Book Rhapsody
Angus is a Celtic god, and if I were him, I might want to be Norse – Mythology by Edith Hamilton
Of course, Edith Hamilton did not write the Greek, Roman, and Norse mythologies. It’s appropriate to say that this book is her retelling of these mythologies, a sort of idiot’s guide. A glossary, even, of mythological characters. If it weren’t for her, would we be able to go through Iliad and Odyssey? We could, but [...]
Book Shelf
The Last of Last Year, the First of This Year
I was becoming pretty desperate for the past few days because I haven’t been able to buy any book. I am not one of those people who are resolving to cut down their expenses by controlling their urges to go book hoarding. Kudos to them! I know it takes a lot to do that, and [...]
Currently Reading
Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie
Date Started: December 19, 2011. 6 AM. Seriously. I started reading this the moment I woke up. Well, the rotten truth is that I started reading this the night before, but the words were just passing through my eyes. I couldn’t get anything, so I figured I should stop, sleep, and restart the next day. [...]
Diaries
Will they screw each other? – 2666 Diaries, I
The Part about the Critics Yes. It’s literally a diary. Wait. I’d rather call it a reading journal. It’s one of the things I resolved to maintain this year. If I can’t quit smoking or oversleeping, maybe I can do this. And never mind the handwriting. It sucks, and I have the temerity to flaunt [...]
Quarterly Rhapsody
Quarterly Rhapsody: Reading Plans
I love plans. Rather, I love plans but I am not crazy about executing them. But really, it depends on the plan that is being planned. There are different types of it, like a fire escape plan. It’s something that most employees must have had to drill with, but really, can people even go with [...]
Reading Plans
Books To Read: January 2012
Welcome 2012! Welcome new books! Welcome everyone! For my loyal visitors, which are at least three, you surely have noticed the new look of my blog. It’s out of my OC-ness. New year, new everything. And I’m introducing a new category here, the Reading Plans. A post under this is basically about the books that [...]
The Noble Nobel Project
The Noble Nobel Project
The Nobel Prize in Literature is the highest award that a writer may aspire in his lifetime. Unlike the Pulitzers, the Bookers, and others, this is awarded annually to any writer from any country. It is not solely based on a single work. Yes, individual works may be cited, but still, the body of work, [...]
Whatnot
Happy Bloggy Birthday
Or Happy Bloggiversary. Or is it Bloggaversary? Either way, it sounds bad, so I’ll stick with Happy Birthday. But really, today is not BR’s birthday. If you really want to know, this blog died and was just resurrected last year, January 7, 2011, with a comeback post regarding Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Apt [...]
More Articles
The Forsyte Saga – John Galsworthy
Who bought it: Me. What is it: A family saga, a social satire, this is actually three novels with two interludes. So you can only imagine how thick my edition is. Not as thick as War and Peace, but it passes my qualification for a reading diary. When: December 3, 2011 Where: Book Sale – [...]
The Alexandria Quartet – Lawrence Durrell
Who bought it: Me. What is it: I seriously never bothered to know what this series is all about. All I know is that it’s a story told in four perspectives, each in its own volume. When: November 30, 2011 Where: Book Sale – SM Megamall Why: Truth is, I already have all yet different [...]
The Eighth Day – Thornton Wilder
Who bought it: Me. What is it: Someone killed his best friend. This someone was sentenced to death. And this someone was helped by some guys to escape. And the novel unfolds, I suppose. Having read a Wilder book before, this should be interesting. When: November 30, 2011 Where: Book Sale – SM Megamall Why: [...]
Out Stealing Horses – Per Petterson
Who bought it: Me. What is it: It looks like a protagonist looking back at his life, which is triggered when the protagonist, an old man, goes out for a walk. When: November 30, 2011 Where: Book Sale – SM Megamall Why: An IMPAC winner. How much: Php 115.00
Cold Mountain – Charles Frazier
Who bought it: Me. What is it: I always thought that this novel is all about farming and walking. And farming and walking. And more farming and walking. An online bookish friend confirmed, but stressed that it is poetic farming and walking. When: November 28, 2011 Where: Book Sale – Makati Square Why: I already [...]
The News From Paraguay – Lily Tuck
Who bought it: Me. What is it: A courtesan lives with a future Paraguayan dictator and sees the destruction, and probably the building, of Paraguay. When: November 28, 2011 Where: Book Sale – Makati Square Why: A National Book Award winner. And the title reminds me so much of one of my favorite Miss Universe [...]
Kafka On The Shore – Haruki Murakami
Who bought it: Another one given by Van. What is it: Not about Kafka the writer, but it is about Kafka, a teenager who is both escaping an omen and searching for his family. When: November 26, 2011 Where: The price tag says it was bought at National Book Store. Why: I’ve never read anything [...]
A Clockwork Orange – Anthony Burgess
Who bought it: Given by Van. What is it: An ultra-violent teenager rampaging the day for violent thrills. When: November 26, 2011 Where: The price tag says it was bought at National Book Store. Why: I’ve always wanted to buy this book, but it’s ridiculously expensive for something that doesn’t even pass the 200-page mark. [...]
Baltasar and Blimunda – José Saramago
Who bought it: Me. What is it: An adulterous friar, a sadistic prince, the terrors of the Inquisition, and a love story. A lot seems to be going on, but I’m sure my grandfather executed this very well. When: November 25, 2011 Where: Book Sale – SM Mall of Asia Why: I buy anything written [...]
