Books I Look Forward to Read (and finish) this Year

I want to read a lot of books. I already collected some of them. Some books are pricey though so I settle for ebooks. I would still want to purchase hard copies of them and have them set up on my own library in the future.

Most of the time, I start to read a book but when I get bored of it, I started another. I am always tempted to settle for another when I feel uninterested with some chapters of the book hehe. Crazy me. I am just fooling myself. Well, here is my book bucket list for this year.

1. Why Men Love Bitches by Sherry Argov – I am done reading it. I wrote what about it here.
2. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert – I started reading it last year but my bookmark was stuck at page 207.
3. I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore – I think I have finished 1/3 of the book hehe
4. Heroes of Olympus #2: Son of Neptune (Rick Riordan)
5. 50 Lesson’s for Life’s Little Detours by Regina Brett
6. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – I started reading it last week hoping I could finish it before tonight since we are going to see the movie. Unfortunately, a lot has gotten my way.
7. The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
8. The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
9. The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
10. Aleph by Paulo Coelho

As much as I want to finish a book every month, I just can’t especially now that I have enrolled into a crash course. The ultimate books I need to read CCNA modules 1-4. Hopefully I can still have time to read all books in my list.

Why Men Love Bitches, A Must Read for Women

I remember picking it up once when I was at Fullybooked. The title was catchy which made me reach out for it. Luckily, I have acquired a soft copy. After having read the ebook, I have proven it is not just another self help book.

I used to be a doormat, but I am now a bitch

Basically what I took out of it is this: anything you chase in life runs away. You can keep a man interested if he feels like he never completely has you. You shouldn't make a man the center of your universe. Keep your life exactly as it was before, only add him to it. Do not alter your activities or even give up what you used to do because of him. Why? You would appear clingy and needy. As a result, you would demand him to do same, prioritize you always like he does not have a life for himself. Men do not want to be caged. See him when it's convenient for you. Do not go overboard. He will take you for granted. There is more to life than him and your relationship. Focus on yourself and be able to hold your own. Value yourself the way you want to be valued. It is only then that you will be treated properly. Be strong and independent. Only settle for something that you deserve.

The book totally changed my view in having a relationship (for the better). I have been wrong in handling a relationship in the past. Nevertheless, it does not make me less of a woman. Now I know how to be smart and be a bitch as defined by the author.

Here are a few quotes from “Why Men Love Bitches” and “Why Men Marry Bitches” by Sherry Argov.

• Sometimes a man deliberately won’t call, just to see how you’ll respond.
• The biggest variable between a bitch and a woman who is too nice is fear. The bitch shows that she’s not afraid to be without him.
• If the choice is between her dignity and having a relationship, the bitch will prioritize her dignity above all.
• A man knows which woman will give in to last-min requests.
• Whenever a woman requires too many things from a man, he’ll resent it. Let him give what he wants to give freely; then observe who he is.
• If he makes you feel insecure, let your insecurity be your guide.
• When you appear softer and more feminine, you appeal to his instinct to protect. When you appear more aggressive, you appeal to his instinct to compete.
  
• Men don’t respond to words, they respond to no contact.
  
• A woman looks more secure in a man’s eyes when he can’t pull her away from her life, because she is content with her life.
• When you nag, you become the problem, and he deals with it by tuning you out. But when you don’t nag, he deals with the problem.
• You have to show that you won’t accept mistreatment. Then you will keep his respect.

One Liter of Tears

Out of all the television dramas only few of them touches my heart. One of which was One Liter of Tears. Never did I miss a single episode of this inspiring story. I am thankful that it has been aired in Philippine television. Tonight will be its last episode, I suppose, the saddest of all. But I am sure, it will remain forever in the hearts of its viewers.

One Liter of Tears is an adaptation of the diary of a Japanese girl named Aya Kitō, who suffered from spinocerebellar ataxia. She began keeping a diary at the suggestion of her doctor, and continued to write until she could no longer hold a pen. The diary, titled 1 rittoru no namida, was published shortly before her death. Although some of the characters and situations are fictionalized in this television version, the dialogue frequently draws directly from Aya Kitô's own words. Moreover, each episode concludes with a narrated diary excerpt, framed with photographs from various stages in Kitô's life, before and after her diagnosis. The screenplay thus attempts to balance between faithfully working with actual text from the book, 1 rittoru no namida, while also inventing situational contexts so as to portray the struggles of the book's characters in dramatic scenarios. The character Haruto Asô, for example, does not exist in the original diary; however, as a fictional character created for this series, he provides an important mechanism through which Aya's inner feelings, the diary's language on a page, can become more fully actualized as part of a day-to-day narrative. (from Wiki)

This Japanese drama really lived up to its title. I can’t help but be encumbered by gravity of the story that I burst into tears in several heart pounding scenes. I admired Aya for her courage despite her sickness. Though her future was unpromising for her, she still managed to smile, continued to live and settled on what was left in her life – writing. She was able to accept her fate amidst her inevitable nearing death.


Indeed true. Everyday, we take for granted that we are alive, we breathe, we are able to run, walk and speak everytime we want to. And yet we complain for small unnecessary things and fail to appreciate the goodness in our lives.

Let us all continue to live like Aya, take one step at a time, lived with optimism and courage regardless of the setbacks we are bound to encounter. May Aya’s story continually touch ,inspire and change our lives. Life is a gift, let’s treasure it.

Twilight Move Premiere

I’m down to the fourth and last sequel of Twilight which is Breaking Dawn. But, I cannot suppress the thrill that tomorrow is the most awaited day of the Twilight fanatics. Count me in. =) SM Cinemas will be holding Twilight: Sneak Preview tomorrow in selected SM Cinema branches. Bella with the Cullen vampire coven will soon officially rip out the theaters here in the tomorrow during the premiere night. Reportedly, the film gained $35 million on the opening day and 70.6 million during the opening weekend. Isn’t that bloody?

Twilight trivia invade the local radio with premiere tickets up for grabs. I would really want to have two. But, theaters will surely be jam packed by tomorrow and the next so I would prefer another day for Edward Cullen hahaha. I’ll save my excitement from now.

Hooked as I was with the saga, I even dreamed of being a vampire lol. I just wonder will I also be that beautiful like Rosalie or acquire a special skill like Alice? Haha It was not clear if I played Bella in my trance. All I remembered was at the meadow with Edward and we were running high-speed toward a river hehe.

Women nowadays still dream of a fairytale ending. But what they want is not a knight on a white, horse but a vampire with a shiny silver Volvo.

That was sooo Twilight hahaha. A friend sent me that message and I was like, “Yeah right, Edward is the most romantic vampire!”.

Eclipse ebook

I have read New Moon through an ebook. I have settled for another e book again, Eclipse, the third installment of the Twilight Saga. It was not by choice since, again, for the nth time, Twilight books were out of stock. The demand for the romance novel was high and copies are being sold so quickly. I always wear that long face every time I step out of bookstores finding nothing. How I wish I would have the complete set available in hard bound copies. At least, I would not be fussing this much in looking for it.

My only solace lies on the ebooks available here in the Internet. They are absolutely free. You just have to sign up and join the forum. They are even available in other dialects.

I am totally a Twilight fan. I can not even suppress my enthusiasm when I start reading. I even cried when Edward bade goodbye to Bella in New Moon hahaha I can relate with it hehe For me nothing is more surprising than this, Kcat of Iamkcat even read Twilight thrice and New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn twice! Can you imagine that? I guess she was really into Edward like me hahaha. Yeah she's right, what's not to love about Edward? By the way, thanks Kcat for the ebook. =)

photo from Flickr

I have downloaded a New Moon ebook

I am done reading Twilight just yesterday and I am still hungry for Bella and Edward's love story. I am getting crazy over the novel and I love Edward! hahaha I can't wait to see the movie.
The next installment of the story is New Moon. I have looked for it yesterday at the bookstores but, just like what I have experienced in Twilight, its out of stock. Now, after reading Twilight, I wonder no more why these books ran out easily. I have been witness as I read the novel and its really worth the time and effort consumed with it. Once you start reading it, it would be hard for you to put it down even just for a while. Hmmm Curious? Why not read the book yourselves =).
Though I haven't found a copy of New Moon yet, luckily, I have downloaded an ebook just a while ago. Good thing I can read it while waiting for New Moon stocks over the bookstores. And hurray! It's for free! I am excited to read it. But before anything else, I will eat my breakfast first. =) I'll surely have a good day.

photo from Flckr

Pre-Christmas Treat

I accompanied my niece, Jane, who was only a year youngerthan me, to buy stuffs for her upcoming OJT and at the same time, to get away even a day from my daily routines at the shop. Yesterday was such a perfect day. Our first mall stop was at Trinoma.

Twilight hunt again

We wasted no time and hurried through National Bookstore. My heart thumped faster, no, not of excitement but because of our rush to the store that made us almost run haha. Load of books were displayed outside the store. Without a blink, my eyes surveyed the books for a tinge of hope I might be able to see Twilight. I was about to lose the possibility when Jane told me “there it is.” I was delighted! I really was! Hearing those words seem music to my ears haha. I approached the cashier inside the store and asked for a stock. She pointed us at the Bestsellers Section. There I found several Twilight books. I grabbed a copy. The cashier even told us that it was just freshly delivered. Batches of the Twilight saga ran out easily according her. I was lucky! Oh boy! I was so happy as left the store and I can’t wait to go home to blog about that very good news. My hunt was finally over. =) It feels so great that I have something to read during the weekend especially on Saturday as we spend our time at the cemetery.

Flip flop fad

Never in our visit to Trinoma that we failed to drop by at All Flip Flops. It has been always been predictable since I was with Jane, a self-confessed Havaianatic haha. There were no new designs. But, when we came to visit another branch at Glorietta, another array of collection rendered us speechless. The design was fairly plain but the metallic and golden print of the brand made it beyond compare. At one moment, I thought it was so excessive to buy another pair. I have been a liar convincing myself that it’s not haha. But on another sprung, I remembered it has been ages ever since I bought something for myself, reasonable yet enough =). I bought it as a gift for myself.

I won at Lainy’s Contest

I went home still feeling the pain on my feet. It was so tiring walking all day at the mall. I felt sleepy then but I needed to open the computer to load up someone. I checked my blog, as I always did every chance I got. I read some messages at the chatbox. My eyes were feeling heavy then. I was so surprised when I read Joy’s message saying congratulations for winning Lainy’s Contest. I winked, read the message again, and then another wink as I opened Lainy’s blog for the winners. I can’t believe my eyes. And blimey! There was the name of my blog! It was so unexpected. Ranking second all among the participants never crossed my mind. I was so lucky. Ate Lainy even told me that I was the only one here in Luzon who bagged the prize. It was so timely. The prize I will be receiving will be utilized to regain my ranks and traffic as I was planning to move. Thanks a lot Ate Lainy! Especially to your kind hearted sponsors and congratulations to all the winners. I’ll be looking forward to another contest next year hahaha

Indeed, yesterday was really my day. =) I may never have expected it all but they really made my day! =)

Still unlucky

I have been eyeing for Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight book every time I come across the bookstores. As of my first hunt, I haven’t found any traces of it. The sequels are available but the initial installment is by and large, out of sight. Sigh. I got even disappointed this afternoon when I went at the bookstore. I was so eager to approach the shelf where it was located the last time I saw it, only to find out it was gone. Twilight has been out of stock again. Arrgh! Last week, I have seen it being displayed at that similar shelf with several copies. I even grabbed one to take a look. I was in high spirits way back then that I promised myself to buy it as soon as possible. I did not expect it will run off this soon. Stupid me! If only I knew, I should have not let the chance pass and bought it the last time. This was the very first time I have been crazy rummaging around for a book. The next time I had an eye on it, I would not have second thoughts on buying it.

It was a loss

Again, I am talking of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, JK Rowling’s sixth installment of the Harry Potter. I was done reading it. I had my eyes glued to it for more than a week. Imagine from the time I wake up, I would get a hold of the book to read it. And finally, I have settled my eyes off it. Yehey! What a relief. =) (I will be back again with my dropping chores that I failed to fulfill the last few days.)

It was a sad, tragic ending nevertheless; I still enjoyed reading the book. I won’t contest why the author made that twist in the story. I know she has inevitable plans for the “Boy Who Lived”. I can not wait to read the seventh book which was the last one! I am so excited. I miss Harry already hehe. Hopefully the soft bounded version will be out in the market very soon. Maybe tomorrow? Hahahaha

What made me busy during the past few days?

Charan! Yes I have been reading J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince which was the book six. I failed to write some posts which were noticeable. I can not let my eyes off the book. If it had not been for this blog and for Entrecard, I would surely miss being in front of the computer.

I have been crazy over Harry since I was in high school. I was then borrowing HP books from my classmate who was also a fanatic and influenced me to be =). And now that I barely see her nor talk to her, I was compelled to have my own book haha. Good thing soft bounds are already available and affordable compare to those heavy and hard bounded ones. Actually it was not my own moola. I convinced Adrian to buy me one =). It was an eye-popping surprise. He even did wrapped it in a sweet tamarind box. I was about to give my aunt the box of tamarind (since I do not eat those) only to find out it contained the HP book! haha

I am already done reading almost three-fourths of the book. And since I have not had the seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows, which was the last one, I have no plan of finishing the whole book yet. =) Have a magical day everyone!