Time Traveler’s Wife
A favorite book by Audrey Niffenegger.
This is not your typical love story.The book talks about how one’s love can really stand the ultimate test of time. Claire Abshire found her soul mate in Henry DeTamble - a man he knew when she was still a child. She is an ordinary girl, and he is not; but attraction and destiny conspired to make their love story come true. Henry, the man Claire admired when she was still 6 year old and loved even more throughout her fading life, time travels. Claire fell deeply in love and managed to live with a husband who seldom lives in the now and occasionally goes back to the past and travels to the future. They shared a great love that allowed them to overcome every distress, nightmare, and sorrow in every single test of time.
Although the book generally gives the reader a heart-rending end, the excitement of love and the joy of loving are always present in almost every page. Definitely this is a book a true lover should read; and this is a story for every one who has loved, been loved, wanted to love and still loving.
This favorite love story will be on film this year according to the Internet Movie Database and will star Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana as Claire and Henry. Grab you copy of Time Traveler’s Wife and let yourself enjoy the thrill and happiness love brings.
Tuesdays with Morrie
Tuesdays with Morrie is a book written by Mitch Albom, the same author for “5 People You Meet in Heaven.”
I believe this has long been released but it was only a year ago when I got the chance to read it. I have heard about it from friends who just love the book and I thought maybe it is really worth reading because of the feedback.
The story is about the author who was already successful and yet he is feeling empty. He was watching the news one night and there he learned that his former professor, Morrie, was suffering from a serious illness. He then decided to pay him a visit and that day changed his life.
Mitch regularly visited Morrie and once again, he was a student who had a lot to learn about life in general. This story really touched my heart and I came to realize a lot of important things. It just means that no matter how successful one can get, if there are still questions unanswered, if one forgets to see beyond all the material things, success and fortune are useless. This book is a must-read and it will make us look at life at a different perspective.
Life’s Little Instruction Book
511 suggestions, observations, and reminders on how to live a happy and rewarding life.
by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was written more than 2 decades ago… yet it’s wisdom still holds true. It’s like the modern version of the Book of Proverbs in the Bible. Some instructions may be so simple and so… common sense. But sometimes, we overlook the little details, the more important ones, on how live and get more of life.. and this book serves its purpose. As a little reminder for us.
From childhood to adult
My father became my biggest influence when it comes to reading books. I started with picture books and when I learned how to read he’d buy me lots of “Lady Bug” books. It’s actually a fairy tale book with huge texts - just for kids (and young-at-heart too!).
He would teach me the right way on how to pronounce a word that I’m not familiar with and explain what it means. When I reached the age of 8 or 9, I started collecting from read-it-yourself books to Archie Comics. It’s my fave of all time! My bookshelves are full of digest and double digest + my “Lady Bug” books. 
During my “tweener” years, I ditched my “Lady Bug” books for Nancy Drew and my long time ago favorite author - Francine Pascal with its Sweet Valley Kids. It’s saga continues to Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley High. I even watched its TV series. Hehe!
I also adore reading R.L. Stine’s Fear Street and Goosebumps (also the TV series!) which later on advanced to a more high-level spine-tingling books of Stephen King.
It became an advantage to be fascinated with books at such a young age. I will definitely introduce and encourage my son to read books too.
Harry Potter Fanatic
I so love Harry Potter. Although I was like a late bloomer because I only got to read the first book back in 2002. I have heard about it before and the controversy that surrounded it when religious groups have protested saying that it’s a book about witchcraft but I got to read it when I was out on a team building activity.
The first book got me hooked and the week after that, I bought the paperback set of books 1 to 4. Since then, I got hooked and have read the books a hundred times that I have memorized it all by heart.
I was one of the millions of people around the world who waited excitedly for the release of book 5, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I have visited fan sites dedicated to Harry Potter to update myself on the goings on about the book. Before its release, I even got hold of book pretending to be the real one only to find out that it was just fan fiction. Anyway, it was a good read too and for a while I got preoccupied reading it.
By the time Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was out, I was so happy because major things unfolded and even a very tragic death that up to now, when I think of it, I still get sad.
Finally, the time came for the release of the 7th and last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It was bittersweet for me. It was hard to accept that there are no more books to look forward to in the future. The journey of the Harry, Ron and Hermione have come to an end; it was time to say gooodbye to the characters I have grown to love through all of these years.
I heard J.K. Rowling has plans of releasing another book related to the series. That’s good news for me but I wish that she won’t stop sharing Harry’s stories. Well, I know it’s not going to happen but definitely the legacy of the book will forever be remembered and I will continue to read the trio’s adventures in the many years to come.
ABNKKBSNPLAko?!
if you’re pinoy or understands tagalog text lingo you’ll immediately get the gist. in full tagalog it says “aba nakakabasa na pala ako?!” for foreign readers out there it may be translated as “oh! i can already read?!”
catchy line, eh? actually it’s the title of one of my favorite books by one of my favorite pinoy authors. bob ong. he never fails to amaze me with his wit. it’s funny how he takes you back to the good old days when we still smell those sweet-scented gum erasers and think that they are the best treasures in the world. yup. that’s how life was before. uncomplicated. yet quite fulfilling too. somehow, we find ourselves, incorporated in those stories. like it’s your own story too. and that’s what makes it an endearingly good book to read.
Little Women
Early this year, a local channel here aired Little Women, the cartoon series. It was dubbed in our native tongue to cater to children who watch shows in the morning. I really took the time to watch it every day as I am able to relive the book as well. It was quite a good adaptation and it stayed true to the book which I would definitely know since it is one of my all-time favorites.
The story centered on the March Family especially the daughters. They are Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Each character is distinct but lovable anyway. Among the sisters, I have identified with Jo as I was a bit tomboyish too when I was growing up. Meg was very lady-like, Beth, the loving sister, and Amy, the youngest and who was always in a hurry to grow up and join her elder sisters in parties.
They became friends with Laurie who was a wealthy young man. He lived on the big house next door and as time went by, the sisters also became close with Mr. Laurence, Laurie’s grandfather. During those times, the March family was considered poor. Their father was off to war and their mother was the only one left to raise them. There were difficult times but they managed to overcome the problems and remained hopeful.
Of course there’s a happy ending. Father March came home, Beth recuperated from her illness, Meg fell in love with Laurie’s tutor, Jo published her book, and Amy learned to be unselfish.
It might be a simple story but it was full of values and lessons to be learned. I’m far from being a kid but I would definitely read it again only if I can find my copy.
Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr.
Back in college, I studied Journalism. We were required to buy the Elements of Style as reference that we can use not only during school but for everyday use as well.
I remember it as a tiny book and it’s not thick either. More like a paperback romance novel that I used to buy during my teenage years. However, small as it is, it had a great impact on my life. It’s content and advice is straightforward. Something easy to remember not just for journalists but for every conscientious writer. It’s a must-have to put it simply.
Mr. Strunk gave emphasis on the rules of usage and principles of composition most commonly violated. He also included words and expressions commonly misused and those that have been misspelled.
This book has really served as a guide for me as I learned how to correctly use words that I have unknowingly misused. Up to now, I have kept my copy and still read it from time to time to brush up my knowledge. It has been published back in 1999 but definitely, it’s something that will apply to all generations to come.
Tuesdays With Morrie
this was chosen to be our book report when we had our death and dying module. i really like this book. it shows the relationship between a mentor and a student, how they both struggled with grief and finally overcoming it. it reminds us of those mentors who made a great impact in our lives.
the lessons that morrie taught his pupil was priceless. insights about life and how to live it fully are the main perks of this book. i say it’s heartfully touching.
Cell
I think this is Stephen King’s best novel ever. Cell starts out on an ordinary day. All sorts of people are talking away on their cell phones when all of a sudden, people start going berzerk. Their brains are somehow wiped and only the basest of human instincts are left, anger. Groups of people who have not been affected by the cell phones start traveling, trying to find safe places.
The ones who have been affected work together and herd the others to stations that are being set up across the country. Their plan is to make everyone else listen to a message on cell phones, a message that will wipe their brains and reprogram it. A small group of survivors find a way to stop them but not with out repercussions. This novel is sometimes classified as a zombie book, I guess because they seem to have no will of their own and only base instincts.