Ohai! Christmas is in the air, I can practically smell it. What better way to start the yuletide season than the yearly UP lantern parade, right?
My December 16th started when I met with some of my high school friends first to have lunch. We also watched the Oblation Run together. Since none of us brought an actual camera, our pictures were limited to this:
This is our "aww shucks we didn't bring a proper camera" pose (L-R) Anna, Chery, me, and Kier. Sunken Garden.
After lunch, I met my IB (Institute of Biology) colleagues and prepared our nyan cat "lantern". It looks better than we've thought it would look like.
Stoked before the parade (L-R) Jude, Gelo, Joyce, Cj, Chy, and me. CS Ampitheater
The cat was really heavy and a burden to carry, but it all paid off! People were asking for photos and even the FA (Fine Arts) students liked it.
It's already dark out but the energy level's still higher than ever (L-R) Dina, Chy, Cj, me, and Joyce
The day after, we've stalked tweeters and bloggers who've written about our nyan cat. We're so darn proud haha. The parade ended for us once we've reached Quezon Hall. There were so many people this year! After that, we went straight to IB (Institute of Biology) to drop the cat off. Once there, however, we just decided to split the cat amongst us. I got the tail (which I eventually gave my good friend Chery), and Gelo got the head. But of course, before parting for the last time this year, we've taken a lot of pictures (using Gelo's DSLR). Here's two that I've sort of edited (awfully) with Pxlr-o-matic:
Season's greetings! From Cj, Chy, and me in front of IB's giant star
I particularly liked that picture of us. It's so festive and bright!
Happy Holidays! Love: Cj, Gelo, Chy, and me
However, this one made the cut (simply because it's the only good picture with all of us in it). Oh well, that's it for now. Enjoy your Christmas breaks and have a happy happy Holiday!
While browsing through the winners of Goodreads Choice Awards 2011, I came across this book, Feed by Mira Grant, which happened to be the Best Science Fiction Book for 2010. Despite the lackluster title (which is also a title of a book I know), the cover really caught my eye:
Since I've just started reading it, I can't give out too much of the plot (you can always check out the goodreads link given above), but it's about what everyone secretly loves - a zombie apocalypse. But here's the part that I love more (because, let's face it, if I want a zombie apocalypse scenario, I'd just watch Zombieland) - it's also about blogging and it's role in society in case an outbreak really happens.
I have to admit I've never heard of Mira Grant before, but whoever she is, I give her the thumbs up for her imagination and her patience. Her characters were also well-molded. They feel real. Whenever I read, I can't help but imagine actors playing the characters in my head. Feed is not an exception. Behold, here's how I imagine the characters in Feed would look like.
Jessica Stroup (90210, Prom Night) as Georgia Mason
Georgia Mason - Even before Georgia was described in the book, I immediately thought of Jessica Stroup. I was like, "she is so Jessica". So there. But when it was mentioned that Georgia has short, messy dark brown hair, I knew I got this one spot on.
Stephen Lunsford (Private Practice, Bratz) as Shaun Mason
Then there was the trickier one, Shaun Mason. Shaun is Georgia's adoptive brother, and their ages are close to one another, Shaun being approximately three weeks younger. He's described as adventurous and thrill-seeking. I actually just thought of this now, after I watched this video.
Alison Pill (Scott Pilgrim vs The World) as Buffy
And last but obviously not least to complete this blogging-zombie butt-kicking trio is Buffy (birthname Georgette, but Buffy's waaay better), the cute, heads-in-the-clouds Fictional (which is basically a fiction blogger). I didn't think of Alison at first, because I knew her as a ginger from Scott Pilgrim vs The World. But when I saw a picture of her as a blonde, she's definitely a shoe in.
So there. That's all I have for now. I gotta finish schoolwork before I can continue reading. I recommend Feed to everyone. It's a must have on your Zombie literature collection (because we readers all have one, don't we?).
Here is a transcript of my Facebook conversation with my Math 17* prof. He might as well be the only cool thing in UP Diliman's infamous (for good reasons) Math Building, i.e.
*Shudders at the thought of that depressing building* So anyway, here's the conversation:
Yeah he's so awesome. Power to the awesome Math profs. We need more professors people like him.
*Math 17 = Algebra and Trigonometry; it's like high school Math, depending on what they pass off as "Math" in your school; most BS students in UP take Math 17 because it's a prerequisite for many science subjects.
Friday, December 9, 2011
A crack in space and time. On my Tumblr dash. How cool was that, really? Get yours now here.
It's the way you know how to fight for what you think is right (and by "fight" I mean "come up with brilliantly written sarcastic comebacks").
Yes, he's an atheist. But no, he's not evil, or a Satan worshiper, or in any way a bad person. If you ever associate those things to being an atheist then do note that I'm discouraging you.
Finally. I’m afraid to say that most of my files got deleted though, save for some stuff. Thank goodness my eBooks and The Big Bang Theory episodes are safe.
In other news, I don't have any English subject this semester. I will practice writing in Filipino so I may post in Filipino sometimes.
I love you, but sometimes, I really want to snap at you. We're your friends, not your servants. If you think we'll pamper you like what your parents are doing, you're wrong. Pantay-pantay lang tayo no. Napapagod din kami. Bakit ang hilig mo mag-utos? Huhu.
Anyway, this day was fuuuuun! My body aches so much but it's all worth it. Spending time with some of my favorite people in the world was priceless.
Darn. This was supposed to be posted last Monday pa but blogger was not cooperating. So here goes:
09/09/2011
Yesterday was my high school batchmate Flor’s 18th birthday. I was invited. Surprisingly, my parents let me attend. It was a night party. And there will be booze. Obviously my parents were not really that worried about me trying drinking before the legal drinking age. Maybe they trust me. Or maybe they knew about the time I tried a sip of wine and gagged because it tasted like cough medicine. Who knows.
The program was traditional, exactly like I was expecting, and almost a little bit boring. I caught myself yawning (not a bad sign) a tad too many times that night. The good part was getting to meet high school friends again, yay!
After the party, we (me, Sha, Elle, Anna and Dianne) went straight to Dianne’s home. There were a little bit of gossiping (though there’s really nothing to gossip about, besides something regarding a security code or something like that. I dunno, I wasn’t paying attention). We ate Kropeck (sp?) crackers and played cards all night long. Okay. Maybe not all night long. We obviously need to sleep. I fell asleep halfway through Easy A.
Now I’m back at home and I may or may not be studying for a Chemistry exam. It depends on how you look at it.
I didn't bring my camera so I just relied on Facebook tags for pictures. Haha! So obviously they're not mine.
Love these girls! Thanks for doing my hair. :)
Best. Table. Ever.
We should have won that game! :(
This party made me super excited for more upcoming debuts! We (the three of us, there, on the last picture) were even thinking up every possible themes for debuts like The Seven Seas (pirates! pirates! pirates!), 20's flapper (my personal favorite; see Singin' in the Rain), of course there's the very famous Lady Gaga themed, Wonderland (aka Quirkyland), and lots more.
What in the world did I just wasted my precious hour on?! I was waiting the whole season for this episode and it turned out a big, big mess. Don't get me wrong, there were some good parts, but most is just BLAH or BLECH.
The Good Parts (or, the parts that didn't make me hate the episode so much)
The opening scene was amazing. There were pretty great shots of New York. The Broadway billboards made me squeal in ecstasy and there was that hint of hope that this might actually be as great a finale as last season's. The end shot with Rachel standing there, taking it all in, was genius. I can actually see myself as Rachel. And I guess when I'd get the chance to be on that same spot someday, I will act the same way.
Mr. Schue's moment. He's a more talented guy than he actually lets on, and he has a big, big heart to boot. Seeing him there on the stage singing and performing his heart out. It was surreal. He deserved that moment.
I felt the same with Rachel and Kurt's duet. It was a really magical moment. It's like one of my personal dreams has been granted. Yeah, being a Broadway artist will always be my secret dream.
I just love Rachel in this episode. I loved her outfits even more though. Seriously, I want her jacket, her hat, her dress.
Santana and her fluent angry Spanish.
The lovely Klaine moment in the end.
The Blah (not hateful enough, but unnecessary)
Samcedes? Nuh. Uh uh. What genius even thought of that? There was not even a slightest hint of chemistry. I know it was a desperate attempt to appease those gleeks who's harassing Ryan Murphy to get Mercedes a boyfriend. Which doesn't make any sense since Mercedes is an effing diva and she doesn't need a man. But if she does, Sam is the least likely guy for her. Sam has been like, "the boyfriend" in the show. And that's really sad because the characterization is good enough to move a story on his own. Guess Glee writers are not aware of that fact. Why don't those guys just give the job to the ones who canremember the storyline, observe character growth, and write good dialogues. As far as I'm concerned they're just a bunch of fanfic writers who does everything the majority of the gleeks wants.
The Bathroom scene was a pathetic attempt at making Rachel resemble a human being. Close enough, but try harder.
The "kiss" was pulse-stopping and it could've been an awesome moment if it wasn't done on a show choir competition. What did Jesse say? Oh yeah, unprofessional. But for me, completely unnecessary.
Charice. I don't like her. The end.
The Blech (don't even get me started)
The New York Mashup was a disaster. The New York number in the first episode was better than this. The whole time it was awkward, all over the place, and poorly edited. Just where is their choreographer? Do they even have one?
The Yeah! number was even more WTF-inducing. I mean, the girls dance really well but their outfits seem a little inappropriate for the performance. And their song choice and execution is not show choir material.
Vocal Adrenaline. If Jesse would have been there performing I could have rooted for them. But no. The Vocal Adrenaline performance was more like the Charice Pempengco, I mean, Sunshine Corazon, show. She's good, I get it, but what's the big effing deal? It was a show choir competition. Plus their performance wasn't even stellar. It was forgettable. What did she, I mean they, sing again? Last year's Bohemian Rhapsody was loads better. Heck, last season's Rehab was loads better.
The Finchel thingy was just boring, to say the least.
"I just want somebody to love me." Really? Really, Quinn? Guess what, sister: SOMEBODY DID LOVE YOU. And he probably still loves you now. But what exactly did you do? Oh yeah, cheated on him for a greater chance at a stupid plastic crown! That guy treated you like a princess! Now you’re telling us you want somebody to love you? You can’t love anybody but yourself, sissy. Don’t act like you’re the victim here.
By now I have accepted the fact that New Directions will never now the meaning of a show choir performance. For them it's a duet (where the rest of the group sway at the back in the dark) followed by a light, upbeat number where they do some "dancing", choreography be damned.
Whatever. Jesse St. James needs a show of his own. He's the real star out there.
I think I'm really liking this Goodreads feature. I could never get to ask Miss Holly in Twitter or email. Authors' emails and Twitters get flooded so easily by maniacal fans, pseudo-fans, and, sadly, haters. I know she didn't really answer my questions but she had a good way of making me think she answered my question. Had to really admire her for that.
Last night, I've finallyfinished this Korean drama titled Secret Garden. I don't feel very much like talking about the summary so I'm sorry but you just have to go to Wikipedia or somewhere to know it. What I feel like talking about though, is just how good the show is and how good it made me feel.
First of all, the plot. It's so complex (and I do love complex plot structures). There were some holes and gaps in it but not something as big as a valley I assure you. I loved the magical feel that some people might call corny or whatever. Next, the actors. They were amazing. I especially loved the main guy's performance. His acting was so good. And the main girl's too. The roles must be very challenging for them because they switch character personalities. And to think that their character's primary personalities are difficult already! A stuntwoman who grew up without parents and a narcissistic rich guy who's suffering from claustrophobia. I know some might think that the rich guy-poor girl characters are a little more than a bit overused in dramas but these characters are not as simple as that. You have to watch 'til the end to know what I mean.
As expected of a Korean drama, there were a lot of really cute scenes. Major Spoiler: Skip through to the next paragraph. My favorite was definitely the one in the coffee shop.
It was surprising and really romantic. Ha! I did just say that.
I have to warn you though, because nobody warned me before, that it's not all funny and cutesy. There were some major tearjerker moments as well. Don't say I didn't warn you. Don't worry though, there were a lot of comic relief in the forms of various characters besides the main pair. All the pairings (there were quite a number) were good and have great chemistry.
I loved the literary references like Alice in Wonderland and The Little Mermaid (the original story, not the more popular Disney version). The Dark House (was it the Dark House? I know for sure it was Dark something) painting was creepy but the kind of creepy that I want posted on my wall.
All in all, I really enjoyed this Korean Drama and definitely recommend it. I would watch it even just for the couple. They have major major chemistry, people! They deserve a best couple award or something. If the interesting plot wouldn't make you watch it, the pairing will.
I don't think this needs a caption but I really love typing captions. Plus, do you think it's weird kissing your own lips? Hmmm.
So...have you watched it? What do you think of it? Leave comments. Stay awesome my followers. All six of you. :))
If the cover wouldn't make you read the book, the story will.
Here is a book filled with humor all throughout. Not the usual slapstick comedy routine, but the kind that is dripping with sarcasm. The humor comes from the narrator, 16-year old Alex, who will wait for two more years before he can get his driver's license. Why is that? One fateful Friday night, he just took his mom's car while she was on a date determined to pay his estranged father a not-so-friendly visit. That didn't sound so bad, but the fact that he drank Vodka from what was left of his father's liquor cabinet didn't make things better. In fact, I'm pretty sure that made everything worse.
The narration and the character itself reminded me of Cameron from Going Bovine by Libba Bray, sans profanity. I think Jordan Sonnenblick writing children's books accounts for the lack of profanity in this book. Too bad. In many ways, Alex is like Cameron: mediocre, loveless, and a loser. In the end, they both realized they are, in fact, not. But the end is not what is important and worthy of reading, but their entire journey through redemption.
As for Alex, his punishment is serving in a nursing home, specifically an old Jewish guy named Solomon Lewis. Sol is a very nasty, very smart, and wistful guy who's very good at counter-sarcasm. He and Alex make a very formidable diabolical duo, that is, if only the older guy wouldn't make Alex's life miserable enough. I find their whole relationship very endearing, sort of reminiscent of Tuesdays with Morrie. There are times when they make me laugh out loud, and there are times when they made me cry.
Jordan Sonnenblick is very good at taking serious matters and coating it with just the right amount of funny - kind of like hiding vegetables in kids' food - for people of all ages to enjoy and get the lesson at the same time. I am looking forward to reading his other books.
All in all, a very satisfying and wonderful read. Sonnenblick just earned an honorary spot in my favorite YA authors list. I absolutely recommend it. It was short enough to be read in just one sitting (I read it for give or take four hours) but not too short to leave you wanting more.
Hey there. I just finished watching Drop the World Part 2 episode of Degrassi. Please excuse me while I stabilize my body, catch my breath and lower my blood pressure.
...
There. Thank you. Now, I don't normally blog about TV episodes. Most likely because they're too short to blog about. But after watching this episode of Degrassi, I think I need to vent out or I'll explode. If you haven't watch the episode yet and you're intending to and you hate spoilers, you need not go ahead and read.
These questions have no right or wrong answers.
Because sometimes asking the right questions is the answer.
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? If I don't know how old I am, I would ask someone who does. If there's no one, then I won't care about my age. After all, age is not just measured by the number of years one has lived.
Which is worse, failing or never trying? Never trying. I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life thinking what will be the outcome otherwise. It still depends on the situation though.
If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do? It's because there are too much constraints it's not amusing anymore - like money, time, social views, "proper etiquette", etc. It's one of the aspects of life that I don't fancy much.
When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done? Always. But you can't turn back time, can you?
What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world? I want people to be really free. Remove constraints. (Inner-hippie showing lol)
If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich? I love libraries. I love books. I love learning. If I know I can succeed in anything and I can pick any work that will just make me happy - I'll work in the Library of Congress. And it's also been a crazy dream of mine to work in the British Museum.
Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing? I always do what I believe in.
If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently? I wouldn't live it differently. To be honest, I can't see myself beyond 40 years of age.
To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken? I try to control as much as I can. Then again there parents, teachers - adults and superiors who always have to control you.
Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things? Doing the right things. I'm not a "perfectionist". Everything one does, if one loves what he/she is doing, is perfect.
You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do? Unjustified? Of course I'll give justice where it is due. I will defend my friend (even if it's not a friend), explain to them why they are wrong or out of line.
If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be? Believe in magic, you muggle.
Would you break the law to save a loved one? Maybe if you're saving a loved one, you're not "breaking the law". I dunno, maybe all you need is a good lawyer. Haha.
Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity? I'm not a good judge of insanity and creativity.
What’s something you know you do differently than most people? Hmm let me get back to you.
How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy? To each his/her own.
What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?I really want to travel. Finances and studies hold me back. I need to prioritize my education over pleasures.
Are you holding onto something you need to let go of? No. Nothing that I'm aware of.
If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why? I want to move to Ireland. It seems like a really peaceful and magical place.
Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster? Yes! Haha. I don't believe it makes the elevator move faster, I just like pushing it.
Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton? Joyful simpleton. I admire guys like that - Alan Garner, Napoleon Dynamite.
Why are you, you? Because I'm me and I'm what I make myself to be.
Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend? Always.
Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you? Losing touch with a good friend near you.
What are you most grateful for? A chance to life. Chances.
Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones? Lose all of old memories.
Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first? No.
Has your greatest fear ever come true? Not yet.
Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now? I don't remember it. If I don't remember it, that means it doesn't matter now.
What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special? I'll get back to you.
At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive? I feel unmotivated and less than alive. :\
If not now, then when? In its right time.
If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose? Everything. Or at least something, no matter how small. You can't gamble blindly.
Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever? N/A
Why do religions that support love cause so many wars? Because they are sitting on a throne of lies (props if you get the "The Elf" reference). If they really support war then there won't be wars.
Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil? Sometimes. But there's not a clear border between. You can spot an extreme good and extreme evil, but there are things that are vague.
If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job? I will still work.
Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing? More work I enjoy doing.
Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before? Ugh yes.
When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in? Ahh speaking in metaphors, I see. No, it haven't been that way yet.
If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today? Besides my family? I think I'll visit the one I know the least.
Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous? asdfghjk it depends on my life expectancy.
What is the difference between being alive and truly living? A WHOLE UNIVERSE OF DIFFERENCES OF COURSE.
When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right? Yes.
If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake? Because there's always an expense to pay even if we gain something. It's up to us if we want to take the new stuff or let go of the old one.
What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you? I just want to be myself.
When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing? Today.
What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love? Oh I love lots of stuff. One should not be afraid to love because unlike money, we have unlimited supply of it. I don't openly express much though.
In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that? Probably not.
Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you? I try to make the most of it, but sometimes I can't help it if others want to make them for me.
Thanks to my amazing friend and kick-ass blogger Dianne for this. Lots o' love!
Before I begin, let me just say that I am, since the very beginning, a very big fan of glee. Granted, I do not buy glee merchandises (gosh, that's so cheesy) and I don't join contests or events about the said show. You will not catch me tweeting,
omfg u guize glee wuz awesum!!1! Finchel 4evz!! <333
No. Just no. Nevertheless, I have stuck with Glee since the very first Cheerio practice on the day the football team dumped Kurt in the dumpster. The first season was good. I enjoyed the songs and performances and although I find the characters awkward and the story so so, Glee was good. And it was also popular. Yes. I admit that one of the thing that got me watching Glee was its popularity. Glee caught on like a virus. I even remember during our senior year when Glee first showed up and my friend Joana and I (who, back then, were the only people who has probably heard of Glee in our school) were like hipsters. We feel so superior that we know something our school don't so yeah. Haha. We try to encourage people to watch it too. Next thing we know, it became a household name. Glee.
Oh yeah. You must be wondering where the hate part is. So hold on to your seatbelts now. Let the ranting begin.
It all started after the Christmas episode. I can say that was the last good Glee episode ever. After that special, I waited and waited and waited for a "boom" episode. I waited in vain. Maybe that "boom" episode will be the Prom episode, I dunno, maybe it will not come at all.
First of all, what the fuck did they think they were going on with Finn?! He was my favorite character before. He was vulnerable and relatable and funny without meaning to be with his young boy mind ( I seriously love hearing his mind speaking aloud). Now he's all this power-hungry douche who is suddenly going after a girl who (at least we all thought so) he doesn't love anymore. Heck, we're not even sure if he loved her. Is it because she's unavailable now? Is it because he doesn't want to be alone (sure, because what's a football captain without a hot blonde girlfriend?!). Ugh please.
Andbutso, what's even worse than the bastardization of Finn's character (real and beloved Finn, rest in peace, wherever the heck you are) is that of Quinn's character. WHY. WHY? WHY?! Her character had a wonderful growth last season. All those times, wasted! Whatever happened?! So she's a power-hungry - pardon my French - slut once again? Going after the football captain while he's dating adorkably nice Sam Evans, who also happened to be a football player and a friend of the first said guy? Which brings us to...
Uh yeah, who will ever ruin a good relationship like this? Obviously not a person with a heart! Really Ryan? You got bored? What is wrong with you? They were happy. He treated her like a princess. She adores him and his dorky ways. Oh ho, but no. You have to make her bitchy diva self to decide that Sam's not good enough. Bullcrap.
The question everybody wants an answer to: Will McKinley High ever run out of bullies? Seriously? Hockey Players? What's next? Turn the hockey players soft for a moment and then get them slushied by the fucking Chess Club?
And the song choices! They're doing more and more new songs. I think it's good when they do old songs, they're like, bridging the gap between old people and young people.
Whoa this is getting pretty long. Time to just list things up:
Holly Holiday? Yeah, I didn't like your song choice. Not that it was provocative or what, it was just not good. Landslide was awesome though
Santana the boyfriend-stealer-who-then-magically-turned-lesbian. There's no buildup with her lesbian story line. I mean, I'm cool with a lesbian character on glee but it was kind of rushed and just snuck up on you when you least expects it. Jeesh.
Will and Emma are so confusing.
It's okay for Sue, a teacher at McKinley High, to push students, put dirt in their lockers and throw sticks at them. No wonder kids like Karofsky hurt other kids too.
And for the grand finale - the fucking Regionals episode. Despite the pretentious song choice, I still think Aural Intensity should have won. Uhm hello? Does New Directions know the meaning of a show choir? Aural Intensity was a show choir, Vocal Adrenaline was a show choir, Spectacular! was a show choir. New Directions is NOT a show choir. It's Rachel Berry with some people swaying in the back. And sure, I loved the song Loser Like Me but they really have to start moving together in a dance number. Not just sway.
First of, I prefer "Young Adult" over "Teen" and I don't even know if there's a difference but yeah...For the record though, "Young-adult books are books marketed to adolescents, roughly between the ages of 12 and 17, and usually feature main characters in that age range". Moving on, here's a list of my favorite YA authors in different genres. Note that all authors are still alive and you can even follow their blogs and/or twitter accounts (click on the link to visit their Twitter page).
Sarah Dessen - If you're a YA romance reader, Sarah Dessen's books are for you. Sure, they may be a bit repetitive story-wise (girl has problems, most probably family and relationship problems, girl meets boy, boy helps girl overcome problem, girl fall for boy or vice versa) but she makes up for interesting characters who you'll love or love to hate, awesome storytelling, and bits of wisdom you get as a growing young adult. Her stories are mostly, if not all, narrated by the main female protagonist. Recommended Read/s: This Lullaby, Someone Like You, The Truth About Forever
Cassandra Clare - Ahh Cassie. Here's my favorite YA Fantasy author. She's the creator of the Shadowhunting world through her Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series. Both are set in the same universe yet different time frame. I personally love both, and the fact that both series are still ongoing makes the whole experience better. I will most probably die for anticipation for her next books. Her narrations are in the third person with shifting perspectives. Recommended Read/s: What the heck, read them all! City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glasses, City Fallen Angels, Clockwork Angel
Libba Bray - Okay, I'll be honest and say that I haven't read this author's claim-to-fame piece, The Gemma Doyle Trilogy, yet. But Going Bovine (her modern take on magical realism) automatically places her in my favorite authors list. Going Bovine was funny, heartfelt and full of relevance at the same time. It's easily one of my all-time favorite books. It was narrated by the main male protagonist. Recommended Read/s: Going Bovine [I will recommend it until you all read it]
John Green - Here is a real YA author if ever there is one. He's a legit boy perspective writer. I know YA enthusiasts like myself is fond of reading YA in the guy point of view. If you're looking for that kind of read, John Green's the guy for you. What makes him even more endearing is his nerdiness which can be clearly seen in most, if not all, his writings. Works are written in first person narrative. Recommended Read/s: Looking for Alaska, Will Grayson Will Grayson [w/ David Levithan]
David Levithan - Sadly, this amazing guy has no Twitter (or none that can be found by my internet ninja skills). He's the guy for LGBT YA stories and he's really good at what he does. Needless to say he was gay, which was probably why his works are so legit. I haven't read his claim to fame Boy Meets Boy and other solo works yet [because they're so darn hard to find] but I've read quite a number of his works, all collabs (with Rachel Cohn and John Green). I love his style - very casual and intimate, no holding back. Recommended Read/s: Nick and Norah's Ultimate Playlist, Naomi and Eli's No Kiss List, Dash and Lily's Book of Dares [all written w/ Rachel Cohn]
Also (these following authors are so legit there's no need expounding on their greatness):
J.K. Rowling
Lemony Snicket
Rick Riordan
What about you? Who's your favorite YA author and what's your favorite work of them? Leave a comment below.
Uhm hi Blogger, Blogspot, whatever-the-heck-you-want-to-call-yourself. I haven't posted in a while. Actually, scratch that, I haven't posted for a long time. And that's abso-fucking-lutely inexcusable. But can you really blame me? Me, who has a very boring life living in a boring country with really boring parents and sibs and really boring point of view? Eew, I just used a word four times in the same sentence. My high school English teacher will be ashamed of me.
Anyway, I don't know what to write anymore. I think it comes to all writers, the time when you just can't think of anything to write even if you want to or something like that. Although I'm pretty expecting it to come later in life, when I'm like a withering old cat lady, you know, like menopause. I never expected it to hit so early!
Nevertheless. I've been busy reading. Here's what I've read so far this month:
The Pact - If you've been stalking following me for a while now (which is presumptuous of me, I beg your pardon) or if you really know me, then you must also know that I'm a real Picoult reader. I've read six of her many books (most of which with unique circumstances and awesome courtroom scenes). If you're new to Jodi Picoult, I suggest you read The Pact or My Sisters Keeper first because those works define Picoult as an author.
City of Fallen Angels - Words will not describe my love for Cassandra Clare and her Shadowhunting world. I will slowly and painfully die of anticipation for the next installment of The Mortal Instrument series, City of Lost Souls. Oh Miss Clare, the things you do to me!
Anna and the French Kiss - It's the usual YA romance. The story's so so. The good part is that it's set in Paris.
Practice Makes Perfect - It's a cat-dog romance where two young lawyers fight and fall for each other at the same time. I was disappointed because there wasn't any courtroom drama scene (well there was but I'm not satisfied, 'kay?).
Looking for Alaska - John Green is in my list of favorite YA authors and this one's definitely for keeps. Not bad for a debut novel, right? I will reread it sometime again in the future and will treasure it forever. No kidding.
Cracked Up To Be - Courtney Summers is a new author for me (she's Canadian, I think) but her book's really satisfying and I feel like I've been reading her for ages. I love her characters and the language (fun fact: I love profanity in YA; it makes the story entertaining to read and at the same time relatable/believable).
Take Me There - Not as satisfying as the other YA books in this list (which is like, 90% of it) but yeah, if you're looking for a light read, this one's for you. Good luck. Don't overanalyze much. Shit that was redundant. Or was it? Fuck.
Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green and David Levithan, bitches! Seriously, what more can you ask for? I'm sure you have nothing else to do. Go read it. Now.
Read and Rated:Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
The first book I read of these two amazing YA writers was Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, which I totally enjoyed. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I’ve also watched the movie. Rachel and David have this awesome talent of weaving complex and somehow deep and relevant tales from simple, everyday-living stories of relatable and realistic characters. And they’re pretty convincing too! In Nick and Norah, the two luckless in love (one just got dumped by his girlfriend whom he has devoted himself to, the other have no clue about her own lovelife - but one thing’s for sure: she is NOT satisfied) met in the undoubtedly longest night of their lives.
Nick’s ex comes to one of his band’s show. Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes so as not to appear pathetic to his ex. There goes a kiss, and with that begins the whirlwind adventure of Nick and Norah. I definitely love the alternating he said/she said narration and the thoughts the main characters share all throughout the book. Who would’ve thought so much could happen in a span of one night in (dayyum!) New York City?
--- Currently on my reading list:Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List
More cussing - check. More on the gay/sexuality theme - check. More drama - check.
Naomi and Ely in a nutshell: Naomi and Ely are best friends for as long as they can remember. They party together. They live next to each other. One wouldn’t be spotted without the other. They even wear each others’ clothes! It seems like the perfect friendship. Leave it to love to mess it all up: Naomi LOVES Ely. Not in an I-love-you-bestfraaaand-xoxo way, but the real, honest to goodness (somewhat reeling to obsession kind of) way. The catch: Ely loves Naomi but prefers to be in love with boys. Naomi can live with that. Until Ely kissed her boyfriend.
I’m still in the middle of it but I can tell that I’m really enjoying the book. The story is very interesting and the characters even more so. One thing I’m not really sure what to think about though: there are too many points of views. Unlike Nick and Norah with two perspectives, Naomi and Ely is narrated by lots of characters - main or sideline - in the book. I think the use of too many points of views made the story a little all over the place. But it’s still ok, I guess. Wickedly entertaining.
And I heard Hayden Panettiere is playing Naomi in the upcoming movie. Awesome! She’s EXACTLY how I imagined Naomi to be.
--- Something to look out for:Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares
Summary from Goodreads:
Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?
I’m sure this one will be amazing like the first two. I’ll begin on this after I finish Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List.
Yes, YOU. The one they - though who “they” are remains a mystery - promised to be made perfect for me. The one who’ll think I’m the awesomest person in the world. The one who’ll add my smile, my eyes, me, in his “Things Worth Living For” list. You. How are you doing? Me, I’m bored to death. What are you reading right now? I can’t wait for the time we’ll be spending talking about random stuff and the latest books we’re reading. You’ll make a futile attempt at a joke and I’ll laugh not because of the humor but because you’re trying so hard.
But you know, I’m pretty pissed at you. For one thing, I don’t know who you are yet. Or if you even truly exists. I couldn’t care less how you look, although I know you’ll be good looking (even if some might not agree with me). I just know you have a pure heart. You’re really patient when you’re teaching me stuff I wanna learn so bad - like whistling, playing the piano, or skating. You’ll recite to me Romeo’s speech to Juliet and I will thwack your arm because I never did like Romeo and Juliet and you’re doing it just to tease me.
Hey, when will I see you? Will I know if it’s you I’ve just passed by on the street? Will I know if we’ve been in the same room? I hope I’ll see you soon. Maybe not now. I’m pretty patient enough.
Love,
Nj
PS Longer letter later. Like when I have some time to spare.
I just don’t get it’s point anymore. Sure, I unconditionally love Zuckerberg but it’s not enough to keep me in this site wherein I have 300plus friends when we all know I don’t have that much. I can’t share what’s on my mind. It’s just so fucking easy for people to comment and interrogate the shit out of somebody. Don’t get me wrong, Facebook’s fine and all, but probably not for me. I need a blog so I can vent out my feelings - so I’ll definitely keep my Tumblr and Blogger. —- Well, change topic! I’m almost finished with Libba Bray’s Going Bovine. It’s a super awesome book about this normal teenager named Cameron who just got diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (that’s Mad Cow disease for humans to you; hope I spelled it right). But unlike some run-off-the-mill drama, this is crazier and more fun! Since I’m not really good with summarizing, here’s one from Goodreads:
All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.
It’s what’s keeping me occupied this past week. It’s awfully entertaining (in a good way, promise!) and lesson-filled at the same time. —- Yung tricycle na sinakyan ko kanina, ang salbahe nung driver. Sinadya ba namang sagasaan yung buntot ng pusa sa gilid. Nasabi ko nalang, “Sadistic asshole”. Sana narinig niya. —- This week went by quickly for me - not that I’m complaining. What about you guys? Any interesting stories to tell me? Or can you please let me know what you think of me in three words? Let’s talk, awesome(s)! ;)
Just so you know, I don’t know how to do the last part without sounding so desperate. LOL. Oh, and I kept my Twitter. xD
I assume every Homo sapien in this planet knows him. Also known as Clark J. Kent, his civilian alter-ego. Some sees Superman as just, well, a superhero. Some random muscular guy with “to die for” looks and ridiculous costume and uhm, cape. But very few people (if you call the comics fandom “few”) are familiar with Superman’s other identity: Kal-El. His alien identity.
Now I don’t even know why I’m talking about Superman. I’m not even a fan (Batman ftw). It just seems so relevant to my topic for today which is the sci-fi book I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore.
In I Am Number Four, a group of nine gifted humanoid aliens left their home planet “Lorien” in order to hide from the race of murderous Mogadorians. The Mogadorians destroyed their own planet due to their destructive ways. Then they invaded Lorien, the closest life sustaining planet to theirs. The nine scattered on Earth in the hope that when they developed their legacies (powers, if you will) and are mature enough to fight, they will get back at the Mogadorians and revive their planet. A charm was put upon the nine, that they should only be killed in order otherwise any physical attacks will not work on them.
Number One was killed in Malaysia. Number Two was murdered in England. Number Three was hunted down in Kenya.
Err, that’s from the trailer. I find it fascinating. Anyway, the Law of Duh tells us that Number Four is next in line. Number Four is the protagonist in the book. He took the name John Smith - which is not very creative in my part, but hey, it’s easy to overlook, which is kind of like the point - and his Cepan (or guardian) took the name Henri Smith. They move from place to place, see. Once they were in Florida, now they’re in some place in Ohio called Paradise, which is kind of like appropriate and ironic at the same time. John’s first legacy, Lumos (ability to control light and be insusceptible to fire and heat) showed up when he was at school. Telekinesis came up next.
John made some friends in Paradise. He met Sam, a fan of conspiracy theories and Astronomy in general, which eventually became his bestfriend. Sarah Hart, a blonde blue-eyed all-American girl, became his girlfriend. Now he has a reason to stay, which is very inconvenient. Very very inconvenient. When everything seems to fall into place and he’s adapting to the normal human kid life, well, you guessed it, it went horribly wrong.
What I liked about the book is that every character seems real. Even the aliens John and Henri. And the conspiracy theories, rad! I actually believe that they’re walking among us now. No kidding, I do. How else will you explain the Stonehenge, Easter Island, Loch Ness, Albert Einstein, the Hadron Collider? (Look out for my post about these stuff). The Mogadorians were scary, okay. They were not easy to kill and they’re very menacing. There were lots of blood and life-or-death situations. I laughed at some point. I cried. I cringed. I bit the back of my hand to prevent myself from screaming. Overall, it’s very a very engaging read. I surely recommend this to everyone. Stop the vampire craze. Let’s all engross ourselves in something more realistic, like aliens.
Here’s the favorite quote:
We don’t have to be defined by the things we did or didn’t do in our past. Some people allow themselves to be controlled by regret. Maybe it’s regret, maybe it’s not. It’s merely something that happened. Get over it.
says John to Sam.
So guys, be on the lookout for this book: and if you’re more of a movie person than a bookworm, this movie: Grab a bowl of popcorn, a cup of coffee, or what not and take the wildest ride of your life.
*Movie poster created by fan from deviantart. Click here for original source.
“What is the maximum sad, blunt truth one can tell another without sounding assholian?”
But unless someone can find a way to quantify assholiness, I guess this problem will remain unsolved for the meantime. Bummer, right?
My point: Calculus is rarely, if ever, helpful.
Unless of course you’re the type of person who’s really interested in determining the minimum cost of a box whose top and bottom bases are squares made up of material which costs 15 cents per square inch, the four rectangular sides made up of materials which costs 10 cents per square inch, and has a fixed volume of 12 cubic inches.
Aaaand speaking of being helpful, this bag lady in Mercury drug store CLEARLY does NOT have helping the environment in mind. I bought this Snickers bar earlier, you see, and she was actually packing it in this small plastic pouch thingy (the kind usually used for medicine tablets) while I put my change away. Of course I told her that there’s no need for it and grabbed my candy bar and receipt. Seriously, it’s not that I bought so many stuff that I will have problem holding them. I could just shove that chocolate in my pocket. There.
Girl, take those non-biodegradable, used-for-medicine-otherwise-useless-for-other-stuff plastic away from me and my one-item purchases.
