This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on June 16, 2017

4 good reads of varying genres

Flip through the pages of Lang Leav’s Sad Girls and be greeted by a beautifully written and emotionally charged coming-of-age story, where young love, dark secrets and tragedy collide. It follows the story of Audrey who told a lie, resulting in her classmate Ana’s death. Just as her world begins to spin out of control, Audrey meets the enigmatic Rad, a boy who could change her situation either for the better or for the worse. Priced at RM89.95, this book is available for purchase via www.malaysia.kinokuniya.com.

Relish in Arundhati Roy’s storytelling gifts with her latest body of work that is The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. Promising to be a difficult-to-put-down read, the characters in the novel take readers on an intimate journey of many years across the Indian subcontinent — from the cramped neighbourhoods of Old Delhi and the roads of the new city to the mountains and valleys of Kashmir and beyond. This novel is priced at RM67.96 via www.malaysia.kinokuniya.com.

Fans of Haruki Murakami’s contemporary classics will be pleased to pick up his latest book, Men without Women. Across seven tales, the author uses his powers of observation to bear on the lives of men who, in their own ways, find themselves alone. Think vanishing cats and smoky bars, lonely hearts and mysterious women, baseball and the Beatles, woven together to tell stories that speak to us all. The book is priced at RM109.90 and available on www.malaysia.kinokuniya.com.

If you enjoy murder/mystery fiction then The Roses of May by Dot Hutchison is bound to be a good pick. The author tells the story of FBI agents Eddison, Hanoverian and Ramirez who are on the hunt for a serial killer who leaves their victims surrounded by flowers. The agents team up with Priya Sravasti, whose sister fell victim to the killer years ago and has turned up in the madman’s crosshairs. Follow the riveting events that follow in this book that is available for purchase at RM84.68 via www.malaysia.kinokuniya.com.

1 fun way to lend support to furry friends

Pawse for a Cause urges you to stand up for a cause at its latest fundraiser. Hosted by Papi Zak, the session is happening this Sunday from 2pm to 4pm at Chapters Urban Bistro located at G13 Empire Damansara, Jalan PJU 8/8A Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya. There will be an array of activities with something for everyone — bazaars, F&B promotions by the event venue, a petting zoo, puppies and kittens in search for homes and a PFAC Gifting Station (where you can help feed rescued animals by gifting a bag of dog food or cat food which can be purchased at the gifting station, courtesy of Hills). Tickets are priced at RM100 and inclusive of a door gift. Visit www.facebook.com/PawseForACause for more information.

1 reason to put on your dancing shoes

LindyKL is calling beginners as well as seasoned dancers to have a swinging time at its Friday socials. If you’re new to swing dancing, there will be a half-hour beginners’ class at 9.15pm to show you the basic moves of east coast swing before the social dancing begins. Make your way to the New Star Studio situated at 65-1 Jalan 109E, Taman Bukit Desa, Kuala Lumpur, tonight. A cover charge of RM20 (includes two non-alcoholic drinks) applies. Visit www.facebook.com/lindykl for more.

2 places to groove to the music

Local instrumental rock quartet, On a Trip, is taking the stage at Gaslight Café & Music tonight. The band that was formed in 2015 invites its audiences to go on a musical trip at their performance tonight. The show starts at 9.30pm and there will be an entry fee of RM20 (inclusive of one drink) at the door. Gaslight Café & Music is situated at Unit 15-2 Jalan Medan Setia 1, Plaza Damansara, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur. Visit www.facebook.com/gaslightcafekl or call (03) 2011 4047 for more information.

Be serenaded by the soulful voice of home-grown artist Dasha Logan at No Black Tie tonight where the songstress will be belting out tunes of jazz, funk, soul and R&B music. The show begins at 10pm at 17 Jalan Mesui, Off Jalan Nagasari, Kuala Lumpur, and the cover charge is RM64. Visit www.facebook.com/noblacktie or call (03) 2142 3737 for more details.

2 movies to watch on the big screen

Laugh out loud at the antics of former villain Gru who is up for more adventure in Despicable Me 3. He meets a new villain in the form of Balthazar Bratt, a former child star in the 80s who now plans for world domination. But Bratt’s not Gru’s only problem as he is suddenly reacquainted with his long-lost twin brother Dru as well, who plans to rope Gru into his plan for one last heist to steal the diamond Bratt has stolen. Visit www.cinema.com.my for show times, locations and more.

Once Upon A Time in Venice is an action-laced comedy starring Bruce Willis. It tells the story of a Los Angeles-based private detective, Steve Ford, whose dog is stolen by a notorious gang. Steve shows exactly how far a man will go for his best buddy and ends up working for the gang’s leader to get his dog back. At the same time, he is also being hunted down by two vengeful Samoan brothers, a loan shark’s goons and a few other shady characters who operate outside the boundaries of the law. Visit www.cinema.com.my for show times, locations and more.