clarasbookblog

[clarasbookblog]

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING! 

I am hesitant to review this book–not because I don’t have an exact opinion about it, but because I love it so much that, no doubt if I don’t check myself, I’d have written a 10-page review filled with nothing but exclamation points and declarations of love. I discovered this novel because I have fallin in love with its cartoon adaptation - here in the Philippines it is called as “Cedie, Ang Munting Prinsipe”, also it has a film adaptation with the same title. So this year I grab the opportunity to read the novel of Frances Hodgson Burnett, the Little Lord Fauntleroy, a children’s literature.

Mrs. Errol, Dick, Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Havisham, Earl of Dorincourt, and Little Lord Fauntleroy. Words cannot fully express how much I loved these characters. One might argue that they're horribly unbelievable, most especially in the case of the character whose name the title bears; but, in any case, I think Burnett did a really good job in showing the evolution of the Earl of Dorincourt. There’s even something near the finish that shows that the Earl of Dorincourt, while certainly being more agreeable, wasn't wholly good in the end and that just struck me as a well-done move by the author.

In the end, this is a children’s story and it should impart a good moral, otherwise it wouldn’t be a children’s story. It’s very clear in it’s point: be good to everyone, stay humble and you’ll have good fortune brought to you. It’s very simplistic–the ‘be good to everyone’ message is done to death–but it’s good all the same. Sentimentality, evidently it is a story that can interest a child, but still moralising throughout – it’s not as overt as some books for children, but it’s there. “Literature should improve your mind” kinda thinking. 

The novel is just so beautiful and flows so well and it just compulsively makes you read on and on and on. It’s so simple, but it’s very elegant in its simplicity. If not for the style of prose that the author employs in here, no doubt I’d have found the characters unbelievable and ended it before I ever even started in the first place.

“But only be good, dear, only be brave, only be kind and true always, and then you will never hurt any one, so long as you live, and you may help many, and the big world may be better because my little child was born. And that is best of all, Ceddie, — it is better than everything else, that the world should be a little better because a man has lived — even ever so little better, dearest.”

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

[clarasbookblog]

My first thoughts after finishing Geek Girl…I had none. I had no idea what to expect going into this book and with not having read anything by Holly Smale I had no expectation on what it should be like and couldn’t build it up, no clear thoughts about it, all I knew was that I loved it, that I had read it sooner, and that it ended too soon for my liking.

Geek Girl was a quick read, not because it only had a few pages, 378 pages to be exact, but because I devoured it. I have never read a book so fast before, and not just because I wanted to get to my next book, but because I was so hooked. I could not put it down. It’s the story of 15-year-old Harriet Manners who goes from milquetoast to model in 60 seconds. You see, Harriet is a certified geek. She knows this because she looked it up in the Oxford English Dictionary sitting on her bedside table. Harriet has one friend, the one who has a dream to be a fashion model since she was a child, Nat and a boy who’s Harriet certified stalker aka geekier than her, Toby, and everybody hates her, yes! You read it right… everybody… But I couldn’t possibly understand why Harriet’s sparkling personality shines through from the very first page – and I was hooked.

She is the perfect example of a Geek Girl, but being so perfect means she gets taunted a lot, and I did feel sorry for what she deals with. I liked her best friend Nat, and while I don’t agree with what transpires when she finds out about Harriet’s modelling, I did cheer for how she stands up for Harriet against a bully.

This novel shows the reader that people with intelligence, someone who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic or obsessive about a specific subject especially when they are teenagers, can sometimes fall subject to bullying, as Harriet discovers when archnemesis Alexa Roberts cruelly humiliates her in class. That is why she have decided to go to Russia to pursue a career in modelling the answer to all of popularity-challenged Harriet’s problems.

I don’t want to say too much about the plot as you need to experience it yourself. There are lots of characters that stand out for me, Wilbur, Nick, the Dad and Annabel and of course Harriet. They make the story unique in its own way and I looked forward to reading what they would do or say next.  Holly Smale has done a great job at drawing the reader in and not letting them go and I for one will be keeping my eye open for future books by Holly Smale. Geek Girl is extremely exaggerated, dramatic, and extreme -although not entirely unrealistic as it is partly based on the author’s own childhood, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It’s home to a host of articulate, well-constructed characters and is sure to delight geeks and nerd- fighters alike.

You would never have guessed that Geek Girl is Holly Smale’s debut novel, honestly. Smale’s writing is so smooth and compelling. The story and characters were fresh, and exciting and I really can’t wait for you guys to read it and love it like I did.

“You need to stop caring what people who don’t matter think of you. Be who you are and let everybody else be who they are. Differences are a good thing.”

My Ratings: 4 out of 5 stars

[clarasbookblog]

Nakilala ko lang ang librong ito nang magkaroon ito ng movie, akala ko pa nga kung ano yung nasa movie. Ganun din ang nilalaman ng book or ito ay naglalaman ng mga taktika o mga dahilan kung Bakit Hindi ka Crush ng Crush Mo at kung papaano ba magkakagusto din sayo yung crush mo. Pero mali ako ng akala ko, etong libro pala ni Ramon Bautista ay naglalaman ng mga sari-saring katanungan na nagmula sa kanyang personal account sa formsping, mga tanong mula sa mga taong nangangailangan ng advice sa iba’t ibang isyu sa buhay… isyu sa Love, pag-aaral, pre-marital sex and How to live an Awesome life. Ramon Bautista is a very witty man. Ang mga sagot niya sa bawat tanong ay may sense, marahil sa iba hindi agad agad maiintindihan na para bang katawa tawa lamang o palokoloko lang yung mga sagot niya but for me, it has a sense, may sampal sa bawat taong binibigyan niya ng kasagutan sa bawat problema nito, lahat may punto. Aminin ko man o hindi, kayang kayang basahin ito ng isang upuan lang. At kung sa public ka magbabasa, wag mong papahalatang natatawa ka. Malamang pagtitinginan ka ng mga nasa paligid mo.

Sorry ha. Pero ililista ko lang yung mga Q&A at mga linya na tumatak sa aken.

- “Remember girls, don’t order extra rice on the first date”.

- “Hindi ako naniniwala sa fate, destiny at soul mate. Ang mundo ay binubuo ng pangyayaring random na kaganapan. Bahala ka sa buhay mo”.

- “If you can’t move on, move on some more”

- “Wag kang mag alala, magiging okay lang ang lahat” (Jun Sabayton)

- “Wala akong pick-up line, mayroon lang ako, honesty”

- “There is more to life than love”

- “Pag bata ka masyado kang madrama. Pagtanda mo, saka mo marirealize na ang corny mo”.

- Q. Sir, ano mapapayo mo sa mga hindi makakagraduate? A. Maging extra mabait sa parents nyo napapagastos sila. Study hard.

- Q. … Sa tingin niyo wala ho ba talaga sa school ang pagiging successful? A. Wala, kakilala power, face value, husay sa pambobola saka lakas chumamba. Pwede rin sipag at tiyaga.

- Q. … ano po ba ang maaaring gawin if people around you think na malandi ka? A. Panindigan mo nalang, iparamdam mo sa kanila na bitter lang sila kasi walang pumapatol sa kanila. Tandaan, daig ng malandi ang maganda.

- “Ano ba ang kaso sa pagiging NBSB? girls, wag lang tayo mag-BF for the sake of having one. Magaganda kayo at may magmamahal din sa inyo ng wagas at mamahalin nyo din, yung karapat-dapat alisin kayo sa pagiging NBSB”.

- “Friendzone is the new Basted”.

- Q. Idol, for you..what is the key to happiness? A. Lowering your standards

- Premarital Sex: Think before you get some.

- Q. Why is life so unfair? A. Alam mo yung balance sheet? Gawa ka nun. Sa kaliwa, isulat mo yung mga positive things at sa kanan yung negative. Mapapansin mo na mas maraming entries sa kaliwa. ‘Pag mas marami sa kanan, you’re taking the good stuff for granted.’

- Q. Ano ang best way to get over a break-up? Nanghihinayang ako, 3 yrs din yun. A. 3 years versus the rest of your life. Ano mas sayang kung di ka magmu-move on?

- Q. I was a fan until I read your responses to your followers. I just want you to know that you “indirectly” promote discrimination and “cyber bullying” with your responses. Please answer constructively. It won’t make you less of a person. A. Edi i-unfan mo sarili mo. You can’t stop cyber bullying. What I promote is strength of character. If they bully you, I encourage you to stand up and say “so what?! I’m enjoying my life, walang basagan ng trip.” It’s a mean world out there. The internet’s a similar world where they weed out the emotional and mental weakling like you. If you can’t handle it, stay out of my internet love triangle and just follow Paolo Coelho and other positivity-charged teen soul chicken soup websites. Or better yet, go offline and find sanctuary in the comfort and safety of your parents.

And yes, right now I’m discriminating and cyber bullying you. Now give me that “so what?! I’m enjoying my life, walang basagan ng trip” Attitude. It won’t make you less of a person

- Q. How will you show the world that its fun in the Philippines? A. Good evening. Thank you for that wonderful question. The Philippines has many natural calamities, the streets are very dirty and corruption is everywhere. People are poor and not very healthy. Education is bad too. But then, when in the Philippines, one’s perspective changes. These negative attribute becomes reminders of how much we should cherish life. How we should make every minute fun while we’re at it. Thank you very much and Mabuhay!

- “Walang gamot sa katangahan, prevention lang…wag umibig

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

[clarasbookblog]

I was intrigued, and was hooked as soon as I started reading. To tell the truth, I’m new to Murakami’s work and new to Japanese literature in general. Haruki Murakami has a clear, lucid, sharp style of writing and definitely knows how to turn story plots into page turners which get completed before you know it, and leave you with thoughts long after you have finished. The story kicks off with thirty-seven-year-old Toru Watanabe hearing his old girlfriend’s favourite Beatles song and finding himself drawn inexorably back to the summer of eighteen years ago – the summer of his first year at university, the year he learnt what it means to love someone who is irrevocably broken. It is this year that he begins to have feelings for Naoko, the girlfriend of his best friend Kizuki, who left a hole in both Toru and Naoko’s lives when he committed suicide two years previously. Through the pages of this book, Haruki Murakami has explored loss, pain, sexuality, growing up, love and related topics and addresses some difficult coming-of-age questions. The theme is overwhelmingly elegiac, and raises a few disturbing questions regarding death / suicides and the (spiritually empty) materialism filled life of today. He conveys the idea that death is not really the end of life, but an intrinsic part of it, and that life and death are not really opposites in that sense, but two sides of the same coin. The characters have been handled with great sensitivity and have been developed well, and they sort of grow on you as the novel progresses. There is quite a bit of sexuality in this novel, as demanded by the story line. Norwegian Wood also gives the reader a peek into Japanese culture. In Murakami’s own words, this novel is one of his few “realistic” works, with “realistic” characters and that is probably why it is so popular.  if you like pacy, action-packed books, this one probably isn’t for you. The plot meanders along lazily, and though it’s a story full of heightened emotions, it’s also the story of an every man living a brightly-peopled but ordinary life. But if you enjoy richly layered stories about loss of innocence and the complexity of human relationships, this is an absolute must-read

“Nobody likes being alone that much. I don’t go out of my way to make friends, that’s all. It just leads to disappointment. ” 

My Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars

[clarasbookblog]

This novel will stay with me for a while... sigh.

Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes, haunts me because it's how I feel about this book. This book introduced me to Will Traynor, a man who was a president of a Company, a thrill-seeker and a ladies man who loved his life. Then he was cut down in his prime by a tragic accident that caused him to live as a quadriplegic, his days are filled with therapy, prescriptions, catheter changes and a humiliating dependence on others for everything. He lives under an oppressive cloak of depression, fear and pain. Here comes Louisa who is a working-class girl, her family depend on her meager wage from a local cafe where she worked for 6 years - to her shock she lose her job. Louisa knows that her family need her to earn and desperately starts looking for another job. After a few false starts, she reluctantly accepts a position as a carer to a young man who is paralyzed. Will Traynor's mother hire Louisa to be his companion and a caregiver during the day. It doesn't take long to Louisa to figure out the true reason for her position. However, once the family sees their connection, Louisa asked the help of Will Traynor's family to convince him to live.

Told mainly from Louisa's view point, the novel appears more balance when Jojo Moyes throws in a chapter from Will's mothers' perspective or that of Louisa's sister that the novel becomes fragmented. We, people have that moment in life when something occurs that forever changes everything, an event that literally makes the world stop because nothing will ever be the same. Will's moment was obviously his accident, but Louisa had one too, causing her to pick the safest path in life. Louisa's contentment with her small life frustrates Will. He is a prisoner of his own body and she is a prisoner of her own fear. The twist in the story is that as Louisa attempts to convince Will that his life is not over, that he can still do things, that he can have a new life. That's the point Louisa started to realize this may be true for her as well.

The story really came alive when it was just Will and Louisa. The dialogue between Will and Louisa is priceless, they stimulate one another. The irony is that, if not for a wheelchair, their lives would never have intersected.

The truth is, there comes a time while reading the book I am still hoping that miracles might happen that Will might get up and walk off into the sunset with Louisa. But quadriplegic is a quadriplegic, it's like I am praying that a black crow will turn into a white crow. Jojo Moyes is an amazing storyteller, able to capture my attention right away at the first three chapters. She never ignored the facts that her hero was in a wheelchair and took the time to make sure that readers really understood what his daily existence was like. She successfully communicated his angers, fears and regrets. As a reader, I felt Louisa's desperation to make Will's life better; I desperately wanted to make it better too. The ending was not what I would have chosen. But I think Jojo Moyes wrote a realistic story that will leave its readers with bittersweet feelings, if somewhat of a broken heart. It is a very powerful and emotional novel, full of insight into people's lives. We will think that it is a perfect read-uplifting, but also a tragic.

“You only get one life, It’s actually your duty to live it as fully as possible.”

My Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars (two thumbs up)

[clarasbookblog]

Celeste Ng’s debut novel,Everything I Never Told You, explores the many facets of this premise, particularly the effects of well-intentioned but flawed parents. The result is an absorbing and heartbreaking family drama with Lydia’s death as the catalyst forcing each member to examine themselves. It’s also a portrait of what it’s like to be immigrants - a multi-racial family James the head of the family is a Chinese and his wife Marilyn is white, in a town where there is no any immigrant population to speak of. James is constantly trying to fit into this very traditional community, while Marilyn is trying to escape from the type of life she promised herself she would never lead. Not surprisingly, they work out their psychological and emotional issues in the lives of their children, especially middle child Lydia. Her father is obsessed with Lydia fitting in and being socially successful. Her mother has a single-minded devotion to ensuring that Lydia receives the best education possible so that nothing can be denied her. She would help Lydia do everything she was capable of. She would spend the rest of her years guiding Lydia, sheltering her, the way you tended a prize rose: helping it grow, propping it with stakes, arching each stem toward perfection. And their children Nathan and Hannah are struggling to distinguish themselves in a household where Lydia had always been the shining star. But as the story progress, Marilyn found out that Lydia has been keeping many secrets from them. They are not the obvious stuff of melodrama but are instead potentially more powerful and destructive. A heartrending portrait of a family in crisis, Everything I Never Told You is well worth reading and discussing. It will stay with you long after you turn or swipe the final page. Celeste Ng manages this domestic dissection with assuredness. The story is told in a calm narrative voice that allows the facts to speak for themselves; they are persuasive enough that readers don’t need to be manipulated into an emotional reaction. Everything I Never Told You is at heart the beautifully crafted story of a family in pain, and the many reasons, personal and societal, that the Lees have lived most of their lives as strangers to one another. Making us care so deeply about her characters is Celeste Ng’s triumph.

“You don’t feel like smiling? Then what? Force yourself to smile. Act as if you were already happy, and that will tend to make you happy.” 

My Ratings: 4 out of 5 stars

[clarasbookblog]

Kolehiyo ako ng una kong basahin ang aklat na ito, nakita ko ito sa shelves ng Library ng eskwelahan na pinapasukan ko noon. Ang librong Laro sa Baga ay napukaw ang aking atensyon dahil sa pamagat at sa panlabas na anyo ng librong ito, at dahil akda ito ni Edgardo M. Reyes na pamilyar na sa akin ng mga panahon na iyon dahil sa nakakabasa na din ako ng mga maiikling kwento na ginawa niya. Binasa ko lang ulit ang nobelang ito dahik sa tagal na din ng panahon na una ko itong nabasa at gusto ko na din na magawan ng review ang isang ito. Ang Laro sa Baga ay isang sexual odyssey na nakatuon sa pagkahubog ng makamundong pagkatao ni Ding, na may angking galing sa larangan ng pagpipinta. Bahagi ng pamumukadkad ng sinumang bata ang pagiging interesado sa seks. Normal na pagdaraanan iyon ng mga bata, at kabilang si Ding sa mga ganitong klaseng bata, apat na taong gulang pa lamang si Ding ay gising na ang kanyang kamalayang sekswal. Maagang napukaw ang kanyang kainosentihan nang dahil sa sobrang lapit ng relasyon niya sa kanyang Ninang Carmen, labis ang kanyang pag-idolo dito. Sa katunayan ay naging huwaran niya ang kanyang Ninang sa mga type niyang babae kalaunan. Sa kalaunan, nag-ampon ang kanyang Ninang Carmen ng isang batang babae na pinangalan niyang Dee, mas bata kaysa ni Ding.Mula noon ay namuo ang damdaming nagtulak sa kanila upang lakbayin ang sekswal nilang kapanabikan. At ng malaman ng kanyang Ninang Carmen ang relasyon nilang dalawa ni Dee. Sila ay pinaghiwalay nito at mula noon ay nagsimulang pumasok si Ding sa pinto na magdadala sa kaniya upang maglaro sa baga. Nagsimula siyang kumita ng pera at nagkaroon ng iba’t ibang uri ng babaeng nakaseks. Lalong sumidhi ang kanyang pangangailangang sekswal sa tuwing nakakalasap siya ng mga babaeng virgin.  Ang pagkakaroon ni Ding ng iba’t ibang babae kalaunan ay bunga rin ng kanyang malaking kakulangan sa pangangailangan niya sa kanyang ina na dapat ay siyang bumuo ng kanyang sarili upang maging matibay ito sa pagharap ng mga pagkakataon sa kanyang buhay.  Sa kanyang trabaho nakilala niya ang kanyang boss na tinawag din niyang Mama na may isang anak na babae si Teng, at sa hindi malamang dahilan biglang naglaho si Victoria at ang balita pa’y patay na raw ito. Iniwan ni Victoria sa pangangalaga ni Ding ang kanyang anak na si Teng. Isang napakagandang bata at mula noon ay pinalaki ito ni Ding. Marami pa ang naugnay kay Ding na may kanya-kanyang istorya, karamihan sa pahina ay may nakapaloob na pikakapaglaro ni ding sa baga, baga na parang ayaw niyang layuan kahit na napapaso siya. Si Ding na animo'y parang may hinahanap na hindi niya masumpungan, si Ding na may gustong makuha, gustong matikman na sa kalauna'y nagawa niyang maangkin, ngunit isang walang tiyak na patutunguhan at waring nasadlak siya sa kadiliman ang kinalabasan ng kanyang ginawa. Si Edgardo M. Reyes, gumawa ng isang nobela na sumasalamin sa kondisyon at kumbensyon noong panahon at ng makabagong lipunan na sa murang edad ay namumulat na sa makamundong gawain, tinalakay din niya ang mga matronang nilalabanan ang pagtanda (sa pamamagitan ng pakikipagsex sa mas bata). Maaaring wala ngang pinagkaiba ang mga tao noon at ngayon kung tawag lang din naman ng laman ang pag-uusapan. At ang epekto ng drugs sa isipan ng isang tao once na ang gumamit nito at lulong dito. Ipinakita at ipinaunawa lang din sa atin ng may-akda na ang makamundong pagnanasa kapag sumobra ay hindi na maganda ang kahihinatnat, maaari nitong sirain ang iyong buhay at iyong isipan o sirain ang buhay ng mga taong malapit sa iyo at tiwalang ibinigay nila sa iyo.

My Ratings: 4 out of 5 stars

[clarasbookblog]

Nakasentro ang akda sa lugar na Canal de la Reina na isinulat ng nobelistang si Liwayway A. Arceo. Ginagalugad nito ang iba’t ibang paraan ng mga karaniwang tao sa Maynila upang mabuhay at makatawid mula sa kahirapan. Inihambing ang ating kasaysayan sa nagdarahop na mamamayan na nakatira sa gilid ng ilog ng Canal de la Reina. Ang kanal bilang hindi mapipigilang agos ng pagbabago sa lugar, tao at lipunan. Kahit noong taong 1970s pa nagawa librong ito ni Liwayway Arceo, nangyayari pa rin ito sa ating panahon. Laganap pa ring sa Pilipinas ang mga masasamang ganap sa kwento. Ang maling sistemang pamamalakad ay patuloy pa ring umiiral sa ating lipunan.  Napalitaw ni  Liwayway Arceo ang kulay at dilim ng buhay sa likod ng mga payak na pangyayari sa pang-araw-araw na pamumuhay ng mga tauhan sa nobela. Ang mapag-arugang damdamin ng isang ina ay nagbigay diin sa karakter ni Caridad at Gracia sa magkaibang paraan. Ang una ay ang pagiging maunawaing maybahay ni Salvador at maaalalahaning ina nina Leni at Junior. Ang pangalawa nama’y ay ang pagiging matatag sa kabila ng kawalan ng katuwang sa pag-aaruga ng kanyang nag-iisang anak na si Geronimo. Kapwa naging biktima ng kasakiman ni Nyora Tentay ngunit parehong nakipagtunggali at hindi yumukod sa kalakaran ng lipunan. Si Caridad ay buong –tapang na nanindigan na bawiin ang lupang kinamkam ni Nyora Tentay subalit nagpakita pa rin ng kabutihan sa matanda nang ito ay nasiraan ng ulo. Habang si Gracia nama’y ibinalik ang naranasang kapaitan sa mag- inang sina Nyora Tentay at Victor ngunit ang pag-ibig pa din para sa huli ang namayani sa kanyang puso. Sila ang dalawang mukha ng mga Pilipino, hindi tiyak ang paroroonan ngunit tulad ng ilog ng Canal de la Reina sila’y patuloy na nakikipagsapalaran at nakikibaka sa kabila ng mga basurang nagpapasikip at nagpapahirap sa kanilang pag-agos sa buhay. Ginamit ng may-akda ang tubig at pagbaha bilang siyang simbolo ng pagdalisay ng kaluluwa at ng natutuyong pamayanan nang sa gayo’y maaninag na ang panibagong simula at pag-asa. Kung tayong lahat ay magiging gaya ni Junior na napupuno ng pag-asa at pag-ibig para sa bayan, tiyak na maibabalik natin ang dating ganda at halimuyak ng ating “Canal de la Reina”. Sama-sama nating pagtibayin ang pundasyon at haligi ng bantayog ng pag-asa ng hinaharap, gaya nga ng sabi ni Jun: “Itatayo natin dito ang isang simbolo ng pagtindig ng isang bagong pamayanan na malaya. Malaya sa isang manunupil, tulad ni Nyora Tentay na larawan ng panunupil ng isang nasa kapangyarihan. Malaya ang isipan sa paghahayag ng tunay na damdamin.” Kailangang mabigyan natin ng kahulugan ang lupang ito, hindi lang lupang sinilangan natin o ng ating mg ninuno, kundi isang simbolo ng pagkagising at pagbabago tungo sa kaunlaran. Kapit sa patalim, mga katagang naglalarawan sa mga taong nakatira sa Canal De La Reina. Dahil na rin sa kahirapan ng buhay kung kaya naman marami ngayon ang handang gawin ang lahat mabuhay lamang sa pangaraw-araw. Ang akda ay sumasalamin sa tunay na kalagayan ng lipunan malayo sa inaakala nating malafairytale na mundo. Natutunan ko dito na maraming tao ang mapagsamantala sa kalagayan ng mga mahihirap. Ang mga mayayaman ay lalong yumayaman, samantalang ang mahihirap ay nanatiling mahirap.Kalagayang magpasahanggang ngayon ay namamayani sa ating lipunan. Ang nobela ay tumatalakay sa iba’t-ibang isyung panglipunan na magpasahanggang kasalukuyan ay nagaganap pa rin. Mahirap man o mayaman ay sangkot sa mga pangyayaring ito. Buhat nito maraming tao ang apektado sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon ng ating lipunan. Isa sa mga tinatalakay nito ay ang hindi maayos na pamamalakad ng batas sa ating bansa. Dahil sa kawalan ng hustisya ay maraming tao ang nawalan na ng tiwala sa gobyerno. Lumalala ang kriminalidad at maraming tao ang ipinagsasawalang bahala ang mga batas. Ngunit pinakita rin nito na lahat ng tao ay may pagkakataong magbago. Masama man tayo kung gugustuhin naman natin na magbago ay maaari. Ang tao ang pumipili ng kaniyang tadhana. Kung gugustuhin natin ay maaari natin baguhin ang lipunang nakasanayan. Kahit kalian ang kasamaan ay hindi nanaig. Tunay ngang marami pang bagay na hindi natin alam sa mundong ito. Ngunit isa lamang ang di nating matatanggi, na bulok ang sistema at maraming nagdudusa sa mga taong walang malasakit sa kapwa.

My Ratings: 3 out of 5 stars

[clarasbookblog]

The Myth of You and Me is a story of friendship between Cameron and Sonia who has not spoken for 8 years due to the incident that Sonia's mother had beaten her over for petting disrobed on the living room couch with her highschool boyfriend and Cameron rescued Sonia from her mother. Horrified more for her mother, than grateful to her rescuer Sonia pacifies her mother. And after 8 years here comes the final request of the late husband of Cameron.. to personally deliver a wedding gift in person to Sonia. Cameron's mission turns out to be anything but easy. The uncertainty of the reunion looms in front of her as the ghost of her past pop up to communicate the trip, and Sonia proves difficult to find.

Leah Stewart weaves a tale that could easily veer into overly sentimental territory, but never does. Instead, what emerges is a touching story of true friendship so intense that over duration it manages to produce both joy and deep heartbreak. The author spends a lot of time discussing her character's feelings and deconstructing their intentions, sometimes to the point of excessiveness. At times, Cameron's behaviour seems a bit too scripted, her emotions too over-the-top, almost as if she never progress past a tantrum-throwing or reached that heightened level of maturity that comes with age and experience. Similarly, there are moments throughout the book that seem either too contrived or overly wrapped up and I am referring to the ending to be believable so that readers feel like they are witnessing scenes out of an over-dramatized back to school special. Additionally Leah Stewart carefully feed out just enough of the story at a time to leave the readers hungering to know what is inside Oliver's mysterious package and just what it was that broke up the close-as-sisters friendship. In the end, readers will be left with Stewart's graceful teaching of this ultimate truth; we can never leave behind someone who has touched our life so profoundly.

A happy ending isn't really the end. It's just the place where you choose to stop telling the story.

 My Ratings: 3 out of 5 stars

[clarasbookblog]

Tabitha Suzuma’s Forbidden is probably the most intensely powerful novel that I’ve read in a seriously long time and I really don’t know where to start with this review. The truth is I really can't get over with this one.. with Lochan and Maya. I did not expect that this book will have this effect on me. I have read the reviews on goodreads that is why curiosity hit me, I really wanted to enter the lives of  Lochan and Maya. And this is my first time to read this kind of young adult novel, what do I mean about this. Well, this book is about a brother and a sister in love with each other. But,  that’s just a concept, an idea. What can get really uncomfortable is the details that the author put in the intimate scenes. I know...I know, you're probably thinking that Incest is disgusting and disturbing. Consensual incest is one of the most controversial subjects out there, and to be honest, I was extremely curious as to how the author would handle it. But, quite frankly, it blew me away. Lochan and Maya’s story is delivered beautifully, but in an artful, unflinching way that really captured my attention. All at once I was cheering Maya and Lochan on and feeling a little uncomfortable. The conflict between my heart and mind kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire novel. All of the questions that would be asked about Lochan and Maya’s relationship, they asked themselves. And couldn’t answer them any more than an outsider could. But their situation is so different and something unusual was bound to stem from it. A closeness in age, running their household, being parents to their three younger siblings and having to work together made them much closer than a normal brother and sister would be. From this partnership stemmed a passionate, but tender, love that’s both so wrong and so right. I don't know but at times, conventional wisdom tells me that this relationship is wrong. But the love between Lochan and Maya is so undeniable, I really want them to find a way to make things work out. It is incredibly moving and I found myself dreading the inevitable. This is a heartbreaking, raw story that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. Maya and Lochie's anguish and pain jump out of the page and you feel their emotions every step of the way. By the end of the book, I was shocked and so shaken, not only by the outcome of the story but by all the strong emotions that each of the characters inspired in me. Forbidden is a book that will stay with me for a long time. Tabitha Suzuma is a genius writer, as an avid reader I come across dozens and dozens of books hoping the next one I pick up will either move me to uncontrollable tears, challenge my belief system, take me on an emotional rollercoaster, show me love, make me feel hate, sigh with happiness, leave me with a sense of longing, or simply just close the book when I'm done and say to yourseslf "wow, that was absolute perfection." This book didn't just do one of those, it did all of the above and then some. Thanks to you Tabitha Suzuma. Forbidden is absolutely consuming, heart breaking, and an absolute must read, it is an enthralling read for those who like their contemporary YA deliberate, and can cherish the unconventional romance. It was an incredible read for me, and I hope it is so for you too.

“How can something so wrong feel so right?”

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (uhhmmm...the truth is more than 5 stars

[clarasbookblog]

I know that this book has been published a mere decade ago and it’s a little rusty for me to even reviewing it; I’m aware of that. (Of course I watched the movie ten years ago but not able to read the book, just because I haven’t got the copy of the book – I enjoyed the movie.. really!). Okay let’s talk about the book… There is no truly gripping story line in The Devil Wears Prada. Instead there is factory assembly line of characters: the stand-out-in-the-crowd protagonist, who manages to stay true to herself, despite the pressure around her; the sycophantic colleague who belittles and berates her but ends up respecting her; the boyfriend/best friend who just doesn’t understand!; and finally, the evil boss who thwarts her at every turn but ends up taking the protagonist under her wing. There’s one thing that really stands out in this very form of book; Lauren Weisberger’s writing style. It’s corny but it feels raw, very descriptive, witty and unadorned in sort of sarcastic ways. She provided the readers a harsh but true reality in the fashion world, of how they worship size 0, even given the fact that this book is actually released thirteen years ago. She manages to keep the pace steady, with a little rush and hecticness in terms of Andrea’s restless job of chasing, catching, searching and fetching every unreasonable demands from Miranda. I also love how the author being so spoiled on giving us an insider of every brand names imaginable, as well as a quick tour of New York. Though sometimes her writing feels like having loose edges and dull events, this book still is considered as one hell of page-flipper in sort of bitchy and expensive way. I also love how Lauren Weisberger rises up the tense on the last 3 chapters and the way she handles the end; seems cliché, maybe, but it’s as simple as that. While I read the book quite quickly, I still found it too long. This material works perfectly for a movie, but in a book, I really don’t want to read about the main character getting coffee every day. That gets old very quickly. Nevertheless, I really liked the storyline in general, and it had some funny bits. While it’s an enjoyable story, you do need to take this with a massive grain of salt, because it deals with very sensitive topics like women starving themselves just to look good in the eyes of the fashion world. If you can handle that, then I see no reason why you should not enjoy this book. It’s just that, when you compare it to the movie, it’s a little underwhelming. The movie was more exciting. I thought the book was a bit slow paced and repetitive so it lacked tension. I wish the plot grew with more suspense instead of just Andrea getting her tasks done for half of the book. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book because of the chick-lit and young adult mix. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading about fashion and girly things!

Oh, don’t be silly – EVERYONE wants this. Everyone wants to be *us*.

My Ratings: 3 out of 5 stars

[clarasbookblog]

It hurts..

My heart really hurts…

It break my heart into pieces..

aaarrrggghhhh!!!…

Tired of the usual dating politics, Beatrice “Trixie” Jordan follows an impulse and replies to a personal ad: “If your intentions are pure, I’m seeking a friend for the end of the world”.In doing so, she meets Jacob Grace, a charming young writer, a passionate seeker of life. Despite their jaded views of the world, they fall immediately in love. Trixie and Jacob begin an emotionally charged and tumultuous affair, one they tried desperately to keep sacred. As they struggle to carve out a future beyond the Los Angeles hills, Trixie and Jacob face family secrets that threaten to keep the two close to home… or atleast apart from one another. With brash humor and a bit of heartbreak, wry and vulnerable Trixie leads us through the joys and furies of her wrenching romance, leaving behind a raw vision of love and loss of a lifetime.

I can’t count how many times did I put this book down, just to paused for a while, to internalized every word of this book. I don’t know how I am going to get over this book. I don’t think I can. It has left it’s imprint in my heart and soul. Its the type of book that leave its mark and I will keep thinking about it over and over for next…forever…. I am seriously getting teary eye just reading this book and looking through my clippings for quotes I want to use. This book is full of poetic words.. words that I really enjoyed. Enjoying the words that flowing into something so beautiful that it will grow and make you think there is nothing better then this right now. Its a wonderful feeling and I thank this author for creating something so perfect. I sigh a lot of times because I felt every emotions of Trixie, I want to scream at the top of my lungs, because I find myself putting myself into Trixie’s character and it really break my heart. God-Shaped Hole, is something that is so unexpected, its so hard to come up with the right words to describe this book, its beautiful, amazing, awesome, heartwrenching, painful, heartwarming – its all in one. Tiffanie DeBartolo, You are perfect, you really made my day and thank you for this great book and you really made me fall in love with this one.

We’re all searching for something to fill up what I like to call that big, God-shaped hole in our souls. Some people use alcohol, or sex, or their children, or food, or money, or music, or heroin. A lot of people even use the concept of God itself. I could go on and on. I used to know a girl who used shoes. She had over two-hundred pairs. But it’s all the same thing, really. People, for some stupid reason, think they can escape their sorrows.

My Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars (more than 5, I mean!!)

[clarasbookblog]

Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher

The Truth.. I am expecting that I would love this book.. most especially that everyone seems to love the book, that most of the reviews from the readers are positive. but.. It saddened me that I feel disappointed after reading this. Truly that every book has different effects to the readers – and every readers has different reactions, overview, perspective and experiences with the books. And this book is flat..disappointing..annoying..

This book seemed very promising, but it was clear about halfway through that it wasn’t going to deliver. I couldn’t find a way to relate to the emotional flatness of the narrator, and I couldn’t take the attempts to redeem her captor either. It is a unique story, the premise was right up my alley – a psychological thriller, an exploration of Stockholm Syndrome, a story about a kidnapped person who finds herself emotionally attached to her captor – I think the last fifteen to twenty pages deal with it. But I need to finish this book so I did.. and what is this? A letter to my captor, but as I viewed it, it’s a recollection of everything that happened between Gemma and Ty in the middle of Australian Outback. I just couldn’t get all the wonderful reviews that I have read about this book – while me, I felt as disconnected with the characters – I don’t understand why I never loved this book the way other readers loved it. – I am Bored.

So this book… Just not my type. I’m not going to lie, Indeed I am disappointed. If you are into this kind of thing, more power to you! But it just wasn’t for me. Happy reading guys.

My Rating: 1 out of 5 stars.

[clarasbookblog]

Slamming the door shut as my co-workers left, a thrill of excitement overpowered my hitherto dull and a busy day. finally, I had the office to myself. I sat infront of my desktop and start opening my Goodreads account, after a month of not logging in it, here I am browsing for some new books that I want to explore. Finding myself stumbling across this interesting book. Well, it’s interesting because the story is all about an old man, old because he’s 59 years old, and his name is Ove (looks like the word LOVE that lacks in “L” and pronounced ooh-veh), he is a grumpy, firm and practical old man who just wants people to follow the rules and to leave him alone. He is a man of absolutes. Right is right, wrong is wrong, and never the twain shall meet. So when his new neighbours drive up on his lawn, destroy his mailbox, and ruin his garden, he is understandably upset. Day after day his plans are interrupted by neighborhood concerns, no matter how much he tries to get away from it all. And yet, even though he is extremely reluctant to communicate with his neighbors, some of them foreign, some of them the kind of losers who can’t even back up a trailer, some of them insinuate themselves into his life and little by little, he starts to become involved with them.

I find it impressive that Fredrik Backman is able to pull this off; Ove is quite an unlikable man, however you can actually empathize with him and slowly, as you get to know him, you actually come to like him. Frankly, there’s simply something irresistible about this character. Words can’t express it but it’s definitely there, as many of the characters in the book agree with. Speaking of which, many of them are also very likable and epitomes of certain types of people most of us will recognise from our own life. We all know some blond, shallow, cruel lady that owns a Chihuahua and hates cats, nicknamed by Ove; Blond Weed and Mutt respectively or a nice, cheerful but clumsy and kinda foolish next door neighbor who means well but somehow always manages to mess up.

The story is filled with everyday and kind of ordinary events. This doesn’t create a dull story, on the contrary, Fredrik Backman really managed to present these ‘dull’ events in a way that can’t be described any differently than delightful and amusing. He achieves this via Ove’s thoughts and comments coupled with the hilarious dialogues that make up this novel. This demonstrates that everyday life is full of excitement and riveting things as well. Combined with the recognisable minor characters, this creates a lot of familiarity, yielding an easy to relate to novel into which many of us can effortlessly project ourselves.

This novel will make you laugh out loud, bring you on the verge of crying and will stay in your mind. It is filled with conversancy yet those elements are presented in a way that’s highly enjoyable, which prevents them from being dreary. I find this to be the perfect novel to curl up with on the couch on a rainy, grey day as it’s certain to lift your spirits. It’s extremely entertaining and shows how seemingly little things can have a great influence on someone else‘s life. It’s a feel good story, but it also gets you thinking and changes the way you perceive what’s around you. I can endlessly rave on and on about how amazing this novel is, but you simply have to read it and meet Ove yourself. And once Ove is in your heart, life will never be the same.

I salute you Mr. Fredrik Backman, you are one of the best!

“Loving someone is like moving into a house. At first you fall in love with all the new things, amazed every morning that all this belongs to you, as if fearing that someone would suddenly come rushing in through the door to explain that a terrible mistake had been made, you weren’t actually supposed to live in a wonderful place like this. Then over the years the walls become weathered, the wood splinters here and there, and you start to love that house not so much because of all its perfection, but rather its imperfections. You get to know all the nooks and crannies. How to avoid getting the key caught in the lock when it’s cold outside. Which of the floorboards flex slightly when one steps on them or exactly how to open the wardrobe doors without their creaking. These are the little secrets that make it your home.”

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

[clarasbookblog]

Serafina and the Black Cloak is an adorable children’s novel with a fairly straight forward plot. Yes, there are twists and turns along the way, but there isn’t anything overly complex. Even though the novel’s main plotline is simple – and I hate calling it simple because it makes it seem like the book wasn’t good – it was captivating because of its characters. Robert Beatty created a most mysterious girl with Serafina, who is described as having golden eyes and strangely enough, four toes instead of the normal five. Those differences only add to the air of mystery surrounding her and keep you wondering what it is that makes her so special. She’s a girl with a good heart and a kind soul that you can’t help but admire. Befriending the owner’s of Biltmore’s nephew, Braeden, makes this story even more charming. The two quickly hit it off, despite their obvious differences in social class, and they both team up convinced that they’re going to be able to find these children. Through her friendship, Serafina starts seeing the world through a new set of eyes, only seen before through the pages of books. She sees the good in the world but because of the man in the black cloak, she’s also uncovering the bad as well. She was beginning to see how difficult it was to determine who was good and who was bad, who she could trust and who she had to watch out for. Every person was a hero in his own mind, fighting for what he thought was right, or just fighting to survive another day, but no one thought they were evil. Combine Serafina’s mysterious storyline with her character development and you have a winning combination. It allows Robert Beatty to create a story that I would certainly read over and over again. Serafina possesses a definite horror, but isn’t quite as terrifying as it is charming. The unique heroine is definitely the spotlight of this tale with her most uncommon story of her life and how she came to reside in the Biltmore Estate basement. I will admit that around the half-way mark, it was fairly obvious to me where the author was going with some of the plot elements. I wouldn’t say the entire book was predictable, but some parts were – for adult readers. I do think younger readers, who are the main target audience, will not find it as easily predictable. Overall, I will admit I enjoyed reading Serafina and the Black Cloak. It certainly wasn’t overly complicated, yet the captivating characters and eerie plot/atmosphere created by the author made it an enjoyable read. It really shows that not every children’s fantasy book has to have an overly complex plot to be good. Sometimes in children’s literature, especially the fantasy genre, authors try to overcomplicate books. It seems as if there is this fear that simple doesn’t work or that readers will only read a book if it is overcomplicated, which isn’t true. When done correctly, simplicity works and it is shown in Serafina and the Black Cloak.

“Our character isn’t defined by the battles we win or lose, but by the battles we dare to fight.” 

My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

[clarasbookblog]

I have to write this immediately. I mean, my review for this book, while I still have the Violet-Erica hangover. Because of Goodreads I met this novel. I read the synopsis in advance because the title caught my attention. I want to know what the novel is all about. Violet was raised by a criminal to be a con artist. Her mission? To con a wealthy woman whose daughter, Erica, had been kidnapped when she was four years old. Violet was adopted by her “father” when she was young and her whole life has been a prelude to the scam. The entire story intrigues me, simply because it’s creepy and twisted and I just can’t believe that Violet is a fabulous con artist: very smart… she knows very well what she’s doing and the consequences of getting caught. Things start turning complicated as Violet starts forming attachments with people in Erica’s life.  Michelle Painchaud is a brilliant writer, Pretending to be Erica is her debut novel and when I find out about this in Goodreads, my reaction was “are-you-kidding-me?"Really, I am truly impressed, her writing style hooked me in from the very first page, I found it difficult to break away from her novel, to the point that I don’t want to put my e-reader down, I really wanted to finish it all in one sitting (but,that’s not possible… I have workloads to do and I am a wife). I was amazed with the story that Michelle Painchaud crafts along with the characters that she creates. She includes peripheral characters who add to the tense, climactic ending. Twist and turns aplenty keep the reader turning page after page until the very satisfying ending. Pretending to be Erica is a young adult thriller. The protagonist is a character with questionable motives and an even more indeterminate past. Touching and with a beautiful turn-around at the end, this book will keep the readers thinking long after they have closed the book.

” The boy doesn’t know who I am. He thinks he does. He’s good to talk to—challenges my brain. Seems like he’s always trying to look inside of me. It’s nice. To have someone try to figure you out. He never will, but the effort is nice. “

My Rating: 5 stars out of 5

[clarasbookblog]

64 pages novel, The Grownup. I have read Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, It introduces me that Gillian Flynn is a master of the dark, psychologically twisted character who leads the reader on a delightfully sick reverse of the hero’s quest. The Grownup is no exception. It is a short story by Gillian Flynn published in the form of a book. It is a hybrid between a thriller and a horror story with amusing plot twists.

The narrator is a lifelong grifter, having mastered the secrets of successful panhandling before puberty. Her lazy mother never worked legitimately a day in her life, preferring to beg, steal, panhandle, manhandle and manipulate. Even though our nameless main character attended a swanky charter school, she left home at 16 and proceeded to do things that guaranteed she, too, could never hold a respectable job. So, she gives hand jobs to men in the back room of Spiritual Vibes and poses as a psychic up front.

Her business thrives at both ends. She has one special gentleman who visits her often (of course, for the back end service) and lends her books. Thriving businesses add to greed, right? So she agrees to do some cleansing at a haunted Victorian house at the request of a young lady named Susan to rope in a few extra bucks. She dreams big money. Our heroine’s life is perfect. Or is it? Bizarre happenings and Susan’s creepy stepson Miles enter the picture.

The story bears resemblance to Gillian Flynn’s writing style of suspense and a manipulative female lead. The story is fast paced and with each page you ask “Who is the Grown up?”. I did not feel the horror said to be embossed in the story, but I was more fascinated by the characters in it. The Grownup was intended to leave the reader salivating – trying to determine who is telling the truth, who is the liar, and what will happen when two totally messed up people arrive at the paranormal convention. There’s sure to be lots of complaining from readers who expected more, and there will be those who will say Gillian Flynn is taking advantage of her fanbase by releasing this as a standalone hardcover. Regardless, each side will be secretly hoping the talented Flynn will flesh this tantalizing tale into a fully fledged novel.

“But I wasn’t a well-read bookworm; I was just a dumb whore in the right library.” 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars