Note to Self #1

Note to self

Buy Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

This is a Book by Demetri Martin

HIATUS

Okay, you know how you get pumped and read tons of books then you go on a slow reading phase? I'm on that right now.

So, see you guys in my next I-want-to-read-every-book-in-the-world phase!

Peace!

Favorites: January 2011

I only have three favorites this month because the books I've read have been "meh!" mostly. So, first is, the Harry Potter series. Obviously. But specifically, the last book! :) I can't wait for the movie!

The second favorite is Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom. It did not disappoint. At. All.

The last is this desk thing I got for Christmas. I love it! It helps me read before I go to bed without making me go blind.

So, that's it! :)

Love,

Michelle

Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom

Mitch Albom is such a lucky man to have a chance to meet all the people he writes about. Such as Coach from Tuesdays with Morrie, also Reb from Have a Little Faith.

The two books I mentioned are similar to each other. Both brings us on a journey through the last days (or years) that these people have. I daresay that I like the latter one a little bit better. But it is while reading the first one that I shed some tears.

Have a Little Faith focuses on religion. Accepting people who belongs to one different from your own. It is not as dragging as Tuesdays with Morrie but the latter delivers more of a punch at the ending.

However I enjoyed this one more because it's a delightful read. You are being taught about faith. Things that were never taught within the confines of the classroom.

Another part of this book that got to me were anecdotes from the life of Henry. It shows that though he was into drugs and stealing and stuff like that, he can still repent and live a life of God and even become a pastor.

There are things I learned from this book.

One, is that God doesn't judge us against the person beside us but rather, God judges us against ourselves.

Two, when you see faith walking towards you, never turn your back and walk away. You may find that that's the best decision you've ever made.

Lastly, I'll quote from the book.

"Look, Lord, I've done X amount of good stuff on earth. I have tried to follow your teachings and to pass them on. I have loved my family. I've been part of a community. And I have been, I think, fairly good to all people.
So, heavenly Father, for all this, where is my reward?"

"Reward? What reward? That's what you were supposed to do."

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

As I haven't watched the second part of the movie version of this book, I cannot compare this to the movie as I did with the previous Harry Potter book. So, I will just enumerate ten things I liked about this book.

1. The changes that happened to Kreacher and Dudley
2. The revelation of the story of the "Prince"
3. The names of Harry's children.
4. The recruits that came during the second war. (especially the house elves)
5. The change that happened to Neville
6. That Teddy Lupin turned out to be fine despite his loss (I assumed, according to the epilogue)
7. Draco and Harry's relationship became civil
8. Mrs. Weasley's reaction to Bellatrix's attack on Ginny
9. The centaurs finally intervened
10. Kreacher's reaction when Harry handed him the locket.

It's official, my favorite character? Kreacher.

J.K. Rowling can write no wrong.

Did I say I almost cried when I read that the house elves came charging in led by Kreacher? He shouted something about helping his master, "Defender of House Elves" and upholding the name of Regulus. I, legit, cried.

Next Summer by Hailey Abbot

Rating:

5: Beyond Explanation

4: Awesome

3: Decent

2: Dislike

1: Hate

0: Abhor

1. Plot: (3/5)

The plot is not too predictable although, it's nothing special. It's the typical summer fling type of book. I wasn't super impressed with it because, in my opinion, it's one of those books that is better off being a movie.

2. Characters: (4/5)

The characters here play on stereotypes as well. One of them is a sporty girl another is a bookish girl, there's also a hippie and the girl who gets all the guys. Although, these stereotypes aren't emphasized too annoyingly which I like. Also, these kinds of stereotypes aren't too often mixed with each other which is also nice.

3. Setting: (4/5)

The setting is in a beach house in their private cottages. It's pretty nice because it hints that they have money but it's not rubbed in our faces. The story takes place at the beach with a bunch of teenagers there which really does happen in real life.

4. Story: (3/5)

The story revolves around the three girls and their relationship with their respective guys. Nothing new. I deemed it decent/

5. Writing: (5/5)

I love the way that the story was written. It explains what happens really well. I wasn't even aware that this was a sequel to another book. I didn't feel like I missed anything because the story, and how things came to be, were explained without making it a detailed summary of the first book.

6. Ending: (2/5)

I didn't like the ending because it only centered on one of the girls. I think they did this because there might've been another book after this. The way the book was written was that the girls have their own chapter in a sense that a whole chapter will be the point of view of one of the girls. It would've been nice if, in the end, it showed what happened to the other girls instead of just the main girl/

OVERALL RATING: 3/5

WOULD I RECOMMEND?: Yes

This book is a nice book. It's not amazing but it's nice enough. It's not something worth hunting out but if you need a nice read and you happen to pass by this particular book, then, I suggest you go for it.

CLASSIFICATION:

Light Read. It's not mind-boggling but it's not a substance-less book either.

Hope you like!

Michelle

Haul: National Bookstore + Powerbooks

The first book is Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom and I have been waiting for the paper back version of this since FOREVER! I read all his other books and I love it! So, this one just adds to the collection.

The last two books are Wicked and the sequel which is Son of a Witch both by Gregory Maguire. My curiosity has been piqued when my high school did their rendition of Wicked so, when I saw this, I snagged it immediately.

Wicked (Powerbooks) Php349 (but I bought it on sale so I paid a little bit less than Php300)

Son of a Witch (National Bookstore) Php299

Have a Little Faith (National Bookstore) Php295

So, I'm putting my book buying on a pause because I have a LOT of books in line waiting to be read. So, no book-buying in the near future!

Love,

Michelle