The Tea House on Mulberry Street

This is a simple, cosy evening, though I still feel a little dizzy and tipsy after the whole day's hardwork. It was not a particularly exhausting day, nor did I drink anything alcoholic, but I feel certain heaviness in my head, perhaps I just catch a cold. However, I am very grateful that one person can erase all my heaviness in head and let me indulge in a peaceful night reading from a delightful paperback in my hands.

The person is Sharon Owens and the book is "The Tea House on Mulberry Street".

A book with a name like that never seems appealing to anyone. In fact, I was only attracted by its delicate cover with mouth-watering cherry cheesecake, added with a teapot with carved clovers as well as a pair of delicate tea cups. This kind of cover is extremely soothing and warming in a winter night, lightening up your imagination of a hot cup of cappuccino lying on a tea-house table with a dish of chargrilled chicken strips and a bowl of carrot and chestnut soup with cream and croutons by its side... I forgot there is no winter here, only dry and wet seasons with south-east monsoons come and go...Back to track, what attracts me more is that the book is a NO.1 Irish Bestseller bearing high accolades from Cecelia Ahern, whose blockbuster brainchild was "PS, I Love You".

Though I used to snub those books labelled "bestseller", I found this one extremely curiosity-piqueing. Is it something like Chinese writter Lao She's Teahouse? Or is it beautifully written in a modern way? Does it show a kaleidoscope of people in a teahouse, while revealing some hidden secrets in the fast-spinning society? Or something really Irish? I did not hesitate to read it.

And it is satisfyingly great, with stories entwined with each other, intersecting, twisting, developing into a multi-layer tapestry. All is well that ends well, but it is not the kind of Hollywood ending which makes tragedy lovers moan over and over. It is a light sitcom without blatant laughters, yet it indeed makes it hard for one to restrain some heart-felt chuckles.

All is well that ends well. Everyone got what they deserved, bless or punishment.

After flipping to the last page of this light comedy, I can almost smell the flagrance of cherry cheesecake lingering in our bedroom, which is dimly lit by a bedside-lamp, as my mind drifting out into the tea house on Mulberry Street.

Cheers for Penny and Daniel who own the tea house, and their son Danny!