the only place she felt socially accepted by her colleagues and customers.

Keiko’s living situation changed with the arrival of Shiraha, the misanthropic colleague who worked at the Smile Mart for a short while. Keiko assumed that Shiraha faced a similar predicament and offered him to live with her. Surprisingly, people around Keiko were elated to learn about the news.

Keiko only realized that Shiraha was playing a ruse to avoid a debt owed to his younger brother when Shiraha’s sister-in-law paid a surprise visit to the flat. Shiraha deceived his sister-in-law by concocting a plan to repay his debt once his online business establishes and Keiko secured a full-time job.  

Following Shiraha’s plan, Keiko managed to secure an interview with a temping agency after resigning from the Smile Mart. On the day of her interview appointment, Keiko visited a convenience store in the business district. The hustle and bustle of the store urged Keiko to put on her store clerk’s hat. Shiraha was mortified to see Keiko engrossed in the store, that he dragged her out and belittled her.

Keiko pulled her hand from Shiraha’s grip and walked away from him. She proceeded to cancel her interview appointment and felt driven to find a new store to work in. Keiko finally found the profound self-respect to be a convenience store worker.

Sayaka Murata’s Convenience Store Woman was originally written in Japanese and published in 2016. The English version of the novel was released by Grove Press in 2018.

[applejackhearts]

My Mother, the Psychopath: Growing Up in the Shadow of a Monster

by Olivia Rayne & S.M. Nelson Genre: True Crime Published: January 2019 Ratings: 5/5

Growing up, I never felt loved by my family. The well-meaning parents, warm fuzzy feeling and freedom to live as you wish – that were frequently depicted in movies – never existed in my parents’ home.

My mother, a housewife, was the strict disciplinarian. She kept the household in order and ensures that her two daughters abide to her rules. My father, the breadwinner, was the complete opposite. He was easy-going but quiet most of the time.

Throughout my childhood, I feared my mother. She was ill-tempered and often experienced mood swings. If my elder sister and I misbehaved, we were beaten with a thick wood hanger or my father’s leather belt. There was no particular spot. She freely swung the weapon at our legs, arms, and heads. She never apologized for her actions. According to her, the beatings were justified and carried out with love.

The beatings became infrequent when I was in my teens. My mother’s temper had simmered down, but she turned verbally abusive. She berated vulgarities and often called me names when we had disagreements. Coming back home from school was dreadful, as I typically had to tiptoe around my mother. Her emotions were unpredictable that she will pick on insignificant issues and make a mountain out of a molehill.

Too many unkind words were spoken then. She criticized my features, made false accusations and bombarded me with insults aimed to make me feel small. The worst was when she called me Satan’s daughter. She said it with gritted teeth and contempt in her eyes. Such hate was shown for being late to respond to her page.

I wondered why my mother acted in such manner. What I went through was not normal. When I read Olivia Rayne’s memoir, My Mother the Psychopath, I felt compelled to share my story and found comfort to know that I am not the only one who has an emotionally abusive mother.

The memoir listed 15 symptoms of a psychopath and divided them into chapters. Each chapter is accompanied by Olivia’s emotionally gripping experiences faced throughout the years as her mother (Josephine) continues her abuse to gain control of her daughter’s life.

The abuses happened behind closed doors and witnessed by a man who ought to protect Olivia – her father. Olivia recollected how Josephine physically attacked her when she was 14. Josephine tried to jab a soap bar into Olivia’s mouth when she could not accept Olivia’s annoyance at her endless probing. Olivia managed to escape and spent the night at a public toilet nearby her home. Olivia was made to apologize to Josephine when she sought help from her father.

I could relate to most of Olivia’s ordeals, as some felt similar to mine. I understood the imaginary curtain that Olivia had to put up – a self-defence mechanism that blocked any provocation aimed at us. When our mothers were away, we felt our best.

Unfortunately, our stories do not end with a happy ending. Josephine and my mother still carry on their ways without realizing the hurt they have caused. Olivia took great strength to sever the toxic relationship she had with Josephine. As for me, limiting communication with my mother seems to keep me sane.

[junkieofalltrades]

Victoria Street looking towards Bras Basah Complex and the National Library. #victoriastreet #brasbasahcomplex #nationallibrarysg #singapore #igsingapore #travel #road #traffic (at Grand Pacific Hotel) https://www.instagram.com/p/B10P8cjB1cm/?igshid=16caqi99s7dht

[terayinggan]

Sun & Rain #zygphotography #shotonlgv30plus #nationallibrarysg #166th2018 #singapore #shortgateway (at National Library Singapore) https://www.instagram.com/p/BngKEikgqiT/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=r9xnwjjlrl5g

[viviliciousxo]

A #cool initiative by the #NationalLibrarySG. The dating scene out there is tricky but but this is one I can relate to, #BlindDate with a #Book! Of course I got one related to #food ;-). Happening at the #SGCoffeeFest this #weekend! #ReadingNationSG #WhatAreYouReadingSG (at Singapore Coffee Festival)