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    • Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - a book review

    Wednesday, April 21, 2010

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    Author: Neil Gaiman (1996)
    Genre: Fantasy

    sypnosis from here:

    Richard Mayhew is an unassuming young businessman living in London, with a dull job and a pretty but demanding fiancee. Then one night he stumbles across a girl bleeding on the sidewalk. He stops to help her--and the life he knows vanishes like smoke.

    Several hours later, the girl is gone too. And by the following morning Richard Mayhew has been erased from his world. His bank cards no longer work, taxi drivers won't stop for him, his hundred rents his apartment out to strangers. He has become invisible, and inexplicably consigned to a London of shadows and darkness a city of monsters and saints, murderers and angels, that exists entirely in a subterranean labyrinth of sewer canals and abandoned subway stations. He has fallen through the cracks of reality and has landed somewhere different, somewhere that is Neverwhere.

    For this is the home of Door, the mysterious girl whom Richard rescued in the London Above. A personage of great power and nobility in this murky, candlelit realm, she is on a mission to discover the cause of her family's slaughter, and in doing so preserve this strange underworld kingdom from the malevolence that means to destroy it. And with nowhere else to turn, Richard Mayhew must now join the Lady Door's entourage in their determined--and possibly fatal--quest.

    For the dread journey ever-downward--through bizarre anachronisms and dangerous incongruities, and into dusty corners of stalled time--is Richard's final hope, his last road back to a "real" world that is growing disturbingly less real by the minute.

    If Tim Burton reimagined The Phantom of the Opera, if Jack Finney let his dark side take over, if you rolled the best work of Clive Barker, Peter Straub and Caleb Carr into one, you still would have something that fell far short of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. It is a masterful debut novel of darkly hypnotic power, and one of the most absorbing reads to come along in years.

    other review >>here

    My view:

    This book got me at this sentence: ....This is the city of the people who have fallen between the cracks.

    The characters in this book are interesting, eccentric and pretty amusing for me. The description of London Below will be much differ depend on one's imagination. As for me, something darker than the Harry Potter for sure. Richard don't like his new life, fighting and working it to get his old life. Only to realize that, he actually found more meanings and adventures in his new acquired secret life. Words just can't describe my feeling about this novel, it takes your own reading and understanding to really be in the London Below's world.

    What will you do, when you found out that you are fit into neverwhere?









    D for depression

    Tuesday, April 20, 2010

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    Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines a depressed person as experiencing feelings of sadness, helplessness and hopelessness. In traditional colloquy, feeling "depressed" is often synonymous with feeling "sad", but both clinical depression and non-clinical depression can also refer to a conglomeration of more than one feeling.

    Slight depression is of minor consequence. One may become slightly depressed over a loss of a job; break up of a romantic relationship or divorce. Other causes of slight depressions include loss of a parent, sibling, marital stress, job anxiety, moving or not having a great job. Slight depression may present with feelings of sadness, sleeping problems, irritability, being easily annoyed and feeling tired. Slight depression is reversible and short term. Most people get over slight depression with time and supportive therapy.

    There are some individuals whom may develop mild depression, which may start gradually for no reason. The individual may start to feel tired, restless, lonely and have difficulty sleeping. In many cases, the individual loses interest in sex and wants to be left alone. One may be able to go to work but not have any enjoyment. Mild depression may last a lot longer than slight depression, but can be overcome with changes in lifestyle, psychotherapy and social support.

    However, some individuals develop severe depression, which may induce feelings of suicidal ideation as it is common in severe depression. In severe depression, one may feel sad constantly, cry for no apparent reason, have trouble sleeping and focusing , become fatigued, feel worthless, have headaches or even backache . While slight depression has a cause, both mild and severe depression generally are complex disorders, which are not well understood. Mild depression may be related to the environment, such as being unable to cope with a certain job, unemployment, financial problems or loss of a loved one. No one understands why severe depression occurs. Even though many brain imaging studies have been done, the exact neurotransmitters in the brain which play a role in depression are still in question. Some studies do show that severe depression may be more common in families. Although the exact causes of depression are unknown, there are several risk factors that can trigger or increase the risk of depression.

    There are many symptoms that signify depression. The frequency, duration, and severity of these symptoms will vary depending on the individual. Some signs and symptoms that can occur include:

    • Anger and/or irritability.
    • Persistent sadness, the feeling of being "empty", and anxious.
    • Changes in sleep patterns (insomnia, in particular during the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping which is also known as hypersomnia).
    • Loss of interest in everyday activities.
    • Appetite or weight changes (a significant weight gain or loss, by more than 5% of body weight).
    • Irritability or restlessness.
    • Loss of energy.
    • Concentration problems.
    • Fear of failure.
    • Repetition in speech.
    • Unexplained aches and pains.
    • Frequent thoughts of suicide or death.
    • Compulsive-obsessive disorders (such as chewing fingernails).
    • Inability to control spending or eating.
    • Feeling worthless or ignored.
    information from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_%28mood%29

    handmade.card :)

    Sunday, April 18, 2010

    | 4 comments

    Giffe: oh dear Love, i've been searching for you. are you God sent birthday present for me?
    Love: my honey G, there's a tree of loves for you, to search within here.

    Ages since i spent my precious time doing my favourite art and craft.
    I used to make my own greeting cards for my friends, last time when i am much younger.
    These few days, i need some distraction and focus doing some thing that is not hard.
    So, why not grab scissors, some papers, glue, double sided tape, marker and any thing!
    Shown above is the birthday card i made for someone special :)
    And sure the giraffe meant something to us...
    Because i am sooo free, and in a very feeling creative mood...
    I made the envelope too..
    Very sweet and girlish huh.. but i don't care
    I made it with my own hands, sweat and blood. hard efforts okey.
    And i hope the person who receive this card of mine, soon
    Will love it to the core :)

    the lovely card and it's envelope. don't you think that the Giffe is so adorable??

    the best pecel lele ever!

    | 2 comments

    the best pecel lele ever found, so far! memang sangat sedap dan sambal super kelas punya. harga memang berpatutan. ikan keli goreng, ulam dan nasi putih semua sekali rm4.00. ni adalah satu-satunya makanan yang berjaya buat aku craving tahap tak keruan. nak tak nak, harus juga gi makan. aku ni dah lah jenis malas nak kuar rumah cari makanan. nasib baik lah kedai ni tak jauh. hari ni pun, makan pecel lele gak. best gilerrr wohhh. sampai menjilat jari cicah sambal dia :)


    kalau nak try makanan kat atas ni, leh pegi kat kedai mamak Shakers Corner, Hentian Kajang. ada gerai indonesia food kat lam mamak ni, tapi ada 4jenis makanan je dia ade. Pecel ayam, pecel lele, soto dan bakwan. Side order ada tempe dan tauhu goreng tapi selalu habis cepat. Gerai ni salu buka jam 12 tengahari sampai 9pm. Tapi kalo pergi time peak hour tu, memang sah-sah lah kena tunggu lama order. Sebab makcik yang punya gerai ni goreng ikan dan ayam kalo ade order je. so kire fresh from the kuali lah jugak makanan nye... Tapi demi sedapnye food tu, sanggup sangat tunggu ;)... so, next time kalo de singgah kat area sini-sini... mai le datang makan pecel lele.

    p/s: makcik gerai tu xde bagi diskaun kat aku ek. saje nak bgtau makanan sedap yang membuatkan perut ku tak lena di kala teringin nak makan.

    wipeout hilariously funny!

    Friday, April 16, 2010

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    people! tune to 8tv every Thursday night at 9.30 pm!!!

    a new game show is on air now, it's called WIPEOUT.
    watched the show last night, and very very interesting indeed.
    laugh my heart out, seriously funny to the ... emm
    maybe for those who need to unwind their days :)
    i am not trying to mock all those participants effort of course,
    but it is funny-lah when they fell into the mud, water and such.
    and i did shout 'auchh, n oohhh' when they hurt themselves

    importantly, there were lesson to be learn.
    about determination and one's will to finish the circuit
    and be one of the 4 final contestant to participate
    in the final round > the wipeout zone
    and bring back home USD50,000!

    last night, there was a guy...
    the host called him the sauce guy!
    well, obviously.. he drank hot sauce before starting the games
    when asked why did he do that?
    he answered: because i want to show and feel that i am strong.
    ok man, i got it. but, we Malaysian love chillies a lot man...
    then mean we are strong huh?

    and there was also a pro cheerleader.
    *save the cheerleader!!!
    but unlike the typical bitchy-dumb-blonde
    we always see on tele or movies,
    this woman, really win my heart
    enough said when she's the only female left
    and race with 3 other men in the final round, ok.

    ah, dont forget the winner of the 1st show
    it's a man name Christian if not mistaken
    he's bad bad guy, try to psycho all other participants
    in one difficult round name the sweeper
    i hate you man! but you win
    the usd50,000 for sure.
    ergh, i dislike psycho.. pleaseeeeee

    laugh!!!!

    p/s: i am sorry that i laugh but i am very sure that you will laugh at yourself too.

    full recovery, but not my brain

    Thursday, April 15, 2010

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    recovered fully from my super combo sickness.
    but my brain still refuse to think brightly!
    so i try to feed them with some good reading material,
    short stories on swords and sorcerers.
    not good really, because that make me...
    living in the book's imagination.
    need to come back to my harsh reality.
    wakey, wakey! here am i.
    staring blankly at my notebook's screen,
    and thinking about the next line of my thesis,
    that i should type instead of this post.

    i think i need a vacation,
    far far away from all these.
    but, it's better to reward thyself when all matters
    settled and worries free, aite.
    dear God, i want to be bijak pandai like before
    or even if im not that smart previously..
    i am asking for my passion and eagerness to learn,
    to come back to me, at once.
    living in this non-productiveness mode for few years,
    done me no good.
    what good does it bring,
    when no money to buy me things.

    my dearie dear, please cheers me up often
    and pinch me on the cheeks when i am lazy,
    and promise me that you'll make my day,
    when i am down....
    just like Edward did to Bella
    but of course don't do all those
    heartbreaking things to me.
    but, i rather like it for us to be
    like Alice and Jasper.
    Something eccentric and happy.
    oh, once again i am living in
    the world of books and fantasies.
    maybe, i should be a writer :)

    p/s: aahhaa.. i feel better after this short note

    ...totally random mumbles....

    Wednesday, April 7, 2010

    | 1 comments



    aku bingung.
    bingung sebab dah tak tau apa nak buat masa-masa demam, selsema, sakit tekak dan batuk begini.
    lalu aku dapatkan ubat selsema Cik Akma. Alamak, hanya boleh makan waktu malam saja.
    Oh, lalu aku pikirkan lagi elok kalau rehat secukupnya. Rehat depan TV, baring dan tidor. Al maklumlah, orang sakit katakan.
    sekali lagi aku bingung, lagi tidur lagi pening daa. Sakit belakang kepala lah, sakit badan lah.
    Nak buat kerja yang maha penting, tak pat nak fokus lagi sebab memang rasa teruk sangat sakit ni.
    Suara pun dah naik seksi ala-ala Fafau dah ni.
    terlintas lagi, nak mencari tempat mengadu lah...
    Maka ku belek-belek senarai nama online atau yang halimunan di YM. sahabat-sahabat berkenaan tiada pulak yang berada dalam talian.
    Ku cari-cari nama dalam senarai phone book... terpaksa berfikir berkali-kali nak SMS ke tak. ye lah, orang lain mesti lah busy. mana macam diriku ini. ah, takpa lah.. biarkan aku bermonolog depan TV dan laptop saja.
    Ada hati nak membaca buku-buku yang dah borong kat Pesta Buku haritu, tapi.. dengan otak yang tak berapa nak jelas ni.. biarlah dulu.
    Nak bersiar-siar kan laman siber, mood hilang ntah ke mana.
    Apatah lagi nak keluar dari rumah, lagi lah malas.
    Apa yang ditunggu, tiada khabar berita lagi. menunggu lagi dan lagi dan lagi.
    Malam ni, harus berjuang melawan batuk dan sakit kepala. Dan bersedia untuk bangun pagi dengan sakit-sakit badan. Haih, apa nak jadi dengan aku ni.
    Aku bingung, sekali lagi dan lagi dan lagi.