Friday, December 31, 2010

Follow Friday: December 31


What are your New Year's Book Blogging Resolutions?

I'm a new book blogger and I noticed a lot of mistake I've done. So maybe it's time to change this coming year.

1. Interact more - I always read the post from the blogs I follow but I rarely comment. Depending on my mood if I want to do so. So in the coming year, I will comment more than I do usually. 

2. Review more/Read more - I'm a slow reader, but not naturally. I'm a teen boy and I got really distracted whenever their is technology, like my computer, iPod and cellphone. That slow down my reading. So I will do my best to read more so I can do a lot more reviews for my followers.

3. Giveaways? - I'm not sure if this coming year I will be able to afford a giveaway. But we do not know, I may have the budget this coming year, and that will be my first!

4. More Interviews - I'm not interactive with author actually, bot this coming year, I will do a lot more author interviews

5. Choose what I will review - Recently, I'm receiving books/e-books to review, mostly from unpopular authors. Next year, I will try to say NO to some of them.



Thursday, December 30, 2010

Tragic Theater by G.M. Coronel


Tragic Theater by G.M. Coronel

Publication Date: August 2009
Publisher: Visprint Inc.
Pages: 245
Genre: Horror
Source: bought at National Bookstores(Philippines)

In February 1999, a group of spirit communicators attempted to exorcise the then-abandoned Manila Film Center of ghosts. These supernatural beings were believed to be those of the victims from a fatal accident during its hasty construction. 

Unknown to them something had, long ago, taken sanctuary inside the building feeding on the anger and misery of the victims' souls. They learned this secret too late and walked into a horrifying encounter.

 Annie is an official in the Tourism Department. They planned to reconstruct the haunted Manila Film Center, so they can build an IMAX theater in it. First, they need to drive out all of its inhabitance before proceeding to its construction. He seeks for the help of Father Nilo, a close friend of her, to exorcise the building. But during their procedures, the unexpected happened.

The action started in the first few chapters, enough to say that the book is fast paced. One thing I don't like in the book is its unnecessary explanation of historical background of some places. One example is a lengthy description of a chapel which was not necessary. The chapel in the first place is not a major setting, it was just mentioned then the description comes. It shows that the author researched well but he put in the wrong place.

In the first few chapters, Annie is very unlikable. She is very irritating when it comes to her decisions. But you will understand why as the story go on. For me, it seems that Annie and Fr. Nilo have a mutual understand between them. Which is very unlikely with a priest. The author wrote their actions like a couple rather than close friends. Annie came to the point where she will be a round character but the plot took over pushing her back as a flat character.

The writing is also not that good. I like how the author pick his words when writing. The Tagalog dialog, for me, added an emotion to their conversation. But what I don't like is the English translation after the Tagalog sentences. He should have written the book in purely Tagalog or English instead.

The ending is a huge cliff hanger. It is very obvious that there will be a second book. It should be okay but the ending was full of questions that should be answered, which I think is not that good. But personally I want the answers to the questions, making me wait for the second book.

Rating

Plot: 4
Characters: 3
Ending: 3
Writing: 4

Overall: 3.5

Changes in 2011


2010 is coming to an end, and 2011 is now saying hello. I decided to post the changes that I will make in the blog in the coming year. 

1. Book Details - if you notice, I don't write the book details like publisher, publishing date, pages, etc. In the coming year, I will start to place them at my reviews so you can see it. Know if it is already published or any info you want.

2. Source - I will now say the source of the book in a proper manner. I just started to received review copies and started to request from Net Galley. 

Maybe also in 2011, I will try to read fast. I'm wasting my holidays surfing the net and less reading books. So in 2011, I will read faster and lessen my internet usage. 


Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Life is Good Award

Hi, today, I received an blog award called Life is Good Award from aobibliophile




here's how this award works:
1. first, thank and link back to the person that gave the award
2. answer the 10 survey questions
3. pass the award along to other bloggers whom you think are fantastic.
4. contact the bloggers you have chosen to let them know about the award.

10 survey questions:

1. If you blog anonymously, are you happy doing this?   If you are not anonymous, do you wish that you had started out anonymously, so that you could be anonymous now?
· I blog not so anonymously. I sometimes give some of my real identities but of course I took some precautions.

2. Describe an incident that shows your inner stubborn side.
·   I can't remember any :)

3. What do you see when you really look at yourself in the mirror?
·     I see a happy man

4. What is your favorite summer cold drink?
·    Mango juice or sometimes buko juice

5. When you take time for yourself, what do you do?
·       I do what ever I want

6. Is there something that you still want to accomplish in your life? What is it?
·    I want to establish my own business and experienced to be called as boss.

7. When you attended school, were you the class clown, the class overachiever, the shy person, or always ditching?
·   I am the class clown, and I'm happy that they like it.

8. If you close your eyes and want to visualize a very poignant moment in your life, what would you see?
·        I will see a moment to God talking to Him.

9. Is it easy for you to share your true self in your blog or are you more comfortable writing posts about other people or events?
·     I like doing it but I take precautions. It is best if your followers know something about you.

10. If you had the choice to sit down and read a book or talk on the phone, which would you do and why?
·      I would like to talk to the phone. 

Blogs I think deserve the award




Monday, December 27, 2010

Waking the Dead by Yvette Tan

After a week of no blogging due to vacation, I will now post my review for Waking the dead which I read during my vacation in Bicol.



Waking the Dead and other Horror Stories is a collection of 10 horror stories.

Let's us talk first about the cover. I really like it especially the idea of an inverted image of a lady and the font of the title. It somehow catches my attention that is why I chose it to read first.

Let's just say I only like some stories in the book, The Bridge and Stella for Star. Those two stories, even not that scary, have a very nice plot. I also like the gross part in the Stella for Star.

Most of the stories, for me, lack the thrilling part in the ending. Sometimes, when the story begins to be interesting, it will suddenly end. If the endings will be a lot more dramatic, thrilling, I will say that I will like the book.

I also not recommend this to be read by young readers who are not educated in sexual matters. The book contains some bits of pornography. I didn't really know that it has, I'm a young reader but I know what is right and wrong so I think I'm safe:).

Rating: 4

Sunday, December 19, 2010

In My Mailbox -8-

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.


Hello there. For this week, I got four books, won, gifted and borrowed. I'm very happy that I received a book last Friday on our Christmas party on school. It was the second installment of Percy Jackson and The Olympians series. I've been wishing to have it but I don't have enough money. 


I borrowed two books from our school library. I was very lucky for our school librarian to borrow books even it is Christmas vacation, and it is free of charge even if I exceed the days of borrowing them. 


I would like also to thank Nina from Brush Up your Reading. I won a novel from one of her contest. I was very happy with that.



WON

13: A Novel by Jason Robert Brown and Dan Elish

GIFTED

Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

BORROWED

For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

Notice that the borrowed novels are not YA, I know. I just want to read them because my Social Studies teacher recommend it for me to read for me to realize my mission in life.

Tomorrow, I will visit my grandmother and I will blog for one week, but expect a lot of reviews since I will do just plain reading there.

Next year, I will lessen my book buying. I will save money for my best friend who is suffering from MILD heart enlargement. It's not only me who is saving up but we are six. We want to help especially me because he is my best friend. Please pray for him. Thank you!

So that's my mailbox this week!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays: Waking the Dead

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!


Everyone thought that this meant Teresa's death, for how could a newborn babe withstand all the poison in the Ilog Pasig (Pasig river) water?

(lola is a Filipino word for grandmother)


Waking the Dead by Yvette Tan
page 4




I just finished The Graveyard Book and you can check my review about it HERE. After it I decided to read two horror books, both authored by Filipinos. They are just thin books so expect my review about them shortly.

Monday, December 13, 2010

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

It's almost midnight here in the Philippines, but I cannot wait for tomorrow to post my review about the amazing book of Neil.




Nobody Owens, known as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised by ghosts, with a guardian who belongs to the neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are adventures in the graveyard for a boy - an ancient Indigo Man, a gateway to the abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible Sleer. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, he will be in danger from the man Jack-who has already killed Bod's family.


First of all, I want to say that this review will not just be a plain review about the book. It will include some life reflections and lessons I've learned and want to share with you.

The book was narrated by neither the author nor the characters. It is called the persona. Sometimes, we just say that the narrator is the author since he composed the story.

According to Gaiman, the book was inspired by The Jungle Book, where instead of ghosts, animals took care of the boy.

Bod is a very clever man for his young age. He was taught lessons by ghosts teachers. This includes some magics, since he owned the Freedom of the Graveyard. He met Scarlet, who played a great role in shaping his life. Silas, his guardian, who always at his side.

The beginning of the story is kinda boring. Of course, because it is a children's book and look, I'm 16! But I'm very thankful I read this book. You will find the thrill, the excitement and the climax after the 200 page mark out of 307 pages. See, it will be boring. But there is a hidden message of making the first part boring.

Let's continue the review in a reflection.

The book was ( I think) intended to be boring at the first part. The first part included Bod who was still learning from his teachers while he is adventuring the whole graveyard. In life, when we are still young, we are learning, but we find it boring. That is why we need to cherish our childhood. It is only once in a lifetime chance to be a child. The book then will be interesting at page 200 and up. In life, again, this stage is our teenage stage. Where all the excitement happens. We have now our minds to decide what will make us happy. At the end, the book will turn to a very lonely tone, like that we are leaving childhood and taking a new life to adulthood.

I've learned a lot from this book. One is to cherish our childhood and the other is that everything has an end. Like book, you need to feel every page as it has an The End.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

In My Mailbox -7-

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.


Hi for another In My Mailbox post. I'm doing it now, even it is Saturday, because tomorrow I will be very busy. I will need to go visit my friend in the Philippine Heart Center and do a lot of school projects. It is really hard to choose between a special friend and a school grades.


For this week, it is a nice haul. I got galley from Net Galley. I also got a book from BookSale bookstores. 


Bought



Dreamdark by Laini Taylor

I like the short teaser at the back that is why I bought it. 

For Reviews




The Iron Queen by Julie
Lost Voice by Sarah Porter
Awaken by Kacvinsky

I had a peak at the first page of awaken and I love it. I think I will love that book. But I'm not yeat reading this three galleys. It will be a part of my 2011 Debut Author Challenge reviews, and according to the rule, it will not be counted of I read them now, 2010. 

So what's in your mailbox?


Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop

"What is the thing you like most about reading book blogs?  Is it the reviews, author guest posts, articles, giveaways, or something else entirely?"

The thing I like most in book blogs are the books. Book blogs introduce me to the books I don't know. It is a very easy way. With their reviews or thoughts about it, I can save my money to good books only. Also, I like interacting with others. Blogger around the world, in book blogs, interaction is possible and free. Of course, the contests. I'm not that rich that I can buy 5 books every week. With the help of the contest, they are helping with my passion. 

In short, I like the blog itself and all it contain and who runs it.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Net Galley

Days ago, I requested some titles from different publishers for review. I requested 3 titles.

Today, all my requests had been accepted and I feel very happy. It was my first time to request for galleys. I expect that they will reject since I'm a new blogger. But they accepted.

I will reveal the titles in my next IMM post

Monday, December 6, 2010

What I want this Christmas


What I want this Christmas

I would like to share to you some of the things I want for this Christmas. 

1. iPhone 4 - my mother promised me she will buy me this when I hit the top 1 mark in the class. I hitted it but she said he might just give it this Christmas. I hope I can have it now!

2. New Laptop - not being so money-waster, but my current laptop is dying. I own it for 3 years and I know it is dying. It needs to rest.

3. Secrets of Immortal Nicholas Flamel - I still can't read the other books because I don't have money. I hope my friends will give me this. Some said they will Happy!

4. BOOKS - of course, I want books this Christmas

The next will be sentimental :))

1. Happy Christmas with Family - I hope no other factors will affect the joy of this year's Christmas

2. Happy cirlcle of Friend - I hope that our Christmas Party goes well.

3. No enemies - I have some enemies, but I decided to forgive them this Christmas.

So how about you?

Sunday, December 5, 2010

2011 Debut Author Challenge

Another great day guys. I will not make it long so let's get started

I decided to join the 2011 Debut Author Challenge by Kristi of The Story Siren. The challenge is about reading YA and MG novels released in 2011. The books should be a debut novel of an author. 


I'm not really sure of joining this challenge since I know my 2011 will be a lot busier than my 2010 (if you love to study). Next year, I will take several college entrance exam to find my college school. And I need focus. But recently my teacher told me that too much studying is really bad. So I decided to join for me to have some relaxation time in 2011. I hope to finish the challenge. If there's a will, there's a way.

Here are my 12 books I wish to read. Remember this is tentative, it might change when time comes.

1. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
2. XVI by Julia Karr
3. The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
4. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
5. Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
6. Ashfall by Mike Mullin
7. Gathering Storm by Robin Bridge
8. Dead Rules by randy Russell
9. Halo by Alexandra Ardonetto (I'm finding a replacement for this since it was already released here)
10. Entangled by Cat Clarke
11. The Iron King by Kulie Kagawa (also finding a replacement)
12. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff (again, also finding a replacement)

As you can see, there are 3 books that was already released here in the Philippines, and according to the rules, it will be not allowed to read novels already released in 2010 in the participants country. So I'm looking forward for replacements. I wish Kristi's spreadsheet to be updated soon. 

I will also see if I can find debut novels by Filipino authors.

In My Mailbox -6-

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.


It's been a while since my last In My Mailbox post, because I don't buy books a lot. I expect this Christmas season to have a lot of books to buy. To start with here is my in my mailbox



The Package
The Books
In my last post, I told you that I won a contest held by Jason of Taking a Break. I won two books written by Filipino authors. 

Waking the Dead by Yvette Tan
A Time for Dragons by Vincent Micheal Simbulan

Thank you so much to Jason for the books. There will ni post for this week without your books.

I think, my next IMM post will be next sunday. Since I'm planning to buy books this coming Saturday. My mother already gave me my christmas budget (you know, the budget I use to buy gifts to myself and my friend) and I already calculated the numbers. I hope to have at least two new books next week. 

What's on you mailbox today?

Friday, December 3, 2010

Follow Friday

Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkee's View






What do you do besides reading / reviewing as a hobby??



When I'm not reading, I do science experiments, watch for the latest technology and I am also usually at the Apple Store Online looking for new gadgets. I also sometimes do handicrafts. I make things that I think I will need in my desk like pencil holder and a lot more. I do these to have a break in reading, since reading a lot is not good for our eyes. John Milton, an essayist, got blind due to excessive reading and writing. I don't want to be blind. :)

Book Blogger Hop

Another book blogger hop post here



Book Blogger Hop


What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review

In my recent Book Blogger Hop post, about the favorite book cover, I answered Breaking Dawn. This time, it's Breaking Dawn again. The series was popularly known in most countries. Some are dying hard just to complete the series. In the last book, Breaking Dawn, I thought it would have a very thrilling ending, but I was wrong. There was no thrill in the book. That really disappointed  me. With all the struggle of the characters to fight the Volturi, was wasted. When I reviewed this book, I'm scared that I may offend Twilight fans, but fortunately, some agreed with me. 

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...