Reviews and Notions: Reading Challenge

It has been quite awhile since my last R and N! But yey!

I've joined the Reading Challenge on Goodreads early this year as part of my 2016 goal: to get back into reading. I pledged and promised or more like challenge myself to read 12 books for this year - which means 1 book a month. Good news! I've read 4 already! I have excuse until April! Hahaha kidding! But I am happy that I am quite using my free time well.

Let me just share my thoughts on those 4 books.

Fifty Shades Freed

I've read Fifty Shades of Grey back in college. I had quite a hard time with it since I only have it on my phone and open it whenever I have time or whenever I remember having a copy. It was okay for me back then. I was actually like, "why they were fussing about Christian Grey?!" haha I guess it just didn't captured my attention back then but I finished it!

Fast forward to December last year when my bookworm cousin (I love her! We always talk about books and JaDine! Hahaha) asked me if I've done reading the whole trilogy. She was raving about how sweet Christian is and all! She even shared to me her e-copy of the three books. And since I have free time and all, I've decided to step again onto Christian's world! And my my my, I've been hooked! Kinain ko mga sinabi ko! Hahaha I think I read it for about days lang around last week of December and then went straight reading Freed afterwards! Which is why Freed lang yung nakapasok na book sa Reading Challenge ko. But anyway. Aside from all the rated spgs of the book, I love Christian Grey! I like it how he is so protective and mercurial but deep inside very vulnerable. He is that one guy girls look up to! Haha

Among all the three books, I like Darker more! It reveals Christian's true identity and how he'll do anything for Anastasia. I can't wait for the movie next year!

Also, there's a preview of Grey on the last pages of Freed and I'm torned if I shall read it or not...

The Selection: The Prince and The Guard

I've read the first three books last year and wasn't able to purchase this one until last January before I start with The Heir and The Crown.

If you haven't read The Selection yet, The Prince and The Guard were thoughts of Maxon (The Prince) and Aspen (The Guard) all throughout the first book - two men in the life of America (the protagonist). I only read Maxon's part which was the first half of the book. Haha I am only interested on his thoughts, I'm sorry. I am quite annoyed with Aspen's (I've read a few parts) he made everything complicated! Haha

Looking forward on adding the 2 recent books on my list this year! Irish, my cousin, was also the one who introduced the series to me! Love her!

Anna and The French Kiss 

I saw that people were suggesting this on Saab Magalona's blog whenever she asks for book suggestions and I decided to give it a try. It was good, actually. I think I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

I think it has the typical teenage drama but I like Anna's personality maybe that's why it was good for me. It has two other books. Not a sequel though, but part of the series I think.

Tuesdays with Morrie

I've been meaning to read this for quite so long until last christmas my sister gave me this as her gift. Unsurprisingly, I finished this on one seating and bawled my heart out! Oh, Morrie!

I love how this wasn't just the typical sad book but it teaches about life and how to live with it. The story is short and how it was told was so simple but it really caught my heart out. It gives lessons and makes me realize things about life, death, and everything in between. I like Morrie's principles and I envy his relationship with Mitch. I would love to meet someone who would be able to touch my life deeply.

The Catastrophic History of You and Me

This was my sister's. It was just one night I am so bored I borrowed this from her shelf. She didn't like the whole context but I did. It's just quite confusing on some parts but I think it's twist makes it more different from the teenage stories that there is.

I like the idea how the protagonist died and how the author played around in it. I am also into the idea of life after deaths and the story somehow quite gives us a glimpse of that. I'm not going to spoil anything! Hahaha but if you plan on reading this, I suggest you do! It's an easy read. I've bought this with me whenever I go for about 2 days. It was light and somehow interesting.

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Hah! Can't believe i'm done with 4 books! My heart and mind is happy! Atleast during my free times I get to learn and get new stories and inspirations from. The goal is to finish the other 8 books before the year ends and if time persists, hoping I could read maybe 15 or 20 by the end of the year! I'll try!

Three weeks left

I've been meaning to write my thoughts and rants for the TV show 'On The Wings Of Love' since. It has that 'can't get over' effect on me and I am pretty sure I am not the only one having this "Otwol fever". Aired last August 2015, everything that has happened since then was on pure kilig but in a very light comedy and realistic set up which is I think why we are all hooked; this is not the typical teleserye that we are used to.

After i've read CJ De Silva's thoughts on the Simon-Leah-Clark loveteam, I told myself na "ay okay na ako" because finally someone said what I had exactly in mind that I cannot quite put up into words. But when the last flight trailer aired Friday, I told myself that I had to rant because there are so so much emotions and thoughts! OA na kung OA but naguumapaw!

Let me just herewith share my thoughs, rants, and some realizations I learned from OTWOL.

RECAP

Simon's arrival was a big impact on the lives of Cleah: Leah on her career, and Clark facing his own personal issues. He was introduced as the typical boss, the one we read and see on novels and romcom movies. Simon is an example of the typical masungit-na-boss-pero-may-hugot-kaya-ganun-at-maiinlove-sa-bida, only that this time hindi sya bida.

His background is quite predictable. Somone who is a geek, fell in love for the wrong person, change his looks, got hurt, and the realize that he loves his best friend and accidentally the two of them didn't have the perfect ending. Forward to the present wherein his experiences made him stronger, tough, and very private. You know, kapag nasaktan ka you have to get your strength somewhere far from your bad experiences. I think that's why he doesn't go on full commitments and only dates vanilla girls.

When Leah came into his world, nagulo sya because she isn't the usual girl who has a crush on his good physique or work wise, someone who is afraid of him. As much as Simon gives challenge to his staff, Leah had challenged him as well. If we look deeply into his character, we can predict that he is not looking for love as he thinks he has found the one already and the way that he felt for Juliet cannot be replaced. But Leah unconsciously gets Simon's attention by just being herself - shy and unfocused at first but learned how to stood up and be confident. Let's admit it guys, si Leah ay isa sa 10 out of 25 na babae na kakaiba. Okay mali yata ang math ko pero basta gets nyo na yun! Haha

Leah on the other hand is also our typical girl who dreams. She is also bubbly and someone who will do anything for her family. That's why I get her when she needed to get marry just for the green card and how she quite reacted when her known dead mother tries to get back on their lives.

Reviews and Notions: TFIOS!

It had been quite my tradition to always see to it that I go inside the bookstore whenever I go to the mall to either purchase something or accompany someone but the usual was that I always go and check out on books. My love for books started when I continuously go inside bookstores and book thrift shops even though I am not going to buy or purchase anything. The first book I got was a children's book, in which I believe I had posted a review in here years ago, and I really got hooked! The thing about reading children's book is that aside from the colorful and fancy and interesting pictures inside, I love how it wasn't that deep but leaves a mark in your heart after and lets you reflect on every lesson. A simple situation of the protagonist can be depicted and translated into so many ways. If I would be able to write a book, I would prefer it to be a children's book.

Aside from books for the kids, I always look around the young adult section. In here lies all the dramas and sort of things that a teenager like me could relate into. Like stealing a friend or getting a huge fight with parents or dealing with school and stuff. When I first saw John Green's The Fault In Our Stars on the center aisle of a bookstore, I immediately look upon the back to read a short back story of the novel; about a star-crossed lovers having Hazel Grace diagnosed with cancer and goes on. But I didn't buy it that day nor the second time or the third or the fourth time I saw it even though I had recommended it to my friends or even I had read quite a few spoils and reviews of it on the internet. I don't know why but I think I lack of interest in that book at that time.

So when the news came out that the book is said to become a movie, I said to myself that I had to make sure that I read the book first before I watch the film. Book before movie, always. Because sometimes both material doesn't go together and most of the time the movie is much better than the book which is odd because it has become a movie because the book has been sold out and had been a best seller for months. Anyway, going back, I purchased the book last month and read it weeks after I bought it because I am still finishing another book. Here's what I think about it:

THE BOOK

It's an easy read actually. There are books wherein you must be focused while reading and with every noise you'll hear you'll repeat that phrase you were reading before you hear the noise and there are those books that you can read and take anywhere with you. TFIOS is the latter. I had read the book in between showers or during meals or when I didn't have anything to do but lay on the sofa. Because of all the reviews and facebook posts on the the internet, most parts of the book hadn't been a surprise anymore. What surprises me is that, I did not cry after or even in most heartbreaking parts of it! To think that everyone who read it bawl into tears and finished a roll of tissue and I don't. I just felt sad. So right after the last phrases of Augustus' letter to Hazel, I immediately tweeted that I didn't cry and surprisingly I am not the only one thank God. Hahahaha

THE MOVIE

Weeks after it was released, I watched the movie. I waited for people's reaction about the movie first and I waited for a "no line" in the cinemas before I watch. With no surprise, they bawled their eyes off the cinema, the same reaction they shed (or more) with the book. So I sort of wished that I would cry after. Haha

I was munching on some Sisig Nachos while watching. In my head, I was waiting for a sad scene so I could cry but NO, I still didn't! Haha I just got so sad during the car park scene when Augustus was in pain and Hazel was there and during the scene when the phone rang meaning that Augustus was already dead. Kebs na kung umiyak ako, ang important na-sad ako kaya hindi ako pusong bato, Okay? Okay. Hahahaha

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With all the crying thing aside, I may say that the movie is just the same as the book only highlighting the most important details. Only that I noticed that the some lines weren't said the same scene as per the book. And whatever happened to Hazel's jealousy of Augustus ex-girlfriend? I like that part. Haha

P.S.: I know everybody is gushing about Ansel because he's really cute and all but sorry, I don't. Haha I've seen them both in Divergent (which is I think much better than Hunger Games and yes I am comparing because everybody does) and I think they look good together even though they were siblings there haha. Plus, I think they both gave justice to what the book characters really look and feel like.

I'm giving both and 8/10. :>

And the mother is...

It has been a week or 2 weeks? already but I am blogging about HIMYM just now! If in any case you still don't know - How I Met Your Mother has finally ended for good. The last season had went too quick! Hahaha I think it was a whirlwind of emotions and everything to all of the characters, mostly Ted (well as usual).

ABOUT THE ENDING:

(Spoilers for those who still haven't watch it or are still doing a marathon but I doubt that you didn't know about this ending so kebs haha)

I like the ending. I like how everything had ended. It is not a shocker that mother had died and that Lily and Marshall had had another kid but what had bursted the climax for me was when Barney and Robin announced that they had got a divorce! I mean, they are the cutest and the awesomest above them all combined as a couple and then whaaatttt?!?!

But like I said... still... I like how everything went through. I like how the ending still had stick into the shows theme. I like how Lily and Marshall kept up being the cutest couple ever building their big happy family with Marshall continuing his dream on being a judge (fudge) and Lily supporting his husband. Only that I have only one question here: What happened to their Italy life? I mean, there's no stains of them having their life there with Lily continuing her dream. But maybe they had came back and I am just not paying attention (if in any case they had stated something about it). I like how Barney had become a father on his own - I bet if Robin can give him a baby everything is still okay for the both of them. I like how Robin had continue the dream of travelling and being a known reporter. I like how Ted had finally tied the knot after years of being with the mother. And also, I like how Ted and Robin still ended up together. Let's admit it guys, It has been Robin from the very start and it isn't impossible that they would end up together. Right??

I think How I Met Your Mother only just wants to prove that destiny can speak for itself and that life is always a surprise. Who would have thought that mother would die. Just like what Ted said on one of the episodes, "It's just a matter of pure destiny, the kind you just can't manufacture." And I think that's what the writers wanted to leave the audiences is that everything can happen and that the waiting is still the best part.

To top it all off, I LOVE IT!!! HUHU I kind of miss HIMYM though... I just hope How I Met Your Dad is just as good as HIMYM.

P.S.:

This scene when Lily was crying while in her Splice(?) or white whale costume during the Halloween was my favorite! Hindi ko alam kung tatawa ba ako o iiyak ehh.. Hahahaha <3 p="">

*photos grabbed from google

Reviews and Notions: One Day

I just finished my 3month old One Day book earlier today and decided to watch the movie afterwards. I bought the book because I saw the movie trailer and said to myself that I will watch the movie only after I had finished reading the book. Plus, I am in love with the poster. Don't you? It's so different from the other romance movie posters.. very catchy.

"You can live your whole life not realising that what you're looking for is right in front of you.."

15th July 1988. Emma and Dexter meet on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows?

The Book.

I love the book. Tho, it took me 3 months to finish it. (Hey, I am a student and we got loads of projects, no?) But yeah, I don't know why it got that long to be finished. The first parts were a blur for me, but as year by year went on it excites you because of the hanging events that happen on the every year life of Dex and Em. You'll go back chaps after moving forward for a recap because surely something unexpected will happen. As every book there is, it is very detailed and portrayed.

The Movie.

Before I finished the book,  I spoiled myself and took a glance on the movie. Yes, I love spoilers. Hahaha While watching the film, there are points that I took my book and checked out on it. I don't know. But yeah, the movie stretched out until 2009 because the movie was released in 2009. But in the book, it's only until 2007. And I love Emma's accent. :)

Like the others, the movie only pointed out with the major events from the book. But I recommend that you read the book first before you watch the movie. Just like I did. Sad part on that is you just expect something while you watch. But the good thing about it is that you wouldn't miss a part on Dex and Em's July 15th.

The story shares us that life is a matter of choice. You choose. In whatever path you'll be taken. And the catch is that life always brings us back to where we should be. To whom should we spend our entire lives with. To what's really in store for us. You can't escape it. Life knows what's best for us. And let's not forget that life is full of surprises, you never know when the unexpected comes.

The other is waiting for you at the other side of life and you can't see anything but blur. That's heartbreaking.

Yeah, and really.. I think that the story also tells us to cherish time and everything while we still have them. We never know when will loss will take us and what will happen if it does.

*Spoiler alert*

Anyway, I love it. (But of course, I love the book most.) And I love that One Republic sang the trailer song which fits very well (Fan Girl mode). This is what I felt on both, still it's up to you on how you'll judge it. But for me, I love it. <3

Here's the trailer if you haven't watch it yet..

Book Review: Upside Down

by Martine Murray

The book is about a girl name Cedar B. Hartley who explores her not-so-teenage life (12 lang siya e). Facing neighbor rumors, helping a friend, searching for a nice answer to her curious questions about her father's death and her brother's reason for running away, the boy who saw her dog and how she liked to be an acrobat performer.

I bought this book + Flying High (yung sequel) from Book Sale which only cost 75 each.

Review:
I think its target market profile (by age) range by 10-14 years old. Okay, hindi ko 'to edad.. But I liked it. Hehe. The author explained different things ng himay-himay which is very understandable and very helpful para sa target readers.

I remember a phrase which explained kung ano ang difference ng stuffs and things na pinaguusapan ng boys and girls (sorry i can't quote it at hindi ko matandaan.. my friend borrowed the book). But it was like, boys talk about cars and girls' physical features while girls talk about their feelings and emotions and that thing inside their stomach whenever their crush tap them or stare at them. True? :)

Cedar explained and portrayed family values, following ultimate dreams and love (in different aspects) with a slow and steady impact.

It was nice, steady, funny and worth ang puyat. :)