Power of Books

I woke up late today (9am). Thank God for my 10 a.m. client call which was only a 10 minute ride from where I live. I took a little longer to get ready and after putting my new beaded necklace (courtesy of Kim.. thanks dear!) I was off. I was late! But that's ok, the meeting with the client went good and was quick so I was already done by 11a.m. I then decided to bring some lunch to my fiancé who was sick.

After which, I dropped by PowerBooks in Shangri-La Plaza to pick up the book that I reserved last Monday. Yes, It's my most awaited book, Sophie Kinsella's Undomestic Goddess. Her follow up to her Can You Keep A Secret? novel. I decided that I have to have this book when I dreamt of it some nights back. And for me to be able to get the PowerBooks' PowerCard ( a point card + discount card in one) I should accumulate 1,000 worth of stamps. Buying Undomestic Goddess leaves me with a deficit of 300. I over hear two people talking about Wei Hui's novel, Marrying Buddha. As I checked out the book, the cover says: from the writer of the controversial book "Shanghai Baby". I was curious why Shanghai Baby was controversial so I bought the book. And it covered for my deficit.

After filling up the application form for the PowerCard, I went on my way back to the office. I can't wait to get home and cover my newly purchased books and start reading.

I searched the net and learned that the book (Shanghai Baby) was originally published (and subsequently banned) in China in 1999. Forty thousand copies of it were burned by the Chinese government.