My Love Affair with Books

My parents tell me that I used to read a lot when I was younger. I remember reading all the stories in our ginormous fairy tale book and other smaller versions of it. I read the stories in my older sister's English textbooks such as Basics and Beyond Reading and Open Roads to Reading. I even wished then to grow up soon so that I could have access to more stories which I thought were only for kids in grade school. By Grade 2, I already finished the Genesis and Exodus chapters of the Bible. Had I not been too bored with the statistics and figures presented in the Book of Numbers, I may have reached Revelations by end of Grade 6.

My entire elementary school life was spent on hurrying to finish my assignments because I know that my books are waiting for me. I was so fascinated with the characters and the magical kingdoms that I just cannot get enough of them. Those stories which transported me to places were the reason why I worked hard to learn to read soon, after all. It was a joyous childhood, especially because I tried to incorporate fiction with reality through the help of my playmates who didn't hesitate to take part in my role playing plans. They liked my stories as much as I did.

But then came high school. All of a sudden, I neglected my love for literature. Studying in Pisay and being separated from home at a rather early age, I felt like I had so many matters to attend to and therefore had no time for leisure anymore. Or so I thought back then. But my love for stories, luckily, didn't have to die a hopeless death. In sophomore year, I started writing my own stories. Not fiction, but accounts of my life. I religiously wrote in my journal, having more times for reflection than before. It seemed like I have been more perceptive, too. The imagination I used with books back when I was younger, I exercised in viewing life in a whole new lens. I continued my writing, but I sacrificed the reading. Just seeing one novel made me feel bored. My attempts to read again only sent me yawning and eventually rendering me asleep, nothing but drips of saliva left on the poor page.

It was a struggle. A real battle fought between my short attention span and my desire to bring back the spark. Futile, until this year.

Bye Bye Vacay

It's only yesterday when I found out that the names assigned to tropical cyclones always start with A each year, regardless if the last typhoon's name began with a 'P' or a 'W'. Of course I knew that they are named alphabetically according to the chronological order when they entered the country's area of responsibility--what's the sense of growing up in the province dubbed as Land of the Howling Winds if I didn't? But first typhoon of the year will always get names beginning with the letter A? I was clueless until now. Oh well, hurrah for the new trivia!

I mentioned this because, first, you may not know about it yet and you might, for some odd reason, find this information useful and, second, because Ambo is currently passing through the country, thus the heavy rains and delay of flights. There's nothing that says "your summer is over!" better than 2012's first typhoon on the first day of June. A reminder that, in a few day's time, I will soon be in the city again--back to my study-habit experimentation and in my professors' mercy. But the vacation has done a mighty fine job because I'll be facing the city again with high hopes and motivation, hopefully enough to sustain me until it is time to go back home again.

As usual, this post will be a--surprise, surprise--overview of my vacation! Get used to it, there is no activity I do better than looking back (and writing lists!).

First weeks of April were happily spent with most members of my family. Papa and Mama were home. Ate Glad, Kuya Nel, Lianne and JJ were home. Joy was home. Gwen and Maine spent weeks in Virac since Andrei's birthday until they went back to Manila for Raph's 1st birthday. Ate Yeth and Zye came over for some weeks' visit too. It was really fun! We spontaneously hit the beach almost thrice a week, spent Easter over the farm by holding a picnic, and watched Pasyon with the kids. On Maundy Thursday night, I even experienced the longest bike ride of my life so far: Virac to Batong Paloay Church in San Andres. I was with Kuya Nel, Ate Glad and Joy then. Another milestone, hurrah!

One of our planned beach outings: in Kinaw

With my girlies: Easter picnic at ze farm

Down to Luyang Cave: one stop during my longest bike ride ever

On regular days, Gwen and Maine oftentimes visit us at home and we did some cooking or baking. They will also play with Lianne and JJ (Zye and Ate Yeth already went back to Naga that time) and together, they watch movies. Sometimes, they will even sleep over! *happy tita*

On 'Me Talk Pretty One Day'

Me Talk Pretty One Day is an unexpected treasure. 

I only decided to read it when my sister Joy told me that it's a compilation of autobiographical stories and that the title of the book is also the title of one of the stories about the author's attempts of learning French. Always been a fan of the language, I read the book hoping that it can give me tips. Well, I got none. If anything, I got scared of French teachers. But what I am happy to gain are the fun afternoons I spent smiling, occasionally laughing, by myself while taking a glimpse at David Sedaris' life and the inner workings of his mind. It's either he is just fortunate to be at the right place at the right time--for he finds himself caught in between really interesting situations worth sharing--or he simply has the gift to make a spectacle out of the mundane. Probably both.

I was barely finished with the first half of the stories when I came up with the idea of reading the section where acclaims for the author are written. I thought to myself, "who is this funny guy and how come I have never heard of him before?" The answer struck me even before I'm through with the construction of my question: my ignorance is due to the fact that I am relatively new to the wonderful world of books. But I guess I am knowledgeable enough to identify Woody Allen, Mark Twain and Oscar Wilde as remarkable writers. And it so happened that the author David Sedaris is dubbed as our generation's version of these three and many others. To think that my sister bought Me Talk Pretty One Day from Booksale at 127 pesos!!! Oh, a fortunate find, indeed!

Anyway, I got to keep my emotions in check. Must get down to the business of really talking about the book.

The stories in the first half of the book were set in America while the rest, in France. What I got from reading snippets of Sedaris' life is that he has a crazy--and I mean the good kind of crazy--family; that he has experienced different kinds of occupation--from being an assistant to a Colombian miser to being a mover for an Irish communist, from being an undercompensated writing workshop teacher to an artist commissioned to perform by a museum; and that he has a knack of safely avoiding things which makes him uncomfortable, just like the lisp he had in his childhood and the fact that he can't seem to get the gender assignation of French vegetables (to fully understand how he did so, just read the book). But aside from the entertainment derived from his witty storytelling, it can't be denied that there are underlying messages he wants to get across to his readers. General truths that are too common that they are normally taken for granted. His social commentaries are cloaked in such good writing that you won't notice he is already ranting. He's just got a way to get to you.

Read the book because you deserve some hearty laughter.

Rating: 4.5/5

What, for you, is a good book?

Now  that I have sort of gotten the hang of reading books--I have just finished writing a review for my eighth book this year!--I am wondering what to answer people when they ask if the book was good or if it's worth reading. What really is there to look for in a book?

One. The content, of course. Was it worth knowing? Was it value-adding? Did you feel like a smarter person after you've read that particular book? If yes to all three, then that's one star!

Two. The writing style. The technical aspects. For a new member of the bibliophile club (oh how I love this word!), I think it does matter if I get to know new vocabulary, and be exposed to a good writing style. In one way or another, it affects how I will be writing in the days after.

Three. The reading experience. Reading, based from other more experienced readers, is a journey. It's supposed to kidnap you from reality and take you to places--your imagination is the limit! So if a book is capable of bringing you to such places you'd thought you'll never be and evoke feelings as if you are actually part of the story, then that is one effective book.

Four. The appreciation. To the point of having difficulty of only confining it to yourself that you just have to share it to other people. To the point of getting so giddy when you talk about it or hear other people talking about it. To the point of answering "yes" to the question: "will you read it again?"

Five. The catharsis. Not all books may be relatable to our life, but all books may be considered part of us after we have read it. I guess this is the aspect wherein one book touches us in a deeper level that it's already hard to get it out of our system. The line that sets apart the forgettable from the unforgettable.

This is not your critic's guide to rate a book. But it's definitely one way to evaluate. So now, let’s test my theory.

Twisted 8	1	1	1	0.5	0.5	4.0
To Kill A Mockingbird:	1	1	1	1	1	5.0
Good Omens:	1	1	1	1	0.5	4.5
Charlotte's Web:	1	1	1	1	1	5.0
Favorite Sherlock Holmes Detective Stories	1	1	1	0.5	0.5	4.0
The Mysterious Case of Benedict Society:	1	1	1	1	0	4.0
The Devil Wears Prada	1	1	0.5	0.5	0	3.0
Perks of Being A Wallflower	1	1	0.5	0.5	0.5	3.5

On 'Perks of Being A Wallflower'

A coming-of-age story of a boy which tackles issues like sex, love, family, and friendship, Perks of Being A Wallflower is a book to which one can relate to in more ways than one. That feeling of being aware of other people around, wondering how and what they are feeling at the moment. That feeling of being recognized which marks the beginning of being conscious of how you want to act in contrary to what you think others want you to act. That feeling of wanting to be with friends, how their company makes each second precious, and how their absence makes life somewhat dull. That feeling of first love and how it doesn't easily go away. That feeling of always wanting to be reminded that you are loved--especially by the first people you came to know: your family.

Perks of Being A Wallflower is the story of a year's happenings in a fifteen-year old boy's life. It is written in a way that he talks to "a friend" through letters, giving the reader the sense that they are delving into someone else's diary. Since Charlie, the protagonist, narrates his story as it happens, the things he talks about can get too random sometimes. He also deviates from the topic so often which I find amusing because that's how I am too most of the time. But what is more fascinating is that those random digressions from the main topic are actually kind of interesting. Think of the rat experiment.

Friday is Self-declared Holiday!

Because I want to take a break from studying first, and because I still have something to say, another blog post it is!

Last Friday was my self-declared holiday! Despite my scheduled exams on ChE 123 and ES 12 today, ChE 131 tomorrow, Kas 2 on Saturday, plus papers and exams, I pushed through with my declaration anyway! Mama stopped over in Manila (she went to Tagaytay) before heading home and so Ate Elvy and I arranged a lunch date. By 11:30, I fetched Mama from the bus terminal in Cubao and then we went straight to Ate's office somewhere in Buendia. We dined at Teriyaki Boy, and it was Ate's treat so I was giddy. I told Mama to order the most expensive meal. HAHA. >:D

And so my mom ordered this.

Seafood Teppanyaki

 I went for this because of the egg!

Gyu-Yakiniku Don

 My sister had this.

Curry Nasu Raisu

The service in that Teriyaki Boy branch was poor. But Mama liked their food so we will let this one pass. HAHA. Our lunch date was just so short, but quality time nonetheless.

Ate Elvy and Ma

Ma and Mae

Ma and her mango shake :D

By 5PM, Mama was already homebound.

Meanwhile, I went back to the dorm first to rest and then prepare again for another appointment: dinner bonding with Kalay roommate, Hazel, and neighboring friend, Twinkle. This had been our second meet-up for this sem!

We originally planned on having dinner at the Van Gogh Is Bipolar restaurant in Maginhawa but unfortunately, it was closed that day. :( The caretaker told us that the restaurant is not allowing walk-ins anymore; clients must inform the management beforehand. And so, we just walked and walked along Sikatuna Village to find a new place to eat. Ahhh, walking with friends is simply one of the joys of life!

Now, can you guess where we ended up? Gayuma ni Maria. Another concept restaurant in the best food hub in the metro. I have already been here twice, but it was Haze and Twinx's first time so I indulged them. Anyway, I don't know if we will still find a place to eat if we walked further.

The concept of the restaurant is, well obviously, love and potions. The place is dimly lit, which gives its intimate feel. Also, there are many cute and creative details all over the place which never fail to catch the diners' attention.

Details on Gayuma ni Maria's walls

Nice ambience

For the romantic touch

My roommate Hazel pointing at her favorite potion

Go on. Read it. I know you want to!

Enough with the place. Let's go to the food. For the past instances I went here, I haven't yet tasted something I can call unique to the place. Sure, the names in their menu are catchy--Rock Me Baby, Hinugot sa Tadyang ni Adan, Chinoy to the 7th Heaven, etc.--but as for the appeal to the palate, nothing special. Although I have to commend their desserts. If there's anything that will make me go back, it's their Beats Sex Anyday cake (which I ordered again this time). So yummy!

Twinx ordered this chicken with cheese on top. I like!

I Love You, Cross My Heart

Haze ate braised beef with mashed potatoes. I like again!

Secret Lovers

Mine's not too impressive again. WHYYY do I always pick the wrong things? Mine is cream dory which is supposed to be chocolate-crusted. But then, there's only so little choco, mustard taste dominated more. I did not expect that so yeah, I was disappointed again.

Once You Go Black, You'll Never Go Back

BUT! Let us not forget how heavenly their dessert is, compensating for the low points in our (or maybe just mine?) gastric experience. There's Beats Sex Anyday again. And now they already got mango cheesecake which they called Pacute. My tummy is now happy. :)

Pacute

Beats Sex Anyday

And here are our pictuuuuuuures!

And that's just the main course!!! Next blog post will be about another gastric experience at another fun, fun, concept place in Maginhawa. :) For now, I have to go study transport phenomena first so I could pass the course and become rich someday as chemical engineer and so to afford more galas in the future! Toodles!

Ice Cream Cake Party

What's with my frequent galas? I don't know if it's just my coping mechanism from not having Bennard around, or I really have lots of friends celebrating their birthdays on March. Random thought: March babies are conceived on June. Hihi. Anyway, as I was saying, I have been sooo game in almost all invitations from my friends. The latest of which is KEM's induction night and Grace's twentieth birthday. As usual, there is Brige and Jen and Rich for the surprise committee. This time, however, we had with us Ven, Gicka, Kayer and their roommate Nikki.

The plan was to buy a DQ ice cream cake for Grace since I recall her telling me she'd want to try that sometime. Brige and Ven also bought balloons as extras, wala lang, just to get away from Jen's birthday extra which are flowers. The birthday girl, together with Jen, would come from the Induction night. (Segue: Let's wish Jen and Grace good luck and best wishes on their being inducted as Educational Affairs and Ways & Means VPs, respectively!) I went ahead of them because I had to help with the preparations. I don't know what Jen did to convince Grace in going to Kamia (their dorm is the neighboring Sampaguita residence hall) but what I know is that she succeeded in doing so. I guess she used reverse psychology. That always works with Grace. HAHA.

I was in charge of documentation again, so here you go!

Our clandestine operation

Our ice cream cake with candles

Nagslide yung ice cream! Oh noes. 

Surprised June baby

Saengil chukhamnida, Grace!

Good job, girls! :-)

The meltdown!

Symmetry ang peg!

Who's celebrating next?