Book review: Love, Pinkie by Christina Siew
at Youth.sg, 22 October 2012
Who is Pinkie? The book starts by introducing the narrator herself. Pinkie is the average teenage girl facing life’s question marks and daily struggles. The book is organised in brief chapters and written in a clear and honest narrative.
With just one glance of the cover and cutesy emoticons peppered across the pages, one think it is the sort of light-hearted chick lit fluff you see on the shelves. But you know what they say, never judge a book by its cover!
Love, Pinkie is far from your typical chick lit. It chronicles Pinkie’s experiences on topics relatable to teenage girls everywhere. You would be surprised to learn that it offers a compact guide to life, full of optimism and wisdom which makes you think.
Some discussions highlighted in this book resonate well with me, especially chapters one to six, which poke at the realities of living in a fast-paced, materialistic and modern world, and the importance of maintaining good ties with family and friends. Each topic is divided into 12 concise chapters; from stories which highlight the downside of globalisation and living in a high-tech world, to those that discuss the notion of relationships and how it is perfectly okay to be a singleton.
Here is an excerpt about globalisation that I like:
“It is all about speed these days. Things lapse in bullet train’s speed. Things vanish in a flicker. What was deemed efficient in the past has now become average. Globalisation has contracted the planet, yet at the same time expanded it with ponds merging in to a sea of competition and opportunities. People are pressurised to get things done better and faster in order to out win, outlast and outplay. Accordingly speed finds its way into the various facets in life.”
Issues like ‘sexuality’ and ‘religion’ are touched on in chapters nine and 10 respectively, something not many stories would offer or openly talk about. The moral learnt from each chapter is conveniently summed up in chapter 12. The message ‘life’s short’ is reiterated, reminding us to live with the motto ‘carpe diem‘.
Love, Pinkie is pretty interesting, relevant, and recommended for teenage girls out there who are still seeking for some life questions left unanswered. Wrapped in 100 pages of advices and constant motivation, it is probably the epitome of ‘agony aunt’ in book form. It is also the kind of vade mecum (Latin phrase for a handbook) you would read in between school or work, during long hours of commuting or whenever you need that burst of inspiration.
So girls, amidst all the busyness and life commitments, we need that little voice at the back of our head to continue motivating us once in a while, remind us what we are worth, and what we are living for. Let Pinkie be that voice for you.
at Youth.sg, 22 October 2012
Who is Pinkie? The book starts by introducing the narrator herself. Pinkie is the average teenage girl facing life’s question marks and daily struggles. The book is organised in brief chapters and written in a clear and honest narrative.
With just one glance of the cover and cutesy emoticons peppered across the pages, one think it is the sort of light-hearted chick lit fluff you see on the shelves. But you know what they say, never judge a book by its cover!
Love, Pinkie is far from your typical chick lit. It chronicles Pinkie’s experiences on topics relatable to teenage girls everywhere. You would be surprised to learn that it offers a compact guide to life, full of optimism and wisdom which makes you think.
Some discussions highlighted in this book resonate well with me, especially chapters one to six, which poke at the realities of living in a fast-paced, materialistic and modern world, and the importance of maintaining good ties with family and friends. Each topic is divided into 12 concise chapters; from stories which highlight the downside of globalisation and living in a high-tech world, to those that discuss the notion of relationships and how it is perfectly okay to be a singleton.
Here is an excerpt about globalisation that I like:
“It is all about speed these days. Things lapse in bullet train’s speed. Things vanish in a flicker. What was deemed efficient in the past has now become average. Globalisation has contracted the planet, yet at the same time expanded it with ponds merging in to a sea of competition and opportunities. People are pressurised to get things done better and faster in order to out win, outlast and outplay. Accordingly speed finds its way into the various facets in life.”
Issues like ‘sexuality’ and ‘religion’ are touched on in chapters nine and 10 respectively, something not many stories would offer or openly talk about. The moral learnt from each chapter is conveniently summed up in chapter 12. The message ‘life’s short’ is reiterated, reminding us to live with the motto ‘carpe diem‘.
Love, Pinkie is pretty interesting, relevant, and recommended for teenage girls out there who are still seeking for some life questions left unanswered. Wrapped in 100 pages of advices and constant motivation, it is probably the epitome of ‘agony aunt’ in book form. It is also the kind of vade mecum (Latin phrase for a handbook) you would read in between school or work, during long hours of commuting or whenever you need that burst of inspiration.
So girls, amidst all the busyness and life commitments, we need that little voice at the back of our head to continue motivating us once in a while, remind us what we are worth, and what we are living for. Let Pinkie be that voice for you.
READERS said,
"The book is really comprehensive. It covers the basic aspects of life in a pretty in-depth way. It didn’t trivialize any of the issues, or over-simplify things. It has sufficient depth and mature insights while keeping it a light and easy read.
The anecdotes make the book easy to relate to. I also liked the reflection questions at the end of each chapter. They are relevant to what was written and are worthwhile questions to think about. Questions to check our hearts and make us correct ourselves where necessary. I think they provide good perspectives.
Overall, it was a really good read and worth recommending."
- Gloria, 18 yrs old
"Wow Christina, the book is awesome! Such an inspiring and motivating book! Incredibly well-written! Continue to write and shine :)"
- Pearlyn Goh, 17 years old
"Engrossed with "Love, Pinkie (>.<)".. I feel like getting one for my friend! The wonder of this book? Author pens down my inexpressible thoughts into words. A book for girls ♥"
- Shi Jinwan, 18 years old
"Was engrossed with reading it! :P It's a real interesting read!"
- Monica Chua, 19 years old
"As I read through the e-book, her gentle musings slowly reeled me in with her impressionistic introspection of mundane activities. :) I read through the part about relationships (both BGR and GGR... haha!)... and gosh, the little details that she puts in. Think it's really good! Think her sharing is very real too. Must have taken her plenty of courage to share. :) (Don't know if these are real-life experiences, though I assumed they are to a certain extent.)"
- Yeo Yeuann, 29 years old
The anecdotes make the book easy to relate to. I also liked the reflection questions at the end of each chapter. They are relevant to what was written and are worthwhile questions to think about. Questions to check our hearts and make us correct ourselves where necessary. I think they provide good perspectives.
Overall, it was a really good read and worth recommending."
- Gloria, 18 yrs old
"Wow Christina, the book is awesome! Such an inspiring and motivating book! Incredibly well-written! Continue to write and shine :)"
- Pearlyn Goh, 17 years old
"Engrossed with "Love, Pinkie (>.<)".. I feel like getting one for my friend! The wonder of this book? Author pens down my inexpressible thoughts into words. A book for girls ♥"
- Shi Jinwan, 18 years old
"Was engrossed with reading it! :P It's a real interesting read!"
- Monica Chua, 19 years old
"As I read through the e-book, her gentle musings slowly reeled me in with her impressionistic introspection of mundane activities. :) I read through the part about relationships (both BGR and GGR... haha!)... and gosh, the little details that she puts in. Think it's really good! Think her sharing is very real too. Must have taken her plenty of courage to share. :) (Don't know if these are real-life experiences, though I assumed they are to a certain extent.)"
- Yeo Yeuann, 29 years old
"Once I sat down to read, I couldn't stop till I was finished. What a refreshing and delightful read indeed! The book content is relevant while the chapters are concise so it doesn't get draggy. I also like how there is a summary at the end of each chapter. :)
Love, Pinkie covers stuff that every girl can relate to before delving into deeper topics on religion. The writing style is personal & light-hearted, and the expressions used, vivid. Great job! :)"
-- Hazel Esther Tan, 22 years old
"..definitely be a book of realization, a book that could relate to your own life :) I think it is a great book that would easily speak to our lives :) This book highlights truth to girls today because many have lost self worth and purpose. Time for girls to see and know what the truth is. I believe Pinkie is not just a fictional character but a character that can speak to girls today.
Spread the love. Bless someone with this book :) I personally think it is not like any other book, but it is a book that gives a perspective."
-- Bernie Tan, 21 years old
"Thanks for writing this book. It's indeed a good book! It encourages people who faced similar situations like those in the book. It is also reminder to all that the pursuit in life should be the one who created us.
To those who have not got a copy of "love, pinkie", do get one! It's not only a book for young girls but for all females. =D"
-- Sim Xiao Jing, 15 years old
To those who have not got a copy of "love, pinkie", do get one! It's not only a book for young girls but for all females. =D"
-- Sim Xiao Jing, 15 years old
@goodreads.com5 Stars, Dannie Hill,
15 Mar 11, First let me say that I loved this book, Love Pinkie! A must read. I started reading Christina Siew’s ‘Love Pinkie’ because I met her on a website and looked at her blog and really like her style of writing. She lives in Singapore and her English is… amazing. I purchased her book through Smashwords. At first I thought, “This is a book for young women living in the big city and what am I doing reading it?” I was very wrong. Love Pinkie is a voyage through a young woman’s life with soulful messages along the way. It is a poignant tale of life in a big city where Pinkie lives her life with trials and tribulations everyone can feel and come away thinking about their own life. Parables with scripture based messages. Don’t let the word ‘scripture’ turn you away from this work of beautiful poems, drama, conflict and answers to life. I’m an older man who grew up in the country and I came away with tears of my own life revealed. Wounds of the past were opened and given a chance to heal. I can only imagine what this book will do for younger men and women living in the high-speed world of today. I will recommend this book to everyone. Love Pinkie will touch you with truths of our lives from the eyes of a young woman who has matured—through her story and life—to become someone you would love to know and call friend! Please take the time out of your busy schedule to read this book. It’s a shame that it is only available in ebook format. If there are any agents or publishers who take the time to read Christina’s work of art you will see in her an opportunity to be touched, soothed and make a lot of money by taking up this book and author as one of your own. Source: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10711079-love-pinkie @smashwords.com5 Stars, 12 Mar 11, Dannie Hill --
I love Pinkie! What a way with modern words and poerty as she opens herself for others to view. This author has what it takes to be a great writer. I want to read more from her. 4 Stars, Stephen Tan, 26 Feb 11 An interesting concept for a book. By using Pinkie's 'diary' to bring out important life lessons, Christina was able to speak to the reader in an intimate and personal way, without sounding like she was trying to stuff her personal beliefs down your throat. Even though the book was mainly targeted at teenagers, some of the chapters - such as "[email protected]" and "Dream A Little Dream" - did provide sufficient food for thought. Overall an easy, enjoyable, and thoughtful read. Not bad for a rookie writer. 5 Stars, Marcus, 22 Feb 11 It's a GREAT read! I like how the short stories of different chapters/issues flow together. I also find it good that she summarizes at the end of each chapter with questions. Really a food for thought. I've read through her blog too. Her book and life story has been inspirational and also a blessing to me! Source: www.smashwords.com/books/view/31224 |
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DANI ALEXIS -- INTRACTABLE BIBLIOPHILIA, 27 April 11, Pinkie would be ALL ABOUT a colourful umbrella on a rainy day. Christina Siew’s Love, Pinkie: part journal, part love letter, and entirely authentic – even when its title character can’t tell up from down.
Pinkie is the twenty-first-century’s Everygirl, determined to make sense of her world without destroying the joy of simply living in it. Love, Pinkie is both Pinkie’s story and her diary, complete with snippets of poetry and Bible quotes on which Pinkie relies to set her thoughts on the right path as she works out the tangled web of technology, consumerism, friendships, and love that turn every twentysomething into a teetotum. One suspects that Pinkie will look back on her twenties and say, with Anne Taintor and the rest of us: it was fun while it lasted, but honey, you couldn’t pay me to do it again. While Pinkie’s Chinese heritage is important to her, her Christian faith is central to the person she wants to become, which also makes it central to this book – sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. Pinkie’s emphasis on love and loyalty, expressed through her faith, keeps her focused on the good side of her friends, even when they’re running late or about to break up over a minor tiff. On the other hand, she holds some oddly arcane beliefs for a woman facing the 21st century, such as the giggleworthy idea that the Herculean ability of male sperm to tear a latex condom makes the prophylactic nearly useless. But both what Pinkie gets right and what she gets wrong are part of her journey, and it’s how she tells her story that makes Love, Pinkie such a joy to read (and makes Pinkie such fun to follow on Twitter). Pinkie’s struggles are immediately recognizable, and her quiet confidence in her faith is comforting even to readers who don’t share it. I sincerely hope that this is not the last of Pinkie. Source: http://danialexis.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/book-review-love-pinkie/ BloggerRating: 4/5, BRITTANY MORROW -- BRITTANY'S FANTASY, 6 April 11, I accepted the offer to review this book because it sounded like something I would absolutely love. It was just that, but it was completely different from what I expected. It covers many topics that every girl thinks about and lives through, in a fun and light way.
Pinkie is a fascinating character. I loved reading her stories, messages, and life long lessons. While I am nothing like her, I found myself agreeing with her throughout the book. Christina's writing style blew me away. She is so in depth with her writing without over detailing anything. Her diction choices and fantastic metaphors kept the book interesting. I liked reading about all the different topics that Pinkie talked about, but I do wish that there was some suspense in the book. Overall, I highly recommend this book. There is something in this book for everyone and it really gets you thinking. The ending was perfect and I look forward to anything else Christina writes. Source: http://brittanysfantasy.blogspot.com/2011/04/review-love-pinkie.html |