Reading Challenge Day 12: Pittacus Lore's Lorien Legacies

When you love reading books, there will be times that you'll encounter better written books than that of you used to read. There are of course books of quality that will transcend time and be forever etched in your minds and hearts. But there will be books that you'll wish you didn't love on the first place. So for Day 12 of the 30 Day Reading Challenge, the book (or rather the book series) that I used to love but not anymore would be Pittacus Lore's Lorien Legacies.

The book series focuses on the race of Lorien, gifted alien race that has the destiny to save their planet and defeat another race of Mogadorians. However, Lorien was destroyed and the nine chose children are sent to Earth to survive. As they grow, they start to develop their Legacies, their supernatural abilities.

Unfortunately, the Mogadorians had tracked them here on the planet and in order to survive, they must be united with each other again. But for John Smith (Number Four), survival is only second to preserving his new home, Earth.

When I first read I Am Number Four, I was instantly hooked. The premise is very original with the notion that Mogadorians can only hunt the nine by order. However, John Smith is a dull narrator and he present certain situations without urgency and importance. And it doesn't help that the writing is a little amateurish (Not that I can write better, infact I write a lot more worse) when compared to other books that I've read. Overall, I forgave the first book and gave the second a chance.

Luckily, the second book, The Power of Six, is better. I think the introduction of another narrator is a big improvement. And I loved it!

No such luck the third entry, The Rise of Nine. Although Six's narration is good, mixing it with the other two doesn't really work that well. Sometimes, scenes are confusing as we shift from one narrator to another.

My excitement for the series is strong enough for me to but the fourth to be released in August, however, it's not that strong enough to compel me for a second read of the series.

Reading Challenge Day 11: The Books I Hate

Hating a book would be like self torture, why not skip what you know will be painful. However, no matter how we avoid them, we sometimes are coerced into a situation where we are required to read an entire book, no matter how we hate doing so.  (BUT, before I roll,  would like to clarify that my hate for these books are relative to my own taste. I would like to simply express my own opinion. If you do not agree with these opinions, feel free to leave a comment.) So, for Day 11 of the 30 Day Reading Challenge, the following are the books I have read and have hated:

• E. L. James' Fifty Shades of Grey
• Bob Ong's Alamat ng Gubat - Bob Ong is my favorite Filipino writer. However, I find his first fiction to be a huge miss. I know that this is suppose to be satirical, but I find the jokes about politics and the Philippine society to be humorless and unconvincing. However, Ong redeems himself with his second fiction, the universally loved MACARTHUR.
• Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull - I know I know, who wouldn't love someone who breaks conformity and freedom from routine. However, I did not like the use of the metaphor of seagulls. I know I may sound illogical, but I just hated this book.

Well, may be not hate hate it, but reading them did not bring any pleasure in my side. I'll add more once I remember the other books of if I've read more books.

Reading Challenge Day 10: L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

When one would say classical, I would automatically say that its old, boring and outdated. No matter how good a classic is, I really find a hard time adjusting to its prose that I end up taking too long to finish it. But once in a blue moon, a classical book simply grabs you and compels you to finish reading it. With that, for Day 10 of my 30 Day Reading Challenge, my favorite classic book is L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Dorothy lives a dull life at Texas. However, when she is pulled to a world of Oz, full of wonders and dangers, she longs to get home. And she only can with the help of the of the powerful wizard in the Emerald City. While perils are on the way, Dorothy meets unexpected friends, all of whom aims to visit the wizard and "fix" them.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is not just a simple adventure story, it is also finding the best out of oneself. Dubbed as the first fairy tale of the West, the prose is simple enough for the young to still appreciate its story without struggling to understand words used in it. For me, this is immortal for its wonderful message that everyone may be imperfect, but still be a perfect friend.

Reading Challenge Day 9: Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

I always had hated the idea of reading self-help or preachy books. I find them unnecessary. I really do. But for Day 9 of the 30 Day Reading Challenge, I choose Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten as the book that I thought I wouldn't like but end up loving.

Here Fulghum engages us with musings on life, death, love, pain, joy, sorrow, and the best chicken-fried steak in the continental U.S.A. The little seed in the Styrofoam cup offers a reminder about our own mortality and the delicate nature of life . . . a spider who catches (and loses) a full-grown woman in its web one fine morning teaches us about surviving catastrophe . . . the love story of Jean-Francois Pilatre and his hot air balloon reminds us to be brave and unafraid to “fly” . . . life lessons hidden in the laundry pile . . . magical qualities found in a box of crayons . . . hide-and-seek vs. sardines—and how these games relate to the nature of God. All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten is brimming with the very stuff of life and the significance found in the smallest details. (via GoodReads.com)

Preachy books are never my thing, however, I tried reading this because Bob Ong is very vocal that this is one of the books that had influenced him. And after reading the collection, he was right. All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten is a great read! Although it may take some time to adjust to its prose, but once you do, you'll love it! Infact, I have read more than 3 times already.

The first edition will be a little rough, so I suggest grab the 15th Anniversary Edition, as it is more streamlined. What is great with Fulghum is that he doesn't preach about changing lives by giving up sums of money or becoming somewhat a superhero, but asks us to pause and appreciate the small things in life. That God is indeed in the smallest of the details.

Fast & Furious 6 Goes Faster - Movie Review

Who would like to see a movie with thin plot and no regard for the sanity and logic of its movie audience? Who would like to spend time and money on a movie with nothing else to offer other than impossible car stunts? Oh yeah, WE ALL DO!

Since Dom (Diesel) and Brian's (Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin's empire and left their crew with $100 million, our heroes have scattered across the globe. But their inability to return home and living forever on the lam have left their lives incomplete. Meanwhile, Hobbs (Johnson) has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers across 12 countries, whose mastermind (Evans) is aided by a ruthless second-in-command revealed to be the love Dom thought was dead, Letty (Rodriguez). The only way to stop the criminal outfit is to outmatch them at street level, so Hobbs asks Dom to assemble his elite team in London. Payment? Full pardons for all of them so they can return home and make their families whole again. (via IMDB.com)

The entire Fast and Furious gang is back, the interaction with the characters benefiting from their experiences together. Some acting may be very wooden still, but hey, it's Vin Diesel talking, who cares!

The cinematography at times is a bit shaky, but overall it was satisfying, as it gives the scene its overall feeling of urgency. The script is thin, but the stunts and the set pieces are soo impossible that you can't help it but abandon all logic and simply enjoy the movie.

Reading Challenge Day 8: E. L. James' Fifty Shades of Grey

If you have asked me this three years ago, I may have answered Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. However, for Day 8 of the infamous 30 Day Reading Challenge, I find that the most overrated book ever published is none other than E. L. James' Fifty Shades of Grey.

Ana Steele, a college senior, is swept into a dangerous game of love and sex when she meets the handsome and extremely successful young entrepreneur Christian Grey. However, this wealthy man has many strange fantasies, and Ana reluctantly agrees to fulfill these with him. But is love enough to tame a hungry beast?

I have read the first book of the trilogy just to check what the fuss is all about. And man, it was really a struggle to finish through it. Very dull and poorly written, I think this is the worst book ever published, more so, the worst book to be this popular. It makes the Twilight series look like shining beacon.

I will not waste any more words for this (heck, I wouldn't even bother placing its book cover in this post). But I say this to you. AVOID THIS BOOK. You'll do yourself a great favor.

Reading Challenge Day 7: Sylvia Louise Engdahl's Enchantress from the Stars

There are many underrated books, book that had not gained the attention the material deserves or simply overshadowed by books that are less of quality yet somehow became popular (I am looking at you, Shades of Grey). So for Day 7 of the 30 Day Reading Challenge, the most underrated book for me is Sylvia Louise Engdahl's Enchantress from the Stars.

Elana, a trainee for an advanced civilization called the "Federation", is unfortunately caught in a mission to save a planet from invasion. The tricky part, both Younglings (races of the primitive and their the invaders) must not know that there are more advanced civilizations other than them. So, after dire consequences, she must disguise as an enchantress to guide a young peasant to save his planet. Georyn leads a simple life. But all of that must change when a dragon begins to plague the kingdom he lives in. And in order to defeat the beast, he and his brother turns to an enchantress for help. To medical officer Jarel of the Imperial Forces, the planet Andrecia is a big mystery. Even more when he begins to interact with its people and when he encounters a female specie of the planet, who seems more mysterious than the stars. But in Andrecia, things are not as easy as said, and to gain peace and success, one must make ultimate sacrifices.

Wow. This is one of the first few novels I read early on, and still remains as one of the best I've read. I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't heard of it, as I believe it lacks the attention the book rightfully deserves.

The novel is told in three different perspective of the different level of advancement of the worlds. Elana's narrative focuses with hope, faith and love despite the dangers her people encounters. Georyn's point of view on the other hand is told in a fairy-tale like fashion, as his people believe in dragons and magic. And Jarel's weave all three through his point of view which is full of curiosity and passion.

I read this when I was in high school and never got to see a copy of it in local bookstores. I later learned that this is now out of print. A shame. People ought to read books like this rather than spend time with useless ones. If you see a copy, take it. I promise that you'll have a great time reading it. Or if you are not into reading, sell it to me. I would like to have my copy of the book that taught me that reading is a wondrous thing to do.

Reading Challenge Day 6: Winston M. Estes' Another Part of the House

As Day 6 of the 30 Day Reading Challenge, I am to choose "the book that makes you sad." However, I prefer reading books that are funny and lighthearted and I avoid those melodramatic(and I have genuine hate for those that purposely makes stories sad rather than hopeful). But, if I were to place "makes you sad" into something that is emotionally driven rather than simply "sad",  I remember being devastated reading Winston M. Estes' Another Part of the House.

Narrated in a 10 year old's point of view, Another Part of the House tells a simple, straightforward story of a family living during the Depression. Larry Morrison reflects on the uncertainty the Depression brings to his simple family, his mom, dad and his brother, along with threats brought by his uncle. Though with apprehensions, he is positive that they will pass through it. Until one unexpected tragedy strikes and their unity and strength are tested.

Simply writing about it without giving away too much gives me the chills. Told in a little boy's point of view adds to the innocence and sincerity that Estes would like to convey. The prose is relatable and one can't help it but feel the emotions running though the entire family.

Saying nothing more, if you want to relate to the feels this book gave me, I would highly recommend that you read it.

Runner ups:

• Bob Ong's MACARTHUR - Ong surprised me with this funny, yet emotional depiction of the lives of friends in the slums.
• Erich Segal's Love Story - Love's a hoe and death a big bastard hoarder.
• Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book - growing up is a trap.

Reading Challenge Day 5: Bob Ong's ABNKKBSNPLAKo?!

Day 5 of the 30 Day Reading Challenge is to talk about the book that makes you happy. However, I find it difficult to limit myself, as I enjoyed reading a lot of books and they had made me very satisfied. But as to be more streamlined (and knowing that I still have to discuss 25 more books, I'll probably pick the one least likely, though still being great, to pop out later), I decided to choose one of the books I greatly enjoyed. Bob Ong's ABNKKBSNPLAKo?!

ABNKKBSNPLAKo?! details a Filipino's experiences in education starting from day he still poops at school until he graduates and unwittingly experiences teaching.

Bob Ong is one of the most famous Pinoy writer of this generation, he writes this mock autobiography with such wit and humor that you'll find yourself laughing out loud. The book may be a little preachy at the end, but Ong invests much writing about relatable facts and experiences that the reader would suddenly find agreeing with the narrator's philosophies and beliefs. And though its a prose, Ong's brilliance luminates all throughout the small book.

The demographic of the book are those that are already professionals and had studied in public schools. If you are among the demo, you will surely relate to the narrator and enjoy the situations he's in.  I am not sure if those in private schools can "get" the humor and I would NEVER suggest the book to be read by students (though the young can still enjoy it, its nostalgia that makes the book special for me).

If you haven't read about it, go grab a copy. I promise you, you will greatly enjoy this.

Reading Challenge Day 4: Brother Odd of The Odd Thomas Series

Day 4 of the 30 Day Reading Challenge is supposed to be about the "favorite book of your favorite series" and my favorite from The Odd Thomas series is the first entry. However, I plan to reserve that book for my Day 30 (which is still way too far!). So I chose my second favorite book, the third entry in the series, Brother Odd.

Brother Odd follows Odd Thomas trying to take a break from his hectic life as a mediator of the dead by withdrawing into a convent (and orphanage) at the top of the mountains. He, as he puts it, does not run away from it but simply tries to simplify his complicated life for a while. Everything seems at peace, not until a dead loved one communicate to his through a traumatized orphan. Then everything spirals into darkness and Odd must face an evil as old as time itself.

The premise give much promise after a shaky (and very disturbing and dark) second novel. Here, author Dean Koontz writes with simplicity and lightness, and along with Odd's signature wry humor, that despite the dangers present, one feels hope through the pages. Religion is also a topic here, God's existence in particular. While some writers may dread the idea of tackling the subject, Koontz breezes his way through it.

The sequel also introduces a lot of new colorful and sharply written characters. The monks and the sisters are witty and relatable. Though the villain in this volume can be guessed easily, the danger he presents is very imminent and gives you chills all throughout.

Yes, to be able to appreciate this book, you need to read the first two entries. But I can promise you this, it'll be very very worth it.

Reading Challenge Day 3: The Odd Thomas Series

I enjoy reading books that are with the intentions to have sequels. (Though this is limited to only with definite sequels; Women's Murder Club series, anyone?) You can invest with the characters, learn more about them and develop and mature along with them. With that, I have read a lot of series of books. But for Day 3 of the 30-Day Reading Challenge - "your favorite series", I choose Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas series.

The Odd Thomas series is planned to have seven books (six are already published) and it's about the titular character who can see dead people. By God, Odd tries his best to use his gift to help the lingering move on, however, the world is full of ambitions and many evils that, no matter how he keeps his life simple, Odd is simply pulled into the darkness of humanity.

Yep, it's more of a traditional good vs. evil stories but what makes Odd Thomas special for me is his wry humor, making the best out of dangerous situations he is in. And I guess it helps that he and I has the same philosophies in life (e.g. In one instance, Odd believed that God is optimistic about humanity no matter how evil many had become. Because, if He wasn't, He could have wiped us all up and started all over again. Whatta dude!).

Every book is also filled with colorful characters. Though secondary only to Odd, Koontz's invests many pages for each character that they are drawn full of life and personality. Which pays off greatly.

There is a movie coming out based on the first book, Odd Thomas, and needless to say, I am very very excited. (A shame they are going through some disputes with marketing.) Koontz is very pleased with results and the trailer below looks very promising. Please please be good!




Runner ups:

• Percy Jackson and The Olympians - Percy's sarcasms greatly help
• Hannibal Lecter - Start with Red Dragon and you won't stop reading
• The Hunger Games trilogy - this defined the standards of YA novels, nuff said

Reading Challenge Day 2: Books Read More Than 3 Times

For The Reading Challenge Day 2 - a book that you've read more than 3 times, I chose not to limit myself with only one. I have read many good books, and many deserves a second reading, or a third. Sometimes, to simply relax, I would reread my favorite books. So here they are (in no particular order):

• The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series - yep, I read all 5 books more than three times. Rick Riordan always crack me up with Percy's sarcasm and wry humor. (The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth and The Last Olympian)
• The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins really know where how to place cliffhangers every chapter, that with the goal to read only a portion of her book, you end up reading them entirely again. (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay)
• First 3 books of the Odd Thomas series - Yep, I'm a Dean Koontz fan and I hail Odd Thomas. He is the best fictional character IMO. (Odd Thomas, Forever Odd, Brother Odd)
• Neil Gaiman's Stardust and The Graveyard Book
• Erich Segal's Love Story - yep, a love story yet the first full length novel I read and still enjoy reading.
• The Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney is good and Greg just funny. nuff said. (The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Rodrick Rules, The Last Straw, Dog Days, The Ugly Truth, Cabin Fever)
• Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
• Sylvia Engdahl's Enchantress from the Stars - why this ain't popular is a mystery to me. Great style of story telling with 3 narratives, one fairy tale like, another sci-fi style. A must read, if you see a copy(I don't have one, but I still do my best to find one).

For the Philippine publications:

• Bob Ong's books - (ABNKKBSNPLAKo?!, Bakit Baliktad Magbasa and mga Pilipino, Ang Paboritong Libro ni Judas, Stainless Longganisa, MACARTHUR)
• Trese Series - comics do count, right? Well I have read Budjette Tan's more than 3 times. (Murder on Balete Drive, Unreported Murders, Mass Murders, Last Seen After Midnight, Midnight Tribunal)

If you haven't read them yet, these are recommended. :)

Star Trek Into Darkness and Beyond - Movie Review

Star Trek boldly goes to where the first movie from the reboot didn't, straight to greatness.

When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew. (via IMDB.com)

Although I liked many his shows and few of his movies, I was never a fan of JJ Abrams. The first Star Trek was enjoyable but very restrained, perhaps with the notion that if the said reboot failed, it will unleash the wrath of thousands of fans. But he does perform here with the sequel, taking bold risks. Fair enough, these risks off.

The rapport between the actors and actresses displays on the screen. It shows how much they love working with the others and they approve of the good material. The lines are delivered well and always on cue, making them funny and emotional at the right moment while being genuinely realistic.

The writing is smart yet takes note of those that are new to the franchise, while making references to those who had been fans for decades. A nod to Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof. Yes, there are many plot holes, but who cares about them if the movie is this fun!

The cinematography is UHHmazing. The way Abrams and Dan Mindel (DOP) spins the camera to give us the frantic feeling when The Enterprise simply floats stranded in space or when its tragically falling from the sky.

There are many movies that try to cash in more money by releasing in 3D and many are disappointments. Infact, I almost always discourage people from seeing movies with the added dimension. But Star Trek Into Darkness, I strongly suggest that you see it in digital 3D. If IMAX is available see it in that format. You may shed some extra cash, but trust me, it's all worth it. **** 1/2 out of 5.

Reading Challenge Day 1: Carl Hiaasen's Skinny Dip

As Day 1 of the infamous 30-Day Reading Challenge, I have chosen Carl Hiaasen's Skinny Dip as the "Best Book You Read This Year."

I had been very busy for a couple of months and reading had few opportunities to take my attention, but I could never abandon my love for books. So if I had time to spare, I would grab a book and read away. Unfortunately, I had little thus I had read few books for the past five months (too few in my opinion). And the best among them is Skinny Dip.

Marine Biologist Chaz Perrone forgot that his wife, Joey, was a star swimming athlete when he threw her off a cruise liner. Now the estranged wife seeks revenge, with the help of an ex-cop Mick Stranahan. But in Chaz's world, separating lies from truth and stupidity from brilliance wouldn't be easy, and it doesn't help that Chaz is just plain terrible at being caught.

The plot is formulaic but Hiaasen's words are so smooth that the humor simply breezes through you like fresh air. You will have plenty of laughs from this revenge novel. But if you were to dig deeper, Hiaasen is simply mocking us by going through subjects of ambition, greed, disappointments and vanity. And through beautiful and sharp writing, he lectures while being at his funniest and most entertaining.

The 30-day Challenge I Shall Accomplish!

At the very least I'll try to. (Hey, this ain't a false promise.)

After reading from one of my former student's blog about this 30-Day reading challenge and since I have genuine love for books, I decided that I would like to try this. This'll get my mind off the exhausting task of grading students and give me motivation to continue blogging (which I abandoned four months ago unless you count posts sharing notes and reference. Which may be counted, right? No? Oh okay.)

So here it is! Drum roll please.

And since I am to take this challenge too seriously, I will have my first post coming right up in five. Four. Three. Two. (It's cooler to have countdowns, right? No again? Gotcha.)

Les Misérables: Big Momma of Musical Movies - Love IT or Hate IT

And I hated it.

I always liked watching musical movies, from the abstract representation of events, to the artistic way of storytelling and scripting. Chicago has been one of my favorite movies and Hairspray(remake) is my guilty pleasure movie of all time. However, to be bombarded by a lot of colorful characters, each with their individual story-line that aren't really connected with each other, each with their emotional climax, I found Les Misérables very very very exhausting to watch.

The film tells the story of Jean Valjean(Hugh Jackman), an ex-convict who becomes mayor of a town in France. Soon exposed, Valjean agrees to take care of Cosette(Amanda Seyfried), the illegitimate daughter of a dying Fantine(Anne Hathaway), but as a fugitive must also avoid being captured again by police inspector Javert(Russell Crowe). The plot spans 17 years and is set against a backdrop of political turmoil, which in the film culminates in the June Rebellion of France. (Synopsis from Wikipedia.org)

Based on the musical of the same name, Les Misérables tells the story in 158 minutes of singing and dancing, each line with so much emotional investment from the actors playing their respective roles. The movie would surely fail if not for the acting. Jackman carries the entire movie and plays with conviction while Hathaway surely deserves whatever awards she'll get for the next few months. Redmayne and Barks and the rest of the cast give their minor characters their glory. Of all, in my personal opinion, the weakest would be Crowe as he struggles in comparison with the rest.

The cinematography is a little bit unfocused however, the close ups to the actors during their emotional performances is commendable. The direction seems unguided and looks to me that actors do alot of improvisation(which is good, if not too much). A shame, Tom Hooper(The King's Speech) used to be one of my favorite directors.

The musical numbers are stunning, especially if it goes full blast. While some musical monologue works(Fantine's, Marius' and Eponine's), many just fails(worst is Javert's). The wordings and lyrics are good(maybe thanks to the original musical). However they are scattered throughout a multitude of characters, each about different things, something that may work in a stage play but not in the movies, making the movie feel unfocused and disjointed.

Indeed, Les Mis is a superior musical movie. Many may sing high praises to it. I am just not among them. **1/2 out of four.