Jennifer J. Chow's Blog, page 19

#BookReview: The Satapur Moonstone

5 stars

Genre: Mystery (historical)

Pros:

Excellent historical insight and world-building Unique and well-drawn protagonistA solid mystery

Cons:

Pacing may be slow for some in the first few chapters

This is a historical gem of a book. It took me a few chapters to get into the pacing of the novel, but after that, I was sucked into Perveen’s world.

I really love the idea of her being Bombay’s only female lawyer. She’s realistically drawn, and I enjoyed getting glimpses of her backstory. The amount of historical detail that went into this book is breathtaking, and I loved reliving another place and era. I’m also really grateful that Massey depicted the constraints on women at that time–and also the complicated relations between Britain and India.

I wasn’t able to guess the culprit, but then again, I was just transported into the story and enjoying the telling of it. I’m also happy with the way Massey portrayed the relationship between Perveen and Colin with a subtle hand.

A very solid mystery with a unique protagonist set in a very rich and detailed world.

Find more of my book ratings and reviews here.

Wordless Wednesday: Lanterns

Foodie Friday: Omakase

Omakase: chef’s choice in Japanese cuisine        

I had my first ever omakase experience. Sushi chefs will pick the freshest variety of seafood and present them to you using different methods of cooking. My favorites had to be a tuna sashimi drizzled with homemade ponzu sauce. And although I don’t really like red snapper, the cut I ate was extremely fresh and tender.

Buyer beware: you need to tell them to stop serving or else the dishes will keep on coming, each more exotic (and expensive) than the last.  I made it to the shellfish platter level of clams, mussels, and oysters.

Fun fact: Omakase means “I’ll leave it up to you.”

Foodie Friday: Shoyu Peanuts

Shoyu peanuts: soy sauce flavored nuts with a crunchy edible shell

I wasn’t quite sure what to think about these treats when a family friend brought them from Hawaii. Looking at the package, I noticed the label of “shoyu peanuts.” Shoyu basically equates to soy sauce, so I was hesitant about the flavor choice.

However, when I tried them, I really enjoyed these peanuts. They’ve got a satisfying savory taste. They actually remind me of Boston baked beans (the red sugar-coated peanuts–remember those?). Except that instead of sweetness, they deliver stir-fry associated deliciousness.

What kind of nutty combos have you tried?

BookBub USA Deal

“Now is a lucky time for you–take a chance.”

I was so excited to score my first BookBub deal for 99 cents—in the USA! I’ve done some other BookBub promos before (international for Seniors Sleuth). The popular newsletter offering discounted books gets about 300 submissions a day to be featured in their daily emails; they accept only about 10-20% of those requests.

Getting selected at the 99 cents price point was a huge win for me. It meant that I actually would receive revenue for sales instead of giving a book away for free to build up buzz.

Seniors Sleuth was featured in the Cozy Mystery category, which boasts a healthy readership of over two million people.

Here’s a rundown on how the marketing blast worked for me:

Average number of sales for discounted book: ~2000
Number of sales for Seniors Sleuth: ~3400
Highest rankings:
Kobo–#1 in Cozy, #6 in Mystery & Suspense, #10 in Fiction
Nook–#3 Overall
Kindle–#44 Overall
Amazon bestseller flags: #1 in Amateur Sleuths; #1 in Cozy; #1 in Asian American Fiction

I did end up covering the marketing costs. And I have seven more reviews for Winston Wong Book One. I also gathered a couple more BookBub followers, and I’m happy to have follow-through on my next books in the Winston Wong series (on the magnitude of tens, not thousands, of copies).

All the best to my fellow authors trying to get the word out about their fab books!

Magic Castle

I’ve always wanted to visit the Magic Castle. The problem is in getting the invite. (Well, you can stay at the nearby hotel to gain entrance.)

The Magic Castle Hotel is right next door.

Otherwise, people can only attend if they get a special guest pass from a member of the Academy of Magical Arts, Inc. The Academy is a non-profit organization that devotes itself to the advancement of magic.

They decorated the Magic Castle for the month of October.

The Magic Castle is basically a private clubhouse for magicians and the magically-inclined. It first opened its doors in 1963 and has been going strong ever since. The Castle has a strict elegant dress code–although the attire is a bit more relaxed for brunch versus dinner. Not only do you need a special guest pass but there is also an admission fee and a meal cost. I attended a weekend brunch (which is the only time that those under twenty-one are allowed on the premises, so I saw lots of families).

The secrets of performing magicians are tightly kept, so there wasn’t any photography allowed beyond the main entrance and front room. In the lobby, you enter the mystical indoors only by uttering a password (which frequently changes) to sneak through a secret bookcase.

The Castle has three theaters (during brunch), where magic is performed: the Parlour of Prestidigitation, the Close-up Gallery, and the Palace of Mystery.

At brunch, the Parlour of Prestidigitation offers friendly-family entertainment. We had an endearing magician who really got a lot of audience participation, and it was fun watching the kids help with the magic. I even got a wonderful treat to sit down at a table outside of the Parlour and participate in a card trick. Special thanks to David for letting me enjoy some extra magic during my visit!

When I went, the Close-up Gallery featured an amazing Junior Magician (those between thirteen and twenty who show exceptional talent and are inducted in the club by auditioning before a committee). I loved how quick he was and the way he integrated new ways of doing magic, including a cell phone trick.

The Palace of Mystery is the main stage area where larger feats of magic are introduced. It was a very entertaining show done by Eric Buss–he even used a looper (a musical device that records and repeats sounds and phrases) in his act.

For some reason, the phrase “Castle Ready” tickled my fancy.

Overall, I really loved my visit to the Magic Castle. And I still have no idea how any of the tricks were done, but I enjoyed just getting transported and being in awe of everything around me.

P.S. Some extra areas of fun were the invisible piano player, Irma, who’s located on the main floor. You can request a song, and the piano will play from its wide repertoire. I also got crammed into a telephone booth near the Parlour; the phone rings and when picked up, there’s a darkened display to the side that lights up with a skeleton embedded in it!

Fun word of the day: Prestidigitation– magic tricks performed as entertainment.

Wordless Wednesday: SENIORS SLEUTH is on sale!

Foodie Friday: Blue Lagoon

Blue lagoon: an Asian-inspired iced tea of brilliant blue

I heard about a new Asian fusion place (Shiok!), so I checked it out. What I wanted to try the most wasn’t the food but this drink. After all, I do like vivid colors, as seen from my post on light bulb drinks.

The “Blue lagoon” offered a lovely citrus flavor—there was even a slice of orange floating in it. Paired with a floral green tea, it had a great combination of sweet and tang. I’d drink it again, especially to see the pretty hues!

Fun fact: “Shiok!” is a slang term, meaning awesome, tasty, or cool.

#BookReview: Exhalation

5 stars

Genre: Short Stories (science fiction)

Exhalation: Stories

Pros:

InventiveVaried styles of writingComplex narratives that really make you think

Cons:

Some stories didn’t draw me in as much as the others

Yes, Ted Chiang is amazing. I really like how he explored some of the scientific concepts and how it would really impact humans. Also, I loved how versatile Chiang is in his prose. He’s able to write with a lyrical or historical air, but also able to switch to more technical or futuristic wording. Anyway, this book is fabulous for the way it really makes you think about the world around you and where we’re headed.

Find more of my book ratings and reviews here.

Foodie Friday: Light Bulb Drink

Light bulb drink: beverages served in hollow light bulbs

This is a fun trend that I’ve seen sprouting up. The drink’s rainbow color really drew me in, so I bought my slushy at the local night market. (It’s a blend of tropical flavors.)

The drink-in-a-light-bulb concept originated in Korea, spread to Taiwan, and then became Instagram famous. Here’s the hashtag for it: #LightbulbDrink.

Fun fact: You can even buy light bulb bottles online to make your own drink!