books
Book Review: Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
To be fair, this isn't the worst book I've read, but god... I wonder why this book exists.
Okay, maybe I sounded a little bit too harsh on that. Snuff is the book about porn stars that I've been talking about. I didn't plan on buying this book, I just felt the need to buy it because it was 10% off from the Powerbooks Sale last February. The blurb mentioned something about murder too, so I bought it, without knowing I was basically trapped under false promotion.
What is it about?
Cassie Wright, a known sex priestest is about to set the world record by having sex with 600 men, and some people (or maybe everyone) expects her to die in the process. A cardiac arrest. Vaginal embolism. Stroke. She's doing this to give her abandoned child a great fortune, whoever that is. The story is told from 4 POVs. Sheila, Cassie's personal assistant, and the three men from the 600 - the porn man who allegedly fathered Cassie's lost child, a TV star who's career is spiriling down the drain and believes that this project could be his salvation, and a young man who sincerely believes he is Cassie Wright's son.
What I think about it
I can't figure out what the author is trying to point out in this book. I mean, it's fascinating to know that Marilyn Monroe once imagined herself as a well-read, cultured and dignified woman by the name of Zelda Zonk. It's good to be informed that a woman could die of cunnilingus as I initially thought it was fellatio that's only fatal. I haven't read anything else by Palahniuk but by the looks of it, Snuff could have been a better book. Like, way better it won't remind me of that book I was forced to review because I got paid for it ahead of time and I had to marathon five Disney films after reading and reviewing it so I could finally push it off my head. Despite the incorrect grammars. Despite the typo errors.
I'm not gonna lie though, the first few chapters actually gave me the impression that this was going to be good. I had high hopes that this was going to be a huge satirical commentary about how fucked up the porn industry in a much wider sense. A few years spent on researching and writing term papers for lazy students in the states exposed me to the dark and brutal reality of the people in this lucrative industry, the multi-billion-dollar business that's surprisingly still a taboo despite the fact that erotic literature is everywhere and we're gladly talking about it, plus it's mostly the result of prostitution and human trafficking (or maybe vise versa). I really think we should talk about how some people are forced into this business, like the young Japanese young woman who killed herself because she was forced to sign a contract to make adult films. Like how Cassie Wright was drugged and raped the first time she was filmed. Or how Dan Banyan became a star in a gay porn movie to prove his dad (and maybe himself) that he's right about his sexuality, and not influenced by the fact that he was molested by his own father when he was a boy. Or how Darin spent his money on buying the sex doll replica of Cassie Wright because his mom and dad were busy with their own vices, albeit being good adoptive parents. I believe this book could have been a great avenue so that people would think porn as a dirty business for the right reasons.
This book isn't a cliffhanger, but I really do hope people died in the end. Give Shiela and Darin and Dan the happy ending they deserve. There's so much more they can do to redeem themselves. And Bacardi. He has a special place in hell. That, I'm sure of.
Read it at bedtime, or on a stay-home Friday night so you'd regret not ever going out at all. Just kidding! Read the book and prove me wrong about my thoughts.
xo
Book Review: Inexcusable by Chris Lynch
Sunday, March 10, 2019
I remember I told myself, "let's not buy YA books anymore because I think we're past that," but this book simply made it to my shopping bag as I hoarded some from the Power Books super sale. Inexcusable appears to be "that kind" of read, where you are confronted with questions of social significance and challenge you to use your moral compass. The prospect of reading a book about date rape written in an unconventional manner ignited my curiosity. Well, the book is written from Keir's point of view, a teenager whose life is marred by teenage angst and superstar ego (he's in a sports team in school). And yes, he is the rapist.
Keir being in the football/soccer team didn't help either. The self-entitlement brought about by his low-key fame has allowed him to do things his way, he physically violated other teenagers when he could, destroyed public property for no reason at all except for it was fun, did alcohol and drugs which I think is typical for teenagers but should never, of course, be tolerated. Being cool has always been equated to these things, and when you're famous campus-wide for whatever reason (e.g. you crippled someone because you believe you had too), the pressure of being able to do these illegal and ultimately unnecessary things eats you up inside.
Date rape is easily perpetrated these days, when I think it shouldn't be because women are much bolder and somewhat stronger than ever. The victims are never at fault, yet I could hear one of my friends' voice saying, "what is she doing getting drunk with a guy she doesn't completely know?" Gigi Boudakian was one of the few people who believed Keir's good and soft side, and this is most probably why she was too comfortable around him. He was the "gentlemanly good" guy during prom, and what are the odds that the same guy would treat her another way, right? I'd like to think that in Keir's mind, during the graduation party night, Gigi was so devastated and upset and he happened to be there for her, the gentlemanly good guy from the prom. They drove out of town and maybe, just maybe, he could have just one shot of chance with Gigi, as she seemed to have been about to breakup with his boyfriend from a distance. But no, all I saw was a devastated teenage boy who wanted to take advantage the first chance he got, and he had it when Gigi was so awfully tired after a long night, maybe with little to no chance to say no.
The ending of the book made me feel cheated somehow, only because I was hoping for a more definitive ending. There was still a lot to explore in Keir's relationship withe his family and friends, as this could be one of the reasons why he has the wrong perception about himself. It doesn't suggest the repercussions of the crime committed, and I don't have both the energy and the time to search for and read its sequel, Irreversible. This was enough for a short but difficult read, thought-provoking and mind-boggling.
Remember: A no is a no, because the way it looks is not the way it is.
Please Look After Mom by Kyung-suk Shin is a beautiful tribute to all the moms of the world
Monday, February 25, 2019
Please look after mom is so ironic, because moms usually look after their children, and not the other way around. I picked up this book when I saw the author's name, because I might have seen a lot of Kdramas the past years but I've never read a book written by a Korean author. Plus, I've long ago learned that reading books by authors coming from different parts of the world meant an introduction to different cultures and culture-based principles and norms and that fascinates me. Although, Please Look After Mom is more than just that, for this is a story that each one of us could relate to, regardless of where we came from and regardless of the the norms we're accustomed to. It talks about the joy, the pain, and the mysteries of being a mom, and how we, as children sometimes and maybe completely forget that Mom can't just be Mom.
Our moms could have been someone (or something) else, had they not been our moms. There's no better profession in this world that being a housemaker--I've read this somewhere and this must be true on so many levels. I've witnessed all the sacrifices my own mom did for our family, and never did I once asked her if she really wanted to do all of those or maybe she just wasn't left with no other choice. Our moms could have chosen to runaway, or maybe to live another kind of life, but they chose to be our moms because for them, there's just no better place to be.
Our moms love us equally, despite our order in the family. Parents give different kinds of love and attention to their children. Have you ever noticed that the eldest child usually get the best of everything? Maybe not most of the time, but parents seem to have special eyes for their eldest child. And this is because the eldest children have the huge responsibility to support the family in time. They must be dignified, because their younger siblings would look up to them. And this is true, at least in the eastern culture. There are children who're given more freedom because parents trust that they can be on their own, and there are children who are too pampered because they appear more fragile than the others. Must be hard to figure out what kind of love to give, but moms know best. Always.
There certainly are lots of things we didn't know about moms. We didn't know the pain they endured when they brought us to this world. We didn't know how much and what kind of pain they endured when we were too young to have caught an illness and we could've died. We have no idea how much they wanted that last piece of cake they allowed us to eat because we were wailing and screaming after we consumed everything. We never saw the tears of pride they shed when we finally graduated with (or without) flying colors. We didn't have any clue on how much they cried on their knees, praying we'd make it while we battle different woes in life. We didn't realize how much they are so proud and happy for us, now that we are doing very well in life.
Maybe you've read this book, and maybe it triggered you to ask yourself what sacrifices did your mom make so you'd become the person you are today. Now that you're all grown up and perhaps you've seen most of what the world has to offer, it's your turn now to please look after mom.
xo
Paulo Coelho's The Spy is a celebration of womanhood... or maybe not
Monday, February 18, 2019
It's been a week since I finished reading The Spy, and I am still undecided if Mata Hari's life story invites us to dare to be different, or keep to ourselves and stay at home for a peaceful life just like how a woman should be, according to what the society dictates. Paulo Coelho has a knack of writing books that seemed to be celebrating womanhood, but in the end they make me think if that was really what he's trying to say. The Spy is no different. Albeit being a historical fiction, the book was written from Mata Hari's point of view, which made me empathize with her more and made me feel where she was coming from.
The book began on the day of Mata Hari's execution. Everything about that day was vividly described, and though we all know most of the descriptions were probably done in pursuit of literary excellence, they left me with an idea that she must have done something so terrible to deserve such a terrible fate.
It turns out, she just wanted to be free.
Maybe she was tired of it all. I have no idea if Coelho wrote everything as they were, like the sexual abuse she went through with the school principal and with her husband that pulled away every shred of dignity that was in her. She went to Paris and pretended to be a trained exotic dancer when all she did was strip naked in public. As I read the book, Mata Hari did what she did to survive, and regarded sex as something to be done in order to acquire attention and grand material things. Also, it made it appear as if Mata Hari was "offered" to spy for Germany, as opposed to what the articles I've read were saying, for according to them, she was the one who offered to spy for Germany and for France.
Were these things all part of what led her to her execution? Maybe. Or maybe it was the idiocy of most men during her time. France was losing the war, and they used her execution to uplift the morale of the French soldiers who felt defeated and were ready to surrender. She was regarded as an opportunity they could use to once again fight for reasons only heaven knows. Yet, she stood tall amidst all these damnation. She was killed with her head held up high, and accepted her fate with no regrets. And that's important.
We live in a world where people are cruel, where most of them would misinterpret and take offense in anything we do. Regardless, we should do what we must, not only to survive, but to live and be happy.
Insurrecto: An alternative source to finding truth in history
Monday, February 11, 2019
Not gonna lie - as I was reading the first few pages of this book I thought it wasn't my cup of tea. Now I'm glad I finished reading the entire thing even if it took some 3 weeks to do so.
I found out about Insurrecto when Pat put it in her wish list in our company exchange gift. I saw it in the bookstores, too, and got too intrigued when I read the blurb because of how Gina Apostol described the country - Duterte's Philippines. Some few weeks and a right timing with the right person later, I got my own copy of the book, thanks to Sugar and our never-dying friendship.
I could've gotten really drunk, had I taken a shot of alcohol every time the words Ali Mall were mentioned in the early chapters of the book. The story was a bit confusing at first, because in my mind I could see vintage-y things from the 1970s and everything else associated with that decade, including the things my parents told me about President Marcos and martial law. One scene even forced me to recall blurred memories of when my mom would buy me shoes, and it always left me me in wonder where the shoe-boxes came from, as they slid down from I didn't know where. And for the love of God, I can no longer remember when was the last time I saw Underwood and Underwood. Yet, Magsalin talks about iPad and the internet, so I suspect she was held back in time and not being able to move forward because of what happened to her mother and her husband? The book is no doubt rich in imagery, and at one point, I was reminded by those images I mostly saw in Bob Ong books.
Fiction books can be a good alternative source to finding the truth, and Insurrecto just proved that. I tried Googling the Balangiga Massacre, and most results referred to it as the slaughter of 48 American soldiers. To be fair, the articles didn't forget to mention that the people of Balangiga were corrupted and abused by these soldiers, that they were forced into labor and as a result, they revolted and fought for what's originally theirs along with what's due to them. Of course, American soldiers had to retaliate, leaving more casualties and damages to the Balangiga townspeople. And after this, they took the church bells of Balangiga as "trophies of war", which practically means they stole it (and a little more than a century later they acted like it's our debt of gratitude that they're giving the church bells back to us). I think it's far more correct to describe the Balangiga Massacre as the slaughter of the Balangiga people who were oppressed and tried to retaliate - something like that.
I remember when I was working as a customer care specialist for an American company, one of my customers accused me of being ungrateful when I refused to provide her credits for valid charges.
"In history, we Americans freed you from the Spanish forces," she said. "The Philippines would be nothing if not because of our soldiers."
I remember I could only take a deep breath, and made sure she hears it on the other line. She didn't exactly insult me personally, nor she cursed or said bad words enough to call it profane so I didn't have a valid excuse to end the call unceremoniously . So I just had to proceed, and told her it didn't matter - the internet usages in her phone were valid and she had to pay for it. But of course, at the back of my head, I'd very much like to tell her that no, your account of history was wrong. Spain sold the Philippines to the Americans for 20 million dollars. Your people lied to us! (No offense to the Americans who are reading this right now but I am just stating one of the few true things from my history class).
It's sad though, to think that history could lie to us beyond belief. I was damned when I found out Aguinaldo was the man behind the murder of Bonifacio and General Luna. These things, and heaven knows what else were omitted in our history books, which maybe makes sense because, how are we going to teach children patriotism and love of country if we tell the truth that the first president of the Philippine republic orchestrated the murder of the Ama ng Katipunan?
Insurrecto is a book you wouldn't want to pick up of you need a quickie (in reading, I mean like something you'd read for the night). It took me some huge amount of willpower to finish reading it, tbh, and it easily puts me to sleep at night. But you have to read it if you, like me, just realized that you need another resource to find out the truth about this so-called Duterte's Philippines.
Book review: I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman
Monday, January 21, 2019
It was after reading a Gayle Forman book that I became determined that I should travel the world in the hopes of finding something that would "stain" me. I requested for I Have Lost My Way from my then-unknown monita for our company Christmas exchange gift because I really had no idea what to ask for. I've always loved books as they used to be my only indulgence, so why not? Plus, I've read books by the same author and I enjoyed each one of them. Besides, I promised myself I'll read more this year, and I'm all about keeping promises to myself because no one has ever kept his promise to me these days.
What is it about
Three strangers met in such a fateful way - an emerging singing artist who suddenly and inexplicably lost her voice, a guy who just broken up with his boyfriend, and another guy who decided to go some places after he lost his father. Freya, Harun and Nathaniel have different life struggles but all of them experience the same deal - loneliness, loss and neglect. Their entire strangers-to-friends story only happened in one day, in interchanging POVs and ended in an amazing epiphany.What I love about it
I love how the characters are diversified. Freya is half-Ethiopian and I imagine her glorious bi-racial features. Harun is a gay Muslim and Nathaniel, despite the pretty-boy description of him only has one eye functioning due to an accident involving his father. I came to like the fact that in newer books, authors are actually trying to create representations of everyone. Living with an invisible disability has somehow marginalized me and people like me and though it's super minimal, it's a wonderful feeling that Nathaniel somehow represents us in this book. It's also one of the reasons why my books have gay characters in them, aside from the fact that I love my friends in the LGBT community.The story was beautifully written that I was able to feel each of the character's pain and confusion. Harun's life felt too miserable, having to give up so many things because he's too afraid of the stigma (he wanted to be a pilot but what American carrier would hire a Harun Saddiqui as a pilot is one of the saddest things I've read in this book). His sexuality would no doubt devastate his parents. He appeared to be lost and torn between being himself and going with what the society dictates as morally acceptable and that cost him his happiness in the process.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel's childhood could have been too wonderful, had his father has the competence to raise him well. Being in that "fellowship of two" Nathaniel felt too suffocated, and became accustomed in telling everyone that everything's okay despite the fact that he's actually falling apart. In the end, he came to the verge of losing everything, including his life. I related to this the most - there was a time in my life as a chronically-illed person when I would feel obligated to tell people that I'm okay, because I was way too scared to be misunderstood and eventually people will leave. True enough, some of them did. But I am thankful that most of them stayed and even tried to understand what's going on with me. I'm glad that Nathaniel met people who were willing to listen, understand and stay with him, people like Freya and Harun. And Freya... I've read so many stories just like hers both in fiction and in real life (cue: Overprotected, Britney Spears).
I Have Lost My Way triggers an emotional upheaval, but in the end, the epiphany is heartbreakingly satisfying that I felt happy for the characters. This story proves that even the people whom you trust with all your heart can turn you down. Maybe we don't need a lot of people in our lives. Maybe we only need those few who are willing to listen. Those who give time when we're too shy to ask for it. Those who open their arms when we're too broken to ask for help. Those who'd tell us true things when we're choked in tears and couldn't speak. Those kind of people.
This book is full of sad things yet the realizations spark joy. I think I'm going to keep it.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel's childhood could have been too wonderful, had his father has the competence to raise him well. Being in that "fellowship of two" Nathaniel felt too suffocated, and became accustomed in telling everyone that everything's okay despite the fact that he's actually falling apart. In the end, he came to the verge of losing everything, including his life. I related to this the most - there was a time in my life as a chronically-illed person when I would feel obligated to tell people that I'm okay, because I was way too scared to be misunderstood and eventually people will leave. True enough, some of them did. But I am thankful that most of them stayed and even tried to understand what's going on with me. I'm glad that Nathaniel met people who were willing to listen, understand and stay with him, people like Freya and Harun. And Freya... I've read so many stories just like hers both in fiction and in real life (cue: Overprotected, Britney Spears).
What I don't like about it
The interchanging POV from first person to third is somewhat confusing and I should say I'm not living for it. The flow of story is great, except for the first part where I felt like I had no idea what's going on and who's narrating and I had to go back a page or two. I also tried ignoring the chapter titles because it created more confusion for some reason.I Have Lost My Way triggers an emotional upheaval, but in the end, the epiphany is heartbreakingly satisfying that I felt happy for the characters. This story proves that even the people whom you trust with all your heart can turn you down. Maybe we don't need a lot of people in our lives. Maybe we only need those few who are willing to listen. Those who give time when we're too shy to ask for it. Those who open their arms when we're too broken to ask for help. Those who'd tell us true things when we're choked in tears and couldn't speak. Those kind of people.
This book is full of sad things yet the realizations spark joy. I think I'm going to keep it.
Bob Ong's Si made me cry a hundred tears
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Love is the most powerful thing ever existed on the face of the earth. No, you can't touch it, nor you can see it. It's the only kind of ideal matter that gives you a thousand more feelings. The feeling of being able to soar up the skies and live your dreams. The feeling of being able to conquer and defeat anything that tries to break you and put you down. The feeling of being able to give everything you have, despite your weakness and incompleteness. It is only love that makes you recognize the missing piece of yourself despite your wholeness. It fills you up even if you're already adequate, yet you'd never be more than enough.
Love is also the most destructible thing that was given to mankind. It makes you set aside the things you've been holding close all your life, just to numb the pain and un-feel the things it made you feel. It sucks all your strength -- the strength to believe that you'd be whole again, the strength to even stand up and cope with the wounds brought about by your broken heart. It leaves you completely empty, maybe except for bitterness and regret. And these two will haunt you until they eat you up inside and decide for the inevitable.
But then there's hope. It's the crack in the dark of doubts and fears. It fuels your soul and gives you the desire to stand up and decide to live again. It gives you the will start again, to try again and to take back the things that were once yours. It mends the broken person within you, and help you recognize the person that was once you. It provides you the strength to create bigger and better things with what was left in your hands. For the hundredth time, it finally convinced you that everything will be better this time around.
But then hope becomes evil. It gives you false pretenses. It feeds your mind with the things that are unreal. It shows you only the good side of things. And no matter how big your hope is, reality seeps in. Hope deflates, and the next thing you know, you're once again wounded and broken.
But maybe that's why you have to have faith. Because come what may, faith is something you could count on. Always. No matter how ugly the things around you, faith makes you see the good side of it. And it's all and enough to keep you going, to make you try again, make you hope again, and to make you love again. And maybe, just maybe, faith is all you need.
So yeah, this Bob Ong masterpiece has become more than just my entertainment. Si became my tangible manifestation of the main purpose of why I continue to blog. Life cannot be measured by its entirety, but by the little moments that happen along the way. The little discoveries, the unexpected meet-ups, the goodnight kisses, and the laughter over silly things are what makes life worth reading and living for. And these little things put us to the true test of how far our faith can go, and how big can we hope in the name of love.
Life lessons we can learn from Lexa Hillyer's Proof of Forever
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
If I was dragged back in time, maybe I'd look for other things I never noticed before. Things that could make a much better impact towards my present self. But of course, I wouldn't have come up with this hadn't I read this book.
At first I thought this is another YA love story, given the way it looks. But no. Proof of Forever teaches us about friendship, the validated reasons why we, more often than not, lose it, and what we could've done to keep it.
As I grew older (and maybe, wiser), I realized that grown up friendships are complicated. I didn't really understand what makes them so, but lately I find myself thinking about the people I used to call friends, and how come I'm not talking to them anymore. It's almost as if I already forgot the basics on how to make friends, or maybe, life happened.
Friendships require us to be completely honest, but sometimes as much as we want to give a hundred percent honesty, some things prevent us from doing so. Maybe like Tali who couldn't tell her friends the truth behind her much admired acquisition of Blake's boxers, we cling on to the idea that there's something we can still do to make it a complete reality. Or maybe we're like Joy who chose to keep her silence because maybe she wanted her friends to remember her the way she was, and not the way she'd be when all else failed.
Though most of the time, our friends would expect us to be sensitive and fully understanding. Luce accused Tali of being self-centered and self-focused while she was whining about her problems while she didn't notice that people around her face much bigger worries. We are expected to ask our friends what's wrong, and offer help as best as we can, which present other kinds of challenges. Will our friends be okay if we tell them there's nothing we can do? Will they be okay if we won't be able to understand what they're going through? This is most probably the reason why Zoe didn't explain herself to Tali right away--maybe she though Tali wouldn't understand. Maybe she thought, her friends would think she's perverted.
But maybe it all boils down to trust. This is the primary requirement of friendship, or in any kind of relationship for that matter. We should trust that our friends would understand. We should trust that our friends would tell us all the naked truths. No matter how painful. No matter how offensive. We should trust that our friends would still accept us for who we have become. After all, it's the meaning of true friendship. But eventually, we'd realize that focusing on these things makes us forget to live. We'd fail to notice the things that were already there, no matter how small or even how big it is. We'd lose the chance to experience how it is to love and be loved in return. We wouldn't be able to discover ourselves and find out who we really are. We'd lose the opportunity to be the best we can be, as a person and as a friend.
But in the end, life is all about second chances. Oftentimes, fate has a funny way of giving us the opportunity to rectify the mistakes of the past. It makes us realize what we have done wrong, and maybe do something about it. And of course, it's still up to us if we are going to take this chance, or are we bound to lose that valued friendship forever. I am not big when it comes to second chances, really, but it provides us me with the kind of peace I know I deserve.
Have you lost a friend because of the reasons mentioned above? Let's talk about it in the comments section.
xo
Book Binge Bazaar: Book Hauls and Tips To A Hassle-Free Shopping
Saturday, February 10, 2018
National Book Store's first ever Book Binge Bazaar is currently happening and I am so glad I was able to drop by during its first day yesterday. I found some interesting books on Goodreads, and I thought maybe I could get them at the bazaar since the book store claims that most books are only for Php175.00.
As expected, the crowd looked intolerable. I have been to MIBFs for the past three years, and this looked just like that. I mean, who's in their right mind who'd say no to books priced for more than half of its original price, right?
It wasn't an utmost disappointment really, that I wasn't able to find the titles I was looking for, because I still got some books that should definitely be in my shelf. And yes, I am really super excited to read all of them. But then they would have to wait, because my TBR list just got out of hand and I have no idea how it happened.
Below are the books I've got. (Uhmm, can you also follow me on Instagram please? Thanks!)
https://www.instagram.com/p/Be_tQIShr55/?taken-by=bethgstories
So, how did I survive the crowd and the long lines at the check out counter. Hear out my simple tips:
Get ready as early as possible. The mall opens at ten a.m, and if it is possible for you to be there minutes before that, the better. Remember that you're going to a complete bargain sale, and naturally, a lot of people will take advantage of it. Have a mean breakfast before you go, too - you'd need your strength as you carry the books you've bought while waiting in line.
List down the books you want to buy. The books are arranged according to price - Php75, Php175, Php275. Most YA books are at the Php175 price range (all of them actually). It might be hard for you to locate the titles you want to buy in the sea of books (maybe this is what happened to me) but it is still best if you already know what you're looking for. This will make your shopping a lot easier.
Allot a certain budget and STICK TO IT! The challenge to this is just too REAL! Sticking to my allotted budget has always been my problem, all thanks to the great temptation of all these good books. Thankfully, this time, I didn't go over, but then it might be because most books on my list are not available or I couldn't find them.
Bring a sturdy bag to place all your books. This is the practice I've been doing ever since I discovered the fun in shopping. It's pretty convenient to have your own ecobags for your purchases because you don't have to spend more for packaging. Plus, if you're aiming a zero waste shopping, then this is certainly a must!
The Book Binge Bazaar is still happening now on SM Megamall at the Megatrade Hall 3, and it's gonna be happening until tomorrow. Don't forget to catch them and save yourself a good read!
Spread the looooove!
xoxo,
Beth G.
Book Review: Tatlong Gabi Tatlong Araw by Eros Atalia
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
I got this book from MIBF 2017 for Php180 (it's a discounted price I think), and I couldn't understand why I didn't read it right away. This isn't the first book I read from Mr. Eros Atalia (I got those two books with Intoy and Jen), and maybe I thought this was gonna be the same. But no. Tatlong Gabi Tatlong Araw is different in so many ways, and Mong offered so much more than Intoy.
What is it about?
This book is in Filipino and it only took me hours to finish the entire story (while waiting for the stupid security update to finish). It takes place in the town of Sta. Barbara de Bendita where a super typhoon was said to hit, and to one of the villages under its jurisdiction, Brgy. Magapok, is where Mong (Raymundo Mojica) came back. It was the place where he spent most of his childhood and it also taught him a lot of things (maybe including falling in love). He went back to that place basically for two things—to fulfill his promise to his mom who just passed away and also to cover the super typhoon that's going to hit the town (he's a news anchor, by the way).
What I think about it
First of all, typos are prominent in this book, and I'm not sure if this has something to do with the author's style (the other two books I have of him also had prominent typos). But I don't have problems with it, to be honest. I was basically dumbfounded by how the story unfolded. The sudden and inexplicable disappearances of the farm animals and even some of the people in the village in the middle of the celebration of the town fiesta could only be seen as a catastrophic phenomenon, or maybe a curse. Sinkholes and tunnels are too scientific, but they're not exactly missing in the equation. And it wasn't the reason of the disappearances that left me speechless - it was more of the reason why it was done. And then I'd come to think of it, what if..? Is it... possible? I held on 'till the end, hoping that Mong's fate, along with the folks of Brgy. Magapok would somehow be justified, but maybe the way the story ended's the reason why it became a Palanca awardee in the first place.
Tatlong Araw Tatlong Gabi is the kind of book that your Phil Lit professor would require you to read on pop culture (does this even exist?). These were the kinds of books (text book fiction shorts) that you'd find me curled up with when I was in grade school, I kid you not. 😂
Have you read this book? Do you think Mr. Atalia and Bob Ong is somewhat...well, related?
xoxo,
Beth G. ❤
What is it about?
This book is in Filipino and it only took me hours to finish the entire story (while waiting for the stupid security update to finish). It takes place in the town of Sta. Barbara de Bendita where a super typhoon was said to hit, and to one of the villages under its jurisdiction, Brgy. Magapok, is where Mong (Raymundo Mojica) came back. It was the place where he spent most of his childhood and it also taught him a lot of things (maybe including falling in love). He went back to that place basically for two things—to fulfill his promise to his mom who just passed away and also to cover the super typhoon that's going to hit the town (he's a news anchor, by the way).
What I think about it
First of all, typos are prominent in this book, and I'm not sure if this has something to do with the author's style (the other two books I have of him also had prominent typos). But I don't have problems with it, to be honest. I was basically dumbfounded by how the story unfolded. The sudden and inexplicable disappearances of the farm animals and even some of the people in the village in the middle of the celebration of the town fiesta could only be seen as a catastrophic phenomenon, or maybe a curse. Sinkholes and tunnels are too scientific, but they're not exactly missing in the equation. And it wasn't the reason of the disappearances that left me speechless - it was more of the reason why it was done. And then I'd come to think of it, what if..? Is it... possible? I held on 'till the end, hoping that Mong's fate, along with the folks of Brgy. Magapok would somehow be justified, but maybe the way the story ended's the reason why it became a Palanca awardee in the first place.
Tatlong Araw Tatlong Gabi is the kind of book that your Phil Lit professor would require you to read on pop culture (does this even exist?). These were the kinds of books (text book fiction shorts) that you'd find me curled up with when I was in grade school, I kid you not. 😂
Have you read this book? Do you think Mr. Atalia and Bob Ong is somewhat...well, related?
xoxo,
Beth G. ❤
Book Review: Malibu Hills Murder by Deborah Brown
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
First of all, this book is a bit too short for a mystery novel. But I figured there's gonna be more since Malibu Hills Murder is just the first book of the Zuma Seals series. Well, I finished it last night and was a bit disappointed.
What Is It About?
Zach Lazzaro runs his own private investigations office, along with his two friends, Slice and Cable, and with the aid of his district attorney girlfriend Avalon and Lark the receptionist. When they found out their subject (the wife of a billionaire old man) was murdered and that one of them was the potential suspect, they had to work double time in order to catch the real culprit before the police turns to them.
What I think about it
I didn't read the blurb before buying this book—the hot bod on the cover and the "Malibu" in the title was all and enough to allow them take my money. I was expecting a whole lot of glamorous and maybe a classy murder from this book. Perhaps, a teenager who overdosed during a wild party and it turns out to be a deliberate murder. Or a Hollywood star accidentally died during the set which would turned out to be a masterfully crafted manslaughter. But I got nothing of those. Instead I got a young wife murdered, and who else but the jealous billionaire old man of a husband was the prime suspect.
If there's one more thing I didn't expect from this book, it's the blatant objectification of women. Sure, Zach might genuinely love his girlfriend, but I didn't feel anything from him for Avalon but lust and the usefulness of her being the district attorney for his company. Kimberly Werner, the murdered young wife gave "the best sex ever" to Slice, and for me, it appears that it was Kimberly's fault she's dead and that she lured Slice to screw up in his job. And Alura. Poor Alura was purely just an object to use to that billionaire old man Werner's heart's content. Oh and yeah, I couldn't really figure it out how Zach and his team was able to seamlessly penetrate the walls of Mr. Werner's home despite of its "state of the art" security details. And how did they get out of there unscratched?
I'm going to be critically honest here, but I really couldn't say I enjoyed Malibu Hills Murder, the really way I imagined I would. I feel like there should be more to the story than simply just that. This is just too easy for a mystery book. But of course, that doesn't mean you wouldn't enjoy it. So I won't stop you from purchasing and reading this book if you must.
Buy the book from Amazon for $0.99.
***also posted on Amazon.
Spread the looooove!
xoxo,
Beth G. ♥
Book Review: The Sender by Tom Baum
Monday, January 29, 2018
I'm trying review books from different genre, and after reading The Sender, I'm not sure if I can keep up (in a good way, though).
What Is It About
The 21-year-old Jesse's suicide attempt has brought him to a mental institution called Pineview Lodge. He has telepathic abilities and he's having a hard time to control this, deliberately sharing his thoughts and dreams and visions to his fellow patients. But Dr. Josie Springman felt its effect the most, and as Jesse unwillingly shares her his visions, she discovers the shocking truth not only on Jesse's past, but most importantly, hers.
What I think about it
In the beginning I thought I'm not going to like this book. The first part barely registered and for a moment I thought the main character was a 21-year-old drug addict, the way his thoughts were being narrated. But I am not a quitter (lol) and so I gave it a shot. Best decision in my life.
It's the first time I've read about hallucinations that are so vivid it could alter someone else's reality. That's what happened when Josie connected with Jesse. Although I wasn't sure if it's just that, or maybe Josie was also a great telepathic recipient. I want to believe that this is a fact - something that is based on scientific evidences (I remember Hazel Ann Lancaster's lung disorder in The Fault in Our Stars was just the author's imagination). It'll honestly break my heart if it's all made up because there's lots of medical terms used in the book and they all made it appear more real.
Jesse's hallucinations and visions are so powerful that the people around him could sense if he was angry, or sad, or upset. What's more, his visions had led Josie to confront something from her past that she didn't give a damn before. As she discovered what truly happened back when his father was killed in a car crash, she realized she never grieved about that, nor over her mom's death a year after, the way she should.
I've seen lots of tv dramas (kdrama, to be specific) where professionals tend to put their hearts in their professional responsibilities. I think this is some kind of a work ethic, something that would allow you to do your best in whatever you do. A lot of times though, it could lead you in a sticky mess in the end. That's what happened to Josie in this book. She was too attached in Jesse's case that it ultimately put her and her job in jeopardy. One thing more, I just don't like the way Dr. Yost use his power over Josie to make her spend time with him - he likes her in an indecent manner, duh!
The Sender is such a brain-whacking book that made me question everyone's reality, even my own! 😂 Kidding aside, I recommend you to read this book if you liked Stephen King's Carrie.
The Sender is available in Amazon for $2.99, if in case you want to 1-click.
Spread the looooove!
xoxo,
Beth G. ♥
Book Review: 21 Dares by JC Gatlin
Thursday, January 25, 2018
This year's book number three brought me back to my teenage years. 21 Dares is packed with references of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, plus it felt like I was reading an R.L Stine book with its annoying cheerleader characters (there's hardly a cheerleader in this book, but you'd get what I mean.). I have some issues with this book and I didn't read the reviews so I don't have a clue what the other readers have to say.
What Is It About?
Abbie Reed barely has friends, and the few people she's got decided surprise her on her 21st birthday. There are 21 dares that she needs to perform in order to meet her special "birthday guest." But as she, along with her friends went about town to perform the dares, it starts to get murky and dark, and now she needs to figure her way out of the danger.
What I think about it
Okay, first of all, the pacing got me kind of frustrated because it wasn't as fast as I thought it would. For the first half of the book, I kept reading about Abbie's stalker and how it scared the hell out of her. There wasn't any excitement at all, until I reached the 62nd% of the book, I kid you not. The first half was all about Abbie getting scared for no reason at all, and also performing lame dares (well, not exactly) that would lead her to her supposed "surprise guest". Initially I thought of already putting down the book and call it a night, but I was already halfway and I didn’t want to be left hanging.
Abbie appears to be the typical “damsel in distress” that can be found in all sorts of books I’ve read, which I think is understandable given the fact that she had a traumatic experience when she was five. Maybe there are really some things that cannot get fix even after years of therapy. Anyway, this sort of character has become less appealing to me now. I don’t if it was because I want my girls to be reliable and strong, as opposed to those who always need help.
What are friends for?
McKenzie is one the most annoying book characters I’ve ever encountered (along with Dolores Umbridge!) I should say the author did a good job in making her character annoy me to the core, the kind of annoyance that would make you happy if something bad happens to her. I think that’s what comparative suffering the book talks about (see, I’m learning!). Susan appears to be a potential best friend who changes her life principles as much as she can—one minute she didn’t want Abbie to do the dares anymore since they’re becoming more and more dangerous and the next minute she didn’t want to call the police and told Abbie to continue the dare to save her friends. Dharma and Josh I think, are the ones who are really for keeps. And Rocky, that ultimate weirdo is just so creepy with his network marketing strategy.
I cannot promise that you’d totally enjoy the book, because I might only give it a 3 on Amazon. Still I would invite you to read it because it might just work for you. Get your copy from Amazon right here. I think it's still free.
Spread the looooove!
xoxo,
Beth G. ♥
Book Report: The Playboy Next Door by Christina Tetreault
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Right, so my second book this year is romance (super classic), something that I got from Amazon. I haven’t heard of Christina Teatrault but downloaded The Playboy Next Door out of my freewill, just like the other books in my Kindle. I guess in this book, the words "next door" caught my eye. I didn’t take me long to 1-click. The Playboy Next Door is the third book in the Love in the North Shore Series. It's standalone though, so again, you don't need to bother reading the first books.
What Is It About?
The Playboy Next Door is about Tony, who has the earned the reputation of being the North Salem's resident playboy and all he wanted was to have fun and casual hook-ups. Catrina, or Cat, on the other hand is setup on dates by her friends after her 10-year boyfriend dumped her. So, when her date for the night stood her up and she's got nothing better to do, she walks in a bar. Who'd be the better person to find her there but Tony? They can both have fun, yes. But Cat's brother is Tony's best friend and living in a small town meant no secrets. Would they be able to work things out, even just for fun?
What I Think About It
Stories set in a small town is something that's quite of challenging to write, maybe because of the fact that it has to happen among the limited characters, unless there'd be an outsider who'd usually ruin the mood. Reading this book made me feel like I've already read lots of books with similar stories in the past, only because of the description of the small town life (a Nicholas Sparks fan here). So basically, the challenge here would be, how Cat and Tony could possibly be together without the whole town gossiping about it? It's also kind of risky because Cat's brother is Tony's best friend. I personally never would have understood this dilemma since I didn't have a big brother, but then Tony has a reputation and everyone knows about it. Even a non-sibling would warn Cat.
The Right Kind of Wrong
When I said that everybody knows what kind of guy Tony is, it meant it included Cat. She knows Tony had already been with hundreds of girls for casual hook-ups. She knew what she was getting into. She kept reminding herself that what she had with Tony was only temporary, they were just having fun so might as well enjoy it while it lasted. Little did she know that she was actually falling in love with Tony.
Tony, on the other hand, thinks the same thing. Although Cat should've been off limits for obvious reason, plus the fact that she's not the type of girl that wouldn't expect more of him, he took the risk. As he put it, the sex is great. Clearly, they weren't right for each other for so many reasons. But hey, there wasn't wrong or right when it comes to love!
I just got frustrated in the last few chapters, when both of them are overthinking things. I repeatedly wondered why they didn't talk about these things to each other OUT LOUD. Both of them are overwhelming with assumptions, and when Cat...when Cat finally gives in to her feelings, here's the idiot Tony sticking up to his original plan when he knew for a fact that his plan has long changed. Seriously though, what is it with men and their ego? 😒
Love or Career
Yep, this is also one of the things that could have been a major conflict, but then the characters were clear that this is taboo. So of course, love wins!
Smut Level
I'd definitely rate smut levels for romance books, and I'd give this a two. There wasn't much in there except for torrid kissing and fondling of breasts. Sweet though, but not something you'd read to satisfy you Sunday night guilty pleasure.
Should You Read It?
I can't find a reason for you not to read this book, maybe unless you're looking for a more hardcore smut, or something diverse. The Playboy Next Door is a book that's perfect to read on a lazy Sunday afternoon while having tea.
Get it on Amazon right here.
Spread the loooove!
xoxo,
Beth G. ♥
Book Report: Red Julie by JA Whiting
Thursday, January 11, 2018
What Is It About
Olivia is grieving over the death of her Aunt Aggie, who died due to a massive heart attack while riding a bicycle. But Olivia doesn't believe it. Intuition tells her that there was something more behind her dear aunt's death. Then, while heading home to Ogunquit, she encounters an accident along the highway, where in a dying man, covered in blood frantically grabs her and mumbles something that sounded like 'red julie' and slipping something in her jacket pocket. Now she has to find out what red julie means before it's too late.What I Think About It
Red Julie is the second of the three books comprising the Olivia Miller mystery thriller series. First of all, I like the fact that I didn't have to read book one in order to fully understand what's going on in the second book. Some series have that kind of requirement (and I'd love to comply sometimes just like what I did with Harry Potter), but this one didn't. Every character's backstory was fully explained in this book which means you have the liberty not to read all the books yet you won't feel hanging.Olivia is starting law school, and at first, I can't help but think that all of her instinctive ideas about her aunt's death are just her imagination, maybe brought about by the things she learned in pre-law school. But since the story is fast paced, it made me want to turn more pages just to see if her ideas were justified, and yes, they were. There were lots of reasons presented why her aunt could possibly be murdered - there's a new filthy rich, creepy resident in their small town who gets whatever he wants and just "eliminate" anyone who gets in the way. There's also the overbearing and aggressive real estate agent who we'd learn later on that tries so hard to redeem her reputation and she could only do that through sealing an estate sales deal. Gosh, I even suspected the next door neighbor Joe for some reason. But yeah, the big question is, was her aunt really murdered? And how could it be possibly connected with the accident in the highway that she encountered? All these things I found out later and didn't realize it was way past my bedtime.
One other thing that I like about it is the romance angle between Olivia and Brad (romance author in me can't help it, sorry!), the childhood friends who spent every summer together. Brad obviously wants Olivia and Olivia obviously wants Brad, but they didn't admit it to each other until the last chapter of the story. Hmmm, I wonder what would happen next. Will Brad become Olivia's PI when she finally becomes a lawyer? Hahaha
Spread the looooove!
xoxo,
Beth G. ♥
Mga Bagay na Hindi Magkakabagay: Ricky Lee’s Kung Alam N’yo Lang Book Launch
Sunday, July 30, 2017
I’ve been seeing this man quite a lot (three times I think is a lot), and it marvels me that I never fail to learn something new each time I see him. The great Ricky Lee once again held an event for his workshoppers, readers, and other followers as he launches is new book, Kung Alam N’yo Lang, and dubbed it Mga Bagay na Hindi Magkakabagay. The book was actually released in December, I think (I remember the pre-order links were all over Facebook). It was also introduced to the public back in January where I got my copy signed by the author as well as the illustrators. I am so glad that I didn’t skip the opportunity to what Mr. Ricky Lee has to say, since his talk mainly addressed the writers (oh yeah, that’s me!).
Ang manunulat ay may dalawang trabaho—ang makapagsulat ng kwento na makakapagdala ng himala para makakita ang mga bulag, at ang ilantad ang mga nagpapanggap na bulag.
Ricky Lee shared a story on how Ate Guy (the superstar Ms. Nora Aunor) used to always want to go out and explore things. Something that she couldn’t do at the time because she’s a star (I know you know what I mean). Then there was a blind beggar who persistently knocked on her car window. And when she finally rolled down the glass window, the beggar cried, “Uy, si Guy!” Yes, it was the blind beggar. The relevance? Sir Ricky said a writer has two jobs/responsibilities, and that is, to be able to come up with a story that would bring a miracle which would allow the blind to see, and to uncover those who pretend to be blind.
Gamit ang kanyang imahinasyon at katotohanan sa paligid ay makakapag-isip siya ng mas maganda pang mundo.
It’s true, and maybe this is the beauty of being a writer. We tend to use our imaginations to sometimes defy reality, but most of the time, we slap people with the genuine reality through our ink and words. It’s harsh, but at least it’s the truth. Back in the seminar called The Secret Life of Books where I first met Mr. Ricky Lee, there was an Australian speaker challenging the Filipino writers, asking why our children’s books seem to be untouched of the reality. And so, Kung Alam N’yo Lang was born. It was indeed a book intended for children, but it contains harsh realities that it could also be a children’s book for adults.
Ang pagkukwento ay pagsasama-sama ng mga bagay na hindi magkakabagay.
And maybe we should tell stories of things are not exactly meant to be—a preschool teacher who carries a gun in her handbag at all times or a guy who doesn’t write but has fallen in love with a typewriter. Mr. Ricky Lee shares his experience when he submitted his very first manuscript. The putanginas were taken off, replaced with walanghiya. The peros were replaced with ngunit. Even the prologue and the epilogue were taken off. From then on, he said he became more careful of what he wrote. But then he realized, we should also fight for what we want to write, because that is the job of a writer. To destroy a box. And in the end, if we wrote too many things that are not exactly meant to be, we would be able to finish a wonderful masterpiece—our very own novel.
Mga Bagay na Hindi Magkakabagay happened yesterday at 4pm in Fully Booked BGC. If you want to be informed of the next event, follow Mr. Ricky Lee's Facebook page. See yah!
xoxo,
Beth G. ♥
Ricky Lee's Kung Alam N'yo Lang: The Making and Book Signing
Sunday, January 15, 2017
This is the second time I attended a Karl Castro and Ricky Lee event. The first one was back in May last year, as they talked about their works and collaborations in The Secret Life of Books, along with other people in the writing and self-publishing industry. There were a lot of great insights that I've heard from that, which were all became valuable to me as I journeyed in my writing and self-publishing thingy (I still have a hard time calling it a career sometimes, tbh). So now, that the great Ricky Lee has launched yet another literary masterpiece, there was no way I am going to miss it. This is despite the short notice and my unfamiliarity of the venue.
 |
| Groufie with the author and illustrators |
Kung Alam N'yo Lang is intended for kids age 9 and above, though the cover says Mga Kwentong Pambata Para Sa Mga 'Di Na Bata. It consists of four short stories with illustrations done by Kenikenken, Diigii Daguna, Jether Amar (Saving Sally) and Ivan Reverente. It reminded me a bit of Bob Ong's Ang Alamat ng Gubat, maybe because of the concept of being a children's book for adults plus the illustrations. It also heavily reminded me of Para Kay B, another Ricky Lee masterpiece, because of the idea of short stories compiled into one book.
This makes a change in my TBR list, so please bear with me and watch out for my review! :)
Mr. Ricky Lee talked about his younger years, on how he grew up reading comics instead of actual children's books (I also grew up reading Funny Comics so all hail to the '90s Pinoy kids!). According to him, it made him realized that words are truly not enough to describe life itself. The illustrations and the visuals help the storyteller to better describe the story.
Kulang ang mga salita para ilarawan nito ang buhay - Ricky Lee
Although, illustrations do not work on all kinds of stories.
It took him four months to complete this book, which is remarkably a short period as compared to Para Kay B, which took him a year to finish.
Kung Alam N'yo Lang: The Making and Book Signing happened during the BGC Arts Festival at the Exhibit Hall of Maybank Performing Arts Theater.
Spread the looove!
xoxo,
Beth G. ❤
Moymoy Lulumboy and Rebel Fiction Book Launch at The MIBF 2016
Sunday, September 18, 2016
MIBF is one of the main events that's most awaited by book addicts like me. There are lots of book-related happenings and this weekend, I was honored to be invited to the launch of the third installment of Segundo Matias Jr.'s book, Moymoy Lulumboy and the newest batch of YA Tagalog reads, Rebel Fiction.
Moymoy Lulumboy: Ang Paghahanap Kay Inay
 |
| QA session with Segundo Matias and Jomike Tejado |
Moymoy Lulumboy is a series of books written by Segundo Matias Jr. and its third installment hits the market today. The Harry Potter fan in me got so excited upon learning about these books because finally, there's this kind of book that's both magical and mythical in the Philippine setting. Aswang, diwata, and other mythical creatures that I have heard in stories as a kid are featured in these books and so I plan to read all of them. I imagine this would be like Harry Potter or maybe Percy Jackson in the Philippine setting. :D What's more, the book also has illustrations created by Jomike Tejido, an award-winning visual artist, so this is something that kids would totally enjoy.
 |
Rebel Fiction
Who haven't heard of Precious Hearts Romances books? If you are a Filipino, or someone who happened to live in the Philippines for a long time now, I'm sure you've heard of it. Anyway, it's a brand of books that features conventional type of romance stories - dreamy handsome guy to the rescue of a girl who's seemingly a damsel in distress and ends in happily ever after - you get the picture. Rebel Fiction dares to break these conventional love stories. Defined as young adult reads, these books go beyond the customary happy-ever-after ending and only-in-novels-do-exist characters. Ten books are launched today that dared touch contemporary issues including teenage pregnancy, sexuality and other issues teenagers encounter these days.
 |
| QA session with the authors of Rebel Fiction |
 |
The launch
It isn't my first time to attend book launches, but this one certainly made an impact. The place was packed with people - bloggers, readers and even the great Ricky Lee was there! I was impressed by the fact that parts of some of the books were portrayed by PETA artists, something similar to the live readings we've been doing in #romanceclass. In my opinion, it helps both the readers and non-readers decide if a book is worth reading, or interesting. It's like giving a trailer to a movie.
 |
| with Segudo Matias and Kim Derla |
The program ran from 11am to 3:30pm and bloggers got exclusive press kit as well as some giveaways from the authors.
The next time you visit the bookstore, make sure to check out these books and add them all to your reading list!
Happy book shopping!
xoxo,
Beth G.
Book Talks: Secret Lives Of Books
Sunday, May 29, 2016
As an author and having had attended quite a few workshops about writing, I always keep an eye on various events, symposia, dialogues and seminars (for free, of course!) that would definitely make me grow as a writer. I am just so glad that yesterday, my friend and published author, Kim Derla (a.k.a. Lee Miyaki), pushed our plans to attend this symposium called Book Talks @ SecretLivesOfBooks. It was held in the Ayala Museum and for the life of an author, I'd say that this kind of opportunity seldom come by.
 |
So what have I learned from the speakers? Let me share with you some of the things that greatly caught my interest.
It's the cover that sells.
Librarian of Rizal Library of the Ateneo de Manila University Dr. Vernon Totales gave a detailed analysis on the evolution of the book covers of Agoncillo's history book The History of the Filipino People (I think I still have my copy of the latest edition somewhere here), and Si Tatang at mga Himala ng Panahon by the great Ricky Lee. Funny how I haven't paid attention to the details of book covers before, and I even often judge the content of the book by its cover. After Dr. Totales talked about the importance of book covers in the history of books, I know I have to keep in mind on how I decide which cover to use for my next book.
Reading should not end after you finish the last page of the book.
Ms. Karin Van Orman is from EducAsian Publishers which produces children's books. This is a book genre that I am willing to try, owing it to the fact that I get requests of made-up stories from nieces and nephews. It's just sad to hear that many people think children's books are unsophisticated, although in reality, this is where we start educating our children and introducing them to vital things and topics that we do not really talk about over the breakfast table.
Self-publishing is great if you are business partners with the right people.
You remember that Tagalog movie full of hugot lines, That Thing Called Tadhana? Yes, the director responsible for it, Antoinette Jadaone talked about self-publishing as she also introduced her book, An Arrow with a Heart Pierced Through Him. She shared her joys and pain on publishing the book, and she's also with her business partner Chinggay Nuque. After hearing their experiences on self-publishing, I gained a brand new perspective about self-publishers and realize they should earn some higher respect.
Hindi ako nahihiya.
The great Ricky Lee talked about his self-publishing experience throughout the years. He told tales on how his friends helped him in getting his works printed and sold to the public, and on how he reached, and still reaches out to his readers to share his work. Apparently, this is something that I should work on myself. I find it hard to promote myself as an author, let alone my works, and so I should keep in mind Mr. Lee's words - hindi ako nahihiya.
After the talks, there was a discussion and the audience are given the chance to ask the speakers.
I didn't get to ask a question, although in the end, I went up to Sir Ricky Lee and asked for help since I am a self-published author and quite struggling with promotion and distribution of my books. You know what he did? He gave me his phone number!!!
It was indeed an education-filled afternoon that I'd really keep in mind. These opportunities are so seldom to come by, so I made sure I grabbed it.
Tell me about the last symposium or seminar you attended.
xoxo,
Beth G.
Book review: The Five People You Meet In Heaven
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
While attending the mass, once I heard the priest asked, "Who among you wants to go to heaven?" Every one raised their hands, including me. Heaven always sounded good. It implies face to face with God and his angels. It suggests seeing the loved ones we lost and have gone on. But when the priest asked, "Who among you wants to die?" As expected, nobody raised his hand. Who wants to die anyway? But then, of course, how are we going to be in heaven without dying first?
The book, The Five People You Meet in Heaven is one of the novels I've read which is full of reflection and learning. Mitch Albom's own vision of what heaven must look like is quite appealing, and it made me wonder, what if, indeed, that's how heaven is supposed to be?
All lives are intertwined. Eddie, the story's main character, meets the Blue Man at the amusement park where he, too, worked. Eddie didn't know who the Blue Man was, for he was too young when the man worked at Ruby's pier. The man died, on Eddie's account. And so the man told him that all stories are one, but from a different point of view. All lives are intertwined.
Sacrifice. Eddie's Captain when he was at war was the second person Eddie meets in heaven. The Captain told him how sacrifice is a part of our lives, big and small.
Forgive. Eddie went on with his life, hating his father, without knowing the whole story. It was until he meets Ruby, the lady with whom the amusement park was named after. There he learns that no man was born with hate in their hearts, that's why he felt light and free when he went to heaven. Forgiveness, is something that sets the person free.
A lost love is still love. Life must come to an end, but love goes on. Eddie then meets his wife, Marguerite. As he mourned over her death, she explained to him that he didn't jave to suffer upon the loss, for a lost love is still love and powerful.
No life is ever wasted. Eddie died thinking that his life was ever meaningless. But the little girl he meets in heaven told him that, in his maintaining the amusement park rides all his life, he actually dedicated his life in keeping children safe. His job, after all, mattered the most. For the life of every child who goes to the rides is in his hands.
The good side of the bad things are not always obvious. As I read the book, I've come to reflect that my life, though it may feel empty and meaningless at times, may still have a good side. Now it got me think, who are going to be my five people? It must be wonderful to have someone explain to me what my life meant on earth. Though I'd prefer to meet that person, while I am still alive.
|
All lives are intertwined. Eddie, the story's main character, meets the Blue Man at the amusement park where he, too, worked. Eddie didn't know who the Blue Man was, for he was too young when the man worked at Ruby's pier. The man died, on Eddie's account. And so the man told him that all stories are one, but from a different point of view. All lives are intertwined.
Sacrifice. Eddie's Captain when he was at war was the second person Eddie meets in heaven. The Captain told him how sacrifice is a part of our lives, big and small.
Forgive. Eddie went on with his life, hating his father, without knowing the whole story. It was until he meets Ruby, the lady with whom the amusement park was named after. There he learns that no man was born with hate in their hearts, that's why he felt light and free when he went to heaven. Forgiveness, is something that sets the person free.
A lost love is still love. Life must come to an end, but love goes on. Eddie then meets his wife, Marguerite. As he mourned over her death, she explained to him that he didn't jave to suffer upon the loss, for a lost love is still love and powerful.
No life is ever wasted. Eddie died thinking that his life was ever meaningless. But the little girl he meets in heaven told him that, in his maintaining the amusement park rides all his life, he actually dedicated his life in keeping children safe. His job, after all, mattered the most. For the life of every child who goes to the rides is in his hands.
The good side of the bad things are not always obvious. As I read the book, I've come to reflect that my life, though it may feel empty and meaningless at times, may still have a good side. Now it got me think, who are going to be my five people? It must be wonderful to have someone explain to me what my life meant on earth. Though I'd prefer to meet that person, while I am still alive.
xo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Social Icons