Coming Soon: BookXcess Reviews Ford County: Stories – John Grisham
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Ford County: Stories – John Grisham
Will be selling at RRP RM89.90 RM24.90
What’s the book about?
Ford County, Mississippi, USA. Set in a fictional county in the heart of America’s Deep South, Grisham gives us seven short stories about the life and crimes of Ford County’s residents.The stories include a mercy mission that is hilariously sidetracked by human weakness; a manipulative death-row inmate with one last plea; a small-town divorce attorney who suddenly hits pay dirt; a man who sets out to break a casino to revenge a broken heart and other stories where everyday Southeners get into not so everyday situations.
What’s special about it?
In Ford County Stories, Grisham departs from his usual legal thrillers to bring us a slice of Southern life through his unique point of view.
What are your thoughts of this book?
I think the believable characters in the stories coupled with Grisham’s engaging writing style makes this book a real page turner.
Who would you recommend this book to anyone?
I’ll recommend Ford County Stories to anyone who enjoys good general fiction in nice bite-sized chunks.
Random question: What do the critics think of this book?
Well, this book has received mixed reviews from various critics. So, why not read it and judge it for yourself?
Look out for Ford County Stories, coming soon to BookXcess in our next shipment!
Review by BookXcess part-time staff Victor
What are your favourite books?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
We’re all voracious readers. Well, okay, maybe some more than others, but we’ve definitely read quite a number of books by now, haven’t we? Some books you wished you never read, some books didn’t exactly change your life, and then there are some books which are so awesome you rave about it to anyone who’d listen to you. Today we’re listening; we want to know what are your favourite books! Which are the best reads you’ve ever had? Naturally, the BookXcess staff share the titles of books which they found awesome. Read more
Where do you read?
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Recently we hosted the Baca@LRT participants at our former premises at L3-57; they were entitled to a free BookXcess membership as well as a book thong when they visited us after the event. Here is the photo album on Facebook if you want to see pictures of the event. The idea of Baca@LRT is to cultivate a reading habit among LRT commuters.
We know you readers are out there, whether you read in the LRT or not. The question is, where do you usually do your reading? Naturally, we posed this question to some BookXcess staff and here’s what they say. Read more
Who is your favourite author?
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Last week, we asked what you were reading. Today, we’d love to know who’s your favourite author(s).
And of course, we quizzed our colleagues to know what their favourite authors are. Read more
What are you reading?
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Now that practically every bookworm in town has visited our new store, we’re curious about what you’re currently reading. Do share what is your current read!
In case you’re interested, we share what we are currently reading ourselves. Read more
BookXcess Reviews The Wee Free Men – Terry Pratchett
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Illustrated Wee Free Men: A Story of Discworld – Terry Pratchett & Stephen Player (Illustrator)
Price: RM29.90
1. So, what’s this book about?
It is about a 9-year-old witch wannabe, Tiffany Aching, who goes on a quest to save her sticky little brother from the evil Queen of Fairyland. With an iron frying pan as her weapon, Tiffany fought through various mini adventures together with a bunch of tiny ickle blue men with very strong Scottish accents called the Nac Mac Feegle or pictsies or Wee Free Men.
2. What’s special about it?
This book is Terry Pratchett’s second Young Adult Discworld book (30th adult version). This particular version has brilliant illustrations by Stephen Player which makes it more appealing and fun to read.
The best thing about reading a Terry Pratchett book is that you don’t need to be up to date with the earlier books to be able to read this one, although they are very much connected to each other. It is funny, and serious, and frightening, and happy, and strange, and ridiculous, and heartfelt, all at the same time. And who wouldn’t want to read about strange little blue men??!!
3. What are your thoughts on this book?
It is a typical Pratchett’s creation. Filled with exciting adventures which will make you want to turn the page and the page after that. And he’s seriously funny too! Although I do feel that Wee Free Men is a bit down-to-earth compared to his other works, but it is a bit easier to be read and perhaps could be a great starting point for the reader who has yet to try Terry Pratchett’s books.
4. Would you recommend this book to anyone?
Yes, absolutely! If you enjoy reading fantasy then this is a must read. And it is a must that you have a copy of this fantastic version!
5. Random question: What is this strange land called Discworld about?
For the uninitiated, Discworld is “a flat world balanced on the backs of four elephants which, in turn, stand on the back of a giant turtle,” as Wikipedia succinctly puts it.
Review by BookXcess part-time staff Zeela
BookXcess Staff Picks
Monday, February 1, 2010For us who work at BookXcess, we don’t just sell books. We read them and we love them. That’s why every month BookXcess staff will recommend 3 books for readers who are looking for their next read, or maybe as a gift for someone.
So check out what we’re recommending for this month! 
Have you read a book recommended by a BookXcess staff before? Did you like it? Or which staff’s recommendation do you enjoy checking?
Big News
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
BookXcess has some big news…
BookXcess Reviews Chocolat – Joanne Harris
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Chocolat – Joanne Harris
Price: RM17.90
1. So, what’s this book about?
Vianne Rocher arrives in the French village of Lansquenet with her daughter Anouk and opens a chocolate boutique. It is Lent season and her timing could not have been worse, for Father Reynaud has called upon the villagers to give up their indulgences. A chocolate indulgence was proclaimed by the priest to be the ultimate sin. How will this bode for Vianne’s chocolatier as she plans for an Easter Chocolate Festival?
2. What’s special about it?
Chocolat is a book dedicated to the magic of chocolate, “a novel in which chocolate enjoys its true importance, emerging as a moral issue, as an agent of transformation – as well as a pleasure bordering on obsession.” If Chocolat were a chocolate, it will be rich, pure unadulterated cocoa goodness!
3. What did you think about this book?
Love + chocolate + French village = complete love story for this reader. It’s also one of the rare books that has a respectable adaptation on screen, starring Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp and Dame Judi Dench. Watch the movie after reading the book!
4. Would you recommend this book to anyone?
This is definitely a chocolate lover’s book. If you liked other books with a chocolate theme, such as this book, you should enjoy this too.
5. Random question: What kind of chocolate do you like to eat?
Anything that says dark chocolate!
This book is recommended by BookXcess staff Malis & Su Lyn
Review by BookXcess staff Malis
A Tale for All Seasons
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The Lump of Coal – Lemony Snicket
Price: RM14.90
You always hear people say that pets are for life and not just for Christmas. Well, stories are for life too and just for a season even if they are set in particular season. And sometimes the smallest books carry the biggest messages.
From the quill of Lemony Snicket comes a tiny tale that has no orphans or insane uncles. It does not even run into 2 volumes, let alone a doomed 13. It’s a tiny book which tells a huge tale and it’s called The Lump of Coal. The book is illustrated by Brett Helquist and is all about …. You guessed it … a lump of coal.
The lump of coal thinks, talks and moves around by itself. He wears a suit and has dreams and wishes just like each and every one of us.
He dreams of drawing rough, black lines on a canvas or on a breast of chicken or salmon fillet at a barbecue.
He tumbles out of a bag of coal and into the world to make his fortune and find his dreams. He comes to an art gallery and decides to try his luck but is told rather bluntly to go away and not dirty the floor. He receives a similar reception at the Korean barbecue restaurant and finds out that the Santa on the corner is not the real McCoy at all.
The false Santa however, takes him home to his nephew as a gift since the nephew has been naughty rather than the nice the whole year round.
Ah, but this is when the dreams and wishes start coming through for the lump of coal is just what Jasper wants and needs for Christmas.
As the blurb says … Miracles can happen, even to those who are small, flammable, and dressed all in black. Which gives some hope to all the rest of us who are not even flammable.
Review by BookXcess staff Nesa