Dreamer and Daydreamer

I don't usually read short fiction but last semester, I was exposed to them through my Philippine Literature class. There I was able to read works by Nick Joaquin who happens to write stories that have magical realism. It was because of those stories that I wanted to read more short fiction. This too is a story about magical realism. In addition, this is one of the stories that managed to make me cry. I know I'm late to this one as it already won awards but I did love the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed the depiction here of the Chinese mail-order bride and her son. He was basically her pride and joy- that much was obvious, practically the only one she could truly understand and understands her. Unfortunately, kids grow up. They rebel and decide that they don't want to be their parents or that they're ashamed of them. This is a story about how that boy grew up, made mistakes, and had to face his regrets. This is a story about a mother who had to face the fact that not only was her child growing up but also that influences around him place him outside her reach.

The ending of the story was cathartic. It was heartbreaking and beautifully poignant. At the same time, it brought a sort of relief due to the way it wrapped up. If you haven't read it yet, it's available on io9 to read and it's worth it.

This review is also on: https://thebookwormdaydreamer.wordpress.com/

I couldn't do it. I tried to finish this book but I couldn't do it. I got bored, I'm sorry.

I didn't finish this book, mostly because I found it to be bland and pretty boring. The big reveal happens in an instant, not to mention the insta-love thing. I pretty much couldn't bring myself to care about what happens to the characters. Also, I really disliked how one-dimensional the characters are. The mother doesn't care, doesn't believe her daughter, it's comical how she's written. I didn't feel like the characters behaved like actual people because there wasn't really any character development or if there was, it was like a line or two. I guess the village's hate was understandable but her family? I would expect her mother to be more realistic somehow. Still, it was simplistic the way it was written. Maybe it could have been shown better? I don't know. Most of the book focused mainly on the romance- it would have been better if we got to see how the world works a bit more or even if the romance was written better.

As for the romance, it was the typical stuff I'm starting to shun. The whole instantly falling in love with someone you only get to glance at a few times and maybe talk to for a few times. I don't understand how they fell in love. She was the only one who wasn't afraid? That's it? It was boring, I couldn't care less about what happens.

Review to come...

Lauren Oliver, Panic

First of all, I have no idea what to feel about this one. On one hand, I feel bewildered about the premise and I couldn't quite grasp the concept about animals being as intelligent as we are. On the other, I understand that cruelty begets cruelty and the desire for change. I can also see the allegory between this book and the USSR.

 

Plot:

 

The plot is a bit complex. It's about a bunch of animals who revolted against a cruel farmer. They form their own farm and run it like  a state under the premise of socialism Animalism. In the end, the 'leaders' of this so-called 'equal' state ends up no different than Soviet Russia a state run by human beings- who they supposedly despise but end up imitating.

 

Characters 

 

Marx/Lenin Old Major: He is the pig with a dream. He was described as being twelve years old and fathered 400 piglets (???). At the beginning of the book, he delivered a stirring speech that led the animals to organize a revolt even after his death. Sadly, his ideals does not match reality.

 

Stalin Napoleon- At first I found his name funny since I heard that naming a pig after Napoleon is illegal in France. Then again, this book is set in England so...Anyway, Napoleon s definitely a self-centered, selfish, and extremely greedy pig. While undoubtedly sly and clever, he uses his natural gifts to advance himself and his kind. His character is absolutely disgusting- especially the way he alters the rules to suit his own needs.

 

Propaganda Machine Squealer- He's Napoleon's personal PR manager. Everyone believes what he says because he's such an effective speaker.

 

The Common Peasant Boxer- Boxer is said to be dedicated, hard-working, and loyal. Sadly, the reward for this loyalty is a one-way ticket to the glue factory.

 

If you can stomach the idea of animals being able to be as smart as people- or even human-like to the point of being able to walk on hind legs, then this book is for you. If you don't like mass slaughter and good characters being sent to die, then I suggest you skip this one.

 

Rating; 4/5 for Boxer's death.

 

I bought Fangirl simply because I couldn’t find Eleanor and Park in our local bookstore. I was intrigued by the cover and the summary and I decided it’s worth a shot.

 

Turns out, it’s well worth more than just a shot.

 

Fangirl is my start-of-the-year book. It was a deliciously warmhearted nerd power ballad- exactly as it says on the blurb in the cover. I fell in love with it from the very start.

I fell in love with Cath’s character. She is, simply put, a nerd, and someone I can really relate to (though I wouldn’t be in college for at least  a year and a half). She loves Simon Snow with such a passion that makes my love for the Percy Jackson books look like puppy love. She, like me, loves to write- though she writes fanfiction, I write my own stories. This is where the similarities end.

 

Cath is afraid to let go. She couldn’t (pr rather, doesn’t want to) write original fiction- something that makes her Fiction-Writing professor sigh in despair. She’s so in love with Simon Snow and writing fanfiction about him that writing something else feels weird, unnatural. The way she overcome that and finally wrote something original and from the heart at the end was really, really great.

 

I adore Levi, he was a great love interest- though I must admit that I thought Nick is her love interest. I love those scenes where she reads him her fanfiction. They were, in the simplest terms, adorable.

 

Wren, I don’t know what to feel about Wren. I get that she wants to be independent but it feels like she’s trying to push Cath away.

I

like Reagan, she’s pretty badass.

 

Anyway, I recommend this book to everyone who like Cath, lives in the world of books and writing. You’ll love Fangirl from start to finish.

 I remembered this book. I read it a few days before the start of classes and I just remembered it now.

 

The thing is, it left a huge impact on me.

 

First of all, Tiger Lily was such a beautiful character. She’s flawed and she’s neither good nor bad- only in-between. That’s what I loved the most about her- she isn’t perfect. She fell in love with Peter, and he loved her back.

 

Until Wendy came.

 

Wendy is perfect. She has everything.

 

Including Peter, in the end.

 

What made me cry is the not-so-happy ending (though I’m glad she ended up with Pine Sap, who loved her more than Peter did). How Tiger Lily felt when Peter left and how

Tinkerbell saved her.

 

Still, it was so heartbreaking and it showed me that first love never lasts and that we don’t always get what we want.

 

Words cannot describe how I cried after reading this one. It may be the only book that made me into a sobbing mess.

I will try again some time. Eureka (ugh, what's up with her name?) is so boring and utterly lifeless (no pun intended) that I cannot stand her form more than an hour.

First of all, I have no idea what to feel about this one. On one hand, I feel bewildered about the premise and I couldn't quite grasp the concept about animals being as intelligent as we are. On the other, I understand that cruelty begets cruelty and the desire for change. I can also see the allegory between this book and the USSR.

Plot:

The plot is a bit complex. It's about a bunch of animals who revolted against a cruel farmer. They form their own farm and run it like a state under the premise of socialism Animalism. In the end, the 'leaders' of this so-called 'equal' state ends up no different than Soviet Russia a state run by human beings- who they supposedly despise but end up imitating.

Characters

Marx/Lenin Old Major: He is the pig with a dream. He was described as being twelve years old and fathered 400 piglets (???). At the beginning of the book, he delivered a stirring speech that led the animals to organize a revolt even after his death. Sadly, his ideals does not match reality.

Stalin Napoleon- At first I found his name funny since I heard that naming a pig after Napoleon is illegal in France. Then again, this book is set in England so...Anyway, Napoleon s definitely a self-centered, selfish, and extremely greedy pig. While undoubtedly sly and clever, he uses his natural gifts to advance himself and his kind. His character is absolutely disgusting- especially the way he alters the rules to suit his own needs.

Propaganda Machine Squealer- He's Napoleon's personal PR manager. Everyone believes what he says because he's such an effective speaker.

The Common Peasant Boxer- Boxer is said to be dedicated, hard-working, and loyal. Sadly, the reward for this loyalty is a one-way ticket to the glue factory.

If you can stomach the idea of animals being able to be as smart as people- or even human-like to the point of being able to walk on hind legs, then this book is for you. If you don't like mass slaughter and good characters being sent to die, then I suggest you skip this one.

Rating; 4/5 for Boxer's death.

John Green, The Fault In Our Stars

Rainbow Rowell, Fangirl

Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Okay, I've created this blog a long time ago but I haven't really written until now. So, I'll be using this to post my book reviews and anything else related to books. 

 

Every year, we have a book assigned to our year level. We're supposed to read it for class, our vocabulary words come from it, and it's our final project is a book report about it. I have to admit though, I was disappointed to learn that our book will be Animal Farm since it's really short and I like reading longer books. The more I thought about it though, I realized that it would mean I could read it real fast if it proves to be boring- which I highly doubt since it's about communist animals and an  allegory about Soviet Russia. Still, it's a good thing this is short since Uncle Tom's Cabin (last year's book) was really long and I didn't finish it and I'm pretty sure I failed my book report (seriously, what's with the extremely detailed questions?).

 

Classes doesn't start until next week but I'll be reading this now so I can review it later. Also so I can get a head start and just spoil my classmates in case our teachers ask us about it and they don't know the answers.

I hate this book. I just hate it.

My reasons:

* Plenty of metaphors.
* Lust- not love
* Unrealistic (she's locked for 200+ days! She's not supposed to look sexy or something!)
* I just hate Juliette