Just four. [Updated]

That's how many books I bought from the BookFest 2013 that just ended yesterday. But with just these four books, I saved RM 128.73 as compared to buying at full retail.

Need I say more?

Just one book

BookFest@Malaysia 2011 ended yesterday. As planned, I didn't buy any English book. I got only one Chinese book that I planned on buying since last year.

BookFest@Malaysia 2011

Good day at BookXcess; Bookfest@Malaysia is coming

I only visited BookXcess on 14 August (Sat) out of the three-day celebration, but I still managed to get some good books at crazy prices.

I reached the bookshop before noon and was surprised to meet a colleague with her sister. We headed out separately to hunt for our books. I hit the RM3 book section first and chose five books, "American Gangster and Other Tales of New York", "Blame it on the Rain" and "50 Ways to F**k the Planet" for myself, and two Sudoku books for my mom.

I also bought "'Tis: A Memoir" for RM 17.90. Previously I bought "Angela's Ashes" also from BookXcess but has yet to read it as there are still a lot of books on my to-read list. :P

Despite the anniversary sales with many titles selling at 30% discount plus other books selling at RM3 or less, I only bought four books. But it was a good thing, as I saved money for the upcoming Bookfest@Malaysia 2010 in September to buy more books, probably targeting on Chinese books. I've been reading so many English-language books lately that I felt I need to balance things out by reading more Chinese-language books, and the Bookfest@Malaysia is just what the doctor ordered.

4-12 September 2010 at KLCC

There were a few Chinese books listed in the Bookfest Catalogue that caught my interest, including:

Two books at once

I'm reading two books at the same time now: Feather in the Storm and James Herriot's Dog Stories.

Normally I don't read two or several books at once, especially novels, memoirs and such. I would prefer to read one book, engage myself into its story before moving to the next. It's just how I read.

Feather in the Storm was next on my list of reading, but it's a hard cover and just too heavy to carry around to read while I'm on the train travelling between home and work as I usually do. So I can only read it at home. Coincidentally, the Perhentian Trip is coming this Thursday and I wanted to bring a book to read while I'm there. The book has to be a light read and enjoyable, thus James Herriot's Dog Stories which I bought from BookXcess recently came to mind.

I don't want to put Feather in the Storm aside for too long as I bought the book from Bookfest@Malaysia last year. I couldn't bring it for the trip because first of all, it's too heavy. And second, it's about the writer going through China's Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward. There will be a lot of sad stories initially before reaching the part where the writer triumphed over her hard life. Not suitable to read for a relaxing island trip.

So what should I read instead? James Herriot's Dog Stories became the most suitable option. It's small and light, so I can bring it with me everywhere I go. The book consists of 50 individual stories, which means I can finish a story or two and can still enjoy the trip.

I won't be able to finish the book before the trip ends, but it doesn't matter. I can read it during my train travels. The short stories would also allow me to enjoy Feather in the Storm at home without confusing myself between the two books.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Just started reading this book today, bought it from the previous Bookfest@Malaysia last year. It about a pet dog called Enzo and his master, with Enzo as the narrator.

I can't remember when and where I first heard about this book, but I do remember at the time I already have books about pets such as Marley and Me, Dewey, My Life with George and A Lion called Christian (Well, Christian was sort of a pet back then, when there was no law against owning exotic animals as pets). I was thinking that it would be interesting to see things from the pets' perspective.

Therefore, I decided to buy it during the Bookfest, which I'm kind of regretted now as BookXcess is currently selling it at RM 17.90. Darn...

Anyway, I've started on the first few pages. I got a feeling I'll enjoy this book a lot!