Q

Starting on-job training at RWS tomorrow! I suspect I’ll have less time with this space, so a round of recommendations to make up for it?

Mid-way through J.M Coetzee’s Youth. I was raring to get my hands on that one, because the protagonist is 1) male (I love male protagonists, they’re much more tolerable), and 2) He’s 19! For awhile I’ve felt suspended at an age where good books were either above or below my age range. There were seldom any books tailored specially for 16/17/18 year olds that did not involve lots of sex and proms, things I have little interest in experiencing through text. Youth is, surprise surprise, very age appropriate (although sex is still prevalent) – John is full of ideals and the need to live alone and be all fantastic but fails a lot on the way. Also I heard J.M Coetzee’s text is used for this year’s ‘A’ Level Literature, so yay. Lit texts are always pretty good.

I’ve reached my goal of having Strawberry Cheesecake at 5 different i/c stores within a month! ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED.

So in March, I decided to scout around for and then compare good Strawberry Cheesecake i/c because I can’t get enough of them things. Most of the time I get really distracted and order other exciting flavors, and sometimes they don’t have Strawberry Cheesecake so I end just getting strawberry or cheesecake. But anyway, with a ranking:

1. b&j

It’s actually kind of impossible, ever, to beat Ben & Jerry’s when it comes to Strawberry Cheesecake. At least for me. I love mine really rich, cheesy and salty and sickeningly sweet with that doughy, crusty texture. So far only B&J could reach that intensity of flavor.

2. baskin-robbins

This comes pretty close in the intensity. But it loses out on texture. Damn thinking about this makes me wanna walk down to Nex to get some. AND SELEGIE TAU HUEY. Which I had in the morning but am already dying for more.

3. ice age

Ice Age cafe along Kovan, where they serve ice-cream WHICH ARE REALLY. GOOD. but they charge insane service charges on top of their already steep prices. WORTH IT THOUGH. Just don’t eat it in the Cafe. Have it away from the crowd and save like two bucks or something.

4. candylicious

This is actually gelato, but it’s not as rich. In fact if you’re at Candylicious, get Peanut Butter. Celine and I had that for two days straight. The first day we shared and it was so good, the second day we had one each.

5. venezia

Although I love Venezia gelato, and could not stop eating them for a long while, their Strawberry Cheesecake is disappointing. GET YOGGI. No, actually, get Yoggi WITH Strawberry Cheesecake. THAT one’s explosive.

Next, to try Creamier, where Shereen’s working! And also to get Swensen’s Hot Fudge Banana with Rei-En. April goal: TRY VANILLA FROM 10 DIFFERENT STORES (Vanilla being my 2nd all-time favorite. Also my theory is that how Vanilla is a good measure of the ‘screams of a shop in general.)

I’ve been stagnant on the iTunes front lately. But here are a few good ones. OH, AND CALL ME MAYBE OF COURSE. This cannot be missed it has been playing in my head for A WEEK. Also, what we were trying to emulate during Sleepover:

I love the Ugly Casanovas, and this one borders on sublime, where there are layers. The part from 0:55 – 1:05 gives me braingasms every time.

I’ve never heard of Milo Greene prior to this song, I’m guessing their fairly new. Everything they have are brilliant. This one’s the best. So far (I’m hoping for more).

Okay maybe I’m slightly slow, but I’ve never wanted to listen to Black Sabbath because it’s satanic (maybe) and I’m a proper convent girl. But I came across this accidentally and couldn’t resist it.

THIS. IS. UNDENIABLY. BEAUTIFUL.

I had a sudden craving for Chick Lit, but couldn’t find any decent ones. There were some I remember reading awhile ago and would love to reread again.

Drama! by Paul Ruditis. Despite the very flamboyant title it’s actually a sleek, believable novel that well, yes, is narrated by a homosexual. But he’s subtle and non-raging and struggling with it. It’s about friendship and a lot about show theater, which makes up a good part of why I liked it. But really it’s one of the few series type novels I actually persevered through and was UPSET when it ended. (I suck at series reads.)

The Squad by Jennifer Barnes. I had this phase where I devoured spy chicklit. Especially if the protagonist was a computer whiz/hacker. By devoured I mean I read so many of them damn things running on the same thread that I can’t remember or even differentiate them. They’re just a matrix of prodigious children kidnapped or orphaned employed by some kind of loving family unit/organization where they had to flex their digibrains and it usually involves long-lost family members being the ultimate villain. The only one I can remember distinctively is The Squad. It has something to do with cheerleaders who are covert spies. I’m not kidding. But it’s still good. I was very upset when she wrote two and gave up on the series.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. E. Lockhart writes great stuff, but Disreputable History is the best yet. (The Boyfriend List was good as a single novel, but it went on for ages with increasingly horrifying and tragic storylines so I quit.) This one is smart, and surprisingly dark for chicklit. I loved the protagonist – she does that: make you love her without being able to help it. SHE IS A GENIUS (both E. Lockhart and Frankie.) I’ve made up my mind to borrow it in the near future. I remember it doesn’t have a perfect, happy ending which made me very pleased.

Good bye!