Mina V. Esguerra

[K.D., Founder]

Mina is the only female Pinoy author (who writes only in English) whose works I've been trying to complete. I should buy a Kindle though.

I've read all her books available in printed form:

1) My Imaginary Ex
2) No Strings Attached
3) That Kind of Guy
4) Fairy Tale Fail

There is still one that in my tbr:


I think one of her other books that is currently available only in ebook will be printed soon. I'm waiting for it.

How about you? Which of her books have you read? We can talk about them in this thread.

[twstrfries]

I have copies of all her books. But I've only read My Imaginary Ex and Fairy Tale Fail.

I like her works. I'm a fan. Kaya lang ayoko munang basahin lahat ng novels niya agad agad. Alam mo yong feeling na, mauubusan ka? Mina V. Esguerra is my guilty pleasure. Gusto ko may mababasa akong libro niya kapag feel ko ang light read. :)

Ang weird no?

[K.D., Founder]

Alona, I also have those authors. Because I really liked 1 or 2 of their works, I have been postponing reading the rest (although I have copies of those). Aside from what you said, sometimes I also fear that I would not like the others. I don't want to be frustrated.

[Phoebe]

Bakit English dito? haha
Anyway, I've read My Imaginary Ex & That kind of Guy.
I love those! I'm a reader of any romantic pieces.
I like to be kilig once in a while haha
Mina's works are light & cute. I like its simplicity. :)

I'm looking forward to read her new ones.

[K.D., Founder]

Phoebe, the unwritten role is to post messages in the language that the writer uses in his/her books.

[Phoebe]

ok :)

[Apokripos]

Good news guys! According to Mina Fairy Tale Fail will be published. I don't know if Summit Media is the who'll be publishing it like her earlier three books, My Imaginary Ex, No Strings Attached, and That Kind of Guy.

I hope Mina will drop by the group to give us more information regarding this. :)

[Reev]

Hi guys. Mina has a mailing-list so you can stay updated. Here's a link to her latest post. It announces the new cover for Fairy Tale Fail.

http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=3...

[Apokripos]

Thanks for that, Reev! :)

I think it's also the first ever book to sport the Filipino Readers Conference logo. Ang galing!

Mabuhay ang Panitikan Filipino! ^.^

[K.D., Founder]

I will surely buy that. I am an avid fan of Mina!

[Maria Ella]

Salamat sa update at makakabili na rin ako ng kanyang Fairy Tale Fail. Hahaha. :)

[Mina]

Oh my gosh, sorry, may ganito pala.

@jzhunagev, Yes, Summit Media is releasing it, tulad nung iba. :)

@KD, All my books naman are in print, but the non-Summit Media ones are more expensive (P300 isa) because they're via print on demand. Pero di na to issue, kasi Summit is releasing all of my books na rin so magkakaroon na ng Summit edition ng lahat at pare-pareho na ang presyo. Yay!

[K.D., Founder]

Yay nga, Mina. Aabangan ko yan sa shelves ng NBS. Thanks!

[Lynai]

Unlike K.D., I have read all of Mina's books available digitally! I am not ashamed to say that I am a big fan and I want to read her other books especially those already in print, but I'm currently having a hard time looking for copies here in my place. Hopefully, the next time I visit NBS, meron na. :D

AAAND. I am sooo looking forward to the sequel of Interim Goddess of Love. Super bitin the ending! :D

[K.D., Founder]

Lynai, which of her printed novels you'd like to read? I can send them to you.

[Lynai]

K.D. wrote: "Lynai, which of her printed novels you'd like to read? I can send them to you."

You're giving away your copies? YAY! Haha. I'm still trying to convince Gian to buy for me in Manila. He's attending a seminar in QC this week. If he can't, I might take you up on that offer, Kuya! Hee. *kapalmuks*

[K.D., Founder]

Ay no. I will be buying you new copies for you. Mura na yong iba dyan. Like yong "My Imaginary-Ex" ay sale ngayon for only P75.

[Lynai]

K.D. wrote: "Ay no. I will be buying you new copies for you. Mura na yong iba dyan. Like yong "My Imaginary-Ex" ay sale ngayon for only P75."

AAY. Bakit ganon? Dito kahit isa wala! Or di lang ako masipag maghanap? Sa NBS kasi if ever I ask, laging out of stock. I'll let you know K.D. if Gian couldn't visit a bookstore while in Manila. Thanks! :)

[K.D., Founder]

Pasumpong-sumpong din. Last time sa NBS North EDSA ako nakakita ng Imaginary-Ex na tigse-P75 lang. Malaking markang pulang P75. Halos matabunan na ang front ng libro.

[Lynai]

I have actually put all the three on print Mina Esguerra books (My Imaginary Ex,That Kind of Guy, and No Strings Attached) on my wishlist this year. Sayang, may nakita pa naman akong No Strings before sa Booksale, di ko lang binili kasi di pa ako fan that time haha.

[K.D., Founder]

Kanina, nakakita na naman akong P75 na "My Imaginary Ex." This time sa NBS Superstore sa Cubao. Ang "No Strings Attached" ay di pa sale.

[Lynai]

K.D., hintay na lang muna ako ng konti hanggang sa Christmas Party ng TFG.Nilagay ko din kasi sa Kris Kringle wishlist ko ang mga Mina books na wala ako eh. Sayang, baka kasi madoble. Pero if ever, I am very tempted na talaga to take you on your offer. Hihi.

[Biena]

Lynai wrote: "K.D., hintay na lang muna ako ng konti hanggang sa Christmas Party ng TFG.Nilagay ko din kasi sa Kris Kringle wishlist ko ang mga Mina books na wala ako eh. Sayang, baka kasi madoble. Pero if ever,..."

Hello po, I can give you my copy of My Imaginary Ex :)

Yung Fairy Tale Fail kasi ay kay Kwesi na. :D

[K.D., Founder]

Biena, thank you but I've already read "My Imaginary-Ex." Mina gave me 3 copies for my birthday that year :)

[Lynai]

Hi Biena: Just saw this post. Thanks for the offer but a good friend already sent me copies of Mina books na wala ako. :) I read No Strings Attached lately but 2 stars lang. Will be reading My Imaginary Ex next. :)

[Maria Ella]

Mina's Love your Frenemies - IS IT OUT IN THE BOOKSTORES YET? yan na lang ang hindi ko pa nababasa sa mga gawa nya eh.

From reading Mina's works, naiirita ako sa mga lead female character. Parang ambababaw ng mga disposition sa buhay. Or maybe because they are portrayed as pretty kaya may something wrong on another side of their being. Wala lang, thinking aloud lang.

[Biena]

Maria Ella wrote: "Mina's Love your Frenemies - IS IT OUT IN THE BOOKSTORES YET? yan na lang ang hindi ko pa nababasa sa mga gawa nya eh."

Meron na, baka di mo lang napapansin kasi kahawig ng Fairy Tale Fail yung cover :)

[Billy]

this year start na ako mga books ni mina.

[K.D., Founder]

Thanks, Ella. Babasahin ko na rin sya.

[Josephine]

So far, dalawang books na nya ang nabasa ko:

1.

2.

[K.D., Founder]

Okay naman sila pareho, di ba? Typical chick lit pero hindi OA. Sabagay, di pa rin ako nakakapagbasa ng ibang chick lit. Nasabi ko lang kasi may mga sinubukan akong Precious Hearts Romance na di ko natagalan. Wala sa lengguwahe eh. Nasa atake ng nagkukuwento.

[Josephine]

K.D. wrote: "Okay naman sila pareho, di ba? Typical chick lit pero hindi OA. Sabagay, di pa rin ako nakakapagbasa ng ibang chick lit. Nasabi ko lang kasi may mga sinubukan akong Precious Hearts Romance na di ko..."

Nagustuhan ko sila pareho, Kuya! ^_^ Mahilig akong magbasa ng romance novels pati yung mga PHR noon [although pili rin] pati yung novels before that [mga Helen Meriz etc.]. Pati foreign works na romance binabasa ko rin, mga Judith McNaught, Harlequin, Mills and Boon, pati yung mga pang-young adult na ganito na nauso noong HS ako:



Although nagki-cater sa iba-ibang klaseng mambabasa at edad 'tong mga books na to, I can definitely say that Mina can hold a candle to them and I'm glad we have these kinds of books.

[Mina]

KD, if you don't mind my asking, what did you mean by "typical chick lit"? (Seeing as you rarely read the genre?) Am teaching a class on this and I'd like to know what people think is "typical."

PS Salamat sa nakabasa ng books ko :)

[Biena]

Mina wrote: "KD, if you don't mind my asking, what did you mean by "typical chick lit"? (Seeing as you rarely read the genre?) Am teaching a class on this and I'd like to know what people think is "typical."

P..."

Kasama ako dun. Hehehe. Pasingit lang. Haha.

[K.D., Founder]

Jho, sangayon ako dyan. Kaya nga lagi kong binibili at binabasa ang libro ni Mina. Hindi lang dahil na-meet ko na sya in person pero sabi nga ni Beverly "cerebral" ang mga libro niya. Pero noong minsan na bumili ako ng Esguerra book, may mga katabi syang Summit-published din, parang gusto kong i-try. :)

Mina, hi!
Parang wrong choice of words. Ang ibig kong sabihin ay typical romance. I attended a workshop at PHR two years ago and I learned that romance has a formula. Your books, so far those 4 that I've read, sakto sa formulang iyon, in my opinion. That's what I meant by "typical."

I should not have used "chick lit." A foreigner friend says that this term is derogatory. I did not mean it that way though. I think it is not different from say "guy lit" or "gay lit" or even "kid lit."

I have many Tagalog romance books in my bookshelf and I tried some of them. Kasi marami sa kanila, na-try ko na pero di ko kayang tapusin. Ang sa yo, natatapos ko.

Hope this clarifies :)

Biena, hi to you too! :)

[Maria Ella]

Mina may have a formula of romance in her adult lit (may i use this term? Kasi lahat ng gawa nya may hint of "lalab"/sex), but i like how she writes. Iba-ibang literary forms. Like dun sa My Imaginary Ex… she used a heist plot pero may halong flashback. Rare ko lang nakikita ang ganun sa mga librong maninipis (at nababasa ko nang isang upuan).

Pero oo, irate pa rin ako sa ibang may female character nya. Markado si Julie of That Kind Of Guy hahahaha. :)

[Rise]

K.D. wrote: Ang ibig kong sabihin ay typical romance. I attended a workshop at PHR two years ago and I learned that romance has a formula."

K.D., so what is typical romance in Phil. fiction according to PHR? What is the formula? I haven't read a lot in the contemporary romance genre either.

[K.D., Founder]

Ella, I like the way Mina writes too. That's why I buy and read all her books. I admire the fact that you still remember all of her female characters. I need to visit my reviews for me to be reminded. Oh, I still have one of her books in my tbr.

Rise, the romance formula from what I remember:
1) Girl meets boy and this should happen in the first 5 chapters of the book. They fall in love.
2) Girl losses boy
3) Boy pursues girl
4) Series of hurdles that prevent them from getting back to each other
5) Blackout - that makes the getting back together nearly impossible
6) Happy ending - they are back in each others' arms

Maraming ways to tweak the formula but the ending should always be happy. Walang mamamatay. Walang maysakit na malubha. Dapat guapo at/o mayaman ang guy. Pantasya ng mga babae. Kung di man mayaman ay may potential na yumaman (matalino, smart, atbp). Ang babae dapat simple lang para maka-relate ang mambabasa kasi point-of-view dapat na babaeng ito ang istorya. Sa hurdles, puwedeng may third party o puwedeng wala. Puwede kasing internal or external conflict eh.

Spoiler if you haven't read Fairy Tale Fail. Think before you click. (view spoiler)[Sa Fairy Tale Fail, pasok eh. Although my tweak, nauna yong nerdy guy at parang ang hurdle ay yong rugged guy. Yong pala yong rugged guy ang nasa dulo. Simple lang ang girl. Yong rugged guy talagang dini-describe in details: may tattoo, athletic, may tumutubong balbas, etc. (hide spoiler)]

[Maria Ella]

By the way, I just bought Love Your Frenemies~ babasahin ko siya soon, maybe a valentine read? hahahah.
Iba yung cover nya. Parang Fairy Tale Fail lang. :)

[Rise]

K.D. wrote: "Rise, the romance formula from what I remember:"

Thanks! Very insightful.

[K.D., Founder]

Ella, I have that book. Babasahin ko rin around Valentine's Day.

Rise, thank you. Nahihiya pa akong mag-post ng formula na yan kasi tinuro lang sa amin. Kaso tinanong mo. Basta ang romance, kailangan guwapo o likeable ang guy. Sabi nga ng kuya ko, magbabasa sya ng Nicholas Sparks kapag pangit ang lalaki at ang babae. May nagcri-criticize ng books nya na pinapalitan lang ang pangalan ng characters. Pero tumatabo ng pera. Pero to be fair to Sparks, hindi laging happy ending ang romance nya. Pag ganoon daw, love story yon at di romance. Ang love story puwedeng hindi happy ang ending, puwedeng mamamatay kasi o meron magkakasakit ng malubha. Puwedeng may gay angle. Ang romance laging (o puwede ring shifting pero rare) babae ang point of view kasi nga babae ang normally na nagbabasa nito.

[Mina]

Thanks KD! As a romance reader since I was a teen though, I should mention that this is a formula for "plain girl, rich guy, happily ever after" romances, which is only a subcategory within the genre. It's a popular one so I know why a publisher would focus on it, but if you read enough you'll start seeing the variations, ie di lahat plain girl, or rich guy, or happy ending, or hetero couple. I think what you describe as a "love story" is present even in romances (Sweet Dreams' PS I Love You is a famous one na di happily ever after, for romance readers) and the only reason I think Nicholas Sparks and similar novels aren't labeled romances are because of publisher decisions.

Biena, spoilers for future lesson! Haha.

[Mina]

Btw that formula pala is basically the hero's journey, which is the same plot of Star Wars and other hero stories. Ju st replace love with adventure or treasure :)

[Lynai]

Maria Ella wrote: "By the way, I just bought Love Your Frenemies~ babasahin ko siya soon, maybe a valentine read? hahahah.
Iba yung cover nya. Parang Fairy Tale Fail lang. :)"

I still have to read That Kind of Guy and My Imaginary Ex but Love Your Frenemies is my most favorite Mina Esguerra book as of yet. :)

[K.D., Founder]

Mina, thanks for explaining! I know I still have a lot to learn about writing and literature. That's so enlightening. :)

Lynai, really? Now I am looking forward to my 5th Esguerra book. My Valentine's treat to myself.

[Lynai]

Hi KD! If you've read My Imaginary Ex, the female protagonist in Frenemies is Kimmy from MIE,as what I've read from other reviews. I will be reading MIE next just to see how Kimmy is on this one. Enjoy your Valentine's treat! And then let's compare notes? ;)

[K.D., Founder]

Sure, Lynai. I am always watching out for your reviews. You are one of my top friends so I always read (and like) your reviews.

[Josephine]

Just finished reading [loved it]!

Been meaning to ask you this Mina, UPLB grad ka ba? ^_^

[Mina]

Josephine wrote: "Just finished reading [loved it]!

Been meaning to ask you this Mina, UPLB grad ka ba? ^_^"

I took DevCom via the Open U so I was taking classes once a month in LB for a year and then I finished it in Diliman/Manila na lang. :) So the answer is "medyo"? :)

And thank you!

[Josephine]

You're welcome! Truly love your books.

haha! Took DevCom in UPOU too... from 2004 to 2007. Anyway, I was reading and there was a part there that mentioned freshman night that gave me the impression [that you were from elbi]. Then again, probably every uni in this country has that kind of event for freshies anyway. :)