Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Sembreak officially started!


The bus I took yesterday began it's trip by 12:30pm. After my Econ 141 exam, i packed my things and off i went. On the bus, I met Ate Joy, a 4th year psychology student at PUP, and we began chatting the whole trip. And I bet you she's so nice, inside and out. We even exchanged numbers.


After saying goodbye, I stepped down and went directly to our terminal where my brother fetched me.


I arrived home by 5:20pm (my brother stayed at the park to buy something, he said) and saw my dad at the back of the house.


I slept peacefully for the first time after this semester.

I woke up (or rose, rather) past 9am... took sopas as my breakfast, then read Veronica Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho (which I bought a few months ago, hope i could also watch the film version of it!), ate lunch, read, slept, read again, helped my mom with the laundry stuff, ate dinner then used the Internet by past 11pm.


Woah..

this is what i missed!

Life without rules (much rules i mean...)...


Hope my break would just be fine....

and not over before i knew it!


I'm just starting to have fun!

Great!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

How i finished reading Paolo Coelho's The Alchemist...


well...
either nung Monday or Tuesday yun..
i went to National Bookstore at SM Baguio...
headed to the shelves where Paolo Coelho books were displayed...
began to read The Alchemist at page 112...
page 112?
why?
kasi it's already my 4th time to go to NBS just to read this one..
ibig sabihin, pang-apat na balik ko na..haha...
tama bang unti-untiin yung book?

Wla kasi akong magawa noon kaya napagtripan kong basahin 'to.
I've read By the River Piedra I sat Down and Wept, The Zahir and The Pilgrimage as well... I actually have a copy of those books... eh since wala pa akong The Alchemist, binasa ko muna before deciding to buy... Eh ok lang naman,,,so kung may sobra sa allowance, saka na lang ako bibili. Actually nasimulan ko na ring basahin yung The Devil and Miss Prym... may book kasi akong tinago sa ibang shelves para mabalikan ko pa uli..haha.. Kasi yun na yung last copy nung huli akong tumingin eh...

So goodluck na lang sa trip kong 'to.
At least, kung makapagdecide na akong di ako bibili, nabasa ko na sila ng libre...haha..

Sunday, July 5, 2009

finished reading >>Right Behind You last night



though there are a lot of things to be done in school...
something in my life here makes me feel sort of incomplete...
it's because I'm not reading any book right before...
so i headed to National Bookstore and Booksale to look for books...

and i got RIGHT BEHIND YOU by Gail Giles last Thursday...

i found the story somehow touching...
it captures the innocence of a child... and the deep cut that was caused by his mother's early death.
it shown a dash of anger and maybe envy... which led Kip, who was forced to change his identity to Wade, to live for 4 years in a mental hospital for therapy...

they they transferred to different places as unlikely things happened... and as Wade continues his soul-searching... as he tried not to feed his "hungry ghosts" as his shrink said.

it was a really nice story...
it gave good insights about the real life...

you should read this too...
I've got no regrets in buying it.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

ulan-araw

Pagkatapos lang ng class kay Sir Boq sa Econ 141,wherein I was forced to pick China's non-tarrif trade barriers as topic for my first major paper here, diretso na ako dito sa library... (um, dumaan muna pala ako sa internet room just to find out na wala nang vacant computer dun).

Pagkatapos hiramin 'tong book na 'to:

Making Cities Work: Urban Policy and Infrastructure in the 21st Century


I went upstairs para makapag-internet...

Pero bago makapasok dito, nabasa, at the same time, naarawan ako while on my way here. Ang liwanag ng sikat ng araw pero ang lakas din naman ng ulan...
Good thing natapos din agad.

I don't want to be soaked (nakakatamad kasi maglabas ng payong) and sayang naman ang outfit ko today. Sabi nga ni Kev, "Jai Hong- Jai Ho ka ngayon ah..." Kasi naman I'm wearing my pink pants which lookeds like the one Princess Jasmine wears.. pero posh pa rin...haha... And my newly-bought doll shoes, cute nga (sabi nila ah) pero masakit na yung toes ko... band-aid mode na nga eh...pero carry pa rin... Sana makauwi pa ako ng walang paltos sa paa...

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Breaking Dawn: round 2!


After reading this book twice, this in the first time that I would write something about this endless vamp love story.


Er, I don’t know where to start. There’s just so much to say.

After all the strife to be together, finally Edward and Bella managed to get married – a really grand one since Alive took over this event. Then they had their honeymoon at Isle Esme – an island which is a gift from Carlisle to Esme. They allowed the newly-wed to use the island as much as they wanted. And yeah, they did it. The first one left Bella terribly bruised (and the furniture too) but she insisted on doing it again. This time, it’s better because they already knew what to expect. Haha.

After a couple of weeks, the unexpected happened. Bella was delayed. So they rushed their way back to Forks. Carlisle examined her and confirmed her pregnancy. Oh no!

They really didn’t know that this was possible at all. Edward wanted to get IT out of her but Bella wanted to keep him. They tried everything to convince her about it but they failed. Edward even asked Jacob to try, but he wasn’t good enough to persuade her as well. During these days, they’ve done researches about her situation, hoping to find solutions.

Due to this, they were now in danger - the Volturi. They didn’t understand what’s happening.
What’s inside Bella was killing her already. It grows really fast up to the point that it broke some ribs and her pelvic bones in just a matter of days. She was calling him EJ – Edward Jacob – and said it would be Renesme – Renee + Esme – if she would be a baby girl. They just couldn’t detect her gender but Edward can hear what she was saying even if he’s still inside her. And that thing inside her already loves her. Bella is becoming weak. Her body is rejecting all the nutrition they’re giving her. So there was another idea – feed her blood. This might be what the baby wants.

And Bella would do anything for the child – even if drinking blood is the only way – a preparation for being a blood sucker, she said. Shockingly, the taste of blood doesn’t seem bad for her at all.

The time came. She felt that the baby was coming out. It almost ripped Bella to death. She felt a burning phenomenon. She underwent deep pain while trying to save her baby. At the very instant, the Cullens tried their best to keep Bella alive, or existing. Edward done the procedures expertly – a do or die situation.

And it was a baby girl. Renesme. All throughout, Jacob has been with them, plus Sam and everyone. They are allies now. Bella had been asleep for days and woke up as a new-born vampire. She saw Edward and touched his hand – surprised that she didn’t felt cold. Only then that she realized that they share almost the same body temperature now. She’s now immortal.
She looked for her baby and they said that it’s not a good time to see her. She might hurt the child due to her condition. Rosalie and Jacob take turns on carrying the baby.

(Fast Forward)

Because Alice saw something about the arrival of the Volturi in their place to check the child a little more than a month after she had given birth, the Cullens thought of something they could do. They tried to contact as many covens. This is the same moment that Alice left them – maybe on a mission or something – maybe to escape. This made Bella terribly sad.

Many of the expected vampires arrived and Nessie showed them that the Cullens didn’t break their promise of not creating an immortal child; that she was half-mortal, half-immortal; that her heart beats and she grows; that she was conceived by Bella while she was still human and that Edward is her biological father.

Nessie showed them the truth, well, most of them. Some just don’t want to go near her. Theywere just there to stand as witnesses and to fight the Volturi, if needed.
They realized that Bella possessed so much control over herself. She can hold her child like a normal mom. Renesme has her own talent as well – when you look into her eyes, she can tell you something, or maybe SHOW is a better word, like what you need to know and what she feels. She hadn’t even lost her feelings, but she is definitely stronger now. She also discovered that Jacob imprinted on Nessie – as he calls her. She just couldn’t believe it!

In preparation, they also trained themselves in case the Volturi won’t listen. Bella also want to take part so she was trained. This was the part where they discovered that her power was to be a shield. That’s why Edward can’t read her thoughts. So they tried to train her to project this power. They tried to see if she can protect other people aside from herself. And it progressed. After days of training, she can now project a seemingly elastic shield up to a distance of 10 feet.

The day came. They lined in the place where they would meet. They negotiated with the Volturi. Carliste. Aro. Edward. It was a peaceful talk. Unexpectedly peaceful. Bella used her power and protected her family and everyone with them. Good thing the ones on the other side couldn’t see this shield because another one in their group deceived the eyes of those on the Volturi’s side.
Aro requested for Nessie and saw in her eyes that she was not really an immortal child. No need to argue about it. No need to fight. It was just a false alarm from Irina, which was punished by death from flames. Her sisters (on the Cullen side) couldn't accept what happened to they tried to seek revenge. Good thing they were stopped by the vampires with them.

But there was still a question. Since the baby was growing rapidly, how will her life be? She’s just barely a month old but she already looks like a couple times older. Plus her mental ability develops really fast as well. This was where Alice entered the scene having two companions with her. The young boy explains it all. He was also half-human, half-vampire; ripped her mom to death, like what her sisters done with their moms as well. He was around 150 years old now (sorry, I’m not really sure if I remember the right figures) but he stopped growing at a certain age.

So everything was clear now, the Cullens could have Nessie. She would grow for some more years.

One by one, their visitors excused themselves and headed home. They were now at peace, even with the Volturi. Edward and Bella and Nessie are all alive, er, existing happily together forever. They were now relieved. No one will bother them now. They’re back in their house in the forest – a birthday gift for Bella from the Cullens – and began their forever in each others arms. A true happily ever after.
….
Such a very long story. Stephenie Meyer really did great in this one. Nice twists. Really thrilling. Many things happened unexpectedly. Everything fell perfectly in their proper places. Bella to Edward, and Renesme with them. I’m just sad the story has ended already. Well, it really hasn’t but I’m still hoping some more. But the story really made me feel every emotion until the end. I have no regrets on buying the books. I’m just hoping that the future movies would justify what was written on the book, hope they would never fail me.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Smoke and Mirrors, by Neil Gaiman


After being my "break-time book," I finally finished reading all the short stories on Neil Gaiman’s Smoke and Mirrors. It’s just so nice to read his creations. He’s just one of the most unique authors of today. His creativity sent me to another realm of thoughts – somewhere to a new dimension.

I guess, his style of writing really helped in drawing attention and loyalty to millions of his readers all around the globe. He’s just unpredictable. His words just work without question.
His style of giving his compilation of short fictions and illusions their sad endings is a rare thing – rare thing to really look good at all – that’s why I like him.

And some tales are open-ended, leaving you with your imagination to fill the last part with whatever you like. Some stories made me question why?, and some made me just as mad. But in the end, I can’t believe that I liked a particular story that way.


He’s just good at it. Can’t explain how good, how brilliant, how great. I’m totally out of words. Then I began to appreciate the value of specificity in everything – which even what seemed to be nothing at all can be of real interest, indeed.
Hope to explore another world with Anansi Boys – another book of his. I just began reading it after Smoke and Mirrors. And I’ll update you about it soon.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

HOW YOU LOSE: gave me more boredom that expected


This is the last book i finished reading. A creation of J. C. Amberchele.


Actually, it was just an easy read but it turned out o be webbed with lives of people connected to this one and that - all happening at different time frames.


The story is such of someone with twisted faith.


Melody remembered the day when someone - Alex - entered their house looking for a safe. He asked Melody and her father about it but both denied the existence of any of its kind in their property. After this, Alex, masked with something, only revealing his deep, blue eyes, pulled the trigger which instantly killed Me;'s dad and left her skull wounded. He didn't knew she was still alive. His brother took care of her until she was well enough to go on her own.


Mel continues her awful life, having nightmares and lots of questions in her mind.

WHY?


She traveled in different places and began to write a book. She met a lot of people.


After 13 years, she decided to visit Alex. Many things had changed. The times had passed but the memory lingers still.


She went to ask Alex about his intention (knowing beforehand that he got the wrong house, it's not their house that had the safe) of killing them. Despair? Fear? Anger? She also knew that Alex couldn't talk (since he was a child, after his father beat him). She didn't know what to do. After her monologue, she decided to leave. But before that, she looked Alex in the eyes and saw a pale, blue aura in him. The eyes that shown her exhaustion over the strife for surviving.


She went home.

Still incomplete. Still incomplete.

Monday, May 25, 2009

my blog is becoming a library...

Hmmm....

It just happens that i'm reading a lot these days, no wonder why my blogs are mostly book reviews here and there.

Well, since i have nothing much to do while I'm having my short break after my summer class and before the new academic year opens its door, i think reading is the only thing that would keep me occupied and alive (of course, Internet is an exception).

And since i also brought home my newly bought books, i have no choice but to finish reading them. So now, I'm up for another book, er, books actually. I started on Boy Still Missing by John Searls and Some Kind of a Hero by Donna Hay, and i found both a little boring based on their introductions. So I put them down.

And now, I'm reading Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn again (from Little, Brown Book Group)Just some sort of a light reading with a brush of romance and thrill to shake my mind away from the previous mystery stories I recently got. I'm back to the fifth chapter, i guess. But even though i already know what would happen next, i still can't help myself from reading Edward and Bella's sweet conversation of love. Oh how sweeeeeeet!
I just love 'em.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

a few hours ago: finished reading Organize Your Corpses




I finished reading this book by Mary Jane Maffini after i think 3 days of noncontinuous browsing through it. At first, it was really boring and slow-paced. So i decided that i will read it for the sake of finishing this one. It is understandable since she's just new in the scene. Well, I just bought it because i trust its publication - the Berkley Prime Crime Publishing House. This publication also publishes for some other authors that i love like Nero Blanc (one of my favorites) and Charlaine Harris.

The story of Charlotte Adams, a professional organizer, as she was used by her former teacher, Ms. Helen "Hellfire" Henley, was really a conspiracy and one of great planning.

Despite the boring introduction, the story got hot when the twists began to boggle my mind. As i suspected it to be, the prime suspect of all the mysteries and killings would be the one you would never, never expect. This is why i really adore Berkley Mystery publications. And yet, it still made me shocked of the real persons behind the plot of evens that made Charlotte's life miserable. But even if Pepper (her used-to-be bestfriend) made things a lot worse, through the help of her best buddies, Sally and Jack, plus Lilith, Ms. Rose, Truffle and Sweet Marie, she was able to surpass all the accusations and intrigues thrown onto her.

I guess, all the spice and excitement was locked on the last 4 chapters of this book. It was fired with rush and the thrill that i've been waiting for. Hellfire blew her cover at this point. She indeed concealed her identity very well. And she's really a BITCH because of that (excuse my language please)!

But, it was still a nice read...
But not as nice as the ones i previously had.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

latest entry: Grave Sight



This is the last book I was able to finish reading.

Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris.

It was really a nice book. Though the mystery in it is very light, the story still managed o make me think of the possible events that really took place. Harper Conelly and Tolliver Tang really did well as partners. Tolliver is such a caring and protective (half) brother for Harper. I liked how he made his sister feel secuted when he was around.

Harper's ability to find DEAD bodies and know their way of death indeed put her to a position where many people doubted her 'gift' and believed it came from the devil. But this is how they live. A somehow, this is her way of helping the dead.

Indeed, i want to praise Ms. Harris for such a nice plot. The book will keep you awake until you reach its final pages.
Read this for yourself. Sure it's worth it.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Category: Books
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Author: Dean Koontz

this one is a sure page-turner...the plot was so unpredictable.the twists in the story of the characters were weaved magnificently great...Dean Koontz really never fail to amuse me.The revelations totally shocked me.There were also points were my heart was pounding so fast as i was reading the run-and-chase scenes.Moreover, the story not only tells about pure suspense and mystery bu also teaches a lesson on family-building.And this one really touched me in one way or another.I just can't explain it.Try to read it for yourself.Dean Koontz.He is really one of the bests.That's why he had been one of my favorites ever since.I really love his style, and i'm sure you will too, as soon as you have his books.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Neil Gaiman's SMOKE and MIRRORS<<<


I've been reading Smoke and Mirrors for weeks now. I bought my copy from National Bookstore, SM last February and just opened it this summer...
I really love Neil Gaiman and I'm trying to collect his books..
Coraline was the first book that I read from him - this was years ago. I borrowed the copy from a schoolmate.



As i was reading this one now, I got a mix of emotions from one story to the next. Maybe you were wondering why it took me so long to finish this. It's because I am not reading it continuously. If i have a break or just finished a book, I open this book and read one short story...
One piece at a time...
And I'm loving Neil Gaiman more and more...
(Plus points for the good looks despite his age... he's still cute...yeah... dangerously cute)

Monday, May 11, 2009

started reading Life Expectancy the other day///


i started browsing the novel and now I'm halfway through it...
i can't have a continuous time in reading the book since i also have other stuffs to accomplish...
but so far, the story caught a variety of emotions in me - fear (my heart beat faster on the initial part, indeed), humor, gladness, confusion - and i expect more thrill on the other half of the story...
he has such a gifted hand and mind...
oh i wish i can share this talent!

Sunday, May 10, 2009

got the book: Gravity by Tess Gerritsen



Finally, I have the copy of this book - hardbound, used, but still in very good condition.
I bought it from BOOKSALE since I got interested with the topic and I saw at the back cover hoe Stephen King commented -- oh actually praise, yeah... I think that's the word -- how the author effectively wrote this book. He even stated that she is better than Cook. I had read one Cook novel and it was really great! How much more about this one?
I'm really excited to finish Life Expectancy...
next target... Gravity, of course.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

finished reading Illusions...before sleeping<<<

Category:Books
Genre: Religion & Spirituality
Author:Richard Bach
another dimension of the human soul and faith...
Richard Bach, the same author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull does it again...
with the right words coming directly from the heart... like his hand and wisdom were tied together within the guidance of the Is...
(it is not an overly religious book as it may seem...it's sounds like the narrator, Richard, is just talking to you in a mild and pleasant way...how nice..)

this really gave me another way of looking into life...
full of illusions...

and here are some insights i got from the book:

"I am tired of clinging. Though i cannot see it with my eyes, i trust that the current knows where it is going. I shall let go, and let it take me where it will. Clinging, i shall die of boredom."
(talks about taking some risk and going an untraveled path...brave feat indeed!)

"The river delights to lift us free, if only we dare to let go."
(don't hold on too much...know when to ease the grip...)

"Nothing good is a miracle, nothing lovely is a dream."
(know the reality from the abstracts...)

"When you ask the question properly, it answers itself, doesn't it?"
(grammar... sentence construction<<)

Try to look for this book and you will not regret reading it. I already returned it in the library. Hope i can also have my own copy of it.

bought another one: Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz

again..
i walked inside BOOKSALE and looked for some good reads...
then at the bottom of the shelf at the back, a hard-bound blue book caught my attention... (i must admit that my criteria on buying a book are quite 'odd' in some ways, sometimes i choose the one in good condition, with a good illustration , with the publication that i trust, known author, New York Times Bestseller, International Bestseller, etc., or with a praise from another distinguished writer... - something like these...).

i picked it up and saw that Dean Koontz was the author...
the i read the overview and the plot seemed to be good.
furthermore, the book is really in good condition and was published just in the year 2004.
it seemed that the book wasn't even browsed by the original owner yet...




gonna start reading this one soon...


Friday, May 8, 2009

newly borrowed books...

even though i recently bought some books...
i just can't keep myself from looking over other books...
especially I'm now here at the library and have nothing to do for 2 hours... (i already reviewed my lessons for the next class - English).
as i was looking for some books in the shelves at the back... i saw the book entitled Illusions and took it out... Richard Back wrote it, and i expect it to be good like what he did with Jonathan Livingston Seagull...



as i went to the other side... i picked another book which i once borrowed before - paradoxes from a to z.





i checked these books out and hope to find new insights from them.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

got new-bought super cheap books from BOOKSALE>>>

...after sending a friend a document through LBC SM Baguio, and after going to LBC Porta Vaga to receive some money (it was offline at SM)... despite the rain, i decided to walk some more to National Bookstore (back to SM...again..) to buy a refill for my Stabilo and to look for new books. after doing that, i went to the 3rd floor and scanned the books scattered on the floor at Booksale... and i saw Sir Popoy there (by the way, i also saw him at NBS).

i looked and looked and looked for books...
luckily, i was able to find good ones with definitely low prices.
i was abl to buy the following with less than Php 100.00 in all...



i think i got new (sort of) books to put my attention to...
happy reading...

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

finished reading New Moon last night




..yes..!
see what a good student i am...
i finished reading the last 3 chapters of New Moon before reviewing my lessons...
hahaha...
i just can't get myself out of this mess...
i just can't resist myself on waiting for Edward (as if i'm Bella).. good thing this part ended well (although it didn't really ended yet),,
i re
ally can't keep my mouth shut while going on with the pages..
i keep on saying comments or telling Bella what i would like to tell and do to Edward the exact time they united under the shadows of the clock tower...
since after Edward has left, it indeed broke Bella into pieces... as she said,
I'd been broken beyond repair.
it was really, really romantic! the fact that Edward held Bella so close to him made me feel the true love between them. so sweet!!!!! and i know that Edward was just being so protective when he said that he didn't want Bella to be one of them (vampire) but as her nature tells her, she tried to solve this by casting the votes of the Cullens...good thing, MOST of them welcomed Bella wholeheartedly and said Yes to her...
*** *** ***
Something more...
i really loved the line which said...


His midnight eyes g
lared into mine with the gravitational force of a black hole...

i just loved the concept... the sincerity... how i wish i can also find my Edward... in the right time maybe...



Sunday, May 3, 2009

reading New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

just started reading Stephenie Meyer's New Moon...
it's just so bad that i already read Eclipse and almost halfway through Breaking Dawn before summer class and I'm just having a close reading of this sequel now...
well, this is due to the lack of copies of its stock here.
it was only last week that piles of copies are delivered in local bookstores here in Baguio that's why i was only able to buy this one now...
well...
the story is nice..
just sad 'coz the majority of t he part was Bella with Jacob and not Bella with Edward...
(*sigh*)
but i know Edward will start appearing again...soon...