Prex J.D.V. Ybasco's Blog, page 34
September 28, 2016
September 27, 2016
Review: A World without Princes
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Presidential Rating:
Date Read: 12 August 2016
President’s Favorite Characters: Hester, Anadil
Summary:
After saving themselves and their fellow students from a life pitched against one another, Sophie and Agatha are back home again, living happily ever after. But life isn’t exactly a fairytale. When Agatha secretly wishes she’d chosen a different happy ending with Prince Tedros, the gates to the School for Good and Evil open once again. But Good and Evil are no longer enemies and Princes and Princesses may not be what they seem, as new bonds form and old ones shatter.
Summary from Goodreads
Verdict:
I am the kind of person who usually likes the second novel more than the first and it honestly sucks that I didn’t enjoy reading A World without Princes as much as The School for Good and Evil.
In this installment, I finally understand why Agatha has to choose Sophie and why it has been so important to leave Tedros behind as this serves as the foundation of the second book.
I still don’t believe that it is true love between Tedros and Agatha though. Probably it is just their hormones that kept them looking for each other in the first chapters of the story (teenagers!). Tedros has the maturity of an ant and I couldn’t believe that other hero students follow him, only to shove him aside in the middle of the book. Not against homosexual relationship of any sort, I am quite open to Tedros kissing ‘Philip’ in the novel but there is something about the boy, Tedros, that irritates me. Is it his innocence, the tendency of loving anybody who shows ultimate trust and sincerity to him? Or is it his stubbornness? What can I say about having too much expectation on a 15-year-old successor of King Arthur’s court?
What I don’t understand is the need for Tristan to be a girl. I’m not convinced that he has just decided to turn into the girl so he/she can return to the comforts of the Good castle. He somehow confesses his admiration for Tedros which for others may look like a love confession implying that Tristan might have been gay all along but then again it has not been established– or it may have been and I just missed it.
The reason behind Miss Sader’s blue butterflies and her distaste for men have been revealed. Still, I thought, disliking men must not be shown by looking like men, i.e. Beatrix cutting her hair short and other girls taking personal care for granted. I do understand Sophie honorable idea that embracing femininity means women must take good care of their appearance and appreciate what they have.
The saving glory of the book is the ending. A part of a trilogy, I understand that the book has to have a cliffhanger, in this case, Sophie ending with the Schoolmaster himself (sorry for the spoiler). This goes back to the characters’ consistency as I have mentioned here. I only ask myself whether it is age appropriate for a mother to ask her 15-year-old daughter to kiss her on the lips and her daughter falling for that trap. However, in a world where a kiss is the most powerful magic, it is better not to ask.
As regards my choice of characters, I’m particularly amazed by how Hester’s and Anadil’s personalities manage to be consistent- working for Good by remaining incredible selfish which is an Evil trait.
September 26, 2016
Nihongo101: にくい adj. difficult to do
左手で食べにくいです。 (Eating with the left hand is difficult.)
フィリピン人とは日本語で話しにくいですよね。 (Speaking Japanese with a Filipino is difficult, isn’t it?)
毎年に一人で海外に行きにくいです。(Traveling alone every year is difficult.)
日本語試験の質問は答えにくいですか。(Is answering Japanese exam questions difficult?)
私の弟の宿題はとても難しくて解きにいくに手伝えない。(My brother’s homework is really difficult to solve so I cannot help him).
September 24, 2016
Blog Feature: For The Novel Lovers
I have been reviewing for about a year on my blog. I started because I was reading a lot and my partner told me to do something constructive with it so I started my blog. I have worked with a variety of authors from big name to up and coming authors. I have also worked with other bloggers in running giveaway and interviews on our respective blogs. We have also been known to help each other with reviews i.e. blogger A gets a book she doesn’t like so she sends it to blogger B who reads and reviews it on her behalf but gets mentioned as the reviewer on blogger A’s site.
What does your blog offer?
My blog offers reviews, giveaways, author interviews, first looks, cover reveals, and hopefully in the near future blog tours
What inspired you to put up a blog?
My partner he told me I should do some constructive with the amount of books I read and reviewing was the most obvious channel.
How often do you post updates?
I try to post something everyday whether it’s a TBR update, or a review.
Do you accept author contributions in your blog?
I do author interviews but I have had an author yet ask me to contribute to my blog so I am not sure how it works. If you know how it works I would love to know also.
Don’t forget to visit: For the Novel Lovers for updates, author interviews, book reviews etc.
Note:
Author contributions vary from blog to blog. I, for one, would like to accept articles regarding education and reading.
160924 Teacher of the Week
Student: Why did you start work at 10am and you will go home later at midnight?
Maria: Because I’m stupid.
Student laughs.
Maria: How about you? How many hours did you work today?
Student: 15 hours. So I’m more stupid. I win.
A Teacher who likes to work overtime and her competitive student ^_^
September 22, 2016
September 19, 2016
Nihongo 101: AがＢたがっている (thinking/talking about wanting to do something)
Ex: 妹はいえを出て一人で生活したがっています。(My sister is thinking about living independently)
シン君はたくさん甘いものを食べたがっています。(Shin is thinking about wanting to eat sweets)
タクヤ君がドラマを見たがっています。(Takuya is talking about wanting to see a drama)
サンミン君が今踊りたがっています。(Right now, Sangmin is thinking about wanting to dance)
セヨン君とヨンソク君は食事を用意をしたがっています。(Seyoung and Yongseok are thinking about preparing meals).
カースパさんは次のアルバムのために運動したがっています。(Casper, preparing for the next album, is thinking about exercising).
September 17, 2016
Blog Feature: Sushi and Adobo
What does your blog offer?
My blog offers random topics about Japan. The 3 categories I set are:
1. Did you know? – This covers my observations and obscure trivia about Japan.
2. Diary – This covers my personal experiences since I moved to Japan.
3. Study Japanese – This is for my fellow language learners.
What inspired you to put up a blog?
It was another out-of-the-blue suggestion from my husband as we were having breakfast at Denny’s. He frequents this family resto and likes to spend a good 3 hours writing movie scripts. He simply wants me to be there (a control freak’s way to maintain order). Blogging was the answer. I am inexperienced in this field so if my reader could finish reading without giving a big yawn, I’ll be the happiest.
Do you accept author contributions in your blog?
My pleasure. Japan-related articles are highly desired.
Maiden posts articles every month, a wrap up of her activities in Japan and things she misses in the Philippines. She also posts Nihonggo-learning articles and Japanese culture related stuff. From time to time she blesses the world with her photos.
相棒、本当にありがとうございます。愛してるよ。
September 15, 2016
September 14, 2016
An Author, ‘Cursed’ to Read Harry Potter
Among the Harry Potter Books, there is only one I vow not to reread annually*– and that is The Cursed Child. Not because it is bad. It only means the end of a childhood I have nursed for a long time.
[image error][image error] Some readers have developed the ‘habit’ of reading the last chapters of novels before the first ones to somehow get an idea whether they are worthy to be read. Unfortunately, despite being unable to pass the Marshmallow test when I was in Elementary, I am not one of those people who spoil-in every sense of the word-themselves this way. Knowing that novels don’t always have linear plots, I have always wanted to know how everything starts because without it I won’t be able to fully grasp the story.
A number of young readers, those who were born in the era where vampires are cool, werewolves are handsome and living in a dystopian world looks very inviting, may have just started their journey upon reading The Cursed Child. After all, it is the period when a good book is determined by checking the bestsellers-list, seeing the movie version, or simply seeing what the person next to you is reading. Since Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has made a noise – such a noise it was too, particularly for Potterheads – I am pretty sure that many of the aforementioned readers have gotten their hands on the book to know why it is so popular and perhaps started reading the first books after.
I started reading Harry Potter when I was in High School. For reference, see my previous essay here . I have been constantly rereading the books every year, something that has been a point of jest for my family and even my friends. My best friend even found this photo in Facebook and constantly reminded me about it for days:
And The Cursed Child happened.
It did not come as a surprise to me when J.K. Rowling announced that Harry Potter’s era is over. Maybe it was just me. Or maybe it was also felt by those who have grown up with Harry that it was time to say goodbye. Every page I turned sounded like it had a final note to it, that there was no going back. How he got a job in the Ministry, when he proposed or married Ginny, when he attended Ron and Hermione’s wedding were not there as if I was being forced to accept that after he defeated Voldemort, Harry somehow just magically grew older, had a wife, and learned how to be a father while protecting the magical world. I was supposed to be contented as Harry and his friends-including Draco Malfoy- were seemingly satisfied.
I will say goodbye then to Harry Potter-his story has ended so is my fantasy of reading him in Quidditch robes and leading England in the world cup. I will bid Hermione farewell along with my dreams of seeing her name on volumes of books in Hogwart’s library. I will be waving my handkerchief at Ron and the ideas of him playing chess against business-wizards in Gringots.
But I will never say goodbye to Hogwarts and the other possible stories behind its magnificent oak doors.
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If my theory proves to be true, that J.K. Rowling is like Voldemort with 7+ horcruxes, then I can say, I am Harry Potter, the recipient of a figment of her soul. Contrary to Harry Potter, I don’t have the willingness to destroy this connection with my Voldemort but continue to nourish it until I can make my own fantasy world.
I am always going to return to that very first chapter- The Boy Who Lived.
Note:
For those who are wondering, I have an annual Harry Potter Marathon which starts in December ^_^
