Charming Classics
Monday, May 31, 2010
Mansfield Park & Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen RRP: RM59.90 Now: RM24.90
Good news classics lovers! BookXcess has two posh looking classics titles by Jane Austen at a real good deal! The book includes:
- The complete text in a modern, readble typeface.
- Four clear instructions by renowed Austen scholars.
- A timeline in colour of Jane Austen’s world.
- A colour map of Jane Austen’s England.
- A stylish embossed black jacket with an easy-to-use elastic closure.
- An illustrated section on the church. (Mansfield Park)
- An illustrated section on Regency Bath (Northanger Abbey)
Synopsis:
Mansfield Park, the idyllic Bertram family estate, becomes home to a poor young relative, Fanny. In this wealthy world of social accomplishments and flirtations, the sensible Fanny finds herself out of place, yet secretly in love with her cousin, Edmund. Jane Austen employs her unerring wit to brilliantly capture the social and moral values of an English society at a time of great upheaval.
Northanger Abbey was one of Austen’s earliest novels, written in 1798, but it was not published until after Austen’s death. The novel is the coming of age story of Catherine Morland who is taken to the fashionable resort of Bath with her friends the Allens. While in Bath, she meets Henry Tilbey and his sister Eleanor. The Tilney’s invite Catherine to Northanger Abbey, the Tilney’s family estate. Catherine, an avid reader of Gothic novels, soon becomes obsessed with the thought that possible atrocities are going on at the abbey.
Another All Time Companion of Books
Friday, May 28, 2010
Bookends, for all their whimsical designs, had practical beginnings. While today’s bookends are a mix between the beauty of visual form and the performance of a necessary function, centuries ago bookends mostly just kept people from getting hit on the head.
Monks in the Middle Ages: Before Bookends
During medieval times, books were really only found in monasteries and a few other scholarly locations, as books required a great deal of time and special skills to produce. Books were chained in lecterns and study areas and read on slanted surfaces in carrels (no place for bookends!).
An Increase of Books and the Evolving Need for Bookends
Around the end of the Renaissance, books began to be readily available to more and more people. Those lucky enough to have a very great – or even a very small – collection of books, generally kept them together, as they were still quite valuable.
Before books became so much more regular, a small pile of books might be stacked flat, or horizontally; but as the quantity of books increased, forming mountains of books didn’t seem to make much sense, even just considering safety reasons. Shelves and book chests came into use; eventually books began to be stored vertically by the end of the 16th Century.
Shelves, Categories, and Bookends
As libraries and collectors formed categorical systems for arranging books, and shelves grew taller and more accommodating, bookends became a means for keeping books neatly horizontal on an otherwise unfilled shelf. Bookends of sufficient weight would keep the shelved books safely in place and reduce book avalanches, making vertical book storage and the use of bookends a definite improvement over horizontally stacked book mountains.
Bookends Today: Displaying with Pride
People today generally don’t depend on bookends to save their heads from harm. Most sets of bookends serve simply to keep bookshelves tidy and add decorative complement. A set of bookends might be chosen to balance a particular display of books, those with collectible or very personal value. Many book lovers are also lovers of bookends and might become collectors of both. Finally, with all of the styles available today, bookends might be chosen simply because they reflect a certain theme – nautical, sports, cowboys, circus, etc – or because the bookends complement a decorative style like art deco, rustic, modern or romantic. It’s easy to fall in love with a set of bookends before books even come to mind.
Bookends certainly had practical beginnings, and they still serve the same practical purpose today. However, today’s bookends can add fun and stylish flair to any room of a home or office.
Let’s take a look at several interesting bookends: Read more
Funny Faces Cheers~!
Friday, May 28, 2010
BookXcess has some books that are really cheery & fun for the toddlers & kids! Funny Faces brings brand new series of multi-sensory board books featuring characters and crazy tales. The rhyming text are fun to listen & read, it also includes a touch and feel element on every page. The fun ends with noisy suprises and flashing lights on the last page!
Ideal for children 3 and up.
Chirpy Chick (smaller version) RRP: RM34.90 Now: RM14.90
RRP: RM52.90 Now: RM19.90
1. Rusty Robot
2. Alien Al
3. Dizzy Dragon
4. Rocky Dog
5. Charlie Monkey (also available in smaller version at RM14.90)
Delicious Detective Reads
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Alexander (R.A.A.) “Sandy” McCall Smith, CBE, FRSE, (born 24 August 1948) is a Zimbabwean-born Scottish writer and Emeritus Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh. In the late 20th century, McCall Smith became a respected expert on medical law and bioethics and served on British and international committees concerned with these issues. He has since become internationally known as a writer of fiction. He is most widely known as the creator of the The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_McCall_Smith
Here are some McCall Smith’s titles available in BookXcess store:
Love over Scotland RRP: RM89.90 Now: RM19.90
Six-year-old prodigy Bertie perseveres in his heroic struggle for truth and balanced good sense against his insufferable mother and her crony, the psychotherapist Dr Fairbairn, going as far as to make a short-lived bid for freedom on a trip to Paris with the Edinburgh youth orchestra. Domenica sets off on an anthropological odyssey with pirates in the Malacca Straits, while Pat attracts several handsome admirers, including a toothsome suitor named Wolf. And Big Lou, eternal source of coffee and good advice to her friends, has love, heartbreak and erstwhile boyfriend Eddie’s misdemeanours on her own mind.
Espresso Tales RRP: RM89.90 Now: RM19.90
Fans will welcome the second installment in the bestselling 44 Scotland Street series. Full of McCall Smith’s gentle humor and sympathy for his characters, “Espresso Tales” is also an affectionate portrait of a city and its people who, in the author’s own words, “make Edinburgh one of the most vibrant and interesting places in the world.”
In The Company of Cheerful Ladies RRP: RM79.90 Now: RM19.90
This time around, the charming and ever-resourceful Precious Ramotswe finds herself overly beset by problems. She is busier than usual at the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, when a strange intruder in her house forces her to confront a painful secret from her past.
The World According to Bertie RRP: RM89.90 Now: RM19.90
“The World According to Bertie” is the fourth in the series and revolves around the many colourful characters that come and go at No. 44 Scotland Street. McCall Smith handles the characters with his customary charm and deftness – the stalwart Tory chartered surveyor, the pushy mother, and, most importantly in this novel, the beleaguered Italian-speaking prodigy, Bertie. This is classic McCall Smith – clever, witty and entertaining – and beautifully illustrated. A chance encounter with Armistead Maupin in San Francisco inspired Alexander McCall Smith to write this series of novels based around the fictional No. 44 Scotland Street in Edinburgh’s New Town.
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive RRP: RM79.90 Now: RM19.90
For Mma Ramotswe, there is rarely a dull moment, and in her newest round of adventures, the same certainly holds true. One thing above all else is keeping her occupied–her estimable husband has been hinting that he intends to do something special for their adopted daughter.
Blue Shoes and Happiness RRP: RM79.90 Now: RM19.90
This newest entry in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series continues the adventures of Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s leading, and only, female private detective. Her personal life, busy agency, and unusual cases are always fascinating–and highly entertaining.
Synopsis source: http://www.alibris.com/
James Herriot’s Animal Realm
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
James Herriot is the pen name of James Alfred Wight, OBE, also known as Alf Wight (3 October 1916 – 23 February 1995), an English veterinary surgeon and writer. Wight is best known for his semi-autobiographical stories, often referred to collectively as All Creatures Great and Small, a title used in some editions and in film and television adaptations.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Herriot
BookXcess has James Herriot’s ultimate collection in store now!! 
Read more
BookXcess’ First Ever Storytelling Good Times!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010On 16th May, in conjunction of Children’s Books Week, BookXcess had the honour to organize a storytelling session by inviting Anne Elizabeth Ooi. This is our very first ever storytelling session & it was indeed a historical one. Therefore, we’re keeping records of this very special event in our Blog archive! 
According to Wikipedia, “Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values.”
Do you recall as a young child, that our teachers or parents or even grandparents telling us stories during leisure or bedtimes? Good times, don’t you agree? Back then, we may not have volumes of Disney stories with “happily ever afters” but we do have our very own local & classic folktales that has its own version of “happily ever afters” and moral values… Such traditions must be carried down to our new generations of kids.
These are some of the pictures taken on 16th May that we would like to share with our BookXcess friends (Anne doing her magic, and kids entranced by her!)
Books that Helps You Climb the Corporate Ladder Effectively!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
John C. Maxwell (born 1947) is an evangelical Christian author, speaker, and pastor who has written more than 50 books, primarily focusing on leadership. His books have sold more than thirteen million copies, with several on the New York Times Best Seller List and translations in over fifty languages. In 2003, he was honored by the State of Indiana for his lifelong mission in helping individuals develop as leaders, for his prolific authorship, and for the founding of EQUIP. Source: John C. Maxwell (born 1947) is an evangelical Christian author, speaker, and pastor who has written more than 50 books, primarily focusing on leadership. His books have sold more than thirteen million copies, with several on the New York Times Best Seller List and translations in over fifty languages. In 2003, he was honored by the State of Indiana for his lifelong mission in helping individuals develop as leaders, for his prolific authorship, and for the founding of EQUIP. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Maxwell
BookXcess now have some of Maxwell’s books title in store!! Of course, at an awesome price! These books are great for improving your people skills & helps you build the perfect package for you to face the corporate world! Read more
An Enchanting Tale of Men and a Lion.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010“The enchanting true story of three friends and their remarkable reunion”– Cover.
A Lion Called Christian RRP: RM86.90 Now: RM17.90
“In 2008, YouTube.com featured an extraordinary two-minute film clip showing the remarkable, highly moving reunion of two men and their pet lion, Christian, after they had left him in Africa with Born Free’s George Adamson. This tells the backstory, of how John Rendall and Anthony ‘Ace’ Bourke, visitors to London from Australia in 1969, bought a boisterous lion cub in Harrods for 250 guineas. For a while, the three of them lived together as flatmates in the King’s Road, Chelsea, where Christian quickly became a local celebrity. But the lion cub was growing up, fast. It was thanks to Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers, stars of Born Free that Christian was subsequently flown to Kenya and placed under the expert care of Adamson. Originally published in 1971, it has now been fully updated by the authors, with stunning photographs. A unique and extraordinary story of its time, and is destined to become one of the great classics of animal literature.”
Isn’t it amazing how creatures of God can have such intelligence and love for it friends? This will definitely be a heart-warming read!
The Extra FUN Educational Boosts!
Monday, May 24, 2010
All parents would love their kids to be an all-rounder. BookXcess’ new shipment brings exciting activities book for your kids! These collections of educational subjects comes in stages for various ages and each activity book has over 25 activities that makes learning fun & easy! It also includes progress tests & chart to track improvements… *pssts!* Did we mentioned that each book comes with 60 Gold Star stickers PLUS 30 coloured stickers for added fun & value?? 
For Ages 3-4
- Preparing for Times Tables
- Phonics
- Alphabet and First Words
- English
For Ages 4-5
- Preparing for Times Tables
- Counting
- Phonics
- Alphabet and First Words
- English
For Ages 5-6
- Phonics
- Maths
- Alphabet and First Words
- Counting
- Preparing for Times Tables
For Ages 6-7
- English
- Phonics
- Counting
- Alphabet and First Words
The best part is? The RRP for each of these books is RM17.90 and now you can get them each at RM8.90 only at BookXcess! Learning could be REAL fun for the kids!
Feel-good Reads…
Monday, May 24, 2010
Introducing Dorothy Koomson!! Koomson is a wonderful contemporary English novel writer who hails from London, UK. http://www.dorothykoomson.co.uk/
BookXcess is lucky to have TWO of Koomson’s amazing titles for sales at GREAT price; only RM17.90!
The Cupid Effect RRP: RM34.90 Now: RM17.90
Ceri D’Altroy watches too much Oprah Winfrey – and it’s having serious repercussions. Bored with London life and writing yet another ‘have the perfect orgasm’ feature, she’s decided to take Oprah’s advice and follow her heart’s desire. Going back to college might not be everyone’s dream but all Ceri’s ever wanted to do is lecture…
Unfortunately, Ceri’s new start seems to involve disrupting lives: within days she’s reunited a happily uncoupled couple, encouraged her new flatmate to do something about his unrequited love, and outed the secret relationship of her two colleagues. Only, while Ceri’s playing Cupid for others, the highlight of her social calendar is trying a new hair conditioner. Something needs to be done, but can Ceri stick to her vow to give up her accidental matchmaking for good…?
A delicious comedy about love, life and following your heart.
Goodnight, Beautiful RRP: RM34.90 Now: RM17.90
Nova Kumalisi would do anything for her closest friend, Mal Wacken. She owes him her life. So, when he asked her to be the surrogate mother for him and his wife, in spite of her fears about how it would alter their friendship, Nova agreed. Eight years later, Nova is bringing up their son alone, and she and Mal don’t speak. Months into the pregnancy, Mal’s wife changed her mind about the surrogacy agreement. Already suspicious of how close Nova and Mal were, Stephanie realised her strained marriage was in serious trouble when she found a text from her husband to Nova, saying, ‘Goodnight, Beautiful’. She asked Mal to cut all ties with his closest friend and unborn child. Now, seven-year-old Leo is critically ill and Nova, despite her anger and hurt, wants Mal to have the chance to know his son before it’s too late. Will it take a tragedy to remind them how much they mean to each other?
Now, who’s up for contemporary English novels?