Whimsical Bookshelf pt 1

The droplets of sweat running down my forehead officially marks the start of my summer. The heat is inevitable and so are the unproductive first days of my summer vacation.... Although i'm glad school is over, I wish I had an idea on what to do next. With no more homework, projects, and deadlines due, what in the world can I do know? Not to mention that the temperature in here just wants to make me lie down in bed all day with the air-con blasting on full. Can I get any more productive?
Moving on from my complaining, I know what'll make semi-nerds like me beat the summer heat! Books! Although I find stalking people on social media entertaining, the one thing i'd rather do is to read. Instead of snooping through people's internet lives, why not freely discover an "outta this world" story that lies underneath one of those beautiful glossy front covers? Can you feel the scent of those freshly grazed book pages? The bliss you get when poured out hundreds of emotions and "feels" from it? Sigh, pure happiness.

Here are some of my fav fave favourite books! Whimsical Bookshelf Part 1 includes the ultimate teen angst, to the sentimental life "realization" and even the über "kilig-ness". Enjoy!

Attachments

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"Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.

When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.
What would he say . . . ?"

Although only meaning to be a light read, this book brought me so much more. Not even the most emotionless man on earth could resist the adorable quirkiness of the characters and the tranquil vibe the writing exuded. Lincoln, a supposedly "handsome geek", is the new late night email monitor of Nebraska newspaper's writing staff. Set in the 1990's, the ambience of the pre technology boom brings a comforting feel in my body. Lincoln's engaging attitude gave me no choice but to feel protective of this sensitive, struggling,  cute boy. As the transition from classic traditions to new age occurs, so does Lincoln's path to finding himself (and possibly a girl from his screen). This book captured my heart and for sure will steal yours too.

To All The Boys I've Loved Before

"Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control."

O M G. Words cannot explain my reaction when I found out the book's sequel comes out a year after I fell in love with it. To All The Boys I've Loved Before left me in an emotional mess, an annoying cliffhanger, and a mega crush on a fictional character. Another great thing is, Lara Jean is asian, and has two sisters! Jackpot! So relatable! I couldn't stop but swoon from the sweet gestures of *......* to the super romantic lodging trip scene with *......* again. Gahhhh! My feels could not contain myself from reading it again twice (or maybe thrice). I couldn't be more desperate than to finally get my hands on the sequel coming out this May. 

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13 Reasons Why

book excerpt and image via

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and crush - who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah's pain, and learns the truth about himself-a truth he never wanted to face."

This book was definitely one of my intermediate school life eye openers. I remember reading this book after my friend insisted I borrow it from her. We were two tweens who wanted some thrill in our elementary lives. Three years later, I still remember the vivid, and intense feeling I got whilst scanning through the pages. The urge to find out what happened next was so forceful I was really tempted to ditch the whole story and proceed to the ending. As an innocent tween reading a young adult fiction about dark topics, I felt like I was transported into adulthood. The grungy feeling I got when entering the "emo" phase felt so surreal to me. Imagine a ditzy, happy-go-lucky pre-teen scanning through the electrifying contents of this dark, suspenseful book? Yup, the emo phase was definitely on.

Despite the hair-raising excitement I got from this book, I wish I read it later. Topics like depression and suicide seemed to be so glamorised in the story. As a gullible tween who wanted to be cool, this book made it seem that suicide was the way to end our problems. Luckily, I grew out of that "feeler-emo-punk" phase and distinguished the right thing to do when faced with trials:

Proverbs 3:5-6:Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.