Piano Technique: Tone, Touch, Phrasing and Dynamics by Lillie Herman-Philipp

In this slim volume, the basic fundamentals of piano technique, starting from posture, is clearly laid out. Scales in their various forms are also fully printed out, serving as a useful guide for practice. Although this book does not go into details, it is nevertheless a helpful companion during practices.

Notes from the Pianists' Bench, by Boris Berman

Practicing, performing, figuring out details such as phrasing and dynamics: these are the fundamental portions of performance. Yet how does one learn these things? Berman illustrates, using numerous musical examples, practical methods to improving one's piano playing.

A minimum of experience is required to understand and apply the advice given in this book. It is highly practical, useful and, at times, entertaining. Very useful.

Musical Blunders and other off-beat Curiosities, by Fritz Spiegl

Over the years, veteran musicians have a fair bit of stories which circulate around regularly, like the conductor who tried to show off to the orchestra...
The best of these anecdotes and other intruiging tales are compiled in this book. Best enjoyed by musicians and music lovers, it reveals the blunders of conductors, arrangers, translators and performers.

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami

In this collection of short stories, Murakami tells stories of people who are ordinary, until an event- inconspicuous or not- changes their lives. Each contains an insight into our lives. Some are written in interview form; others, in narrative, but all share his lyrical and quiet style. There is nothing garish about his style of storytelling. Recommended.

Rose Madder, by Stephen King

Ever since Rose Daniels was married to Norman Daniels at the age of eighteen, she has endured his beatings. They left her gasping for breath, hurting all over. The damage accumulated silently, but she didn't know of its extent.

Until the day she saw her blood on the bedsheets, she knew she had to escape. Before he beat her to death.

After fourteen years of marriage, she ventures out of the house, armed only with her husband's bank card and nothing else but her wits. She is determined not to return to that house, ever, but how will she survive.

More importantly, how long can she hide? Her husband is a policeman. He knows how to trace fugitives. Extract evidence. Maybe even kill.

And as Rose tries to live a normal life, her husband creeps in closer.


Rose Madder is surreal, terrifying and tight. The scenes are vividly written and characters are fleshed out fully. A good read.

The Madman's Tale, by John Katzenbach

Francis X. Petrel is mad.

Was, anyway. He was institutionalised for hearing voices.

But now, the hospital has closed down and the voices are mostly silenced by an army of medications.

When the hospital invites all its former patients to give testimonies, it awakens Francis's memories of his time there. Now, it is up to Francis to tell his story.

Brought in after threatening his family with a kitchen knife, Francis became a part of Western State Hospital at the age of twenty-one. Shortly after, the brutal murder of a nurse-trainee throws the carefully calibrated patients into imbalance, including Francis. A prosecutor came in to investigate the case. With Francis's skills of intuition and his friend's investigative powers, she might actually solve this case. But the route to uncovering the truth is fraught with danger, where one wrong step might send you plummeting to death, or worse, insanity.

Cleverly written and very gripping. A memorable ride through the realms of insanity and the unique insights of those 'mentally unsound', leaving you questioning: is sanity really that great?

Black Water by T. Jefferson Parker

Archie Wildcraft and his wife Gwen are found in their home, shot. Archie manages to survive with a bullet in his head; Gwen does not. Archie is found with the gun and blood on his hands. Everyone thinks it's a botched murder-suicide.

Only Detective Merci Rayborn doesn't, even with all the evidence pointing against Archie. As yet their only witness lies unconscious in the hospital and they have nothing to go on... except, perhaps, whispers of a corporate conspiracy. If the couple were shot by a third party, then who is responsible and why?

And then Archie Wildcraft disappears from hospital, out to exact his own revenge.

Gripping and complex, Black Water manages to link up various threads. It was a good read, even if the main character sometimes struck this reviewer as too emotional.

The City of Dreaming Books, by Walter Moers

When Optimus Yarnspinner's godfather died, he gave Optimus a manuscript. One which contained a story so wonderful the writer could not possibly be human.

Eager to look for the author of the manuscript, Optimus sets out for the city of Bookholm, a heaven for booklovers. The city has everything to do with books; bookshops are everywhre, publishers abound and you can get an expert evaluation of a manuscript anyplace. Definitely, this is the place where Optimus will find answers.

Of course, the best person to go to would be Pfistomel Smyke. Apart from bing the expert in the field, he is also a patron of the arts and a generous person. Who else could be better?

But not everything goes to place, because Optimus has failed to take into account the dark side of Bookholm: its notorious catacombs, where danger lurks everywhere.

And that is where his story really begins.

Often comical and highly inventive, this is a great read. Enjoy watching subplots interwine at the end!

Black Coffee, by Agatha Christie

Hercule Poirot has been called on by Sir Claud, a famous scientist, to sniff out the thief of a precious formula.

The night Poirot is to visit Sir Claud's mansion, the man himself has rounded up the visitors and residents of his house, hoping to find the thief. He suspects the thief to be among his little audience for the night, but does not want the thief to lose face. So he plans to give the thief a minute of darkness to place the formula on a table.

When the lights are turned back on, Poirot is here...
...and Sir Claud is dead.

Now, Poirot has to investigate murder instead of theft.

With the usual clever plot of Christie's, Black Coffee is an enjoyable read with plenty of twists that will leave you enthralled.