Jessica Zafra's Blog, page 111

The definition of breakfast

In our universe, the most important meal of the day is brunch. Essentially it’s breakfast for people who wake up late. Usually when we come back from a different time zone we start waking up very early, but that hasn’t happened on this trip. So we’ve given up setting alarms and getting out of bed […]

What is your book of the year? Convince us of its greatness, and win The Bone Clocks.

What was our favorite book of the year? The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell, of course. No, wait, in How To Be Both, Ali Smith did things other writers don’t dare, while zeroing in on the very nature of art. And The Children Act may not be as filling as Atonement, but it is the […]

P.D. James, detective novelist and author of Children of Men, 1920-2014

Last week we decided that we would not watch The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part I because it’s the only movie that opened at the cinema last week and we hate not having a choice. Instead, we decided to watch our favorite dystopian science-fiction movie (tied with Blade Runner) Children of Men, Alfonso Cuaron’s film adaptation […]

Puregold hosts 3rd VIPuring Convention

On November 20 Puregold held its third VIPuring Convention at Le Pavillon in Pasay City. VIPuring is an exclusive event for the Gold Members of Tindahan ni Aling Puring, Puregold’s loyalty program. Gold Members previewed the latest offers and promotions of the top supermarket chain in the country. In photo (left to right): Antonio De […]

Fondation Louis Vuitton: The building is remarkable, the art not so.

Finally the van approached the Fondation Louis Vuitton and we could see the building with our own eyes. It is amazing. It is as if a zeppelin crash-landed on Waterworld, and the scavengers made a giant sailboat with the parts. How does it stand up? More importantly, how can the art inside compete with the […]

Tina’s campaign to make everyone read Penelope Fitzgerald picks up steam

In July we reported that Tina Cuyugan has started a campaign to revive interest in the work of Penelope Fitzgerald. This was brought on by the publication of the prize-winning biography by Hermione Lee. Tina had been looking for a copy of the biography; we finally found one in Paris and schlepped it home (the […]

The rocket science of falling cats

All images: Ralph Crane/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Read Space Cats: How the “falling cat” phenomenon helped NASA prepare astronauts for zero gravity. Thanks to Juan for the alert. Cats are the navigators of gravity. We demand a live-action movie starring cats directed by Alfonso Cuaron and shot by Emmanuel Lubezki. Read Our Cats, Ourselves […]

The Strand’s Last Stand?

Naah, the famed New York bookstore is still doing well in the age of Amazon, but its survival depends on whether the next generation of owners continues to love books. Because they are sitting on very expensive real estate. Read How the Strand keeps going in the Age of Amazon, in New York magazine.

Amy Tan: Without trauma, you’ll never be a writer.

Here at last is our interview with Amy Tan. Thanks to Chad at National Bookstore for the audio file, and to Deo for the transcription. It’s a long transcript that we had to cut for publication. An outtake: Jessica Zafra: One of the consequences of being a bestselling author is that you become a public […]

Get 4 tickets to CinemaJam in today’s raffle

Last year’s CinemaJam. Photo from gmanetwork. Do you want four tickets to see Bamboo, Franco, Pedicab, Itchyworms, Urbandub and other top bands at CinemaJam on Saturday, November 29 at the Greenfields District Central Park in Mandaluyong? Post your name in Comments to join our raffle. The winner will be announced tomorrow. The concert will cap […]