THE BEST OF THIS IS A CRAZY PLANETS BOOK 2 by LOURD ERNEST H. DE VEYRA

The Best of This Is A Crazy Planets Book 2 is the second collection of Lourd de Veyra’s most popular published essays on his blog of the same title at SPOT.ph.

This is to say it’s alright that I skipped to Book 2 because it’s not really a continuation of Book 1 but just another separate compilation.

Someone once said that the root of all comedy is pain, and that the line separating humor and hurt is dangerously thin. – Lourd de Veyra (The Thin Man: There Has Never Been Another Palito)

The Best of This Is A Crazy Planets Book 2 is intended for the Filipinos, as the essays are reflective of Filipino culture and attitude (from the mundane like TV viewership, censorship and daily life choices to critical like political views). Only that the articles expose the absurdities and ironies of the populace’s actions, words and beliefs; hence, the book title. Or, this book maybe intended for other readers too, so they can better understand the Filipinos as a people.

Ganun talaga ang kabalintunaan ng buhay. Ang mga namamatay nang maaga ay nabubuhay nang walang hanggan. – Lourd de Veyra (In Defense of Lito Lapid)

The writing was brilliant, so effective. Lourd de Veyra did here what he does best. He has always been known for his use of the comedic approach in relaying rather important, eye-opening messages across so casually. His words in his articles hit home. He had also put a word, a definition to the things others couldn’t seem to put a finger on, or afraid to do so. That said, even more amazing was when the comedic approach was let go to turn straightforwardly all serious and crucial with his observations, situations and questions.

I noticed the questions. There were lots of them actually. Some were literal questions, but some were rhetorical. Some sounded simple and easy to answer, but some were just impossible to.

I like how there are articles aptly written in English, in Filipino, sometimes in a mix of both, often with the appearance of the most slang form of the vernacular. The language variety adds an extra appeal to the book, as this clearly sets one article apart from the other. This makes them so conversational and easy to understand. As per the tone of the articles, like the language choices, it takes on different kinds as well depending on the subject, but it is playful more often than not and unapologetic almost all the time.

The thought of an indifferent universe is the most frightening of all. What, then, would be the use of all that sacrifice, the repression of the most basic appetites, the denial of profound pleasures? – Lourd de Veyra (Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?)

Personally, many of the essays hit home in both a positive and a negative way. It would be positive when I would come up with an understanding of or be in agreement with a particular sentiment. It would then be negative when I would realize how those realizations were most of the time about either bad practices, wrongdoings or ugly truths. Among my favorite essays were Dolphy: May Liwanag ang Buhay, The Thin Man: There Has Never Been Another Palito and A Night at the Comedy Bar.

I was always looking forward to the closing sentences of each article. They were always snappy and witty. Sometimes the point of the entire article is only set in the end with either a rant, a blow, a ridicule, or just a statement of the fact. Even better is when the last sentences change the way one understands what has been read. Even better is when they are short, pointed and hurtful.

Some things stuck with me like how people, including me, can just turn indifferent all of a sudden, how their short attention span can be dangerous, how they like putting the blame to others, how sometimes they are just too sensitive for their own good, how while they keep on blaming the system they forget they are the ones who make it up.

I closed this book with renewed awareness of myself and my environment. :)

I should probably visit his blog for more. :)

Are you done reading this book? What are your thoughts? I’d like to know them! Feel free to share them below!

Photo source: https://www.summitmedia.com.ph/

IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY by NED VIZZINI

Ever since Craig Gilner got into his target exclusive high school, everything about his life went downhill which led him into depression. He decided the best course of action was to just end his life. A brief call to the suicide hotline bought him time and got him admitted to a hospital. He would spend a good five days surrounded by other older crazies with their own life issues in the psychiatric ward where he would learn for himself what was going on with him and how he should come to terms with it.   

The party line is that some of the most profound truths about us are the things we stop saying in the middle… – Craig Gilner

It’s Kind of a Funny Story was a rather light tackling of a very serious subject. The narrative was comic. I understand that being taken from a teenager’s point of view aided this approach. It was amusing how so casual depression, school pressure, peer pressure and suicide were taken as though they were just one of those bodily changes teens go through during transition period. Looking at the content, it was still a positive read because it came out a playful step-by-step manual of how things steeply go down and gradually up with a depressed adolescent.

It was educational and insightful. It was like wearing a head of a teenager, a troubled one at that, giving readers an overview of the things that happen inside that mind. There was so much learning about how such mind processes things, how much confusing it can get for adolescents and how putting things in perspective for them can be the only lifesaver they need.

Relationships change even more than people. It’s like two people changing. It’s exponentially more volatile. – Dr. Minerva

Though some would see the plot as normal, it was still unique in a sense that it did not just expound on young love, teenage rebellion or pubertal adjustments (which are the favorite themes involving youngsters) but mainly on teenage depression already bordering to suicide which triggered some interesting discussions inside my own head.

We wear our problems differently. – Craig Gilner

I felt it made an impression but didn’t leave much impact in the end. Like it was sometimes light, then sometimes too light for me, or it was sometimes starting to get critically complex then the momentum will just fall off like that. While I already mentioned that it had opened some interesting ideas, I was left hanging and hoping for something a bit deeper on the attack and content. (That being said, I’ve also learned that Vizzini wrote the whole novel in just a short time (one or two months?), so that kind of, sort of changed the way I think about this book. Still, I wish there were something more to it.)

Even when first published in 2006, It’s Kind of a Funny Story is still very much relevant today. There are so many takeaways, some to reflect on and some to laugh about. Just recently I watched this certain program with an episode focused on suicide. What a crazy world we live in.

To be honest, I am still unsure how I feel about this book. It provided some really interesting ideas. It was not dragging; it was actually very quick to finish. In conclusion, I guess it was just average for me. While I can say that I had a nice time reading this one, I believe this will be more enjoyable and relatable among the adolescents of today.

Photo source: http://www.goodreads.com

This Just In: New Binge x New Splurge x New Pursuit

Lately, life has been pretty uneventful, in so far as eventful means going out to have a good time. But in a different context where staying at home can be considered just as exciting, I have been up to quite a few little things.

Kindly allow me to blabber and blabber.

IN TV SERIES

So I finally had the audacity to start with the much-raved-about Game of Thrones after months of delaying it due to fear of it being too good, too serious, too slang I wouldn’t be able to understand one bit of it.

Initial reaction after the first episode was, “Maybe my mind can digest this.” Three episodes in and I was all, “There’s too much blood and flesh, I’m loving it!”

There’s no knowing for sure who dies and who wins – so much anticipation going on. Seriously, it feels like anyone can just die in one blink. One of those who I thought was among the central characters was suddenly flat dead and headless on the ground at the turn of an episode. Why and how do you do that, GOT people?

Aside from the twists that I could almost not take – there’s too much cliffhanger than my life can handle! – it also takes me to the medieval times when honor, loyalty, family, and wealth clash. And there are dragons for Chrissakes. How’s that for some extra thrill.

If I may just please say this, Khaleesi is so damned blessed with all the beauty it’s almost unfair. That face, darn it.

And the Imp, oh like him a lot!

Moving on from GOT (because I have already watched everything I got and have yet to find a copy of the rest of the seasons somewhere), I am currently burning my ass off sitting and binge-watching The Big Bang Theory Season 7, and there’s just no stopping now. I missed the gang, and we have a lot of catching up to do. There’s nothing like TBBT to cap off every night with a sense of humor that I sometimes get and sometimes don’t, gives me a hearty laugh nonetheless. 

Lastly, New Girl Season 3.

IN BOOKS

Well, well, here's another BDSM for me. I just recently opened the second book in the Crossfire Trilogy, Reflected In You. There isn’t much to say yet because I have just begun reading it, barely on the 55th of 500-something pages. I have no deep expectations whatsoever with the book as I only wish to enjoy it. You know, just something I can squeeze in between other mundane doings.

As I turn to page 56, I’ll say more after I finish reading. 

IN THINGS

Hello, consumerism!

I’m sorry I’m not sorry that I gave into another mundane want in life despite the apparent lack of money.

I got myself a new pair of Vans sneakers with gum sole, just the thing I’ve been wanting to have ever since gum soles became a trend. Sneakers are my go-to shoes, my classic pangharabas. They are very laid back I can wear them anywhere I want to go. You know what they say, you are what you wear. Well, in my case, I am my sneakers.

Here’s the catch, I got the pair at the kids’ section of the dept. store, boys’ to be exact. I had been complaining before because the girls’ section always only offer very few and super duper girly designs which hardly appeal to me. All along I was looking at the wrong place. And get this, since it was kids’ stuff, the price was expectedly cheaper. I’m a winner.

IN PURSUITS

At the age of 20+, I can count with fingers in my two hands the things I know how to cook – that sadly includes hotdog and meat loaf.

Just a few weeks back, I had an epiphany – I can’t stay this way forever. Hence, I vowed to learn real cooking (as somewhat inspired and influenced by outside elements).

To put said promise into action, I played with some potatoes. And voila, I made something! I don’t know what it’s called; I just fried it with some melted cheese. Not to brag, but it actually tasted good. I know potatoes aren’t much, but one potato step is better than no potato at all. 

I have been checking online for easy-to-learn-yet-still-tasty recipe treats for future references. After browsing for so long, I have zeroed in on which particular recipes I want to learn. Then I've come up with another realization, that many of them involve baking of some sort. And that in order to learn the said recipes, the only logical and major step to take to make all these things possible would be to get an O-V-E-N.

xx

THE BIG BAD WOLF by JAMES PATTERSON

Because I kind of missed reading a Patterson, I clumsily rummaged through my brother’s pile of books and randomly picked a paperback from the Alex Cross series – The Big Bad Wolf. Having a brother who likes the same author has its upsides, yannow. So happy! J

So here goes the story…

A delicate case comes up while Alex Cross is still in the process of wrapping his head around the job endorsement he got working from the Washington D.C. Police Dept. to the FBI and a family issue regarding his beloved Little Alex. There have been a number of abductions. It is believed the people who disappeared are being sold in the market. A Russian mystery mobstar named Wolf is suspected to be behind all the madness. Apparently, the Wolf has no plans of negotiating and surrendering. Alex and the FBI have to get to him first before he can strike back.

I have always liked Alex Cross because he’s a cop with good character. He has been such an accomplished guy professionally, what with all the criminals and socio/psychopaths he has already put behind bars. I admire the fact that he really is good-natured personally but can also be sneakily genius and ruthless when the need arises. I think James Patterson has done a great job of establishing a strong and relatable personality for the Alex Cross character, hence the series’ success.

As with the plot, I think there was an air of predictability in it, though there were still lots of surprises, one great reveal after another. There were parts where I could just tell it wasn’t what the FBI had been looking for yet. I couldn’t really pinpoint but that was just how I felt about it. I still liked it anyway.

The Big Bad Wolf showed the intricacies every Patterson book has. As a crime mystery case, it was able to play well with its cards. It used every possible hole and means to make the plot more complex than it already was, and that’s kinda cool. J

I especially liked the climax. The chapters close to the end when they got Pasha Sorokin in their hands was where the excitement got really pumped up. Wooooooo! It was when I just had to keep on turning the pages. The Wolf was too sneaky! Haha!

If anything, I wish the novel further discussed Alex’s personal issues. The thing about who gets Little Alex’s custody was brought up, so I think it should’ve been given enough attention in the book. The few chapters were not enough. I felt like it was just talked about in passing.

Bad news: the Wolf hasn’t been captured yet, and I still don’t have the next book, London Bridges. Not cool! Can’t contain being left hanging in the end. Haha!

Overall, I believe he still sealed this book with the classic Patterson signature. Surely, you can never go wrong with James Patterson. J

Photo source: http://www.reviewcentre.com/

THE HOST by STEPHENIE MEYER

The Host is one of my all time favorites! I love everything about it, EVERYTHING. ♥

The Earth has already been invaded by souls.  These souls take over humans with a new identity; leaving only a person’s body a vessel. Wanderer (Wanda), a soul, finds it hard to totally wipe Melanie, a resistant host, out. As they live together in one body, Wanda eventually learns to feel the same way Melanie feels about Jamie (Melanie’s brother) and Jared (Melanie’s lover). This led them to find the two in a cave along with other surviving humans. It has not been easy for Wanda because, though she is sincerely after the good of the humans, some are still not convinced she’s on their side. Among those who resist is Jared himself, which made everything complicated. The situation is also worsened by the other not-so-little-issues among them in the cave. Solutions wouldn’t come easy, for sure.

It’s not the face, but the expressions on it. It’s not the voice, but what you say. It’s not how you look in that body, but the things you do with it. You are beautiful. – Ian (♥)

The Host is a story about love – for family, for friends, for someone – that transcends humanity in all its sense. 

I think how Stephenie Meyer came up with this idea was brilliant, but how she had written it was genius. Brilliant idea since this is the first time I read something of this idea. Genius writing because I do believe it takes a lot of contemplation and imagination to write a novel of this kind. And, to make sure it is a story where readers can actually put themselves into is a different thing altogether.

The novel’s being a very unique story makes it all the more interesting and riveting. It gives readers a lot of new things to ponder. And since it is far from reality, the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ within the story would surely bug the minds of those who’re reading. Earthworm-like creature in the head, eh?

More reasons to love The Host: it is ultimately a fictional story, yet it is still able to touch and play with its readers’ emotions. Readers are supposed to find it hard to relate to the book because the story is next to impossible, but it still effectively and convincingly found its way to the readers’ hearts. Stephenie Meyer made great use of this unlikely romantic story to show people what all-encompassing love can do and how far it can take a person. It’s amazing. How she made it possible is beyond my reach. Thanks to the author. J The Host is a moving story, so moving it lets all your emotions out. It is one that breaks your heart, and then makes it whole again. That’s what’s really good about this book. It doesn’t leave you sad, it doesn’t leave you hanging. Can I just say I love the happy ending for everybody! Very satisfying and sooo full of hope!

I knew it would begin with the end, and the end would look like death to these eyes. I had been warned. – Wanderer / Wanda

This is already the second time I read the book, but the way I was affected felt like it was just the first time. Oh, how I cried buckets and buckets of tears felt like I never had any idea what was going to happen next, like I didn’t know the story yet. This novel made me realize how much of a tearjerker I am. HAHAHA.

I also doubt it if you’ll ever get bored reading this. It just has a lot of complications, like really. You have here the struggle of Wanda and Melanie being in one body, Wanda’s being on the side of the humans, the Seeker’s never-ending hunt for them, Melanie’s love for Jared, Wanda’s feelings for Jared and Ian, and a lot of other sub-complexities. J

P.S.

The film adaptation of The Host is set to hit theaters by the end of March. I am both intrigued and scared. I am not sure if they can give justice to this fave of mine. I wish they wouldn’t make a mess of it. J

P.P.S.

Big thanks to Kreng for lending me her book. Love you, Kreng!J

Right now, if I was given the choice between having the world back and having you, I wouldn’t be able to give you up. Not to save five billion lives. – Jared (kilig!!!)

*Poster source: http://readinguntildawn.blogspot.com

BAKIT HINDI KA CRUSH NG CRUSH MO? by RAMON BAUTISTA

122812. friday.

Happiness is self achievable. – Ramon “Dragon” Bautista

yey! i’ve finally put my hands on the much loved book of every broken-hearted and love-seeking Filipino today! HAHAHA!

Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo? is generally a compilation of all questions about love(mostly), studies and life that fans asked and Ramon Bautista answered. along with answers are additional pieces of advice which, believe it or not, are applicable and helpful. this book more likely appeals to teenagers and young adults, but older people may still find what’s inside it relevant. J

 

i have loved Dragon since Strangebrew days, but i love him more now that he has TFTFZ (Tales From The Friend Zone) and this awesome book. HAHAHAHA! his powerful combination of wit and humor is such a turn on for the girls, makes him 100x hotter and cuter. no wonder girls go all cray-cray every time they hear his name. HAHA!

my cheerfulness after reading Monra’s book goes without saying that i really enjoyed Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo?. J i was smiling from ear to ear the whole time! i super duper love everything about it, from the cover to the photos to the content!

favorite photo in the book. so macho! pahaha!

i gotta say, this is the most casual book i’ve read, judging by the choice of words and the construction of sentences. Dragon was very conversational when he dealt with the issues of his fans. it was like everything was just so light to him. serious or not so serious problems, he treated all of them in the same unfussy and informal way he’s used to, which i find so cool. J

this book is so relatable, too. a lot of people are going through tough situations similar to that of his followers. just different angles, more specific details, but the same dilemma altogether. they all can find refuge in the words of the Dragon through his book. HAHAHA.

the hair! hahaha!

moreover, his advices are the real deal. some may think they don’t sound like they make sense at all, but really they do. that’s what’s good about him, he delivers his point in humorous (and sometimes hilarious) ways.  to describe his suggestions/solutions, they are straightforward, honest, open-minded, and absurd-sounding but realistic. he doesn’t try to comfort readers by making them believe that they’ll soon get back to the one they’ve broken up with if it’s not really possible anymore. he doesn’t let them live with fake promises. he doesn’t give them false hopes. he tells them if they are actually the problem.

lastly, Ramon’s photos are so comical and cute! his quotes are very catchy and funny, too! hahaha!

i don’t consider this a review but a declaration of my love for him. all i have are good words for him and his book. HAHAHAHA!

love you, Ramon! J

3RD DEGREE by JAMES PATTERSON

102711. thursday.

there's no stopping now. haha! i am now catching up with everything that i missed when i was busy. books are piled up on my desk waiting to be read. 

right after reading 2nd chance, i started with james patterson's 3rd degree. as i said, there's no stopping now. haha. 

this is the funniest part. i read this name "hannah wood." eh we have this classmate joanah who we call "hannawoods." haha! coincidence.

2nd CHANCE by JAMES PATTERSON

102211. saturday. 

o yes. i just finished the second book in the women's murder club series by james patterson. haha! 

it's a great way to start my sembreak. opening another patterson novel is like getting back on track since i had been taking a break from all the brutal and quizzical stories. this semester had been an exhausting one so i felt like i couldn't handle it anymore if i'd be reading such complicated stories that would drain my brain. haha! if you remember, the most recent i've read were memoirs of a geisha and the wedding. both were far different from patterson's genre. haha! 

big thanks to julie and her cousin for lending the book. haha!

anyways, 2nd chance is another book you won't drop the moment you open page one. haha. it left me clueless until i reached the last pages. again, it makes you believe that you figured out everything but then you start realizing that no, he's not it. it's like you know the suspect is not the real killer but you just can't figure out who he really is which is oh so frustrating. haha! patterson is the man. haha! i can say that i really love this women's murder club series. i'm enjoying it. what makes me like it is how patterson puts emotional attachment with the story, may it be romantic or parental attachment, to think that these novels are about killings. he gets to find the balance between two contrasting themes. haha! i believe that's what makes the series more attractive to me. in 1st to die, it is lindsay's attachment to chris. here, it is lindsay's attachment to his father. see what i mean? haha!

2nd chance is about the case of numerous murders of black cops or anybody related to them. at first, they thought it was the cop who was jailed for killing a teenager. hell no. they were wrong. haha! here's where the story of lindsay and his father gets in the picture. haha! i don't wanna be the spoiler so better read if you wanna know. haha! 

MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA by ARTHUR GOLDEN

i just finished reading "MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA" by Arthur Golden. it took me more than three days to finish because it really is quite long and even the chapters are lengthy too which makes me feel as though i've been stuck in every page (that is something psychological i guess). hahaha!

big thanks to dervs for lending the book! haha! 

i love the story! haha! seriously. it is not similar to the genre of novels that i'm fond of but i still was able to enjoy reading. the story revolved around culture, history, life, and love. 

it's about culture and history. what's cool is i learned a lot of things about japan and geishas as well. i barely know a thing about geishas, but afterwards, i was able to  understand what they are, what they do, and what it takes to be one of them. by reading the novel, i learned that being a geisha is actually no simple thing. it is more complicated than it seems. part of the story happened during the second world war, so the novel showed how japan was like before and after it.

another thing, by reading memoirs of a geisha, i felt like i got  oriented with japanese customs and culture. i learned that just like us Filipinos, they also are superstitious even with little things. i even encountered japanese words too, nihonggo. haha! it feels nice to not just be thrilled by the story but also by acquiring something you've not known about a certain culture, race or place. every time i learn something from what i watch, hear, or read, there's this certain enrichment i get. it's something that only my psyche can understand. i don't know if you get me, but that's how it really is. haha.

it's about life. and since the story was told through the perspective of Sayuri, a woman, it was easier for me to understand and sympathize with her struggles. it felt as though someone you  hardly know suddenly became close to your heart while she was revealing for the first time the story of her love and her life. every bit of event in Sayuri's course had something to do with her present and her future. her feelings were so contagious that whenever she is experiencing pain, i am also saddened by it; whenever she succeeds, i feel happy for her too. and since it started from her childhood days, i witnessed all the ups and downs she encountered, as in all! haha!

and of course, it's about LOVE. haha. what else would be more interesting than love. haha. Sayuri proved how much love can change and influence your actions and behavior. that's how i see her character. sometimes, she lets other people interfere with her love, but sooner she realizes that she won't get the contentment she's looking for until she does something to make things possible.

her eyes really are amazing. they are very distinct that anyone who sees her quickly takes  notice of her eyes. they are blue-gray. very uncommon. i have come to appreciate the beauty of her eyes while reading. haha.

i don't know. i just like it. i love how memoirs of a geisha was told. i was a voyeur for a moment as i sneaked to see everything that happened in her life. 

as i was going through the novel, these words made an impact to me.

I don't think anyone of us can speak frankly about pain until we are no longer enduring it. 

                                 --- Sayuri-san

what i learned from memoirs of a geisha? hmm, lemme think. haha. making things possible through your will, letting hardships shape you to be stronger, listening to what you really feel and going for what you really desire.

it is not really about what i learned. i am just glad as hell to witness her story. haha. that is it. :)


now, i am looking forward to see the movie. haha. soon.