George Washington's Socks by Elvira Woodruff

Forgotten when I bought this book but I know it's from BookXcess bargain bin. RM3 only. Not bad ya?

It's about the adventure of 5 children. They were camping out at their backyard and reading a historical book on George Washington when they were transported back into time. They landed back into time where the battle at Trenton was to commence. Would they be able to survive and finds their way back to their own timeline?

I know this book is a bit "young" for me as it's actually meant for young readers. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the story very much. It's very detailed and helps the readers to think as they read.

Am sure you have swotted for your History papers exam. Cramming all those dates and events while hoping you will be able to write it out again during your examination. Well, this book really makes the events easy to remember. Not doubt its history mixed with fiction but surely with proper guidance, young readers will learn which is facts and which is fiction. They will sure to have fun for their history lesson.

In page 144, Matt said " I thought this was supposed to be one of the good wars. The rebels were supposed to be the good guys, but maybe there's no such thing as just good guys fighting bad guys. It seems there's good and bad on both sides. And you know, the funny ting is that sometimes they're really fighting for the same things. My friend Israel, I don't think that he was all that different from Gustav, except for the uniform. Maybe if it weren't for the different uniforms, they could have been friends, instead of ending up like this"

I love this part. Not only that this books gives history lesson but also lesson in humanity.

How I wish someone would write a book like this for my country's history. Maybe then, our kids would enjoy the History subject more. I recall some of my classmates hated History lesson. To them, it's a dead subject. Just have to memorise the facts and dates then write it out again during the test.

However, I like History lesson. It comes easy for me as I treat it as reading a story book.

Taikor by Khoo Kheng Hor

I have been yearning to read this book ever since I read his other book titled Mamasan.

Taikor is a historical saga the life of Ya Loong from 1922 to 1982. He s the eldest son and have two younger brothers. He was born in Thailand but when his father pass away, his mother bring all of them to Penang to seek the help of her sister.

Later on, his mother caught the eyes of a rich man and she become his wife. He was a widower with three daughters.


Although Ya Loong was barely 10 years old, he was very matured. And because of this, he constantly loggerhead with his step father. His step father decided that he cannot control Ya Loong any more and decided to sent Ya Loong to China in order to learn a trade from his Uncle there.

Sadly, he got in to trouble in Shanghai and had to come back to Penang to help his step father. Things did not work out and from that moment on he was on his own.

He had gone through the Japanese Occupation period, the lawless period and seen the forming of Malaya. Throught out that time he slowly rise into the position of a Taikor in the Penang underworld. As he grows older, he tries to break from his triad activities but somehow, people would still come to him for advices.

I love any novel that got to to with Malaysia. Of course I was delighted to read this book. It's full of historical events and happening. Although the author did say he changed some of the dates of the event to coincide with the happening in this book, I find that it is very exciting

Ya Loong is just such a powerful character and have vision for the future.

This book is the 2nd printing in 2008. Noted two typo errors:-

Page 141,  paragraph 3 "You think I'm a diety or something?..."

Page 240, Paragraph 4, " His scared member and jewels were cut off?"

Nevertheless, these two tiny error did not hinder my enjoyment of this book.

I would highly recommend this book for readers who wish to know more about the Malaysian history.

How the Hangman Lost His Heart by K.M Grant

Won this book from one for BookXcess Blog Bonanza quite sometime ago.

This is a historical comedy book where the heroine, Alice de Granville, is the niece of a "traitor". Her Uncle Frank was beheaded and she went for the execution. She went to take his Uncle Frank's body back but the King had proclaimed that all traitors head have to be put on a spike and to be display for the public.

Alice was convinced that her Uncle Frank body should be "reunited" with his head. She went and stole the head.

Hence begin a series of hilarious and thrilling escapes.

A light hearted book. Easy to read. Suitable for teens.