TGIF! Buy or Borrow...

TGIF! is a bookish meme hosted by Ginger of GReads.

Where do your books that you read came from?

Do you prefer to own a book or have it on load?

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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. 

The Bookstores

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 Blackbringer by Laini Taylor, one of the best fantasy books out there.

The Library

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. 

Owned or Borrowed?

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. 

How about you? Do you like to borrow or own books? 

DISCLAIMER: TGIF image is owned by GReads. 

Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney

If 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.

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....

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. 

Only Thomas Ward is left. He's the last hope, the last apprentice. 

This a good book. But it can be better. 

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. 

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.  

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.

But I have some serious problems with the book. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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". 

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. 

Happy Reading! 

IMPORTANT

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.

DISCLAIMER: Book photo is owned by Goodreads. 

TGIF! Recommend it!

TGIF! is a bookish meme hosted by Ginger of GReads

Which book from the last 10 you've read would you recommend to a friend?

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Dear friend,

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.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 

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." 

Matilda by Roald Dahl 

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. 

I really enjoyed them so I hope you, too

Love always, 

Ivan 

DISCLAIMER: Book photos are owned by Goodreads

Teaser Tuesdays: Revenge of the Witch

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB ofShould Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• 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!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!]

The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch

by Joseph Delaney

"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?"

page 45

This is really spooky! 

DISCLAIMER: Book photo is owned by Goodreads

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

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. 


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 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.


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. 


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. 


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. 

But I don't understand Charlie why he always cry. I think it's part of his mental disorder that make him more emotional. 

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.  

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. 

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. 

The top picture is a WIN!

(Book 3 of 2012)