Jimmy Lin

So, one of my favorite Taiwanese Drama is My Lucky Star. Which he stars in. Since I have never reviewed it before here is a summary....

Xia Zhi Xing (Yoo Han na) is a con artist who sells imitations for a living, Tian Qi (Jimmy lin), is the second and youngest son of the CEO of the biggest jewelry company of Asia (i think its called Simmons). They meet, by fate, when Zhi Xing is running away from her failed attempt at selling jewelry with her partner and boyfriend, Shi San ge (Huan Yu Rong). They later meet one year later and are thrown together, by handcuffs!

I seriously loved this TDrama and Jimmy was just amazing as Tian Qi. It was really well acted and there are parts where you just can't help but shed a tear for.

Here is the beginning episode... (I'm really sorry I can't embedd it, but here it is with eng subs)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sEdojHSVOU

Here is the song he sings for My Lucky Star, Dui Wang

Here is some info from DramaWiki

Name:林志穎

English Name: Jimmy Lin

Born: 1974-Oct-15 (He does not look 35)

Profession: Actor, singer, professional race car driver

Wdebo :)

If you want me to spotlight someone, please comment and tell me, and I'll check them out! Because I am running out of ppl!

100th post!! Down to the Bone

Title: Down to the Bone
Author: Mayra Lazara Dole
HARDBACK
Amount of Pages: 351
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publishing Year: 2008
Geared Towards: 14+

Summary (From the front flap):


Here's what it means to be a tortilla.


It means you're a girl who loves girls.


Which means you get kicked out of Catholic school faster than Mother Superior Sicko can say "immoral".


Which means your wacko Mami finds out.


Which means you're kicked to the curb with nowhere to go, and the love of your life is shipped off to Puerto Rico to marry a guy.


But this is Miami, and if you have a bighearted best friend and a loyal puppy at your side, and if your broken heart is still full of love, you just might land on your feet.


Wdebo's Review: This book was interesting (to put it simply). There was a certain awkwardness to it, but it was still good. The writing was good and the narrator, Laura, was raw and talks from her heart, which is good, none of that mysterious feeling crap that is in some books. Which I hate because you have no idea what the character is thinking, and they are suppose to be the MAIN CHARCTER and yet you have no idea what they're like.

Pro: It was unique and well written. You can understand what Laura was thinking, and (like I said in the top) her feelings aren't ambiguous like they are in some other books. I enjoyed all the spanish words, and me actually being to understand some. [It made me feel like my Spanish 3 skills were actually coming in handy :P ] It made you understand what the meaning of family and love really is.

Con: Some parts were just awkward and could do without. Tazer [a boi who falls in love with Laura] was so forceful and blunt, it made me embarassed just to read parts about him/her.

All in all, this was a pretty good read. I would reccomend it to anyone who is in need of a middle length summer read. [Yeah! Read this book during the summer or vacation time].

Grade: B+

Wdebo :)

In My Mailbox 三 (3)

I'm sorry I haven't been posting my "In My Mailbox" for the last three weeks. Last last week I didn't recieve anything so I didn't post, but last week I borrowed a lot from the library, but I didn't post anything because I was on vacation and this week yeah here I am!!

I stole the idea of In My Mailbox from The Story Siren.

The Recieved:

Promise of the Wolves

I recieved this book and when I first saw the cover I was like "ew," but then when I strated reading it I really got into it. Such an interesting narrator.

The Borrowed:

Dreamland

I read it and you can read my review here. It wasn't my favorite Sarah Dessen book, but it was ok.

Down to the Bone

I finished it and my review is coming up soon.

Hands Off! Vol 2

Yeah! It was totally as good as the first.

Fat Kid Rules the World

Finished it and loved it...read my review here

Dead Girl Walking

I totally loved it...read my review here

The Bought:

Love★Com Vol 14 (Chinese)

Hurray! I haven't bought a book in forever! Since Love★Com is only available up to Vol 11 in English I was thinking it would be great to get a volume that isn't available in English!!

Wdebo :)

Dreamland By: Sarah Dessen

Title: Dreamland
Author: Sarah Dessen
PAPERBACK
Amount of pages: 250
Publisher: Penguin Group-Puffin
Publishing Year: 2000
Geared Towards: Teens (13+)

Summary (From the back of the book):

Wake Up Caitlin.

Ever since she started going out with Rogerson Biscoe, Caitlin seems to have fallen into a semiconscious dreamland where nothing is quite real. Rogerson is diffrent from anyone Caitlin has ever known. He's magnetic. He's compelling. He's dangerous. Being with him makes Caitlin forget about everything else-her missing sister, her withdrawn mother, her lackluster life. But what happens when being with Rogerson becomes a larger problem than being without him?

Wdebo's Review: I found this book to be like a YA book style of a Jodi Picoult book. It was really deep and compelling. The theme was deep and thought provoking like many of Sarah Dessen's books.

Pro: The story was sweet and great and compelling and dives into the depths of abusive teen relationships and the agony it gives the the abused.

Con: I found this story hard to get into even though I did love the story plot. Cailtin annoyed me a lot, and the whole "rebel cheerleader" that everyone called her, yeah, that doesn't apply to her. Just because she chain smokes and skips practice doesn't suddenly make her a "rebel cheerleader" I feel that phrase is such an oxymoron, if you are a cheerleader you aren't really that much of a rebel no matter what you do.

All in all, if you enjoy Sarah Dessen books it does have a spark of her flair you might also like this book if you enjoy books about big issues like abusive teen relationships and leaving your home etc.

Grade: B-

Wdebo :)

Fat Kid Rules the World

Title: Fat Kid Rules the World
Author: K.L. Going
PAPERBACK
Amount of Pages: 183
Publisher: Penguin Group-Speak
Publishing Year: 2003
Geared Towards: Ages 13+

Summary (From Back of the Book):

Punk Rock! Or Not.

Troy Bilings is seventeen, 296 pounds, friendless, utterly miserable, and about to step off the subway platform in front of an oncoming train. Until he meets Curt MacCrae, an emaciated, semi-homeless, high-school-dropout, guitar genius, the stuff of which Lower East punk rock legends are made. Never mind that Troy's dad thinks Curt's a drug addict, and Troy's brother thinks Troy's the biggest (literaly) loser in Manhattan. Soon, Curt's recruited Troy as his new drummer-despite the fact that Troy can't play the drums. Together, Curt and Troy will change the world of punk, and Troy's own life, forever.

Wdebo's Review: I first picked this book up because of a list of teen books I should have read, so I read it! And I am really happy I did because it was one of my most favorite books I've ever read.

Pro: Strong, raw characters that are really real especially in their harsh surroundings. My favorite character defidently is Curt, I don't know why, but I just fell in love with him.

Con: I found the writing to not be consistant, the beginning was exciting and suddenly it became boring and then it became exciting. The middle was hard to get through.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book, I would reccomend this book for anyone who likes books about outcast against the world. Or just anyone else!

Grade: A-

Wdebo :)

Rainie Yang

Rainie is one of my most favorite girl taiwanese idols. She can sing and act. Her dramas are really spectacular. She is most famous for her role in Drama Beside You, she is also in a drama called Miss. No Good which ended a few months ago, and she was in a drama called Why Why Love. She is now starring in a drama called ToGetHer with Jiro Wang from Fahrenheit.

Her ex-boyfriend was Xiao Gui which she had to break up with because of her contract.

From DramaWiki...

Name: 楊丞琳
English Name: Rainie Yang
Extra Info: At 15 she auditioned for a group called 4 in Love and got in. She changed her name to Rainie to fit in with the weather named girls in the group.

Ai Mei from Devil Beside You. Starring Mike He.



Another song I love by her is called Tai Fan Nao (Too Troubled) but no one will let me embed it :( so if you want to listen, just go to YouTube and copy and paste it in!! Lots of them already english subbed it!!

Wdebo :)

Please comment!

YEAH! A Review!! Dead Girl Walking

Title: Dead Girl Walking
Author: Linda Joy Singleton
PAPERBACK
Amount of Pages: 295 (not counting sneek peek of Dead Girl Dancing)
Publisher: Flux
Publishing Year: 2008
Geared Towards: Ages 13+
Extra Info: The sequal Dead Girl Dancing is out!!

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Amber Borden is just your averege teen. She has her family and one horrible sense of direction. So when she dies and her horrible sense of direction makes her end up in the body of the most popular girl in school, Leah, she has to do whatever it takes to get back into her own body, which is about to be harvested for her heart.

Now, Amber is going to have to employ the help of cute-geeky Eli (a guy who she lock eyes with over the chocolate buffet, who also happens to really like AMBER but not LEAH), geeky best friend and total computer nerd Dustin, and BFF Alyce. But first she has to make sure that they believe her story. What's a girl to do?

Wdebo's Review: I really did enjoy this book, it seems that there are a lot of books about dead people and waking up or switching bodies, but this one is a totally diffrent twist of it. The whole finding yourself in a diffrent body because you got lost was a really diffrent spin to that un-original dead person story.

Pro: I loved this story, seriously, I could totally connect to Amber. A geeky girl with an unhealthy obsession for chocolate and all she wants is to succed and all she has is a bunch of self help books, yeah that's me. (minus the self help books).

Con: I do not like the cover at all! The little "Dead Girl" sign at the top is going to give me nightmares. It looks like an anorexic cheerleader with an over the toply big head with a really bad over bite. Apart from that, I truely enjoyed the story a lot. However, I seriously hate how no one listens to her story, I mean if someone who NEVER talks to you or looks at you and suddenly gets all teary eyed and screams at you that they are your dead best friend who got stuck in a diffrent body, well I think I would stick around and listen.

All in all, this book was great. I would reccomend it to all of those who enjoy these dying and resurecting chick lit books. I am seriously in love with Eli like how I was in love with Christopher from Airhead. AHH!! I really want to read Dead Girl Dancing...RIGHT NOW!!

Grade: A-

Wdebo :)

OMG Meg Cabot ROCKS!!

So, if you go to her blog on the diary for Thursday, March 19, she's giving away a copy of Being Nikki and all you have to do is give her your blog link and mailing adress!! It's so exciting cuz Airhead was AMAZING!! :D What are you waiting for? Go!

Wdebo :)

Genie Zhou

Genie is a very talented actress and singer. Who has worked with numerous big Taiwanese Idol names like Jiro Wang (From Fahrenheit) in Go! Fried Rice, Danson Tang in Go! Fried Rice, Xiao Xun (from Hei Se Hui Mei Mei) in 18 Censored or Not and Wu Chun and Calvin (Both from Fahrenheit) in Romantic Princess.

She has sung duets with Xiao Gui ♥ and Gary Cao Ge. Both really good songs!! Check them out!!

Ai De Zu Xuan Lu (The Melody of Love) Genie ft. Xiao Gui...super kawaii!! Eng subs.



And Liang San Bo Yu Zu Li Ye (Romeo and Juliet) Genie ft. Gary Cao...Love it!! Eng subs.



Here's some info from DramaWiki...

Chinese Name: 卓文萱
English Name: Genie
Profession: Singer, Actress, Songwritter

Hope you like it!! And remember to comment!! If you want me to spotlight someone please comment and let me know!!

Wdebo :)

Teen Books I've Read (list)

So, I saw these on a few blogs, and it looks fun, so here is mine... :D

Instructions:

Put an "X" next to the books you've read

Put a "+" next to the books you LOVE

Put a "*" next to the books you plan on reading

Tally your "X"s at the bottomShare with your friends!

1. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy / Douglas Adams
2. Kit's Wilderness / David Almond
3. Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian / Sherman Alexie *
4. Speak / Laurie Halse Anderson x+
5. Feed / M.T. Anderson
6. Flowers in the Attic / V.C. Andrews
7. 13 Reasons Why / Jay Asher
8. Am I Blue? / Marion Dane Bauer
9. Audrey Wait! / Robin Benway x+
10. Weetzie Bat / Francesca Lia Block
11. Tangerine / Edward Bloor*
12. Forever / Judy Blume *
13. What I Saw and How I Lied / Judy Blundell
14. Tyrell / Coe Booth
15. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants / Ann Brashares X+
16. A Great and Terrible Beauty / Libba Bray X+
17. The Princess Diaries / Meg Cabot X+
18. The Stranger / Albert Camus
19. Ender's Game / Orson Scott Card *
20. Postcards from No Man's Land / Aidan Chambers
21. Perks of Being a Wallflower / Stephen Chbosky *
22. And Then There Were None / Agatha Christie*
23. Gingerbread / Rachel Cohn X+
24. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist / Rachel Cohn and David Levithan X+
25. Artemis Fowl (series) / Eoin Colfer
26. The Hunger Games / Suzanne Collins
27. The Midwife's Apprentice / Karen Cushman X
28. The Truth About Forever / Sarah Dessen *
29. Little Brother / Cory Doctorow X+
30. A Northern Light / Jennifer Donnelly
31. Tears of a Tiger / Sharon Draper
32. The House of the Scorpion / Nancy Farmer
33. Breathing Underwater / Alex Flinn
34. Stardust / Neil Gaiman *
35. Annie on My Mind / Nancy Garden
36. What Happened to Cass McBride / Gail Giles
37. Fat Kid Rules the World / K.L. Going*
38. Lord of the Flies / William Golding*
39. Looking for Alaska / John Green *
40. Bronx Masquerade / Nikki Grimes
41. Out of the Dust / Karen Hesse
42. Hoot / Carl Hiaasen X
43. The Outsiders / S.E. Hinton X
4. Crank / Ellen Hopkins
45 The First Part Last / Angela Johnson X+
46. Blood and Chocolate / Annette Curtis Klause *
47. Arrow's Flight / Mercedes Lackey
48. Hattie Big Sky / Kirby Larson
49. To Kill a Mockingbird / Harper Lee X
50. Boy Meets Boy / David Levithan X+
51. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks / E. Lockhart X
52. The Giver / Lois Lowry X
53. Number the Stars / Lois Lowry *
54. Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie / David Lubar *
55. Inexcusable / Chris Lynch
56. The Earth, My Butt and Other Big, Round Things / Carolyn Mackler *
57. Dragonsong / Anne McCaffrey
58. White Darkness / Geraldine McCaughrean
59. Sold / Patricia McCormick *
60. Jellicoe Road / Melina Marchetta
61. Wicked Lovely / Melissa Marr *
62. Twilight / Stephenie Meyer X+
63. Dairy Queen / Catherine Murdock X+
64. Fallen Angels / Walter Dean Myers
65. Monster / Walter Dean Myers *
66. Step From Heaven / An Na X+
67. Mama Day / Gloria Naylor
68. The Keys to the Kingdom (series) / Garth Nix
69. Sabriel / Garth Nix X
70. Airborn / Kenneth Oppel
71. Eragon / Christopher Paolini *
72. Hatchet / Gary Paulsen X+
73. Life As We Knew It / Susan Beth Pfeffer X+
74. The Golden Compass / Phillip Pullman
75. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging / Louise Rennison *
76. The Lightning Thief / Rick Riordan *
77. Always Running: La Vida Loca / Luis Rodriguez
78. How i live now / Meg Rosoff X+
79. Harry Potter (series) / J.K. Rowling X++
80. Holes / Louis Sachar X+
81. Catcher in the Rye / J. D. Salinger
82. Push / Sapphire
83. Persepolis / Marjane Satrapi X++++++
84. Unwind / Neil Shusterman
85. Coldest Winter Ever / Sister Souljah
86. Stargirl / Jerry Spinelli X+
87. Chanda's Secrets / Allan Stratton
88. Tale of One Bad Rat / Brian Talbot
89. Rats Saw God / Rob Thomas
90. Lord of the Rings / J.R.R. Tolkien
91. Stuck in Neutral / Terry Trueman
92. Gossip Girl / Cecily Von Ziegesar *
93. Uglies / Scott Westerfeld X+
94. Every Time a Rainbow Dies / Rita Williams-Garcia
95. Pedro and Me / Judd Winick
96. Hard Love / Ellen Wittlinger
97. American Born Chinese / Gene Luen Yang X+ (Perfect for me cuz Im an ABC !)
98. Elsewhere / Gabrielle Zevin *
99. I am the Messenger / Markus Zusak X+++
100. The Book Thief / Markus Zusak X++++++++

So, I've read 31 books (I failed :( ) How many did YOU read?

Wdebo :)

Wilber Pan

I am featuring Wilber, because not only is he a Taiwanese Superstar, but because he is an ABC (American Born chinese)-Like me!

(Info from Wikipedia) Wilber was born in West Virginia on August 6,1980. (So that means hes 29-OMG, why are taiwanese stars so old yet they look so young?!!) He moved back to Taiwan at age 7, and attended Taipei American School (same school my cousins are in) and graduated in 1999. However, he did come back to America to attend Cal Poly Panoma.

This is a cute song, Ai Shang Wei Lai De Ni (Falling in love with the future you).

My other fav song by him is Wu Ha! It's hillarious and sweet.

If you're reading this please comment!!

Wdebo :)

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Title: The Art of Racing in the Rain
Author: Garth Stein
HARDBACK
Amount of Pages: 321
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publishing Year: 2008
Geared Towards: Older teens and adults
Extra Info: A good book for those who loved Marley & Me





Summary (Credits to the front flap): Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.

On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoe, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody (Dang those rich ppl). In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to perserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoe at his side. Having leaned what it takes to be a compossionate and successful person, the wise canine can barely wait until his next lifetime, when he is sure he will return as a man.

Wdebo's Review: This book was great, the use of a dog, Enzo, as the narrator was really fresh and a very interesting point of view. Enzo had a very sarcastic voice that was fresh and funny at moments and sad at others. Though it was very predictable and it begins with Enzo getting ready to die, I still teared up badly in the end.


Pro: A fresh narrator, one who's heart is always in the right place, he had this "doggy-ness" that no other narrators have. The ending might have been really predictable but it was still written so well that you just can't help it but tear up, even though in the first three pages you already knew that this was going to happen.

Con: Yeah, I guess the predictablitly could be counted as a con. Also, in the middle of the book the problems just kept on coming and coming and coming suddenly they all ended they were all worked out in the 1/10 the pages of the actual problems, not that I don't like happy endings I just thought it should take a bit longer to work everything out when all these problems are thrown right out.

All in all, this book was great. I really enjoyed it mainly because it was from a dog's point of view and let's just say Enzo sees things a bit different then we do. I would reccomend this for older readers, there wasn't a lot of mature content the writing just seemed for older readers.

Grade: B+

Wdebo :)

P.S. Sorry I haven't been posting a lot recently I'll try to do better!!

My Sister's Keeper By: Jodi Picoult

Title: My Sister's Keeper
Author: Jodi Picoult
PAPERBACK
Amount of pages: 423
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Publishing year: 2004
Geared Towards: Older Teens and adults
Extra Info: It is going to be made into a movie on June 26, 2009, it will be staring Cameron Diez as the mother and Alex Baldwin as Campbell.


Summary: (From the back of the book)

Can a Parent love too much? Or is too much never enough?

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantaion generic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate-a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truely is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister-and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. A provocative novel that raises some important ethical issues, My Sister's Keeper is the story of one family's struggle for survival at all human costs and a stunning moral parable for all time.

Wdebo's Review: This book as usual had a great Jodi Picoult flair, it was really good and was an intense read about a very contreversial topic, "designer babies," where they will create a baby in petri dish and add genes and stuff to make the baby they way they want it.

Pro: Well developed plot that was a bit cloudy in the beginning but after a while it added a little bit and a little bit more of details to help you understand the whole picture, until at the end you felt like you were part of the family since this whole story first started. Just like how all Jodi Picoult books are. The change of characters were very good also, because it truely gives you a sense about how all of them are feeling and all the diffrent sides of the whole story.

Con: While the change of characters were good it did get kind of confusing, like you'll be reading and all of a suddenly you will be confused and be like "is this I refering to Kate, Anna, Campbell (Anna's lawyer), or Julia (Anna's gaurdian ad...) or someone else."

All in all, this was a really good read. I would reccomend it more towards older readers and those who are fascinated by the ideas of "designer babies" and using genes in technology, etc. It was a very good book filled with great facts.

Grade: B+

My take on the movie: I am not really that excited about the movie and I love the book. I believe that having Cameron Diez as the mother is not the best idea, it just doesn't seem like her kind of role, it's more serious and obsessed over her child not laughing trying to find a good shoe, I don't know that's just my opinion. Also, I don't think Alex Baldwin should be in the movie as Campbell, Campbell is more 30 something good looking older man, and Alex Baldwin is well Alex Baldwin...And I don't even know if they have a Julia, I mean very important chacter there!! Also, I don't even know if they have a Jesse (Brother) he was one of my favorite characters in the whole book!! Ah that felt good to vent :)

Wdebo :)

Wu Yue Tian (五月天) Mayday

So, welcome back to another post of "Tuesday's Taiwanese Superstar," I love Wu Yue Tian's songs (ok so I've only listened to three but im getting there), they are amazing. I have featured a lot (three) of their mv's on my blog....

Le Se Che (Garbage Truck)

Si Ben Dao Yue Qiu ( Elope to the Moon)

Lian Ai ING (Dating-ing)

So, I don't know that much about them, the only person I know is Ahshin (The main singer for all three of the top mvs), so I'll get some info from Wikipedia...

Wu Yue Tian was formed in the late 1990's with five members...Ahshin (lead singer), Monster, Stone (Lead guitarist), Masa (bass guitar) and Guan You (drums).

They are not really a "boy band" I mean they are a band that is filled w/ boys, but they aren't like Backstreet Boys or Fahrenheit, I don't know if that makes sense if you listen to some of their songs you can get what I'm saying.

If you have another "Taiwanese Superstar" you want me to write about please comment and I'll try to!! Even if you don't, please comment!!

Wdebo :)

Photo Tag =)

I was tagged by Diana at Stop, Drop and Read.

Instructions: Find the 5th photo file folder, then the 5th photo in that file folder. Post that picture on your blog. Tag 5 others to do the same.

Oh, look its a picture of my dog...what a surprise :P

I tag...

1) Kayla

2) Vanessa

3) The Book Brat

4) The Story Siren

5) Princess Neve

Wdebo :)

In My Mailbox 二 (2)

Yeah! It's my second week of In My Mailbox, an idea I "stole" from The Story Siren.

I haven't gotten any books (cry-oh well) but I did check out a few...

Here they are..

The Recieved:

None :(

The Bought:

None :(

The Borrowed:

My Sister's Keeper

I am currently reading it, I seriously love it, because it's by Jodi Picoult, and who doesn't love Jodi Picoult books?!

Love★Com

Oh I finished it read my review here. It was honestly so sweet and cute. I started the anime after I finished reading it, and now I am on episode 12 and am officially addicted (just so cute!!)

The Art of Racing in the Rain

It's about a dog, so I'm super excited to read it! Dogs rule!! ♥

So, that's the only books I have what books did you get?

Wdebo :)