Books Books Books

Shopping always a hobby of mine. I love and enjoy shopping so much that I can walk non-stop in the shopping complex /mall whole day long, from morning till night. Even until they start chasing customers out, I still don’t get enough of it because it’s my heaven. As long as the destination is shopping centres, I can go with shopaholic partners or even alone! Sometimes you have no choice but to go alone, it can be fun as well to go wherever you want without control or restriction from others.

Shopping gives me joy and leisure. It helps me to kill my time and chase away my lonesomeness and boredom. It helps me to forget my worries and problems not forever but at least throughout the time when I’m in “Heaven”. Shopping fosters my relationship with friends and family. Shopping makes me discover new things and eventually can’t help to own them all. Shopping has listless advantages and benefits. So what are we waiting for? Let’s go to shop till drop! (As a result, you will stock up your room with plenty of stuff and you might die of heart attack when you check your saving account balance! Hahahaha…..)

Now it’s the other way round. I’m having problems when it comes to shop for BOOKS! I’m not big fan of any books, neither fact nor fiction. I grew up not having the habit to READ. And I did tell my big big boss right in front of his face during the second interview “I don’t like reading at all”. Yes, I’m very honest person! Hahaha…. Seriously, unlike other parents, my parents always busy with they business and hardly have time to encourage anyone of us to study or read! They never brought us to bookshops or libraries; neither did they buy any books for us. We simply slack all time when we were young! We spent our early childhood playing around with peers in my neighbourhood after school. I still remember my childhood best buddies – Ke, Seng, Zong Ye! (All boys and latter three are triplets!) We went to same kindergarten, same primary school and even same class for 6 whole years! I had wonderful years with them, playing boyish games, climbing here and there, racing in running, cycling etc! After taking bath and having lunch, it’s time for me to sneak out from the house! Mom couldn’t even keep an eye on me because it was better for her to keep her eyes on the shop! Shoplifters do exist in this world, you know? Those were the days and now I have lost contact with them. Sigh....

Despite all this, I excelled in everything in my younger years. I was one of the top students in my primary school. Mom and dad very proud of my achievements, especially dad would announce everything to every customers and friends! So everything I did was so visible and transparent to the circle of people in my life. I used to participate almost everything in academics, represented my school in many big and small competitions. I was outgoing and full of confident as a result I hardly went unnoticeable, in school or in my hometown. But thing turned to be very low key when I enrolled in my secondary school. It was full of bright students with straight A’s in my school - the elite school in Kedah.

I was thrilled when I was given MMU Book Award during my convocation in July last year. It stated RM150 Book Award and I thought it was cash prize that I can use for other purpose – shop for clothes! It turned out to be very troublesome! We are entitled RM150 claims for books we buy within 6 months starting from last July. Reading storybooks or novels never is my cup of tea. First few months I was slacking at home and in Singapore looking for job and never bothered about the award. Just last month, I realized if I never make the claims it’s like I’m throwing away RM150 for doing nothing. Might as well make full use of the money to buy BOOKS (sigh). It has been many times I visited various bookshops – Takashimaya, MPH, Popular etc during weekend in Singapore. Sis in law and bro were full of enthusiasm to suggest all sorts of books worth buying. It just hardly attracted my attention to them (not authors’ fault, it’s my own problem). So far I managed to grab two books from two different bookstores, which are “First Aid for Family” from Popular and “The Lord of The Rings” (my favourite movie) from MPH (wonder when will I finish reading LOTR book). I still have balance of RM50, so can anyone help me out here? Please recommend some great books for this pathetic girl, I need to buy it by 25th January (4 days away) because Book Award Claims’ deadline is 31st January.

Thank you so much, your prompt help and recommendation is high appreciated! Muaacckksss…. Hugs and kisses.