For the first time I WON!

Hi, there. I'm currently celebrating since I won on Filipino Horror Books contest by Jason on Taking a Break.

His contest was for readers to recommend horror books that are written by Filipino authors. I suggested Tragic Theater which according to a lot of people is very scary. Then he posted a review about it and it is mostly negative. So it means that there is a big possibility that I will not win the contest. But I'm very surprised today when I read his post. I won the second place. This was the first time I won a contest here in the blogging community.

So thank you Jason for your contest.

Article a Week! -- Happy Thanksgiving

Hi there for another article a week post.

First, I want to tell that you that I'm not an American or Canadian or any other raises that celebrate Thanksgiving. We don't have that here in the Philippines, but I thought sharing you my thanks to the good things happened in my life this year is a great idea. So let's get started.

1. I belong now to the PEP in our school. It is Proficiency Excellence Program. It is a program where top 20 students by year level have special classes on English, Math and Science. Since first year high school, I want to be included in this program so that I can maximize my ability and learn more things. I'm very thankful that I succeeded in my gaol to be a PEP member. It really made my parents happy.

2. Sometimes, we cannot prevent some misunderstanding in our circle of friends. Last October, I have a quarrel to my second best friend. We are just joking him and he suddenly get pissed and told us that he cannot feel us as his friend. We are really hurt when he said that so we a two week long argument. I found my self really angry and my pride took over. He was very sorry but I won't forgive him. Until his birthday comes where I decided that he didn't mean what he said. And our circle of friends are again restored.

3. I thank my mother for giving me NOW a budget for my books. I said in the past that they don't give me money to buy books, now they do.

4. Lastly I want to thank GOD (Even we are in different religion, we have our Gods) for guiding me and keeping me safe and healthy this year.

So, how about you? What do you want to thank?

Follow Friday

Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkee's View
The follow friday for this week has no question included. So I just decided to share to you some of my experience this week.I'm included in class of the Top 20 students of our level and we have special classes to English, Math and Science. Yesterday, was our school's Book Week and we performed a speech choir, called The Congo. I really hate performing in front of several audience, but yesterday, I over come that. I actually enjoy what I did and asking for more. What I learned is that, as long as you can do it, do it!

Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy for Books
What is your favorite book cover?

First of all, I'm not a Twilight saga fan, but Breaking Dawn's cover is my favorite. Meyer said that the cover show how Bella became strong. The red pawn there represent her as a weakling at the start of the series, while the queen represent her as a strong woman at the end. 
Again, I'm not a Twilight fan although I watched the movies. 

Teaser Tuesdays:

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!



I think I'm kinda slow in reading this week. Imagine, I'm still in the Graveyard Book! But still, I will make a teaser for it.

Bod looked at the remains of the gentleman in the brown coat. There was a lamp beside him, broken on the rocky floor. "He ran away" said Bod aloud. "He ran because he was scared. And he slipped or he tripped on the stairs and he fell off"




The Graveyard Book
Neil Gaiman
page 56






I hope to finish this early this week. 

Follow Friday

Hi there. I'm new in this meme and this is my first time to participate here. I've seen a lot of blog using this meme and I thought I should try it also

Parajunkee's View

This week question is:

How long have you been book blogging?

I started blogging last August 2010. I've been in wordpress and I just transfered here in blogger last week. If you'll ask how long since I fell in love with reading. It was just two years ago when I read a novel for a book report and suddenly realize that I like to read more.

Thank you for stopping by :) Have a nice day!

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I'm here again for another book review. Before I started my blog, I have some couple of books in my shelf. One of them is The Little Prince by Saint-Exupery. I've encountered a lot of children books where even adults can relate. The most popular is Harry Potter. It is actually a children book but the lessons there seems to be for adults. Little Prince is like that.

A pilot forced to land in the Sahara meets a little prince. The wise and enchanting stories the prince tells of his own plant with its three volcanoes and a haughty flower are unforgettable. A strange and wonderful parable for all ages, with superb illustrations by the author.






If you read the summary, there's no doubt, it is a children's book. Add the factor that the cover is also like drawn by a child. But what is written inside is not only for children, for adults also. For all ages. I've seen a lot of people who give this book as a gift every Christmas Day. Then I got so intrigued on what is inside to  give it a try.

The book was in the point of view of the Pilot first then changes to the point of view of the Little Prince. They met at a desert and the Prince requested the Pilot to draw him a sheep. The Pilot had drawn a lot of things in his childhood but a lot of people misunderstanding them discouraged him. It is one of the lesson. Do not give up. Sometimes in life, there are discouragements which changes are character. You should take those discouragements as a challenge. Pursue what you are and you get better and  better.

With this book, I miss my childhood days. It is true, when we are still young, grown ups misunderstand us. It brings us back, like time traveling, to our past; to our youth. And realizes what a child should have so we will not do what our parents did to our children.

"One sees clearly only with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eyes" This the line our elementary teacher let us explain. For me, this line means that the truth can be seen by the heart. What is important is only seen by the heart. Our eyes only see the physical features and not what is inside them.

I really enjoy this book, and I hope you too.

Teaser Tuesdays: The Graveyard Book

Hi again for another Teaser Tuesdays post.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should 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 Graveyard book is my first book written by Neil Gaiman. I heard from many bloggers that Neil's works are fantastic so I give it a try. I'm currently just starting to read it and I'm still at the first page. 

The knife had a handle of polished black bone, and a blade finer sharper than any razor. If it sliced you, you might not even know you had been cut, no immediately.

The Graveyard Book

page 1

Neil Gaiman

I just started it a while ago so I'm still at the first page. 

So how about you, what's your today's teaser?

The Magician by Michael Scott

After The Alchemyst comes the Magician. This book series entitled The secrets of Immortal Nicholas Flamel is very unpopular in the Philippines. I knew only 2 persons who read it. My girlfriend and a blogger. Even it is least known, what it contains is a very nice story. A very thrilling action scenes and bits of knowledge from the past. So, here's my review:

After fleeing Ojai, Nicholas, Sophie, Josh, and Scatty emerge in Paris, the City of Lights. Home for Nicholas Flamel. Only this homecoming is anything but sweet. Perenell is still locked up back in Alcatraz and Paris is teeming with enemies. Nicolo Machiavelli, immortal author and celebrated art collector, is working for Dee. He’s after them, and time is running out for Nicholas and Perenell. For every day spent without the Book of Abraham the Mage, they age one year—their magic becoming weaker and their bodies more frail. For Flamel, the Prophecy is becoming more and more clear. 
It’s time for Sophie to learn the second elemental magic: Fire Magic. And there’s only one man who can teach it to her: Flamel’s old student, the Comte de Saint-Germain—alchemist, magician, and rock star. Josh and Sophie Newman are the world’s only hope—if they don’t turn on each other first.


I like it much more than the Alchemyst.
So let us first discuss the cover. This is NOT a spoiler since the some summary tells something about it. The first book, you will see air, because the Magic of Air is the focus magic of the book. In this book, you see fire, the Magic of Fire. Like the characteristics of fire, it can destroy or create, can be control and not, can harm and can heal, we can relate the book to it.

The characters in the second book, especially Sophie, developed a lot. I saw her character to developed from an ordinary girl to a little mature one. She can decided on her own, and think like a grown up. In the counterpart, Josh's character will make you annoyed. He is very annoying. He all wants powers. He cannot think what is good and what is bad. He cannot make decision that will help.

Nicholas Flamel remained the same, unless you will include his age. The book also introduce Perenelle. It says how powerful and brave she is.

Like make other books out there, death makes the book interesting. Not the way, "I want all the characters to be eaten up by a monster and die, and the story ends". What I mean is that, since we are humans, we have emotions. Even though they are just characters out of imagination and exist only by the inks in the book, we still managed to make bond with them. Then suddenly, you will become sad or happy when something happen to the character, whether good or bad. This book brings that bond and enables readers to love the characters. Lovely!

Like the first book, it is full of action scenes, knowledge about the past. New things that our teachers never taught us. Michael Scott did a very great job here. Although I cannot relate to the characters because I don't have a twin, the book instead relates me to the reality. On how human, us, forget our origin. On how interest is slowly eating our dignity. Soon, we will decide sometime that will make us harm instead of good.

My Rating 5 Outstanding

Teaser Tuesdays: The Magician

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should 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!

I'm still on The Magician book. Why? Because I'm doing a lot of school works and it's eating up my reading time. But, I will be able to finish it before thursday. So for now, another teaser from the book. 

In the light of the ornate crystal chandelier, Sophie saw that they were young women in white chain-mail armor, their faces hidden behind helmets, one wielding a sword and an axe, the other carrying a sword and a spear. She reacted instinctively. Gripping her wrist with her left hand, she splayed open her fingers, palm outward. Crackling blue-green flames splashed across the floor directly in front of the two girls, shooting upward in a solid sheet of wavering emerald fire.

The Magician by Michael Scott,

page 269

I just notice something, when I'm writing teaser tuesdays, I always notice that I'm on the action scenes. :)

So what is your teaser?

Article a Week: I prefer the printed ones

Good day to all, I'm here again for Article a Week. Today I will feature e-books and why I prefer printed copies instead.

Printed or Electronic? For me I'm on the side of printed works. I'm not against e-books of course. They are handy and good for busy people. They are also cheaper than printed ones. But I prefer to buy the printed books. I have this dream of having a collection of books, where, when I'm done studying and have a job. I will make my house where my room have several bookshelves to hold A LOT of books. If I buy e-books, then, all I need is a memory card. How awful to see a memory card in a bookshelf. And, I need a computer to open it and read it.

Another great thing about printed works is that I can share it with my friends legally. I mean, I'm not reproducing the book to share it. If I share an e-book copy, he/she might copy it for her/his own copy, then the copyright is violated. And I hate violating the copyright.

In My Mailbox -5-

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It features books that you bought, borrowed or received from somebody in a week. To join the meme, visit her blog.

This week, I got a e-book copy of The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan. It is the first book in his new series, The Heroes of Olympus. I am dying hard to get a book copy of this but I can't wait so I asked my mother to buy me an e-book edition of the book. Since that I don't have any kindle or e-reader device, I just used my ipod touch with ibooks application. What a handy device. I really like my ipod since it is like a substitute to my computer. Even some of my projects are stored in it.

I'm also looking forward to get a copy of The Red Pyramid which also by Rick Riordan. Yes, I am a great fan of fantasy, both middle grade and young adult fantasy.

Here's a short summary!

Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?
Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.
Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god.

Author Interview: G.M. Coronel

We are lucky enough to interview one of the horror writers in the Philippines. Tragic Theater which caught the attention not only the readers but also the writers of different news paper. The success of the book is at its talented author who spent more than 1 year to write the nerve cracking book.

1. Can you please tell us something about you?

I’m a first-time writer without any formal training in creative writing.  My regular job is with an office in Makati.  But when I get home, the writer in me takes over as I work some more over my manuscript.

2. How the idea of this novel first got into your mind?

I’m quite familiar with the history of the Manila Film Center and the numerous supernatural occurrences that have happened inside.  A simple question of “what if” gave me an idea of a plot for a novel.

3. Can you tell what the book is all about?

It’s about a group of spirit communicators who attempted to exorcise the Film Center of its resident ghosts.  During their quest, something terribly wrong happens and…

4. Who or what are your inspirations while writing this novel?

My family is my inspiration.

5. The book has a second book, does it also have a third one?

The second book is the sequel to Tragic Theater. The third book that I plan to write will be a different story altogether and set in another location.

6. Did you really planned that the novel will have second book and so on?

The story of Tragic Theater is actually in two parts.  The second book will answer all the questions you may have with the first.

7. Many newspaper articles are featuring your book, as an author, how does it feels like?

The experience is totally new to me and it’s thrilling to see the fruits of your labor get this kind of attention.

8. What is your main goal in writing this novel?

I like horror and there are stories I imagine that I’d like to share through my writing.

9. How long does it takes you to finish your novel?

I began to write Tragic Theater in March 2003 and finished the first draft in January 2004.  As for book 2, I started right after Tragic Theater came out in October 2009 and I aim to finish it before 2010 ends.

10. Lastly, are you planning to write future book? book of different genre? or will remain in horror novels?

Yes, I plan to write as much books as I can.  For now, I’d like to stick to the horror genre.

Thank you to G Coronel for entertaining my questions.

In My Mailbox -4-

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It features books that you bought, borrowed or received from somebody in a week. To join the meme, visit her blog.

Finally I got it! Tragic Theater by G.M Coronel is a Philippine published book. It was a horror novel. Of course it was named Tragic :) I stumbled upon the fan page of this novel in facebook. First I thought I won't read it because it is a horror novel. And if I read this, this is my first horror novel ever read in  my reading history. I saw the comments of different readers on facebook. They say it was totally scary. Some said that they cannot sleep because images of ghost from the book roam in their minds. From that day, I become curious. What kind of writing this book have? How it is?

Using my only left P500. I bought from National Bookstore for 200. Now I'm very poor and need to build up my wallet again.

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

The Alchemyst is the first book in the series of ''The Secrets of Immortal Nicholas Flamel'' by Michael Scott, a very successful author which originated from Ireland.

I borrowed this from my classmate without knowing what really it is all about. She sometimes irritate me because everyday, when she meet me "read the Alchemyst, I'm sure you will like it". Just for her to stop and I accept her favor and read it. It took me about two weeks to read because of hectic school schedule. But two days ago, after I reached the middle of the book, my hands, eyes and mind are glued to it.

The Alchemyst is a contemporary fantasy which opens in modern day San Francisco when brother and sister, Josh and Sophie discover that the owner of the bookstore where Josh works is the immortal French alchemist, Nicholas Flamel. Flamel and his wife, Perenelle, are the guardians of the Book of Abraham which they have protected for centuries. This is a collection of the most powerful spells in the world. When Dr John Dee discovers the Flamels' whereabouts, he attacks and snatches the book. Josh and Sophie intervene to help Flamel, but now they too are being hunted by Dee and creatures that predate humanity.

First of all, I want to tell you that the book is not narrated by Nicholas Flamel or any characters in the book. It is the author, Micheal Scott or maybe a Persona. The book is written in a movie like sequence. You know, when you are watching from a scene it suddenly turn to another scene. For example you are watching lovers on a bay then suddenly the scene change to a store. The book is like that. It is one of the benefits of having a non-character narrator. The story is not only focus to one person. And what the best advantage of this, is that you understand the details you should know. Chapters in the book may also focus on one person then another in the next chapter. But it doesn't mess the book, it just made it fantastic!

The story is about Nicholas Flamel and the Codex, also known as The Book of Abraham the Mage. The codex contain spells beyond imagination. It can change the whole world. Dr. John Dee is the antagonist here. He wants to get the Codex to return the Dark Elders. He get the book on an attack to Flamel but his worker, Josh, a teenage which is the twin of Sophie, grab some pages from the book. Dee flee triumphantly but soon noticed that the book is incomplete. The most needed spell is missing. He then chase Flamel, Sophie and Josh who ally with The Goddess with Three faces, Scathach, and The Witch of Endor. With Flamel knowing a prophecy in the book about the Twins that will save the world, he then focuses on Awakening the Twin's magical powers and let them learn the Five Elements.

The characters in this book are drawn from real people and mythological figures. Most of the details about them in the book are real. Except for the twins Sophie and Josh which is fictional. This idea of getting real figures as the characters make a very fantastic influence in the book.

Nicholas Flamel and Perenelle Flamel are real people and real husband and wife. They lived in Paris. In stories, it said that Nicholas bought a book, a 21 page book known as the Codex. It is written in unknown language so He and Perenelle made a journey to translate the book. When they came back to Paris, they are very rich. Rumors said that the Flamels discovered how to turn ordinary metal to gold and Immortality. When they died, robbers went to their tombs but they didn't find they body. Did they died? That is the question that circled Europe. There are some accounts of sightings of Nicholas in Europe.

About the book, it was a master piece. Full of excitement and magical settings. Scott beautifully mixed the old times with the modern era. He blended the two to create a modern world but still the ancient lives in it. It has mythological features. Most books contain the Greek Gods and Goddesses but this book contained the least known and probably the oldest characters in myths and legends. It brings new discoveries. When I'm reading it, I'm in front of my computer because I search some of the characters. I simple don't know them. The involvement of these figures means the involvement of magic. Both good and evil magic. Alchemy, Sorcery and Necromancy. The reason why fantasy is my favorite is because it enable my imagination a lot and create new ideas.

If you read this book, you will want for more. The ending is sooooo Hanging! You will really want to read the second book to know what will happen next. The ending is not actually an ending. It is the start of the second book that is why it is hanging.

I simply love this book. I'm guilty for refusing my classmate's offer in the first place.

My rating: 5 Outstanding

Article a Week! -- Why I don't lend my books?

Yes, I'm one of the massive number of lend-haters. Well, not totally. There are many reason why I don't lend my book. I love my books and I want to preserve them as long as I could. I don't want to see them like those old dictionaries in libraries which are full of stress marks, and some are worn out. I still lend my books to my friends but very few of them can. . .

They don't take care of it >:)

---I spend at least 30 minutes or more to cover my books with plastics covers. I really cut the plastic as straight as possible, tape them as neat and possible and cover the book as tight as possible that you will not notice it has cover on it. Well, I successful to do that with not more than 10 of my books. I really don't want to see the covers with folding marks. They ruin the good image of the cover. I also keep away drinks or food that might spill by accident and stain the pages. And here comes the borrowers and give back my book with full of folding marks and chocolate stains in the pages. He is my friend and I cannot just simply say to him "How dare you make my books look like this?" Yes I'm very friendly :) hehe!

I see them store my books like a trash >:)

I have a friend which ask me if she can borrow my Lightning Thief book and I said yes, she can. So I'm very happy that we enjoy same passion for greek mythology since I read the book. Then one day, we, barkada, decided to watch a horror movie in there house. So we watch, got scared and eat a lot. Then I said if I can see her laptop so I can go online and she said it's upstairs in her bedroom. I climb the stairs and see my LYING ON THE FOOT STEPS! And it is at the center of the stairs. Anyone can step on it. Worse if her/his feet or slippers have something underneath that can stain the cover. I got the book and place it together with her other books and say to her to never do that again. Especially if it is only a borrowed thing.

Bookmarks shouldn't be a tons of paper >:)

We as students have a lot of paperworks. And we are very fond of putting a lot of papers in the pages of a books. But I saw one of my friends to place almost 50 pages of short bond paper at the middle of my book. That cannot be a book mark of course. It can destroy the binding. Unfortunately that the book he borrowed has a very weak binding. He can do that to all school books but please not in my books.

Now, when someone ask me to borrow a book. I recall all memories I can recall about him/her borrowing my book and how he/she treated it. If I can't remember something bad, then I say YES but if something bad happened in the past, my best reason is "I'm Sorry but I will reread it for my blog"

Teaser Tuesdays: The Alchemyst

Yes it is not Tuesday. Recently I found Should be Reading Blog and found out about this meme. I can't wait for tuesday. So I'm sharing to you some lines in my current read, The Alchemyst by Michael Scott.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should 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!

When saw Hekate's lips twitch in what might have been a smile and the Morrigan stagger and then step back, he began to realize that here, in her own Shadowrealm, the Goddess with Three Faces was simple too strong for them

The book was really amazing. Full of history and myths and legends. Powers that beyond human imagination. Fortunately I already bought the second book and looking forward to read it this day.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

I'm weak in social studies that's all I can say. Especially to Greek Mythology. I feel out of place whenever my history teacher discusses about the gods, Zeus, Poseidon, Hades and many more. All I know is Poseidon is the Sea God, Zeus as the Sky God and Hades as the Underworld God. But I'm good at analysis and connecting things. I like analyzing things to find something.

This book by Rick Riordan put me in the plot. It teaches me the Greek mythology and I'm proud I able to answer some questions from the teacher. As well as it practice my analyzing habit. I'm very happy when I predict the outcome of some tricks of the book using the clues.

Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen and Percy is the prime suspect. Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed to his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend: and unravel the treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

The characters of the book originated most in the Greek mythology. (A book that uses characters that are real known in the real world always catches my attention).  Percy, a boy diagnosed to have an ADHD is having troubles in academics. He always got kicked out of school due to his disorder, which is not really a disorder. He is the son of Poseidon so the bloodline of a god rushes in his veins. Making him attractable by monsters, causing him to do something bad and get kicked out. I really can relate my self to Percy. He is a very bad liar. He always wants to solve something only on his own and tell it when he know it. I'm that kind of person. I don't want a clue to leak. I want to solve it first. But he is friendly like I.

Annabeth and Grover are the friends/companion of Percy from the said quest said by the summary. They play a big role of developing Percy's character and making him more mature. I bet Percy will die soon in his quest without them. Annabeth is clever and brave gril being the daughter of Athena. Grover, a satyr, who always put the humor in the book.

The plot is so tricky. I can tell you that even my analyzing powers didn't work so much in this book. It is like a spell to me. The plot gives clue first before revealing the product and sometimes my predictions are wrong. Riordan is a very good writer having this tricky plot.

If you are not good in remembering things, like the clues, don't worry, the book will retell it before it reveal something, which is very helpful. At the first few chapters, my hands were glued at the book. Suspense on the first few chapters make me want to read more making the book a page turner. A lot of mysteries also which really uses your brain to feel the book.

I was very amazed at some settings of the book. I will tell you one setting. (Don't worry, this will not spoil the book) The Mount Olympus can be found at the 600th floor of the Empire State building. You can find it why if you read the book.

The writing is very simple, direct to the point which let all kind of readers understand it. All the thoughts are clear and well delivered. The book also has humor (who doesn't want humor?). Riordan can make something serious in a humorous one.

One of my favorite quote in the book is

"Even the Lord of the Death pay his debt"--Poseidon, this is very nice quote describing Hades. Even known for being the god of the Underworld, evil. He is still good as an angel. Actually he's not so bad in the novel.

Watch out of some books of Rick which I'm looking forward to read.

The Lost Hero (password: new hero)

The Red Pyramid

My Rating: 5 outstanding

Article a Week! -- Book Piracy

We can't deny technology today. We depend on it. Think about ourselves working so hard, manually building The Great Pyramid. We can make a pyramid bigger than that using our technology today, but what is missing? The Greapt Pyramid was known for it's beauty and the manual work of Egyptian slaves. The new pyramid built by present technology will be less valuable than that in Egypt.

Let us bring the concept over the books. I know some of you have Amazon's Kindle or any e-reader out in the market. So convenient right? You can just buy some e-book online or at CD format and install it at your e-reader. I, personally, want an e-reader. It is so convenient that will allow me to bring it everywhere, and can read anywhere even without light.

So you knew about e-book and I'll pretend you are also aware of FREE downloadable e-books. FREE, yes for FREE. All you need is your computer. I have a classmate fond of downloading free e-books using a software and he is really happy of what he is doing. But IT IS A CRIME. You are stealing, and breaking the laws of copyright. All of us know the back of the front page of a book, it is all about the copyright and related text.

Put yourself in the author's case. Imagine your best selling books can be obtain for free and worse, without your permission. It is like inventing a time travel machine and your work was stolen by somebody. How will you feel if that happened?

You may put the blame on the people uploading e-books at the web, but why put the blame on you? You are the one benefiting right? You are the suspect, you make crime. Yes blame the uploader but blame yourself more if you download their uploads. They will be attracted to upload those if no one cares about it, right? It is us, the crime makers, but we still have the guts to tell somebody 'we are honest'.

Also, for me, printed books are more valuable than e-books. Every book published was a masterpiece. I would buy a printed book than e-book. I can lend them the others, but e-books you cannot. How will you lend your kindle if you are reading. Think of giving him a soft copy? Then beware, it is a crime. You are reproducing it.

So let us not be a pawn by these e-books. They are part of the growing technology but they should not be a part of changing our morality.

In My Mailbox -3-

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It features books that you bought, borrowed or received from somebody in a week. To join the meme, visit her blog.

I both bought and borrowed books this week. Let's start from what I got first.

I've mention is my last post about new books I got that I bought The Magician by Michael Scott. I also said that I won't be reading it until I bought the first book, The Alchemyst. Fortunately, my classmate, who is also a book worm, lend me her The Alchemyst book. I was so happy that I will finally start the series after I finished The Lightning Thief.

The reason why it caught my attention is because of the involvement of real persons. John Dee, Nicholas Flammel, Nicollo Machiavelli, they are all real persons that exist in the past. Micheal was right, the characters from the past catches attention. I also like magic, spells, and the most is the codex, a book of prophecy and magic that can be found at the book.

The second I got was The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I knew about Neil Gaiman but I didn't read his works. I knew about Coraline and the story interest me but I don't know why I don't buy the novels. National Bookstore announced that they will be having a promotional price for The Graveyard Book from P435 ($10) to P199($4) such a steal. Who can resist buying the book you want to but never had a chance and NOW IN A VERY LOW PRICE!!

I like to buy it because first of all, I like horror. Anything horror. But I'm scared to sleep after watching or reading them, how ironic... It is story based on The Jungle Book, but instead of a child living in a forest raised by animals, the book put a magic spell on it. The child grew in a graveyard and was raised by ghost. I wonder how ghost can take care of children. Are they kind or aggressive like what we see most in movies? I can't tell until I read the book.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I finally finished the book yesterday. I should finished it last week but the school, can it be the Capitol of my life?, had its periodical exams and I need to prepare for it. So yesterday, not allowing anyone to disturb me in my bedroom, I finally arrived at 'the end' part of the book

Twenty-four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives.

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death – televised for all of Panem to see.

Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

I am so satisfied. My money worth buying the book, even though I only purchased the paperback one (you know, keeping my wallet inflated...hahaha!)

Katniss Everdeen, a hunter, clever, beautiful. The point of view of the book. It is really odd for a girl to be hunter. In ancient times, boys go hunting and girls go cooking; But who can blame Katniss if his father is dead and all of them left are girls. Of course you will do anything to live.

Peeta Mellark, the lover boy and also clever. But what him different to Katniss is that he is clever when it comes to planning, on how to fool the capitol and Katniss surviving what the Capitol set for her.

The book was set to the future of North America. After the war, they are called Panem, the nation who rises from the ruins of America. Panem is under the control of the Capitol. The governing body under totalitarian government. They divided the nation into 12 districts. These districts came up with a rebellion; But against the technological advancement of the Capitol, they are sure losers. As a punishment, the Hunger Games was born. Each district will offer two tributes for the game, and the game's main rule is to 'stay alive'.

It's cruel, full of violence that will cause you to pity the characters. Playing like puppets .

If I'm not wrong, this book can be called archetypal, first of its kind. I'm not pertaining to the genre of being dystopian but in the concept of the book. The games, the nation and the setting.

I will admit, I didn't sleep enough for the next day school just to go halfway of the book. That's how addictive it is.

I can also relate with Katniss and Peeta, not in their cleverness but their actions of not letting the Capitol to rule them. I'm the kind of person where I don't want somebody to be remote control. As long as I'm right, I control my self not the others. That is why (not to be boastful) onetime when my teacher confronted me of talking with my seatmate, I said "well, we are just discussing of what you said because the book said the total opposite of what you are teaching to us" I know I lost my respect but she goes on with her mouth speeding like a shuttle without asking.

I have also a favorite line in the book, the one saying I never underestimated my enemies but is also bad to oversmart them.

Rating: 5

In My Mailbox -2-

I'm very happy I got a new book a while ago from National Bookstore. Yesterday, it was my birthday. My father asked me what I want so I told him I want a book. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to visit the bookstore yesterday because it is also fiesta here. A while ago I went to Robinsons and we bought a book. I really want the first book, The Alchemyst. Off course I want to start from the very start of the series but it run out of stock. So I just decided to buy the second book.

I'm not reading the book yet. I have The Hunger Games first then the Lightning Thief before I can start this book. I don't want to skip any book. But, maybe after reading the Lightning Thief I may find a copy of The Alchemyst. When it happens, then I will start with the first book first.

Here's a short summary from their website.

Only this homecoming is anything but sweet. Perenell is still locked up back in the Alcatraz and Paris is teening with enemies. Nicollo Machiavelli, immortal author and celebrated art collector, is working for Dee. He’s after them, and time is running out for Nicholas and Perenell. For every day spent without the Book of Abraham the Mage, they age one year-their magic becoming weaker and their bodies more frail. For Flamel, the Prophesy is becoming more and more clear.

I like also the involvement of some people like Nicollo, the father of Political Science.

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

I bought my copy of the boom last December 2008! and I just finished reading it yesterday. No, I'm not a slow reader. When I buy the book, I read few chapters but got bored and keep it. These past few months I decided to finish it so I can make a review of the book.

Edward and Bella finally got married. Not so long, Bella got pregnant and got weaker and weaker. She needs to drink blood as her baby is half human and half vampire. The baby grew so fast and caused injuries in Bella's body. When the baby got out, Edward need to inject venom on Bella for her to survive. Irina saw Bella with Renesmee. She reported to the Volturi telling that she saw an immortal child.  The Cullens will face the biggest challenge in their life.

I think that the book didn't revealed a lot and almost no conclusion was drawn. It started with Bella asking Edward for them have a baby. Well, it is not very common where the woman is the one asking and the man is the one refusing. A little twist maybe for the author but it just made me feel that Bella's bad sides.

As you can also see that Breaking Dawn is the thickest among the rest in the series but I will assure you that it is due to over explanation of each action. Why Stephenie needs to describe how a person breathe? Sometimes a page was used will useless thing explaining non-sense topic. It will encourage you to skip and find the nearest dialog and start reading again.

I'm really amazed of Jacob's attitude. We all know that he is in love with Bella. He still protect her even Bella and Edward was already married. He is like the brother of Bella; always there for her when she needs him. They are actually not included in the misunderstanding of the Volturi to the Cullens but they still involve themselves. Some will say the reason is because Jacob imprinted on Renesmee, but not the real reason. It's his love for Bella. How amazing right? I bet I will never find a triangle like this.

For Alice, she did a great job finding the immortal child. I can say Meyer did a nice job having a twist of Alice disappearing and letting no signs of return. If you will read the book without reading the summary first, you will really say that Alice will not return. But her return is not that climatic. The dialog of Edward worsen it. There should be an intense feeling of finding the way how to solve the problem but the book didn't have that.

The climatic scenes should be the one where the Volturi was deciding and Alice's return but the climax turned out to be in the procession of the Volturi. You will have that excitement on how Bella described their entrance but after that the feeling is lost. Even with those scenes where a fight might start, I didn't feel any excitement.

Good to read but will make you bored. FOR ME

RATING: 2