My First MIBF Experience + Haul

The Manila International Book Fair is big event held annually, especially for bibliophiles and the like. And last September 20, 2014, I was able to go.

It was held at the SMX Convention Center and given that it was my first time to be there as well, I wouldn't deny that I was surprised at how huge and jampacked the place is with all the booths and yes, I got a bit overwhelmed too.

My sister and I roamed the academic, religious, etc. booths first, saving the bests for last, of course: Fullybooked and National Book Store.

We spent who knows how long looking at bookshelves and pretty covers. And me gasping and eyes widening at all the titles that I just can't find at my usual bookstores.

When my sister said that she's paying for me, my arms went to work at once. Sometimes I forgot the budget limit (not a rich kid here) and I had to struggle juggling books while calculating prices.

I ended up with 5 paperbacks in total.

(stuck with home pictures. regretfully, did not have the proper equipment for post-worthy photos.)

My sister and I separated at some point. She's not as avid with reading as I was. We have to admit that the way bibliophiles go book shopping differs greatly with the not-so-bookish people.

We met up again with me, carrying 2 books to buy and a paperbag with 3 already bought, and her, still looking. (See?) We paid for mine only within a few minutes, which is unusually fast given the situation. So, I really commend Fullybooked and NBS for that.

Afterwards, we went hunting for Eleanor and Park, the one book my sister has for her "wishlist" that was recommended by a friend. We had to cross pretty much the entire span of the floor because Fullybooked decided to be directly across NBS (where we are), hugging books and saying "excuse me's" more times than I could count. (If I would earn P10 with every "excuse me", I'd buy myself some DQ Blizzard.)

By that time, my arms, legs, and even neck (I was small, I had to look up - and tip toe - a lot to peer through people and read banners) were burning and I was starving that I pretty much suggested to buy every book that my sister did a double take on. When we finally found the table stacked - and when I say stacked, I meant stacked - with Eleanor & Park, a bit of convincing had to happen between E&P and Fangirl.

We left MIBF soon after that and yes, I was a bit sad, but still, I was partially satisfied (you can never have enough books) and incredibly grateful. And tired.

The rest of September 20 was spent commuting lots, carrying books even more, and eating even more, even more sugar (which I am regretting right now *cough cough*).

It was one of the best birthday gifts I've ever been given. A huge thanks to my big sister for that! And next year, I'm hoping to go once again - with my SLR this time - and hopefully, meet some book bloggers.

5 stars - Boy Nobody (I Am the Weapon)

Boy Nobody is a highly trained assassin. 

He's given assignments on a pretty regular basis and finishing them has become a routine.

Get close the the mark, kill the target, then disappear.

Follow orders. No questions asked.

That is, until the mayor of New York becomes his target and the daughter as his mark.

Goodreads || Allen Zadoff

I absolutely love this book - the characters, the plot. Boy Nobody deals with a cold hearted killer and that is something you'll never forget.

He thinks like an assassin, moves like an assassin. Indifferent to emotion, always calculative. And I love that. His voice is strong and seemingly unbreakable - at first - and I'm impressed at how Zadoff was able to keep it both humane and inhuman.

The plot line was quite common in the teenage-killers genre but when you start to predict what happens next, it completely swerves from your guesses. (Oh my god, the ending.)

My only dislike is Ben and Sam's "love story" that was only a span of four days. It was too fast to be even called love (on Ben's part). But then again, he was deprived of any personal emotional connection for so long.

Boy Nobody is an action packed novel full of unexpected twists and turns that will keep your at the edge of your seat.

And I can't even begin how coll those iPhone apps are!

Bout of Books 11.0

"The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 18th and runs through Sunday, August 24th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. 

For all Bout of Books 11 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog." 

Here we are. Again. Not that I mind. I've been in a reading slump lately and I'm hoping to get out of it with this read-a-thon.

Reading Goal: 3-5 books

   

(pretty much only the half of the unread ebooks in my iTouch)

Top Ten Tuesday: CLASSICS

Say it any other way: I am not a fan of the Classics. Yet, I like them (here we go with the juxtaposition).

I have never been the kind of reader whose bookshelf contains mostly works from renowned literary legends. But I am one of those who admire said legends' writings.

That doesn't make any sense, does it?

I like Classics, especially Jane Austen. But I hate reading them.

I love how simple life was and how complicated and raw romance could be. (Do you know who I'm referencing?)

Even though it may seem otherwise, I have nothing against Classics. I just find them very very very hard to read. Harder than Shakespeare, even.

So here's the top ten Classics I so want to read but probably never would but I still would try to: (No Shakespeare because I actually enjoy that Elizabethan.)

1. Pride & Prejudice - For obvious reasons. And love love love the varying cover editions. Watch the Lizzie Bennet Diaries and Pride & Prejudice (2005). Loved and enjoyed them both. Never going to read this, though.

2. Anna Karenina - Watched the movie. Loved it. Tried reading the book. I just. Can't. Finish. It.

3. Little Women - Caught half of the movie in Star Movies, I think. This is actually required reading so yes, I'm reading it.

4. 1984 - Been hearing about this a lot. Been curious ever since.

5. A Tale of Two Cities - Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare purposes.

6. Frankenstein - Been hopelessly confused about the real story of Frankenstein from all the different version I've watched.

7. The Phantom of the Opera

8. Farenheit 451

9. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath. No explanations needed.

10. A Wrinkle in Time - Mix science fiction with classics and I may just spend some money on this.

How ironic that if given the chance, I would study English Literature in college. (Film and Creative Writing, first.)

From February to March

March, already? As much as I want to proclaim that it's a student's final month of schooling, I can't. Because in my unfortunate case, it isn't. Due to the K-12 program being implemented in my country, therefore my school, my batch (and all those below us) will be present for a Summer Bridging to accelerate a level. In other words, next year I would be the so-called Grade 9, originally known as Year III.

Yes, another month of uniforms and Algebra for me. So much like February, I will be delayed in updating throughout March. Although I will try and post all my pending, unfinished reviews for your pleasure.

Enough of the horror. Let me recap all the joyous reading moments of the Month of Love.

          

                                         

Read quite a lot this month, compared to my usual reading range.

Current Goodreads Challenge status: 9 (18%) out of 50 books

 

I've also got Perks of Being A Wallflower as a TBR but reading it is simply for the pleasure of checking out the book after watching the movie. 

My bookish wishlist that will hopefully be my shopping list soon. 

      

March 20, 2014 - Divergent movie premiere

February's been a pretty good month full of books and roses. 'Till next year, Feb. Au revoir.

Lacking: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Rating: 3

Cas Lowood "kills" ghosts. They are dangerous and it his job to make them rest in peace.

He's used to fighting for his life in the process, so when bloody Anna decided not to kill him, he is determined to find out why. 

Author: Kendare Blake
Series: Anna
Published: 3rd of July, 2012 by
Genre: Paranormal > Ghosts
Format: 316 pages, paperback
Source: purchased

*Kindly take note that this review was written without being informed in any way this there is a sequel. Details are correspondingly changed.*

When ghosts and blood (and killing, of course) are included, I definitely expect days of paranoia and nights of hiding under the covers. And unfortunately, Anna Dressed in Blood, didn't make it through.

Having never read any ghost-killing book before, I found Kendare Blake's work very original yet very soft. Learning about the ghosts' varying backstories and murderous habits was exciting but the actual athame-stabbing-moment lost the punch. There was no heartbeat skipped, no breath taken away.

I was constantly getting distracted because Cas Lowood's grip isn't vise-like enough and his voice sounded like a girl. I don't mean to be sterotypical or anything but from reading mostly female narrations, I notice the difference. There wasn't an 'hmph' to his words. It was actually Anna's voice that brought that strength I've been searching for in a main character.

Whatever expectation I had for Anna, she surmount them all. In other words, I love her more than any other character. Anna is more than just a truly gruesome ghost who, for some reason, spared Cas his life. She's a being, much like us, stuck in a cage she cannot escape from, left with little to no choice. Admittedly at first, she scared me with her whole bloody facade and then came the young Finnish girl who should've had a better future than death. She was a well rounded character; I applaud Blake for that. It's Anna who made me finish the book and like it, at least.

Towards the last few chapters, the whole storyline pretty much stirred away from the whole Anna Dressed in Blood idea. It was a truly unexpected curve and another unexpected ending. I haven't got into terms with it still; I think this twist would've been better executed in a sequel, where it could be more detailed, coherent, and solid.

A lot of what I'm reviewing may seem unclear but I can't really say much without spoiling all the mysteries formed in the synopsis. Unfortunately. (Maybe I'll get a spoilery review done.)

With an abrupt conclusion and a tame narration, Anna Dressed in Blood should've been better. But through a bloody terrific ghost and an adorable relationship *ehem ehem*, it was enough for me to like it.

Goodreads || Kendare Blake

Outrageous: Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Rating: 3

Maylene Barrow may be odd with her weird traditions - three sips of a silver flask. But she is the only true family she has left.

So when Maylene passed away, Rebekkah had to return to the place she never intended to go back, only to find out that her dear grandmother was bloodily murdered and to learn that she has a bigger role in Claysville than the step granddaughter who left - along with the person she never intended to reconcile with. 

Author: Melissa Marr
Series: standalone (with an e-novella prior to the story)
Published: 9th of May, 2011
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: 324 pages, hardcover
Source: purchased



Graveminder started off great - a lot of mystery that keeps on the edge, desperate for answers to questions that aren't even directly asked. It was riveting and thrilling, especially in its gradual pace. I find my heart always beating fast when I flip to the next page because maybe then we would get some clarification. But we don't, not really. And it keeps getting better and better.

Until the moment when we actually discover the truth, the facts, all the hidden town secrets buried in its own land. The suspense of the continually mentioned "Graveminder" and "Undertaker" build up a lot and the big reveal didn't really match up to it, for me, anyway.

What made it worse is the romance that felt so incredibly forced. At the beginning, when everything makes you crazy - good crazy - Rebekkah and Byron's romantic ties made sense. It was believable due to the circumstances surrounding their relationship. And then the answers came flooding in and their love and affection became fake.

As the story progresses, the well-written mystery decreased - although it is still there but predictable - and the question - the sole focus - turned into, "Should I tell him that I love him or not?" The grief that was supposed to be there transformed into fondness that was too much at times.

Their whole dilemma with the love they uncontrollably obtain towards one another ruined the progression of the book. Or maybe because it felt a lot like insta-love (number one book turn off) or rather, a mandatory insta-love.

It would've been better if their romance is modified somehow.

The murder mystery case wasn't one I enjoyed too. Yes, I admit I did not figure out the mastermind beforehand and I found myself disbelieving upon knowing. The whole murder plot in Claysville is pretty impressive for Claysville. I just had a huge problem with the execution.

There weren't a boxes of sparks that really set you on fire. Rebekkah didn't even do much to put an end to the mayhem.

The beginning of Graveminder sent me spinning but the rest just annoyed me.

Goodreads || Melissa Marr

Genuine: The Pemberley Chronicles by Rebecca Ann Collins

Rating: 3.5/4

This book is a companion volume to Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice. Spoilers for P&P below. Consider yourself warned.

The weddings are done and everybody's happy. Now it's time for the new couples to live in a new world of love, life, grief, obstacles, and joy.

Author: Rebecca Ann Collins
Series: The Pemberley Chronicles

Published: 1st of April, 2008

Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: 384 pages, physical copy (paperback)

Source: purchased

What can I say about a book that brought me back to those days of adoring Jane, agreeing with Lizzie, and fangirling Mr. Darcy?

Well, it is universally acknowledged to be worth it. 

About a year ago, I watched the pilot of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and ended up marathoning them all. As much as I dread to say it, I have not read Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen but Lizzie's story of finding love in the oddest of places still captured my heart. (Just like Harry Potter.) It's one of my favorite classics of all time.

So the reason for buying The Pemberley Chronicles is laid out front. (Another is that it's in the bargain section and I can't resist the opportunity.) And adding this to my ever-growing bookshelf is a not regretted decision. It honestly surprised me in unexpected ways and drowned me with all the Darcy-and-Lizzie feels.

Rebecca Ann Collins was able to make the characters truly Jane Austen's. They underwent a lot of blissful moments and tragic events all throughout that you notice the changes - sometimes subtle - in manner in everyone of them. Any yet, Lizzie was still Lizzie with her teasing habits, Jane with her delicate persona, Lydia with her slutty attitude, and Darcy with his sturdy silence.

The Pemberley Chronicles revolves around the lives of the Bennet family - mostly Lizzie as Mrs. Darcy - after the happy marriages of the two eldest daughters. It includes a lot of letters between Lizzie and her loving Jane and Charlotte, as well as each of the characters reception of political and economical crisis that had occurred during the Georgian era. The politics was interesting to learn but there are times when my attention drifts away from the pages. This addition, however, made the characters even more real, as if they truly lived and struggled with these problems.

Lizzie and Darcy are very much contented to be the "happiest couple in the world". And I have no disagreements about that, but as their story developed with this statement in mind, it seemed like everything was blissful and perfect. Everybody was happy.

It took a few hundred pages to reach some tragedy - excluding the political concerns among the husbands. And by that time, I was definitely eager for some action. I can't say it was very well played. Just quite. (pun intended)

The adversities that struck, however, were truly heartfelt being matters of life and death, literally.

Collins' work isn't the perfect sequel to Pride and Prejudice that I'd expected. But it was as genuine as it could get. Fine by me.

|| Goodreads ||

Bound Buys: January 2014

What's the best way to start a year? Books books books.

It honestly surprised me to add 7 more books to my overflowing shelf in a matter of 31 days. 

Graveminder - Melissa Marr

The Pemberley Chronicles - Rebecca Ann Collins 

Anna Dressed in Blood - Kendare Blake

Bad Girls Don't Die - Kate Alender 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

My Little Phony - Lissi Harrison

Blue Heaven - C.J. Box 

Graveminder and Perks, I got from my bestfriend, Dylan, who also gave me Unravel Me. She's like my book-provider, so a great many thanks. (I bought Perks, though.) 

Throughout the month, I got two bargain books - Blue Heaven and The Pemberley Chronicles - which really saved my wallet from dying. They were really cheap, about 4 USD and below. 

Despite saving some cash from that, I still ended up nearly penniless because of Anna Dressed in Blood and Bad Girls Don't Die. Even though it hurts, I'm not regretting my buys - slightly. I'm really getting into the paranormal with these two.

Another genuine thanks to my little gradeschool busmate who generously gave me her copy of My Little Phony for some reason.

I spent a lot this January. How about you?

Top Ten Tuesday: Worlds and Characters

Hosted by The Broke & The Bookish

This Tuesday's Top Ten features worlds I'd never want to live in and characters I'd never want to trade places with. As a dystopian reader, it's pretty easy to narrow down my list.

This is randomly arranged.

1.

Never in my life would I ever want to live in Panem before and during the Rebellion. For obvious reasons. However, I would love to be Katniss when Panem's at peace and the Hunger Games gone forever. *coughs* Peeta...epilogue *coughs*

2.

To be admitted to an asylum for so long because I could kill people with my touch? No thanks. 

Although, to have the golden boy, Warner, fall for you...

3.

I would never live in an extremely breathtaking spaceship for the rest of my life. Much less be cryogenically frozen to sleep for centuries, only to wake up nearly dying.

Read this sci-fi and trust me, Godspeed isn't the ship you thought is was.

4.

Let us return to the 15 years before the Choosing Ceremony, when life was full of constant selflessness at Abnegation. I'd rather read books at Erudite. 

The other [dystopian] books cramming on my shelf aren't so bad - probably. How about you? Got any characters you adore but never want to be? Or worlds so cruel they aren't meant for you to live in?

Stimulating: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Rating: 4.5/5

Amy with her parents were cryogenically frozen for Project Ark Ship. The plan was for them to wake up - along with a hundred other people - 300 years later in a new planet, Centauri-Earth.

50 years before landing, Amy is unplugged, nearly causing her a painful death. But why would anyone try to kill her? Soon, the unplugging increased in number. With the help of Elder - the future leader of the ship, Godspeed - and Harley, they try to discover the murderer, learning deep truths hidden behind numerous secrets and lies, in the process. 

Author: Beth Revis
Series: Across the Universe
Published: 11th of January, 2011
Genre: Young Adult > Science Fiction
Format: 398 pages, physical copy (paperback)
Source: purchased


Across the Universe blew my mind and had me jumping in a mixture of excitement and anticipation. Beth Revis' debut is my second science fiction read and it definitely defined the branch of sci fi as invigorating and enticing.

Putting it down is as difficult as choosing between two amazing books because every scene is laced with mystery that keeps you hungry for more.

"The stars make me believe there is a world out there beyond this ship." -Elder

Both Elder and Amy were interesting characters that managed to grip my interest until the end. They differ a lot from each other, almost completely, and yet, they are relatable and believable. The chemistry between them amazes me. It wasn't forced and sped up. It was one of the most sane relationships I have ever read.

Mystery enveloped the book from the very beginning. It was slightly predictable, yes. However, you still can't help but doubt yourself about your guess. It was like bending over a well, reaching for something that you need to wait for to get a hold of. The revelations, the confusion, the drama, the feels...it's all very overpowering - in a good way.

"...power is strength, and giving that strength to others. A leader isn't someone who forces others to make him stronger; a leader is someone willing to give his strength to others so that they may have the strength to stand on their own."          -Elder

I have never encountered a book like Across the Universe. Revis' writing is very unique and original. The book itself is intensely refreshing from what I've been burying my nose into. I am really glad I got it for Christmas.

Across the Universe || Beth Revis ||  Goodreads

2014: Bookish Goals/Resolutions

For the sake of my bookish heart and mine, this year, I hope to...

1. Try new genres. Especially paranormal romance and science fiction + romance.

2. Read an autobiography. Hopefully, Margot Fonteyn's and Hans Christian Andersen's. And not online.

3. Buy a photography book. Held one in my hands once and now, regretting not buying it.

4. Read a Jane Austen book. Sad truth that I haven't.

5. Get a bigger shelf. I swear that one morning I will find that shelf of mine has collapsed and folded all my books. Apocalypse in my own bedroom.

6. Buy a book-related article of clothing. Specifically, The Dream Shirt.

7. Buy from The Book Depository. I have to convince my brother that shipping's free, first.

8. Get a reading-related mug. And endlessly use it. I should've asked this for Christmas.

9. Buy physical copies to my e-reads. I greatly prefer to hold them in my hands than tap a screen.

10. Fall head over heels with fictional men. 

Check out my non-bookish list of goals/resolutions for this year.