The Floating Book Fair

image shot by Rouelle Umali

I was so excited when I read in a broadsheet that there will be a floating book fair here in Manila. I have never been into one and I got more excited when I read about the incredulously cheap-priced books. It was after further reading news and bits about the floating book fair that I found out that they have been conducting this for a few years already. But they have changed the vessel from MV Duolos to a bigger MV Logos Hope. They changed into a bigger vessel because they want to accommodate more people. So, off I went and joined our crew who covered the opening ceremony of the floating book fair.

The opening ceremony is fun. They have I think 400 to 500 crews of about 50 nationalities aboard Logos Hope. Some of them were introduced on stage wearing their national costume, including our very own representatives, wearing barong tagalog, and baro't saya. Then, I think the most fun part (beside the books, of course), is the production number of their African Choir. They sung and danced, accompanied by their own live band, and although they sang it in their language, the song was lively and the blending was good.

Then, after a few speeches, came the moment I have been waiting for. The books! I was like a child when I finally saw the books. My eyes kept on dashing here and there. One thing that I appreciate the most is that they have put labels on the shelves, so even from afar, you know what books are on those shelves. It is pretty helpful because when its as crowded as it was that day, I know which shelves I can skip, and which shelves I should risk my life for in order to get there.

image shot by Rouelle Umali

It was also good to see that they have dedicated half of the area for children's books. So I think, they really are sincere in their advocacy in "bringing knowledge, health, and hope". Overall, I got only three books as it is quite difficult to navigate around because of the crowd, and time pressure. So, I plan to go back before they leave on the 13th of March, and buy more books. You will also find a section there for some souvenir items and I find their souvenir items useful and beautiful too.

 

The Joy of Books

This video has become viral through various social media sites a while ago, but I have watched it only now thus the late post.

Have you ever wondered how books behave behind close doors? Sound silly? Maybe. But I know that the little child in us will surely like this video that was put together by Sean Ohlenkamp and friends and uploaded to YouTube.

So without further ado, The Joy of Books, now showing...

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. 

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.

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.