Reading Again...

I'm back from hibernation.

I'm reading again. It has been a long time since I last read a book. I really missed it.

Charlotte's Web (E.B. White)

SOME PIG.

These are the words in Charlotte's web, high in the barn. Her spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, as well as the feelings of a little girl named Fern... who loves Wilbur, too. Their love has been shared by millions of readers.

This book was included in my list of books-to-buy. I usually browse this book whenever I'm in a bookstore but never bought it because it's either I already have another book to buy or I don't have enough money with me that time. It may be weird, but I sometimes rely on "signs" to help me decide on whether I should buy a particular book or not. With this book, there were two signs.

The first sign was the big hardcover copy sent by my boss's sister for the school last week. I should be getting home already, but I still went to my boss's house to check out the books sent from the US. There were lots of board games and books. I immediately checked out the books and squealed with delight when I brought out Charlotte's Web. I scanned the book and wished the book was mine. The book is for the grade school library. The next day, I read some pages whenever I have the time.

Two days later, I went to SM Fairview to pay for my cell phone bill. It has been a while since I last went there so I decided to pass by Booksale. I didn't have plans on buying anything. I just want to browse at the books. Then I saw Charlotte's Web. Upon seeing the book, I knew that it was time for me to have my own copy. It only costs P55.00. So I bought it.

I finished reading this book last night before I slept. Tears were pouring down my face when I closed the book. Even if I already turned off the lights and was lying in bed, my tears continued to pour. I cried myself to sleep just thinking about Charlotte and Wilbur's wonderful friendship.

There's really nothing much I could tell about this book. The story is simple and very touching. It is indeed a very beautiful story about friendship. I love both Charlotte and Wilbur. Charlotte is loyal and selfless. Wilbur is cute and very endearing. He is definitely SOME PIG.

And I would definitely read this book to my 1st Grade students in the coming school year.

Rating: 5/5

What Kind Of Reader Are You?

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader   You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Literate Good Citizen
Book Snob
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

I agree, the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more. =)

Book Fiesta: Scholastic Summer Warehouse SALE

I was not able to come on the first scheduled dates because I was busy assisting my niece on her ballet recital. So I really hope I could come next week. I have been busy with work ever since I came back from my short vacation. A book shopping would really do me good. =)

Amelia Bedelia, Bookworm (Herman Parish)

* When Amelia Bedelia helps out at her local library, she does everything by the book - and that gets her into a whole lot of trouble.


I bought this book yesterday on a whim. It's really hard to control my shopping impulses when I'm in a bookstore. But what the heck. I love books.

I was at Fully Booked, TriNoma yesterday afternoon. I have no plans of buying any book since I plan to read my unread books this summer. While browsing through the shelves of school supplies and gift items, I saw plastic jelly cases for iPods. Since I've been looking for a new case for my 1st gen iPod Nano, I decided to buy it. It's only P75.00.

Suddenly, this crazy thought entered my mind: I am not used to buying anything in Fully Booked for less than a hundred pesos so I have to buy a book, too. Crazy, right? So I went to the children's book shelf and saw the books about Amelia Bedelia. I browse through them and saw the book with the word bookworm on the title. I immediately got it then went straight to the cashier. It only costs P144.00. But since I have a Fully Booked discount card, I paid P129.60 for it. Then I went home before I do another crazy thing.

On the way home, I thought of the title: Amelia Bedelia, Bookworm. It sounds like the title of a doctor (ex. Jane Doe, M.D.). Wouldn't it be nice to have a title like bookworm? Well, for bookworms (like me!) anyway. So if bookworms have certifications, then I would be Shane Laberinto, Bookworm. Cool. :P

The story is, as usual, funny. Amelia Bedelia does exactly what she heard. She usually misunderstands what she hears. When Mrs. Page, the librarian, told one of the children, "Here is your book, Mark", Amelia thought that Mrs. Page is giving away bookmarks! She shouted for joy and announced that there are free bookmarks. The children asked Mrs. Page about it and she told them what she said to Mark. The children misunderstood and thought that only the children named Mark will be given free bookmarks. So they protested to Mrs. Page. In order to appease the children asking for bookmarks, Amelia made bookmarks for them. That led to more troubles.

Amelia Bedelia is certainly a funny character. Personally, I wonder how I would react if I meet someone like her. Hahaha. Never mind.

Rating: 4/5


PS: This is a book shopping and book review entry rolled into one. :)

25 Random Things About Me As A Bookworm

Last February, there was a popular survey in Facebook. It was the "25 Random Things About Me" survey. I got tagged lots of times. I never posted or replied to it because I couldn't come up with 25 random things about myself. I know that I could just mention anything about myself. But they're mostly lame and boring things about me that nobody would care about knowing.

During one of my trips to the bookstore, I enumerated things about me as a bookworm/bibliophile in my head. I came up with almost 20 facts. As soon as I got home, I wrote them down. I was able to come up with more than 25 facts. I narrowed the list to follow the format of the survey in Facebook. It was difficult but here they are.

1. A trip to the mall will not be complete without passing by in at least one bookstore.

2. I have different kinds of bookmarks.

3. I have a book database. I record the book's title, author, price, and date of purchase.

4. I give books as gifts.

5. I have a pile of unread books.

6. I have discount and loyalty cards from major bookstores like Powerbooks, Fully Booked, and National Bookstore (Laking National card).

7. I have accounts in Shelfari and Library Thing. But I'm more active in Shelfari.

8. I always have a book in my bag so that I could read wherever I go and save myself from boredom.

9. I am very OC when it comes to new books so I cover them with plastic.

10. I lend my books to my family and relatives only. I had experiences before of friends not returning my books. Ever.

11. I read different genres of books (children, young adult, classics, chick lit, fantasy, suspense, mystery, humor, general fiction, graphic novels, poetry, biography, non-fiction, etc.).

12. I attend book discussions.

13. I never buy movie-tie in editions. It's so tacky.

14. I always prefer the book over the movie version except in very rare cases (The Notebook, Slumdog Millionaire).

15. I own 98% of the books at home.

16. I still have the books I read when I was still in elementary and high school.

17. My favorite activity in class is storytelling time. It is the time when all the students (even the 2 and 3 year olds) give their full attention to listen to the story of the day.

18. I set aside money for books every pay day. I may not have the latest gadget or fashion item, but at least I have a new book.

19. I have a book blog.

20. I don't notice the time when I read and when I'm in a bookstore.

21. I alternately read at least 2 books.

22. I wouldn't date a guy who doesn't read books. School books and textbooks do not count. Ha!

23. I prefer books over e-books.

24. I am updated with bookstores' sales/discounts.

25. I spent my 24th birthday in a bookstore. I did not have a party there. I just spent most of my time there, browsing at books, together with my cousin.

:)

Rebel Angels (Libba Bray)

* Ah, Christmas! Gemma Doyle is looking forward to a holiday from Spence Academy - spending time with her friends in the city, attending balls in fancy gowns with plunging necklines, and dallying with the handsome Simon Middleton. Yet amid these distractions, her visions intensify - visions of three girls dressed in white, to whom something horrific has happened that only the realms can explain.

The lure is strong, and soon Gemma, Felicity, and Ann are turning flowers into butterflies in the enchanted world to which Gemma takes them. To the girl's great joy, their beloved Pippa is there as well, eager to complete their circle of friendship.

But all is not well in the realms - or out. Kartik is back, desperately insisting to Gemma that she must bind the magic, lest colossal disaster befall her. Gemma is willing to comply, for this would bring her face to face with her late mother's greatest friend, now Gemma's foe - Circe. Until Circe is destroyed, Gemma cannot live out her destiny. But finding Circe proves a most perilous task...

Rebel Angels teems with Victorian thrills and chills that play out against the backdrop of 1895 London, a place of shadows and light... where inside great beauty can lie a rebel angel.


This is the second book in the Gemma Doyle trilogy. Usually, I find second books/sequel in a series not-so-good compared to the first one. But this one did not disappoint me. It is more exciting and action-packed than the first book. I love it!

Gemma spends her first Christmas in London. It is also her first Christmas without her mother. But even without her mother, her Christmas is very, very colorful. There's a new man in her life, Simon Middleton. She is invited to dances and a lot of events. She meets some members of the Order and the Rakshana. She meets a lot of creatures in the realms. Things with Kartik are more intense. She finally meets Circe (I knew it was her when I first read about her!).

With all those things that I mentioned, I don't think Gemma Doyle fans would be bored reading this. Just like the first one, I couldn't put it down. The only time I stopped reading was when I worked on my students' report cards last weekend. But every time I rest my aching hands, I reached out for this book to continue reading. It really took a lot of effort for me to stop reading so that I could continue with work. So as soon as I finished accomplishing my students' report cards, I read the book and didn't stop until the end.

Gemma is not disappointing as a lead character. She is still funny and strong-willed. She made wrong judgments towards some people. But where would the excitement be if she does not commit mistakes? I just wish she would re-assess her friendships with Felicity and Ann. It seems to me that they are just using Gemma for personal gains. Well, hopefully things with them would get better in the next book. As for Gemma's love life, it is definitely clear who her heart belongs to.

The book is fast paced but not so fast that you'd have a hard time catching up. I didn't experience dull moments when reading this. It is an easy read and very engaging.

Rating: 5/5

Power Book Club Discussion for March 2009

During last month's book discussion, we all agreed that if "Slumdog Millionaire" wins the Academy Awards, we will have it as the featured book for the book club this March. It won. So last night, the group met at Powerbooks, TriNoma to discuss the book.

There were only three of us who attended: Tobbie, Mona, and I. The other book club members were busy since it was a weekday. The book club usually meets on a Saturday afternoon. But it was moved due to some conflicts in the calendar of the Club for March.

It was a great discussion. We all couldn't help but compare the book and the movie. We also agreed that the movie is better than the book.

Slumdog Millionaire / Q & A (Vikas Swarup)

* Ram Mohammad Thomas has been arrested. Because how can a poor orphan who has never read a newspaper or gone to school correctly answer all twelve questions on the television game show Who Will Win a Billion? - unless he cheated.

As the story unfolds, Ram explains to his lawyer how he knew the answer to each question by telling a chapter of his amazing life - from the day he was salvaged from a dustbin to his meeting with a security-crazed Australian army colonel while performing as an overly creative tour guide at the Taj Mahal. Stunning a television audience of millions, Ram draws on a store of street wisdom and accidental encounters that provides him with the essential keys not only to the quiz show but also to life itself.

In a beguiling blend of high comedy and poignancy, Vikas Swarup has created a kaleidoscopic vision of the struggle of good against evil, and what happens when one boy has no other choice in life but to survive.

I am not a big fan of movies based on books. I'm sure most bookworms out there feel the same as I do. For us, the book is ALWAYS better than the movie. So as much as possible, I try not to compare the two and not expect too much from the movie.

I usually read the book first before watching the movie. In this case, however, I watched the movie first before reading the book. I like the movie and I think it really deserves the awards given to it. This prompted me to read the book. Since the movie is good, I set a high expectation on the book.

I wish I hadn't.

I got disappointed. The movie is better than the book. The book is not that horrible. But it wasn't that good either.

The start of the book is exciting. Ram was in jail because he got arrested for winning a quiz show. He narrated his experience there and how he got out through the help of a lawyer, Smita. Then he narrated to her the experiences he had behind each question from the game show.

The stories behind each question are from different times in his life. The events are not presented in a chronological order (childhood to teenager or adult) like in the movie. That is more realistic. However, I found myself confused most of the time because I have to figure out Ram's age when the event happened. There are times when his age is not stated clearly. So I had a hard time imagining Ram in my head. I don't know if the Ram I should imagine is a child or a teenager.

There are also some boring parts in the book. Even his love story is not that exciting or touching. As for the ending... It is corny. But at least it did not end with a dance sequence.

Like what I said, I tried not to compare the book and the movie. But I couldn't help it. So I think it's better to just watch the movie.

Rating: 2/5

Watchmen Promo Contest: I WON!!!

I joined a contest in Pinoy Exchange a few weeks ago. It was the Watchmen promo contest wherein winners would win Watchmen premium items such as a Comedian shirt, a Rorschach hoodie, a Nite Owl watch, a movie poster and button pins. All we needed to do was to answer a question. Each answer is equivalent to one raffle entry. If I remember correctly, I answered two times. There were lots of people who joined. I was one of the lucky few who won some items. Cool, eh?

I asked my brother to claim the items for me since his office is located near the place where the items could be claimed. I won the Comedian shirt and some button pins. Unfortunately, the shirt is big for me and fits my brother well. So I gave it to him. I was left with the button pins. Unfortunately again, the button pins I wanted are the Rorschach and the Smiley pins which were not included in the items I won. But I'm still happy because I won (swear!).

A Great And Terrible Beauty (Libba Bray)

* Gemma Doyle isn't like other girls. Girls with impeccable manners, who speak when spoken to, who remember their station, and who will lie back and think of England when it's required of them.

No, sixteen-year-old Gemma is an island unto herself, sent to the Spence Academy in London after tragedy strikes her family in India. Lonely, guilt-ridden, and prone to visions of the future that have an uncomfortable habit of coming true, Gemma finds a chilly reception. But she's not completely alone... she's been followed by a mysterious young man, who warns her to close her mind against the visions.

For it's at Spence that Gemma's power to attract the supernatural unfolds; there she becomes entangled with the school's most powerful girls and discovers her mother's connection to a shadowy group called the Order. It's there that her destiny waits... if only she can believe it.

A Great and Terrible Beauty is a curl-up-under-the-covers kind of book... a vast canvas of rustling skirts and dancing shadows and things that go bump in the night. It's a vividly drawn portrait of the Victorian age, when girls were groomed for lives as rich men's wives... and the story of a girl who saw another way.


Early this year, I had a chat through YM with one of my friends from Twilight Coven Philippines (TCP), Rome. We were just talking about random things when she mentioned about a series she has been reading. She just discovered it a few days before the night of our chat. The series that she was talking about is the Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray. She saw the book on display while waiting in line to pay in Fully Booked, Gateway. She read the synopsis, liked what she read, then bought the book. Ever since she opened it, she couldn't stop reading. And so she recommended it to me and to the other members of TCP. (Some TCP members actually read books other than Twilight. Way, way better books than Twilight. :P)

It took a while for me before I bought the book. I was busy with work and reading other books. During one of my trips in Fully Booked, The Block, I saw copies of this book on the shelf. There were less than five on display. But I didn't buy it yet because I wasn't sure if the AGATB is the first book in the series since copies of Rebel Angels (the second book) were also there. I also have a limited budget that time. So I left the bookstore wishing that I would still see them on my next visit.

A few days passed. I was in TriNoma to apply for the Ayala Malls A Card. Before going home, I passed by Fully Booked out of habit. I saw lots of copies of AGATB. Since I have enough money with me, I bought the book. I was really excited because I could now read the series. It was worth it.

Just like Rome, I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. The setting is during the Victorian era. I love reading books set during that time. Gemma's arrival at the Spence Academy reminded me of A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (one of my favorite books back in high school). Just like Sara Crewe, Gemma grew up in India. They are both sent to a boarding school in London. But their similarities end there. Sara arrived in London when she was 7 years old while Gemma arrived when she was already 16 years old. Sara left India to study in London while Gemma left because a tragedy happened. Sara is popular and looked up to by other children while Gemma is a target by the "mean girls." There are no supernatural elements in Sara's world while Gemma's world is surrounded by it.

Since supernatural elements exist in the book, there were times when I felt chills running up and down my spine. These happened every time Gemma and her friends are in the cave. My imagination was getting ahead of myself. It made me want to read more.

This book is not only about the supernatural. It also showed how women lived during the Victorian era. Reading about the other students in Spence and the events happening there was entertaining. Even though I am fascinated by that era, I don't want to live during that time because I don't want to be groomed to be just somebody's wife. I am an ambitious person so I want to be the "somebody" and be able to do my own thing.

This book is very promising. I couldn't wait to read the next one. I just really hope that Gemma's characterization will not go downhill like *ehem* the girl who fell madly in love with a sparkling vampire.

Rating: 4/5

NBS Super Summer Sale

Get up to 70% off on summer reads and other hot, hot items in the National Book Store Super Summer Sale. Bask in the glow of sizzling fiction titles or get splashed with fun water toys such as blow-up balls and goggles – all at discounted prices! Also on sale are school and office supplies, hobbies and crafts items, and a whole lot of books.

Make NBS your pre-vacation shopping destination for a truly sensational summer. Promo runs from Mar. 14 to Apr. 5, 2009.

source: http://www.nbsstores.com/promotions.asp?article_id=159

This is really tempting. I know that I "sort-of promised" myself that I would not buy a book unless I finished reading around 10 of my unread books. Jeez. What a difficult situation that I am in. I might as well give in "for now." Haha.

Power Book Club Discussion for February 2009

For this month, the Power Book Club discussed two books: The Giver by Lois Lowry and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It was a very interesting book discussion because The Book Thief is one of my favorite books. I just wish we had more time discussing them. Nonetheless, the book discussion was fun.

Citizen Girl (Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus)

* SEEKING *

Qualified applicants looking to build their careers on sand. Requirements: a bachelor's degree worth a fraction of the debt you incurred. One to two years of clerical experience working for a deranged harridan who has sucked your very life force. Fluency in at least two major jargons. Must be resourceful, flexible, action-oriented, stress tolerant, enthusiastic, and desperate. Primary responsibilities include: figuring out just what we've hired you to do; working closely with no one for clients we'll never identify, and a practice we'll never commit to. All interested email your integrity to www.mycompany.com.

Working in a world where a college degree qualifies her to make photocopies and color-coordinate file folders, twenty-four-year-old Girl is struggling to keep up with the essential trinity of food, shelter, and student loans. So when she finally lands the job of her dreams she ignores her misgivings and concentrates on getting the job done... whatever that may be.

Sharply observed and devastatingly funny, Citizen Girl captures with biting accuracy what it means to be young and female in the new economy. A personal glimpse into an impersonal world, Citizen Girl is edgy and heartfelt, an entertaining read that is startlingly relevant.

Two words that came to my mind after reading this: It sucks.

Seriously, what a deranged book.

The characters, the plot, and the way it was written all suck. The major characters' names are all ridiculous: Girl (the protagonist), Guy (her boss), and Buster (her boyfriend). Even the minor characters who appeared in a few pages: Romy and Remus, Lyle and Lynn, and Manley (who's a female). What's up with those names?

This is a chick lit. I usually get entertained when I read chick lits. But I wasn't entertained with this one. It is boring. Girl's personality is so bland. The plot is even worse. It does not progress well.

It is a miracle I was able to finish this. I just wanted to read something light after reading a thought-provoking one (The Giver by Lois Lowry). However, it's not light because I got lost on what the writers wanted to convey. I don't even want to re-read and try to find out.

I started reading this late last year and was able to finish it only last night. Good thing I bought this at a very cheap price (P50.00) at Booksale. It would have been a total waste of money if I bought this book at a regular price.

So if you see this in the bookstore, don't bother picking it up. It's totally not worth it.

Rating: 1/5

Still Angry Little Girls (Lela Lee)

* This sequel to the best-selling ANGRY LITTLE GIRLS is filled with Lela Lee's hip, edgy, yet sweet humor and features the hilarious return of her beloved cast of characters: Kim, the angry little Asian girl; Deborah, the disenchanted princess; Maria, the crazy little Latina; Wanda, the fresh soul sistah; and Xyla, the gloomy girl. From annoying boyfriends to nagging mothers, anxiety attacks to bad hair days, this collection proves that there's an angry little girl inside of everyone.


The title of this book caught my attention while I was browsing through the book sale shelves in TriNoma this afternoon. Still Angry Little Girls. Hmm... Why are the girls angry? I opened the book and was greeted with simple illustrations of these girls. It looks like an interesting read so I didn't think twice on buying it. It only costs P80.00 anyway.

I immediately read it while I was in line at the FX terminal. I couldn't help but laugh. The girls remind me of myself and other people I know. I agree that there really is an angry little girl inside of everyone. Not only that, but we are also at times disenchanted, crazy, fresh, and gloomy.

Here are some of the comic strips:

Deborah: Why are you digging through the trash?
Kim: I'm looking for your reputation.

Deborah: What's it like to be Asian?
Kim: What's it like to be Jewish?
Deborah: I'm not really a practicing Jew. I sometimes eat pork.
Kim: I'm not really a practicing Asian. I sometimes use a fork.
Deborah: I guess we're not good at following rules.
Kim: Yeah, I hate rules.

Kim's Boyfriend: I love you.
Kim: Did you know those are the first words psychopaths say to girls?

Xyla: I give up. I'm never going to find myself.
Maria: Maybe you will.
Xyla: What do you mean "maybe"?
Maria: Maybe you will and maybe you won't. But trying to is what life is all about.
Xyla: I'm doomed!

Kim's Cat: How do you like being a rich girl's status symbol?
Deborah's Dog: How do you like being a single girl's substitute for a boyfriend?
Kim's Cat: Bitch!

This book definitely did not make me angry but laugh. Never mind the stereotypes. I don't really get affected with it.

Rating: 4/5

"Love/Obsession" (A Poetry Night)

POWERBOOKS and the POWER BOOK CLUB cordially invite you to

"Love/Obsession" (A Poetry Night) February 13, 2009 (Friday) 5pm at the Powerbooks Live! Greenbelt, Makati.

It is a yearly event where the best and the brightest poets and artists from various groups (e.g. Romancing Venus, LGBT community, budding poets, rapper, etc.) converge to celebrate love. Every year, they all perform pro bono for love. And every year the roster of performers grows and becomes more diverse and exciting.

This year we are privileged to have multi-awarded screen playwright and novelist, Ricky Lee, as our Guest of Honor. We are also excited to have with us Filipino soprano Ms. Nenen Espina to perform some Filipino classical songs. We are thrilled to have master storyteller and comedienne Ms. Vivien Mangalindan who will definitely tickle your fancy. Of course, you shouldn't miss our other notable and accomplished readers and poets, who join us every year, like popular published poet Teo Antonio, professor, activist and well-known author of books Danton Remoto, poetess Kooky Tuason and political rapper Syke. Meet and greet all of them on this special night together with other artists and performers.

It's an event to remember and we hope you come and celebrate it with us. Let's celebrate love (and obsession). Let's celebrate poetry and the arts. Let's celebrate culture and artists. Let's celebrate life!

Thank you very much. God and the Angels bless us all.

Love and light,

(Sgd) Christopher George (Tobbie) Cadhit
Moderator, Power Book Club

*HELP US SPREAD THE WORD. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS EMAIL AND POSTER TO YOUR FRIENDS, OFFICEMATES, LOVERS, RELATIVES, NEIGHBORS, CLASSMATES, ETC. CELEBRATE AN EARLY VALENTINE WITH US!

Newbery Medal for 2009: The Graveyard Book

I was browsing through the discussions in one of my Shelfari groups when I came across this news: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman won the Newbery Medal for 2009.

My reaction: yahoooooooooooooooooo!!!!

I consider this one of the best books I've read for 2008 (aside from The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling).

Congratulations to Neil Gaiman!


http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/01/insert-amazed-and-delighted-swearing.html