Fast eyes are fast!

As I lay on my bed earlier today, I realized that I have quite a handful of unread books in my possession. According to my blog, I've last purchased books last March. That's something to be proud of as I tend to hoard. Thus, my to-be-read pile. So I said to myself that I won't be buying any book anytime soon. Luckily enough, I really don't feel any inclination to visit bookstores lately.

But I guess the universe does not approve. A few hours after my no-book-buying declaration, this came into possession:

I swear I had no plans of buying any book today.

 B idly surveyed the merchandise at a book kiosk at the mall while talking on her mobile phone. I actually found it funny that we stopped there as she's not a book person. And since I'm in a no-book-buying mode, I didn't really pay attention to the books on display. Little did I know, the universe's laughing loudly behind my back. 'Coz you know what? It only took one look, one look... You know what happened next.

I don't regret it though, for it's secondhand. And I don't really see this title in any other bookstore, so yes, there wasn't any room for hesitation. Say hello to your new recruit, TBR pile! Woo-hoo!

Don't judge a gift by its wrapper

Yesterday, I received a gift from B wrapped in newspaper. Exit the newspaper, the gift is wrapped in a brown paper bag. Exit the brown paper bag, the gift is wrapped in another brown paper bag.

Under three layers of wrapper is this (!!!!):

Minus the puppy, of course.

I am a big fan of Inhae Lee's My Milk Toof, along with my sister and B. Just imagine how I reacted upon seeing this! Naturally, I breezed through the pages as soon as I arrived home. So so so...yummy.

And that is all.

- - - - - - -
Lately, I've been losing the desire to blog. But this is one thing I certainly must post, regardless of the crappy composition. Hope this week gets better. Please.

Just read.

Read.
Read books old and new. Read books obsolete and mainstream.
Read books from fiction to non-fiction, from children's to memoirs. Have a taste of different genres.
Read good books. A whole lot of 'em.
Read bad books. Hopefully not as much. And when you come across a book you deem to be worse than the last bad book you held, think about how it'll make you appreciate the good stuff more.
And then read even more good books. Read fantastic ones.
Choose several favorites. You can never have JUST ONE. Today you may prefer this, tomorrow another. Yesterday's favorite may not even be one of those.
Read. I beg you.
Just read.

--note to self

. . .

Buying or not, I almost always stop by bookshops whenever I'm at the mall. It feels nice going through the aisles, looking for new titles to add on my list, touching books big and small, looking at the covers, checking the availability of items from my list etc. Lately though, I've been feeling a little guilty of my book expenditures. Don't hate me, but I feel like it's been more of an extravagance on my side, especially because I'm unemployed. It's like a sin. I don't need it yet I've been emptying out my wallet just to take home that shiny (really?) book or that one which randomly caught my eye. Secondhand shops doesn't make much of a difference since I tend to always hoard.

But, still, I buy. That guilty feeling doesn't have much effect on me so you're free to give me a pat on the back. Who can possibly stop buying books? I mean, seriously. And why deprive yourself of something that makes you happy? So long as you don't go overboard (walking home from EDSA going south; fasting for one week), then you're fine. AND HAPPY. So, you know. JUST KEEP READING. (to the tune of Dory's "Just keep swimming")

Flying books and reeling words

Don't you just love Vimeo? It's impossible not to like (or even love) 4 out of 5 random videos you view. I saw this video, however, from a blog over at Tumblr. I'm so glad I found it.

Inspired, in equal measures, by Hurricane Katrina, Buster Keaton, The Wizard of Oz, and a love for books, “Morris Lessmore” is a story of people who devote their lives to books and books who return the favor. Morris Lessmore is a poignant, humorous allegory about the curative powers of story. Using a variety of techniques (miniatures, computer animation, 2D animation) award winning author/ illustrator William Joyce and Co-director Brandon Oldenburg present a new narrative experience that harkens back to silent films and M-G-M Technicolor musicals. “Morris Lessmore” is old fashioned and cutting edge at the same time.

“The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” is one of five animated short films that will be considered for outstanding film achievements of 2011 in the 84th Academy Awards ®.
Film Awards Won by “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore”
To date, “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” film has drummed up fans all over the world taking home the following awards:
· Cinequest Film Fest: Best Animated Short
· Palm Springs International ShortFest: Audience Favorite Award
· SIGGRAPH: Best in Show

I have not much to say aside from THIS IS GUHREEEAAT and IT ALMOST MADE ME CRY. Book lover or not, I'm certain that you'll like this as much as I did, maybe less, maybe more, THE POINT IS YOU WILL LIKE IT. Get it? Now watch.

Book shopping spree!

B gave me NBS gift certificates as a late Christmas present. I'm gonna get me some yummy books!
. . .
. .
.
Ten seconds later...

Top to bottom: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov.

Heehee. I was supposed to buy The Bell Jar but it was out of stock so I opted for Bulgakov instead. One thing about having a long to-buy list is that you have alternatives when certain books are out of stock or nowhere to be found! Also, I was supposed to buy only 3 books and some pens for the remaining credit but I'm really glad I double or even triple check each shelf for hidden gems. Happy to find Dorian Gray (which is nowhere to be found in some branches)! That's 4 books crossed out from my to-buy list in one go! Total amount: P1,068.00

Ruminations on "Blindness" by José Saramago

I've been eyeing this since I first saw it on Booksale last December. There were at least 5 books in the two branches I frequent so I didn't buy it right away. I was also trying to refrain myself from impulsively buying books that are not in my to-buy list, so I decided to check some reviews first. Finally bought it last week.

Survival. The story revolves around an ophthalmologist's wife who was spared from an instant epidemic called "white blindness" that struck the whole country, and how she alone carried the responsibility of looking after those no longer capable of doing so themselves. The story is set mostly in an asylum where the first victims are quarantined (she pretended to be struck blind as well just so she could stay with her husband)--where names became irrelevant and your voice is your identity. It's a story of survival, compassion, and just how much (and for how long) one's spirit can endure.

This book is so good, though I'm not satisfied with it's ending. It made me wince, smile, almost want to cry. The living conditions depicted in the book is unimaginable, and the line between what can be considered humane and not seems practically erased. Survival of the fittest is definitely in play here. It's dystopian, and it's frightening because it seems possible; one moment everything's as it is, then BOOM--you're flung into a world you only see in nightmares. It is creepy in a way, and it made me cringe more than a few times when certain things are described and my brain supplements it with visions of the things I read. No thanks to you, imagination.

On one hand there's the harrowing condition in which the people are subjected to, on the other there's the strength of a woman who is not willing to turn a blind eye on her surroundings (pun intended)--though several times she wished she couldn't see--and take responsibility in striving for what little order and  justice she can do or give. It's so easy to give up and give in to depression and whatnot (it is even understandable to end your own life), but she cannot find it in herself to let things go as it is and let things happen knowing she can at least try to change them. This is the story of how the heroine, along with a band of companions gathered around her, struggled in a world far from what anyone could ever hope it would be.


There's a line in the synopsis that says, Blindness is a powerful portrayal of man's worst appetites and weaknesses--and man's ultimately exhilarating spirit. And I think it is. It truly is.

Ah, less than a week into the new year and I have already acquired four new books. Why do I even have a to-buy list when all I purchase are random used books that happen to catch my eye? This addiction to Booksale proves difficult to cure.

Already done with the first two. (I would love to write some reviews but I have 0 book-reviewing skills.) Emma is my first Austen (yeah, I know). I was already on my way to the counter when I spotted Anne. It was a bit expensive, but I know that it's very popular and highly recommended plus I really like how it looks so, here I am, blogging about it.

The only book I planned to purchase was Blindness. I've seen several copies in two Booksale branches and can't resist it, after researching about it on Goodreads. The rest are impulsively bought. I wish I could've resisted buying those, but then they are books. Good books at that. Oh, well.

My sister recently bought these used crime-related books. I ended 2011 and greeted the new year reading these.

No, I won't be a serial killer anytime soon. Haha!

I. CAN'T.

I absolutely cannot contain my excitement over THIS:

It's impossible, I tell you. I have been restraining myself from purchasing a copy (secondhand) of The Hobbit for months, and finally this December, I gave in. More than any other piece of clothing I bought, this book was my ultimate gift-to-self this Christmas.

It was an accidental discovery. As I was browsing one of the book blogs I frequent, a photo post's caption caught my eye:

To make work more fun today I made myself a little book pile of rewards. Everyone’s re-reading The Hobbit now the trailer’s out, yes? Yes.

My heart skipped a beat, or two. I kid you not.

I was constantly thinking about why nobody made this wonderful story into a movie. I watched the trilogy right after I finished the book. (I started reading it during the first hours of Christmas. I've been constantly tempted to re-watch LOTR again as soon as it was through. YES. UNTIL NOW.) I don't think it's anywhere near the trilogy in the action scale, but it's definitely one heck of an adventure! And now, I am so freakin' glad happy joyful whatever!!! WAAAAAH!

Ahem. Trailer please.

I shall wait for you, December 2012.

. . .

Hunger Games + The Hobbit? Oh my. I love you 2012.

On having multiple copies of books

If I remember correctly, I bought my copy of To Kill a Mockingbird during college. I loved the story and it became an instant fave, alongside my all-time favorite The Book Thief.

I never bought the same book twice; I'm not one of those people who collected different editions of their favorite books. I'd rather buy other titles, but that may change soon. How can you resist a cover like this?

I don't know if there's a hardback or trade paperback version of this, the only one available in a local bookstore is mass market paperback. That's actually better on my end, since it will be a lot cheaper thus, less guilt on shelling out money on a book I already have. But oh, I've always liked trade paperbacks (I prefer the size--not too large, and not too small & bulky), though most of my books are mass market versions haha. I must have this.

This one's a trade PB, but it's twice the price and though it's also pretty, I like the first one more. Plus, I will limit myself to just one extra copy. Though if I find a mass market one, I might be tempted to buy both. Yikes.

Naturally, I'd want another copy of The Book Thief. There's one other cover design that I know of, but I haven't seen it in any local bookstores. It might just be available in certain countries. I'm a bit tempted to purchase a hardcover version. That's justifiable, right? It's my favorite book! Having an extra copy of it is totally out of the question.

I will have these. Maybe next year, yes? Will this be the start of another addiction? I should hope not.

ETA: I obtained a secondhand copy of Coraline as mentioned in this post. As it is one of my favorites (book and movie, alike), I can't help but lust over the movie collector's edition and the one with the movie-version cover. 

Aaand, Scout, Atticus, & Boo: A Celebration of to Kill a Mockingbird. I didn't mention this in the original post, but I think I would like this one, too. Gaaah. This is not good.

(un)happy endings

It's weird how sometimes, things just pop in your head. But these moments often lead to good, usually creative, ideas, right? Well, I had an idea.

The image of The Little Match Girl suddenly flashed through my mind. You know that sudden thoughts that sometimes make no sense or just come out of nowhere? I immediately confirmed with my sister the manner of death of the girl, and it's one sad way to go. Isn't the story a fairytale? If it was, then it should have had a happy ending, right? Maybe it wasn't. That was probably the saddest story I have ever read during my younger years.

The idea I had was continuing the story, or somehow altering something about the story. I don't know why but, however sad it was (it's friggin' heartbreaking, dammit), it is actually good...I think. I know I used to have the book, but I rarely still have the things I owned from childhood. So, I would definitely hunt for a copy; if I would work on the idea, I first have to reacquaint myself with the whole story. I don't remember much, other than she sells on the street and strikes a match to warm herself. Then she eventually dies. Hah.

The only problem though, is I have no idea what I would do with the story. I'm not sure if I want it to have a happy ending, maybe change her death to be less sad and alone? Or her story could be my inspiration in making my own Match Girl. I don't know. We'll see.

I talk as if I'm any good at making (mending?) stories, but I'm not. It's just an idea, and I do hope I can think of something and get to it! That would be nice :)

Baby it's cold outside

...as well as indoors. It's been raining for a few days now, and I need someone to cuddle with. *cough

A few random thoughts:

I want these. All four. I'm not certain if these will suit me, but it seems to look good on everyone, "everyone" being pictures of people (of varying shapes and sizes) over the interwebs.

 There's a faint blue marking on this canvas backpack that I wanted to cover up. It says "Joyce," which is the name of my aunt, and the original owner of this bag. I literally cannot wait to get my hands on some fabric markers (I'm thinking Stained by Sharpie, which I couldn't find anywhere), so I grabbed some of my water-based pens and hastily drew on it. Must not let this bag get wet.

New books! Coraline crossed out of my to-buy list. Yey! I loved the movie, and I loved the book as well! I think I'll watch the movie again later, yes? I have an e-book of McEwan's, but I never got past the first chapter. I'm still not comfortable with reading novels on a computer screen. I don't think I'll ever be. Real books are just so much more fun! And oh, these are secondhand. I can't remember the last time I bought a brand new book. Don't you just love inexpensive books? :)

Sometimes, I just sit and stare at my books. And I don't even have a lot. I think I own more "okay" books than good ones, not happy about it. Must rethink book choices.

Random post is random. Bye!

Not quite right (yet)

I started reading a book the previous week entitled It's All Right Now by Charles Chadwick. I abandoned it after a few pages, not because I didn't like it (though I thought it to be a bit wordy) but because I'm not in a reading mood, so to speak.

I quite like the phrase: It's all right now. Simple, but can be interpreted in several ways (or so I say). Does it mean "it's okay/fine now," "everything's happening right now," or "everything is how it should be?" Am I even making sense? Haha.

I don't know. I like it to the extent that I'm contemplating whether to rename this blog or not. It sounds more of a tagline though, and doesn't have the slightest possible connection to my current title. Will think of some other way to use this phrase. Plus, it doesn't fit my current state, all three interpretations.

Yes, I can be extremely shallow sometimes.


- - - - -
I'll get back to reading the book some other time, as I've picked up a previously abandoned one: Les Miserables.

Let's try again, shall we?

There are books you read a thousand times over because you love them. Then, there's those you wouldn't even think of picking up again. But, there's also some you would want to give a second chance. Books that you didn't fully appreciate the first time you've read them (maybe my expectations were too high?), but are willing to spend time with again in hopes of having a different (preferably favorable) feeling towards them. Such is the case with the following:

• The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood
• A Spot of Bother, Mark Haddon
• The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett
• The Painter of Battles, Arturo Perez, Reverte

I see a lot of people who really like the first and third. As for me, I don't know. Follett is nice, but I didn't like it as much as I hoped I would, as with Atwood. I've been wanting to buy Haddon for months and received it as a present during college, I liked it enough, but I didn't really enjoy reading it. I want to like and enjoy these books, so some time (maybe next year), I'll give 'em a shot once more.

On new cameras and reading

This was the compact camera I was talking about on my previous entry, which I got from B for free. ("From B for free" Rhyming, eh? And happens too often haha.) I have two rolls of film left, and I can't decide on which camera to use them. Might use one for this, just to try it out.

On other news, my sister have been borrowing books from my Booksale hauls. I admire her for having an unending urge to devour a book, seems to always be in the mood to read, plus she's always been a fast reader. Makes me envious sometimes, 'cause despite my love for books and reading, I'm a rather lazy and slow reader. And as for her, she tends to read book after book after book after... despite having a very busy sched (she's working full-time and finishing up her thesis at the same time). Makes me wonder though, if she absorbs everything she reads. Haha. She doesn't seem to stop and think or reflect upon what she'd just read. Whatever works for you, right?

I'm not complaining about being a slow reader really, I just wish I can be like her in the sense that she never (or seldom) loses the mood to read. Oh well, time to pick up the next book!

Thoughts on The Quiet Girl by Peter Høeg

Kasper Krone is a world-renowned circus clown, and a man in some deep trouble. Drowning in gambling debt and wanted for tax evasion, Krone is drafted into the service of a mysterious order of nuns who promise him reprieve in return for his help safeguarding a group of children with mystical abilities—abilities that Krone also shares. When one of the children goes missing, Krone sets off to find the young girl and bring her back, making a shocking series of discoveries along the way.

Ahhh... So after 4 days of semi-forcing myself to finish this book, I'm finally done. There are nice quotes throughout the book, but aside from that, I didn't really get anything from the story save for a splitting headache and disappointment. Though I got this secondhand, I wish I hadn't bought it at all. It's that bad (for me, at least).

CONFUSING. If I had to use just one word to describe how I feel about The Quiet Girl, that would definitely be it. Looking at my notes, that's the most used word. It's an understatement, still.

A few things:

- Time, sequencing: too confusing. I felt like I'm being propelled back and forth through time too often than necessary.

- Too many characters. Too much stuff going on. Too many complications. Too many pages. Too many information sometimes. I had to go back a few pages (and sometimes, chapters) just to remember who the hell these people are and what the hell's happening. More often than not, I still didn't get it. I don't think I understood anything at all.

- I find it extremely boring. I fought the urge to quit reading it too many a time. But I finished it, still; I desperately wanted to find something that would make me like this book, because I genuinely felt there was something to like. Well, 408 pages later, I found nothing. Aside from Maximillian, which was the only character I truly liked, loved even. I'm torn between liking Kasper and dismissing him as just "okay."

- When I was reading the book, I decided that this would fall to the okay-i-have-to-read-this-again-some-time-maybe-i'll-appreciate-it-by-then pile but that changed even before I was done. I never wanted to discard a book even if I didn't like it much but this one, I don't know. I just feel extremely dumb because of it, feel like it ruined my life. HAHAHAHA. Kidding aside, there's a part of me that seriously wants to get rid of the book.

I rarely do this because I'm not good at making reviews, I just felt like I had to let this out somehow, somewhere. Haha. Forgive me for rambling.

my Goodreads rating: 1 star

Maniac, who?

My favorite Booksale branch is the one closest to where I live and the one I frequent the most. From this branch I bought my omg-i-found-one books: The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen, A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby, and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I'm currently eyeing an LOTR trilogy boxed set and a photography book from the same branch.

The thrill of looking at, looking for, and buying books have surpassed the thrill of actually reading them. And when I'm not buying books, I usually scour the internet for book recommendations and reviews, lurking mostly on blogs I recently discovered.

Is that bad? I don't really think so. But I guess I should allot as much time and energy on reading as I do on this current book-hunting and buying frenzy. (Which I obviously do not.)

A few things: I have poor eyesight but my eyes are extremely fast in "locating" familiar titles/authors. I rummage like a maniac. I sometimes go to a particular Booksale branch for days in a row. I still end up buying books even if I forbid myself to even go to bookstores.


I'm turning vicious, folks. Better call the doctor.

Heading out with Peter Høeg

Yep, I bought another secondhand book. Two books, but B offered to pay for the other. Heehee. I brought it along yesterday but sadly, I never took it out of my bag. No time to read, although I thought there would be. I started reading it when I got home.

I'm currently on the 12th chapter of Part One. It's a bit of a pain to read, in my opinion. It's tedious and sometimes very confusing. I am constantly tempted to pick up another book. I got a lot of nice quotes, though. Still hoping that this would turn out to be a good read.

Booksale* addiction

As I surveyed my recent book purchases, I realized something: I'm forming a Booksale addiction.

I don't frequent Booksale in the past as I never see familiar books (other than the usual Grisham, Steel, Roberts...) or books I wanted to buy there. Recently though, I've been buying a lot of never-heard books and see myself rummaging through every nook and cranny of the store, hoping to find a treasure.

Four weeks and three Booksale branches later, here are the stuff I accumulated:

The hardcovers (top to bottom):

• The Natural History of Uncas Metcalfe by Betsey Osborne
• The Mercury Visions of Louis Daguerre by Dominic Smith
• The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
• Saint Mudd by Steve Thayer
• Dinosaurs on the Roof by David Rabe

The paperbacks (top to bottom):

• Balcony People by Joyce Landorf Heatherley
• Grayson by Lynn Cox
• The Girl in the Glass by Jeffrey Ford
• A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
• The Best American Mystery Stories 2005 edited by Joyce Carol Oates
• The Soul Catcher by Michael White

Oh my, thirteen books! Nomnomnom. Done with The Soul Catcher and The Kite Runner. I have a looong way to go before I finish them all.

These are the gems of the pile :>

Currently reading: Dinosaurs on the Roof, Saint Mudd, and The Best American Mystery Stories

__________

*Booksale is a used books store chain in the Philippines, with items varying from references to children's books, coffee table to medical ones, classics to bestsellers. They also carry new and back issues of local and international/foreign magazines.

Can't. Resist. Noooo.

 (I hear Alanis in my head singing Hand In My Pocket but with the words: I'm sick but I'm blogging, I'm broke but I'm buying books...)

Another trip to two Booksale branches yielded these lovely purchases: The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen, and The Best American Mystery Stories edited by Joyce Carol Oates. Maybe you're thinking "hey, I thought you were broke." I am. I only paid for one of those ;) Tip: If you don't have cash to shell out, bring someone with you who's willing to pay for you. HAHAHA. I feel so lucky to have found The Corrections!

Now, I know these aren't on my to-buy list, but I have my reasons or... "this is me, trying to justify my purchases." Really though, these are true:

• I want to buy more short story/essay collections/anthologies. I really like Like the Flowing River by Paulo Coelho and I think that's the book I've re-read the most. I thought I wouldn't be fine with such format at first, but it quite appealed to me.
• I want to buy books of certain authors I've come to know through blogs/websites I frequent or stumbled upon. These include: Michael Chabon, Jonathan Franzen, Jonathan Safran Foer, Amy Bloom, Anne Carson, John Green (WANT Looking for Alaska), and (more of) Nick Hornby, whose novel A Long Way Down (which I meant to buy for the longest time) I was able to buy secondhand last month. Yay for inexpensive books!
• As for The Jungle Book hahahaha... I dunno. I've always liked children's books, and I used to watch this on TV when I was younger. I. Couldn't. Resist. I almost shrieked when I saw it. I was more excited than when I saw Franzen's book (during which my eyes widened) hahaha.

Yep. Three more added to the reading stack!