Insurgent

Brilliant, shocker, mind-boggling greatness! Let’s say that Divergent is cool and this sequel—to the awesome Roth’s Dystopian series—Insurgent is solid ice.

The characters and the story line couldn’t get any better. Roth nailed every theme this book has, especially on the twisted betrayals and I must admit, cutie-patootie young love of the two main protagonists (sorry, I just love Four’s attitude)

Insurgent flashed different sides, both the pros and cons, of the series. The strength of the factions, their inner weakness. The capacities of characters against simulations and what would literally kill them hard. The war and bloodiness were spread out in the story nicely, making me appreciate the action-packed, bullet-raining, fist fighting scenes.

As for the ending, I thought Catching Fire was the best Cliffhanger for my 2012 reads but yeah, that “surname” thing. That effin’ surname thing, was the atomic bomb of ‘em all. Can’t wait to know what’s next for the Dauntless and all.

Rating: ★★★★★

Eleven Minutes

Interesting and intriguing. Wonderful piece with philosophical takes on love, sex, freedom, adventure, suffering, loneliness and searching for genuine desire that’ll make you whole.

I adored Coelho more after finishing this piece, for t’was filled with convincingly inspirational content despite its explicit and sensitive subject—Prostitution. The aforementioned subject has been given a highlight of “what’s beneath the skin of that industry” approach, making it less obscene, and fairer for the people involved in it. The novel touched on the topic of sex, sadism and masochism, too; In a greatly acceptable way than FSOG did. There’s the respect and meaning in its vulgarity.

Eleven Minutes showcased that life is a roller coaster ride, you’re in it to experience fun that includes the ups and downs and the turnarounds. Maria, the main protagonist, had her share of a fairy-tale ride from her simple aspirations in life, to the taste of bitter and sour challenges and having that sweet high of finding love in an unexpected moment.

Thumbs up for this read with authenticity and inner light.

*photo not mine, obviously.

Rating:★★★★★

Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo?: At Iba Pang Technique Kung Paano Makaka-Move On sa Wasak na Puso

The Internet Action Star’s nakakaaliw to the max, must-read book. Strangebrew days pa lang ay fan na ako ni Ramon Bautista. Hindi man siya kasing macho ng mga tinitilian niyong pamintang hunks pero utak pa lang ni Sir RB, pasok na pasok na sa banga. ‘Pag nginitian ka pa, ay nako, ‘yun na!

Ang Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo? ay isang magandang guide tungkol sa pag-ibig at awesome life para sa mga single, taken, broken, NBSB, pa-virgin, ‘di na virgin at sa lahat ng mga gumagamit ng tatlong decision making bodies: Utak, Puso, at Bird.

Puno ng sense at hitik sa wittiness ang mga sagot ni Ramon Bautista sa mga nagtatanong sakanya o humihingi ng advice. Lakas maka-nostalgia nung ibang larawan sa libro, lalo na ‘yung mga 5 years ago (or older) pa ata. Ang mga quotes na nakasaad ay isa ding eye-opener sa mga abangers na wala sa lugar at mga boyet at girlie na dapat nang tumigil sakanilang pagiging tanga irresponsibly.

Ito ‘yung tipo ng librong pwede mong basahin ng ulit-ulit, para sumaya o magpalipas oras. Parang encyclopedia na pag bigla mong kailangan ng payo out-of-the-blue eh pwede mong buklatin. Tawagin mo na akong bias dahil sa rating ko pero So what?! I enjoyed it eh! Walang basagan ng trip!

P.S. Signed copy ‘yan :P

Rating: ★★★★★

Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin

Pink book. Ika-Siyam. Itsurang pocket book ngunit malayo sa ibinibigay nitong impresyon. Isang taon na ang nakalipas mula nung binili ko ang librong ito at ngayon lang (oo, ganun katagal) ako nagkaro’n ng matinding kuryosidad para ito’y basahin.

Script type ang pagkakasulat. Talaga namang may bagong pakulo si/sina Ong para sa mga mambabasa niya. Tatlong kwentong isinasalamin kung gaano ka-tipikal, napag-iwanan at malapit na sa basura karamihan ng mga blockbuster at mainstream films na ipinapalabas ngayon sa silver screen.

Oo nga naman. Hindi na naka-move on ang ilan sa lumang pisikal na pagpapatawa. Walang may gusto pagka namatay ang bida. Hindi cool ang isang bagay pag marami nang may alam/nahuhumaling dito. Napakawalang saysay man ng existence ng mga hosts sa isang show eh pinapanuod pa rin natin ito. Bakit? Kasi wala tayong choice, kasi nasanay na, kasi akala nila.. lahat na lang ng binebentahan nila ng materyal eh average ang pag-iisip.

Isa akong panatiko ni Bob Ong, mula Grade 5 ay binabasa ko na ang mga akda niya at habang tumatagal, mas nagiging creative ang pagbabahagi niya ang isang kaakibat na malalim na mensahe sa likod ng pagpapatawa at kakwelahan ng mga linya.

Ang librong ito ay kwela at eye-opener sa mga taong na-stuck sa mediocrity ng ilang pelikulang Pinoy. Buti nga ngayo’t umuusbong ang indie films, na hamak may kwento, tunay na aral, at puso (hindi perang hinahabol) para sa mga manunuod. Nagustuhan ko dahil sa palabok ng sarcasm at tadyak ng mapait na katotohanan. Isang improvement ito mula sa nakaraan niyang librong parang pilit lang.

Rating: ★★★★★

Divergent

Fast-paced Dystopian novel that involves awesome factions, heart-pounding action, intense training and pushy mind games. It’s hard to turn down the book for every chapter ended with something that needs continuation immediately.

Tris/Beatrice resembles that of Katniss Everdeen’s way of thinking. THG and Divergent were both in the same genre so I wouldn’t question the parallelism of their attitudes and values. Four/Tobias was easy to adore. So are the other supporting characters I’ll leave up to you to read. The setting was indeed futuristic and daring. The training they went through (initiates) was harsh and a bit gory, makes me love the fights and angst even more. Hell yeah, bravery!

Veronica Roth let her readers ride in a roller coaster of emotions and human nature. The five factions represent most of the personalities people has, though in reality, we’re all divergent and it’ll be up to us which characteristic will rise above all (Dauntless, Erudite, Amity, Abnegation or Candor.)

I can’t wait to read Insurgent. Wooh!

Rating: ★★★★★

Animal Farm

Strong political views. One of those books I wish crappy politicians and corrupt officials have comprehensively read.

George Orwell managed to put the characters’ personalities into the exact animal being they should be. Though the book has been written decades ago, the system of “Animal Farm” is still easy to relate in the present time. The double meaning attacks of bitter truth quotations and eye-opener lines of realizations when it comes to power corrupting and freedom deprivation are thought provoking.

I truly appreciate the way the book has ended, the last paragraph was the bomb! Animal Farm is a book holistically embraced with sense. A rare find it is (satirical fable!), recommended for all ages like seriously.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Life of Pi

Out-of-the-box story of survival. Life of Pi is a bold and courageous adventure of an Indian boy—practicing three religions (Hindu, Muslim, Catholic)—facing the survival challenge in the middle of the sea with a Bengal Tiger as his company. How rare is that, huh?

The first chapter of the book was an obstacle I really worked hard to overcome (took me months, srsly.) But by the time Yann Martel let Pi and Richard Parker (the Bengal Tiger) afloat into the sea, my interest in the book and its potential started to heighten up. As a reader, you’ll learn a lot about animals and their nature, religion, survival tips and techniques, and new perspectives in life’s philosophy.

The very twist of the book caught me off-guard. It’s like Inception, it’s up to your imagination and way of thinking what kind of story you want to settle for. And before I forget, Manila was mentioned couple of times, too. Just to boost up your #NoypiPrideJuices :P

Rating: ★★★★☆

The Fault In Our Stars

Exquisitely honest. Grand setting. Prevailing set of prose about love, life and death.

Cancer-themed novels are usually stereotyped as cliche dramatic and whatnot; Well, TFIOS is indeed a tear-jerker but it’s way too strong and natural to be shelved as one. I’m not gonna lie, I shed damn tears while reading this one.

Characters as always, fitted their shoes perfectly. Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters’ journey and battle against the side effects of dying and the “strong will to live of cancer” is moving. The setting, as what I stated, is breathtaking. One of the best YA page-turner I’ve encountered.

John Green knows how to stitch a novel flawlessly with firepower words and pace. To be hooked and be taken away by Green’s novels is simply inevitable. The Fault In Our Stars is definitely a magnetic, universal read. Hands down!

Rating: ★★★★★

Lullaby

Tragic arguments. Power grabbing. Spell addicts. Lovely details from blood-bathed faces to absence of death struggle.

The story revolves around The Culling Song, a supposedly Lullaby that turns out to be a killer chant. There were a lot of facts handed out again. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cause is indeed unknown or of idiopathic type and I was brought with amazement with the way Palahniuk related it to the fatal lullaby.

Chuck Palahniuk’s dark humor and narration is potent and compelling. Those hard punched double meaning phrases. Paragraphs with deep connotation of how our society’s been turned into fastfood bullcrap. Necrophilia, witches, writer problems, etc.

The key to forgetting the big picture is looking at it close-up. Another fascinating Palahniuk read, would be close to perfect if dull moments would be deducted.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Fifty Shades of Grey

~*Bestseller*~ Erotic Fanfiction. Over-the-top handsome male protagonist. Average clumsy female narrator. Make love. F hard. Err Err Err. Oh how I wish E.L. James would be more generous regarding her choice of words. Repetitive adjectives and expressions combined with same BDSM scenes and conflicts just won’t work out the slow pace the book already has.

I tried giving FSOG a chance.. tried so “hard” as what Christian Grey would utter. But no. Passing by the first 100 pages or so and not getting some signal that there would be more than what it “obviously” offers is just a bad sign.

It may be a good book for some but I can’t spot a reasonable view to improve my rating of this book (lone star means “didn’t like it”.) The hype and the intriguing theme ain’t enough to get me hooked with Grey and whatnot. Some say the next two books of this trilogy are better. I’m still thinking about continuing though.

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆