Ah, that man with the simple and infectious smile. It's quite suitable that he sing that song which is the fifth track on this album. Entitled, Three Musketeers, it features the rapping of MC Mong and Ho Inchang. Such a funky tune, it truly lights up your day. And talking of fun and funky songs, the ninth track called (translit.) Loving Summer has Andy rapping. Again a very suitable person to do the rap. The song is simply so cute. The chorus is very simple and pure fun.

And as i said earlier, the eighth track has Eric Mun's rap but didn't know that also features the song-writing skills of M. In a recent interview together, it was revealed that Dongwan started writing songs first but Minwoo followed suit, influenced by this action. However, he did it so well, Dongwan laughingly admits, that Dongwan stopped. Such a back-handed compliment, exactly what you'll expect of Dongwan who's always trying to lighten up the mood. His tribute to M's skills, saying that it has been said it has a distinct style, that M has started a whole new genre. So, My Love composed by M with rap by Eric, sung by Dongwan. Still at times i wonder if he wrote it tailor-made or not - because Dongwan sings it a little higher than his other songs (like a perpetual falsetto). Maybe just my imagination.

'Can't love u' is a duet with Byul, whose husky voice nicely juxtaposes with Dongwan's clear tones. Another duet, 'The one left behind' this is the 10th track, has fellow Shinhwa member and ballad singer, Shin Hye-sung's contribution to this album. Reminds me of the remark i made earlier about Dongwan under the shadow of Hyesung. Their voices complement each other a little too well, until if you weren't listening carefully, you would think same person. Which was the reason why i missed it the first. But this is the kind of ballad Hyesung is known for.

The first track is in actual fact an extra new track which Dongwan penned. It is lighthearted which explains why lil'one Eri liked it more than the first single Handkerchief (here it is the fourth track). 'It's my Fault' somehow sounds very, very familiar. Exactly like those songs you'll hear included on a soundtrack of any drama, played when the protagonist leaves the love of his live etc etc. And the seventh track, roughly translates like Love, Poor is a ballad which has Mando-pop tones.

The delightful sixth track is Scream, a cover of song written by Takuro of Glay and Shun of Exile. It features rappers D.Bace and DJ Tukutz of Epik High. Nice, very nice. He likes J-rock, i think. He sang X-Japan's Tears and La'cryma Christi's Cry Sour Grape (but was very strained with the Toshi's song, X-Japan is kinda metal so that kind of screaming is very hard act to follow).

Finally, current favourite remains the Three Musketeers for it brings a smile to my face everytime i hear it.

Kim Dong Wan-sshi, good job.

Recently getting very much interested with K-pop. In fact, it's probably the fault of those 6 legendary hyper-active boys, Shinhwa. It is really without a doubt that I really love M and Kim Dong Wan's new albums.

And even though at the beginning, i found the sounds a little too overwhelming, i've now discovered the beauty behind the boom. It's cute and fun and sexy, perhaps cos i don't understand the lyrics so i don't feel quite put off by them. (the main reason why i steer clear of English songs especially R&B and hip hop is that the lyrics can be quite offensive).

Anyways, my current favourite M song is 'The 'M' Style', which i remember first hearing and wondering why M is singing 'Hamster" etc. Actually, it's M-style. But this song encompasses the entire feel of the album - deliciously fun yet deeply sexy, plus the pounding, infectious boom-booms. Eri liked it too, when i played it for her.

Apart from falling into the M blackhole, i've been doing a little bit of surfing and listening to KDW, in fact notice that my entire MP4 is filled with only Shinhwa, M & Kimdongwan with a smattering of tunes from Fly to the Sky.

Kim Dong Wan's first solo effort, it seems is meant to geared towards a more J-pop direction. That accounts for me finding it more palatable. (M's is very much Western, American hip-hop & R&B which to me holds less weight). Read next post, because i'm going to explain more ... najung-e

i just got my November/December issue of The Hornbook. In it is Richard Peck's 'Zena Sutherland Lecture', and i quote from his introduction, paying homage to Zena Sutherland:

'For all of us who write for the young and the half-grown; for all of us who believe that picture book illustration has better not be second-rate art; for all of us who believe that childhood is a jungle, not a garden; for all of us who believe the story still stands because fiction is truer than fact, ...'

i don't know who Zena Sutherland is, forgive my ignorance but i found this description so touching because ultimately, when we sell children's books, then we should know what we are actually trying to provide. Some may think that children's books are simple and you can sell any damn thing to those gullible parents and their not-so knowledgeable kids. But let me ask you then, what's the use of a buyer, a bookseller or maybe a librarian - if not to present the right books to the world?

Sure, we want to make money, too.

So achieving the right balance is important.

Also, i quote another line:

'... the young deserve a well-crafted story - and that they could take it. That the narrative is a structure strong and supple enough to tell the traditional tale while tumbling taboos. That sentimentality is the enemy of both literature and politics. That you can pity the young or prepare them for the world, but you cannot do both.'

Wow! i'm so impressed by such vision. Honestly though, when i first started buying books, never did it cross my mind that i'll stand by these words, too and say, yup ezackly. Now i do.

In fact, i've just finish listening to the audiobook of Golden Compass, and can't stop marvelling over how this book and the other two of His Dark Materials, embodies some of these values. That you should't short change them just because they are kids. That you shouldn't dumb down the writing for they are only younger, not any less intelligent. That you should not shy from telling it as it is, for believe it or not, the eyes of the innocent can tell a faker just the same.

i believe that. Because i've had the opportunity to read books like the Golden Compass and understand the beauty of books like these. Written with such elegance and thought, they make you respect the artistry of children's literature.

Honestly, to get a child to read and love reading - ultimately, apart from those run-of-the-mill readers and chapters, they need these kinds of books to instill a true love for literature. These kinds are books that respect the reader and in turn, win their respect.

Still, as true booksellers, us are not to question. Our role is to keep the balance between making a profit and getting good books into the hands of people who appreciate them.
(even though, sometimes it's kinda tough on my own pocket, too) ;-p

Just reread Magicians of Caprona.

There are so many Diana Wynne Jones books that i simply adore, but my favourites are Magicians of Caprona, The Merlin Conspiracy and Hexwood. Of all the Chrestomanci books, this is my utter fave, i suppose it's partly because Tonino is one of my favourite characters. Because his magic is so different.

And i also find the setting and plot very original. Especially the duel scene, where the two families meet to fight it out which DWJ at one point compares to an opera, has so much theatrical value. If it was animated, the entire Chrestomanci series even, it would be way too cool.

Honestly, i want to move to Caprona where the two greatest spellmaking families live. So that i can buy a spell be it on a pink or green slip to chase away this restless kind of deepest blue that is ensconcing me.

Anything for a ticket out of here OR better still, one to the romantic state of Caprona.

Lil'one Eri says FT Island is okay but the guy who sang the first song has got an irritating voice. She hopes that he's not the lead singer. Oh dear, not very promising, yeah?

So far Cheerful Sensibility is okay-lah. Except i hate that Primadonna song. I think the vocals is by that same guy, too. i always skip it. Hahahah ...

i've been thinking over the previous post on KDW and realised that i'm hardly flattering KDW's first solo effort. Well, if you're a great fan of K-pop and the type of R&B popularly preferred, you probably wouldn't understand how tiring and monotonous it is to get the same sound all the time. M's latest album for example is (to me) quite an extreme R&B, hip-hop, dance combination which though, cool and sort of sexy lacks a little emotion, coming across cold at times. (sorry, dear but i loved your first album much more than this one. Though, i cannot deny that it's very individual, sexy and truly M).

Anyway, in the eyes (or rather, ears) of someone who's been listening to all sorts of Asian pop, Dongwan's album will be classified as something commercial and easy listening. But it has a lot of sincerity which reflects what i think KDW wants to say. He's moderate, really and compared to OTT M, he's just nice. I suppose this does come also from the fact that he'll definitely be compared to Hye Sung (being second vocal as opposed to HS's main in Shinhwa), whereas it's probably impossible to beat M for that flambouyancy. Thus, KDW is just nice la, not OTT and not sentimental.

Whatever it is, i like the album for all that it is.

Will Jay please lend me Hye Sung's album?

This is a photo taken from the tour bus, near the hot springs. Forgot what it's called. But just lurve it. BTW, yes it's in Hokkaido.

So my verdict. He has a sweet voice. Not very powerful, but not irritating either. His album is surprisingly, not pure R&B (like M, which i actually dislked at the beginning) but a nice mixture of a little pop, hip-hop, R&B and rock. One of those that you'll enjoy on anyday, plus will grow on you. Loved track 8, which has rap by Eric Mun. Also there's a duet, which is quite good. (makes me want to learn Korean, so that i can read the titles and transliterate the lyrics) Korean pop can be quite boring or monotonous or sound too alike. This is more varied, so i like.

kimdongwan is ... ? a good companion & friend. Worth a listen for daring to be more friendly and less artsy. (but too commercial, is it? very him)

(You oddballs at home should know i don't like to copy and burn music, but since Sky might wanna have a listen. I've a sampler of five tracks, just let me know and i'll send you the link.)

Lately everyone at work has been working ourselves to the bone. Yet there are people who choose to be blind to all the blood, sweat and tears. And then there are also people who believe in the Victorian archaic style of parenting - that us kids should be seen, not heard. Complaining and making noise isn't going to solve anything, just do something about it - so it has been heard.

Isn't talking and speaking up a way of doing something? Can't they see we are crying for help? Only the ones with a sense of belonging will cry, complain because they care enough to hope and work for a change. If we stay mum, we are going out the door.

That is what i truly believe in.
And ... when we are running on empty, we'll soon lose all heart and soul. Where there is no heart or soul, there is no spark.

Tough luck then. You people will just have to lump it then, like we are now.

I heard the Booker went to Anne Enright and it's a very depressing book. Well, awards are like that, they go the the more serious fiction. Anyway, there are even a few awards that go to publishers like the Mildred L. Batchelder, or from booksellers who appreciate the work done to improve the quality of books.

My stand is always award the publisher for their fine work by buying more of their books and hand-selling. And needless to say, i always pick up a few favourites by the end of the year. So here they are:

Thumbs Up Walker Books UK for venturing with such elegance into more serious Young Adult Fiction. (Small in quantity but impressive)

Also to another publisher for their new range of Young Adult Fiction, albeit a little spotty but still, Thumbs Up Usborne especially for McCaughrean's Tamburlaine and the planned three more books on warriors. (which i read somewhere that one is being written by Marcus Sedgwick)

Thumbs Up Heryin for coming out of the woodwork with picture books from Taiwan. Readers will soon notice the difference in the artwork and the Asian 'sensibility'.

Thumbs Up both Candlewick and Bloomsbury US for doing a better job in promoting UK authors with those great covers than the Brits, and quietly making your presence felt.

Thumbs Up Little Brown US for maintaining their stature as the master of bubble chicklit. Yet suddenly surprising us with The Mysterious Benedict Society.

Thumbs Up DC Comics for that imprint called Minx, which is unique and brave and very impressive.

Also, secretly Thumbs Up MPH Publishing for making Daphne Lee's dream come true.

So there. I love you guys, so keep it up.

Have been having this unending, infernal headache since last week. bother!
no one except people who have actually experienced this, will know that shelving books and displaying highlights are awfully nerve-wracking.

of course, i don't really mean i hate to to shelf books. i love books! but it does automatically give me a headache. maybe too much physical work.
:-p