tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026182555249507192024-02-03T06:06:53.261+08:00my favorite thingscecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-45370648838175374932017-01-08T19:11:00.000+08:002017-01-08T19:11:54.491+08:00To Be Read Challenge 2017I am unofficially joining the <a href="http://wendythesuperlibrarian.blogspot.com/p/tbr-challenge-2017.html?m=1" target="_blank">2017 To Be Read Challenge by Wendy the Super Librarian</a>.<br />
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I have been reading the past 2 years, of course, but not blogging, though I post book thoughts on Goodreads so I might as well crosspost here.</div>
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My reading backlog is so high that I have taken to calling it Mount TBR. These books have been on the pile for at least a year, and even up to 4 years or more, so I decided to dust them off and read them, finally.<br />
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Expect sporadic updates over the next months!</div>
cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-4036045411087209082015-03-21T22:17:00.000+08:002015-03-21T22:17:52.082+08:00In Memoriam, Sir Terry Pratchett<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was leaving for the airport when I learned about the death of Sir Terry Pratchett, one of my favorite authors. I set aside my emotions for later because I was going to one of my dream destinations, and I knew I needed time to grieve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My first introduction to the Discworld universe was a preloved copy of the first novel, "The Colour of Magic", that I found at my favorite secondhand bookstore. Pratchett wrote with humor and wit and heart, and it was always a pleasure and a mental exercise reading his works. Ask any Pratchett fan what their favorite novel of his is and the answers would probably vary. Some of mine are "Thief of Time" and "Nation" and "The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents" and "Only You Can Save Mankind".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Of all the storylines, I love the City Watch best, and it makes me sad that we will never read it in Pratchett's own words, if Captain Carrot really is the rightful King of Ankh Morpork, if Commander Vimes will mellow in his old age, or what unmentionables CMOT Dibbler will peddle next. Sergeant Colon and Corporal Nobbs will never again go on their rounds and shout "All is well", but Sir Terry will always live on on that flat disc supported by the backs of four elephants standing on a giant turtle hurtling through space.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-21039488132054566972014-10-18T00:26:00.002+08:002014-10-18T00:29:37.187+08:00Filipino Friday 2014, Week 1: Surprise, Reader!Long time, no blog! Last post was one and a half years ago, but will try to be active for <a href="http://filipinoreadercon.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Filipino Readercon</a> 2014's -<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hello, it’s the first week of Filipino Fridays 2014! Whether it’s your first time to participate or not, tell us a bit about yourself. More specifically, tell us about your favorite book discoveries for this year. Any author you started reading this year that you can’t get enough of? A book you didn’t think you’d like, but you ended up liking/loving? Any book series that you just have to get your hands on? Have you discovered anything new from Filipino authors this year?</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Favorite Book Discoveries for 2014</u></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The Rosales Saga by F. Sionil Jose</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't read Filipino books much, so to address that deficiency I joined the read-along of this famous series at our book club <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/21398849645/" target="_blank">Flips Flipping Pages</a> (FFP). I read Sionil Jose's "Ermita" last year and liked the historical aspect but disliked the preachy tone at the end, so I didn't expect to enjoy these. I have yet to finish the last book but I am awed by the beauty and truth of Sionil Jose's words. He reminds me of the works of Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b>Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">This was last year's best read by Honey, another FFP member. I did not enjoy Hill's "Heart-Shaped Box" but decided to give this comic book series a try on her recommendation. A blend of mystery, fantasy, horror and suspense, I devoured this series.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b><u>Author I Can't Get Enough Of</u></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=55_461" target="_blank">TJ Klune from Dreamspinner Press</a>. I read an anthology dedicated to him and his fiance Eric Arvin (another MM romance author) and got curious. I started with "Bear, Otter, and the Kid", the novel he is most known for, and had to read the next one, "Who We Are", immediately after, and the one after that, "The Art of Breathing". I like the intelligence of Klune's characters, and their acceptance of their weaknesses.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b><u>Book/s I Didn't Think I'd Like But Ended Up Liking/Loving</u></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">See "Favorite Book Discoveries" above. :)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b><u>Book Series I Have to Get My Hands On</u></b></span></span><br />
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I'm looking forward to reading<br />
- <b>"Edge of Eternity"</b>,<b> </b>the last book in <b>Ken Follett</b>'s The Century Trilogy, and<br />
- <b>"The Blood of Olympus"</b>, the last book in <b>Rick Riordan</b>'s The Heroes of Olympus series.<br />
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I'm waiting for the conclusion to <b>Justin Cronin's</b> The Passage Trilogy, <b>"The City of Mirrors"</b>, scheduled for release next year.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b><u>New Discovery from Filipino Authors</u></b></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://flipreads.com/alternative-alamat" target="_blank">"Alternative Alamat", edited by Paolo Chikiamco</a></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">. I love mythology, and I'm currently enjoying the different takes on our own gods and legends and beliefs.</span>cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-9939761449068797252013-04-28T01:40:00.000+08:002013-04-28T02:44:28.156+08:00Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon 2013<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I owe at least 2 entries, one on the musical "Sa Wakas" and another on Umberto Eco's "The Name of the Rose", but they will have to wait because...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today is Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I first participated in the read-a-thon 2 years ago with my fellow Flippers, which was held at Libreria Bookstore. I finished 2 books, <b>"Death by Garrotte: Looking Back 3" by Ambeth R. Ocampo </b>and <b>"Johnny and the Dead" by Terry Pratchett</b>, but still haven't gotten around to finishing <b>"Red Land, Black Land: Daily Life in Ancient Egypt" by Barbara Mertz</b>. :P</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Flips Flipping Pages does Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon, April 2011 </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(That's me on the far right.) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo courtesy of Don Taduran)</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This year I decided to participate again mainly to chip away Mount TBR. My list includes (in no particular order, and may change throughout the day) -</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"Soulless: The Manga, Volume 2" by Gail Carriger and REM</b> - easy<b> </b>reading<b><br /></b></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"George's Secret Key to the Universe" by Lucy & Stephen Hawking </b>- thinking of donating this to a children's library but must read first<b><br /></b></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"Dodger" by Terry Pratchett </b>- comfort reading, because Pratchett never fails to be funny<b><br /></b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"All Quiet on the Western Front" by Erich Maria Remarque</b> - need to read this before month's end for the April Group Discussion on <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/groups/16073/about" target="_blank">The Historical Fiction Group at Shelfari</a></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">No pressures though, which means I will still sleep and eat and do other things because it's a Sunday. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~ * ~ * ~ * ~ </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Answers to the <a href="http://24hourreadathon.com/2013/04/27/hour-1-lets-get-ready-to-rumble/" target="_blank">Introductory Questionnaire</a>:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>What fine part of the world are you reading from today? </i>Manila</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? </i>"George's Secret Key to the Universe" :)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Which snack are you most looking forward to? </i>I honestly didn't prepare anything, but I've had half a glass of cold chocolate drink.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Tell us a little something about yourself! </i>I like lists. :) And smileys.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do
different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most
looking forward to? </i>I won't put pressure on myself like before but instead will relax and have fun. :)</span></li>
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cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-70195037833071863772013-03-12T13:21:00.001+08:002013-03-12T13:22:33.212+08:00book review: "Azincourt" by Bernard Cornwell<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">AZINCOURT</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bernard Cornwell</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxIyWNSLAxgbMoRrQH87HQUR4Pz8WwMdYX-oEQ9rFm9iDBhzdcq3ZjKx_SDRZ_Vqq1W4I5du65aT_cKLAGGm66ybTm3jkLAwpKPJV4gAfeJnhQVd_-ET90bPUzWY8NYwABxCp-wfuukA/s1600/azincourt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxIyWNSLAxgbMoRrQH87HQUR4Pz8WwMdYX-oEQ9rFm9iDBhzdcq3ZjKx_SDRZ_Vqq1W4I5du65aT_cKLAGGm66ybTm3jkLAwpKPJV4gAfeJnhQVd_-ET90bPUzWY8NYwABxCp-wfuukA/s1600/azincourt.jpg" height="200" width="127" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b></b><br />Azincourt (or Agincourt) is apparently one of the most famous battles in English history, but having no knowledge of the pre-Tudor era I had no idea what to expect. Yet Bernard Cornwell tells us about the famous battle only in the last 1/3 of the novel, instead focusing on the story of English archer Nicholas Hook and how he came to be part of <i>la malheureuse journee </i>("the unfortunate day") for France on Saint Crispin's Day, 25 October 1415.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cornwell has Hook hearing the
voices of Saint Crispin and Saint Crispinian and guiding him, but I think this was underutilized in the development of his character. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I felt no connection with him or any of the characters in the novel because</span></span> despite the horrors they experienced, they still lacked depth.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cornwell's descriptions of the siege of the port town of Harfleur and the Battle of Azincourt that followed were well-written. I never realized the strength and the importance of archers in battle. To give one an idea why Azincourt became legendary, here is an illustration of the battlefield (from <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/10/24/world/25agingready1.html?ref=europe" target="_blank"><i>The New York Times</i></a>) -</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/10/24/world/25agingready1.html?ref=europe" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FcBzXvzJavpKtPlGUdUJcsLhjhV-0CaPvdZIxiK2s2sTbzCZIjCzVjISlAdZ_KlPv8bXyeyQdLuLUOZSLD07Ums1e1J_DHGgsjF517qFvQ6wxkXNAfBK8L5X_4Civ2spT9DqwVkyeuQ/s1600/agincourt+battlefield.jpg" height="155" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">However, I would have appreciated more information about the history of the enmity between England and France, and about the king who brought the Englishmen and Welshmen to war, Henry V.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rating:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-73319959920217981662013-03-05T23:38:00.000+08:002013-03-05T23:40:06.880+08:00The 2013 Flips Flipping Pages Reading Diversity Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here is my reading list for -</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOi1pAKqjLaP26x7FbuFR-eyJ8lF3Ryp1Kw0g17pH5YGkU5_RJ5nNha23J71yMOBsI2ydqtQZ8EmI7o6UTfAPX2aHG5RGMyyMO4iMAExIfoiCh8nXe5ucnm6MN1KGLhlF8cJqjazeTCkE/s1600/ffp+2013+diversity+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOi1pAKqjLaP26x7FbuFR-eyJ8lF3Ryp1Kw0g17pH5YGkU5_RJ5nNha23J71yMOBsI2ydqtQZ8EmI7o6UTfAPX2aHG5RGMyyMO4iMAExIfoiCh8nXe5ucnm6MN1KGLhlF8cJqjazeTCkE/s400/ffp+2013+diversity+reading.jpg" height="167" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(<span style="font-size: x-small;">t</span>o be updated throughout the year)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">as of 02/26/13: <b>7 of 25</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Common Book</u> (published 2013)</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">TBA</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Umberto Eco</u></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"The Name of the Rose"</b></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Partner Challenge</u></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">TBA </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>3 Alternative Media</u> (at least 1 audiobook)</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe" by Bill Bryson</b> (audiobook)</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strike><b>"Blackout" by Connie Willis</b> (ebook)</strike> - <i>finis</i><i>hed 01/10/13</i><strike><br /></strike></span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strike><b>"All Clear" by Connie Willis</b> (ebook)</strike> - <i>finished 01/14/13 </i> </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Foreign Award Winner</u></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><strike>"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card</strike> </b>(Nebula Award for Best Novel 1985, Hugo Award for Best Novel 1986) - <i>finished 02/26/13</i></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Self-/Indie-Published Book: Foreign</u></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness </b>(Candlewick Press) or<b><br /></b></span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"Infernal Devices" by KW Jeter</b> (Angry Robot Books)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Self-/Indie-Published Book: Local (Local Title #1)</u></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Local Title #2: Non-Fiction</u></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"Prehistoric Philippines: Looking Back 6" by Ambeth R. Ocampo</b> </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Local Title #3: Award Winner</u></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><strike>"Smaller and Smaller Circles" by F.H. Batacan</strike> </b>(Palanca Grand Prize 1999, National Book Award 2002, Madrigal-Gonzalez Award 2003) - <i>finished 01/21/13</i></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Local Title #4: Filipino Dialect</u></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"It's a Mens World" by Bebang Siy</b></span> </li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Foreign Book #1: Asia (except the Philippines)</u></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Foreign Book #2: Australia</u><b> </b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strike><b>"Year of Wonders" by Geraldine Brooks</b></strike> - <i>finished 01/23/13</i><b><br /></b></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Foreign Book #3: North America (except USA)</u></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"The Blind Assassin" by Margaret Atwood </b>(Canada)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Foreign Book #4: South America</u> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><br /></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Foreign Book #5: Europe (except England)</u></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"All Quiet on the Western Front" by Erich Maria Remarque</b> (Germany)<u> </u></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Foreign Book #6: Africa</u></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"Secrets from the Sand: My Search for Egypt's Past" by Zahi Hawass </b>(Egypt) </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1
Read-Along</u></span><br />
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<li><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne</span></b></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Poetry</u></span><br />
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<li><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"100 selected poems" by e.e. cummings</span></b></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>2 Non-Fiction</u></span><br />
<ul>
<li><br /></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><br /></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>2 1001 Books to Read Before You Die</u></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strike><b>"The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins</b></strike> - <i>finished 01/09/13</i> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo</b> (reread) </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>1 Graphic Novel</u></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strike><b>"Daytripper</b></strike><strike><b>" by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon</b></strike> - <i>finished 01/01/13</i><u><i> </i></u></span></li>
</ul>
cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-85949461731281614162013-02-19T13:00:00.004+08:002013-02-19T13:39:43.997+08:00book review: "The Sunne in Splendour" by Sharon Kay Penman<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"THE SUNNE IN SPLENDOUR"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sharon Kay Penman</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/feb/04/richard-iii-dna-bones-king" target="_blank">News of the discovery of Richard III's remains under a car park in Leicester, England</a> prompted me to finally read this hefty novel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Richard III is infamous as the king who had his brother Edward IV's son and successor Edward V and other son Richard, popularly known as the Princes in the Tower, killed while imprisoned in the Tower of London. He is the last king of England to have died in battle, in Bosworth Field in 1485, and the last </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Plantagenet king</span>, after which the Tudor dynasty reigned.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span>I first read about Richard III in <a href="http://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2012/11/review-daughter-of-time-by-josephine-tey.html" target="_blank"><i>"The Daughter of Time" </i>by Josephine Tey</a><b> </b>about 5 years ago<b>, </b>and was intrigued by the
story of Richard and his nephews. Did he, or did he not, order their
murder?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In this novel, as in "The Daughter of Time", the author tries to make a case for Richard III. She chronicles his life and the life of his brother Edward IV, that of their family the House of York, and of their friends and supporters during the Wars of the Roses. Penman also</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> shows us the other side of the coin, </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">the House of Lancaster of Henry VI.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My thought throughout the novel was, <i>"</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>George R.R. Martin's </i></span>A Song of Ice and Fire has nothing to this!" </i>It really happened; rebellions and factions and betrayals... I wonder if the Wars of the Roses inspired GRRM. Like ASoIaF, it was difficult to keep track of the characters at first, all the Edwards and Richards and Henrys and Elizabeths and Annes, that I had to look for a <a href="http://images-mediawiki-sites.thefullwiki.org/03/2/1/4/9272993173242633.png" target="_blank">family tree</a> online.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Having no previous knowledge of English history and not having read the play by William Shakespeare, my sympathy lies with Richard III. But I admit that these historical novels were written against popular belief, so I aim to </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">read a non-fiction account, "The Princes in the Tower" by Alison Weir, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">in future</span></span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For now, I remain loyal to the Whyte Boar of Gloucester.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQ3EpiZ0yZWcm3Q2AUYWhnj9cCK0P6vvgqwQb47ts_zzh_bsQOyyNQ6Xxh8HGDoWE5afN056lXzcLKcTGDqJqIckEKeb3Cwn6HEen4iRSlb-rgGJ7ENoj46lRd1qVE17hqb-zTTrJU78/s1600/whiteboargloucester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQ3EpiZ0yZWcm3Q2AUYWhnj9cCK0P6vvgqwQb47ts_zzh_bsQOyyNQ6Xxh8HGDoWE5afN056lXzcLKcTGDqJqIckEKeb3Cwn6HEen4iRSlb-rgGJ7ENoj46lRd1qVE17hqb-zTTrJU78/s1600/whiteboargloucester.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rating:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-57768901509366591202013-01-14T21:33:00.001+08:002013-01-14T21:35:37.361+08:00book review: "Blackout" & "All Clear" by Connie Willis<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>BLACKOUT</b> & <b>ALL CLEAR</b></span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Connie Willis</span></b></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xGmFahQsZw32GpBiHp_xCTPLmrkhSaATKoGzU25ltOVEYjUSEsshROhcUH_PEPxHCmfpviwvqZUbcyhz1nVAkrUW2j-n8MCK868Erf9AUClFlDScyWgk1phq0gOkEOkG_E_Wnpo2axs/s1600/blackout-allclear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xGmFahQsZw32GpBiHp_xCTPLmrkhSaATKoGzU25ltOVEYjUSEsshROhcUH_PEPxHCmfpviwvqZUbcyhz1nVAkrUW2j-n8MCK868Erf9AUClFlDScyWgk1phq0gOkEOkG_E_Wnpo2axs/s400/blackout-allclear.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The latest addition to Connie Willis' Oxford Time Travel series, which includes "Doomsday Book" and "To Say Nothing of the Dog", "Blackout" and "All Clear" document the stories of historians Polly Churchill, Merope Ward, and Michael Davies. Polly, Merope, and Michael each travel back in time from Oxford in the year 2060 to different periods of World War II Britain to do research, but their lives intertwine when their means of returning to the future does not work, and they are stuck in the past trying to find a way back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">At a total of almost 1,200 pages, not a few readers have found the two novels too lengthy. Indeed, the story was intended to be one novel that was eventually split into two volumes. This means that before starting on "Blackout", one must be prepared to read "All Clear" afterwards, to be able to appreciate the story fully. The fact that the novels jump from one character to another and from one time period to the next also adds to the challenge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Instead of bogging down the story, I think the novels are richer for the wealth of information they impart about the daily lives of ordinary people in wartime England. This is especially true for people like me whose education, by virtue of place of residence, focused on the Pacific Theater of the Second World War. Part of the appeal of the novels for me too, is trying to figure out the connections between the people who enter the lives of Polly and Merope and Michael, and the events that surround them. The story would be different, I think, were such details left out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A good story for me is one which has characters who stay with me even after I've closed the book, and one that makes me think; in this case, about the complexities and paradoxes of time travel, which I will leave to readers brave enough and patient enough to tackle the novels, to figure out (to avoid spoilers). More than the above, "Blackout" and "All Clear" are Connie Willis' love letters to the men and women who lived and survived World War II; the soldiers who fought the war, and the loved ones they left behind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rating:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcWz40Y-jT2nVZv6gopu4GQDZFMcJW9Ed5rqpijJu6CCUESI5HYGimxyNZ2znAw3_ZfFlRfsQMGEbvu1RXWrmUZwvFYLe_znkZ79uACnwywI6ysb0a-QqpFFFJuQzL_FZbzr00uWLtAI/s1600/4.5stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcWz40Y-jT2nVZv6gopu4GQDZFMcJW9Ed5rqpijJu6CCUESI5HYGimxyNZ2znAw3_ZfFlRfsQMGEbvu1RXWrmUZwvFYLe_znkZ79uACnwywI6ysb0a-QqpFFFJuQzL_FZbzr00uWLtAI/s1600/4.5stars.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-46766622812536881242013-01-01T13:01:00.000+08:002013-01-01T13:01:51.102+08:002013 Reading Targets<div style="text-align: center;">
Annual Reading Resolution:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Read more, buy less.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Do this!</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.shelfari.com/groups/12439/discussions/474676/The-2013-FFP-Diversity-Challenge--Read-different-things-Try-diff" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOi1pAKqjLaP26x7FbuFR-eyJ8lF3Ryp1Kw0g17pH5YGkU5_RJ5nNha23J71yMOBsI2ydqtQZ8EmI7o6UTfAPX2aHG5RGMyyMO4iMAExIfoiCh8nXe5ucnm6MN1KGLhlF8cJqjazeTCkE/s1600/ffp+2013+diversity+reading.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And, a wish for all...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBK4jLJcWiRdevTlXmMd_3y5liASXf_expQq4EEcE3IXkzwCz9PvnTE8i-0KO599qWzPDp8YJ_98yfcXMLDLtPrwc2F669XJULlsrLcOtjmljsB5kEweZ_obaZ_EDQapqWnnaXRembVYY/s1600/new+year+neil+gaiman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBK4jLJcWiRdevTlXmMd_3y5liASXf_expQq4EEcE3IXkzwCz9PvnTE8i-0KO599qWzPDp8YJ_98yfcXMLDLtPrwc2F669XJULlsrLcOtjmljsB5kEweZ_obaZ_EDQapqWnnaXRembVYY/s1600/new+year+neil+gaiman.jpg" width="348" /></a></div>
<br />cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-38284726170134947282012-12-31T22:56:00.001+08:002012-12-31T23:09:58.466+08:00The Best of Books in 2012<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Best Read of 2012</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2anMEeEPgfV_ZEGn2vSzt6IiQ_kZBl6MFeqMGZyOC1rXgbxIKqifXqO4JkCubvdfrRhOiS7WGUXo9llb07Em9WHXXUsp7NDAqBj0sKe7nGERNdFn2STw1Nj0uNlw_l6zDqG53g4HWh28/s1600/fault_in_our_stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2anMEeEPgfV_ZEGn2vSzt6IiQ_kZBl6MFeqMGZyOC1rXgbxIKqifXqO4JkCubvdfrRhOiS7WGUXo9llb07Em9WHXXUsp7NDAqBj0sKe7nGERNdFn2STw1Nj0uNlw_l6zDqG53g4HWh28/s320/fault_in_our_stars.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>my review </i><a href="http://cecillesfaves.blogspot.com/2012/05/book-review-fault-in-our-stars-by-john.html" target="_blank"><i>here</i></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cecillesfaves.blogspot.com/2012/05/book-review-fault-in-our-stars-by-john.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cecillesfaves.blogspot.com/2012/05/book-review-fault-in-our-stars-by-john.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cecillesfaves.blogspot.com/2012/05/book-review-fault-in-our-stars-by-john.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Rest of the Best</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">(in no particular order)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflRjR-YPdTLGTAwtNJ5xHkLuHZ2S5FDOhZ0RLNMY7dEeeMrbxsgDBjAlLRapT-lpIeFYBRfrSHN1NbU620df4RhqYYSyCTd1EOQm7ch0wa-Q2D1udk2XLYIdTjc8mkLT0ge-lX0dL3B8/s1600/hunger_games3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflRjR-YPdTLGTAwtNJ5xHkLuHZ2S5FDOhZ0RLNMY7dEeeMrbxsgDBjAlLRapT-lpIeFYBRfrSHN1NbU620df4RhqYYSyCTd1EOQm7ch0wa-Q2D1udk2XLYIdTjc8mkLT0ge-lX0dL3B8/s200/hunger_games3.JPG" width="131" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>my review <a href="http://cecillesfaves.blogspot.com/2012/02/book-review-hunger-games-trilogy-by.html" target="_blank">here</a></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBHn5Ht9D5Cwama1MV1sHbxNJgb2-srYocNTRO-RxCexSYGrimx_ssvKA-zVdWBxB3ao7wyy_q7APs4uvDD2piNMA1YsbUQc2SdkVBMPJVFETLP7ZnWxPbQTjO6zTk8rlm0qIC7nJY0Y/s1600/lamb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBHn5Ht9D5Cwama1MV1sHbxNJgb2-srYocNTRO-RxCexSYGrimx_ssvKA-zVdWBxB3ao7wyy_q7APs4uvDD2piNMA1YsbUQc2SdkVBMPJVFETLP7ZnWxPbQTjO6zTk8rlm0qIC7nJY0Y/s200/lamb.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>my review <a href="http://cecillesfaves.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-review-lamb-by-christopher-moore.html" target="_blank">here</a></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKLQ-RzxnLZfZe5HjIr5hn0kgmG7yPKlLlKtpJvhqLup78VK_yseQl7nik7IeYzdS6QivLOGIhylES7N5zwFmJ_kZMT6UVhDAjR5HWuzbSdvlKFQcGe9-M7SH9qiGT_JcopNpxsnhXis/s1600/lincolns_dreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKLQ-RzxnLZfZe5HjIr5hn0kgmG7yPKlLlKtpJvhqLup78VK_yseQl7nik7IeYzdS6QivLOGIhylES7N5zwFmJ_kZMT6UVhDAjR5HWuzbSdvlKFQcGe9-M7SH9qiGT_JcopNpxsnhXis/s1600/lincolns_dreams.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>my review <a href="http://cecillesfaves.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-review-lincolns-dreams-by-connie.html" target="_blank">here</a></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gtTR13i8GcUqmBhurhR4rEkc-h168D-QTDsAKlEwRIW-D3vuHjtSg216pASmv9qgru6HYqbZJ_8-BlemKf7WFiekrwwugX-BptgyoEBch-sBJ15o-UbykA_oyCpZEZaUmZJ5oEyIPLY/s1600/i_killed_adolf_hitler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gtTR13i8GcUqmBhurhR4rEkc-h168D-QTDsAKlEwRIW-D3vuHjtSg216pASmv9qgru6HYqbZJ_8-BlemKf7WFiekrwwugX-BptgyoEBch-sBJ15o-UbykA_oyCpZEZaUmZJ5oEyIPLY/s200/i_killed_adolf_hitler.jpg" width="139" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>my review <a href="http://cecillesfaves.blogspot.com/2012/08/book-review-i-killed-adolf-hitler-by.html" target="_blank">here</a></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIttwXvzDlxjhjkwlnlqX3Sj-XQiwOYgQubTjeKHiTa4uLinjezXfve7jURXRlDzrykTq-ZU11q8inLq4TH9IcQshQNyOxjP9EIq8Rl44NGAcAhTddQkSD3Hp9qoYl5wx1S_IJpMncP_Q/s1600/missperegrine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIttwXvzDlxjhjkwlnlqX3Sj-XQiwOYgQubTjeKHiTa4uLinjezXfve7jURXRlDzrykTq-ZU11q8inLq4TH9IcQshQNyOxjP9EIq8Rl44NGAcAhTddQkSD3Hp9qoYl5wx1S_IJpMncP_Q/s200/missperegrine.jpg" width="129" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">my semi-review <a href="http://cecillesfaves.blogspot.com/2012/10/hallows-reads.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-68823708655812240402012-12-31T22:49:00.001+08:002012-12-31T22:53:23.439+08:00The Year in Reading<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In 2012, I</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">read 73 books,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">bought 50 books,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">spending a total of Php9,600+ on books,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and was gifted with 9 books;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">an average of</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">6 books read per month,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">4-5 books bought per month,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">spending Php800+ on books per month.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That's</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">4 more books read than last year,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">40 less books bought than last year,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and Php5,000 less spent than last year. :)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I read 1.5 books for every book I bought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Most read genre was fantasy,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">followed by non-fiction,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">then romance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Most read author was Lisa Kleypas. :P</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<u><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">January</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">01 “I, Claudius” by
Robert Graves</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">02 “Selected Poems” by
Jorge Luis Borges</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">03 “Midnight in the
Garden of Good and Evil” by John Berendt</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<u><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">February</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">04 “Sexually, I’m More
of a Switzerland: More Personal Ads from the London Review of Books” by David Rose</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">05 “Game of Thrones” by
George RR Martin</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">06 “The Hunger Games”
by Suzanne Collins</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">07 “Catching Fire” by
Suzanne Collins</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">08 “Mockingjay” by
Suzanne Collins</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">09 “Dirty Dancing:
Looking Back 2” by Ambeth R. Ocampo</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">10 “A Clash of Kings”
by George RR Martin</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<u><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">March</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">11 “A Storm of Swords”
by George RR Martin</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<u><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">April</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">12 “Thunderstruck” by
Erik Larson</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">13 “Lamb: The Gospel
According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal” by Christopher Moore</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">14 “Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders” by
Neil Gaiman</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">15 “Lincoln’s Dreams”
by Connie Willis</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">16 “The Truth” by Terry
Pratchett</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">17 “Those Who Hunt the
Night” by Barbara Hambly</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<u><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">May</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">18 “The Son of Neptune”
by Rick Riordan</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">19 “The Fifth Elephant”
by Terry Pratchett</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">20 “The Fault in Our
Stars” by John Green</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">21 “The Red Pyramid” by
Rick Riordan</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">22 “The Throne of Fire”
by Rick Riordan</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">23 “Snuff” by Terry Pratchett</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">24 “The Guernsey
Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<u><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">June</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">25 “The Geography of
Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World” by Eric Weiner</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">26 “Anne Frank: The
Book, The Life, The Afterlife” by Francine Prose</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">27 “Trese: Murder on
Balete Drive” by Budjette Tan and KaJo Baldisimo</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">28 “Trese: Unreported
Murders” by Budjette Tan and KaJo Baldisimo</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">29 “The Acorn People”
by Ron Jones</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<u><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">July</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">30 “Something Wicked
This Way Comes” by Ray Bradbury</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">31 “Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites”
by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">32 “The Walking Dead
Book 1: Days Gone Bye” by Robert Kirkman & Tony Moore</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">33 “The Walking Dead
Book 2: Miles Behind Us” by Robert Kirkman & Tony Moore</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">34 “The Best of Chico
and Delamar’s The Morning Rush Top 10”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<u><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">August</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">35 “Heroes of the
Valley” by Jonathan Stroud</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">36 “I Killed Adolf
Hitler” by Jason</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">37 “The Bro Code” by
Barney Stinson with Matt Kuhn</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">38 “Blink: The Power of
Thinking Without Thinking” by Malcolm Gladwell</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">39 “Tristes Recuerdos
Manila” by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">40 “The Japanese
Occupation of the Philippines: A Pictorial History” by Ricardo T. Jose and
Lydia Yu-Jose</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<u><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">September</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">41 “Chulalongkorn’s
Elephants: Looking Back 4” by Ambeth R. Ocampo</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">42 “The Elegance of the
Hedgehog” by Muriel Barbery</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">43 “The Best of This is
a Crazy Planets” by Lourd Ernest H. de Veyra</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<u><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">October</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">44 “Winter of the
World” by Ken Follett</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">45 “Howl’s Moving
Castle” by Diana Wynne Jones (reread)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">46 “Miss Peregrine’s
Home for Peculiar Children” by Ransom Riggs</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">47 “Soulless” by Gail
Carriger</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">48 “Changeless” by Gail
Carriger</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">49 “Blameless” by Gail
Carriger</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">50 “Heartless” by Gail
Carriger</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">51 “Timeless” by Gail
Carriger</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<u><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">November</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">52 “I Am Legend” by
Richard Mattheson</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">53 “11/22/63” by
Stephen King</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">54 “Soulless: The Manga
1” by Gail Carriger & REM</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">55 “Bones of
Contention: The Andres Bonifacio Lectures” by Ambeth R. Ocampo</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">56 “The Hobbit” by JRR
Tolkien (reread)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<u><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">December</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">57 “World War Z: An
Oral History of the Zombie War” by Max Brooks</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">58 “Mine Till Midnight”
by Lisa Kleypas</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">59 “Seduce Me at
Sunrise” by Lisa Kleypas</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">60 “Tempt Me at
Twilight” by Lisa Kleypas</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">61 “Married by Morning”
by Lisa Kleypas</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">62 “Love in the
Afternoon” by Lisa Kleypas</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">63 “Noli Me Tangere” by
Jose Rizal, English translation by Ma. Soledad Lacson-Locsin</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">64 “Secrets of a Summer
Night” by Lisa Kleypas</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">65 “A Christmas
Journey” by Anne Perry</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">66 “Pure” by Andrew
Miller</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">67 “The Mark of Athena”
by Rick Riordan</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">68 “The Serpent’s
Shadow” by Rick Riordan</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">69 “Devil in Winter” by
Lisa Kleypas</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">70 “Scandal in Spring”
by Lisa Kleypas</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">71 “Rizal’s Teeth,
Bonifacio’s Bones: Looking Back 5” by Ambeth R. Ocampo</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">72 “It Happened One Autumn”
by Lisa Kleypas</span></div>
cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-45624221222884417372012-11-20T09:15:00.001+08:002012-12-31T23:07:44.631+08:00before the year ends...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQSSPkNOpAxfMpVuuUcepXTWl5TIBsJTwr2AMp1tT6b7IWEbn_C5ssuqkxe1SZSTxvHWmYH0qFo-JhrxTKYd5vYiLt4N1a81MWA8hntFdlVSoWtFB5k5rQNJW6RdoCtaRva8N9cptgyI/s1600/readinggoals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQSSPkNOpAxfMpVuuUcepXTWl5TIBsJTwr2AMp1tT6b7IWEbn_C5ssuqkxe1SZSTxvHWmYH0qFo-JhrxTKYd5vYiLt4N1a81MWA8hntFdlVSoWtFB5k5rQNJW6RdoCtaRva8N9cptgyI/s1600/readinggoals.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>edit 12/31/12: </i>All goals accomplished!cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-4890615526187549562012-10-26T10:50:00.000+08:002012-12-18T12:17:49.809+08:00Neil Gaiman and All Hallows Read<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.allhallowsread.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVw67i6ixLH8OJ4wa8TU4xnx-5cR8Tap5r-9xSsAMqvqbA0tWTx6Mm8DG5QDya3WhQ7_wiGV0_OngCjGzI8lcqntmP6Qsh8Z8a46r5oohq4c6GnJ5nBvH3703EHY73cp1DMwykral8e9M/s1600/allhallowsread4.png" width="201" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2 years ago <span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.neilgaiman.com/" target="_blank">Neil Gaiman</a></span> started a new tradition of giving away a scary book during Halloween, and this year he posted his list of recommendations.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisopaM0SeSMSJhqrHXmf_GsNyqtGZws3jrxDuyAXTRfkI-rj_iHRiUTvTIB8_MHy7RRohX7bE4zpGhg8rgr2yeaJwF6CSUwGXTJcAohs4wUfV2t0t62PKOdaReArfbXDqFP8JuEFC9Cng/s1600/allhallowsread-read.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisopaM0SeSMSJhqrHXmf_GsNyqtGZws3jrxDuyAXTRfkI-rj_iHRiUTvTIB8_MHy7RRohX7bE4zpGhg8rgr2yeaJwF6CSUwGXTJcAohs4wUfV2t0t62PKOdaReArfbXDqFP8JuEFC9Cng/s1600/allhallowsread-read.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The ones with a pink star are the ones I've read. Which means I have a lot of reading still to do. (Don't I always? ;P)</span>cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-83172193050814134712012-10-24T11:31:00.002+08:002012-10-24T11:47:06.150+08:00Hallows reads<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Confined (mostly) to bed since Sunday due to an upper respiratory tract infection, I had time to catch up on my reading, and since Halloween and All Souls' (Hallows') Day and All Saints' Day are coming up, I thought to read accordingly.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIttwXvzDlxjhjkwlnlqX3Sj-XQiwOYgQubTjeKHiTa4uLinjezXfve7jURXRlDzrykTq-ZU11q8inLq4TH9IcQshQNyOxjP9EIq8Rl44NGAcAhTddQkSD3Hp9qoYl5wx1S_IJpMncP_Q/s1600/missperegrine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIttwXvzDlxjhjkwlnlqX3Sj-XQiwOYgQubTjeKHiTa4uLinjezXfve7jURXRlDzrykTq-ZU11q8inLq4TH9IcQshQNyOxjP9EIq8Rl44NGAcAhTddQkSD3Hp9qoYl5wx1S_IJpMncP_Q/s1600/missperegrine.jpg" width="129" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">First was <b>"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs</b>. I can say that this is one of my best reads for the year, for the unusual presentation and the unusual story. I'm eagerly anticipating the sequel.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsADJ9PnArjrZfT3aEtWR8MMaezXXwlNBb6l0Hj_NcHZus4phM-XyqRKhYfoZKSvLq_w8n6tLWoWyn1ZrrslDKi3oFsLtph2IBqyii24VX0X2CeBL0ZJ903V_5aJvcK5DzNM_rTRKscg/s1600/parasolprotectorate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsADJ9PnArjrZfT3aEtWR8MMaezXXwlNBb6l0Hj_NcHZus4phM-XyqRKhYfoZKSvLq_w8n6tLWoWyn1ZrrslDKi3oFsLtph2IBqyii24VX0X2CeBL0ZJ903V_5aJvcK5DzNM_rTRKscg/s1600/parasolprotectorate.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then, finding my schedule will allow me to attend my friends' steampunk-themed (post-)Halloween party, I proceeded to get informed on the genre. I'm not sure mention of mechanical devices considered advanced for the Victorian period can be termed steampunk, but I am enjoying the <b>Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger</b>. It reminds me <i>very much </i>of my favorite Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(Incidental?)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here is my pile for the rest of the week and the next...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x_ArAXNl-3xpYMjqO75zfgBHOEglDqsUV5je6MCF2XLWDMMSrTIpY4LZXCPX8M0DGEzreuDmhX2G5enkmdKg_bJGo9ilHTe1z93j0JygpnizhYTcu1b-SjXLryB-0ZE-ceSDSfTbEr0/s1600/hallowsread.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x_ArAXNl-3xpYMjqO75zfgBHOEglDqsUV5je6MCF2XLWDMMSrTIpY4LZXCPX8M0DGEzreuDmhX2G5enkmdKg_bJGo9ilHTe1z93j0JygpnizhYTcu1b-SjXLryB-0ZE-ceSDSfTbEr0/s1600/hallowsread.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Trese: Mass Murder" & "Trese: Last Seen After Midnight" by Budjette Tan & KaJO Baldisimo</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"How to Live with a Unicorn<span style="font-size: small;">:</span> The Fantastic Guide to Keeping Mythi<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">cal Pets</span></span>" by Jane Mosel<span style="font-size: small;">ey</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"I am Legend" by Richard Matheson</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Pure" by Andrew Miller</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"From the Dust Returned" by Ray Bradbury</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"A Hat Full of Sky" by Terry Pratchett</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Nothing too long, nothing too scary. Not a guarantee that I <i>will </i>read them, but I like having my options at the ready.</span></span><br />
<ul>
</ul>
cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-32463515903145731432012-10-06T01:06:00.000+08:002012-10-07T11:18:41.717+08:00ebook haul #2<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I just bought a pile of books at the <a href="http://www.manilabookfair.com/" target="_blank">Manila International Book Fair</a> last month...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FoB7cCA47vR37RLwSlHYjzSWxveK1kFprYKKnkquBwqrcO3XVeXEENj-v_DB34FIoNjn3Nsh4xHn9VPb2KvqstrZolsd8ynin-dvslY_Nh6XKiSW26XS7hkuXLxTK8Y4afJX5rZqFP4/s1600/sunday11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FoB7cCA47vR37RLwSlHYjzSWxveK1kFprYKKnkquBwqrcO3XVeXEENj-v_DB34FIoNjn3Nsh4xHn9VPb2KvqstrZolsd8ynin-dvslY_Nh6XKiSW26XS7hkuXLxTK8Y4afJX5rZqFP4/s1600/sunday11.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">... yet here I am again downloading another pile of ebooks...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmnMxY9qE8yF4RJb_zXG-RpjspwCupsFHxFSjDlK8LddTKuuuV6FXKrDUHG9nmR66Pz6uxwERffPOgndXee3H1fasFPe0cEV02rFoSIwd-My56eOLPuq4IEaa-wZ1jHf23vKgfko81Vc/s1600/ebooks2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmnMxY9qE8yF4RJb_zXG-RpjspwCupsFHxFSjDlK8LddTKuuuV6FXKrDUHG9nmR66Pz6uxwERffPOgndXee3H1fasFPe0cEV02rFoSIwd-My56eOLPuq4IEaa-wZ1jHf23vKgfko81Vc/s1600/ebooks2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">... including Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking trilogy, which I have been looking for a copy of </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">(both print and electronic) </span>for months.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEKEajU2FpZ8MOT9jNyjWhyphenhyphenmdALXNodnj-r5yNUcsdxcilJl9Phqm7B04KxftOSPpkGrr1p1TZx2BS6C3Lev2EdV_5OLmNpI7925JJdlwEMdPs3pWeGWdh58Pv3uoYoA7VqmNilSan0E/s1600/chaoswalking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEKEajU2FpZ8MOT9jNyjWhyphenhyphenmdALXNodnj-r5yNUcsdxcilJl9Phqm7B04KxftOSPpkGrr1p1TZx2BS6C3Lev2EdV_5OLmNpI7925JJdlwEMdPs3pWeGWdh58Pv3uoYoA7VqmNilSan0E/s1600/chaoswalking.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I did already finish one of the books I bought at the MIBF (Lourd de Veyra's "The Best of This is a Crazy Planets", which a friend had Lourd autograph for me :)), and am currently reading Ken Follett's "Winter of the World". :P</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">edit: 10/07/12</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And a handful more...</span><br />
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cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-62293847975265699012012-08-05T13:04:00.000+08:002012-12-18T12:13:10.598+08:00book review: "I Killed Adolf Hitler" by Jason<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I KILLED ADOLF HITLER</span></b><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jason</span></b></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gtTR13i8GcUqmBhurhR4rEkc-h168D-QTDsAKlEwRIW-D3vuHjtSg216pASmv9qgru6HYqbZJ_8-BlemKf7WFiekrwwugX-BptgyoEBch-sBJ15o-UbykA_oyCpZEZaUmZJ5oEyIPLY/s1600/i_killed_adolf_hitler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gtTR13i8GcUqmBhurhR4rEkc-h168D-QTDsAKlEwRIW-D3vuHjtSg216pASmv9qgru6HYqbZJ_8-BlemKf7WFiekrwwugX-BptgyoEBch-sBJ15o-UbykA_oyCpZEZaUmZJ5oEyIPLY/s200/i_killed_adolf_hitler.jpg" width="139" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In a world where anyone can hire an
assassin and killing people in public is commonplace, what happens when
someone is commissioned to travel in time and eliminate Adolf Hitler?<br /><br />The
anthropomorphic animals and the violence may be unsettling to some, but
Jason (pseudonym of Norwegian comic book artist John Arne Sæterøy)
manages to tell a thought-provoking story about morality and love in
less than 50 pages without spoon-feeding it to the reader.
Well-deserving of the Eisner Award it received in 2008 for Best US
Edition of International Material.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rating:</span><br />
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cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-49121058524402203272012-07-30T03:19:00.000+08:002012-10-03T11:54:13.903+08:00Filipino Friday 2: School of Reading<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Another late post :P; this week's topic is <b>School of Reading</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://filipinoreadercon.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/readercon-2012-filipino-fridays/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtSWiw2h7g5_iiS2bjUflorOTLSdGXWpdvT_WyILDW4KDgVW1iVO2zXIy17IOATCDuCvfY-QCK0VJssADC5CNI16UCkGnNT20MPIVdC4wtbYmTBEVfeWRytZZGkjkBuENxK4YLNts0oY/s320/filipinofriday.jpg" width="320" /></a><i> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>We all started reading somewhere, and more often than not, we were
influenced by someone. Who got you into reading? Your parents? A friend?
A librarian? One teacher who always lends out his/her books? How
helpful was your school in helping your reading habit / fueling your
book addiction?</i></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnnycDFWCImbnKp2afvDW1okp9zRii-BzONlHzg5fkdrfS-6eQ62YEWSqq9vdclQhzbbJf85anU3fBNnMBNOcmqvkizMRffx5zdwdsppHnmn3PKClXzK4d0lI7t_Zs1hzuVehjwCdOmM/s1600/abakada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnnycDFWCImbnKp2afvDW1okp9zRii-BzONlHzg5fkdrfS-6eQ62YEWSqq9vdclQhzbbJf85anU3fBNnMBNOcmqvkizMRffx5zdwdsppHnmn3PKClXzK4d0lI7t_Zs1hzuVehjwCdOmM/s200/abakada.jpg" width="162" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My parents are not readers (unless it's the Bible for mother, and a newspaper for<span class="insertedphoto"></span> <span class="insertedphoto"></span>father), but I will forever be thankful that they encouraged the reader in me.<span class="insertedphoto"></span><a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/09/prweb2843884.htm"><span class="insertedphoto"></span></a> It was my father who first taught me to read using this book (on the right), and posters and flashcards he made himself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Some of my earliest and fondest memories of<span class="insertedphoto"></span><span class="insertedphoto"></span> books were of <a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/09/prweb2843884.htm"><span style="color: #000099;"><b>A Child's First Lib</b><span class="insertedphoto"></span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><b>rary of Learning</b></span></a>.
I remember looking forward to the arrival of each volume every month,
since my mother bought the series volume per volume from my nursery
school teacher, Mrs. Lansangan. Mrs. Lansangan was the person who
convinced my parents to enroll me in school at the young age of 4
years, so I have many things to be thankful to her for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYprW3vUpPDL3eAEXnCVz3N1s9hghld6a_L6vJ-nXoWa-m9X0va4Zm97xpZxtzkuMRvCBCunDB2EAq9ns-u8xn-n5YZL9o3aNeovLM4jkfkC1tUwsbVjKdZ1IhWlad1jIK36YVSrx-Sb8/s1600/children's_lib_learning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYprW3vUpPDL3eAEXnCVz3N1s9hghld6a_L6vJ-nXoWa-m9X0va4Zm97xpZxtzkuMRvCBCunDB2EAq9ns-u8xn-n5YZL9o3aNeovLM4jkfkC1tUwsbVjKdZ1IhWlad1jIK36YVSrx-Sb8/s400/children's_lib_learning.jpg" width="400" /></a></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>the 24 volumes of A Child's First Library of Learning</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Another
teacher stands out in my memory for turning me into even more of a
literature lover - Mrs. Oblepias, one of my English teachers in high
school. Because of her I read <i>and </i>loved <b>"The Iliad" by Homer</b>, "<b>Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare</b>, and <b>"Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo</b>.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">late 5th to early 6th century Iliad manuscript</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">From
grade school to high school to college, the library was my favorite
hangout. I am especially fond of my university's (old) <a href="http://rizal.lib.admu.edu.ph/"><span style="color: #000099;">Rizal Library</span></a>, where I felt I had my own world inside my cubicle, with treasures in the shelves waiting for me to discover them.</span><br />
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<a href="http://filipinoreadercon.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGlrtp-0GHad75FodcVB6W__DL7f-rP414orKvnKkZTEKK7XFRmhZNUEaQTQpbZidU3e6o0nqh0Gf6WZw3ke73pqijO8lWCO8RC3KO0wyw4bB34mbCenjOW6IcCp2a01mL1RdJYdzlk8/s200/theme02-badge.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="insertedphoto"></span></span>cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-1212073211977464922012-07-21T02:20:00.000+08:002012-10-03T11:54:37.745+08:00Filipino Friday 1: Introductions<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> In a month's time it will be the 2nd Filipino ReaderCon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://filipinoreadercon.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgurLMZnjyBg6ghURaOa0zBcuymcDtYnChkpTH-FObtbGBJVhKjXzFFV9eObht0OO9qFE_t-MsThRoV3ht0LCunwZJgHNHC3RrupEQgdfgEt9_Lpd1BxIzl54XkDEQi8mC7AHC0L-OODM/s200/readercon-2012-button07.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I was unable to attend the first one last year due to hospital duty, and
am unsure I can attend this year due to clinic duty, so I was happy to
learn that I can still participate through the Filipino Friday meme.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://filipinoreadercon.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/readercon-2012-filipino-fridays/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzL5TNHZQ_cOrQfiQsA-VHenOl74JC9Pjbj1xqsnEckLfEODy7e7jF_VFXgzyb-9U54HrdzLUjSSDQCpeOI7ZKtp5Cima77xpGDwBBFd8gN5BfVN9sl77t8Bdm69G-N3dwy6JXlDJgEA/s320/filipinofriday.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This week's topic is <b>Introductions</b>.<br /><br /><i><b><i></i></b>As
with every start of a weekly meme, we need to know a bit about you!
Talk about your top 3-5 (or more!) favorite books of all time, the
genres you read and would never read, the books that surprised you this
year. You can also talk about how you became a reader and why you love
it so much! And finally, if you were in the ReaderCon last year, talk
about your experience too! If you weren’t there, but you’re planning to
go this year, then what do you expect for the upcoming ReaderCon?</i><br /><br />Firstly,
I am Cecille, a doctor of internal, or adult, medicine. Because I
almost always get asked after having studied thick tomes of medical
books - no, I have not tired of reading. I was a reader first before I
became a doctor. :)<br /><br /><b><u>My Favorite Books of All Time</u></b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
have had many favorite books throughout the years, but the books that I
have and will still read over and over, the ones that I would like
stranded with me on a desert island, are...<br /><br /><b>"The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuECjuIniTGGBwPk6JL3FMNEdTXs-j2Wb7OuWW_4TJugyi50epRxC1WUVEZ7IeEoG1ktSRfd_2mks5S6Ksojj62_sLBQ4IZQ2mvdT0pApJP0CKbCl72wmsFWBYd70fA_AiCp0XAzWWmA/s1600/lotr+trilogy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuECjuIniTGGBwPk6JL3FMNEdTXs-j2Wb7OuWW_4TJugyi50epRxC1WUVEZ7IeEoG1ktSRfd_2mks5S6Ksojj62_sLBQ4IZQ2mvdT0pApJP0CKbCl72wmsFWBYd70fA_AiCp0XAzWWmA/s400/lotr+trilogy.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I remember a high school friend reciting the poem - "...<i>One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them</i>..."
- from memory to me, but I first picked up the novel for myself in the
year the first film in Peter Jackson's adaptation was released. And
each served to enhance my love for both.<b><br /><br /><span class="insertedphoto"></span><b>"The Stand" by Stephen King</b></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIVS7luyrHUNaiEZXFmiPHEQVD-lLkribh-AvBagFvQNQnZKmTV-86Sd2aW1dMzNebbaCc5fB00on1GlhaVaBIUfCz-Kytl45xVVBSaFtPueWt07p0LDG3B5TozVotHOiigjGu3cQP5Q/s1600/thestand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIVS7luyrHUNaiEZXFmiPHEQVD-lLkribh-AvBagFvQNQnZKmTV-86Sd2aW1dMzNebbaCc5fB00on1GlhaVaBIUfCz-Kytl45xVVBSaFtPueWt07p0LDG3B5TozVotHOiigjGu3cQP5Q/s200/thestand.jpg" width="134" /></a><b><b> </b></b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am a fan of Stephen King, but of all his works this is my absolute
favorite. I love its post-apocalyptic setting, and its epic tone. But as
with all his works, it is his characterization that I love the most.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><b><br /><b><u>My Favorite Genres</u></b></b></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><b><b><u> </u></b></b></b>History,
both fiction and non-fiction, especially about ancient civilizations,
the 19th century, and the two world wars, Mystery, Fantasy, and
combinations of the above<b><b><br /><br /><b><u>I Avoid Reading...</u></b></b></b> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I will probably read anything, but will not pick these up on my own - Sports Fiction, Techno-Thrillers, Westerns.<b><b><br /><br /><u><b>Book That Surprised Me This Year</b></u><br /><br /><a href="http://cecillesfaves.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-review-lamb-by-christopher-moore.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000099;"><b>"Lamb" by Christopher Moore</b></span></a></b></b><span style="color: #000099;"> </span><span style="color: black;">(click for my review)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFaYFa9iGOrVwrAhN7YLaRVqSHChz100Ea1r547vRAotXrZbhrqT6UAx-Drik3U0VIROpZ4y70tONHnrZ_b1ndzlSrxho3fqgboJp_PdOU6m_ctn-OCnl1iEM32rg-r8mA136aIxIsos/s1600/lamb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFaYFa9iGOrVwrAhN7YLaRVqSHChz100Ea1r547vRAotXrZbhrqT6UAx-Drik3U0VIROpZ4y70tONHnrZ_b1ndzlSrxho3fqgboJp_PdOU6m_ctn-OCnl1iEM32rg-r8mA136aIxIsos/s200/lamb.jpg" width="133" /> </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><b><span style="color: black;"><u><b>I became a reader when...</b></u></span></b></b><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">Ever since I can remember I
have always loved reading, and I have to thank my parents for
encouraging me by treating me to books whenever I did well in school.</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><i>1-year-old me "reading" </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><u><b>I love reading...</b></u><br />for
many reasons, but primarily because it introduces me to different
people, brings me to different places, and transports me to different
times.</span></div>
cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-49773458916679786682012-05-15T13:24:00.000+08:002012-10-03T11:26:56.524+08:00looking for (hot) author of award-winning historical novels!<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Being a fan of history books, non-fiction and fiction alike, I checked out <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/gallery/2012/may/13/ten-best-historical-novels#/?picture=389920281&index=5" style="color: #000099;">The Guardian's Top 10 Best Historical Novels</a>, and was struck by the phrases <span style="font-style: italic;">"the destruction of the church of Les Innocents and the clearance of its cemetery"</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">"major conflicts... between history and progress, remembering and fo</span><span class="insertedphoto"></span><span style="font-style: italic;">rgetting"</span>. It was part of the list-compiler's description of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pure_%28novel%29" style="color: #000099; font-weight: bold;">"Pure" by Andrew Miller</a>, winner of the 2011 Costa Book Awards.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-F4rD8WnM6xSIedcVvq02Ga2RZa4BnfCC64G3AH1LSQQDpvOEi0RDJD5eIigdd0rGjWcNHqww3PFqurRqOZ6QaoHPTCyiruY6ZQTW4Q3lGeh8EPZk1BMAkZVYzJPbec6AqaJw3kIk68/s1600/pure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-F4rD8WnM6xSIedcVvq02Ga2RZa4BnfCC64G3AH1LSQQDpvOEi0RDJD5eIigdd0rGjWcNHqww3PFqurRqOZ6QaoHPTCyiruY6ZQTW4Q3lGeh8EPZk1BMAkZVYzJPbec6AqaJw3kIk68/s320/pure.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I was intrigued, and <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jan/25/andrew-miller-interview" style="color: #000099;">read more</a>. And learned that his first novel, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingenious_Pain" style="color: #000099; font-weight: bold;">"Ingenious Pain"</a>, whose main character reminds me of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille from "Perfume" by Patrick Suskind, won several awards.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Also, Andrew Miller is hot (for a 52-year-old)!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUdgmjvSXGiNycUu0A04M9W2qNja9XVAHhQcvLfrLDpOyFrN5sma7hLXAqYMzDG7TptjphLrYipUksmrj3PWRbJ_db3tUeZyuDG15RqChOCYToGnRj95pZMAI7L3wIblP4fqm_VLeHrU/s1600/andrewmiller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUdgmjvSXGiNycUu0A04M9W2qNja9XVAHhQcvLfrLDpOyFrN5sma7hLXAqYMzDG7TptjphLrYipUksmrj3PWRbJ_db3tUeZyuDG15RqChOCYToGnRj95pZMAI7L3wIblP4fqm_VLeHrU/s320/andrewmiller.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">How could I have not heard of him before? Well, the only thing to do is
to rectify the situation and get my hands on the above books. </span>cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-9145654922638031052012-05-15T08:36:00.000+08:002012-12-18T12:12:17.697+08:00book review: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY</span></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aL_mVD4ls2CvvXKggb5zXC8IkbGj28ApJoHmJQJxQwh7_cm3oGJFrP5UloXzTO2WpRb7BBJreW6Np-z5UjFSc64xryuGh3QbmzKXYQORVZOQKJBCf2rRz8pMGjfihL6cdu7Pf6-blVg/s1600/guernsey_society.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aL_mVD4ls2CvvXKggb5zXC8IkbGj28ApJoHmJQJxQwh7_cm3oGJFrP5UloXzTO2WpRb7BBJreW6Np-z5UjFSc64xryuGh3QbmzKXYQORVZOQKJBCf2rRz8pMGjfihL6cdu7Pf6-blVg/s200/guernsey_society.jpg" width="126" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have seen this novel a couple of times at my favorite secondhand
bookstore, but what finally made me buy a copy were the recommendations
from members of <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/groups/16073/about" target="_blank">The Historical Fiction Group at Shelfari</a>.<br /><br />Trying
to rebuild their lives after the Second World War, writer Juliet Ashton
receives a letter from farmer Dawsey Adams, who lives on the island of
Guernsey in the English Channel, asking her to recommend a book seller
who would send him Charles Lamb's works. Thus begins the correspondence
between Juliet and the other members of The Guernsey Literary and Potato
Peel Society, and other characters that inhabit Juliet's life in London
and Dawsey's life in Guernsey.<br /><br />I finished the book in an
afternoon, stopping near the end for a cup of tea and a tuna sandwich (I
dislike cucumbers) to savor the book longer. I was charmed by Guernsey
and its people. Each character's personality comes across in the letters
he or she writes, making me mourn the disappearing art of
letter-writing in this age of the internet. I especially empathize with
Juliet, who at the age of 32 has mostly resigned herself to living a
solitary life with her writing and her books, breaking off her
engagement with a man who would dare empty her bookshelves and pack her
books in boxes.<br /><br />The story wanders, although Juliet remains the
center, but that's how life happens; one can't impose order on it.
Still, the novel affirms the fact that sometimes it is not the book that
matters, but the company of people who enjoy books and reading as much
as one does.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rating:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span>cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-26809898237233573742012-05-04T02:54:00.000+08:002012-12-18T12:11:22.555+08:00book review: "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THE FAULT IN OUR STARS</span></b><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">John Green</span></b></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2anMEeEPgfV_ZEGn2vSzt6IiQ_kZBl6MFeqMGZyOC1rXgbxIKqifXqO4JkCubvdfrRhOiS7WGUXo9llb07Em9WHXXUsp7NDAqBj0sKe7nGERNdFn2STw1Nj0uNlw_l6zDqG53g4HWh28/s1600/fault_in_our_stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2anMEeEPgfV_ZEGn2vSzt6IiQ_kZBl6MFeqMGZyOC1rXgbxIKqifXqO4JkCubvdfrRhOiS7WGUXo9llb07Em9WHXXUsp7NDAqBj0sKe7nGERNdFn2STw1Nj0uNlw_l6zDqG53g4HWh28/s200/fault_in_our_stars.jpg" width="136" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Have you ever read a book you had difficulty trying to tell other people
about, because you feel that your words are inadequate to describe what
the book meant to you, and you're afraid that your attempt might
diminish its meaning, and afraid you would not be understood? "The Fault
in Our Stars" is such a book. To say that it is about a girl with
cancer who falls in love with a boy who also has cancer, and their
experience living with cancer, is a simplification; It cannot convey the
depths of a life aware of its nearing death, and its impact not only on
the way that life is lived but also its impact on the lives around it.<br /><br />I
would recommend this book not only to people who have cancer or people
who know people who have cancer, but also people who have a long-term
illness and those who know them, and people who have had experience with
death, which is all of us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rating:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span>cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-15003289426412796132012-04-30T02:15:00.000+08:002012-10-03T11:18:41.503+08:00ebooks!<span class="insertedphoto">So I went on an ebook download spree...</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoQc2eJ_IiCiD0sWY7ta9or8UC-wd4z1u0QKqWifiytNNXAwGwKoNxmnMGwt3Az61T2Jhfp8S2VvA1NoXAQ4ScQT_s5rs89EfBz_WNE0UIKqFS1NeQI7aplAPpVqTKY_tUyvTHDezCNU/s1600/ebooks1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoQc2eJ_IiCiD0sWY7ta9or8UC-wd4z1u0QKqWifiytNNXAwGwKoNxmnMGwt3Az61T2Jhfp8S2VvA1NoXAQ4ScQT_s5rs89EfBz_WNE0UIKqFS1NeQI7aplAPpVqTKY_tUyvTHDezCNU/s400/ebooks1.jpg" width="362" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="insertedphoto">Some of these titles are part of series I follow [Discworld, the
Rick Riordan's], one is a book up for discussion at my book club, a
handful are recommendations by friends, and the rest are books I've read
good reviews of.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="insertedphoto">The Keys to the Kingdom is another series I want to try because I liked
Garth Nix's previous work, the Abhorsen / Old Kingdom trilogy, and a
friend says this is good.</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQnNWqJ8b4rE1vnIzvx1548u7rez8PfSJOQPYFEH5ttMNnQTcgcNM0j9VreBOl7fQfFUFoIsXONpJB8J-0mLJD3WjgxjaiP5o7BoM7o9DWJUBe_ismOV4FegIFDPpIzaJ2U69J74eihU/s1600/keyskingdom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQnNWqJ8b4rE1vnIzvx1548u7rez8PfSJOQPYFEH5ttMNnQTcgcNM0j9VreBOl7fQfFUFoIsXONpJB8J-0mLJD3WjgxjaiP5o7BoM7o9DWJUBe_ismOV4FegIFDPpIzaJ2U69J74eihU/s400/keyskingdom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="insertedphoto">Aside from the above, I still have several books on my download queue. Not to mention the ones already on my computer. :P</span><br />
<span class="insertedphoto"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uOHBQFOOKY4QkML2DI10rq2Ue0uzXORzHLW8YcacKdzwOMu0mroRU57UttxQhbI17u8hV5ONYYIXdlQLdcnRx-8xDoygFm1KoJZueTV_BNRnRhcaZ-t9_trLurPFjLxk_2u3YZ6GhcU/s1600/ibooks-icon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uOHBQFOOKY4QkML2DI10rq2Ue0uzXORzHLW8YcacKdzwOMu0mroRU57UttxQhbI17u8hV5ONYYIXdlQLdcnRx-8xDoygFm1KoJZueTV_BNRnRhcaZ-t9_trLurPFjLxk_2u3YZ6GhcU/s1600/ibooks-icon.jpg" /></a><span class="insertedphoto">I currently read ebooks through iBooks on my iPhone. Small screen, <span class="insertedphoto"></span>I
know, but it serves. I want to buy an ebook reader, but because I am
not technology savvy I'm afraid of investing in a Kindle or a Nook.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="insertedphoto">Like bibliophiles that have come before me, I am beset by the eternal dilemma - "So many books, so little time."</span>cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-4014518650839595112012-04-18T10:24:00.000+08:002012-12-18T12:10:50.670+08:00book review: "Lincoln's Dreams" by Connie Willis<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">LINCOLN'S DREAMS</span></b><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Connie Willis</span></b></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKLQ-RzxnLZfZe5HjIr5hn0kgmG7yPKlLlKtpJvhqLup78VK_yseQl7nik7IeYzdS6QivLOGIhylES7N5zwFmJ_kZMT6UVhDAjR5HWuzbSdvlKFQcGe9-M7SH9qiGT_JcopNpxsnhXis/s1600/lincolns_dreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKLQ-RzxnLZfZe5HjIr5hn0kgmG7yPKlLlKtpJvhqLup78VK_yseQl7nik7IeYzdS6QivLOGIhylES7N5zwFmJ_kZMT6UVhDAjR5HWuzbSdvlKFQcGe9-M7SH9qiGT_JcopNpxsnhXis/s200/lincolns_dreams.jpg" width="118" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">While doing research on Abraham Lincoln and his prophetic dreams, Jeff
meets Annie, herself experiencing the Civil War in sleep, and tries to
help her find meaning to her dreams.<br /><br />I know next to nothing about
the American Civil War, but it did not hinder me from enjoying Connie
Willis' "Lincoln's Dreams". Annie's experience was gripping, and the
story relevant.<br /><br />We are conditioned to look up to our heroes on
their pedestals, but we need to remember that they were human too. Even
though they inspire us by their courage and with their triumphs, they
also suffered loss and failure.<br /><br />Jeff, turning down a job
opportunity on studying the effects of the Vietnam War, says, "I haven't
figured out the long-term effects of the Civil War yet." It seems that
mankind has not even recovered from one war before he becomes involved
in another. In the last century alone, we had World War I, World War II,
Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq, with Afghanistan at the start of this
century. Does no one understand that war does not solve anything? It is a
waste of human lives and material resources. War does not resolve
conflict, it only postpones it until the "losing" side musters strength
to fight again. Which is a lesson mankind, sadly, seems slow to learn.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rating:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquyeTeYOL4zbYmIxvwF2EgxnpJK-t7hDvf_bToRTnoFhbgN6yTYOQ_FZAM80hTwyh4-N9oeSDEtAgOzLP_gSx07YbjaXfum4_jLuMfEkCFx9DZw06ukUKFJBYUvcHx-SauIWgnuXjPjE/s1600/5stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquyeTeYOL4zbYmIxvwF2EgxnpJK-t7hDvf_bToRTnoFhbgN6yTYOQ_FZAM80hTwyh4-N9oeSDEtAgOzLP_gSx07YbjaXfum4_jLuMfEkCFx9DZw06ukUKFJBYUvcHx-SauIWgnuXjPjE/s1600/5stars.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span>cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-16291588409924171192012-04-09T08:22:00.000+08:002012-12-18T12:10:18.401+08:00book review: "Lamb" by Christopher Moore<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">LAMB: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal</span></b><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Christopher Moore</span></b></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBHn5Ht9D5Cwama1MV1sHbxNJgb2-srYocNTRO-RxCexSYGrimx_ssvKA-zVdWBxB3ao7wyy_q7APs4uvDD2piNMA1YsbUQc2SdkVBMPJVFETLP7ZnWxPbQTjO6zTk8rlm0qIC7nJY0Y/s1600/lamb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBHn5Ht9D5Cwama1MV1sHbxNJgb2-srYocNTRO-RxCexSYGrimx_ssvKA-zVdWBxB3ao7wyy_q7APs4uvDD2piNMA1YsbUQc2SdkVBMPJVFETLP7ZnWxPbQTjO6zTk8rlm0qIC7nJY0Y/s200/lamb.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The first Moore novel I read, "Fool", turned out to be my worst read of
2011, but I decided to give his work another chance before giving up on
it for good. I especially reserved "Lamb" to read for Lent, expecting to
dislike it, for pointless mentions of sex and for blasphemy, but I'm
glad I gave Moore a second chance [although "Lamb" did have numerous
mentions of sex].<br /><br />"Lamb" tells us the story of Jesus', or Joshua
in Hebrew, "lost years" from the age of 1 to 33, as told by his best
friend Levi who is called Biff. It may be improbable, but given the
little that is known about that period of time, who is to say that it
was impossible? To enjoy the tale, one needs to view it not as a result
of serious religious contemplation, but rather as entertainment.<br /><br />However,
the story is not only about Joshua, but about Biff. Biff represents the
ugly in all of us, our lust, our envy, but he is also that part of
ourselves who try to be better despite our failings. And Joshua is
always there at our side to accept us as we are.<br /><br />Ultimately I
think "Lamb" is a story about friendship, loyalty, and love. Who else
but a friend would follow you wherever you went, to try and protect you
from harm, to support you and cheer you up, who would share your
suffering, who would place your well-being first and his second? Anyone
who has a Biff in their life is lucky, and should be grateful for that
blessing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rating:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span>cecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202618255524950719.post-85951004111164989492012-03-25T22:01:00.000+08:002012-10-03T11:13:48.086+08:00March 2012 book haulTook a break from reading after finishing "A Storm of Swords", but not from book buying. :P<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXTxZUzsy2vzwFKaCYTC9b70nbDEgPg_S8YseBZ8vyrMIiUeBtoXPR0qI28EnmLYXh4HaJukIyb-ulBsklPGJLE_yTXxS5IvfgomZYXNN5tl033oGZPWS7WGAik9rClaq7A_Uq5jwuPo/s1600/IMG-1750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXTxZUzsy2vzwFKaCYTC9b70nbDEgPg_S8YseBZ8vyrMIiUeBtoXPR0qI28EnmLYXh4HaJukIyb-ulBsklPGJLE_yTXxS5IvfgomZYXNN5tl033oGZPWS7WGAik9rClaq7A_Uq5jwuPo/s320/IMG-1750.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm looking forward to <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Robbie Ross"</span>,
because most articles focus on Oscar Wilde's relationship with Lord
Alfred Douglas, but this book also shows what happened to Oscar and his
sons after the trial. <span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Virgin's Lover"</span> I have been looking for a copy of, because I want to read on Elizabeth I and Sir Dudley. Ditto <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Those Who Hunt the Night"</span>, apparently a good vampire book. <span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Man Who Loved China"</span> I picked up because it touches on Ancient China, which I want to learn more about.<br />
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My friend Triccie's bookstore <a href="http://www.facebook.com/libreria101510" style="color: #000099;">Libreria</a> closed last Saturday, 24 March 2012, :( and I went there for one last hurrah.<br />
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I have (mostly) the <a href="http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/hsw-shows/stuff-you-missed-in-history-class-podcast.htm" style="color: #000099;">Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast</a> to blame for getting me hooked on royalty. :Pcecillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041088985452850236noreply@blogger.com0