Salamat sa classmate ng kapatid ko na indirectly ay nagpahiram sa akin ng book na ito. Masasabi kong sakto lang ang libro. Kung nabasa mo yung mga blu...moreSalamat sa classmate ng kapatid ko na indirectly ay nagpahiram sa akin ng book na ito. Masasabi kong sakto lang ang libro. Kung nabasa mo yung mga blurbs nila Bb. Joyce Bernal at Boy Abunda, etc. maaaring maiisip mong exaggerated at OA na ang mga puri nila. Maganda naman ang book. Minsan napapangiti niya ako. May mga pagkakataon lamang na medyo corny at pilit ang mga jokes na ang sarap nang ibato ng libro sa pader. Kung naging natural sana ang mga cheesy na biro o di na niya tinangkang magbiro ng corny mas mataas pa sana ang rating na ibinigay ko.
Note: I'll post more this weekend. I'm just too busy to write a review. :)(less)
This is the third Shakesperian play that I've read. The first one that I've read is Much Ado About Nothing which is a comedy and the second one is Rom...moreThis is the third Shakesperian play that I've read. The first one that I've read is Much Ado About Nothing which is a comedy and the second one is Romeo and Juliet which is a tragedy. I picked Hamlet because it is one of Shakespeare's most popular play and I think many considered it as his best work.
Contrary to the two plays that I've already read. Hamlet is more of a tragic revenge story than a love story. This is also more philosophical and harder to read than Much Ado About Nothing and Romeo & Juliet.
The story or the plot is easy to understand, but there are some lines that I find really hard to understand the meaning. So, what I did is I Google some of the lines to be able to understand what is Shakespeare is trying to say.
Back when I was in High School, we have this oration/speech thingy that we need to do. And some of my classmates recited To be or not to be (and I don't remember what is the title of the speech I recited but it's not from Shakespeare) and that's where I first heard it.
I remember back then I don't really know the message of To be or not to be. Since when I was in High School we only discussed about Shakespeare's sonnets and and we also need to act on a play called The Merchant of Venice but I remember I do not really act on any role and I'm on the production aspect of the play. And then we also need to memorize "All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players" (I forgot the title of that) for a speech choir contest.
And to be able to read Hamlet now and to understand some of the lines (thanks to Google) was really brilliant and cool. Like I realized that to be or not to be means to live or die because be means being so it's like existence. So what Hamlet really say is:
To live or die that is the question
But this is not a contemplation of suicide but rather a contemplation of murder. To die here do not mean he wants to kill himself but it means that he knew that if he'll murder Claudius he will also be murdered.
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them?
He was thinking if it is more appropriate to live but of course he'll suffer because he knows that he needs to kill Claudius
or the other option of to not play safe and take action meaning kill Claudius.
To die: to sleep; No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause: there's the respect
So this is the continuation...so he's thinking if he'll take action he'll die. But he's also thinking that maybe dying will be more like sleeping and "what dreams may come" means like maybe there's dreaming after death or a life after death.
That makes calamity of so long life; For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despised love, the law's delay, The insolence of office and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear, To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
so this is like...what will be the essence of living in a world that is full of corruption?
But that the dread of something after death, The undiscover'd country from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of?
so he makes a point that life after death is very uncertain...it's like we mortal beings are uncertain of whether there is really an eternal life and that makes death scary
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pith and moment With this regard their currents turn awry, And lose the name of action.--Soft you now! The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins remember'd!”
Here Hamlet's having trouble because he's a moral being and like all of us he also has a conscience. He knew what is right and what is wrong. It is wrong to kill a man and this thought was hindering him to do what he knows that he needs to do- to kill Claudius.
So from that text alone Shakespeare talks about life, death, life after death and morality.
And this is just a part of this play, so I really recommend you to read it. But I do recommend to buy a copy with annotations because as I've said some of the lines are hard to understand.
So if I misinterpreted any lines, feel free to comment because I'm not really an authority and I just use Google.(less)
This book has a very interesting protagonist/narrator. He loves prime numbers. He hates brown and yellow. He knows a lot about capital cities of diffe...moreThis book has a very interesting protagonist/narrator. He loves prime numbers. He hates brown and yellow. He knows a lot about capital cities of different countries. He finds it hard to understand human facial expressions, jokes and metaphors. Etc. Etc.
Actually if there's a real crime (not just a killed dog) and a bigger mystery and somehow a more complicated plot I'll give it 5 stars. But the story is very simple so just 3 stars. I still like it because I learned a lot about Math, Science, Sherlock Holmes, etc.
Also the atheistic comments and the dry humor makes it more compelling and enjoyable. (less)
This is a great book unfortunately I think the love tips are only applicable to Christian believers. This is more traditional and conservative.
There a...moreThis is a great book unfortunately I think the love tips are only applicable to Christian believers. This is more traditional and conservative.
There are also things that I don't agree like with homosexuality that they should change their personality and things like your partner should also be Christian. It feels quite preachy for me.
This is a self-help book for studying, preparing for examinations, reports, etc. I like the book it's very straight to the point and a small one. You...moreThis is a self-help book for studying, preparing for examinations, reports, etc. I like the book it's very straight to the point and a small one. You can read it in just an hour. I think the book is really helpful for students and I like that it also teaches good morals and very inspirational.(less)
Can't wait to read this. It was given to me by the Traveling Books in The Filipino Group in Goodreads ^^
5 out of 5 stars I got this book from The Trave...moreCan't wait to read this. It was given to me by the Traveling Books in The Filipino Group in Goodreads ^^
5 out of 5 stars I got this book from The Traveling Books in The Filipino Group in goodreads.com. It originally came from Han and then was given to Po and then it was my turn.
I did not immediately read this, however, and it took me months to finish reading this. Even my younger sister told me that she observed that I got too long to finish reading this book when she was accustomed in seeing me read a book in a day or in a week.
It's not that it's terrible. My problem at first was the beginning was slow and I was not intrigued enough to read it continuously. And since I am a polygamous reader I read a lot of books while trying to read this one. And there are times that I almost forgot reading it and since I got weary because I need to give this to the next person who is Tricia in the Christmas Party of The Filipino Group in goodreads.com. I decided to read it and finish it even if I'm really busy.
You might probably wondering why I still gave it 5 stars even though it took me months to read it. Actually, regardless of me being lazy to finish it. It was a really good novel. It has a beautiful writing and the characters are likable. The story is excellent. The layers of the story are written very well. Though I have to say that this novel is for mature readers.
In fact, when I was reading it at first I thought that it was a novel for children and then it was the type of novel that will engage children to read since the novel is all about passion for reading books and the main character is a bookworm.
However, the moment I read a sex scene in the book I realized that it's not what I thought it would be. And then there are other mature themes in the book like wife battery, incest, murder, and a lot of sex scenes too. So, really not for kids.
Weird enough, now that I finished it I have this feeling that I want to read it again. Since this is a mystery novel, a lot of the truths were revealed in the end of the book. And I just wanted to read it again in a perspective that I already knew the secrets and the mysteries of the stories. However, I knew that I really don't have the opportunity to do that.
I just thought it was amazing how these characters and these characters have met and their lives were changed because of that. It was just amazing. I can't really explain it very well, but as I've said I really loved this book.
"I can well imagine an atheist's last words: "White, white! L-L-Love! My God!" - and the deathbed leap of faith. Whereas the agnostic, if he stays true to his reasonable self, if he stays beholden to dry, yeastless factuality, might try to explain the warm light bathing him by saying, "Possibly a f-f-failing oxygenation of the b-b-brain," and, to the very end, lack imagination and miss the better story."
This is a very typical story of faith against adversity and faith still manage to triumph in the end. What makes it unique is that Pi, the main character is a Hindu, a Christian and a Muslim at the same time. His trial of faith and survival starts when the ship that he and his family together with their animals (because they are zookeepers) sink in the Pacific.
He found himself inside a lifeboat together with his animals orangutan, hyena, zebra and a tiger. It was similar to the movie Castaway, but instead of being totally alone he has animals with him. It was actually pretty similar to National Geographic and you will learn a lot about animals and their behaviors.
I think this book is really informative and thought provoking and very brutal. There are scenes that are really horrendous like cannibalism, etc. However, all in all I think this is really a must read. Its get kind of weird and boring sometimes, but it's not really preachy.
I think it has a lot of symbolism that I just can't interpret yet. I think the tiger and the other animals maybe symbolize something.
What I learned from it is that sometimes we really need to believe in the unbelievable and believe in something, whatever religion it is. This book actually acknowledges Atheism, but not Agnosticism. I think what the author tries to point out is that better believe than doubt and just make a stand. Believe in Science if not Religion or believe in Religion than doubt both Religion and Science.(less)
This book reminds me so much of Pretty Woman. A man and a prostitute falling in love with one another.
However in this one the male protagonist was ov...moreThis book reminds me so much of Pretty Woman. A man and a prostitute falling in love with one another.
However in this one the male protagonist was over ninety years old and the female protagonist was about fifteen years old. The book was an easy read, I read it in one sitting. Good somewhat philosophical and it talks about life, aging, love and death. Nevertheless I was a bit disturbed with the age difference of the main characters so I'll just gave this one three stars.
Extra: This book was banned in Iran because a group of conservatives thought the book was promoting prostitution.(less)
I really don't understand why they think you're a great book maybe it just so happen that I'm not that re...moreOh Great Gatsby and your shenanigans. Pfffft.
I really don't understand why they think you're a great book maybe it just so happen that I'm not that really big on vocabulary and I'm a lousy, lousy reader who just don't have the patience to read you from cover to cover.
Sorry but my brain can't seem to handle you after the first two chapters.
Okay, I've read Saving Francesca after I've read On The Jellicoe Road, which was also a book by Melina Marchetta. These two books I borrowed from anot...moreOkay, I've read Saving Francesca after I've read On The Jellicoe Road, which was also a book by Melina Marchetta. These two books I borrowed from another goodreads member, his name is Veneficus and last July we swapped books. I gave him The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan and he gave me the two Marchetta books.
When I'm deciding which one to read first I picked On The Jellicoe Road over Saving Francesca, because I've read a lot of glowing reviews about the former and when they talked about Melina Marchetta, it's always read On The Jellicoe Road.
Unfortunately I was disappointed after reading On The Jellicoe. It's not that I didn't like it, I think I still gave it three stars (which means in goodreads' perspective--I liked it)however I thought that I would love it and gave it 5 stars like majority of my friends here, but I think three stars were enough. Sorry.
However I was not discouraged to read her other works, thus I've read Saving Francesca still. And uhm before I read the book I looked into the back cover because after reading On The Jellicoe I was a little bit hesitant I will be disappointed again.
From the back cover it says...
ST. SEBASTIAN'S Pretends it's a coed school by giving the girls their own toilet.
I don't know if I'm a little bit high with coffee that day but that made me laugh and from that I somehow have a feeling that maybe I would like this book more.
I would say that the book is your typical Teenager book.
main character is an outcast, new girl on a school, have no friends yet
and there's the feeling of "School Sucks"
and of course the never dying "Self discovery and where do I belong?"
and I know, I know it is a little bit predictable
but nevertheless
I still loved it because even though the plot's simple its a story about a teenager, her family, her struggles, her friendships and finding more about herself as I've said it's very typical but the characters are very memorable, they are very diverse, and what I really like also was the dialogues, it's funny, it's entertaining, it's sweet, and when you read the lines you'll be smiling, laughing or having a "goofy grin" in your face. I think it's special in its own way and I can't believe I'm saying this now, "Hey Marchetta, I'm a fan!"
I recommend it if you like Sarah Dessen's The Truth About Forever, if you like Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles and the likes. :)
And btw I think I should end this review by thanking Veneficus for giving me a chance to read Marchetta's works. Don't worry I'll probably return it on Wednesday. Maraming salamat.(less)
That I think would be the perfect word to describe what I felt after reading it. At first it was very confusing and the plot was so slow...moreDisappointing.
That I think would be the perfect word to describe what I felt after reading it. At first it was very confusing and the plot was so slow that it bored me to death.
I think there were parts that I still like but as a whole I don't think that it deserved all the blurb and all the awards.
I like the idea of the two stories and how these two were intertwined in the end but its the cheesiness and melodrama and how things were written that turned me off.
The only thing that made me rated this book 3 stars was Jonah Griggs, all I can say about him is he can be the perfect boyfriend. He's really tough outside but inside he's really sweet. I can't help but smile when I read the TaylorxJonah parts.
Also, one more thing, while reading it I can't help but feel that it was a little bit like an Ecchi Anime and there was also a Sex Scene and several vulgar language, so I recommend it for more mature teenagers. (less)
I just remember reading it and then the first chapter was not that really interesting and then I gave up and returned it to the library and not really...moreI just remember reading it and then the first chapter was not that really interesting and then I gave up and returned it to the library and not really giving a damn what the book is really about.(less)
My first taste on the Historical Romance genre and I really am surprised how much I enjoyed reading this and due to that I'm planning to read more boo...moreMy first taste on the Historical Romance genre and I really am surprised how much I enjoyed reading this and due to that I'm planning to read more books by this author.
I remember a radio dj recommending Judith Mcnaught novels to men listeners because obviously this books are widely read by women but there's an advantage to men reading this books because they would know what women thinks about romance and all that stuff.
The reason I gave it 5 stars is because I find the dialogues in the book well-written, funny, witty and entertaining. It was really very cute how Victoria and Jason would argue and that what was I really like about this book. It's one of those few books who have really good dialogues.
All in all this book is very much the YA of today and it's very similar to J. R. Ward's BDB series. Jason was a disfigured hero and pretty much Ward's formula is also the formula of this novel just minus the vampire part. I was actually surpised because there was this scene in the book wherein Victoria kisses Jason's scars and it kinda remind me of when Rhage kisses Mary's scar (so I guess that's one of the similiraties that I observe).
So read it, the english is not that hard to read and I really enjoyed the book. (less)
It's my first Neil Gaiman book, (I think his name is kinda funny btw, Gay-Man?)and for so long I always wanted to read one of his works.
There are some...moreIt's my first Neil Gaiman book, (I think his name is kinda funny btw, Gay-Man?)and for so long I always wanted to read one of his works.
There are some amazing parts especially in the beginning of the story but somehow in the middle of it, it became too random and I was really bored because there are times that I felt that it just draaags too much and nothing exciting is happening and I felt like I could not finish it. However I finish the book, the ending is okay and still good.
There are parts that I really laugh out loud, the book has some dry humor in it which I really loved. I loved the creepiness on how he writes his plot and the Characters' weird names.
I think it's good all in all but a little bit disappointing since it's not really consistent and there are also many boring parts especially in the middle. (less)
Once upon a time, there was a bird. He was adorned with two perfect wings and with glossy, colorful, marvelous feathers. In short, he was a creature made to fly about freely in the sky, bringing joy to everyone who saw him.
One day, a woman saw this bird and fell in love with him. She watched his flight, her mouth wide in amazement, her heart pounding, her eyes shining with excitement. She invited the bird to fly with her, and the two traveled across the sky in perfect harmony. She admired and venerated and celebrated that bird.
But then she thought: He might want to visit far-off mountains! And she was afraid, afraid that she would never feel the same way about any other bird. And she felt envy, envy for the bird's ability to fly.
And she felt alone.
And she thought: "I'm going to set a trap. The next time the bird appears, he will never leave again."
The bird who was also in love, returned the following day, fell into the trap and was put in a cage.
She looked at the bird everyday. There he was, the object of her passion, and she showed him to her friends, who said: "Now you have everything you could possibly want." However, a strange transformation began to take place: now that she had the bird and no longer needed to woo him, she began to lose interest. The bird, unable to fly and express the true meaning of his life, began to waste away and his feathers to lose their gloss; he grew ugly; and the woman no longer paid him any attention, except by feeding him and cleaning out his cage.
One day, the bird died. The woman felt terribly sad and spent all her time thinking about him But she did not remember the cage, she thought only of the day when she had seen him for the first time, flying contentedly amongst the clouds.
If she had looked more deeply into herself, she would have realized that what had thrilled her about the bird was his freedom, the energy of his wings in motion, not his physical body.
Without the bird, her life too lost all meaning, and Death came knocking at her door. "Why have you come?" she asked Death. "So that you can fly once more with him across the sky," Death replied. "If you had allowed him to come and go, you would have loved and admired him even more; alas, you now need me in order to find him again."
So now I think that passage from the book already ate up my review so I'll just add some extra things.
First: As expected from Paulo Coelho this is another philosophical somewhat self-help, inspirational novel. This book was actually dedicated to a fan named Maurice Gravelines and Coelho met this guy unintentionally when he visited the Grotto in Lourdes. When they met the guy was like "You know, you look just like Paulo Coelho." And then Coelho said that yeah it was really him. And then the guy embraced him and he said to Coelho that, "They(Coelho's books) make me dream." I think that pretty sum up what kind of books Coelho's are.
Second: This book actually talks a lot about sex so I really recommend this book to adult readers, 18 years old and above. The novel has some masturbation scenes, BDSM, a blowjob scene etc. It just talks a lot about orgasm and in the other hand it also talks about the sacredness of sex and some history of prostitution blah blah blah. So really, adult readers or if you're sensitive about sex or anything about it maybe this book is not for you.
Third: My only complain about this book is that...there's actually a Filipino character in this book and she's a prostitute in the book and she's Maria's friend. My only problem about her is her name which is Nyah. I just really find her name weird and not very quote and quote Filipino. Maybe the author did not have time to research on it but the common names of Filipinos are similar to Spanish names and American names so I just really find it odd that her name's Nyah since it doesn't sound like a Filipino name. Maybe he could just name that character Juana or Ana or Susan but to name her Nyah, it was just odd. *shoulder shrug*
Thoughts before Reading
Finally this has been available in our library. So many people have been borrowing it, and when I go to the libray its always unavailable. Now it's my time to read it and I'm so excited since one of my classmate really like it and he said that this is his most favorite Coelho book. I'm curious to know why.(less)
This could have been better if it was all about love story. I think the downside with it is it talks about religion and stuff that it gets really bori...moreThis could have been better if it was all about love story. I think the downside with it is it talks about religion and stuff that it gets really boring. Its like a serious kind of book,it lacks humor that it makes you fall asleep sometimes.(less)
As much as I wanted to finish the book I was not able to due to the fact that I just borrowed it from our library and I have to returned it. I've r...moreDNF
As much as I wanted to finish the book I was not able to due to the fact that I just borrowed it from our library and I have to returned it. I've read up until 80% of the book I think...
Random Review: > Okay Paulo Coelho where the hell is your plot? > The book was quite random and inconsistent. > At least the cover looked good. The best book cover out of all Coelho's books I suppose. > There are just so many weird things on the book, the one that really bugged me is the idea of f/f sex. > So many religious ideologies that just irked me. It's like very preachy at times and it's like P. C. wants to shove those down my throat. It felt forced! > One good thing about this one is there are still amazing parts and quotable quotes and I really love that P. C. romanticize Hera on this one. Since I kinda hate Hera btw because of the Percy Jackson series and The Lost Hero. It's like a breath of fresh air reading a positive thing about her.
Overall it was an okay read. I still think that The Alchemist was one of his best^^ (less)
My friends love Brida and obviously they are Coelho fans so when I've heard that Brida was so good I was really excited to read it. My friend really l...moreMy friends love Brida and obviously they are Coelho fans so when I've heard that Brida was so good I was really excited to read it. My friend really like it because of the witchcraft and my friends who've read it they talked about the soulmates and how would you find your soulmate and if they believe in the "light in the shoulder sign" or the "love at first sight" and actually two of them were saying that Paulo Coelho was right in that matter because they actually seen it in there ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend but to be honest at that point I just roll my eyes but they were dead serious and they are not the type of person who joke about things like that.
Now I'm gonna review the book, it was interesting, the witchcraft and the soulmates. I'd really love the rituals that were described in the book and also even if it's IMO hard to believe I'd also like the idea of soulmates and then how to find your soulmate and the idea that we can have two or more soulmates in a lifetime. I'd also love the reincarnation and the going back to the past and the feeling of dejavu. All in all the story is good and pretty interesting.
My only critic was how the story ended. At first I was "nabitin," as we say it here and it means like I'm in a hanging position. After I read it I actually like flip the pages and then see if I missed a page or something because it doesn't feel complete and the story is like open-ended. Maybe I just don't like *Spoiler Alert* that Brida ended up with Lorens rather than the Magus and then it doesn't seem right and doesn't make sense but I know that Lorens was also Brida's soulmate and idk I just don't like the ending. (less)
This book is really fabulous and amazing. Mainly it talks about love, commitment, infidelity, happiness, freedom, sex among many others. It's really g...moreThis book is really fabulous and amazing. Mainly it talks about love, commitment, infidelity, happiness, freedom, sex among many others. It's really great and I learned a lot and also have reflect a lot.
It's very intriguing at first and then the middle part was really good too. I was just disappointed with the ending, I know that the ending was inevitable but somehow I'm not use with these type of endings.
I hope that the story ended differently because it was really a little unrealistic for me especially the "I am pregnant right now part". I also want to say that I really hate most of the endings of Paulo Coelho books like Brida and Veronika decides to die. I think this book is in the same category.
Love the book but in the end I wish it ended differently. (less)
Great story, it's very emotional but really the ending kinda sucks. It would be better if Veronika died in the end. There are some ve...moreSPOILER ALERT!!!!
Great story, it's very emotional but really the ending kinda sucks. It would be better if Veronika died in the end. There are some very good parts but there are parts that are really weird.(less)
I really like the drawing and I've learned a lot from it. It's a good book and I really like the part when they define the word "ephemeral." It's a cu...moreI really like the drawing and I've learned a lot from it. It's a good book and I really like the part when they define the word "ephemeral." It's a cute story and I think it fits more to children.(less)