Savoring one more chapter before I head in for my yoga class. I‘m still figuring out what‘s happiness to me and whether there is a happily ever after - with myself and not a partner or a friend or a loved one. Are we every truly happy with ourselves - can we be? Always a riveting mystery that I shall seek, for as long as I can.

Sorry for the radio silence..taking small steps back to my reads, in the midst of thesis preparation and work. And why is that I only just got on the audible bandwagon? It‘s been a joy having it for company when I‘m in commute or transit!

Heart-wrenching but filled with so much rawness of life and it‘s in-between. With all the awareness of mental illness and it‘s pain that‘s being magnified in the world now, it‘s even critical for one to acknowledge the voice (or voices) from within, to accept and calm it - as one tries to resonate the meaning and its learning from it.

Tonight‘s dinner. Truly loving how Lincoln‘s personality is evolving and dialogues between Jennifer and Beth is becoming more endearing ... and by chapter 45,I‘ve come to remember who‘s who now 😂(Jen is the one that‘s paranoid with being pregnant/having kids and Beth well, Beth..is the one with the hot rocker bf but lusting after Mr.Cute Guy aka Lincoln)

Sunday afternoon at the lounge waiting for my next work flight out. I tend to avoid weekend work flights but at times it‘s inevitable... well nothing a cup of cappuccino and a book can‘t cure right? More importantly it‘s a Rainbow Rowell read! I love her stories! Who‘s with me? 🙋🏻‍♀️

It‘s been a slow month of catching up on work and not having much of time for my reads. Last weekend we did a short drive into KL, Malaysia - to spend time as a family and doing what we love - savoring all the great local foods! Come late evening, when everyone is tucked into bed -I‘ll pull out this adorable book that brings on a huge smile as I slip into slumberland... I love Rainbow Rowell!

Finished this book on my flight to HK. I was expecting more depth but what came across for a good qtr of the book was the author‘s detest for anything India, discreet “boasting” of her brainy genes etc. The depiction of her visit to India was refreshing but didn‘t leave an lasting impression of someone finding her roots. Maybe I‘m being tough or just maybe, it was really just a story from a first person‘s narrative on finding her - roots.

“......the things that wowed were often the unexpected and unplanned experiences.”

Ran out of chai tea so going with my coveted Kusma Tea‘s English breakfast tea, added in a good dollop of coconut milk and ta-dah...perfect post brunch drink. Starting on a new read in between getting some work emails cleared on a glorious Sunday! Happy Easter Sunday!

The storyline line was transfixed between between present day- Cuba and post Batista and pre-Fidel regime, through the eyes of the granddaughter (and her grandma), embarking on a journey to unravelled her family‘s legacy, her own roots and her grandmother‘s Cuba. Political turmoils, exiles, kinship and brave love caught in times of revolution. I love the historical background and had me aching for the past and brim with hope for present day Cuba!

We decided to shelf our Havana trip this year - tinge of disappointment but no fret, we can always live vicariously through books and lovely human beings!

I‘m blaming it on post exam chill couple with a long to-do list 4 work that led to the ugly crying on the train this morning as I finished this book! We can all connect with a Mia within us -trying to fit in, not feeling good enough, not owning up for ourselves, family drama, siblings jealousy - basically growing up pains and finding thy self. I loved how it all comes in full circle for everyone - cause really isn‘t that‘s what life is all about?

Lunch break with a new YA read. Joy (this morning) was reserving e-books to read once the exams are over! 3 more day to go! 🤯✨💃🏻

A ‘feel-good‘ young adult book - which even those outside of the ‘young adult‘ age- category like moi 😜, will enjoy. (come‘n we‘re all young at heart). A good reminder of not being bind down by traditions, finding your own inner self - especially when old family traditions/beliefs defies you. (Random Pic: from a play - ‘The Father‘ depicting aging illness and Asian context of filial piety - separate but similar contexts raised in this book)

1. 🙇🏻‍♀️🧠📚📖📝🤷🏻‍♀️ 2. No particular one sticks out but I remember loathing the school bullies in ‘The tale of being‘. We can‘t avoid this occurrence in school environment (heck even work place) but measures do need to be taken to ensure every1 has the right to stand up to it 💪🏻 3. Over 4. Yes! 5. @GripLitGrl @Eggs @Lindy @GarthRanzz ~~~random shoutout! #littens {thanks for the tag @thereadingowlvina ☕️} #friyayintro @jesshowbooks 💃🏻

It‘s ‘the stay at home from work and study week‘ - had my first paper yesterday and think it went okay. I like to start my day with coffee (or locally known as Kopi) from the neighborhood coffee place - this is the traditional way of packaging take-away coffee. Distinctive and economic for the local stall owners. The reward for getting done with exams - catching ‘A wrinkle in time‘ movie, now let‘s brush up on this childhood fav!

{Don‘t hold it too tightly. Wish for it and let it go, trust that the universe knows and the magical force will do what it needs, if it belongs to you.} - listened to the beautiful GP and enigmatic, awe-inspiring Oprah talk about spirituality, women, #metoo, and her book list - this afternoon and it was the perfect Sundae-ish mood booster!

Simple porridge dinner with my Mumsy- thank god she‘s nothing like Mei‘s (the main character in this novel) Mother, but there are similarities, such as the - immense love and protection towards their children, as they struggle to maneuver in their adopted home country #Chineseimmigrants

I struggled with this one - it‘s one of those that can get pretty draggy with an over explosion of emotions that carries itself from the beginning to the end; and you‘ll find yourself asking - will this ever end? Don‘t get me wrong certain parts did had my eyes watery but I would have much prefer a better balance between the romance and suspense. Without that said Dev‘s writing is pure poetry!!

Taking a break from my assignment - and here I am making tomorrow‘s breakfast and downloading some books from the e-library. Came across this and totally resonated with the book description! I forsee this being a fun/reflective read during my breaks in the coming week!

“It only made sense that losing a part of yourself would bring lightness”
~ be good to yourself, cause no one in the world deserves that more than you. With that, I‘m spending the afternoon with a decadent hair treatment. Happy Saturday, #littens!

Decided that I shall start on another read in the evening before bed, and resist being guilty over the exam prep that‘s awaiting for me. I may just dedicate March‘s evening read to #southasian narrative. Anyone in the #Litsyfamily keen to join me? 😉 #bollywoodlover

Completed this book about a week ago during the Chinese New Year period. Steve a well-known corporate executive with a stellar resume writes of his dark childhood in an abusive foster care, his struggle to find his family and identity, the mere grit to survive and rise above what life has dealt him at a young age. Deep and hugely reflective of one‘s willpower to simply..live, love and be loved.

1. Singapore, 2. Biographies, Inspirational (self-help) - sorry being greedy can‘t stick to one answer, 3. The accidental creative, 4. Tuna sandwich and my dad‘s cooking, 5. Nope, 6. What would be your last meal? (the top qn this week at a company‘s networking session) 😉 #LitsyWelcomeWagon

The weather in HK has been perfect. Spring is finally here! Didn‘t get much reading done with the back to back meetings and entertaining, but I have been contemplating some of the concepts raised in this book - specifically ‘ The Big 3‘- which refers to the 3 things I need to gain creative traction on in both work and personal life!

As much as I complain about the work travels, I like the solace of having time alone to think and reflect. This year my aim is reflect deeper on the areas of my life that I want to see changes or improvements in. A close friend in HK recommended this book to me, and it‘s rather apt for me to bring it along to read on my flight to #hongkong and possibly share some snippets with her when we meet for breakfast next week!

First post ☺️ - current read. Hoping I get done with this (and maybe another one) before the crazy assignment and exams take over my life!