The Luxe

Nah! I'm so busy right now. But still, I can't refrain from writing and keeping my blog updated. So, I think I'm going to write about the book I'm reading now.

The Luxe from Anna Godbersen tells the story about Elisabeth Holland and her sister, Diana Holland. It took place at Manhattan in 1899 when Elisabeth's father, a very rich and well-known nobleman, died and left nothing but debt for them. Thwarting her family from falling in poverty, her mother decided to marry her to a very handsome and rich playboy, Henry Schoonmaker.
Nobody seemed to be conscious of her affair with her coachman, Will Keller, until the night when her maid and ex-bestfriend, Lina, caught sight of her as she was lurking to Will's room. Lina and Will were Liz's playmates, yet as Liz grown up, she began to know her position and role as a socialite, hence she gave her playmates a wide berth. Later, she began to perceive her love to Will.
Not long after wooing her sister, Henry met and kissed Diana, a wild lady who seeked for freedom and true love. They began their secret relationship afterwards. It was a fun game for both Diana and Henry, who were fed up with their boring noble life.
Penelope, Henry's ex and Liz's bestfriend, filled in the bad guy lady role. She was new to this upper class as her family has just began to gain their wealth from her grandfather's trade. The beautiful yet cocky lady pretended to be Liz's friend because she believed that a best friend could be one's strongest enemy.
The Luxe, followed by Rumors, Envy and Splendor, was a novel of The Luxe series. This series focused on Holland sisters' complicated love story. One thing that lured me to buy this novel was the cover, which has an elegant and gorgeous lady's picture on it. I'm planning to buy the second book after finishing the first book. But the reason of buying the novel has changed, as I think these novels are worth reading.

To my mind, this girl might be :

Elizabeth Holland 

Penelope Hayes

Diana Holland

Lina Broud

p.s. Lina will played big part in the next book.

_Yau

Madame Wellington Koo

To begin with, she was a daughter of the richest man in Asia Pasific. Married with a prominent politician, no doubt she was something in her era. Her real name was Oei Hui Lan, she was born in Indonesia, Semarang precisely, at 1899. Born in a very affluent Chinese family, she was a trained lady who mastered 4 languages. Her father, Oei Tiong Ham, had more or less 18 concubines with more or less 42 children. She was the youngest daughter from his father’s first wife, Goei Bing Nio. Her elder and only sister, named Oei Tjong Lan, married twice. While she only married Wellington Koo, a widower with 2 children, which made her known as Madame Wellington Koo nowadays.
 

Oei Tiong Ham

Her childhood was spent in Indonesia as a princess to her loving father; she was his favorite. Her mother was closer to her sister, Tjong Lan, because her sister was more lady-like than her. They went to saloon and shopping together, while Hui Lan preferred spending her time in her private zoo. Nah, don’t be surprised yet, she was a daughter of sugar magnate, Oei Tiong Ham, remember? Anything was possible for her. She had 200 rooms, kitchens, villas, 2 big pavilions, and an artificial lake  in her home, ah, palace. Oh, anyway, have I mentioned how many servants, gardeners, and cooks she had? Don’t make me do that. She had 100+ !

Not long after her sister’s marriage, her mother decided to take her and moved out from their palace. Why? Because her father married one of her so-called cousin, Lucy Ho. Her father tried to thwart her from moving out, yet as he failed, he told her something which I remembered the most, “ must be the first instead of second”. Then they moved to London, and began their jet set lifestyle. Due to her mother’s ambition, she married Wellington Koo, a famous but not well-off Chinese diplomat. After having her not-very-happy  marriage, she began to met important people, and acknowledged her new name, Madame Wellington Koo.


Wellington Koo


Her father sent her pocket-money every month, which she spent at dresses, jewelries, cars, and houses.  She loved dogs, she had more than enough dogs to play with. She also spent her money to buy her dogs the best food. After her father’s death, she inherited $AS 15million. She decided to part with her husband after hearing some rumors about her husband’s new woman. She wrote an autobiography, No Feast Last Forever, at 1975. The title reflected her life, no, not just hers, but ours!
She was a real lady, she was rich from the very first time she was born until her very last breath. I can't tell you how splendid and extravagant her life was. Ehem. Anyway, do you know why I wrote about Oei Hui Lan? Actually, I bought Agnes Davonar’s Kisah Tragis Oei Hui Lan (true story). I didn’t buy it literally, my uncle insisted on paying this book for me. Thank you!

_Yau

Percy Jackson

I've just finished reading this novel, Percy Jackson - The Lightning Thief, last night. I should thank Kevin for sharing the e-book. To be honest, the original story in this book is a lot better than it in the film. They allayed too many scene, and even omitted many characters. I love the battle between Percy and Ares which nobody could found in the film. The image of Lotus Casino in the film is no better than that in the book. In the film, Annabeth fought against Percy in "Capture The Flag", while they supposed to ally, as in the book. You could also found no existence of Ares, Dionysus, Nancy nor Clarisse in the film. After all, these are only my opinions. No offence.

Uh-oh. Look at the positive side. You, I mean damsel over here, will be pleased to watch the handsome lad, Logan Lerman, played Percy Jackson.

I'm going to read the second book, Percy Jackson - The Sea of Monsters. I hope it could delight me likewise.

Wish me luck for my final exam, readers !! :D

_Yau