Dante has
525 books
(25 selected)
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| # | cover | title | author | isbn | isbn13 | asin | num pages | avg rating | num ratings | date pub | date pub (ed.) | rating | my rating | review | notes | recommender | comments | votes |
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date started | date read | date added | date purchased | owned | purchase location | condition | format | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0553212737
| 9780553212730
| 3.96
| 231,080
| 1815
| Jan 01, 1984
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None
| Notes are private!
| none
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0
| Feb 28, 2013
| not set
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Mar 25, 2012
| Paperback
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| 0451524934
| 9780451524935
| 4.06
| 910,364
| 1949
| Jul 1950
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None
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| not set
| not set
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Sep 01, 2011
| Paperback
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| 0439023483
| 9780439023481
| 4.44
| 1,585,838
| 2008
| Sep 14, 2008
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Enjoyed the story. Very interesting, albeit disturbing. A hint of the plot It's basically a dystopian novel. The setting is Panem, formerly North Americ...more Enjoyed the story. Very interesting, albeit disturbing. A hint of the plot It's basically a dystopian novel. The setting is Panem, formerly North America. The Capitol is where the country's seat of power lie. It is a highly advanced and affluent metropolis. It is surrounded by smaller cities called "districts". In contrast, the districts are poverty-stricken. The main protagonist is Katniss Everdeen, a young girl who lives in District 12. Once a year, there is an event called "The Hunger Games," and it is preceded by "The Reaping." The Hunger Games is a horrifying competition which requires the contestants to kill each other. The participants are called "The Tributes". Two kids (one boy and one girl) are chosen from each district by means of the Reaping, which is a lottery. Katniss's best friend is Gale, a young boy who is, like her, a hunter. They hunt in order to provide food for themselves and their families. Katniss has a younger sister, Prim, and they live with their mother. Prim is chosen for The Hunger Games, but Katniss cannot allow this to happen, so she volunteers in her sister's place. The other Tribute is a boy named Peeta, who is Katniss's school mate. Katniss and Peeta are then sent to the Capitol to fight for their lives. We then learn that The Hunger Games is a huge TV event in Panem. It is broadcasted all over the country as a source of entertainment. Therein lies the horror. The Capitol is wealthy and advanced, yet it relishes in seeing a reality show that requires kids to murder each other, and live! The Tributes are first treated as celebrities. They get trained, clothed in fine clothes or costumes, and are fed with the best foods. Then, they are sent to the Arena, a piece of land somewhere in the country that has a forest, lakes, and rivers. Cameras are set up all over the place so that each action is witnessed by the audience. It is absolutely horrifying! I won't disclose what happens next. Thoughts Panem is obviously a very sick society. The Hunger Games is the Capitol's way of punishing and controlling the population. Once upon a time, a thirteenth district rebelled against the powers-that-be. The rebellion was quashed and the district obliterated. The Games are the Capitol's way of showing the rest of the country that they can't mess around with the status quo, and that they can do whatever they like with the children of those who rebelled. It is a very dark novel. I admire Katniss's courage and skill. I wonder what will happen next in Catching Fire. Will she lead another insurgency?(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Apr 09, 2012
| Apr 15, 2012
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Sep 03, 2011
| Hardcover
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| 0061142026
| 9780061142024
| 4.03
| 127,477
| Oct 28, 1998
| Aug 29, 2006
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We enjoyed this! I actually read this out loud to my wife while she nursed our baby several times each day. She liked the plot a lot, but not very muc...more
We enjoyed this! I actually read this out loud to my wife while she nursed our baby several times each day. She liked the plot a lot, but not very much how it ended. Of course, we skipped the sexually explicit parts. Call us prudes, but fornication is fornication. So, although we liked the story, we wouldn't want our son to read it, or at least, not until he is mature enough to discern right from wrong from works of fiction. The plot, sort of (May contain spoilers!) The story began in the town of Wall. It was probably named after a wall that separated the town from the fantastical world of Faerie. Faerie is literally a fairy tale-like place, where creatures like goblins, gnomes, witches, nymphs, unicorns, talking animals, flying ships, power-hungry princes, and yes, fairies live. The wall has a gap and was constantly guarded by the town's male inhabitants. No one is permitted to enter it, except during the trade fair, which took place every nine years. The inhabitants of the real world and the fantasy world did commerce on that day. Dunstan Thorn met an enigmatically-beautiful lady on one such Market Day. He fell for her, fornicated with her (sorry, I can't help it), and not long after, Tristran Thorn was born. Tristran was delivered at the foot of the wall's gap one night, and a name tag was attached to his basket. Dunstan at the time was already married to Daisy Hempstock, and he wasn't aware that the girl he met in the meadow behind the wall was pregnant. Still, he welcomed the boy into his home, and his wife treated young Tristran like a real son. Tristran was in love with Victoria Forester, "the fairest girl in the whole British Isles." One night, while courting her, they saw a falling star drop from the sky. In his fervor and foolishness, he promised Victoria to retrieve that star for her, in exchange for his "heart's desire" -- perhaps Victoria's kiss or hand in marriage. And so he did. He bade his father and mother good bye, and slipped into Faerie for the fallen star. He met a strange little hairy man who helped him and gave him tools by which to locate and obtain the star. The star is actually a girl. Her name is Yvaine, and at first she hated his guts. But slowly in the story they became friends. Somewhere in Faerie, on top of Mount Huon, is the Kingdom of Stormhold. The 81st Lord of Stormhold was dying. He has seven sons, four dead and three still living. The three didn't trust each other. In fact, they were out to eliminate one another, eventually, somehow, because only one son must remain to rule the Kingdom. The rightful heir must win the Lord's Topaz stone. Their father threw it into the night sky and one of them must possess it. It happened that the stone hit a star. That star was Yvaine. And so, she fell into Faerie, never to return again. In another place in Faerie, in the middle of a thick forest, lived three old witch-queens. Somehow, they found out about the fallen star. One of them quickly set out to find it (or her), because the star's heart has the power to restore them into their youthful and powerful forms. I'll leave it at that. Thoughts Gaiman is a great story teller. This novel was so easy to read. It's fast-paced, and the progress of the plot kept us interested enough to want to keep on turning the pages. There were a few funny moments, too. Gaiman has at times a dark sense of humor. (less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| May 29, 2012
| Jun 04, 2012
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Sep 01, 2011
| Paperback
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| 0156904365
| 9780156904360
| 4.14
| 20,864
| 1956
| Jul 09, 1980
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Done! I'm not sure if I like this. The ending was very confusing for me. I hope to write a review of this soon, but I don't know where to start...
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Sep 26, 2011
| Oct 15, 2011
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Sep 23, 2011
| Paperback
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| 0439023491
| 9780439023498
| 4.30
| 926,629
| Sep 01, 2009
| Sep 01, 2009
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I didn't enjoy this as much as I enjoyed the first book. The Hunger Games was much more interesting. I'm not sure if I want to read Mockingjay after t...more
I didn't enjoy this as much as I enjoyed the first book. The Hunger Games was much more interesting. I'm not sure if I want to read Mockingjay after this. A sketch of the plot (May contain spoilers!) Catching Fire continues Katniss's and Peeta's adventure in Panem. They won the Hunger Games, of course. Everyone was happy, except President Snow and the Capitol. They weren't supposed to win together. Only one victor is allowed. But because of certain circumstances during the game (which involved the Game Makers luring and tricking Katniss, Peeta, and the rest of the Tributes to finish each other off), both of them survived and won. It was unprecedented. Actually, Katniss and Peeta were playing on a scheme -- to make the Game Makers, the audience and the rest of Panem, think that theirs was a love story. Katniss and Peeta's defiance of the Hunger Games rule began to undermine the Capitol's authority. This sent a ripple effect throughout the whole country, and in particular, it led to the unrest of all of the districts. "Catching fire" is probably a reference to the uprising that was brewing within each of the districts. This "fire" was further stoked when President Snow announced a "Quarter Quell", a more deadly Hunger Games that takes place every 25 years. Katniss and Peeta weren't surprised when they were chosen again (after all, there have only been one other victor, besides themselves, who came from their district who is still alive), together with the other victors from the previous Games. Thoughts Like I said, I wasn't able to appreciate the story very much. Is it because I listened to an audiobook instead of reading an actual book? But I listened to an audiobook of Hunger Games, too. And the reader, Carolyn McCormick, is actually good. Maybe it's just this -- I find the plot to be a bit predictable and boring...(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Apr 18, 2012
| May 02, 2012
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Sep 03, 2011
| Hardcover
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| 0374532575
| 9780374532574
| 3.65
| 74,961
| 2010
| Aug 01, 2010
|
Freedom is basically a story about a family: their problems, struggles, mistakes, temptations, loves, hates, hurts, pains, successes, and failures. It...more
Freedom is basically a story about a family: their problems, struggles, mistakes, temptations, loves, hates, hurts, pains, successes, and failures. It's a pretty dark novel. I will get it off my chest right away: I don't like the story. It's very depressing and disturbing. I also don't like the characters. I don't share their politics and their view of the world. They complicate their lives, and oftentimes unnecessarily, I think. Also, they cuss a lot. I find it very irritating. A person who curses a lot, in my opinion, is immature. A sketch of the plot Patty is married to Walter Berglund. They have two children: Joey and Jessica. In the beginning of the novel, we get the impression that Patty is a perfect mom and wife. She is very friendly to her neighbors. She reaches out to them. She constantly praises her kids, especially Joey. And her husband is very hard-working. But soon we find out that not everything is as it seems. The truth is, Patty and Walter have a very rocky marriage. And their son, Joey, is very problematic. He is a spoiled brat, extremely rebellious, and totally disrespectful. Walter and Joey hate each other. Jessica, too, doesn't get along well with Joey. In addition, Joey has a relationship with the daughter of the Berglund's next door neighbor, whom Patty hates -- the Monaghans. And both of them are sexually active, too, despite their very young age. In other words, Patty's family is very dysfunctional. We also learn that Patty doesn't get in touch with her parents. She doesn't like her parents, and she raised her kids away from them. Her dad is a lawyer, and her mom is a politician. In the story, Patty describes what her childhood was like, and what her experiences were in high school and college that shaped the person that she is. She is the daughter of Ray and Joyce Emerson. She has three siblings: Abigail, Veronica, and Edgar. She's a jock. She plays basketball for her school, and she's quite good at it. But her mom rarely sees her games. In a party, a boy took advantage of her and raped her. Her coach was shocked when she found out about it and encouraged her to go to the police. But her parents downplayed it because the boy happened to be the son of a very important, influential and powerful political family, with whom the Emersons has some sort of connection. Patty became angry and bitter towards her parents, and in college, she tried her best to distance herself from them. Patty surrounds herself with her friends, who are all jocks. But one day she meets Eliza, an unusual girl who later turned out to be a junkie and is mentally disturbed. She was drawn to her because she lavishes Patty with a lot of praise and attention, things which Patty's ego needed. Through her, she meets Richard Katz, who is a punk rocker, and his best friend Walter, who is a law student. She didn't like Walter, at first. He was sort of a nerd, and therefore uncool. But Richard she was attracted to immediately. He was tall, good-looking, and has an attitude that excited her. Patty liked Richard a lot, but she ends up marrying Walter, who loved her very much. But Richard remains a strong temptation for her -- an "itch that begged to be scratched." They eventually had an affair, but it was short-lived because Richard couldn't stand betraying his best friend. What followed for Patty was years of depression. Richard was already a recognized musician by that time, and Walter was successful in his own career (The two of them have always been competitive). Walter loves the environment and is passionate about the issue of overpopulation. Ironically, however, he ends up working for a big corporation that is not environment-friendly and has ties with oil companies. He wanted to compromise because he wanted to provide a permanent refuge for Cerulean Warblers. He saw that the long-term effect of what his company is doing is good for the environment, although the short-term effect "looks" destructive. He later became disillusioned when he saw the real picture, and his career ended. Walter has a personal assistant, Lalitha, who is very attractive, young, intelligent, and who shares his passion for the environment and overpopulation. She is very much devoted to him. In fact, she loves him, but initially he did not give in to the temptation of having her (or giving himself to her) because he wanted to preserve his marriage and prove to the world that a man can be faithful to his wife even if their marriage is struggling. But later, he did give in, when he found out about Richard and Patty -- when he read Patty's "manuscript" detailing the affair. Patty's intention, however, in letting Richard read it, was to help him understand that the two of them can never be together again because she loves Walter and wants to devote herself to him. But Richard left the manuscript in Walter's office. So, enraged, Walter drove Patty out of their mansion, and they didn't see or speak to each other for over six years. He lived like a hermit in their house in Nameless Lake after Lalitha died from a car accident, distancing himself from the world and all human emotion, and focused on what he cared about the most -- endangered birds. The ending of the story, though, is somewhat happy. Personal thoughts As I've said, I don't like the characters. Walter, when he's angry, sounds like a whining child. I don't share his politics and worldview, and I can understand where he's coming from. But I resent his tendency to badmouth Christians in general and the Pope in particular. It's very immature. Richard is just a jerk, a sex maniac who doesn't give a crap about women. He simply uses them like objects and throws them away like garbage once he's done with them. He's passionate about his music, message, and philosophy, but he's actually just a hypocrite. I can sympathize a bit with Patty. She struggles to make her life and family work, but she keeps on making mistakes. Her infidelity was truly serious, though, and as a result, she experienced depression, wrecked her marriage, and suffered further emptiness and sadness. Joey is just a very arrogant, stubborn, and spoiled kid. And, like Richard, he's a sex maniac. Connie is weird. Jessica is okay. She's intelligent, outspoken, free from vice, but she talks a lot and is emotionally distant. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Jan 27, 2012
| Mar 2012
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Sep 01, 2011
| Paperback
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| 0786838655
| 9780786838653
| 4.14
| 415,475
| Jan 01, 2005
| Apr 01, 2006
|
Finished this last night. I think this is my first Young Adult fiction, and I'm thankful to the Filipinos Book Group here in GoodReads for selecting t...more
Finished this last night. I think this is my first Young Adult fiction, and I'm thankful to the Filipinos Book Group here in GoodReads for selecting this book. This is the group's choice for the third quarter of this year. I liked the story. It's entertaining. The plot, basically (Spoiler alert!) The main character is Percy Jackson. He's a twelve-year-old kid who lives with his mom and stepfather in New York. He has dyslexia and ADHD, and he transfers from one school to another because he often gets into trouble with his classmates and with his academic performance. His mom is Sally, and she works in a candy shop/ stall in a public terminal. His stepdad is Gabe. He has a funny last name -- Ugliano. It's not hard to imagine that he must not be a very handsome guy. He plays poker all day with his buddies, and he emits a stench that permeates their entire house. Percy's best friend is Grover, an awkward boy whom he often defends against bullies. At the start of the story, we learn that there's something about Percy that's special. He's not a normal kid. In school, he wasn't aware of this, but then strange things began to happen. He saw monsters. At first, he thought he was just hallucinating. But he soon found out that they were very real. And what's more, he discovers that Grover is a goat! Well, half-man, half-goat, that is. A satyr. A creature that's supposed to exist only in stories. He comes home to his mom and they take a vacation outside the city. They get threatened by a Minotaur, his mom gets caught, and they enter Half-Blood Hill, a summer camp for special kids like Percy. Half-Blood Hill is actually a totally new world. In this world, the Greek gods and goddesses exist. Chiron, Percy's former teacher, is actually a Centaur, and he is one of the camp's elders. He tells Percy that the Greek deities were never myths. They existed since centuries ago, and they've been living (they are, after all, immortal) from generation to generation, paralleling the course of Western civilization. So, yes, Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, and the rest of them, live in this world. Percy is a "godling"; that is, he is half-man, half-god, therefore he, too, is immortal, and furthermore, he is a hero, just like Hercules and Perseus was in the ancient days. Percy's mom is human, so his dad must be a god. The only question was, which god? Well, his dad is one of the "big three" gods -- Poseidon, "the God of the Sea." He discovers his powers and his real identity during one of the camp's competition. The gods dwell in Olympus, of course, and Olympus can be found hovering over New York city itself! It can't be seen by mortal eyes. And where lies the Underworld? Well, beneath Los Angeles! Trouble is brewing overt at Olympus. Someone had the audacity to steal the Great Zeus's master thunderbolt. Poseidon is accused. But many are saying it's the handiwork of Hades, allegedly to cause the great brothers to fight each other and therefore bring doom to the lands of the immortals (a new Trojan War) and the mortals (World War III). Percy meets Annabeth, a girl his age who is one of the goddess Athena's daughters, and Luke, one of the god Hermes's many sons. Together with Grover, they set out on a quest to retrieve the master bolt and avert a major war. We learn near the end that the real enemy in the story is actually more ancient than the gods themselves. Personal thoughts I enjoyed the story. It re-introduced me to the world of Greek Mythology. It makes me want to read the real thing -- Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Virgil's Aeneid, and others. Although, of course, the real stuff must be way more satisfying to read. There are many funny moments in the novel. I liked that part where Percy finally meets his father Poseidon and his uncle Zeus in Olympus. Zeus wanted to wash the bolt because it's been "defiled by human hands," and he promptly disappeared after somewhat thanking Percy for his heroic deeds but threatening him to get out of his Kingdom before his return, and Poseidon said something like, "You know, your uncle ought also to be called the God of Theater, because he has a flair for the theatrical." And that scene in the Underworld where Hades was complaining about his work and his expenses because his Kingdom is over-crowded by souls. Actually, the gods and goddesses themselves are pretty funny. They are very much like humans. They can be vain, petty, jealous, and unpredictable. I wonder if Riordan is a fan of Narnia, because I think I saw Aslan in the story. But I might be mistaken.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Sep 10, 2011
| Sep 19, 2011
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Sep 10, 2011
| Paperback
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| 0143039695
| 9780143039693
| 4.11
| 2,501
| 1887
| Jun 27, 2006
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I enjoyed this novel a lot. It's a real page turner. And this is surprising for me. We were required to read this in high school (I think it's still re...more I enjoyed this novel a lot. It's a real page turner. And this is surprising for me. We were required to read this in high school (I think it's still required reading in all Philippine schools, public and private, but I may be wrong). Jose Rizal is one of our national heroes, and perhaps the greatest. But back then I thought it was dry and boring. During Filipino class, my mind wandered elsewhere. As a result, I failed to appreciate it. What is the story about? (Spoilers ahead!) Basically, Noli Me Tangere is a love story. The setting is 19th century Philippines, during the latter years of the country as Spain's only colony in Asia. So in the background, there's politics. It's a love story not only between two individuals, Crisostomo Ibarra and Maria Clara de los Santos, but also between persons and the motherland. The love stories are tragic. When I finished the novel, I got a bit depressed. But that was just Rizal's aim. He dedicated the novel to his country. What he did, or what he promised to do, was hold up a mirror in front of Philippine society and allow it to see the truth of its condition. The truth, as he saw it, was that the Philippines is being eaten up by a social cancer. And his countrymen, unfortunately, are asleep. They needed to be awakened from their slumber and see the real state of things so that they can find freedom and happiness. What is the social cancer? Rizal believed, I think, that the social cancer eating away the tissues of Philippine society are the following: 1. Corruption and abuse of power (By many of the friars and Spanish administration officials); 2. Ignorance or lack of education; 3. Superstitious beliefs or lack of knowledge about one's religion; 4. Hypocrisy of the friars; 5. Vices like gambling and tendency to gossip; 6. Indolence; 7. Passivity; 8. Cowardice; and 9. Lust The question is, how faithfully did Rizal's novel portray Philippine society? We need to consult our history books for that. Before reading this book, I used to think that the misery that the Filipinos in Rizal's time experienced was simply inflicted by the friars and Spanish officials. In the Noli, however, it's not as simple as that. There was an interplay of the above factors: Yes, many of the friars were corrupt, hypocritical, and abusive, but many of the common people were not entirely blameless. Many of the latter were ignorant of their own religion; they held superstitious beliefs alongside Catholic beliefs, even if the two are incompatible. Many were also fond of gambling: For example, Sisa's husband. His addiction to cock-fighting left him and his family constantly in want of money, so that Sisa had to compensate by working long hours and sending her two sons to the parish house to work under extremely harsh and unjust circumstances. If her husband were more decent and responsible, Sisa's sons would've been spared and her sanity unharmed. So, their family would've stayed intact. Many of the Filipinos were also passive and cowardly. When they witnessed injustices done to their fellow indios, they did nothing out of fear. I think that the Noli does not really indict religion, or Catholicism, itself. It only brings out as ugly, dangerous, and destructive corruption and hypocrisy. What is the plot? Here's a sketch: Crisostomo Ibarra is the son of a wealthy man in the town of San Diego. He is half-Spanish and half-indio. The novel begins with a social gathering in the house of one Captain Santiago. This party is well-attended by the who's-who of society: Padre Damaso, Padre Salvi, Padre Sibyla, a Spanish journalist, some members of the Spanish army, and some members of the Philippine elite, like the Españadas. Ibarra arrived from Europe (after almost seven years, studying and travelling) and joins the assembly. Padre Damaso quickly reveals himself as a very odious man. In contrast, Padre Salvi is more quiet and mysterious, but many times more conniving and downright sinister. They are Franciscans, so it's highly ironic that they're not peace-loving, gentle, pure, honest, and holy. Ibarra soon learns of his father's fate. He is enraged, but he swallows his bitterness and directs his energies to more constructive efforts, like gifting his town with its own school, something that was sorely needed. At first, Ibarra was quite optimistic. But he faced stiff and violent opposition from his enemies, so in the end he was radicalized, with the help of the mysterious Elias. Maria Clara loves him dearly, but she is caught up in her own problems and dilemmas. She's trapped in a web of lies and evil and she couldn't get away from it. The other interesting characters in the story are: Tasio, the philosopher; Sisa, and her two sons; Captain Tiago; Aunt Isabel; the ensign and his wife, Doña Consolacion; Don Tiburcio Españada, the quack doctor, and his wife, Doña Victorina. Like I said, the ending is pretty grim. So I'm looking forward to El Filibusterismo. Why "Noli Me Tangere" (Touch Me Not)? The phrase is taken from John 20:17: Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Perhaps Rizal was simply referring to the Spanish friars, like Padre Damaso and Padre Salvi, who were corrupt and hypocritical but were "untouchables" because of their power. Jesus was the Son of God and is therefore the "fountain of all holiness", but the friars were vile and violent, so it's highly ironic that the phrase should refer to them.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Aug 19, 2012
| Oct 25, 2012
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Sep 30, 2011
| Paperback
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| 0141439661
| 9780141439662
| 4.03
| 439,605
| 1811
| Apr 29, 2003
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I often find it hard to review books, especially if it’s fiction and a great work of literature. This novel is an example. Where to begin? Perhaps I sh...more I often find it hard to review books, especially if it’s fiction and a great work of literature. This novel is an example. Where to begin? Perhaps I should simply start by saying that, initially, I liked it. But then, after watching the BBC adaptation (2008) and thereby understanding the story better, and after re-visiting some of the important dialogues and scenes in the book, I loved it. Perhaps my difficulty in appreciating the story stemmed from my expectation that it’s going to be just as witty and funny as Pride and Prejudice and that the Dashwood sisters are going to be exactly like Lizzy and Jane. Well, there are still some witty dialogues in this story, but it’s largely drama. Also, the characters are totally different. Elinor and Marianne are quite different from Jane and Lizzy in terms of their personalities. Here are the reasons why I love it: 1. I liked the plot: The story is simple, yet you cannot easily guess what will happen next. The story opens with the death of Mr. Henry Dashwood, the father of Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret. Because the estate of Norland Park is entailed to their half-brother, John, they are forced to seek residence elsewhere. Moreover, they don’t like Fanny, John’s wife. She, more than her husband, is selfish and ambitious. The sisters and their mother end up in Barton Cottage, a house owned by their relative Sir John Middleton. Here, they are welcomed to a new society, meet new friends, and start a new life. Before leaving Norland Park, however, Elinor meets Edward Ferrars, Fanny’s brother. Unlike his sister, he is very amiable, good-natured, and kind-hearted. Elinor and Edward falls in love with each other, but to Elinor’s disappointment, Edward does not propose. In Barton, Marianne meets Mr. Willoughby. He is young, handsome, intelligent, and shares Marianne’s passion and taste for music, books, and poetry. Elinor and Marianne are not alike in disposition and temperament. The elder sister is more calm, controlled, reserved, and prudent. The younger is more expressive, spontaneous, and romantic. Everyone could see the love that’s developing between Marianne and Willoughby, but things get an unexpected turn. 2. I liked the characters: What I love about Jane Austen’s novels is that they are always about people. Austen, I think, is fascinated by people. She is fascinated by their personalities. But above all, she is fascinated by their character. For her, I think, that is the most important thing in a person: his or her character. Character lies at the heart of her, well, characters, and love and happiness all depend on it: Would Mr. Darcy have fallen for Elizabeth if, in addition, of course, to her very fine eyes, she were not also virtuous, intelligent, and lively? Would Lizzy have been drawn to Mr. Darcy had he not explained himself to her and radically changed his character and personality, and had he not spurn his pride and went out of his way and his comfort zone by helping Lizzy and her family win back their honor by arranging the marriage of Lizzy’s youngest sister to his mortal enemy? Lizzy’s affection for Wickham was obliterated when she found out that the latter was actually unprincipled, deceptive, and a plain scoundrel. I admired Elinor for her strength of character, resilience, composure, honesty, and intelligence. I admired Marianne, too, for her intelligence and passion, misguided though it was. I liked Colonel Brandon, and appreciated his helping Edward and the Dashwood family, but I couldn’t see any chemistry between him and Marianne. Moreover, the gap in their age is so wide! Edward, of course, is also likable. There are so many mean and disagreeable characters in this novel: There’s Willoughby, of course, although he did sort of try to redeem himself near the end by owning up to his wrongs; there’s Fanny Dashwood (and John, too, if you think about it, for neglecting his step-mother and step-sisters); and there’s Mrs. Ferrars. 3. I simply love Jane Austen’s writing. Needless to say, Austen is such a great writer, and her manner of narrating and expressing her self, to say nothing of her characters’ dialogues, are always excellent. She’s a pleasure to read. 4. I liked the BBC adaptation. The BBC series helped me understand the story better. I loved the actresses who played Elinor (Hattie Morahan) and Marianne (Charity Wakefield). The cinematography is simply beautiful! The location for Barton Cottage is breath-taking. The musical score is also great. However, it has been criticized by the Jane Austen Society as being too raunchy. I agree. It would’ve been better had they stayed faithful to the novel in every respect — the sex was only very vaguely implied in Austen’s book. Also, it would’ve been great had they expanded the series to more than three episodes.(less) | Notes are private!
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| Aug 08, 2012
| Sep 20, 2012
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Mar 25, 2012
| Paperback
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| 067976397X
| 9780679763970
| 3.87
| 33,608
| 1994
| Aug 29, 1995
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Been reading this aloud for hours... What a story.
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1
| Feb 02, 2012
| Mar 10, 2012
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Sep 03, 2011
| Paperback
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| 1857993284
| 9781857993288
| 3.79
| 69,033
| 1991
| 1995
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If you're new to philosophy, here's a book that can bend your mind in unimaginable ways. Sophie's World is a novel about the history of Western philoso...more If you're new to philosophy, here's a book that can bend your mind in unimaginable ways. Sophie's World is a novel about the history of Western philosophy, written by Jostein Gaarder. The Plot The plot basically goes like this: Sophie Amundsen is a 14-year old school girl. One day, she discovers a mysterious letter in her mailbox. The letter is short and contains two enigmatic questions: Who are you? Where does the world come from? She learns later that the author of the letter is actually a philosopher named Alberto Knox. He is inviting her to take a short course in the history of Western philosophy. She is intrigued as well as fascinated, so she accepts the invitation. In the next several days and weeks, Alberto writes her more letters, introducing her to the study of philosophy, and taking her on a tour through the history of ideas. With each letter, Alberto explains to Sophie each of the major philosophies and philophers in the history of philosophy. He starts from the pre-Socratic philosophers and moves down to the contemporary philosophy of Jean Paul Sartre and Existentialism. Sophie explores philosophy with the guidance of Alberto and eventually the two of them meet up in person. A shocking thing happens half-way through the book. Sophie and Alberto learns that the two of them are actually just figments of some author's imagination! They discover, to their horror, that the world in which they live in and all the people in it, including Sophie's mom and friends, are just products of another person's mind! They find out that they are actually characters in a novel called "Sophie's World"! This book was written by a father to his daughter for her fifteenth birthday. The girl's name is Hilde Knag and the father's name is Albert Knag. Sophie and Alberto were indignant. They wanted to get back at the author because they felt robbed of their dignity as persons. Now, they realize that they're not really persons because they don't have free will (since their every thought and action is determined by the author's imagination). They wanted to get out of the book and find the author and his daughter in order to confront them. Somehow, they succeeded in jumping into the real world. But because they're just fictional characters in a novel, they become invisible. I won't divulge how the story ends, though... A rough sketch of the history of philosophy Here's a rough sketch of what Alberto taught Sophie: The history of philosophy can be divided into four periods: Ancient Philosophy, Medieval Philosophy, Modern Philosophy, and Contemporary Philosophy. In Ancient Philosophy, you will find the pre-Socratics (the Greek philosophers who came before Socrates), the Sophists, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and the Hellenistic philosphers (the philosophers who lived during the time of the Greco-Roman empire). In Medieval Philosophy, you will find two of the greatest Christian thinkers of all time, St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. In Modern Philosophy, you will find the Rationalist philosophers (such as Descartes, Liebniz and Spinoza), the Empiricsts (such as Locke, Hume and Berkeley), the French Enlightenment philosophers (such as Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau), Kant, the Romantic philosophers (such as Schelling), Hegel, Kierkegaard, Marx, Darwin, and Freud, among others. In Contemporary Philosophy, you will find Sartre and the other Existentialist philosophers, and the other kinds of philosophies like neo-Thomism and neo-Darwinism. Before the time of Ancient philosophy, people used myths to make sense of their surroundings. For example, in the Nordic countries, people believed in deities like Thor, Loki, and Freyja. They can't explain calamities like droughts and earthquakes in natural terms because they didn't have the means of explaining these phenomena in natural terms. So they resorted to myths. Another example is Greece during the time of Homer. They believed in Zeus, Poseidon, Athena, etc., to make sense of the harsh realities of war, believing that gods and goddesses are somehow responsible for causing the conflict between nations. Then came Ancient philosophy. At this point in time, men began to question the validity of myths to explain natural phenomena. They wanted to make sense of their surroundings without resorting to myths and legends. They saw that deities, like Zeus and Athena for example, are suspiciously so alike human beings that they seem to simply be the projections of their makers. Philosophy thus emerged out of the need to explain natural phenomena in natural terms. Therefore, the very first philosophers, the pre-Socratics, are also called the Natural philosphers. Their whole "philosophical project" centered on the natural world (meaning, these philosophers concerned themselves mainly with questions like, "What is the world made of? What is its nature? What is its essence? Is there one essence or many? Is everything in a state of change or is everything unchanging?" Etc.) Then came Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Aristotle is Plato's pupil. Aristotle, in turn, is Socrates' pupil. These three men are the greatest Greek philosophers in the Ancient period. Socrates' main "philosophical project" was about man and his place in society (for example, how should an individual live his life in order to be happy?). Plato was also concerned about man and his place in society. Aristotle was concerned with a lot of things, but mainly logic and the study of the natural world. Then came the Medieval period, the time of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. Their "philosophical project" centered on the study of God and man's relationship with Him. They also were concerned with the topic of faith and reason. After the Medieval period came the Renaissance. The Renaissance was the age in which Europe experienced a sort of "cultural and philosophical awakening". The Baroque period followed the Renaissance, and around this time Descartes was born. Modern philosophy started with Descartes. His main "philosophical project" was about knowledge. He was basically interested in questions like, "What do we know for certain? How do we know what we know? What can't we know for certain? Etc." He was a mathematician. He wanted to develop a method in philosophy that will enable him to know certain things with absolute certainty, such as whether the outside world exists, whether God exists, etc. He was also a Christian. Descartes was one of the three greatest Rationalist philosophers. The other two are Liebniz and Spinoza. They are called "Rationalist philosophers" because they thought that human reason is the primary source of knolwedge, as opposed to the senses. The opposite of Rationalism is Empiricism, and the latter followed the former in the history of philosophy. The three greatest Empiricists were Locke, Hume, and Berkeley. For these guys, the five senses are the primary source of human knowledge, as opposed to human reason. As you can see, the "philosophical project" of the Rationalists and the Empiricists centered on the question of "knowledge". After Empiricism came the Enlightenment movement. Then came the German philospher Kant. Kant's philosophy was influenced by both the Rationalists and the Empiricists. He thought that the views of both movements are not necessarily mutually exclusive. He believed that there's some truth to Rationalism as there is also some truth to Empiricism. He sought to synthesize both philosophies. Then came Hegel, Kierkegaard, Marx, Darwin, and Freud. Contemporary philosophy started with the French philosopher Sartre. His "philosophical project" focused on man and his existence in the world. Basically, he believed that human life has no objective meaning. Therefore, he thought, life is basically absurd. But we need not become nihilists (people who believe that all hope is lost and that therefore nothing in life matters and everything is permissible). We ought, instead, to face the absurdity of life with courage and create our own subjective meanings. His famous quote is, "Existence precedes essence." Meaning, man has no objective "essence" or meaning. He must create his own subjective "essence". To summarize, all of the philosophers, from the pre-Socratics to Sartre, had different "philosophical projects". They focused on different topics. Some were interested in the nature of the natural world (What is the world made of? Where did it come from?), others in the issue of man and his place in society (How should we live? How should we behave?). Still others, in the question of God's existence and nature and how man should relate with Him (Does God exist? What is He like? How should we relate to Him?). And still others, in the question of human knowledge (How do we come to a knowledge of certain things in the world? How do we know what we know? Do we really know what we claim to know?). These "projects", concerns, topics, questions, or issues, actually correspond to the four branches of philosophy: Metaphysics (the study of what is ultimate reality), epistemology (the study of knowledge), ethics (the study of morality) and logic (the study of right thinking). The topics and questions dealt with in philosophy are actually the deepest questions we human beings ask in our lives. Does God exist? Where did the world come from? What is the world made of? Where did we come from? Who are we? What is the meaning of life? What is the purpose of life? What is the right thing to do? What is good and evil? Etc. Personal thoughts I kind of enjoyed the novel. The plot is quite interesting. There's mystery and suspense as the plot unfolds. Who is this Alberto Knox guy? What is he up to, sending Sophie these letters? Who is Hilde? Who is Albert Knag? How will the story end? But I didn't like certain parts of the story. It didn't seem believable that a 14-year old would be able to grasp all those abstract concepts in philosophy. Also, there were a few things in the novel that I think aren't possible. For example, fictional characters don't have their own "minds" or "free will". They can't make free decisions on their own. Sophie and Alberto wanted to free themselves from the fictional world of "Sophie's World". But they can't really do that because, well, they're simply the products of the author's imagination. They are not entities that possess traits that belong to persons, therefore it's impossible for them to escape their fictional world. But I truly appreciate this novel because it has introduced me to the history of philosophy. It has given me a basic knowledge of the history of philosophy and the great philosophers who shaped it.(less) | Notes are private!
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Mar 23, 2011
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| 0440339340
| 9780440339342
| 4.17
| 18,617
| 2010
| Oct 19, 2010
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This is my first thriller novel. A family friend gave it to me. It's about an ex-military cop, Jack Reacher, who ends up in a small town in Nebraska a...more
This is my first thriller novel. A family friend gave it to me. It's about an ex-military cop, Jack Reacher, who ends up in a small town in Nebraska and gets involved in a lot of trouble. A family holds the town in its grip. Everybody is afraid of them. And there's a dark secret 25-years old. Reacher comes to their rescue. I liked the story at first. It's entertaining, fast-paced, and easy to read. But I didn't like the ending. It's so violent and gruesome. (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Aug 27, 2011
| Aug 30, 2011
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Aug 29, 2011
| ebook
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| 0618391118
| 9780618391110
| 3.74
| 77,115
| 1977
| Nov 15, 2004
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We're starting over. My wifey couldn't get pass that part where Huan, the Valar dog, was fighting for his dear life to protect Luthienne. Plus, we now...more
We're starting over. My wifey couldn't get pass that part where Huan, the Valar dog, was fighting for his dear life to protect Luthienne. Plus, we now have a paperback copy. We were reading from an ebook, and we want to get our money's worth. Also, it's better to read an actual book.(less)
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Jan 11, 2012
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| 9780374174781
| 3.31
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| Apr 27, 2010
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Ilustrado is a novel by Miguel Syjuco. Honestly, I didn't understand the story very much. It’s fragmented, and the author is very verbose. I only began...more Ilustrado is a novel by Miguel Syjuco. Honestly, I didn't understand the story very much. It’s fragmented, and the author is very verbose. I only began to sort of grasp the whole unity of the novel when it was about to end. The twist in the ending reminded me of the twist in Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. I didn't quite expect it. From what my feeble mind was able to gather, the story is about a young writer who loses his mentor. The latter’s death is mysterious. No one knows if it's suicide or murder. To make sense of his teacher's fate, and hopefully solve the mystery, Miguel, the protagonist, returns to the Philippines to interview people from his teacher's past -- a sister, a friend, a former friend, and a rumored daughter. At the same time, he writes down Crispin's biography. But, as I've hinted, there's a twist near the end. (Spoiler alert: Stop reading this if you don't to know what it is.) There's another mystery Miguel wants to solve, and that is to find Crispin's "missing" novel, The Bridges Ablaze, which is supposed to be his last great work. The novel is supposed to achieve what few literary works in the past have achieved for the country. We find out in the epilogue that, actually, Crispin didn't die, but Miguel! He drowned in the Pasig River following a typhoon. What we are reading is actually the story Crispin is writing. In an effort to make sense of the abrupt and tragic death of his former student, he writes a story that explores what might have happened during Miguel's last days. In effect, he tries to make sense of his own life. Miguel’s death shakes Crispin up and compels him to rethink his life's trajectory. He finally decides to go home to the family and country he has alienated (he was on a self-imposed exile for many years), and hopes to be reconciled with the daughter he betrayed. The Bridges Ablaze was apparently unfinished and was eventually destroyed. So that is roughly the structure of the story. There are a lot of things going on in this novel. It’s a story about a young writer who goes on to make sense of the death of his old mentor, and in the end, it is revealed to us that actually, it was Miguel who died, and that the novel is actually about Crispin trying to make sense of Miguel’s death and in effect his (Crispin’s) own life. But it’s also a story that offers us a glimpse of Philippine history. Inserted between the narrative of the story are Crispin’s memoirs, and through them we are able to peek into his past: His family originated from Bacolod. They were probably Spanish mestizos, and they own vast areas of lands. They lived through the time of the Americans and the Japanese occupation, got exiled during the Martial Law, and thrives in the modern administration (his grandparents enter politics). Finally, it’s also a story that seeks to present the ugly truths in our society, from corruption in government and business to corruption in culture and families. I’m not sure if I like the story. It’s very dark and gloomy. I can’t understand Crispin’s philosophy. What is he trying to achieve with literature? I also have the sense that Miguel, too, is a bit lost and confused. What is he searching for? Where is he going? Miguel is also quite critical of religion, Christianity in particular. But I guess that’s not a surprise, since he is after all an atheist. He sees religion as one of the causes of the country’s problems. But I think what he is really describing is hypocrisy among some religious people. Nevertheless, he has a very negative attitude towards religion, and does not see the sacredness of religious objects. His atheism is also quite strange. He doesn’t believe that there’s such a being as God, but it seems he thinks he should thank someone transcendent for the happiness he sometimes feels. But maybe I just misread him. And the jokes, most of them are crass. I think that simply reflects bad taste. Moreover, there’s a lot of cussing in the dialogues. “Ilustrado” seems to refer to Crispin. But I think that label means more than his being an “enlightened” intellectual. It also means that his reflection on Miguel’s death “enlightened” him about what the important things in his life really are.(less) | Notes are private!
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| Mar 19, 2011
| Mar 30, 2011
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Mar 23, 2011
| Hardcover
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| 0375751513
| 9780375751516
| 3.99
| 254,119
| 1890
| Jun 01, 1998
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I liked the story. It's beautiful, in the sense that it contains truths about life: If you spend your life pursuing pleasures, comforts, and beauty fo...more
I liked the story. It's beautiful, in the sense that it contains truths about life: If you spend your life pursuing pleasures, comforts, and beauty for their own sake, and without acknowledging where they came from, or without any reference to their source, and treating them as if they are not ephemeral, or believing them to last forever; if you live your life as if all that matters is pleasure and comfort, the self and the ego -- you will lose your soul, and you will end up utterly empty and miserable. Sketching the plot (May have spoilers ahead!) The main character is Dorian Gray, a young, handsome, and initially innocent guy. His friend, Basil, is an artist, and he's the one who painted Dorian's portrait. Lord Henry is Basil's friend, and soon becomes Dorian's friend also. Basil is so inspired by Dorian's good looks (one wonders if Basil, Dorian, and Lord Henry are bisexual) that he paints his best work yet -- a perfect portrait of Dorian Gray. It is, in fact, his masterpiece. It is so perfect that it looks exactly like Dorian Gray, and captures perfectly his beauty. Basil is mesmerized. Dorian, too, is captivated by his own reflection in the painting. The work of art is like a mirror that shows Dorian exactly how he looks and much more -- how Basil sees and admires him. Something is awakened in Dorian. He begins to shed his innocence. Lord Henry is an unprincipled kind of guy. He's rich, intelligent, over-confident, trivial, and constantly tries to be witty by speaking in paradoxes. He's what you would call nowadays as a relativist. He exerts an influence over Dorian, and it's not a good one. He made Dorian realize that, with his youth and good looks, he can do anything he wants and have anyone he likes. He can pursue his heart's desires -- pleasures, adventures, lust, etc., and in life, that's all that matters -- pleasure and youth. Lord Henry tells Dorian that he only has one chance, because soon he will grow old, ugly and weary. Dorian gives in, and, inside Basil's studio, while admiring his own portrait, he expresses a wish (that was almost a prayer) to be young forever, to never grow old, to never taste physical deterioration, and he wants his portrait to bear the marks of time in his place. Little did he know, this wish of his came true. He falls in "love" with a theater actress, Sybyl Vane, but soon we find out that it's not really love, only infatuation. His "love" for her is conditional, dependent upon her performance on the stage. When she finally fell for him, her acting became terrible, because she realized that there’s real life beyond acting after all, so his illusion about her crashed and he left her harshly. She was driven to despair and eventually took her own life. This was the first of Dorian's many sins. Of course, the girl committed the sin of suicide, but it was Dorian's actions and horrendous behavior that brought her to her desperation. His portrait began to change. It transformed into something distorted, ugly and horrible, but it accurately mirrored the state of his soul. He became more callous, vain, and sinful. He pursued a life of hedonism and became a corrupting influence over others. He ruined the lives of the people closest to him. Later in the story, he eventually grew weary of all his pleasure-seeking and he became overwhelmed by his guilt. He wanted to do good, to change, to become a better person. He took the first step by not eloping with a girl whom he seduced, leaving her pure and her innocence intact. But he never quite went all the way – he didn't truly repent of his sins; he didn’t truly feel sorry for his crimes and he didn’t ask for forgiveness. He had an opportunity to truly change, but he chose to hide his sins instead. Personal thoughts As I've said, I liked the story. The message is timeless, and is best summed up by that old saying, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul in the process?" The story is very relevant, especially in this day and age when a lot of people are swayed by the philosophy of moral relativism. It recognizes the reality and ugliness of sin, and its very real and horrifying effect on the soul. It's funny how irrational and unreasonable Dorian was, and how ironic his experiences were -- he wanted beauty so much and pursued it to great lengths and at great expense, but his soul only got uglier and uglier. He didn't pursue true beauty -- a clean, honest, pure and loving life.(less) | Notes are private!
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| Mar 13, 2012
| Mar 22, 2012
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Feb 27, 2012
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| 0140620664
| 9780140620665
| 3.77
| 118,081
| 1814
| May 26, 1994
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I enjoyed the story, but not as I did Austen's first two novels. Now I'm down to three. I can't wait to read Emma next. As with Sense and Sensibility a...more I enjoyed the story, but not as I did Austen's first two novels. Now I'm down to three. I can't wait to read Emma next. As with Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, the central themes of this novel are, of course, love, marriage, money, and above all, the importance of having a good character (possessing principles and following them) and a sound mind. Every time I read Austen, I always have this desire to improve my mind and character. Fanny Price is unlike her other heroines. She's not very confident and assertive like Elizabeth Bennet or Elinor Dashwood, but she possesses a character that is constant and a mind that is pure.(less) | Notes are private!
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| Dec 24, 2012
| Feb 17, 2013
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Mar 25, 2012
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| 9715504914
| 9789715504911
| 4.07
| 46
| 2007
| Jan 28, 2007
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Salamanca is a novel about love. Basically, the plot goes like this: Gaudencio Rivera, the main character in the story, announces to his friends one da...more Salamanca is a novel about love. Basically, the plot goes like this: Gaudencio Rivera, the main character in the story, announces to his friends one day in a dinner party in Los Angeles that he wants to go back to the Philippines and return to his wife. He has abandoned her many years ago for a man (Yes, a man!). He wants to apologize to her and renew his commitment of love to her and raise a child with her. He wants to make right the great wrong he has done, and start anew. He then relates to one of his artist-friends the story of how he first met his wife in Tagbaoran in Palawan. He ended up in the town of Tagbaoran after fleeing Manila because of a love affair gone wrong. He wanted to become a teacher in the town. However, such a position wasn't needed. So he ended up doing odd jobs just to survive. He wasn't able to make use of his education and talent in writing. His fate changed the moment he saw Jacinta Cordova, the most beautiful girl in the town, and perhaps even in the "whole of creation." He first heard about her the day he entered Tagbaoran: "The first two things Gaudencio Rivera was made aware of -- within hours of arriving by carabao-driven cart at the secluded town of Tagbaoran on the island province of Palawan -- were these: that the most beautiful woman in creation dwelt by the river, and that it was pointless to even dream of being loved by her. He was informed that her name was Jacinta Cordova, and that her beauty was of such purity and perfection that the walls of the house she lived in had turned transparent long ago, to allow both sunlight and moonlight to illuminate her incandescence." He saw her while he was out strolling in the woods and along a river. She was inside her transparent house while he was outside looking in, out of curiosity. He was absolutely stunned the moment he saw her face. He couldn't speak, and all sorts of emotions welled up inside him. The next moment, he was running away from the glass house and away from Jacinta, because he was swept away by his feelings. He then spent the next days and weeks, barely sleeping, feverishly writing short stories, poems, novellas, novels and dedicating all of them to Jacinta. He would go to her house before dawn every single day and plaster his literature on her transparent walls. Jacinta, it so happened, was struck the moment she saw him, too. She, too, was inflamed with emotions for him, and each day she would wake up before sunrise and remove the stories and poems posted on her wall, for fear that her aunt, Apolinaria, might see the unbelievable sight. Eventually, they got married, but their union only lasted for several days, and wasn't even consummated, for he ran off with Cesar, a friend he met while earning his living in the town. They went to Manila, and Gaudencio began his life as a writer. He stunned Manila's literary scene with his prodigious writing. He got published in all the magazines and newspapers, and won awards left and right. He became successful. But he also entered into illicit relationships with different people, men and women alike. He gave in to carnal pursuits for he felt that lust was the fuel that drove his creative output. Meanwhile, in Tagbaoran, Jacinta nursed a broken heart. She endured years of sorrow, and occupied herself by helping the Abalos family, the family whom Cesar abandoned. She became friends with Lucio, Filomena, and Gilberta, and their other relatives. She adjusted to a new life. After the success, Gaudencio's life became empty. He was haunted by guilt. He realized that the only thing that can make him happy is to see Jacinta again, ask for her forgiveness, start a family with her, and grow old with her. Hence, while in L.A., in the dinner party, he announced to his writer-friends that he will be going back to the woman he has betrayed and abandoned. So he returned, but was rejected and hated, especially by the people who cared for Jacinta. He then proposed to her that he can free her from him on the condition that she gave him a child. To cut the long story short, Gaudencio and Jacinta traveled back to Manila and they lived with his mother and brothers. They had children, but one died because of a freak accident. Jacinta planned to give him only one son, as they had agreed, and return to Tagbaoran to marry a man who understood, respected, and loved her. However, Jacinta became totally occupied with being a mother, and she realized she can't just leave her son to him. So they both grew old together. Gaudencio ended his illicit relationships and remained loyal to her. He devoted all his time to his wife and family, and to his writing and teaching. Shortly before she died, she wrote him a letter, saying, "After everything, you must know that I love you." When she died, blinding light shone forth from her body and she was transformed into the beautiful woman she once was. And, just like before, the walls of their house in Manila became transparent because of her sheer beauty, just like 'salamanca' (magic). I like how Alfar told his story. It kind of reminds me of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In fact, the story itself reminds me of Love in the Time of Cholera. The protagonist in that story is also a man possessed by feelings of love and desire, and he, like Gaudencio, slept with different people. I find that disturbing, and no less disturbing, and no doubt objectionable, is the fact that he slept with other men! Salamanca also reminded me of The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. The main character of that story was also a playboy! I think what's beautiful about Salamanca is that it's honest about how lust, carnal pursuits, selfishness, and uncontrolled fame and success, etc., eventually leads to emptiness and meaninglessness. Only love and self-sacrifice gives life meaning. Gaundencio realized this when he day-dreamed that his true happiness rested in being with Jacinta and have children and grandchildren with her.(less) | Notes are private!
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| Nov 09, 2010
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Apr 08, 2011
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| 0517189607
| 9780517189603
| 4.09
| 321,574
| 1911
| Sep 01, 1998
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The Secret Garden is a classic novel written by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It tells the story of three kids, and a man, whose lives were transformed by a...more The Secret Garden is a classic novel written by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It tells the story of three kids, and a man, whose lives were transformed by a secret garden. The main characters in the story are Mary, the little girl who lost her parents to an outbreak of cholera in India; Colin, the son of the master of the mansion; Dickson, the younger brother of one of the female servants in the household; and Archibald Craven, Colin's father. The minor characters are Ben Weatherstaff, the old gardener; Martha, one of the female servants and who becomes Mary's friend; Mrs. Medlock, the head servant; and Susan Sowerby, Dickon's and Martha's mother. Mary lost her parents in India. Having no one else to take care of her, she was sent to England to her uncle who owns a huge manor in the middle of a moor. She is an ill-tempered and ill-mannered child for she has never received any of her mother's love and attention. Colin is almost as old as Mary. He is a very sickly child. He is bed-ridden out of choice, and he is prone to bouts of anger and hysteria. He is a miserable child who believes that he looks horrible and that he is dying. He, too, is a neglected child. His father doesn't want to look at him because he reminds him very much of his mother who died when he was a baby. So his father is almost always out of the house, wandering from place to place. Archibald Craven is a severely depressed and troubled man. His wife died ten years ago due to a freak accident. They have a very beautiful garden filled with roses. The garden is sort of their secret hideaway. When she died, he almost went mad with grief. He locked the garden, buried the key, and forgot all about it. He also abandoned his son, because he reminded him so much of his wife. He provided for his every need -- food, shelter, clothing -- except love and attention. Dickson is a country lad. He is a few years older than Mary and Colin. He loves the outdoors, has foxes and birds for his friends, and enjoys making plants grow. Mary, Colin, and Dickon quickly become friends. Mary discovers the secret garden with the help of a robin, and she shares her discovery with them. The garden, with all its beauty, serenity and secrecy, as well as their friendship, transformed them. There is a parallel change between the garden and their characters. At first, the garden looked dead and gray. But with care, the children were able to transform it into a haven of beautiful blooming flowers. At first, Mary and Colin looked sullen, morbid, ill-tempered and mean. But with the passing of time, and with the nourishing power of their friendship, and the beautiful effect the garden had on them (Colin called it "Magic"), the children became more healthy and bursting with life. Archibald Craven dreamt of his wife calling out to him to go back to the garden. He went back and was utterly amazed when he saw the secret garden come alive again. But he was more moved by the sight of his son, no longer sickly, but strong and bright. Colin carried in the light of his eyes the same eyes of his mother, Archibald's wife. He somehow finds his peace. I liked the story, but somehow I didn't find it very enjoyable. Maybe it's because I didn't really try hard enough to imagine the setting of the story. I'm not very familiar with the different kinds of flowers and plants it describes (nor am I fond of flowers and gardens, for that matter). I also don't know what a Yorkshire accent sounds like, so I found it a bit difficult to make sense of what the characters were saying. I like the theme of the novel, though. Mary, Colin, and Archibald are wounded characters. Mary and Colin suffered from parental neglect. Archibald was haunted by the death of his wife. He loved her so much, and she was so beautiful inside and out that, when he lost her, he couldn't live sanely anymore. He had to run away from the boy who reminded him of her, and he had to seek out elsewhere the beauty that he once beheld in his wife and their secret garden. But all three of them eventually found peace. Friendship, love, and beauty -- these were the things that healed them in the end.(less) | Notes are private!
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Mar 26, 2011
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| 3.89
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I actually read this book in July, so this is already a very late review. I didn't know how to review it then. This is already the second time that I'...more
I actually read this book in July, so this is already a very late review. I didn't know how to review it then. This is already the second time that I've read this. It's not that I love it. I'm not even sure if I like it. For some reason, I failed to appreciate it. So I don't understand why many people consider it to be a classic. But it's a profound book, I think. The story is very interesting, from my point of view as a Christian. It's an existentialist novel. The main character is Meursault. He sees life as basically absurd. The novel opens with the news of his mother's death. But for him, it doesn't really mean anything. He has a significant other, Marie, and apparently she loves him. She even asks him if he'd want to marry her. But he says that it doesn't really make any difference! I find the story very interesting because Meursault is an atheist. I think that's significant because your beliefs or worldview really has an influence on how you interpret the things around you. I think Meursault is just being honest. That's just the logical outworking of atheism, I think. If God does not exist, life is basically absurd. Life has no ultimate meaning, value and purpose, because everything ends at the grave. It wouldn't matter if you lived a saintly life or a sinful one, because there's no life beyond the grave and hence no accountability. Therefore, for Meursault, there's no meaning to his mother's death, and there's no difference between his marrying Marie or not. It seems that there's really no such thing as "love" in an atheistic universe. There are only feelings, impulses and desires, all of which are unpredictable and temporary. I like Marie. She's very lovable; she's very carefree and simple. It's just very unfortunate that he meets a man like Meursault. I am moved by the scene where Salamano cries for his lost old friend, his dog. I didn't like the priest character very much. He had a chance of consoling Meursault, of listening to him, understanding him, and even talking about the Christian faith with him and how it is absolutely relevant to his life, but he didn't know how to handle the conversation with him. His character is not even believable, because a priest would know about theology and would know how to talk about the issue of God's existence. I think Meursault is wrong in thinking that God does not exist, and it's unfortunate that in the novel he did not pursue that issue further. Perhaps he did not think it was an important issue in the first place. But the implications of God's non-existence are very serious.(less) | Notes are private!
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| Jun 28, 2011
| Jul 13, 2011
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Jun 28, 2011
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| 1400079276
| 9781400079278
| 4.09
| 72,403
| 2002
| Jan 03, 2006
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What do talking cats, Johnnie Walker, Colonel Sanders (yes, the KFC icon), and ghosts have in common? They're all found in Haruki Murakami's novel Kafk...more What do talking cats, Johnnie Walker, Colonel Sanders (yes, the KFC icon), and ghosts have in common? They're all found in Haruki Murakami's novel Kafka on the Shore. It's a story about a 15-year old boy who runs away from home to escape his father. It's also a story about an elderly man who has the unique ability to talk to cats and make fish and leeches fall from the sky. Both of the characters are somehow related, but they never actually meet in the novel, although their paths eventually crossed. Kafka Tamura wants freedom, so he escapes to a faraway city. Along the way he meets Sakura, a hairdresser who saves his life one night; Oshima, a librarian who helps him find a place to stay and an employment in a library; and Miss Saeki, who later turns out to be his long-lost mother. Nakata is not a very bright old man. He's simple-minded and lives all by himself. The government gives people like him a small subsidy every month, and he lives off that. But he has unique gifts. He can talk to cats and he can make the sky rain leeches and tuna and mackerel (just by thinking about it). After murdering a man who calls himself Johnnie Walker (yes, he looks exactly like the man in the famous brand of whisky) and who turns out to be Kafka's father, he escapes to a faraway city and meets a host of interesting characters along the way. Eventually, he meets Hoshino, a truck driver and former soldier, who accompanies him to his destination and becomes his close friend. Kafka on the Shore is a very strange novel. I think it's because it's mainly a story about exploring one's subconscious mind. I really didn't understand what Kafka and Nakata were experiencing, and how they are both connected to each other. But I like Murakami's writing style. It's very easy readable. The book itself is a page-turner in the sense that it keeps you interested about what's going to happen next to the characters. But I didn't find it very satisfying. I don't know why. I also find it very disturbing that Kafka actually slept with his mother, Miss Saeki! It was a fulfillment of his father's prophecy that Kafka will someday murder his father and sleep with his mother and sister. It's a modern version of the Oedipus myth. Colonel Sanders makes an appearance as a pimp, and spirits make love with living persons.(less) | Notes are private!
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| Dec 02, 2010
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Mar 26, 2011
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| B002RKSXH8
| 4.12
| 39,927
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This is a novel about a man who lives in an "underground." It's a metaphorical "underground." The character is using it to describe his psychological,...more
This is a novel about a man who lives in an "underground." It's a metaphorical "underground." The character is using it to describe his psychological, or existential, condition. The book basically consists of the character's monologue. It's divided into two parts. Part one is called "Underground" and part two is called "On the occasion of wet snow." Frankly, I didn't understand part one. I didn't understand what the character was saying. He was rambling on and on about many things, and it's hard to see what his point is. He seems to be talking about what basically is wrong with modern man. He talks a bit about man's virtues and then he talks about his defects. He also seems to be talking about free will and determinism. That's all I've picked up from him, so I'm basically lost when I "listened" to his monologue. Part two is much more interesting. It's a pleasure to read. But he can also get annoying and irritating. He can get on your nerves sometimes. He's a very disagreeable sort of fellow. He's conflicted, offensive, critical, and thinking too much about many things at once. He has a lot of issues in his life, probably because of his very unhappy childhood. But strangely, there are a few things about him that I can relate with. For instance, I'm kind of a loner myself. It started in my high school years. And I can identify with his loneliness, with his feelings of isolation and sadness, and the sense that other people don't like you and think that you're weird. I was moved by that scene in the book where he was hungry for company, and he sought out his former classmate, Simonov, and he found him with his other old classmates, and he found himself not welcomed. I also found it very interesting the character's change of tone somewhere in part two of the book. In part one, and in most parts of the book actually, he was very cynical and pessimistic, and hateful, and overly-critical. But his good qualities surfaced when he was talking to Liza in that brothel. I was moved by how he sought to move her heart so that she may realize that she's killing herself and throwing away her life and soul by working in that dark place. His speech was very touching. But I also found it very funny when he hurried to leave the place as Liza started to cry! Actually, there are several amusing scenes in the book. The character is quite hilarious. For example, the scene where he was quarreling with his servant! I was beginning to love the story until I got to the part where he drove Liza away with his tirade! This guy is simply mad. Confessions of a drama king! It could have ended as a beautiful love story. It didn't. He was simply too disagreeable, offensive, mean, rude, cynical, and more. He has too many issues. I've concluded from that that he really deserves his fate. I mean, he is responsible for his condition. He brought himself to the rut he is in, this "underground" he's writing from. And honestly, I think he chooses to remain there. He could've chosen a different, happier life. He could've chosen love over self-centeredness, selfishness and egotism. But he decides to remain in his underground. I suspect that he derives some sort of pleasure from being lonely and miserable!(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Aug 21, 2011
| Sep 2011
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Aug 22, 2011
| Kindle Edition
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| 0156012197
| 9780156012195
| 4.21
| 304,550
| Jan 01, 1946
| Jun 29, 2000
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I read this a long time ago. I liked the story. It's simple and beautiful.
| Notes are private!
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Sep 01, 2011
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| 0743487591
| 9780743487597
| 4.23
| 972,974
| 1813
| Apr 27, 2004
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Dear Miss Austen, In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and...more Dear Miss Austen, In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love your novel, Pride and Prejudice. Yours, etc. I would've sent that note to Jane Austen had I been born in her lifetime. I first read the book many years ago in Project Gutenberg while at the same time listening to a Librivox recording. I didn't know who Jane Austen was, and I only picked the ebook at random. At first it was a struggle because it was my first classic fiction. But when I got used to it, I was hooked. Austen's prose is superbly beautiful. Her wit is sharp and her sentences and dialogues are always brimming with intelligence. I loved it before, and now, I love it anew: 1. I love the characters: Of course, my favorites are Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. But I also like Jane Bennet, Charles Bingley, and the Gardiners. I love them for their virtues. I love them for their character, intelligence, wit, good manners, propriety, modesty, simplicity, 'good-heartedness', resilience, courage, and elegance. But there is also something to appreciate from the other, less likable, downright mean or even villainous, characters: They reflect flaws or defects that are sometimes, if not oftentimes, found in us. For example, to my horror, I recognized a bit of myself in Mr. Collins and Mr. Wickham! 2. I love the setting: I love the simplicity of life in early 19th century England. I don't know anything about the Regency Period. I am sure things are far from perfect in those days. Things are especially difficult for women. But there were a lot of good things, too: People had a sense of decency and honor, so that when Lydia eloped with Wickham, for example, everyone was scandalized. People were modest, well-behaved, and civil. In other words, they had a strong sense of morality. They followed a strict code of social conduct. Nowadays, people are not very shocked when so and so eloped with so and so, or when so and so is living with so and so. It's very sad. I love Longbourn, Netherfield, Rosings, and Permberley. I love the countryside, woods, and gardens. People were not so indolent that they were so dependent on carriages all the time. The Bennet sisters, for example, and especially Lizzy, were fond of walking. But I also love the curricles and barouches. 3. I love the plot (spoilers ahead!): Pride and Prejudice is basically a love story. At the center of it all is Lizzy, the daughter of a clergyman, who is not wealthy, and Mr. Darcy, the son of an aristocrat and who is very, very rich. When they first met in a ball, they made terrible impressions on each other. Lizzy saw Darcy as proud and arrogant, and indeed he was. Darcy believed Lizzy to simply be prejudiced against him, and so she was. But actually, each of them had a measure of both pride and prejudice. These character flaws promoted misconceptions and prevented them from understanding each other and themselves. When these were later confronted and dissolved, true love developed. But Darcy was already in love with Lizzy early in the novel. He was first struck by her "fine eyes", and as they became further acquainted, by her character, intelligence, and liveliness. He has never met anyone like her, who is not intimidated and dazzled by wealth and rank, and who is not afraid to speak her mind. Lizzy's love for Darcy grew as she got to know him better. On the surface, he is proud and arrogant, but on a deeper level, he's noble, gentle, and affectionate. He is such a contrast with George Wickham, the son of the Darcy family's steward and Mr. Darcy's former friend, who Lizzy later met and immediately admired for his attractiveness and pleasing personality. On the surface, he is humble and affable, but on a deeper level, he's selfish, deceitful, and irresponsible. Then, there's Jane and Mr. Bingley, of course. Both of them are attractive, kind-hearted and good-natured, so they were easily drawn to each other. Mr. Collins (who reminds me of Sheldon Cooper), Miss Bingley, Mrs. Bennet, Lydia Bennet, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh are amusing, albeit sometimes annoying, characters. They spice up the story. I love the scene wherein Lizzy and Lady Catherine faced off each other. The verbal exchanges were superb and can never be surpassed by TV soap operas. 4. I love Jane Austen. If it's not already obvious... I adore Jane Austen. She lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries -- that's a long, long, long time ago. But because of her novels, I feel like I knew her very recently. We hope to be blessed by a second baby, and this time we wish for a girl, so we can name her Elizabeth Darcy!(less) | Notes are private!
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| Sep 22, 2012
| Oct 06, 2012
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Mar 25, 2012
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| 0618260307
| 9780618260300
| 4.18
| 1,053,014
| Sep 21, 1937
| Aug 15, 2002
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I was prompted to read this book when I saw the trailer of its film adaptation in Youtube. I have long planned to read this, along with Lord of the Ri...more
I was prompted to read this book when I saw the trailer of its film adaptation in Youtube. I have long planned to read this, along with Lord of the Rings, but I never got quite to starting it. Finally, on New Year's Eve, I simply picked it up from my stacks of unread books, and read it to my wifey (and to our baby, too, who is now 5 months old inside her womb). It turns out that she, too, long wanted to read this book... And we enjoyed it. We enjoyed the tale, the adventure, the characters, Tolkien's prose, and his great sense of humor (I didn't expect it would be funny, since the Lord of the Rings films were dark and serious). We sometimes took turns reading it to each other. A sketch of the plot The Hobbit tells the story of one hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, of Bag End. This is his adventure. But it's not his alone. It's also the adventure of thirteen dwarves and a wizard. The leader of the dwarves is Thorin Oakenshield. The wizard is Gandalf. The hobbits are fond of food, peace, and comfort, and Bilbo is no exception. He loves his hobbit-hole in The Hill. Who wouldn't? It's a beautiful house, fully furnished and well-stocked with food. Bilbo especially loves breakfasts and tea-time. Gandalf and the dwarves came unexpectedly to his house. In short, they were an unwelcome party. But nevertheless they invited themselves into his life and took him to an adventure (which he hated very much at first) that he will remember for the rest of his life. This adventure took him to far-distant lands, to misty mountains, across highly-dangerous and enchanted forests, and into a lonely mountain inhabited by a great dragon. Along the way they encountered trolls, goblins, stone-giants, evil wolves, great eagles, a skin-changer (a being who looks like a man but can change into the shape of a bear), giant spiders, and elves. They only have one goal, to retrieve the great treasure that Smaug, the dragon, stole from their ancestors, and reclaim their kingdom in the Lonely Mountain. Personal thoughts As I've said, we love the story! The characters are also often very funny. Tolkien's prose is rich yet easy to understand. I enjoyed reading it aloud. I enjoyed telling the story as the narrator, and shifting between the voices of Bilbo, Gandalf, the dwarves, and Smaug. We plan to read the Silmarillion next, because we want to know the history of Middle Earth first. After that, we'll dive into the world of The Lord of the Rings. Then, we'll be in time to see the movie adaptation of The Hobbit. It will be in December, so we have plenty of time.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Dec 31, 2011
| Jan 11, 2012
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Sep 01, 2011
| Paperback
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