Ligo na U, Lapit na Me – Emo ka ba? Pwes basahin mo ito! By Lyn Bungar

Photo courtesy of goodreads.com

Ang akdang ito ni Eros Atalia ang kasa-kasama ko sa mga panahong nagmumuni-muni ako sa mga bagay-bagay sa aking buhay. Isa ito sa dalawang aklat na ibinigay sa akin na hindi ko pa napagtatangkaang buklatin at basahin. Napagpasiyahan kong itigil muna ang pagbabasa ng e-books at bigyang pansin ang mga aklat na nasasalat.

Umikot ang istorya sa lihim na pag-ibig ni Intoy kay Jen na nagsimula lamang sa paglalaro ng dalawa sa apoy. At patuloy pang nagpaikot-ikot sa mga nakakatuwang biro, dayalogo at mga hinuha ni Intoy sa iba’t ibang bagay na may kinalaman sa buhay at walang buhay.

Gumamit ang awtor ng matatalim na salita, bulgar at walang-hiya. Ngunit hindi nakakasugat, nakakagulat ngunit sa huli’y mas nanamnamin at kapapanabikan ang mga salitang bibitawan ng pangunahing tauhan. Mapagbiro ngunit may laman. Nangungusap at hindi basta-basta nagkukuwento lamang. Mapapangiti, maguguluhan at masasabik ka sa mga pakikipagsapalaran ni Intoy sa eskuwelahan, magulang, kapitbahay, kay Jen at sa sarili.

Ang Ligo na U, Lapit na Me ay hindi tulad ng nakasanayan ko nang Pilipinong panitikan noong ako’y nasa hayskul. Dinaan ng awtor sa biro ang mga issue o usapin na ako mismo’y hindi malaman kung seseryosohin ko nga ito o hindi. Ang mga biro ay hindi nagkukubli sa mga salitang nakagawian na o mas tanggap ng nakararami. Imumulat ka nito sa totoong mundo o pangyayari sa pamamagitan ng di mapagpanggap na mga salita.

Kung ikaw ay pinagdaraanan sa buhay na kahit ano pa man, ito ang babasahing para sa iyo (maliban sa banal na salita at encouraging posts sa FB wall mo). Matatawa ka at makakalimutan mo panandalian ang mga sanhi ng iyong kalungkutan sa pamamagitan ng mga problemang ihahain ni Intoy, not to mention ang kanyang mga karanasan sa pagiging ganap na lalaki. Ipapaalala nito na ang buhay ay buhay dahil may pagdurusa, kalungkutan at kasawian. Na may mga tanong at pagtatapos na hindi na dapat hinahanapan ng kasagutan o pagwawakas dahil ang buhay ay patuloy na paglalakbay. Sa kabila nito, sabik akong mabasa ang pangalawang aklat!

Pinapatawan ko ang panulat na ito ni Eros Atalia ng walong tasang latte. At paniguradong mas-aabangan ko pa ang mga akda niya.

A WORLD WHERE CHOOSING IS MIGHT. A review about the book Divergent.

By Love Esios

Oh yeah, I just can't get enough of dystopian novels. Right after I finished the highly-recommended The Hunger Games, I started reading another young adult novel. And yes, it's the first book from Veronica Roth's first ever series, Divergent.

Photo from http://www.beyondhollywood.com

The story shows a dystopian Chicago whose society is divided into five factions: Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Amity (the peaceful), Erudite (the intelligent), and Dauntless (the brave). Teenagers living in this society should choose which faction they want to belong with by the time they reach the age of sixteen, and that's the dilemma Beatrice Prior, the main protagonist, has to face.

I like the concept of the novel. The idea of dividing the people into faction and forcing the teenagers to make their own decisions have caught my attention. Teens are free to choose whatever faction they like to belong to but their choices are very limited. I think Ms. Roth has clearly established the division among people; which is highly ironic if their main reason for creating factions is to maintain peace and harmony among the people.

I am not really knowledgeable in the technicalities of writing a novel but I feel that there were some scenes in this book that were not properly established. It's like it came out of the blue. As the story progressed, it just focused on the training Beatrice has to complete as a member of her chosen faction but apart from that, the highlight of the story which her being Divergent was not really explained clearly. I have expected intense fighting, more conflicts but then the author dwelled more on conversations and emotions rather than action-pack scenes.

Anyway, despite this, I still love some lines like what Four said to Beatrice in one scene: "But becoming fearless isn't the point. That's impossible. It's learning how you control your fear, and how to be free from it, that's the point."

Dystopian lovers, I will just give 6 cups of latte out of 10 for this book but this is still an entertaining book to read. As a matter of fact, I have also read the second book, Insurgent and I'm preparing to read the third and last book Allegiant. So go ahead and release the Divergent in you!

A GAME OF THRONES -- ARE YOU IN? by: Uel Ceballos

"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground." 

If you’re searching for an exciting, action-packed novel with brilliant plot and excellently developed psyche of the characters then Game of Thrones book series is the perfect reading for you. A Game of Thrones is a series of fantasy novels written by George RR Martin. The series is divided in seven books, of which the first five were already released: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance With Dragons.

The story is set in a fictional setting that has a history from long way back. Being a fantasy novel, one would expect the abundance of magic’s presence all throughout the story. Only that beside of being a fantasy novel, the book is also highly political in its genre. The presence of magic is restrained at the start, but it eventually builds up through the progression of the story.

Before you get drawn to its fantasy element, first you will be magnetized to the book’s enthralling features. A Game of Thrones is set in a fictitious location but if you will disregard the unfamiliar sounds of places and terms being used in the book, you will be reminded of the historical periods associated with monarchy, ancient revolution, knighthood, dynasty war, rebellion, feudalism, slavery, and the never ending war for the throne. Without regards to its magical elements, you will almost think that you’re transported right back to that era where the fashion still means doublet, jerkins and gowns in precious silk and velvet -- wherein that idea of time travelling always give a pleasant nostalgia. 

George Martin has unique ways of arranging the flow of sequences, using multiple point of views from different characters (protagonist and antagonist alike) to narrate the events. This kind of treatment encouraged sympathy from the readers,wherein they almost come to the point of confusion on whose characters to favor or to hate, on who’s among them the real protagonist and the antagonist, the real heroes and the true victims. The author has did a great job on establishing the characters that as the readers absorbed much of what had happened on each of them, they are able to see the clearer picture that all of the characters are merely pieces in the big arena; who only got no other choice but to play the game of thrones.

Violence, sex, and ethical dilemma are often flaunted on the story, giving greater emphasizes on human’s innate characteristics. Also, the women empowering elements in the story is undeniably obvious. With the major women characters playing necessary roles, one will surely realize that women must never ever be underestimated. From little Arya to Catelyn, Queen Cersei, Asha, Sansa, Sand Snakes ladies and Daenerys – the book quiet demonstrates the wit, strong will,and excellently hidden power of the women that made them even more dangerous than anyone else in this world. 

More obvious maybe on its political struggle features, but the novel never lacks the romance, humor, drama, and the tragic elements to make the book a successful page-turner! Another remarkable feature on George Martin’s writing is its irregularity and randomness as far as the plot is concerned. The author has broken away to the cliché of novel wherein the major characters or the supposed heroes always remain safe and alive at the end. If you’re already familiar with George Martin’s style, then you should know better than to expect your favorite characters to survive that long up to the end. I have already read the five books and many events already had broken my heart so fiercely. These kinds of Martin’s approach on his writing will bring the books deeper onto your senses; like you were kidnapped from the reality and were transported onto that fiction place, alluring you not to go back any more but just stay and be part of its fantasy world.

Now all the Game of Thrones fans have been waiting so anxiously for the sixth and seventh books to come out after that George RR Martin ended the fifth book, A Dance with Dragons with such cliffhangers! He’s really so good about doing this kind of thing -- leaving his readers in the agony of waiting and anxiety!

So there Game of Thrones followers, let’s drink to it with 10 cups of Latte and wish good health to our dearest George RR Martin so he can finish the books right away!!

TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE ... the final class with Morrie Schwartz by: Uel Ceballos

Photo taken from Wikipedia

It was back to the second year of my college life, on that one lazy afternoon when Yogi Bear, the name we teased to our Intro to Broadcasting professor, entered the classroom with his bearish dimples greeting us. He proceeded to the usual light-hearted discussion, cracking jokes at every half seconds interval and that never fail to uproar the laughter in the class. Ten minutes before the dismissal he announced the book-reading analysis he would require us to submit. The book Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom didn’t sound appealing to me. I wondered if that had something to do with our subject or Yogi Bear was just leaving us something to do while he was commissioned to some far away island for his Press job things; he was a full-time media practitioner and a part-time professor to the poorman’s University. I didn’t get excited about the whole Tuesdays with Morrie project as that seemed to be so dull and boring…well, not after I’ve gone through the first words of Mitch Albom in this must-read masterpiece of him: 

“The last class of my old professor’s life took place once a week in his house, by a window in the study where he could watch a small hibiscus plant shed its pink leaves. The class met on Tuesdays. It began after breakfast. The subject was the meaning of Life. It was taught from the experience.” –Mitch Albom

Tuesdays with Morrie was the story of a young man (Mitch) reunited with his old professor (Morrie) after long years of separation and lost contact. So intent was the dying old man to prove that the word “dying” was not synonymous with “useless”, that he made this final project with Mitch, narrating the trip as he crossed the bridge from life to death. On their reunion, the professor and the student came up with this final thesis about life’s greatest lesson. The impact didn’t affect Mitch alone but all the readers who got to know Morrie Schwartz through this beautifully written novel. The book inspired many souls especially those who have walked around for the purpose only of existing; spending their life in meaningless, light-speed pace. Indeed, to sit in Morrie Schwartz’s final class was a life-changing experience.

“Don’t let go too soon, but don’t hang on too long.” –Morrie Schwartz

When I read the chapter of Morries’ final goodbye, I was deeply moved. Suddenly I felt sad about the final class of the old professor going to an end. His life was never wasted anyway; he had lived life to the fullest and had given us profound wisdom and insight. The book is an incomparable treasure that leaves you forever warmed by its heartfelt message.  

“Be compassionate, and take responsibility for each other. If we only learned those lessons, the world would be so much better a place.”

Morrie’s wisdom continuously echoes on me and I would let it echo in my heart and soul for the rest of my life. I was very grateful to Yogi Bear for requiring us to read Tuesdays with Morrie -- this book is what I considered to be the most important lesson that he had imparted to us.

I know that it is still a long journey ahead of me, but I’m starting now to cross the bridge from “existing in life” to “living the life”.  The final lecture with Professor Morrie Schwartz was very memorable and life-inspiring.  I suggest you also take the same class. 

FANTASY LOVER - “It was exciting on some part. Not the kind of book that I will bury myself and finish in one sitting.” By Lyn Bungar

Photo courtesy of www.audioeditions.com

The title pretty much says what the book is all about – FANTASY LOVER. I classified it as a romantic/erotic novel. It is about an ex Spartan general and a half man half god, Julian of Macedonia who was cursed to live inside a book for eternity until a summoner called for him to be their boy-toy for thirty days. It was Priapus (brother of Julian) who put him in such damnation after he found out that he had slept with his woman.

Julian was every woman's dream. His physical attributes were indescribable. I was convinced that no such man exists in real life. He had been inside the book for over two thousand years until Grace, a sex therapist, summoned him with the help of her friend Selena, a tarot card reader/psychic. Selena was so desperate for her friend to sleep with a man, reason why she came up with the idea of Grace summoning Julian from the book. Grace has not been with a man for quite some time because of her experienced with her ex lover Paul. She finally gave in to Selena’s persuasion knowing that it was all a joke and that it wouldn't do her any harm.

There are parts on the book that caught my attention but some were not enough on getting me excited to go through the pages.  I liked Selena’s eagerness on finding her friend a mate, and the idea of Greek gods and goddesses interacting with mortals in the twenty first century were very interesting. There were lots of sexual tension between Julian and Grace. It was simply and beautifully written by the author. It was so vivid, like I was watching the action on-screen. But as I went through the book, it became predictable. The feeling of excitement occurred, vanished and appeared again. My emotions got to lose somewhere. I thought that the feeling will be redeemed by the most anticipated love scene that will free Julian, but I was a bit disappointed. I compared it to a friend of mine who told me stories with no climax. I was not so happy with Priapus and Aphrodite’s (mother of Julian) envy and selfishness that made Julian suffered a lot. It did not make sense to me at all. Thanks to the very unrealistic character of Grace, who happened to be a sex therapist yet unable to fathom her feelings toward men, Julian was freed from malediction. The story of Rodney, a madman and Grace’s stalker confused me. It didn’t blend well with the whole story, at least for me. The author should have concentrated with the Greek gods and goddesses turmoils. The ending was a disaster! Their love story was immature.

I would give 2-3 cups of latte for this book as I was entertained on some parts and the story started really well. But hey! The book was not bad at all. You might want to give it a try :)