tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73629720949630538492024-03-13T23:12:18.873+08:00Ivan BookwormIvanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-38396340090244334032012-04-07T22:32:00.000+08:002012-04-07T22:32:09.297+08:00Steps In Reviving my Blog - I transferredThis summer, I want to revive the place where I can talk about books with no one stopping me - my blog. I made my transfer to wordpress. I've also changed my blog name from IvanBookworm to Rumpelstiltskin and Co. <div><br />
</div><div>rumpelstiltskinandco.wordpress.com</div><div><br />
</div><div>Visit the new blog and find out why I transferred. My blogger posts are also there, too.</div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-91347132571701545152012-04-02T15:00:00.007+08:002012-04-02T15:00:11.974+08:00The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327878253l/10798416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327878253l/10798416.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br />
What I like about this book is the title. I know you do, too.<br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.</span> </i><br />
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Swoony, sweet, all-airplane scenes, cheesy conversations – this was my first impression for The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. I know you do too, I really like the title of the book. Statistical probability? – that seems to be a mathematical phrase.<br />
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I’m pleased that the book has these sweet moments that make you swoon for a fraction of a minute. At least they make the prose alive. It also has the heavy problems that make each character as if they are real beings in dreadful situations. However, their actions failed them.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzn4n2lpbH1r18d8qo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzn4n2lpbH1r18d8qo1_500.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful plane so small compared to<br />
the sky. <a href="http://scwx3.tumblr.com/">(source)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>I really would like to love the book. But there were points that I cannot simply ignore and its forbidding me to like the story. Oliver was too mainstream. We’ve been to many books with perfect British guy - cool, handsome, attractive accent and kind with sense of humor. It is becoming so common to contemporary literature. On the other side, Hadley’s actions were just for a daughter with a dad marrying another girl beside her mom. It was natural for her to despise the other women. But her actions when it comes with Oliver, they were too unrealistic. You don’t go after a complete stranger; add the factor that she was in another country. A 24-hour plane ride is not enough to tell yourself you’re in love with your seatmate.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>On the positive note.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>Throughout the book, I really like the ending. No biased statements or anything else. I just simply love it. I love how things became settled for both Hadley and his father about this new marriage thing. It’s lovely. And I wish all stepmoms are like Charlotte.<br />
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</div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-84007584075532626792012-04-01T15:00:00.001+08:002012-04-01T15:00:13.761+08:00In My Mailbox -14-<hr /><br />
Good day! fellow readers and swooners and travelers and adventurers - okay, that's enough. I just miss you all after my VERY long absence from the blogosphere. It's been a hectic month. But now, hey! I'm graduating high school! Finally! And that will mean more reading this coming summer.<br />
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And now for the IMM, I have three books for you. And yes, I've been in constant desire to read them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/3648/1006989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/3648/1006989.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the Sepia effect. I just love it. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1433328.Alamat_ng_Gubat">Alamat ng Gubat</a> by Bob Ong (locally published book)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3236307-graceling">Graceling</a> by Kristin Cashore</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/256598.Curse_of_the_Bane">Curse of the Bane</a> by Joseph Delaney</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I can't wait to read these titles and share them to you. It's been a long time since my last post. Please bare with me, I just miss you all. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-27807400226491780462012-02-05T11:23:00.002+08:002012-02-05T12:34:41.346+08:00In My Mailbox -13-It's been a long time since I have posted an In My Mailbox post. Phew! Schedules are so hectic that I don't have time either to read or to post. Luckily, I found some minutes to today where I can post an IMM post. So here it is...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pHLEM8KvaDM/TdewG4wWHkI/AAAAAAAAAG0/KXEtwgn66Xc/s1600/mailbox.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pHLEM8KvaDM/TdewG4wWHkI/AAAAAAAAAG0/KXEtwgn66Xc/s1600/mailbox.PNG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>The Boy in the Striped Pajamas </b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>by John Boyne </b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8236/1006922c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8236/1006922c.jpg" width="150" /></a><i>If you start to read this book, you will go on a journey with a nine-year-old boy named Bruno. (Though this isn't a book for nine-year-olds.) And sooner or later you will arrive with Bruno at fence. </i><i>Fences like this exist all over the world. We hop you never have to encounter one. </i></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm very curious what's the fences all bout. What is the fence in this book? Why is it all over the world? This book has so many questions for readers and that makes me interested to this book. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's all for now, Ciao! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" /></a></div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-43119837926823154602012-02-04T17:53:00.000+08:002012-02-04T17:53:48.797+08:00The Reason for Absence XD!As you might notice, I didn't post anything this past weeks. Anything - reviews, teasers and other memes. I was so busy the past week that all I want is to sleep after I got all my work done.<br />
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<a href="http://1to10reviews.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/headache_1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://1to10reviews.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/headache_1.gif" width="200" /></a>Two things that have been eating my time were our research thesis and website coding; both are projects for some of my subjects. And the heck, it's not that easy to do a thesis or even to code a website.<br />
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But this past few days, I sorted it out and budgeted my time. I'm now reading <b>The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas by John Boyne</b>. So far, I'm liking it. Oh by the way, this is the first novel I borrowed from our school library! That's an achievement. I hope to finish this before Monday so I can put up a post.<br />
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For now, ciao!Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-4658996907806451942012-01-27T15:00:00.005+08:002012-01-27T15:00:09.434+08:00TGIF! Buy or Borrow...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8V6ehS4HQE/Trzxut-HwoI/AAAAAAAAAHY/hpa8MhhKSC0/s1600/tgif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8V6ehS4HQE/Trzxut-HwoI/AAAAAAAAAHY/hpa8MhhKSC0/s1600/tgif.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">TGIF! is a bookish meme hosted by <a href="http://www.greadsbooks.com/">Ginger of GReads.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where do your books that you read came from?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you prefer to own a book or have it on load?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><hr /><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I never got an ARC from publishers or authors and is not in a hurry to get them. At the first place, I do not blog to get ARCs. I actually never knew them until I started blogging. So, most of my books I read came from bookstores, some were borrowed and rarely from the library. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>The Bookstores</b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4545482558_c8a5db08cb_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4545482558_c8a5db08cb_o.jpg" width="320" /></a>There are only three bookstores were I get my books - National Bookstore, Fullybooked and Booksale. Among the three, I buy most from National Bookstore. I have this "Laking National Card" where every peso I spent in the store counts for 1 point and 1,000 points is equal to 10 pesos. Accumulate it all and I can buy a book! Second is Fullybooked. I love the interior design of each branch of this bookstore. You can really feel the books and the bookish atmosphere. Their branch in Gateway mall have floors with texts from different books. Last but not the least, Booksale. I rarely buy books from them as they are all second-hands. But when I'm short in budget I usually visit them. One book I was proud to discover in their store was <a href="http://ivanbookworm.blogspot.com/2012/01/dreamdark-blackbringer-by-laini-taylor.html">Blackbringer by Laini Taylor</a>, one of the best fantasy books out there.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>The Library</b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/2627/thumbnailqg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/2627/thumbnailqg.jpg" width="200" /></a>Here in the Philippines, we do not have proper public libraries, mostly are school-owned. I rarely borrow from my school's library. That's a shame on me as I am second in position after the librarians there because I'm the president of the club that organizes the library. Shame on me! But yes, I rarely borrow. Most probably because the titles there are mostly deep and educational like The Illiad and the Odyssey, Beowulf and Sherlock Holmes. But when I as kid, I have my library card stamped all over from the tons of books I borrow from them. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Owned or Borrowed?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I prefer to own a copy for myself. I like the feel of having something in possession. Yes, I also borrow books and I like doing it but I still prefer having my own copy. Not just to fill my bookshelf but I want to share it to my future to be wife and kids. I would like to sit in a couch while having coffee and say, "Come here my boy, it seems you have a little problem. Come and read this, it might help you." LOL, things like that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How about you? Do you like to borrow or own books? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">DISCLAIMER: TGIF image is owned by <a href="http://www.greadsbooks.com/">GReads</a>. </span></b></div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-37880954138647071062012-01-23T15:00:00.005+08:002012-01-23T20:23:40.659+08:00Revenge of the Witch by Joseph DelaneyIf you were to ask me what I prefer, day or night reading, I would choose night. Why? Because it's the time where everybody is sleeping and everything is at peace. I can focus more on what I'm reading when it is night time. You see, I'm very easy to be distracted. I don't want the noise of the day when I'm handling a book.<br />
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However, reading horror books at night time? Oh my, that should have a consideration for day time reading. I just finished The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney at exactly 12: 36am. Not to mention the scenarios like me looking over the window to see if someone is looking at me from the outside, me covering my whole body with a blanket to be "ungrabable" by ghost. Revenge of the Witch can make the horror out, but it seems there's a huge problem. here....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173500136l/298567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173500136l/298567.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><i>For years, Old Gregory has been the Spook for the county, ridding the local villages of evil. Now his time is coming to an end. But who will take over him? Twenty-nine apprentices have tried - some floundered, some fled, some failed to stay alive. </i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><i>Only Thomas Ward is left. He's the last hope, the last apprentice. </i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">This a good book. But it can be better. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Turning the first pages of the book, I was very delighted of the characters, the setting and their life style. They live in a farm. There are only villages, no cities yet. Have I told you that when I moved out of our house, I want to live in a suburban and near the sea? Neh? Now you know. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">The first part of the book was engaging. I learned the difference between a ghast and a ghost. Some scenes are very familiar with today's horror tactics - like creaking woods, walking sounds, thuds. But the book told it in some ways that make you feel the creeps. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">The culture was also very rich. I don't know what's the basis of Joseph Delaney for this book, but the way of life, the job of a Spook and how a Spook work, it's all perfect. It makes its world real. It's not just "Okay, to defeat a witch you must let her eat her own apple." It's beautifully crafted.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">But I have some serious problems with the book. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">The character development of Thomas Ward was so weak. Though there are some, I see Thomas what he was in the beginning as the same as what he was in the end. He's brave from the start. There were clear text evidences that he has a strong personality and desperate when needed. He's clever but sometimes not from beginning to end. I don't know but I just can't see a new Thomas - shaped and molded by the hardships he have been through. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">The book also lost its momentum at the end. The ending was so easy and predictable. One factor probably was the very obvious clues that make you already know what's going to happen. And the book as so wordy. More on explanations rather than action. Maybe 3/4 of the book was only explanations. If you will say that "Well, because we are not familiar with it so they should explain and that's why." Well, actions can also explain. And much more entertaining. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">I know many enjoyed this book. I also enjoyed it but for the sake of criticism, we cannot let our emotions override the facts. We view things differently. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">I would like to give a four-star rating but the ending really disappointed me so I think three-star is more reasonable. Well, three-stars doesn't mean bad at all. For me, three-starts means "good". </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Yes, yes, I will try to read the other books in the series. I still want to get goosebumps and mini-heart attacks when reading this at night. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Happy Reading! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0U3Yl_Ks4Vw/TxGFobQId2I/AAAAAAAAALY/WGY7bgUguhk/s1600/3+star.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0U3Yl_Ks4Vw/TxGFobQId2I/AAAAAAAAALY/WGY7bgUguhk/s1600/3+star.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>IMPORTANT</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not-so-positive reviews are not personal attack to the authors. Reviews are purely made for the criticism of the book and are base on facts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">DISCLAIMER: Book photo is owned by Goodreads. </span></b></div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-33900094077847379222012-01-20T15:00:00.001+08:002012-01-20T15:00:00.124+08:00TGIF! Recommend it!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8V6ehS4HQE/Trzxut-HwoI/AAAAAAAAAHY/hpa8MhhKSC0/s1600/tgif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8V6ehS4HQE/Trzxut-HwoI/AAAAAAAAAHY/hpa8MhhKSC0/s1600/tgif.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">TGIF! is a bookish meme hosted by Ginger of GReads</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Which book from the last 10 you've read would you recommend to a friend?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><hr /><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dear friend,</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I cleaned and rearrange my bookshelf days ago and came across some books that I want you to read. I have two for you today and there are my personal favorites. Hope you like them, too.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1313063835l/22628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1313063835l/22628.jpg" width="142" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky </b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This book really taught life. It's about growing up and how to understand the changes we are going through as we change everyday. It's a very motivating read and very inspirational. The writing is also a win - written in series of letters to an unknown recipient. This is also about "first-times." </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266457161l/39988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266457161l/39988.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Matilda by Roald Dahl </b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One thing we can treasure as we grow up are the sweet memories of our childhood. Good for you if you have a childhood not bounded by the internet as what we have now. Matilda reminded me of all the humors and pranks I did when I was still a small thing in this big world. I'm sure it will do the same to you, my friend. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I really enjoyed them so I hope you, too</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;">Love always, </div><div style="text-align: right;">Ivan </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">DISCLAIMER: Book photos are owned by Goodreads</span></b></div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-86531884528828437582012-01-17T15:00:00.001+08:002012-01-17T15:00:09.185+08:00Teaser Tuesdays: Revenge of the Witch<div>Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB ofShould Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:</div><div><ul><li>Grab your current read</li>
<li>Open to a random page</li>
<li>Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page</li>
<li>BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)</li>
<li>Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!]</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173500136l/298567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173500136l/298567.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div><br />
</div></div><div><b>The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch</b></div><div><b>by Joseph Delaney</b></div><div><br />
</div><div><i>"I snatched up the candle and shrank into the farthest corner. Thump, thump, nearer and nearer, came the sound of heavy boots. Who could have been digging down there in the darkness?"</i></div><div><br />
</div><div>page 45</div><div><br />
</div><div>This is really spooky! </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">DISCLAIMER: Book photo is owned by Goodreads</span></b></div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-8973172654148943522012-01-16T15:00:00.003+08:002012-01-16T17:53:19.049+08:00The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky<a href="http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8273/878061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8273/878061.jpg" width="208" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are some books that leave you to keep think about certain matters. About why the characters did that. About things that you have learned. About how beautiful the book is. I finished reading Perks at midnight and left me with those questions. To simply say, the book is one of those inspiring and beautiful read. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><i>Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie is navigating through the strange worlds of love, drugs, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", and dealing with the loss of a good friend and his favorite aunt.</i></span> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I honestly don't know how will I be able to post an effective review for this one. This is always happening to me whenever I've read sometime worthy. I also learned so many things in this book that I will try my very best to apply it in my life.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First of all, as a growing teen-ager, I've been able to relate to Charlie. I hope I have a friend like Charlie. We all have gone through the times when we ask why and how things happen. It's a part of growing up. But there is a difference between growing up physically and growing up mentally. When was ask why and how things happen, what are their importance and why we should care about them, it's growing up mentally and that's the real deal. But when you just copy what the grown ups do and call yourself one, you never have grown up. You remain childlike. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The novel was written in a series of letters from Charlie for someone who he doesn't know or met personally. He talks about his life and friends. Patrick, Sam, Mary Elizabeth, Craig and Brad. His family. These were the times we got to know Charlie and relate to his life even more. I know that not everyone can relate and that's normal. But for me, this book is something that grabs. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/5474/tumblrktqz8qxsyg1qatm4i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/5474/tumblrktqz8qxsyg1qatm4i.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's full of thoughts and lessons. I already told you about one and here's another one. When the whole world seem to be against you and that no one is there to support you, keep hoping because it will be over soon. It will be. And friends. Yes we sometimes misunderstood them but they are actually a vital part in our growing up years. Without them we will not learn things that our parents and teachers don't want us to know. We will not be able to learn how to take risks and learn from it. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/5474/tumblrktqz8qxsyg1qatm4i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">But I don't understand Charlie why he always cry. I think it's part of his mental disorder that make him more emotional. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Try to be a filter when reading. Do not just mind the character development and how grand the setting is. Mind also the thoughts that say something important. I'm not saying that development and setting is not important but they are just a part of the work, how about the other parts? We all should mind all the elements. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Oh, I'm becoming wordy again. But that's it. That's what I think about this novel. I will certainly recommend this to everyone. I'm actually planning to give this to a friend that I know can relate to it very well. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">I heard that Perks was adapted to a motion picture and I can't wait to see it in the theaters. Especially that Emma Watson is Sam. I will definitely watch it. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/6618/perksbeingwallflowermov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/6618/perksbeingwallflowermov.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top picture is a WIN!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">(Book 3 of 2012) </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k3BAVC8ztmw/TwLooTCXekI/AAAAAAAAAK0/w_lrWiMxE1c/s1600/5+star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k3BAVC8ztmw/TwLooTCXekI/AAAAAAAAAK0/w_lrWiMxE1c/s1600/5+star.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></span></div></div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-80824991898387981522012-01-13T15:00:00.019+08:002012-01-13T15:00:05.186+08:00TGIF! 2012 Must Reads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8V6ehS4HQE/Trzxut-HwoI/AAAAAAAAAHY/hpa8MhhKSC0/s1600/tgif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8V6ehS4HQE/Trzxut-HwoI/AAAAAAAAAHY/hpa8MhhKSC0/s1600/tgif.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">TGIF! is a bookish meme hosted by Ginger of GReads</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which books are at the top of your list to be read this year? </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(new or old releases)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><hr /><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most of my anticipated reads this year are old releases so please tell what do you think about them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1212708945l/1162022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1212708945l/1162022.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta</b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been hearing a lot of readers saying that they cry buckets of tears with this book. So I want to try it. The synopsis in Goodreads didn't catch my interest, actually, but I know that there's more in this book. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1227961623l/4932435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1227961623l/4932435.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Finnikin the Rock by Melina Marchetta </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Readers opinions are divided in this one. They said that this book is very vague some said it very Marchetta and so it's good. I want to see it by myself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1306866851l/10165727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1306866851l/10165727.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In this book, they said that Melina Marchetta regain what's lacking in Finnikin the Rock. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Bl9ADBdlL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Bl9ADBdlL.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The Fault in Our Stars by John Green</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OMG John Green! That's all I can say. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510q+iCQiTL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510q+iCQiTL.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer Smith</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The title really grabs my attention. And the fact that it was set in a 24hour airplane ride, it's very interesting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">************</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and because it's 2012, I cannot let this post pass without me listing my... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2012 Must Watch Movies</span> </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/109/c/5/sherlock_holmes_2_by_cure4-d3eea6g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/109/c/5/sherlock_holmes_2_by_cure4-d3eea6g.jpg" width="138" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Sherlock Holmes II</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last month, I went to Araneta Coliseum to watch Disney on Ice. Before the show, all I can see it Sherlock Holmes II trailer in the hanging screen. I watched the first one and I'm really eager to watch the sequel!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1429000230679&id=379d8aeebe750dbf839a0fe25461354c" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1429000230679&id=379d8aeebe750dbf839a0fe25461354c" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The Hobbit</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit. OMG! I cannot wait for this especially seeing the trailer! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.80millionmoviesfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/the-hunger-games-movie-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://blog.80millionmoviesfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/the-hunger-games-movie-poster.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The Hunger Games</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What's new? All have been waiting for this one. I want to see Katniss fight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1452676027437&id=3c2da1eab5daeddf2bd955a801c3a28f" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1452676027437&id=3c2da1eab5daeddf2bd955a801c3a28f" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The Perks of Being a Wallflower </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Emma Watson! Logan Lerman! Perks! This is MY most must watch film of the year!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ariepinoci.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Titanic-3D-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="96" src="http://www.ariepinoci.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Titanic-3D-2012.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Titanic </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love Titanic. When I was a kid and that this film was still in VHS, I always watch it. Not to mention how hard it is since then to fast forward a VHS to the sinking part. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1532910569734&id=810d1ee16e480226d891577b260cd40a" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1532910569734&id=810d1ee16e480226d891577b260cd40a" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Snow White and the Huntsman</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This! I don't know about Kristen here but I want to watch it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it. So how about you, what are your must reads and watch for 2012? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">DISCLAIMER: Images of the books are owned by Goodreads. Images of the movies belong to their respective owners. </span></b>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-4459563326981947922012-01-12T22:03:00.000+08:002012-01-12T22:03:47.664+08:00Follow Me in Twitter!Hello guys! This is just a quick post. I would like to say that I revived my Twitter account for this blog and you can now follow and have a chat with me!<br />
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<br />
<center><a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/IvanBookworm">Follow @IvanBookworm</a></center><center><br />
</center><center style="text-align: left;">Just click on the follow button and you're done! Thank you in advance. See ya'h there. </center><br />
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</script>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-76477358348250590132012-01-10T15:00:00.003+08:002012-01-14T21:58:10.955+08:00Teaser Tuesdays: The Perks of Being a Wallflower<div>Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB ofShould Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:</div><div><ul><li>Grab your current read</li>
<li>Open to a random page</li>
<li>Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page</li>
<li>BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)</li>
<li>Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!]</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8273/878061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8273/878061.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</div></div><div>by Stephen Chbosky</div><div><br />
</div><div><i>"So this is my life, and I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."</i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div>This book is really a good one. You should read it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-79069280844442529012012-01-09T15:00:00.039+08:002012-01-12T21:56:58.572+08:00Matilda by Roald DahlIt's not my intention to but I find it interesting so I borrowed Matilda by Roald Dahl from a friend once she have brought it in our school. I said to myself, "Well, it's still not very awkward for me to read a children's book, right?" And as you might want to know, I really want to go back to my childhood and because it's very impossible, I'm doing things child-like. Actually, in the following weeks I'll be watching Disney on Ice. XD! Can't wait!!!<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266457161l/39988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266457161l/39988.jpg" width="130" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>The Trunchbull is no match for Matilda! </strong>Who put superglue in Dad's hat? Was it really a ghost that made Mom tear out of the house? Matilda is a genius with idiot parents — and she's having a great time driving them crazy. But at school things are different. At school there's Miss Trunchbull, two hundred menacing pounds of kid-hating headmistress. Get rid of the Trunchbull and Matilda would be a hero. But that would take a superhuman genius, wouldn't it?</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">I haven't yet read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Dahl and they say that it's better than Matilda. Well, for me Matilda is a very nice children's book. It's fresh and full of wits. Matilda, especially, is exceptionally smart and can do telekinesis. Her parents ignore her and that's the most unwanted thing you want your parents to do to you. However, Matilda can manage and enjoy herself by making her parents crazy by putting superglue on his father's hat and more. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">I found myself laughing every time Matilda does something crazy that makes her parents jump and act childish. But the book is not just about making fun of people, it also discussed the problems of different people. It shows helping, caring and loving. But of course there's the Trunchbull to ruin everything. This headmistress is like an ex convict and turned to a school master the next morning. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">One thing that distracted me was the book seems to lose its momentum at the end of the book. The story becomes out of the nature of the book and becomes very predictable. But of course children will not know that. All they need is the fun of reading. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">The book has illustrations by Quentin Blake on almost every page. I found some of them ridiculous so I decided to share them with you. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/5607/1006713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/5607/1006713.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look at how small Matilda is! The book is even higher than her! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3033/1006720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3033/1006720.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ms. Trunchbull </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/7221/1006733p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/7221/1006733p.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And Matilda and Ms. Honey live happily ever after. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Book 2 of 2012)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8gR8quuiHjs/TwLp0bpwc0I/AAAAAAAAALA/-buv4yVrdkM/s1600/4+star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8gR8quuiHjs/TwLp0bpwc0I/AAAAAAAAALA/-buv4yVrdkM/s1600/4+star.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">DISCLAIMER: Images used in this post are owned by the Ivanbookworm and blog. </span></b></div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-24379215017339421872012-01-06T15:00:00.007+08:002012-01-06T15:00:07.877+08:00TGIF! Reading Resolutions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8V6ehS4HQE/Trzxut-HwoI/AAAAAAAAAHY/hpa8MhhKSC0/s1600/tgif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8V6ehS4HQE/Trzxut-HwoI/AAAAAAAAAHY/hpa8MhhKSC0/s1600/tgif.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">TGIF! is a bookish meme hosted by <a href="http://www.greadsbooks.com/">Ginger of GReads</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What are some of your reading goals for the new year?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><hr /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm starting my 2012 pretty right and I have already finished three books! Wow! I think this year will be more reading than the previous one. Last year, I cannot have the time to read because of the hectic school schedules and a lot of exams. But this, I'm practicing Time Management to give way to free time. :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1.<b> Be a filter not a sponge</b> - It means to read with comprehension and application. Learn something deep and learn to extract what the story is trying to say indirectly. Not a sponge that let the water stay in for a while then drain it. It this case, let the thrill and excitement and the characters for a while then let the words be forgotten. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. <b>Explore more genre </b>- I like YA and Contemporary because I can relate to the stories they tell. However, life is too short to be locked on a single part of literature. I want to explore more like classics and historical. It seems that they are very interesting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. <b>Have more time to read</b> - I spend so much time in the internet even though I know I'm not doing something. So this year, I will control myself to spend my spare time in books rather than the internet. (LOL, I really hope so!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. <b>Socialize more</b> - I want to meet other bloggers. I'm very interested in learning about other people especially when we have something in common. I will try to "participate" this year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. <b>Not to judge a book by it's cover</b> - I admit it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will not have a very long list as I want to succeed to all my resolutions. How about you, what are your reading resolutions this year? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-21990872034991386672012-01-03T15:00:00.002+08:002012-01-03T19:41:02.202+08:00Teaser Tuesdays: Matilda<div>Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB ofShould Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:</div><div><ul><li>Grab your current read</li>
<li>Open to a random page</li>
<li>Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page</li>
<li>BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)</li>
<li>Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!</li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266457161l/39988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266457161l/39988.jpg" width="130" /></a></div></div><div><b>Matilda by Roald Dahl</b></div><div><br />
</div><div><i>Matilda, holding the hat in one hand and a thin tube of Superglue in the other, proceeded to squeeze a line of glue very neatly all around the inside of rim of the hat. Then she carefully hooked the hat back on to the peg with the walking-stick</i></div><div><br />
</div><div>page 30</div><div><br />
</div><div>Look at how playful this little girl. Always making her parents go crazy. I borrowed my copy from a friend and as of now, I'm loving it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-30293278575035931332012-01-02T15:00:00.009+08:002012-01-03T19:39:24.714+08:00Dreamdark: Blackbringer by Laini Taylor<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">To be honest with you, guys. I never heard of the Dreamdark duology before, not until now. It was Christmas last year when I went on vacation in our province. Luckily, there is one bookstore there so I marauded it. Dreamdark was one of my haul that month. It stayed in my shelf for months until another December has come and I decided to read it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298592083l/596963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298592083l/596963.jpg" width="145" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #181818;">When the ancient evil of the Blackbringer rises to unmake the world, only one determined faerie stands in its way. However, Magpie Windwitch, granddaughter of the West Wind, is not like other faeries. While her kind live in seclusion deep in the forests of Dreamdark, she's devoted her life to tracking down and recapturing devils escaped from their ancient bottles, just as her hero, the legendary Bellatrix, did 25,000 years ago. With her faithful gang of crows, she travels the world fighting where others would choose to flee. But when a devil escapes from a bottle sealed by the ancient Djinn King himself, the creator of the world, she may be in over her head. How can a single faerie, even with the help of her friends, hope to defeat the impenetrable darkness of the Blackbringer?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #181818;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Magpie, together with her friend crows, roam the world to hunt for devils that had escaped their vessel. However, humans, unknowingly, open a vessel that contains the greatest of all evil, darkness. This darkness feeds on everything, faeries, humans and even devils. In her quest to return this Hungry One to its container, she met incredible people, including the dead, that uncover who she really is. Not an ordinary faery, they say. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dreamdark is one of those works that are truly remarkable and magnificent. Laini Taylor is such a great author. She can weave a very interesting and effective plot that even the devils will like. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The world that Laini Taylor weaved is a true art. You can feel the world of Dreamdark as if it really exists. Though very magical, it’s very easy to say that this world exist. You will be left in awe on how the plot was magically interconnected. There are times when you encounter details that seem unimportant just to find out that it’s the golden key to the problem. Even I now that I’m writing this review cannot find a word that best suits to describe how artistic this novel is. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Her characters are not just characters to play the plot while it throws all the troubles to them. The story does not consist of only one or two kinds of being but many! Including a bald chicken, Strag, who was actually a slave of a warlock. If we speak of development, oh I very sure the development of the characters in this story is one of a kind. It’s not forced. It’s very humanistic, very real. The characters, though they are different from commons, act how an intelligent being should on every trouble they encounter. (The problem in most of today’s works is their characters acting inhuman. They act in ways that make them unreal and unbelievable.) <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">To cut out the criticism, this is how I imagined those crows that are always with Magpie. And also Strag the bald chicken...<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/6538/pixarsforthebirdsfailby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/6538/pixarsforthebirdsfailby.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">I know! I know. They're are not crows at the first place but man, that’s how I picture them. And they are cute in that form. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Did I already say something about the artistic illustrations in the book? Neh? Well, here they are. Admit it, you like a book with tons of pictures. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/7317/blackbringer1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/7317/blackbringer1.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal">And to summarize this rambling, I will say that Dreamdark: Blackbringer is a must MUST read. It is unique and gives new form to faeries we know. This is renaissance! <o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{Book 1 for 2012}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k3BAVC8ztmw/TwLooTCXekI/AAAAAAAAAK0/w_lrWiMxE1c/s1600/5+star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k3BAVC8ztmw/TwLooTCXekI/AAAAAAAAAK0/w_lrWiMxE1c/s1600/5+star.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-50118217470444808842012-01-02T14:48:00.001+08:002012-01-03T19:37:29.239+08:00Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge!Hello guys! It's the second day of the year and so far so good. Regarding my blog, I already queued up reviews and memes this month. I am very well motivated to give life to this blog this year. As you might know, I'm entering college this coming June so I will have more free time between classes. That's ironic, isn't it? Mostly will say they will have limited time when they got into college. Well, I think Time Management skills can loosen up those hassle days to have more free time.<br />
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<h3 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 4px 0 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/challenges/207-2012-reading-challenge" style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.1em; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none;">2012 Reading Challenge</a><br />
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<div><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4619635-ivan-bookworm">Ivan</a> has <br />
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read 1 book toward his goal of 50 books. <br />
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</div></center>Yes, that is correct. I will only try to read more or less 50 books this year. Why so few? You might ask that. Let me explain. Reading is my true passion and blogging is just an add on to it. It's very nice to voice out what you think about a book to people who also read. Have you ever tried to have bookish talk with video-gamers?<br />
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So why 50 books? As what I learned from The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, try to be a filter not a sponge when reading. What does that mean? You read not only to enjoy but also to learn. If you're a sponge, you are just letting the words pass in your mind without comprehension and application. When you're a filter, as what the word suggests, there are bits that remain in your mind as the words pass through. That's what we call learning. And those learning that you have gained by filtering should be applied to your life.<br />
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Phew! I hope I did not became a philosophical monk on the Himalayas with that paragraph. But it's true. So 50 books this 2012. That 4-5 books per month.<br />
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How about you? How many books do you plan to read this 2012?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsUWlpjoDww/TwLoVi277aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1Uzb6j7E0Cs/s1600/name+tag.jpg" /></a></div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-37277977340695950292011-12-31T18:57:00.000+08:002011-12-31T18:57:36.335+08:00Happy New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kd5-RYIjH7M/Tv7o2j8WABI/AAAAAAAAAIg/yjVJ3Ep1gEg/s1600/tumblr_lx2delvKfr1qgnwk2o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kd5-RYIjH7M/Tv7o2j8WABI/AAAAAAAAAIg/yjVJ3Ep1gEg/s400/tumblr_lx2delvKfr1qgnwk2o1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I wish you happiness, good health, fun and success. Happy New Year!</b></span></span></div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-46367624617698684182011-12-30T16:00:00.003+08:002011-12-30T16:00:12.413+08:00TGIF! First and Last ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8V6ehS4HQE/Trzxut-HwoI/AAAAAAAAAHY/hpa8MhhKSC0/s1600/tgif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8V6ehS4HQE/Trzxut-HwoI/AAAAAAAAAHY/hpa8MhhKSC0/s1600/tgif.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">TGIF! is a bookish meme hosted by <a href="http://www.greadsbooks.com/">Ginger of GReads.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What was the first book you read and the last you finished in 2011? </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">How do you feel about these books?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Would you recommend them to others?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><hr /><br />
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</div>My 2011 reading is much better than my 2010. I discovered a lot of good, as well as worse, books this year. I've been journeying through different genre and having a good taste of both classic and modern literature.<br />
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<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311474171l/8665876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311474171l/8665876.jpg" width="133" /></a>My first book to have read and finished this year was <b>Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky</b> (<a href="http://ivanbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/01/awaken-by-katie-kacvinsky.html">my review</a>). Uhm, let me remember. I quite liked this book because of its futuristic view and how possible they can happen some time. Imagine papers have already ran out and trees being artificially synthesized, that can really happen. But the real thing that got me on this is the idea of waking up from technology. Having a natural school is way better than a virtual one.<br />
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I would recommend this to my fellow readers. And look at the cover, it really represent what's inside the book.<br />
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<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266457161l/39988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266457161l/39988.jpg" width="130" /></a>The last book I have finished this year is <b>Matilda by Roald Dahl</b>. Oh how I love this little girl! Very clever and genius in nature. This book is very light and fresh. Even though I'm too out of the age group this book belongs, I still can't prevent myself from laughing especially to the epicness of Ms. Trunchbull. I would love to show you illustrations by Quentin Blake about Ms. Trunchbull and her unbelievable throwing-kids-outside-the-window-by-grabbing-their-pigtails scenes. My review will be up next year, most probably by the second week as I am already queuing up my posts.<br />
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I would recommend this to <b>anyone</b> in the world! This will remind you of your beautiful days in your childhood.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">DISCLAIMER: TGIF! image is owned by Ginger of GReads and is used as a part of this meme post. Book images of Awaken and Matilda are owned by Goodreads.com. I do not take ownership of any of the images used in this post. </span></b>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-63940771469594663112011-12-23T19:50:00.000+08:002011-12-23T19:50:43.138+08:00TGIF! Oh Dear Santa is coming to town<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8V6ehS4HQE/Trzxut-HwoI/AAAAAAAAAHY/hpa8MhhKSC0/s1600/tgif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8V6ehS4HQE/Trzxut-HwoI/AAAAAAAAAHY/hpa8MhhKSC0/s1600/tgif.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">TGIF! is a bookish meme hosted by Ginger of GReads.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Which books made it to your Christmas wish lists this year?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><hr /><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh wishlists. How I hope I can really fulfill these. I hope I've been a good boy this year and that Santa will be wanting to give me what I wish. Or maybe he's not giving me anything because I was such a bad kid. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">However, I will still have my wishlist ready if things turned topsy-turvy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Last Apprentice Series by Joseph Delaney </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">I heard about this book from a fellow blogger <a href="http://sumthinblue.com/">Blooey of Bookmarked</a>. I stumbled upon her review of the second and third book in the series and men, I fell in love with the story! The books include scary illustrations, a lot of illustrations to emphasize. And according to Blooey, it will freak you out. That's why I'm hungry for this series. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173500136l/298567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173500136l/298567.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Diving Comedy by Dante Alighieri </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">In one of my past IMMs, I have featured Inferno by Dante. Actually, I'm not into genre like this but when we discussed it on one of my English classes, it interest me with the kind of story it has. Imagine going to hell to visit some awesome people of the past generation and see sinners carrying boulders. I think that's a great story.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/875/comedyw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/875/comedyw.jpg" width="166" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flammel by Michael Scott</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">I already finished the first two books in the series and it's been one year since I read the last one. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">uhm, what else? I cannot think of any more. These are the real books I want to read. I'm also hoping for Narnia Chronicles and Lord of the Rings but the movies kinda spoiled me up and making me not wanting to read the books anymore. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So, I really hope Santa is making considerations and will decide to leave those books under our Christmas tree. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
Merry Christmas everyone!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">DISCLAIMER: The TGIF image used is owned by Ginger of GReads. It's used as a part of this meme and in no purpose of taking credit. </span></b></div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-55986126386034233432011-12-22T13:09:00.000+08:002011-12-22T13:09:49.621+08:00Reviews! Where are the reviews?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/1691/tumblrlv9c8wzbls1r559jr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/1691/tumblrlv9c8wzbls1r559jr.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Advance Merry Christmas!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope you are having a great vacation right now with your family, friends and books. Today is already December 22 and I can't wait 'till the 25th for the family luncheon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So for the purpose of the post, I'll be talking about the past, present and the future of my reviews. I've been very busy since December because of flabbergasting amount of schoolwork, including testing days. As a result, I have very limited time to read and so I finished like one or two books only in the past months. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What I realized is my reviews are time realistic or whatever should you call it. I mean I post reviews only after I finished reading a book or so. So next year, (weee! 2012 is nearing!) I device a plan on how to maintain proper flow of reviews in my blog. Since last week, I've been reading tons and tons of book and writing reviews. These are to be published next year starting January 1, 2012. My reviews will be queued and so if hell weeks (a.k.a school) comes around, there will still be reviews and my blog will not be like an abandoned house. This is also means no new reviews this month. But I will try to entertain you with post regarding Christmas and New Year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, Au revoir! and I will get back to reading. </div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-92013737920175767522011-12-15T13:19:00.000+08:002011-12-15T13:19:37.468+08:00The Influence of Anna and the French Kiss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thebridewithablog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/french-macaroons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://thebridewithablog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/french-macaroons.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s been eight months now since I have read Anna and the French Kiss of Stephanie Perkins yet the beauty and grandeur of Paris in Stephanie’s words are still in my mind. The places and the people and the food. Oh yes! The food. Everyone loves food! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Since I have read AFK, I’ve been drooling to buy French foods. First on the list – French macarons. French macarons are indeed hard to find in the Philippines. Only few sell them. And according to the laws of economics – high demand with few suppliers means high price. Yes, macarons here are very pricey. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Goodnews! There is what we call here The French Baker which is a bakery that sells, of course, French pastry and cuisine. I managed to buy six French macarons that each costs me about $0.81 or Php 36. Two mocha, two pistachio and two raspberry. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sCcKw1bpGOw/TumCcNQitXI/AAAAAAAAAHo/Ng_nTHJmPTU/s1600/100_6687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sCcKw1bpGOw/TumCcNQitXI/AAAAAAAAAHo/Ng_nTHJmPTU/s200/100_6687.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My comments…I love the pistachio and raspberry! I don’t like the taste of mocha. Even in ice cream flavors, I hate mocha. I wonder why I even bought two of them. I can really feel the crisp and sweetness of the macarons. Plus their gorgeous colors. I will surely go back and buy more. <o:p></o:p></div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-50582027705299571962011-12-11T13:38:00.000+08:002011-12-11T13:38:02.779+08:00In My Mailbox -12-<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pHLEM8KvaDM/TdewG4wWHkI/AAAAAAAAAG0/KXEtwgn66Xc/s1600/mailbox.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pHLEM8KvaDM/TdewG4wWHkI/AAAAAAAAAG0/KXEtwgn66Xc/s200/mailbox.PNG" width="186" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In My Mailbox is hosted by <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/">Kristi of The Story Siren</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been reluctant to buy new books since I still have some in TBR and my hectic schedule is preventing me to read. Ugh! If only I can have a break! However, yesterday I went Christmas shopping for gifts I will give to my friends. Of course, at the very moment I walk out of the train and enter the mall, the very first store I will meet is Fullybooked. And guess what, I bought new books</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/1199/1006690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/1199/1006690.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10210.Jane_Eyre">Jane Eyre</a> by Charlotte Bronte</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7247856-hunger">Hunger</a> by Jackie Morse Kessler</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22628.The_Perks_of_Being_a_Wallflower">The Perks of Being A Wallflower</a> by Stephen Chbosky</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/298567.Revenge_of_the_Witch">The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch</a> by Joseph Delaney</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been wanting to read The Perks of Being a Wallflower and the Last Apprentice for some time now and I'm very happy to finally get copies of them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362972094963053849.post-64336793410483403852011-11-29T23:16:00.000+08:002011-11-29T23:16:25.116+08:003 Idiots: A must watched movie.I've written some movie reviews here in my blog before. If you'll notice, I always discuss how the special effects make the movie so thrilling that you wanted to watch it again. Most of them came from Hollywood, but how about Bollywood? I resisted the offer of my classmate to watch 3 Idiots twice. I said that Bollywood is not my cut of tea. I would rather just watch another sci-fi or fantasy. However, it's too early to judge. Don't judge the book by its cover.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3827/threeidiots2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3827/threeidiots2.jpg" width="137" /></a></div>3 Idiots is about three engineering students, namely Rancho, Farhan and Raju. Together, they engaged in adventurous and stupid yet humorous walks along life. They encounter joy, hatred, and all the worse. However, Rancho is always lifting their hope, giving reason to everything and that it should not obstruct or destroy them.<br />
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There are tendencies that humorous films lose the message they want to convey. 3 Idiots is different. Though funny, it is intact with values and teachings on how to never give up and just keep going.<br />
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As a graduating high school student, I learned many things from this movie. I want to share it with you in an ordered list.<br />
1. <b><u>You don't need to seek success as success will chase you.</u></b> For us who are in the time of choosing which path to take, we want to choose the right and secure path. The one that will bring us to success. However, seeking success means no happy life. Live on what you want to do because if you really love your field, success will be the one to chase you.<br />
2. <b><u>True friends are true</u></b>. I learned a lot from Rancho. To admit it, I want to have a friend like Rancho. A friend that never take life as a negative but always have a reason to awaken you up. Despite him being a stupid and idiot sometimes, I can say that he a very true friend to his friends.<br />
3. <b><u>Do what you want and do not let others hold the pen to write your life.</u></b> As of now, you may have a career in your mind. But the question is, is it the one you truly wanted to be? Is it you passion? Rancho taught me to choose the path that I know I will be happy. The path that will not bring frustrations and regrets.<br />
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I will say that 3 Idiots is one the films that has true sense and meaning. It doesn't have perfect visual effects but it has an almost perfect moral. It may not be flawless, but 3 Idiots conveyed what it wanted to convey. It may not teach us how to behave properly but it will show you how you must handle life.<br />
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From the history of me watching movies, I never watched a film like 3 Idiots. A very inspiring and motivating film.<br />
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This is a must watched. I'm sure that you will not regret anything from watching this film. Just say to your heart "all is well"<br />
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Tell what you think if you ever happened to watch this film.Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03117814086826566976noreply@blogger.com0