What are your favorite local/international novels and series?

Also, please add me as your friend! Thanks! ^_^

Mabuhay tayo mga Pinoy!

BTW, I prefer reading mysteries, fantasy, and sci-fi books... For me, the best trilogy ever written is....

"His Dark Materials" by Philip Pullman.

It consists of The Golden Compass (now a major motion picture), The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. It has a touch of both fiction (entertainment) and science (fact). I would say I enjoy that series because I like to think on a much deeper scale than the simple words on a page. I also love Harry Potter and The Spiderwick Chronicles.

I also like is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. It's classical and controversial (which makes me like it even more). Even though it doesn't have a plot, I liked the style, the dialogues, and all about it.

I crave controversial books too, which is the reason why I liked Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. It has a taste of both fiction and fact in it, and it's full of mysteries.

I'm not into romance that much but I must admit that I like the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I found about it here on Y!A and decided to give it a try. I just started to read the first book a while ago, but I liked it!

His Dark Materials, Harry Potter, Twilight, The Catcher in the Rye, and Da Vinci Code - those are the books I'd definitely take to the grave with me....

How about you?

hey! I like classic novels like Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and a lot more. :)

I enjoy novels about Asian traditional culture and history, like Rani Manicka's The Rice Mother and Jung Chang's Wild Swans.

My guilty reading pleasure: Memoirs of a Geisha. I know, critics have condemned it as being an orientalist, but I just can't resist a novel about geisha who are keepers of Japanese aesthetics, and Arthur Golden's lush description.

Hi Jeremy!
I also like the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman unlike to the much publicized Harry Potter. I had taken an interest on Quantum Physics than playing sports on a flying broomstick.

There is much depth in the story there and a lot of suspenseful moments that literally kept me at the edge of my seat. The only bad thing is that people have been prejudiced into thinking that these books are anti-Cristian and promotes agnosticism, which it does not.

Hirap talaga 'pag nakatira ka sa bansang relihiyoso at sarado ang utak...

Anyway, add me as your friend..advance thanks!
My warm regards and happy reading! ^_^

hey! I like twilight too by Stephenie Meyer. She's really got a sense of humor. I like Bella's character. It reminds me of.... ME! Hehehe! (Well, we're all entitled to our wrong opinion:p) Edward Cullen, I think, thinks a bit like a girl. (Well, it's no wonder because the creator is actually a girl.) But, he's every girl's dream guy. he's got everything; so perfect, except that he drinks blood for sustenance. Emmet is hilarious. Rosalie, a typical airhead blondie. I like Alice and her perkiness. She's lovable. Jasper, well... he's just part of the story for me. hehehe...
I actually read the whole twilight series :p

I've been homeschooled most of my life, and all my book reports are on classics so that's what I learned to love the most. I've read quite a lot, but the ones that I really favor are...

"Tale of Two Cities" by Dickens
"Anne of Green Gables,""Anne of Avonlea," "Anne of the Island" by Montgomery
"Scarlet Letter" by Hawthorne
"Pride and Prejudice" by Austen
"Merchant of Venice" by Shakespeare
"Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis
"The Scarlet Pimpernel" by Orczy

I've recently tried some modern/chicklit just to see how it feels like, and the ones that I've taken fancy to are...

"Twilight," "New Moon," "Eclipse," "Breaking Dawn", (The Twilight Series) by Meyer
Shopaholic Series by Kinsella

I probably missed some out, but that's just what comes into my mind right now. :)

Do you also happen to like Ernest Hemigway?

Mare! You've taken FANCY?! Man! That's so English. Well, I don't wonder. Most of the classics you FANCY or HAVE TAKEN FANCY TO are authored by English. Hahaha... Can't resist :p

hey jzhunagev! (Man! Your name is difficult to write :p) I like Ernest (O, diba? Feeling close)... I meant, I like Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea. It's a moving story. I'm so moved by his persistence considering his old and how he was rewarded in the end. Nice story. Heartwarming :)

This short novel about an aged Cuban fisherman's battle to land a giant marlin remains an everlasting favorite because it redefined my concept of success. I first read it in high school at a time when I was driven solely by achievement, or more specifically, by the visible trophies of success. Hemingway's story unveiled a philosophy in which the final outcome was not nearly as important as the journey. Even now, I find this story still serves as a touchstone, urging me to embark on challenges simply for the sake of the voyage, regardless of my chances of triumph or failure.

Whoah! You're deep, man. It is a short novel yet the impact it has on you was something. You wrote that you were in high school when you read it. But, the "unveiled philosophy in which the final outcome was not nearly as important as the journey" was a revelation that only the mature could grasp. At least, that's what I think. I was in high school too when I read it because it was a book report. I never saw it that way. I just saw his persistence to succeed. Hahaha... :)

You also wrote "visible trophies of success". Would you care to elaborate? :)

@ Lucille
WHATEVER. :P Who knows, I'll end up marrying an English guy like Mr. Darcy one day. BEH :P

HHHmmm.. visible trophies of success would mean, for me at that time, was straight A's or 90% (if ever you went in to a public school, in which case I had)grade, certification of achievement for this or that stuff, awards for doing this, that, and being included in the honor roll and the like..you know the stuff.
Schools in our country conjure up many awards reserved only for those geeky types, yet losing the focus to urge more underprivileged students to achieve more, not just only in school, but mostly in life.
Knowing that partly made angry or rebellious on the way we are educated, or rather, the system of education here in our country.
In a nutshell, grades doesn't made what you are or who you'll be.. it's the choices we make and meeting challenges head on.
I always long to meet that person who can proudly assert that what made him/her today are the tough decisions/choices he/she has made in the past. Certainly I'm not that, modestly speaking.
Hope you got my drift...
Happy reading..^_^

jzhunagev,

Yes! I also like most of Ernest Hemingway's novels and short stories like The Old Man and The Sea, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and A Farewell To Arms. Very, very good books!

LOL @ Mare and Ate Lucille. You two are taking over the thread!:P Just kidding! I'm more of a fantasy and medical forensics fan myself. In terms of fantasy, my favorite in the genre would definitely have to be David Eddings, to be specific, his Belgariad series, to be followed by the Malloreon series, which just happens to be the five-book sequel to the former. Compared to other fantasy series, his novels are light, and has the right touch of fantasy, humor, and adventure in it. I also love C.S. Lewis, particularly all seven books of "The Chronicles of Narnia," as well as "The Screwtape Letters." [I already have his sci-fi trilogy, but I still haven't gotten around to reading it, since I'm not a big fan of sci-fi:]. Madeleine L'Engle's "Time Quartet" series is also pretty good. It's a combination of sci-fi and fantasy. However, if you're avoidant to novels that have a religious context, you might find it coming a little too strong in some parts of the novels, particularly in "A Wrinkle in Time".

In terms of medical forensics, my favorite authors are Patricia Cornwell and Iris Johansen, maybe because their lead characters are strong women. However, I have to say that I like their older works more than their newer ones, because it seems (to me, at least) that they've eventually lost the original touch that made their works so brilliant in the past.

I loved the Nancy Drew series, when i was a kid i used to read it, i prefer Nancy drew than Hardy Boys =) I like reading mysteries and romance books. I also love all Sidney Sheldon books, i am a die hard fan of Mr. Sheldon and also Stephen King.

But of course I am looking forward into reading the Twilight saga...

take care Friends!

hey lani! Miss ya! :D

Gracee! I really love your picture. It's one of my fantasies to lie on the beach and read a book. But, i couldn't do it in the beaches here in the Philippines. it's so hot, as in. The heat of sun and of the sand is so hot:(

Hello Ms. Lucille =) thanks, i also love this picture, it's a wonderful experience to read a book in a very solitude place where it's just you and your book rules your world...whenever i am reading a book, i always get caught up with what i'm reading, i guess i always imagine myself being the heroine and all hehe me and my daydreams =)

I like F. Sionil Jose's novel like Mass, Poon, My Brother, my Executioner, Tree and Viajero. Rizal's 2 famous novel, short stories of Kerima Polotan Tuvera...

Harry Potter series, Twiglight (yeah, I'm on it too..), Chronicles of Narnia , Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series, and Princess Diaries Series (It makes me feel 10 years younger again...LOL!)

I have a penchant for dark stories about human psyche like Golding's "Lord of the Flies", Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale", Anthony Burgess' "The clockwork orange" and Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451". And I love horror stories. I've just gotten into a Stephen King.
Local-wise, I hate to admit it but I don't really read local books (my Tagalog's really bad). I adored Rizal's Fili, though. Better than Noli methinks

Hi Nhemskie! I tried reading the Shopaholic Series -- the first time I ever read chicklit. I really enjoyed it! Haha. It's light and funny, and it gave me a chance to see another style of writing that's different from the classics' style. (I've mostly read classics)

I want to try reading the Princess Diaries series too!

Sino nanood dati nung tele series sa Philippines na tawag "Marina?" About the mermaid girl? I watched it a long time ago and I want to watch it again!!

I love almost any genre as long as it is fiction. So novels that are "based on a story" aren't my type, especially if it's horror. It will scare me for real.

I love fantasy (as expected from a fiction lover), especially those with unicorns or dragons, with wizards or alchemists, and so on.
I am a sucker for novels with supernatural beings or elements, especially with people with super/psychic powers, with supernatural creatures like werewolves, and so on.
I love thrillers a lot too, like those with detectives, cops, serial killers, and so on.
I am a sucker for controversial novels too, whether they involve politics or religion, and so on.
I love historical or alternative history, whether set in world war times, medieval times, and so on.
I adore inspirational novels or simply general fiction, I don't care if they make me cry or AAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWW =(
I love psychological or surreal novels, or others that deal with the human mind/subconscious and behaviour.
I crave for horror and paranormal novels. The more it had frightened or gave me the creeps, the better! Haha! I can still sleep at night of course since I know it's fiction, but still the scarier the better! Hehe.
I love classics; I feel sad that I haven't read much but I really really adore those masterpieces!

I love sci-fi, but I don't read much of them. I prefer seeing sci-fi stuff in movies or tv series. Ehehe.
I am alright with romance, but I don't like romance being the main genre (like I prefer romance in a horror novel rather than vice versa. Errr . . get what I mean? Ehehe).
I read chickflicks or novels just talking about ordinary teen life/troubles/whatsoever . . . . but most of them has annoyed me. But there are still good ones.

(I wonder if I have missed a genre that I read X_X)

As for local books . . . I actually hate studying novels for academic purposes, but I've fallen in love with Jose Rizal's famous novels. Especially Noli Me Tangere.
I like the ones written by Bob Ong. His works are fun! Haha!
And to be honest, I haven't read much local books. Ehehe.

me heart vampire stories--i loove vampire academy series!! i like the twilight saga but not much (its predictable and "soft" plus the stalking creeps me hehehe).. i also like love at stakes series coz its hot! hot! hot!..blue bloods good too but its too fashion conscious hehehe.. and i find house of night good too, at first its almost a HP knock off but the story gets better after book 1

I like the twilight saga too. The movie sucks big time. Mas maganda pa yung imagination ko.

Hirap talaga 'pag nakatira ka sa bansang relihiyoso at sarado ang utak..<i/>

religion has its own perceptions of truth and reality. try to understand them as a child. its just like that.
whatever, riding on a broom is fantastic. i might try that when i'll be registered in siquijor. hehehe

and speaking with twilight, i had a hell of a shock when i visited my doctor last week and found her reading the third series of twilight!
why don't they try reading Filipino literatures on aswang and kikik. and i got a reply: "vampires in other countries are more beautiful and handsome than the aswang and kikiks in the Philippines."
after the check up, she buried her thoughts on the book again.
i told her to watch the movie instead.
she replied: "nah.. better read the original conversations."
fine. she got hardcover books on twilights arranged along with her medical books inside her clinic.
wonderful.... huh?
mantakin nyo naman.

i dont like twilight saga that much... ive read the first three books (pa lang).. meju frustrated lang ako, so im not too excited sa breaking dawn. anu bang maganda don?! the characters didn't develop at all... it's always just bella and edward... everything's predictable; it all goes around some pesky superficial love...
but the context is pretty good, i must admit that... meju kulang lang sa creativity... =D
the movie... i think it's better than the book...
uhmm... excuse lang sa twilight fans, but that's just my opinion. =D

Same here Armie...
Mas maganda pa ang Vampire Chronicles ni Anne Rice...
See for yourself guys...
Or if you're the classic type then just read Dracula by Bram Stoker

Me I like the

Goosebumps Series
Harry Potter Series(I didn't read the last installment yet, I've no money pa^^)
Shoppaholic Series
Dan Brown's Books (Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons)
Bob Ong Books(I've read all except for the new book the "Kapitan Sino")
Twilight Saga(though I hate the last book "Breaking Dawn)
I also like Nicholas Sparks and if I have money i might buy all his books cause I've only read of the "Notebook"
I also like louis sachar his Holes is incredible. I also want to read lots of his works if I have money ^^

I also read lot of manga.
Naruto
Vampire Knight
Gakuen Alice
Absolute Boyfriend
Fruitsbasket

Joyzi wrote: "I also like louis sachar his Holes is incredible. I also want to read lots of his works if I have money ^^"

Ditto on Holes. One of the best children's books-- scratch that, one of the best books I've ever read. Even my college lit prof added it to her required readings, alongside Orwell's Animal Farm and the greek tragedies. :)

Louis Sachar books are brilliant =)

favorite books...hmmm..

Elpahlme's Choice
Neverwhere
Simple Genius
Baron: The cat returns
Artemis Fowl..

^^...

Oooh Artemis Fowl rocks!

Marco wrote: "Oooh Artemis Fowl rocks!"

yeah!! ^_^ i heard that they'll turn it into a movie.

No way! WOW!

I like uhm... let's see... pretty much everything I've read this year though I really favored...

Hornet Flight by Ken Follett
Harry potter of course
Lessons in heartbreak by Cathy Kelly
Another Woman by Penny Vincenzi
Message in a bottle by Nicholas Sparks

I've read other books... I've been addicted with the twilight saga - reading all 4 books and the partial draft of midnight sun but now I'm Harry Potter addicted. LOL Much more creativity and imagination...
Also the host by Stephenie Meyer but it still didn't have any conclusion and the names of the aliens and other planets in the novel was a turn off - earth words.

Seizure by Robin cook was good, too. I like how Cook blended all the aspects of politics, science (medicine), personal etc in the story.

I've read other books as well though I only mentioned these ones. :)

hey sapphire! glad to know someone here likes noli me tangere..
anyway, i like Dean Koontz & Stephen King. In highschool, my library card is filled up with Nancy Drew. And I love The Little Prince, The Time Traveler's Wife, Sophie's World... ;)

oh i love nancy drew ,the time trvelers wife and nancy drew too!! time trvelers wife is on theater soon..

Marco wrote: "Sino nanood dati nung tele series sa Philippines na tawag "Marina?" About the mermaid girl? I watched it a long time ago and I want to watch it again!!"

marco, I do not know that you've been dying to watch Marina again?? :) I'd watched it before..that was ages ago..hehe.. so what's the deal?

Maybe he had a crush on Claudine Barreto? Hahahaha!! ~^^~

jzhunagev wrote: "Maybe he had a crush on Claudine Barreto? Hahahaha!! ~^^~"

actually, naisip ko yan..hmmm..I smell something fishy..hehe. need to fry...

I wanted to watch it because I have gaps in my memory. The Barretos aren't match against British beauties ;) only joking!

I think they also have a miniseries about this mermaid thingies... I remember there was this mermaid series H2O about 3 teenage girls who have mermaid powers and all...
to bad they end up being fried by the male protagonists... Hahaha! Just joking!
Or you maybe you could watch Marina at youtube, Marco...

Help, translate this for me por favor.

"Ok lang sa akin mag-over-time, kahit umagahin tayo. Ang ayoko lang yung bina-Vargas ako ng amo mong bading."

I quoted that from my office mate, but there were more I can't remember. I kept nodding all through her ranting without understanding half the words she's saying. Lolz

More:
tasahin natin mabuti
kailangan ba magpabarubal

I hope the spellings are all right.

I just don't know what that bina-Vargas thingy... But I'll make a wild guess... Maybe it meant hina-harass... Gay lingo's proliferating right now and it's hard to keep track of every word gays come up with every minute...

tasahin natin mabuti: maybe to sharpen it... I'm taking it literally 'cause i dunno how the phrase was used in a sentence...

kailangan ba magpabarubal: It might mean being abused or exploited by someone....

Hope that helps, Beng...

jzhunagev wrote: "I just don't know what that bina-Vargas thingy... But I'll make a wild guess... Maybe it meant hina-harass... Gay lingo's proliferating right now and it's hard to keep track of every word gays come..."

Thanks Jzhun, mwahhh.
Do you know how it felt when everyone is laughing and you're the only one figuring it out? Everyone in the office would say, "Beng, pwede ka namin ibenta ng per kilo sa bangketa." Hey, I know what bangketa is- sidewalk or acera.

BTW, what is your job, Beng? I think you're officemates are lively, considering their lively banters... Are some of them gay... or just woman-gay... someone who is truly a female though acts and cavorts like a gay... hahaha!! ~^^~... (NB: Homosexuals in this group pls. don't take offense on this... or to some of our woman-gay.. Thanks..)

Marco wrote: "I wanted to watch it because I have gaps in my memory. The Barretos aren't match against British beauties ;) only joking!"

I think, Jzhun, wasn't able to give you the necessary info about Marina...hehe...Though, I guess, he even watched it...