Sunday, January 24, 2016

From the shelf: After You

Title: After You
Author: Jojo Moyes
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Chick-Lit
Date read: January 20-24, 2016
Dawn Rates:  (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)


11 hours, 6 minutes

How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?

Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.

Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future. . . .
For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.

After You is quintessential Jojo Moyes—a novel that will make you laugh, cry, and rejoice at being back in the world she creates. Here she does what few novelists can do—revisits beloved characters and takes them to places neither they nor we ever expected.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

Lookback: Me Before You

This is 18 months after the events in "Me Before You". I was one of those fans waiting for a sequel but at the same time I dreaded it. I have a lot of disappointments in sequels. But just like Lou, I needed the closure. I wanted to move on from Will Traynor's selfish decision to move on. Yes, I was that bitter. Luckily, Jojo Moyes announced that she is doing the aftermath sequel and here we are. This was the most real way I could think of on how Lou would cope up with Will's death. I know that some might judge her for being that way since she has known Will for just a short time, but for me it doesn't matter how long they have known each other...what they had was real and because of that decision, it was a sad love story. It was a big 'Might have been'. I don't blame Will though. He just wanted to escape from the life he had after having the life he supposed he had. The downside from that decision is the chance to have his happy ever after. This is a story about how people around Will did cope up with the aftermath of them all. How Lou tried to move on with her life just as she promised and how she failed to do so. She was like a shell of herself and because of that a reminder of Will came to remind her that she should move on with her life. I loved how this became a sort of closure to that part of her life. I think I also had my closure when I read the last page. For me what happened at the last scene was telling us that life is full of possibilities and that the future is bright ahead, its just that we needed that closure.

Till the next read...

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Author Spotlight: Rachel Dunning's "Debt" Blog Tour

Hi readers and bibliophiles alike! I am once again participating in another blog tour this time by Rachel Dunning. Her book will be out on March 2016 so watch out for it. Thank you Rachel for entrusting me to be part of your blog tour. *does happy dance*. Anywho, below is a bit of a teaser for her new book "Debt". Watch out for it!


Rachel Dunning hit the scene in August 2013 and is the author of the highly praised Naive Mistakes Series, Truthful Lies Trilogy, Johnny Series and the paranormal romance series, Mind Games.
A prolific writer, she sticks to stories where Alpha Males aren’t pricks and where women have guts. She’s lived on two different continents, speaks three different languages, and met the love of her life on the internet. In other words, romance is in her blood.


Reach her at:
Sign up for Rachel’s Newsletter and never miss a release or a special.
You can sign up here: 


Blog / Website: http://www.rdunning.com
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/RachelDunningBN


The Debt Collector

I pay my debts, and I expect others to.
I was raised in the slums of London, I knew nothing of privilege. My father was murdered when I was seventeen. Morty figured my father's passing meant I would automatically take on dad's debts. I refused.
And I paid for that refusal.
So did my sister.
So now I fight. All I know how to do is fight. The best cash is in the states, so that's where I am now. A big fish called Vito came along offering me a "favor" when I arrived.
Another debt.
I paid for that one too.
I knew Kyla Hensley would be trouble when I met her. But I wanted her. I could see through the falsehood of her wannabe-slutty clothes and her sexy legs. So I chased her.
Besides, trouble is my middle name.

Kyla Hensley

I was brought up in privilege, but I lacked everything else. My father is a business tycoon who buys and sells and doesn't care who gets rolled over in the process.
I never knew my mother, and all I have of her is a photo with a note scrawled on the back in French saying "I'm sorry." The only Female Figure I had growing up is my dad's wife who is a bleach blond with seven boob jobs. We never bonded.
I drink. I party. I meet guys.
But I wasn't always like that.
I've had a string of lovers in the last few years, the worst and most recent of which was Vince Somerset. My best friend Vera was dating a guy called Rory Cansoom who is the opposite of Vince in so many ways, and yet so the same.
She and I hit the road for the summer, getting away from the two college psychos and just trying to have some fun.
But there's a funny thing about trouble, the more you run from it, the more it finds you.
Which is when I met the Debt Collector.
It was only supposed to be sex. He made that clear. I made that clear.
That's all it was supposed to be.
I never expected to fall in love. I never expected to fall so deeply, madly, uncomfortably in love with a man who is wrong, so wrong for me.
And yet...so unbelievably right.

Content Warning

Not intended for readers under the age of seventeen.

Genres:
New-Adult Romance
Sports Romance



99c Pre-Order Sale
Over 400 Pages
Standalone Novel
New-Adult Romance / Sports Romance



March 2016

Congrats in advance Rachel for the release of your book....Check out the pre-order sale guys....and enjoy reading!

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Adventures of a Bibliophile: Remembering Alan Rickman (1946-2016)


Another great one has left us. It saddens me to think that we are going to start 2016 without this one great talent. I know that he has played so many iconic roles over the years, I even saw him in Love, Actually but for me he will always be the perfect Severus Snape.


Like most passionate readers, I have this love-hate relationship for books turning into movies. I saw a picture once depicting an iceberg as a movie in which the totality of the book lies under it. As I grew older, I understood that there are times in which the movie has to be under a 2 hour mark so I gradually accepted the fact that books turned movies are like that. I had no expectations whenever I would watch a book-turned-movie but I can't help but really vent out my frustrations sometimes.

True blooded Slytherin wizard

I first became a Potterhead since my 1st year days (around year 2000). In the Philippines, the book wasn't on sale yet so I first read the book courtesy of my classmate (her older sister always gives her the books fresh from the US) and I was definitely hooked. Ever since, I was drawn into the Slytherin House. When the first movie was shown in 2001, I was so excited seeing the book come to life. Sure there were so many disappointments here and there but what stood out the most for me is Alan Rickman's portrayal of Severus Snape. Among all the characters in that movie, his Severus Snape is EXACTLY HOW I ENVISIONED IT. And I couldn't express that enough.


This particular Severus Snape line during the first movie almost made me do a classic standing ovation. From there I knew, I had my genuine Professor Snape.


He even did the Lily scene on point. He was the best and I could never imagine another Severus Snape.

Always.

Alan Rickman's final thoughts after closing the curtain on Severus Snape

His portrayal of the Severus Snape's character has touched so many Potterhead's hearts and giving bookworms alike the hope that there would be more actors out there who would give justice to a well beloved book character.

Excuse me while I drown into a puddle of tears knowing of his passing. He will always be remembered as Professor Severus Snape, Slytherin head, Potions Professor, Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor and Hogwarts headmaster. He may not be able to reach the age of 80 like in his interview, but he will still be remembered forever by Potterheads and fans alike.

This is for the 16 and counting wonderful years as a Potterhead. Wands raised for Alan Rickman. Thank you.

"Death is but the next great adventure" - Albus Dumbledore

From the shelf: I Was Here

Title: I Was Here
Author: Gayle Forman
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Realistic Fiction
Date read: January 7-8, 2016
Dawn Rates:  (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)


Cody and Meg were inseparable.
Two peas in a pod.
Until . . . they weren’t anymore.
 
When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.
 
I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

This would be Gayle Forman's book outside of her duo series which I loved and I think this was a much more emotional story. Cody and Meg were friends for as long as they can remember, more than best friends kind of like sisters. It was then when one day Cody found out that Meg killed herself was when her world and how she sees it changes her forever. This is a story of discoveries and acceptance. Cody who once thought that Meg was her rock, didn't know what to do now she was gone. It was one of those cliche stories in which they both lived in the same small town but they had big dreams on leaving and taking over the world together. If I were in Cody's place, I too will feel betrayed that something was going on with that person which I consider as my sister. Betrayal will be the first emotion that would transcend after being numbed by the news. Sometimes we think we know everything about the closest to us only to realize that there are things unsaid. This is Cody's journey in rediscovering her best friend and even discovering things about herself. What was off at least for me in the beginning is Cody's romance with Ben. It was weird at first but if you look at it in another way, it was like Meg brought them together. A bit morbid but that could only explain everything. The title of this story is apt. Everyone, no matter how small their trace would be, could send ripples to everything around them. 

Till the next read...

Monday, January 11, 2016

2015 Reading Challenge

Say hell yeah! After 2 failed attempts (2013, 2014) I finally completed a reading challenge. Third times the charm and because of that for 2016, I'm committing 100 books.

01. Noringai - Parang Kayo, Pero Hindi
02. Smith, Jennifer E. - The Geography of You and Me
06. Roth, Veronica - Divergent (Divergent # 1)
07. Flynn, Gillian - Gone Girl
08. Flynn, Gillian - Dark Places
09. Flynn, Gillian - Sharp Objects
10. Reynard, Sylvain - The Prince (The Florentine # 0.5)
11. Reynard, Sylvain - The Raven (The Florentine # 1)
18. Madsen Cindi - Getting Lucky Number Seven
23. West, Kasie - On The Fence
24. West, Kasie - The Fill-in Boyfriend
25. Cass, Kiera - The Heir (The Selection # 4)
27. Gaiman, Neil - The Graveyard Book
28. Alexandra, Kesia - It Ain't Easy
29. Eggleton, Robert - Rarity from the Hollow
30. Green, Grace - His Potential Wife
31. Dewar, Sandra - Conquer the Memories
32. Williams, Whitney Garcia - Sincerely Carter (Sincerely Carter # 1)
33. Ragan, T.R. - Obsessed (Lizzy Gardner # 4)
49. Gerritsen, Tess - The Surgeon (Rizzoli & Isles # 1)
50. Gerritsen, Tess - The Apprentice (Rizzoli & Isles # 2)
51. Gerritsen, Tess - The Sinner (Rizzoli & Isles # 3)
52. Gerritsen, Tess - Body Double (Rizzoli & Isles # 4)
53. Gerritsen, Tess - Vanish(Rizzoli & Isles # 5)
56. Gerritsen, Tess - Ice Cold (Rizzoli & Isles # 8)
57. Gerritsen, Tess - Freaks (Rizzoli & Isles # 8.5)
59. Gerritsen, Tess - Last to Die (Rizzoli & Isles # 10)
60. Gerritsen, Tess - Die Again (Rizzoli & Isles # 11)
61. Gerritsen, Tess - Girl Missing
62. Thomas, Sherry - The Luckiest Lady in London
63. Heath, Lorraine - When the Duke was Wicked
64. Dorrington, Nichola S. - The Last Knight (Pendragon # 1)
65. Carter, Rachel E. - First Year (The Black Knight # 1)
67. Carter, Rachel E. - Apprentice (The Black Knight # 2)
70. Tullet, Suzie - The Trouble with Words
71. Oram, Kelly - Cinder & Ella
72. Esguerra, Mina V. - The Harder We Fall (Addison Hill # 1)
73. Esguerra, Mina V. - Learning to Fall (Addison Hill # 2)
74. Chico, Delamar, Gino - The Morning Rush Top 10 Book 3
75. V. Michael - The Bubble Bible by Bitoy

100 books for 2016? 
Let the challenge begin...

Sunday, January 10, 2016

#WeeklyBookUpdates: The last for 2015

Book Reviews:

Abrera, Manix
Filipino Humor, Comics
Chico, Delamar, Gino
Esguerra, Mina V.
Filipino Literature
Jordan, Isabel
YA/Fantasy/Paranormal/Romance
Oram, Kelly
YA/Contemporary Romance
V., Michael
Filipino Humor
Book Signing Events:


From the shelf: Mga Tagpong Mukhang Ewan at Kung Anu-Ano Pang Kababalaghan (Kiko Machine book 1)

Title: Mga Tagpong Mukhang Ewan at Kung Anu-Ano Pang Kababalaghan (Kiko Machine book 1)
Author: Manix Abrera
Genre: Filipino Humor
Date read: September 17, 2015
Dawn Rates:  (5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

‘Eto na… Hwooh! 
Ang kauna-unahang KikoMachine Komix Collection! Rakenrol! Asteeg!...

My Review: (also in goodreads)

I was once at the book signing event for this. This is one of those comic books where one could only just read to relax even in a long bus ride. This was one of those comic books where one could just laugh about the topics being discussed in it. This showcases Filipino humor and I think that Filipinos or anyone who has lived in this country will definitely enjoy this.

Till the next read...

Adventures of a Bibliophile: Manix Abrera Comic Book Signing 2015

September 17, 2015
Thursday
Book Club

So I joined our company's book club (yes, I have a regular job on weekdays, kind of technical bordering on geeky/nerdy). Going back, yes I joined our company's book club. Surprised? Well, it was expected. LOL. For the first book club grand meeting, we invited Manix Abrera for a comic book signing. 

Just a background on Manix (from goodreads):

MANUEL “MANIX” ABRERA is a graduate of Fine Arts in UP Diliman. He is the writer and artist of the Kikomachine comic strips found daily in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. He already has five compilations of his strips, and recently launched his first silent comics graphic novel “12”. He is currently finishing his 6th compilation due later this year, and continues to write and draw comics until he dies and goes to heaven.

He is basically a comic strip author doing strips for a local newspaper as well as a news site here in the Philippines.

This is him doing a talk which was so hilarious and enjoyable

Manix is signing books

Soon...its my turn

me and Manix

I had 5 comic books signed and this was one of those. He did all with different variations which as so cool.

Happy reading!

From the shelf: The Bubble Bible by Bitoy

Title: The Bubble Bible by Bitoy
Author: Michael V.
Genre: Filipino Humor
Date read: December 5, 2015
Dawn Rates:  (5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

“Thou shall finish reading this book laughing.” That is the ultimate commandment of The Bubble Bible by Bitoy, a collection of Michael V.’s 12 most famous characters on the long-running, much-loved GMA Network gag show Bubble Gang.

The collection, out now from Summit Books, lets readers enjoy the irreverent comedy of the comedian, actor, singer, composer, rapper, and parodist over 20 decades of making Filipino audiences laugh on Bubble Gang. The Bubble Bible by Bitoy includes images of his memorable incarnations, the hilarious gags that have made them unforgettable, and funny anecdotes from Bitoy himself.

In The Bubble Bible by Bitoy, fans will be treated to the “tiis-ganda” secrets of Yaya Rosalinda “Cha-Cha” Lucero, the hidden tattoos of Tata Lino, the untold riches of Don Miguel De Ayalabang, the workouts that Sexballs swears by, and the monologue that only Cecilio Sasuman can do justice to. Laugh out loud at other unforgettable personalities that Michael V. has breathed life into, such as Junie Lee, Madam Rocha, Mr. Assimo, Mr. Matapobre, Bonggang Bonggang Bongbong, DJ Bumbay, and Doña Yna Moran.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

I have always been a fan of Michael V. He is one of the pillars of Philippines' longest running gag show "Bubble Gang". His humor of my taste and I love how he good of a cameleon he is formulating all those amazing characters with distinct personalities. And having the gag show run for 20 years now is no joke. This showcases Filipino humor and for that I really enjoyed this book.

Till the next read...

From the Shelf: The Best of Chico, Delamar, and Gino's The Morning Rush Top 10, Book 3

Title: The Best of Chico, Delamar, and Gino's The Morning Rush Top 10, Book 3
Author: Compilation from The Morning Rush
Genre: Filipino Humor, Top 10 entries
Date read: December 5, 2015
Dawn Rates:  (5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

Did you miss them?

Chicio, Delamar and Gino are back with 100 of the funniest, craziest, most quotable lists from The Morning Rush Top 10, the award-winning, crowd favorite radio on RX 93.1.

Laugh out loud over viral lists like the following-and see if your own contributions made it

#BasagKaSaHirit
#PayoSaSawi
#DramaFail
#MyMamaTaughtMe
#AstigKaKung

My Review: (also in goodreads)


Like what I said before, since I can remember I was and still am a fan of the radio show. From 6AM to 10AM they help me wake up as I go through early morning school or work. And I am glad to buy this book that would let me reminisce the mornings I laughed along with them. 

Till the next read...
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