He's Just Not That Into You

This book managed to arouse my interest also because of the hype it got all over the net and magazines. At first I didn't know how to categorize it and what to expect from it. I have no idea how it was written and basically what format was used. All I know is that it's supposed to knock some lovesick people off their feet in the hopes that they will come to their senses and realize that their object of affection are.. well.. just not that into them.

The title is quite simple and direct to the point. For goodness' sake, what more can you ask right? Well, I do have something to ask, literally: Do you really mean that there are people who are as disillusional as the people described in the book? Seriously? I have been lovesick more than once before but I swear, I was not this disillusioned. There are some self denials, that I admit but not disillusions. 

I really tried to like this book, but for me, the book just kind of failed itself. This is nothing personal. In fact, I got excited when I read that the authors are part of my favorite show, Sex and the City. I expected to enjoy this because of that knowledge but I was shocked after reading the first few pages. I just cannot believe that they wrote this. Or maybe, it is just the subject that sucks. I am not being a know-it-all here nor am I being a snob but most of the things I have read in this book are those that I have already either read or heard way, way before. On the other hand, maybe that is the point of writing this book. Maybe they just wrote this book to make sure that people do not ignore the basic signs of knowing if a man is into you. But..anyway, to each his own and this one just happened to be not my cup of tea.

I love Nikki though. I always wait for her letters after every chapter. She's like the life-breather in this book. I hope she finally finds the right one for her. I hope she finds someone who's really into her.

The Diary of Anne Frank

Jew. Holocaust. Hitler. Gas chamber. These are but the words that come to my mind whenever I read or hear of Anne Frank's name. It's like a keyword that results to these terms and interconnect each other.

I have always desired to read The Diary of Anne Frank, I guess because I was caught by the hype and the fame of this little girl's diary. It took me years before I finally bought a copy and actually read it.

I have so much expectations for this biography because of all the hype and praises people has been saying about it. I cannot say that the book disappointed but it surely did not meet my standard. I find some entries a little boring and dragging. I cannot blame her though because it is a diary of a girl who's coming-of-age and at the same time is trapped in a confined space with only a handful of persons to interact with. It was also not to be forgotten that all of these happened when they were caught between bombs and air raids during the second world war. This is reality I know, but I also set a high standard that this Diary fell short. 

It was a good read though, if you want to take a glimpse in the world of a trapped young girl during the second world war. You will discover how circumstances really change a person. You will witness how Anne evolved from being childish to being mature. You will also read about how grown ups reduce to being childish, also due to adapting to the environment. You will realize, as you read, that although caged in her very small world, Anne Frank is still a teenage girl who goes through phases and stages all teenage girls go through. Peter and Anne, they are inseparable. 

Though it was sad how her life ended, I am still a wee bit relieved that Anne Frank nor any of her family members were gassed to death. At the very least, each and every one of them died a natural death, and that for me can be the redeeming factor in this story.

Red Azalea

I have read Becoming Madame Mao before but unfortunately I was not able to finish it because the copy that I bought was missing the last few chapters (2nd hand book). I liked reading that book although there are some parts that are quite boring. As Becoming Madame Mao has been a very controversial read, Red Azalea is not any different.

I find Anchee Min to be very bold in her writings and it is again proved to be right by this novel. Although I think Red Azalea is good enough memoir, sometimes I cannot help but wonder if some parts of her story were make believe or in a way, enhanced a bit to give more color to the story. 

I have always been very interested in any books, especially autobiographies of people who lives or lived in China. Maybe because I know that China has been censoring almost everything that is against them; and that I can only have a blurred glimpse of the country when some brave soul manage to publish his/her life story with every single important details intact. One very good example is the events during the Cultural Revolution. Who would have thought that the children of that time were bold enough to do what she did in order to please the political organization she's a part of? Who would have thought that she will have the courage to follow every single thing that she was instructed to do for the sake of the Party? And who would have thought that she would finally emerge from the Red farm almost unscathed and yet triumphant, given the circumstances she went through? But maybe so it is that whenever a person encounters hardship, he has no other choice but to fight back. He has to fight it out in order to survive, fight until he discovers the strength he possesses. A courage that he has never imagined he had in him. 

If everything in Min's memoir are true, then I would have to salute her for being able to come out of it alive and in one piece. I applaud her for being able to adapt to her situation each time, though it was never an easy process. I feel sorry for her though, for when the time finally came for her to be able to be Red Azalea, only to NOT to be Red Azalea in the end.

image grabbed from Goodreads.com

The Help

This story came so close to home because I, myself was brought up mostly by my nannies. Our home had always been taken care of by helpers for as long as I can remember. But I am fortunate enough to know and understand, and always remember that my nanny at the time is not my mother. It maybe because my mother has always been with me during the night. But I think it is also because after I started going to school, my aunt quit her job and took care of me instead. I'm blessed like that.

Based on what I've read on the internet, Kathryn had a hard time publishing this first novel of hers. It took her over sixty rejections before she finally had it published. And I want to thank that person for giving this book a chance, for taking the risk. If not for that person I wouldn't be able to read such a beautiful story. Not that this is beautiful because of the story only, but because it also has good intention. 

This book gave us a glimpse of the ugly reality, and also opened our minds and eyes to see the possible lives of our helps so that hopefully we learn how to be sensitive to their feelings.

Overall, I love the story of this book. I love the characters, except maybe for Ms. Hilly who everybody also hates. This book is, for me, real and true. I know of the discrimination against the black people in the West. But I had never imagined that colored helps had to be built their own bathroom. And that they be rumored to be having diseases. And the brutality in this story? Unthinkable. 

Yet, with all these negativities, this book can be happy at times. I have laughed and chuckled throughout the book; there IS happiness in this book, along with disappointment, realization, consideration, sometimes madness. But all these just made me like this book more. 

I now understand why it is such a big hit; and I cannot wait to watch the movie. The movie has created a lot of buzz also and I hope it is because it gave the book justice in portrayal.

picture grabbed from Goodreads.com

My Source

I have a few books to be blogged about, though not much, but my mind just does not want to cooperate with me. I have succumbed to my greatest enemy: TV. Yeah, I have been neglecting my blog because I am so occupied with watching TV. Well, I cannot be blamed though because I missed watching my favorite TV shows. But I know also that I will get over this "bawi" stage. I will evidently tire of watching shows and movies that they replay over and over anyway. So right now, I will blog about one of my sources for books instead. I have been meaning to do this but I guess I was so caught up with my reading that I needed to blog about the books I read first. So now, here it is.

When I buy books, I examine each and every copy closely, making sure that the book that I am going to buy is free of dent, fold, dirt, and the glue in its binding perfectly intact. I might have been looking for a book for the longest time only to find it in a bookstore, pages yellowed, or cover corner folded, and I will heart-breakingly put it back to the shelf. I also have a penchant for book covers. I mean admit it, the first thing that will attract you, in everything, is the packaging. Now that more and more books are being adapted into movies, I hate how they change the "original" covers into "movie poster" look-alike covers. I mean, yes, it is okay if they use this kind of book covers but at least only until after the movie was shown. You may want to use it for whatever marketing purpose it serves you but I do not understand why they have to continue doing that after years and years more. 

I have been buying my books from National Bookstore (only the decent copies) and Powerbooks. Occasionally, especially for hard-to-get titles, I would source them from Fullybooked. Buying books, lots of books can really be expensive. And although I buy from Booksale once in a while, you would have to have a lot of patience and determination to scour their shelves in all fours. Quite tiring, if I may say. Not to mention too time-consuming. Enter Julie's Sari-sari store. 

I discovered this life-saving multiply store from Chronicles of Vanity. At first, I was afraid of purchasing anything from a multiply account for fear of fraud (my online purchases are only from Belledejour and Human Nature). And, as Julie's sells pre-loved books, I, as you know, am a wee bit OC so convincing myself is quite hard. So I read first the comments from the buyers and then after browsing their catalogue, I made up my mind. My first purchase went smooth. Ms. Julie has been accommodating, fast in replying to texts, and when the books were delivered, Gawd, I died. I expected the books to be quite yellowed, with a rip or two here and there, folded pages, well basically, everything that I forbid my books to possess. BUT.. the books are pristine, almost new. Each books are individually cling wrapped, and they even threw in about three pieces of bookmarks. No fancy ones, mind you. But ordinary bookmarks that surely function as how they should. They also deliver within the specified time they told you. A couple of times, they are even earlier than expected. A perfect surprise for book lovers like me. After that first purchase, I got hook. I have been saving a lot of bucks because of Julie's. Imagine getting trade paperbacks less than half of their original prices, hardbounds priced ridiculously cheap (pls Ms. Julie, when you read this, pls do not increase your prices *wink*). I mean, for books in such good condition, Julie's sari-sari is a haven. Even my boss, who saw my books purchased from Julie's cannot believe that those are pre-loved books. He said they are "like new". I smiled broadly and said "yeah, its from a trusted seller". And indeed it is, Ms. Julie have "instantly earned" my trust from the very first purchase. It was strengthened with the second purchase, and now, it is only to her, and Ms. Roselle that I entrust my books, my "mini library". And, those movie edition covers that I hate? Julie's give you the original covers. Those without Mandy Moore, or Channing Tatum on the covers that I love. 

Thank you Ms. Julie and Ms. Roselle. Keep it up! I wish you would not get tired of pawing through boxes and boxes of books for us!

Papers and Glue

I love gadgets. I may not be that well-versed when it comes to these nifty, amazing bundles of screws and lights, but I still know my gadgets. Perhaps one of the most popular produce of breathtaking technology nowadays is the e-reader. The craze started when Amazon released its first generation of Kindles. Book lovers gasped in excitement when learned that they can now carry their whole library wherever they go and will never run out of books to read everytime there's a mood change. I got excited too, I admit. At first. Now that the Kindle has evolved into a very much capable and "modernized" tablet from the humble e-reader it was before, I am still amazed, but also very, very worried. 

You see, I also share the same sentiment of not being able to carry as much books as I want with me. I have never imagined to bring my whole library of facts and fictions when I go to a mall nor have I thought of bringing more than one book with me (of course, textbooks during my school years are exemptions). Who would like to be known as the "walking library", literally, right? Owning a Kindle will make this easier. Imagine reading Holly's Inbox in your morning-rush-ride to your work, to perk up your mood, then switching to I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti during your lunch break to, you know, spice up a bit your simple fish and rice of a lunch. Then while sipping your post-work coffee in some al fresco cafe, you might want to know the reasons behind some things by seeking company from Super Freakonomics. You also found out that The Help keeps your mind away from the home-bound traffic, and you want to be lullabied by Pride and Prejudice by the time you hit the sack. Fab idea, right? Of course it is. But, and there's a big BUT here. 

I saw this post from a tumblr user (reblogged by http://lovelydreamms.tumblr.com) and it hit me with a loud smack. 

http://0rdinaryme.tumblr.com/post/10677000216

I cannot imagine life without books typed in a bundle of papers and glue. I love the feel of paper when I touch it. I love the smell of new books. I love unwrapping a new book. And I love to be able to read in PUV's without worrying if someone will just grab my "book" from somewhere. I love my books, and not the technical one. That is why I resolve to NOT to buy an e-reader, at least until I cannot find books that I want in non-electronic form anymore. I know technology is hard to resist but I will do my best. 

Memoirs of a Geisha

"What I did on Amami, I did because of my feelings for you, Chairman. Every step I have taken in my life since I was a child in Gion, I have taken in the hope of bringing myself closer to you."

"How strange, that the same woman who looked me so frankly in the eye as a girl, many years ago, can't bring herself to do it now."

I started reading this novel about more than three years ago. I tried very hard to like it enough to continue reading and eventually finish it but I failed. I have not yet gotten through the first chapter when I felt bored out of my wits. But then I persevered and got myself through chapter 11, and then I just cannot really push myself to go through another chapter anymore. It was not until this last few months that I have been watching some old movies that I stumbled upon the Memoirs of a Geisha movie again. The movie brought back my interest in reading the book and so I picked up the yellowing copy of mine and read it again starting from page 1.

I have first known Sayuri when I was in my senior year in college. Our professor let us watched the movie version of Memoirs of a Geisha as part of our lesson in Japanese business ethics. She then asked us to explain the line "What is sumo but a dance between giants, and what is business but a dance between companies?!" after watching the movie. It was then that I got interested with the original version of which the movie was based upon.

As what others were saying about this novel, it really is half truth and half fairytale. But nevertheless it is a lovely, at times sad, love story. Loving someone from afar is something I am very familiar with. And yet Chairman and Sayuri's love story still captured me with its sorrow, faith, and realness.

Following Sayuri's life can be exhausting, maddening, sorrowful, and of course encouraging. You will be given a glimpse inside geishas' lives, their world, and although the book was accused of maligning the dignity of how geishas really conduct their businesses in real life, I think this is very close to reality, nevertheless. But of course I am still very interested to read "Geisha: A Life" by Mineko Iwasaki, who is the main source of Golden's novel. She is also the one who cried foul of some scenes written by Golden. But nevertheless, Memoirs of a Geisha still will bring you to a world full of competition, friendship, betrayal, trust, business transactions, family relations, and in general, life itself. And of course amidst all of this, a beautiful, enchanting, and too good to be true love story bloomed from the hearts of two people who will do everything for the sake of the other. It was only know, after typing the last sentence that I realized that Memoirs of a Geisha really is all about sacrifice also.                                                                                                                                                                        
Sad, touching, tear-jerking scenes aside, I also enjoyed the humor sprinkled here and there by Golden. I find myself laughing my head off and yet not feel ridiculous about it afterwards. Golden really knew how to throw a punch line. I really liked the book, and it has promoted itself to being one of my favorite books of all time. Well, what can I say? I am a fan of too good to be true, fairytale-like love stories. And to prove that I really love Memoirs of a Geisha, here is a poem I made inspired by this book: Ode to Sayuri

Pride and Prejudice

"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

After reading a book that was based on another craft, it seems only to be natural to read the one where the other was based upon. Well, Bridget Jones's Diary was based on the classic Pride and Prejudice. In fact, Bridget Jones's Diary was considered to be the modern Pride and Prejudice. So, as I was still at the Bridget Jones swooning zone, I have decided to read Pride and Prejudice next. And yes, I have not read it before this and I confess that I am not much in classics.

I must admit that I really have a hard time reading classics. I think it really is to me that I read only contemporaries, but nevertheless I still enjoy reading classics here and there as long as it is not written in prose style and were already been translated in modern english. Otherwise I end up understanding only half of the story and leave the rest to my comprehension skills.

I cannot help but recall some scenes from Bridget Jones's diaries while going through Pride and Prejudice. As long as the coldness of Mr. Darcy is concerned, Mark Darcy is a close counterpart; but of course Mark Darcy is more charming than him. As long as I am concerned, I enjoyed reading Pride and Prejudice. Although sometimes I am confused of what really is the emotion certain characters are invoking, I think it was okay. I do not find it super romantic though, I think it lacks some oomph. But what do I know? I mean, it was set back when horse drawn carriages are the most decent thing you can come across as way of transportation.

Bridget Jones's Diary

"She just kept inviting me to things: dinner parties, children's parties with barnyard animals, holidays-... Every time", he whispered urgently, "every time I hoped you'd be there..."

The first time I met Bridget Jones was through the movie. I have watched it through cable TV when I was younger and at that time I did not even realize that it has a book version nor did I know where the story came from. And from that first time that I saw the movie, I loved it already. It was only when I saw the movie again a few months ago that I became curious if it has a book version. I also realized that the movie I saw has a part two. So after watching the part two, I began to browse bookstores to look for the book version even though I thought that coming across one is difficult. Then lo and behold, the book presented itself to me while I'm browsing books at Powerbooks. What's more is that I got the omnibus version: two books in one! I was so excited to read it and at the same time scared that it might disappoint me since I love the movie. Imagine my delight when the book proved to be a better read. But I'm not forsaking the movie, because I love it just the same.

There are just many scenes in the books that I would love to be included in the movie, like, how Mark Darcy tend to wipe something from his eyes after dropping off Bridget Jones in her apartment, though it borders on being corny but I still kind of like it. Then there's the scene where Mark Darcy dropped in at the cafe where Bridget Jones usually takes her breakfast before going to work. And of course, my favorite of all is the scene where you can find the quote written above. I swear I melted right then and there. It was the one quote that touched me the most. And beyond the words, I can just feel the truthfulness in it, and Mark Darcy's love for Bridget Jones. It also served as the "seal" among all the things that Mark has been doing since they split. It is also because of these words that I realized that Mark really loved Bridget in a way every woman wished to be loved.

Keeping in mind the Brits' nature of detachment from emotions, I have now proved to myself that culture is no match for real love. Love really conquers all... well, for this one at least.

                                         

My Sister's Keeper

Are you willing to watch idly while your sister die in front of you? Or can you call it selfishness if you just chose to live rather than give a body part or organ to your sister who needed it to survive?

I believe in doing everything you can to save a loved one, especially when I have been in that kind of situation before. But luckily, I do not have to make a decision as hard as Anna had to do. Well, I am not sure if this is due to the culture where I have been raised but I never thought that a family or rather parents would create a "designer baby" just for the purpose of having an instant donor for their other child. I may not be a mother myself and you might argue that I will never understand how a mother feels when her child is sick, very sick in this case; but I do not think that this one is rightful. Not to mention that this is very unfair for Anna. Well yes, maybe you can argue even that Anna will not even exist if not because of Kate. That Anna may even owe her life to Kate. But I really do not think this is the way to treat a child. Well, I may have a little strong opinion about this one since I do not regard treating a child like a guinea pig proper, whatever is the reason behind it. In fact, as much as Jodi Picoult wanted to show that Anna's mother also love Anna, she just did not convince me. I can feel her father's love for Anna, God he really does love Anna; and also Kate for that matter, but Sara, I really cannot imagine. Sure, she cares for her, although I'm not even sure if it is because she is also Sara's daughter, or just because if anything shall happen to Anna, Kate would also lose her "genetically-perfect match" donor. But love? I cannot say so. Even Jesse outdid Sara in showing his love for Anna, and he has problems of his own.

Generally, I loved My Sister's Keeper, and I even cried a bit and I find it full of emotions. Love, care, frustration, disappointment, anger, and confusion among others. One thing though, I think Jodi included many characters in this book, each has their own hang-ups that some of them did not get solved at all. Well, either those hang-ups did not get solved at all, or were rushed to its thoroughness.

I also think that Julia and Campbell's love story should not be included anymore in this emotion-heavy story. Sure, it is the bit that gave the happy ending but I don't really think it to be necessary.

I love the ending though. Unconventional. It proved again my other belief that no matter what, everything has a reason. And if it is time to go, nothing can really save you. Likewise, if it is not yet your time to go, no amount of bacteria, infection, or any kind of disease could take your life away.

Last Lullaby

I've always loved reading mystery novels and it does not help when the main character is a female and involves a child, all in one interesting, unconventional story. 

  
That is why when I saw the "Last Lullaby" on a multiply store, my hand instantly itched to have a copy of it. Of course the very cute Japanese doll on the front cover was the one that caught my attraction, and the brief synopsis just sealed the deal.

Upon further scrutiny of the cover, I found out that Last Lullaby is in fact a part of a series, the third installment and the latest based on my knowledge, of the Eve Diamond mystery series. As a rule, I prefer to read series in chronological order but since I'm really very excited to start on this one, I just went ahead. And as what Carrie Bradshaw said, "and boy, did she hooked me up".

While reading Last Lullaby, I cannot help but recall the Heather Wells series by Meg Cabot. This is just a wider scale, closer to reality, darker version of Heather Wells series. I just cannot literally put Last Lullaby down even though I am already drunk with sleep. Denise Hamilton, the genius author of Last Lullaby made it as gripping as a good horror movie. Something that has been scaring you out of your skin and yet you just cannot stop watching it. I ache to see Serey and hold her in my arms if only to look at her cuteness and to comfort her at the same time. As what I have said, this is part of a series and it just cannot be avoided that there are some references to the past series but it only fans the fire of curiosity and desire to also read the first two installments. Some very few insignificant details aside, this book can stand on its own. Eve Diamond is a very strong character. She fought her way through every obstacle, every bullet, every hill, just for a child of whom she does not have any relation to. But come to think of it, each and every one of us is related to each other and therefore is responsible for each other. I would still have preferred for Serey to have Eve and vice versa, if only because of all the sacrifices of Eve, even losing her own baby, just to save Serey.

she's so cute, don't you think so?

Anyway, I love Last Lullaby, and would trade a leg and an arm each for the first two installments. Problem is I do not know where to get a copy of those. Any idea?

A breather

I have been very busy lately and though I have finished three books already after the last entry, I have not got the time to blog about those yet. So as a breather let me just share this bit of news to you...

Powerbooks is on sale!!! 

and also

National Bookstore 

coincidence? Nah, I don't think so. They're sister companies anyway. Happy book hunting!!!

Queen of Babble

Meg Cabot did it again!

I have always loved Meg Cabot and her chic-lit, young adult novels. And recently I have just finished another Meg Cabot creation. Its been years since I first saw Queen of Babble in bookstores and it is only a month ago when I bought a copy. Although there are two more installments in this series (or a trilogy; I'm not sure), I opted to buy only the first installment and see if I like the story or not. I haven't seen a mass paperback copy of these books ever since I found out about this series so I just jumped to the opportunity when I saw a copy at Booksale.

  
I intended to read Queen of Babble in-between "heavy" books so as to "cleanse the palate", and cleanse it did. Of all the chic-lit novels I have read, I think I love the Meg Cabot ones the most. It is as if I told Cabot how to tickle my attention, and then arouse it more until I cannot put her novels down anymore. She never fails to entertain me and keep me holding on to her words. Queen of Babble was such a fun read that I managed to finish it within 24 hours in two sittings. I love the storyline, the fun, the characters, especially Lizzie since she is so lively, bubbly, jolly person. It is like reading a young adult novel, high school or college students venturing into yet another adventure called Life, but it is not. In fact, I do not think the last scene in the cask room was necessary. Or maybe it was not yet due to happen, at least not in the first installment. I just thought that it was too soon, and kind of rushed. Oh well, it did not make any difference since I am nevertheless still giddy to get my paws on the second and third installments of this Cabot series. 

The Book Thief

Can Death be funny? Can you feel pity for Death himself? Can you imagine Death holding the souls tenderly or do you imagine Death mercilessly collecting souls with his scythe? What if I tell you that Death is just something or rather someone who is just a victim like us of circumstances? That he just happened to have the ugliest dayjob among all of us?

Yes, Death is just doing his job. And no, according to him, he does not bring a scythe with him, nor does he wear a hooded robe when it is not cold outside.

Markus Zusak's The Book Thief has won several awards in the literary world and both him and his novel shot up to stardom worldwide. It is also because of this stardom that I got curious about The Book Thief. As what other book bloggers have been raving about, The Book Thief was narrated by someone who calls himself Death. Death is the one who we imagine to wear black hooded robe, scythe in hand, and a skull as a face. His job is to collect the souls of those who are dying. But as what Death himself has clearly pointed out in the novel, it is not to his happiness that he has to collect souls. It can be tiring too. Death once said in the novel that "Even Death has a heart" and I felt pity towards him. Death, I concluded, has always been misunderstood.


The first page of the first chapter (yes, the book is divided into chapters) has already elicited a chuckle or two from me and all throughout the novel, pieces and bits of the story made me smile and laugh but please do not mistake the book to be funny in whole because Zusak packed a rather large luggage of emotions in this novel. Of all the emotions there were in this story, it was love which has played the most part. You will be touched by how a teen can love someone as much as Rudy and Liesel. And yet I cannot stop myself from thinking about Max. Has there ever been a love triangle? Someone who got confused? Or has just someone moved on with the rest of the world?

unconventional style of Zusak

The Book Thief, from Death's point of view tells about the life during the second world war in Germany. In Nazi Germany. He has been everywhere, that Death, from Germany to Russia, beside the bed to the middle of the forest. But wherever he was at the time, he still knows what was happening to Liesel Meminger. You see, Liesel Meminger has met Death a couple of times but there was not more than a glance that has been exchanged between the two of them. In this novel, you will love Liesel, sympathize with her, share her grief and sorrow but you will also feel the same with Death. And hopefully, like me, you will come to believe that death is not something that happens accidentally. Death comes at the exact moment that he should but you can be lucky and avoid him just like how Hans Hubermann has cheated on him.

The Book Thief is a rather long novel, at 550 pages and so I will cut short this entry as it may contain spoilers but let me express some opinions. As what others might have already realized, Markus Zusak wrote The Book Thief in such a way that he will not let you feel a particular emotion intensely. Many a times I was in the verge of crying but then Markus swiveled onto the other way and suddenly the sorrow or sadness just puffs away. I think he should just have let the reader cry or laugh instead of letting them on, only to force them to abandon the feeling by the next sentence. But let me clarify that I love The Book Thief. I think it belongs to the few best books that I have read. It was not emotionally heavy, maybe because it was poised as Young Adult fiction but at the same time it packs many kinds of emotions and many layers of each kind. As I read the last pages though, a thought suddenly struck me and it stuck itself to my mind since. I wonder, was it Max who became the husband of Liesel? I desperately wanted this question to be answered by Markus himself but I have been searching in vain. Deep inside, I know I wanted Max to be the "husband" because I think they have shared something beautiful and special in the middle of a chaotic Germany. I still cannot take my mind off the scene where Liesel stepped forward when she realized that "he's looking for me". That scene for me, is the one that has touched me the most. The feeling of finally seeing the person you have been worried about, missing too much, been looking for. And yet you can only be with him for a few minutes, exchange a few lines, only to be pulled apart again. That feeling when you know that only a miracle can let you see him again, breathing. That part. It is impossible to capture that whole scene with words. You can only feel it. And it is heart-wrenching. That particular scene, from Max to Rudy, the three of them only represented one thing: Love.

unconventional style of Zusak

The Housekeeper and the Professor

"My memory lasts only eighty minutes"

What if every morning you wake up and find this thought clipped on your clothes? How would you accept it or react on this fact? This is the question that the Housekeeper cannot even imagine answering. This is also where the story of this novel revolves. As part of the "Japanese Invasion" in my bookshelf, I got myself a copy of The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa despite of it costing more than Php 600 for only 180 pages of readings. Now, before I take you to a deeper look of the novel, please give me the pleasure of gushing about the novel's cover. According to the World Wide Web, the copy that I have is the 2009 edition. And I cannot help but admire the cover of this novel because it is sooo dreamy. I simply love it! It exudes an intense emotion, a little melancholic perhaps, touching, and also calming. It was just perfect for the story that it will eventually reveal.

The first two pages took my breath away. I loved how Ogawa wrote it; she made me feel like I am personally with the Professor and the Housekeeper, listening to the Professor's "lecture". The succeeding few pages made me laughed and it is because how Ogawa drops the lines. She has a lot of humor going on and she delivers it perfectly. Generally, Yoko Ogawa has managed to provoke each of my emotions through out this whole novel. I laughed, felt sad, confused, sympathetic, irritated, helpless, touched, informed, learned, regretful, and again, sad. Although the ending was quite sad, Ogawa skipped the melodrama (Japanese  people strike me as non-melodramatics), but was able to convey the sadness effectively. Whenever I thought I would cry, Ogawa's words would uplift me as if calming me down. It is as if she is assuring me that everything will be alright. That everything is part of life, which it really is and that makes this novel very real. It also amazes me that this novel has so many baseball facts that I cannot help but wonder if Ogawa really is a baseball fan. Based also to the extensive discussions about Mathematics, I wonder if she is also a Mathematician or she got her ideas from a Mathematician (she co-wrote another story with one). And for these two "lectures", she has impressed me.

As Ogawa has made me feel like I am a part of the everyday living of the characters, I find the Professor a comfort to me too. So when he was to live somewhere else, I got sad also. I find the Professor very loving, lovable, and at times funny. I was also pitiful of him that there are times that I just want to pull him out of the eighty-minute frame so that he can live a normal life. Root on the other hand has portrayed a certain level of maturity for a child of 10. He has been mature about and towards the Professor. As for the real relationship of the Professor to his sister-in-law, as much as I want to know more about it, I appreciated that Ogawa did not dwell much more about this. It gave the story another level of reality.

I love how Yoko Ogawa wrote this novel. Although there are times that I am about to feel bored (baseball stuff and the Math), Ogawa, or rather the Professor always comes to my rescue. I finished the novel in less than 24 hours and although it is just 180 pages, do not also forget that it includes Math and baseball discussions. These are two things that I would not bother to read for mere pleasure except of course if the Professor is a part of these.

Safe Haven

❝if you love someone set him free; if he comes back he is yours, if not you were not meant to be❞

If you have ever been in love, then I trust that you have already heard this saying. I, myself had used this a lot of times before and I think this is the best summary for the latest Nicholas Sparks novel.

I have been putting this novel on hold, even avoiding buying this for the longest time but when my favorite bookstore put the trade paperback version on sale, I just could not resist. Nicholas Sparks is one of my favorite author and I find his novels, at least those that I have read to be tear-jerkers in a good way. But  after reading a brief summary of Safe Haven, in one way or the other I somehow find this latest offering of his to be non-par with those previous novels he wrote.

Anyway, when I opened the novel to its first chapter, I was expecting to cry buckets of tears through my reading just like how almost all of his novels that I read made me. I was half-afraid that my hunch might be right about this novel and yet I am excited and intrigued of what Sparks has to offer me this time. I was worried that the "Sparks' magic touch" will not move me anymore. Well, when I started reading the first few pages of the novel, I was slowly yet surely being hooked. I find Katie sweet, and yet intriguing. And just like Jo, when I did not know about Kevin yet, I was afraid that she will suddenly betray and hurt Alex and the kids. When I got to the part of the novel where it introduced Kevin and his deeds, I cannot help but think of Enough. Enough is a movie starred by J. Lo, and Katie or rather Erin's story is similar to J. Lo's character's story.

All along, more than half way in the novel, when I realized that I haven't shed a single tear yet, I thought that I won't cry this time. That Nicholas Sparks has lost his magic on me. But as I read on to the living with Kevin part, especially to what he had done to the perfume ad in the magazine, I finally cried. Then as the story ends, though I did not cry buckets of tears, I felt it tug at my heart. I was touched by the power of love, love proving that it is the most powerful of all. That a person who loves truly will do everything in her power and even beyond it to take care of her loved one. My heart also goes out to the friendship that has formed only to end the way it did. But for the most part, Safe Haven proved to me that if you really love someone, you will do everything to make him happy even if it meant letting him love and be loved by someone else.

Book Shopping Galore

Yesterday was a feast day for me, well, for my soul at least. My friend and I went to MOA and I had a blast visiting bookstores. Well, Powerbooks in MOA is going to close down because apparently SM did not renew their contract so they are having a clearance sale from June 1 to 15. I ended up with three purchases: The Reader's Digest June issue that comes bundled with the January issue, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, and The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was sad that Powerbooks MOA is already closing its doors because it is the biggest branch that is near to me. Hopefully Powerbooks in Robinson's Midtown will not have the same faith or else I would have a very hard time keeping up with my readings. Books really are the food for my soul. 

There is one book that I have been lusting about and I did not find it in Powerbooks. It is by another Japanese author, a female Japanese author, Yoko Ogawa. The Housekeeper and the Professor has been receiving good reviews (from the book bloggers that I am following, at least), and I want to experience her as well. The summaries the bloggers have written are enough to make me salivate over this because I think it has a very interesting plot. Thus the trek over the other border to Fully Booked. I already know that they have a copy, a lone copy at that, because I have already inquired about the book before but found that they only have trade paperback (read: expensive) so I was not ecstatic to march to their store at that time. When I inquired about the book, the attendant hand over to me the lone copy a few minutes later. My spirit was lifted when I held the book. But when I turned it over to check for damages, I found the cut at the side of the book unflattering. The kind which makes an impression that it is a rejected copy because of the rugged cut. After inquiring, I found out that there really is a cut as such and that it is something done deliberately and not as what I thought. After the explanation, I went over to pay for it with my eyes shut but was delighted when the cashier told me that there is a 20% discount for all book purchases. 

I also saw those cute little post-it notes that I can use as bookmarking as I am not one of those who writes on books. I like my books clean and serene. Notice those butterflies at the tip of each post-it notes? They are not cartoon-ish in any way that is why I love them, especially for the price tag of Php 75.00 I think it was a good deal. Those cute animals riding a red bus were bought from FUNctional for Php 65.00 and those are.. not stickers.. they are bookmarks, in fact. They look so cute and tiny and I love that they do their jobs well. Notice one missing? Its because I am already using it and loving how it can hoist itself on a book page even though it is teeny tiny. So there you are, my Saturday book shopping spree.

Home Sweet Home

I have been blogging about books in my other blog and it's when I begun to dwell in book blogs that I finally decided to create my own. Thus, shielareads was born. If you will notice, pictures from posts before this were marked with my other blog's name, which is shielathot. I imported these entries from that blog and I find changing these with the new blog address is much more complicated so I just let it be.

Since I have always been a book lover, I have already read many books but I do not suppose I can still remember each and every one thus I cannot anymore blog about those. In some cases, I shall blog about a few books I have read before and try with all my might to give you a good review.

So, here's to hoping for a good future for this book blog of mine...Enjoy!

Norwegian Wood

Just recently another author's work boomed in the market. But this time, it was an Asian author. Haruki Murakami. Familiar? Yeah, it should be. I doubt that anybody who loves to read has never heard of Murakami. His works are "hot items" nowadays. Swept by this hype, I bought my own copy, or make it, two copies of his works, just for trial. Upon reading reviews of other book bloggers, I chose "Norwegian Wood" and "After Dark" as the first books that I will read. I understand that Norwegian Wood has created a hype not only in Japan but in the whole of the readers' universe. In fact, Norwegian Wood has been created into a movie in Japan due to its popularity.

With so much curiosity and expectations, I read Norwegian Wood's first few pages with gusto. Quite frankly, I do not know what to expect, for one I have read quite a few mixed reviews of this book, mostly praises but also a few negative ones. Another thing is that I have already watched the movie version of the book, courtesy of my officemate who insisted that it was a fairly good movie for me to watch. I know that our fellow-Asian, Japanese have their own culture, sometimes, quirky, and some are just plainly weird for me but I thought maybe a glimpse inside their world will help me understand their ways of life a little. I hate to say this since I purchased his work due to the "mostly praises" that I have read about Norwegian Wood, but I find it somewhat detached. I mean, yes, it is not a Nicholas Sparks kind of novel, it is somewhat closer to reality, especially about the coming-of-age of the narrator, Toru Watanabe. But a narration that it is, I find it somewhat lacking in the connection department. Norwegian Wood, in my opinion is a "true" love story. And what I mean by true, is that it is somehow closer to what happens in the real world but the idea is to narrate it as a narration and nothing else.

 
Maybe Japanese people are really somewhat detached. Maybe I am so used to the Western kind, which attaches and touches you as you read each part. But I just think that when reading a novel, of course I am not talking about biographies and stuff, I deem it proper to put in some feelings that will make the readers relate to the story or at least live them in their subconscious minds. This element I think, is what Norwegian Wood lacks as a novel. As of this entry, I have also finished reading After Dark, actually I read After Dark first before Norwegian Wood, and it left the same impression on me. Well, maybe Haruki Murakami's works are not my cups of tea. I love Midori's character, though. She is liberated and yet emotional, sometimes she struck me as a little bit weird, but I admire her ability to open up and express herself honestly. Something that I cannot fathom doing myself. And to think that this is 1960's to 1970's. Quite a gutsy lady, I must say.

Glorious Books

So it started with blog hopping through numerous book bloggers' blogs. It has started with reading through reviews after reviews of books of recent release and timeless classics. Bookworm that I am, these titles just pulled me into them, arousing my curiosity and seducing me to buy them and experience them myself. I got into this craze so much that I ended up signing in to two social networking sites that are into books.

Yesterday was shopping day for me. But take note that I shopped for.. what else, but books. I was so happy that those titles that I have been anticipating for has already arrived and so I jumped to the opportunity and ended up with this...


Yeah, it was the first time that I purchased this much in one visit. Thanks to the book bloggers. I get to update my library and I am now encouraged to read all the books that I have now in a faster pacing.

The Millennium Trilogy

The past fourteen days of my boring life have been very busy. I was preoccupied during the night on weekdays and almost the whole day every weekend by my readings. I have read a number of praises and hypes about this series before but I cannot bring myself to buy it because I was afraid that I will get bored of it. I do get bored easily of novels that are too long and sometimes I find the flow very redundant and sometimes it feels like the author just prolongs it for the sake of prolonging it. After more than a year of preventing myself from buying it, I gave in when they released the complete set bundle of this. I thought this is just a trilogy so hopefully the author will not bore me to death with these three installments. And this is how The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson made me unavailable and locked up in my own universe for the last fourteen days.

I started with the first book with much skepticism (all of the books are very thick that I doubted that it will not bore the hell out of me). True enough, after reading the first few pages of the first book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I thought I won’t be able to finish the whole trilogy, let alone finish the first book. But when the book for the very first time introduced Lisbeth Salander into the story, it has managed to cling itself to me since. As I progress through the book, I thought “wow, no wonder this created so much hype”. It was absolutely entertaining and it just won’t let me go. I can read for hours and hours, in fact I have been sleeping way past my bedtime while reading this and I don’t get bored. The moment I finished it, I got worried. I was worried that the second book will finally meet my expectation of being boring and redundant. I was worried that the story will finally lose my excitement and become predictable. And yet I decided to continue with the second book right after the first book.

The Girl Who Played with Fire was really the heart of the trilogy. It demonstrated the real Lisbeth Salander. It speaks of her life, most especially, it speaks of her past. I think the second book reveals Lisbeth Salander’s core. It will make you sympathize with her and understand why she became how she is now. It makes you feel Lisbeth, makes you feel such intimacy that it is as if you are living her life instead. It makes you feel that you can reach out to her and she will feel you. One thing that I really appreciate is that when Lisbeth was blamed by the authorities of the murders, the story was written in a way that it did not make me frustrated and angry that Lisbeth is being blamed and framed-up. I have the tendency to be very affected, very frustrated every time I read or watch something wherein the character was framed-up and people scrutinize her and blame her to the point that I just want to scream that he or she is in fact innocent. But here, I never felt that frustration. I think it is because Lisbeth was created as intelligent as she can be. The story was also created intelligently and was not made to plow on your emotions alone. In fact, it will entertain you. It is also in this installment that I “fell in love” with Lisbeth Salander. Every day, I would be so excited to come home so that I can continue reading. It is as if I am coming home to her. I was obsessed with Lisbeth I admit; BUT do not think that I am a lesbian. I merely enjoy Lisbeth’s company. I admire her.

The last of the trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest is what I liked the least. I thought that the “history” part, the one that explains “The Section” and the important members of it is quite too long. For one, I do not know Swedish government and their history. I also do not have any knowledge whatsoever of their politics. And there are few pages dedicated to these elements and I loathed it. I kind of just doze away while reading these. But naturally when the story came around to Lisbeth, it got my full attention again. Another thing that I would like to change if I would have a say about this is the affair of Figuerola and Blomkvist. Well, for me, like every character in the story, I have already accepted Erika and Mikael’s relationship but I cannot accept the affair with Monica. Secretly, I have been hoping that Lisbeth and Mikael will end up together. The reason is actually very simple, Mikael has been helping Lisbeth with her cases and he has already gone too far as a friend to Lisbeth and Lisbeth on the other hand have been alone for too long, albeit her own decision but her relationship with Mikael if I may say, is special. They belong together actually. Both of them will go out of their way just to help the other and they can’t just leave each other alone. I also love it that in this last installment all of the very few people who believed in Lisbeth’s innocence did their everything to help her. For all I know, this is the only time since she was locked up that anybody has treated her as a human again, except for Holger and Dragan who gave her chance to live her own life and gave her space in the society. My favorite part in this installment though is the court trial. I love how the "ice-queen" smothered the prosecutor with equally cold answers.

All in all, I love the trilogy and it is a shame that Stieg will never have another opportunity to create such a splendid series again. Lisbeth really got a very good grip on me. She managed to arouse my curiosity and filled me with compassion.

As what I used to post in my Facebook account:

I ♡ Lisbeth Salander