Book 27: The Science of Harry Potter by Roger Highfield (2002)

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This is one of the more readable science books I’ve ever read. Since I do have a background in science, I’m not sure how much sense it’ll make to the general public, though. The writing both is clear but not comprehensive, if you know what I mean. Although the Harry Potter tag was what lured me into reading this book, I feel like the author could have written so much better if he didn’t constantly make the “Muggles” reference. Seriously, it gets annoying after a while.

All in all, I’d definitely get his other books. He has excellent writing.

P.S. For my faithful readers out there (because I know you exist!) this may be the beginning of the end. School is starting, I’m getting a job, and I don’t know how willing I am to risk my . . . life for the sake of reading books and watching movies.

Movie 12: The Grudge 2 (2006)

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I hate horror movies for two reasons:
- There’s a certain predictability to them.
- And yet in spite of the expected, they never fail to scare me.

The Grudge 2 isn’t especially chilling. It has its moments, but after a while, do you really expect me to be scared of a Japanese-looking woman who doesn’t know the concept of a comb? Moreover, it’s very confusing. It skips from one place to another without any real transition. But since you know they’re going to be related somehow, you don’t find it surprising when the weird neighbor turns out to be the new student who has moved back from Japan. Also, how is that old woman in the mountains able to speak English? It defies logic. Even the presumably well-educated nurses/receptionist at a modern hospital look at each other when Aubrey ask them a simple question: “Do you speak English?”

On that note, two things crossed my mind when the boy who played Eason shows up to help her out. First, OMGWTF he is cute. Second, He doesn’t even look Japanese. Do you people really expect me to believe he’s Japanese? Yes, I’m one of those people who can tell a Southeast Asian’s ethnicity by looking at his/her face. I was someone soothed when he turns out to be from Hong Kong. And I was mildly surprised when I found out the actor’s name is Edison Chen. The Edison Chen I’ve heard so much about? I’m understanding the hype now.

All in all, it was an okay movie. Not all that bad, but could’ve been better.

Book 26: Making Music at the Piano by Barbara English Maris (2000)

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Recently I came to the realization that despite five years of training in piano and two years of training in violin (and I excel in reading music sheets and playing all the right notes), I have no sense of musicality at all. So I picked up this book in hopes of becoming a better musician. Or something.

This book is actually pretty good and can be somewhat helpful for some beginning adult students. Unfortunately, it also assumes that everyone has a musical potential to begin with. And I know from personal experience that it ain’t true. Music certainly didn’t come naturally to me; I had to learn it.