Book Review: NERVE

I was already midway into reading "Nerve" when I saw the movie adaptation starring Emma Roberts and Dave Franco (movie review here) and I could already tell that the movie was actually better than the book. For one thing, the dares were a lot more exciting, for another the movie has a better ending than the book. Which is saying a lot considering that it was the movie' sending that I had the most issues with. 

Before I get carried away, let's start at the beginning shall we? 

Jeanne Ryan's "Nerve" opens with a prologue which is narrated by a character we never really meet in the story,  it's one other former Nerve players on the run, looking for some peace and quiet in a park only to be harassed by what seems to be a deranged fan of sorts. The prologue then ends abruptly and we don't really know what happens to the girl-is this a foreshadowing of what is to happen to our heroine? 

Chapter One - we meet said heroine, Vee "the girl behind the curtain" (no, it's nothing like a Stieg Larsson book) who plays second fiddle to her best friend Sydney. While Vee sticks to the backstage as a make-up artist, Sydney is the star of the show. She's beautiful, confident and popular, things which Vee can only dream of. 

After feeling that Sydney betrayed her, Vee decides to join NERVE, an online game which has players perform dares for prizes and money. Which is different in the movie, since playing Nerve requires you to choose from being a player or a watcher, in the book, you're just a player. 

What follows next us basically the same plot for both the book and the movie, where Vee performs a number of dares and is paired off with the handsome and myseterious Ian, played by Dave Franco in the movie. Ian is given more depth in the movie, as his story ties in the main plot of the film. 

The downfall of the book, for me is during the finals of the Nerve games, which feels a lot like "The Hunger Games" as they introduce new characters that Vee and Ian have to "beat" in order to win their prizes. What follows is a boring stand off and yet another take on a scene from "The Hunger Games". 

I'm really glad that the screen writers stayed away from The Hunger Games similarities.

The ending of the book? Is even worse than the movie, if you can imagine. So should you read the book to appreciate the movie? No. Just go on and watch the movie. This is just a 1.5 out of 5 for me. 

Book Review: The Girl on the Train

I became interested with "The Girl On The Train" when I first saw the trailer online. I loved Emily Blunt in "SICARIO" and seeing her in another suspence thriller definitely caught my interest. 

Criticis have been calling "The Girl On The Train" as the next "Gone Girl" and while I have yet to read Gillian Flynn's novel, the movie has become a cult culture phenomenon, the nightmare of every modern day marriage. (Thank you David Fincher!)

So I had so much expectations as I started to read Paula Hawkins' "The Girl On The Train", which is about Rachel, a middle-aged divorcee coping with being cheated on her husband with alcohol; a lot of it actually. 

Rachel spends her days traveling in and out of the city on the train, sometimes she'd have a small bottle of alcohol in her bag, other times shed actually make it to a pub for a few-err a lot of drinks. This has been Rachel's daily routine, even after she lost her job after an outburst at work, while intoxicated. 

Emily Blunt as Rachel. 

Rachel has been pretending to still be going to work for the sake of appearances since she has moved in with an old college friend. 

During Rachel's daily commute she has become obsessed with a young couple, whose life she sees as perfect. Every day, Rachel would spy on their house, as she passed it on her daily train rides. From their she would imagine the epitome of a happy marriage, just like the one she lost.

Rachel's world turns upside down when "Jess" the beautiful blonde in her ideal couple goes missing. 

Rachel swears she saw "Jess" the night she dissapered but then she's not sure, nor could she recall the details of that night clearly. Did she have a few drinks that night? Was she actually sober enough to remember accurate and vital information that could save a life? 

"The Girl On The Train" goes through a rotation of narrators, who are all characters in this "who-did-it" tale, surrounded by modern marital woes. The timeline does not follow the traditional linear one and this effectively pulls the reader into the mystery and intrigue of the story. 

Check out the trailer! 

I remember in my High School English, we used to study the tragic heroes of Greek. Mythology and of William Shakespeare and I can't help to think that the women of "The Girl On The Train" are the same, tragic characters whose daily lives have become empty and miserable because of the choices that they made. The irony of it all is that there are people who are cruel enough to take advantage of this weakness for their own personal gain. 

I must admit that it was hard to feel sorry for the women in the book, in fact I actually hated them. I know that "hate" is a strong word but that's how I really felt toward them. It was hard to read through the misery the characters were going through but that surprise twist towards the end made it all worth it. 

3/5 "The Girl On The Train" is another tale where "there really is more than meets the eye" and that even the most mundane and ordinary people can be hiding deep, dark secrets you can never imagine. 

The movie adaptation, starring Emily Blunt is slated for release in October 5, 2016 in the Philippines. Movie Review here! 

Book Review: Me Before You

So I finally found the time to write a book review for Jojo Moyes "Me Before You". I actually finished reading the book during my four day stay in the hospital due to Cholelithiasis, (in hindsight, reading the book, while in the hospital was probably not a good idea given that one of the main characters in the book was a C5-6 quadriplegic) the review was delayed due to the many movie releases + Paul's birthday celebration. Now that "Civil War" is released, I'd better get this review out before "X-Men: Apocalypse" comes out. 

I only found out about "Me Before You" due to the movie's trailer, I was immediately sold with Emilia Clarke in the role, along with Sam Claflin. Who wouldn't? I'm a big Daenerys fan and Sam Claflin is gorgeous. I always thought that his other romantic movie "Love Rosie" with the equally gorgeous Lilly Collins was unmercifully dragging and nauseating. Hopefully, things will be different with the movie adaptation of "Me Before You" 

The trailer in itself was enough to get me to start reading the book, but I also saw lots of recommendations and approval and excitement on the upcoming movie from online friends, who have already read the book, so it was a no brainer to start reading. 

At first glance, "Me Before You" is a predictable love story, or at least the part where pretty, quirky employee falls in love with rich and handsome (yes, it seems to be a prerequisite) employer. But that's where the predictability ends.

The book opens with a quick glance at Will Traynor's exciting life, living in a high end apartment, a successful career, a beautiful girlfriend. He seems to have it all, until an accident leaves him as a quadriplegic, confined to a wheelchair. 

Two years later, we meet 26 year old Lousia (Emilia Clarke) fondly called "Lou" by her tight knit middle class family who is satisfied with her waitressing job in a local cafe but is suddenly at a loss when she loses this specific job. After going through various occupations at the Job Center (one of them was processing chicken carcass) Lou is employed as a caretaker/companion for Will. 

Taking on the job because of the high pay, (her family really needs the money), Lou struggles with the cold and cynical Will, even her bright and shiny demeanor can't seem to pierce through Will's fortified walls, as he keeps to himself and shuts Lou out. The ever feisty Lou, takes it upon herself to give Will something to live for; the task becoming even more pressing with a deadline shadowing over the unsuspecting pair. Lou discovers that Will has decided to (Spoiler Alert. Stop reading if you do not wish to be spoiled. You have been warned. Last chance.)

-a clinic in Sweden that offers "Assisted Suicide". Okay, so this is the part in the book that takes all "love story cliches" out the window. I was really surprised that Moyes was gutsy enough to tackle such a controversial topic (in a romantic novel, none the less) and this is where readers may have some different opinions. I grew up in a very Catholic household, married into one and spent my whole scholary years in Catholic schools but as a Nurse by profession (yes, this is true) I'm really on the fence about this. 

And so does every character in the book, it seems. As Will's decision leaves his family and Lou, confused and devasted (even Lou's family gets in the mix). Can Lou convince Will to scrap Sweden and continue on living-even if it means being trapped in his chair, unable to be his well travelled adventurous self? 

The book takes on a deep and comprehensive dive in the quadriplegic community, which I must applaud was very informative and interesting. It was a refreshing read and I really learned a lot. 

The very British novel, has a simple enough narrative that is easy to read and follow, nothing poetic but the themes and the thoughts that they provoke are very deep and make you think and reflect on the choices that the different characters make in the story. 

3.8 out of 5 stars. Bring out the tissue for this one. 

Can I just take this space to say another reason that I'm looking forward to the film is the music! 

Some of my favorite bands will be contributing to the soundtrack of the film, The 1975 and Imagine Dragons so Yehey!!! 

“Me Before You” is a presentation of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM). Set for release across the Philippines on June 15, 2016, it will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.

The 5th Wave Book Review

The first time I encountered "The 5th Wave" was through the movie's trailer and my first thought was 'Chloe Grace Moretz versus an Alien invasion?!' You could say that my interest was ticketed, it is Chloe Grace Moretz! After a little research, I found out that the movie is based on a Young Adult novel by Rick Yancey. 

I got a copy of the book and started reading. I've read a lot of Young Adult books, but not one with aliens. I'm actually not a big fan of aliens. Paul knows how much I hate it, when the TV is on 'Ancient Aliens' (Paul insists on the show, even as background noise). I really didn't know what to expect when I started reading, but I really loved the tone of the book. 

I liked the spunky lead character, Cassie. I love reading her thoughts and I like how she tells the story. She's not your typical damsel-in-distress. Cassie is your tough-Alien-apocalyptic chic. I love how she was surviving alone, inside her tent, living on cans of sardines and going to a nearby store to stock on water, every few days. I love that as she is fighting to survive, she is also fighting for her humanity. 

Then, things start getting weird. The reader is introduced to to different characters with weird enough story arcs, but the one that I can't seem to wrap my head around SPOILER ALERT is what the 5th Wave actually is; the creation of child soldiers (like 5 years old kids) by the enemy to kill what is left of the human race. 

Once you get past the cruel and gruesome training the child soldier goes through things get pretty interesting. Not sure though if a SPOILER ALERT Romeo-and-Juliet / Alien-Human story is going to work but that seems to be among the sub-plots in the novel. Thankfully it's not where the whole story evolves around in. 

It's funny because you want to condone the cheesy romance between the strapping handsome stranger and the beautiful lead character but you can't stop yourself from reading it. 

Once you get around the romance (that you secretly don't want to read) and the child soldiers, it's pretty exciting stuff. 

Opening across the Philippines on Jan. 20, 2016, “The 5^th Wave” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

The Martian - Book Review

When I found out that the upcoming movie The Martian was actually based on a novel I immediately set to work reading it before I saw the movie. I was just rally curious, I had an idea about what the story was about but I really didn't have an idea or clue about the style of the author Andy Weir. Well needless to say I really enjoyed the book! 4.5 out of 5 stars! ⭐️

The Martian has a very interesting narrative as it is told through different perspectives and means. It opens with a log from Astronaut Mark Watney, he narrates in a very casual way using the vernacular, cursing and all that. Despite his situation of being left stranded in Mars, he has a very good sense of humor and you will surely find him hilarious, like stand up comedian hilarious and it is his humor along with the story which helps you (not get bored) past the science in the book. 

I may have a Bachelor in Science degree (Nursing) but I have never been one to take an interest in a Chemistry or Physics and there is a lot of that in the book, even Math (which I have never had a good relationship with) but despite my lack of love for the sciences I still enjoyed the book and I learned a lot from it. 

Author Andy Weir is the son of a particle physicist and he has a background in Computer Science did a lot of research on the material of the book, this is to ensure that it will be as realistic as possible and would be based on existing technology. Weir studied orbital mechanics, astronomy and the history of manned space flight so at least you are assured that the science is real. 

The book is not only narrated through Watney's logs but also takes turns with narratives of the different characters in the book. Some parts of the story are even told through the perspective of a piece of canvas and some Martian terrain. 

It was an enjoyable, entertaining and I must say educational read and I recommend it! You should go out and see the movie too! 

Dark Places: Book Review

I haven't done a book review in a long time, it's not that I haven't been reading any books, it's just that I haven't been able to find the time (surprise, surprise) to do so. I still have some pending book reviews to work on (The Casual Vacancy, The Silkworm, Where She Went) but I will go ahead and write a review for Dark Places, given that the movie adaptation will be hitting cinemas on Aug. 12! 

It is rather unfortunate though that I wasn't able to read or watch Gone Girl when it made a huge buzz last year but I'm determined not to make that mistake with Dark Places- hence making sure I read the book before seeing the movie. 

Going through Gillian Flynn's dark places and finishing it in a few days was easy to do, simply because it was such a dang good book! 

On a cold January night in a quiet farming town in Kansas City, 7 year old Libby Day witnesses the horrific massacre which take the life of her mother and two sisters. The only other survivor is her 15 year old brother Ben, whose teenage angst and alleged dabbing in the occult helped him to be convicted of the murders, it is Libby's testimony at 7 years old, which seals Ben's fate. 

Twenty-five years later Libby is still haunted by the murders, she is unable to live a normal life, she doesn't have a job and lives on donations from strangers who feel sympathy for her (of course that book deal also helped-sort of) with the money running out (given that there are new victims each day for people to dole out money to) Libby is forced to work with 'The Kill Club' a group obsessed with murders and murderers, who believe that her brother is innocent. As Libby does her own investigation of that fateful night she discovers that the truth is not what it she thought it was. 

Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult reunite after Mad Max: Fury Road
in the movie adaptation of Dark Places. 

Dark Places follows the classic 'who-did-it' plot but is told in a very unique narrative as it takes the readers to the day of the murders in 1985, to the present day. The story is told through different characters in these two timelines. You read it in a fevered pace, wanting to find out what really happened that night. There is a lot of violence and some pretty Dark Places (pun intended) in the book, I found myself wincing away at some graphic scenes. 

Paul and I watch a lot of Crime Investigation (CI) on cable TV and I have read a lot on famous serial killers so the disturbing plot and scenes that take place is sometimes too real for comfort. It's something you've seen on the news and that's just scary. 

Chloe Grace Moretz plays wild child Diondra Wertnzer. 

Dark Places is a good read, it will have you thinking throughout with little clues left for the reader like the bread crumbs left by Hansel. While I didn't really appreciate the soap-opera-like-coincidences that happen too much in the novel. It's like being at the wrong place at the wrong time throughout. If you can let that slide then you will definitely enjoy the book. 

A movie adaptation of Dark Places is set for release in local cinemas on Aug. 12. Charlize Theron will play Libby Day, I love her but in the book, Libby is described as 4'10-4'11 ft tall (like me) and of course statuesque Charlize Theron at 5'9 ft fall is anything but petite. I know it's a small detail to get upset about but there aren't many characters who are as tall (or rather short) as I am. 

Nicholas Hoult will be joining Charlize Theron after their Mad Max: Fury Road collaboration as Lyle Wirth, a member of "The Kill Club". Chloe Grace Moretz plays the free-spirited, wild child Diondra Wertzner. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie, then maybe I can do a movie review with some book-movie comparisons. 

Paper Towns Book Review

"Paper Towns" was my first John Green book. I didn't join the bandwagon when "The Fault In Our Stars" came out; until now, I have yet to read the book or see the movie. So I really did not know what to expect. Was John Green another Nicholas Sparks? I'm not going to go on and compare the two authors but one thing is for sure; I read through Paper Towns like the book is on fire. I loved the non-traditional characters, I loved how the novel was written in such a smart and witty way that I was chuckling to myself as I was going through the pages; because the lines were just so funny and a funny smart kind of way. :)  

It was actually the trailer of Paper Towns that got me to start reading the book. I was actually expecting a typical love story when I saw the trailer but I was really surprised as to how it really wasn't your typical love story at all! 

Paper Towns is a contemporary coming-of-age story with unique characters, so real they can actually be someone you know. Instead of a "damsel in distress/heroine" "looking for love" we have Margo Roth Spiegelman, a free spirited teen who takes revenge on a cheating boyfriend, has a wide collection of records which even her best friends don't know about, oh and she likes running away from home. 

Then we have our protagonist Quentin "Q" Jacobsen whose voice and thoughts narrates the story for us. Unlike your typical hero "Q" is a geek and a nerd who loves playing video games on his free time, he studies for tests and does his homework. I love how the story allows the characters to  grow from their own shells and find the courage that even they did not know existed within themselves. 

Shout out to Q's friends Ben and 'Radar' who bring in more to the story. Anybody would be lucky to have friends like them :) 

The night before Margo runs away from home, she enlists the help of Q to get revenge on people who she felt have wronged her. During this "mission" Q's feelings for Margo are fully realized. (he has had feelings for her since they were little). The next morning when Margo's disappearance has become official, Q realizes that Margo has left clues for him to find her. Q begins an obsessive search to find Margo with the help of his friends Radar and Ben. 

Paper Towns deals with themes of growing up and appearance versus reality. In a high school setting of the beautiful and popular kids and the geeks and the nerds in the school band and of concerns like graduation and prom, I'm glad to see deeper thoughts and themes being explored. 

A great book and a great reading experience - looking forward to when the movie comes out :) 

Insurgent Book Review

I haven't done a book review in a long time because I haven't finished a book in a long time too and I think that's because I've made the mistake of reading "book turned movies" after seeing the movie. I say that it was a mistake because after seeing the movie and knowing what will happen next, it was hard for me to turn on the next page since I already knew what was going to happen. Case in point Mazerunner and The Book Thief. Although I had no trouble finishing Nicholas Sparks' A Walk To Remember,bebenta if it was a watch-movie-read-book-afterward arrangement. I guess there's an exception for every rule but one thing is definitely for certain: As much as possible, if you really can; read the book first. Which is why I really made it a point to finish the book before watching Insurgent and I have to say that it was a wise decision indeed. 

While reading the book, I thought that it was more exciting and interesting than it's predecessor Divergent and this made me anticipate watching the movie. I still had about 150 pages left to read in the book when I saw the movie. I'm not the type who goes crazy over tiny details being changed from book to movie. I always look at them as two different works; from a writer and a script writer's perspective I understand that not all that is written on paper can be translated on to the screen. 

Given that I would have to say that it is in my opinion that Insurgent is one of those books that is better as a movie. Why is that? Well it's because of the many action scenes and sequences in the story. Just like in a manga where big fights can be more appreciated (well at least in my opinion) as an animated episode rather than reading it. The same goes for Insurgent's gun blazing, punches flying, action filled scenes. You'd be disappointed  if you're looking for prose in Insurgent since it is written in a straight forward perspective of a 16 year old in a dystopian  future. It lacks and and all beautiful words that give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. It is straight, concise and to the point. 

Unlike Divergent which only gives the reader a look into the Abegnation and Dauntless factions, Insurgent gives us a sneak peak into the other factions Amity, Candor and even a benign look at Erudite. Yes, not all Erudite are calculating and cold blooded like Jennine. This is something that they failed to portray in the movie though. 

I believe that the movie was able to conveniently cut out scenes and put everything together in a fast paced adventure. Admittedly the ending was a big different from the book, which leaves you hanging and you just know that when you pick up book 3 - Allegiant you would know that it picks right up on the action which left you in a big cliff hanger in Insurgent. 

One thing that the movie failed to show though was why the movie/book was called Insurgent in the first place - this was beautifully explained in the book though. 

You're not really missing much if you don't read Insurgent, it's not exactly a literal masterpiece that will be discussed in English Class in future generations but if you're a book worm/movie buff like me then you wouldn't be too disappointed with it. The action scenes and complications will keep you gripping on the book to the next page. 

The Cuckoo's Calling Book Review

I have to admit that the only reason that "The Cuckoo's Calling" made it in range of my to-read radar list when the internet exploded that Robert Galbraith is actually celebrated author J.K. Rowling, under a pseudonym. 

I grew up reading and watching The Harry Potter books and movies, I remember as a kid, there was one Christmas where in I received a lot of Harry Potter stuff and that made me and my sisters very happy. 

The Harry Potter franchise also has a special place in the love story that is Paul and Ica, it goes something like this: When we were still in College and in that "teasing" stage I was reading The Half-Blood Prince, Paul along with a now long time friend of ours asked to borrow the book, they put in a piece of paper with something that they had written on it. Curious, I opened the page to where the piece of paper was and when I pulled it out this was what was written in Paul's hand writing. 

Snape kills Dumbledore. 

Dapat si Malfoy pero hindi niya kaya. 

(Should have been Malfoy but he couldn't do it) 

I was so mortified to have the book spoiled big time! Don't worry I have surely been able to get back at Paul one way or another in our 9 year (and counting) relationship :p 

So going back to The Cuckoo's Calling...

It was definitely on my to-read list since I am a fan of Rowling and it was with much high expectation that I started to read the book. The Cuckoo's Calling is a good old detective kind of story, where in Private Investigator Cormoran Strike is asked to look into the apparent suicide of super model Lula Landry. For me, the charm of the story comes with Strike as being your un-traditional hero. He is a war veteran, amputee, who is as big as a bear (an exaggeration, of course, but the book describes him as huge) he has a hairy belly and "pube" like hair. So, now he is not your typical good looking, lithe detective with complete extremities but rather a realistic hero who can easily be your uncle or crazy downstairs neighbor. 

Aside from the hero's unconventional appearance and description he also has a dark and queer upbringing which makes for an interesting background story, although it's not too dark and queer that it's impossible but you can say that it could happen and that makes it even more interesting. 

The story is not only told through the perspective of huge bear-like detective Cormoran Strike but it also changes views and perspectives and is told through Robin, the temporary Secretary who is more than just a pretty face and who could more than just make you a cup of coffee. She's actually more Watson to Holmes and more of a Robin to Batman, hence the fitting name. 

The Cuckoo's Calling moves in a fast pace, littered with small clues here and there which will keep you on your toes and will keep you guessing who the culprit is. 

Like classic Rowling, everything falls to place and is explained in the end which will give you that Clarity you have been looking for. Definitely a recommended title, I'm glad to know that Rowling has been reported as saying that there will be more adventures for Detective Strike in the future! Will definitely be looking out for that one! 

Book Review: If I Stay

At the rate that book to movie adaptations are going, it is almost impossible to keep up with what book to read and what adaptation to watch. 

Before, a book would have been around long enough for everyone to have already read it before it hits the cinemas but nowadays you find out about a book to movie adaptation when the movie is already in the Next Showing list. 

Such was the case for a book worm and movie buff like me, I don't know if you guys have noticed it or maybe feel the same way but now I find myself hurrying to either read a book so I can watch the movie version. Ideally I would rather read a book first before watching the movie on which it's based on. 

Luckily for If I Stay I was able to keep my preferred book-to-movie adaptation sequence. 

I have to admit that I was actually worries when I read that fans of Twilight would enjoy the book, now I won't be a book snob and say that I didn't read Twilight because I did but then after the series I also realized that the plot and characters were poor, flat and predictable. 

I really wasn't expecting much from If I Stay, I just thought that it was going to be another typical love story but I was proven wrong as Gayle Forman's writing and characters transported me in a boundary between life and death, one not often ventured by authors. 

As the story progressed and I saw glimpses of the movie through trailers, I was able to put two and two together that the story was about a young girl in a terrible accident where she might have lost her entire family and she's in a literal fight for her life and faces the thoughts of an empty life without her loved ones "If She Stayed". 

I love that Gayle Forman chose to create her heroine as a 17 year old classical musician in a rock oriented family and with a rock star boyfriend. She could have easily chosen to write Mia up as a rocker chic, that would have been more predictable but Forman decided to throw a curve ball with her Bach loving heroine. I love that Forman wrote her characters in such a realistic way that they could have been your own father, mother, aunt, uncle, grandfather or grandmother. Mia's mom was a "hard as nails, feminine bitch who encouraged her daughter to get her own supply of condoms once she found out that she had a boyfriend. 

It was well written characters like these that just crushed your heart as you start to understand what Mia has lost and the empty life she would have to come back to if she stayed. 

Then of course there's her boyfriend Adam who wants her to stay. Will there love be enough for Mia to want to say? Does she have a choice in the matter? 

Told in the perspective of a commatosed character as she wanders through the hospital where her loved ones are waiting for her and reliving the past where the family she lost painfully reminds her of how Death can come like a thief in the night, swift, unexpected and without mercy. 

I actually put off reading If I Stayed since I know my cry baby heart wouldn't be able to handle it, but when I woke up one afternoon and reached out for my iPad to read - it's a ritual I do to help me sleep; I got to a part in the book where it was simply no return and no coming back. I was hooked and I finished the book right then and there, loosing 3 hours of sleep while ugly crying to Mia's story. 

If I Stay is an unexpected good read, kind of like finding treasure in a junk yard, Forman's gutsy writing, realistic characters and writing from a perspective of a character in the boundary of life and death will have you crying and your heart breaking. 

Just hope I still have time to catch it in cinemas! 

The Graveyard Book: Book Review

I read Neil Gaiman's The Ocean At The End Of The Lane and The Graveyard Book consecutively. Even though The Graveyard Book has the Newberry Medal, the British Carnegie Medal and the Hugo award under its belt, I actually enjoyed The Ocean At The End Of The Lane more. It was more exciting and more of a page turner rather than Graveyard.

Needless to say, I still enjoyed The Graveyard Book; it has it's own morbid charm that would have you cheering for Bod, (short for Nobody), the boy who lived in the Graveyard. After his family is murdered by the man Jack. 

I was admittedly drawn to Gaiman's morbid/macabre premise of a little boy (A baby at that!) who lives in the graveyard and is raised by its ghostly residents. Complete with lessons from ancient teachers teaching some pretty outdated but still useful curriculum. 

In a sense the story reminds me of Harry Potter who becomes the only survivor after his family is murdered by Lord Voldermort and just like Tom Riddle, the man Jack doesn't leave a job unfinished. 

Gaiman has admitted that the book was inspired from another famous orphan-Mowgly from the Jungle Book. When I was reading through the book, I thought that each chapter was like an episode in a TV series where Bot has his adventures, like meeting the different residents in the graveyard, after all it's not only ghosts who stay in graveyards. 

Bot even goes to regular school for a time and let's face it- in school there are worse things than ghosts. 

The eight chapters are like short stories on their own and are set two years apart, so we see Bod grow up before our eyes as we read through the pages, which Gaiman has said follows the same format as Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. 

Aside from Mr. & Mrs Owens who becomes Bod's ghost foster parents, Bod is also looked after by the Graveyard caretaker Silas, who is suggested to be a vampire but not really confirmed which was a source of frustration for me since at one part, you're thinking: "He doesn't...so does that mean..?" So you're racking your brain for clues and hints but don't get any confirmation in the end. 

Years after Bod escapes as a baby, the man Jack and the other Jacks of the secret group The Jacks of all Trades have finally cornered him and it's up to Bod to use all of his knowledge of the Graveyard to truly escape their clutches. 

I loved the illustration that was in the book, the pages were creatively drawn and designed and made for more pleasant reading. It's good to know that there's actually a movie adaptation in the works for the movie. Early rumors had it to be a stop motion animation but let's see what happens since a director was just confirmed (after some hiccups) this year. 

Reminiscent of The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Graveyard Book is a great book which young teenages and adults will surely enjoy. Gaiman's genius and story telling cannot be denied, reading through the book will have your imagination working over time and isn't that what reading is all about? 

Hard Boiled Wonderland And The End Of The World Review

 I've always wanted to read Haruki Murakami's work. I've always been intrigued by his books which I would find on book shelves in book stores but the lack of funds have always hindered me from purchasing a book of his to take home and read at my own pleasure.

Ever since aquiring my iPad I have recently discovered the joy albeit an illegal one of downloading e-books from the Internet. I can hear my husband's scolding and disapproving voice of having to give back to the author and so, I have made a promise to myself with you oh dear reader as my witness that when the budget allows I will still buy books from book stores. 

There is still that joy that comes from making a book purchase, feeling the book's cover and turning through each page while inhaling that familiar new book smell. All these feelings and sensations are obviously missing from reading e-books. 

So now that, that promise has been made let us get on with Haruki Murakami's 'Hard Boiled Wondeland and The End of The World' review. 

I honestly did not know what to expect when I started to read the book since it was my first time to read any of his works. Lately I've been reading old Stephen King books from the ladies that come to the office every payday peddling old second hand books that smell like mold and mildew when you open the pages. Each book costs P150.00 and sadly that's all that I can afford for now. So as I was saying I really had no idea what to expect from Murakami unlike when you pick up a Stephen King book you already have an idea that you are in for a thrilling read but for Murakami, it was a box of chocolates for me - I had no idea what I was getting myself into. 

I have to admit reading through the first pages was hard as you are led through the story by a nameless protagonist whose peculiar job was to shuffle data for a crazy scientist living underground for the fear of his research falling into the wrong hands, while all of this is happening the book shifts from the seemingly normal Tokyo scene to a parallel world where our protagonist is a dream reader, reading dreams from old skulls in a town where the people have no mind and shadow of their own. 

It really is a peculiar plot and how one world weaves to the next has no warning either. It was an initial struggle for me to read the story at first since data and numbers aren't really my cup of tea which is strange considering my day job is a Data Analyst and all I do is stare at numbers and Excel the whole day. 

Nevertheless the story gets intriguing and you get caught in the shifting worlds and the curiosity of what will happen next will have you moving on to one page after the other without you even knowing it. 

So this box of chocolates was pretty much my kind of chocolates and I really also enjoyed Murakami's prose and writing style. He had me highlighting quotes and posting on social media because. I really liked them and he had me highlighting words and defining their meaning, thus increasing my vocabulary. 

The pages of Murakami's book seem to have been taken right out of a Sci-Fi Anime with strange groups and organizations like the System, Semiotecs, Calcutecs, the INKlings, all mixed up in an ongoing info wars which leads up to the ultimate battle of the subconscious. 

An intriguing and ambitious novel which follows a unique plot, just don't get turned off with the "technical lingo" I did compare it to a Sci-Fi Anime. 

After reading the novel, I thought that it reminded me of a a tightly closed bud, it hasn't achieved it's full beauty and potential until it fully blooms, which it does in the end. 

It may not be of the same excitement factor as Sthepen Kings's books but there is definitely a unique kind of excitement there. 

Bag of Bones Book Review

I make it a point to have a Currently Reading Book; it really helps with my writing. The words come easier and I get inspired to improve on my writing and come up with new techniques.  

But since I don't have the budget to splurge on brand new books the smell of which brings such joy to me I have to make do with old, really old books which are sold by vendors who come to the office every payday, all the more to tempt you with, my dear and sell old Stephen King, John Grisham, Sidney Sheldon books at P150.00 a pop. 

So even if that brand new book smell (which I love so much) is replaced by moldy, wet paper, old book smell (which I choke on, every time I open the book and get it too near my nose) I still get to have a new book to read so I'm happy and content. 

My latest old book find (which I got around my birthday) is Stephen King's Bag of Bones and well, let's just say that I haven't been this scared by a book in a long time, so much so that I would refuse to go down in the early morning to get a glass of water, even if I'm already parched. 

I loved that the novel featured a writer/novelist as the main character. As I got a glimpse of what it's like in the life of a novelist, being chased by editors, publicists, being pressured to continue to write books and appear on TV interviews and what not. It's like  I was able to get an idea how it is to be a successful novelist, so that was a refreshing new protagonist, only someone as gutsy as Stephen King would try something like that. :) 

This ghost story of epic proportions begins with the sudden death of novelist Michael Noonan's wife, Jo. Mike is devastated, his grief is overwhelming but aside from his mourning; Mike has to get over the fact that his wife was pregnant and that she kept the pregnancy from him. Which is strange considering that he and his wife have been trying to conceive a child for a long time, they even have a name picked out already, Kia if the baby was a girl. 

Now if Jo was keeping that secret what else could she have been hiding? 

All these questions plague Mike and even follow him in his dreams, their lake house, Sarah Laughs. These vivid dreams turn into nightmares and Mike is haunted not only by the nightmares but the inability to write as well. 

So apparently there's a movie version of Bag of Bones with Pierce Brosnan playing Mike Noonan, have to put that on my to-watch-list.  

Crippled with writer's block and haunted by ghosts and spirits unknown, in a desperate attempt at peace, Mike heads out to the lake house in question. 

In this seemingly peaceful town, you know the type where everyone knows everyone, Mike meets a young widow and her young daughter and from this chance meeting (or is it?) Mike is thrown in a web of mystery, violence and horror (one he will never, ever imagine) and one too horrible to even be a plot in his books. 

Without giving anything away Bag of Bones works up a good climax (even if the first part of the story, the mourning part, took a bit long). You get caught up in the story and characters and like classic Stephen King, everything goes down at a big event and it will literally leave you with your jaw open. 

This horror story comes in full circle and will have you scarred in the end at how cruel human nature can be and how far hatred can go, beyond years, beyond generations and even beyond death.      

The Ocean At The End Of The Lane: Book Review

When I read the summary of the book from it's back cover (as I was doing some book 'window' shopping) and I honestly did not know what to expect from the story. Which is why I was pleasantly surprised when I was thrown into a thrilling adventure of a mysterious world existing within our own.

The story begins with a mundane middle aged man as he makes his way through his childhood home. There is nothing special about this man, he is just like any other adult, dealing with the same problems and concerns that we all do; like "marriage (failed a decade ago, a relationship that had slowly frayed until eventually, as they always seem to, it broke), dating (I wasn't; I was not even sure that I could, not yet), children (all grown up, they have their own lives), work (doing fine, thank you)." 

But beneath this seemingly ordinary man lies a great adventure that chills me to the bone just thinking about it. The unnamed narrator visits a farmhouse he used to visit when he was a child, it is in this farmhouse where he met a young girl Lettie, her mother and grandmother. He goes to the pond at the back of the farmhouse and memories of a forgotten adventure start coming back to him. 

I just love the tattered and ripped details that the pages of the book had. 

It all starts when an opal miner (that rents a room) in the then young boy's home (he is seven years old at this time) commits suicide in his father's car after gambling away all his friends' money. Because of this suicide, a being from another world makes its way into our and starts giving money to people -it's not as fun as it sounds especially when you wake up choking on a coin. 

Our seven-year old protagonist then seeks out the help of Lettie Hempstock (the girl he met in the farm) and her mother and grandmother. 

Lettie takes the boy with her to bind the spirit that is causing all the trouble, Lettie (who appears to be eleven years old) instructs the boy to never let go of her hand. When they confront the 'being'/'spirit' the boy lets go of Lettie's hand for a moment-in surprise and this is when he feels a pain in his foot. 

After vanquishing the spirit, the boy goes home and discovers that there is a hole in the sole of his foot where a worm has lodged itself in. He is able to remove the worm but a part is left inside him. 

The next day, his mother introduces him to Ursula Monkton who is going to look after him and his sister. While the whole family adores Ursula, the narrator of the story doesn't and this is because Ursula is actually the worm that was in his foot and is the same 'spirit' that he and Lettie supposedly bound. Ursula was able to make her way to this world through the boy. 

Book Review: Under the Dome + A Sneak Peek On The TV Series!

I know I said I haven't been writing as much book reviews as I would like so I'm making a point to start getting back to writing book reviews. I've already finished a bunch of books but instead of stopping to write reviews I would move on to the next book. So while I've already finished reading most of these books, some I've already read months back I can still recall my thoughts and opinions on each book. :) 

First up on the to-write-book review list is Stephen King's Under The Dome - I guess I want to start by saying that there are some books that I read when I have nothing to do, like before going to sleep or when I'm waiting in line but there are some books that I really make time to finish, the kind of books that once you are hooked on you sit on bed, with the television off, the computer off and you just find yourself going through page after page until you've already read about 200+ pages without even noticing the time and Under the Dome is one of those books. 

I clearly remember nights where I would be sitting on bed furiously reading through the book, being totally engrossed by it. 

Well before I go into my thoughts on the book let me tell you first how we first met. :)  

When I got a gift certificate for Fully Booked from my Ninang Joy for my birthday I immediately thought about what titles to buy. I originally intended to buy one of the Young Adult titles on my to-read list but when I got to Fully Booked I saw this really really thick book (think 3 encyclopedias) by Stephen King entitled Under The Dome. 

I've already mentioned in my blog posts that Paul and I are big Stephen King fans , we've read his books, watched movies based on these books and even bought the Kingdom Hospital (TV Series) DVD Box Set - King was a producer on this series (although that was dissapointment since it wasn't as good as we'd hoped).     

I picked up (with much effort) - the 1,074 page book and I knew I was going home with it.  

Just like other of Stephen King's books, Under The Dome takes place in a small sleepy town (in Maine) and where unsuspecting evil works up in a big dramatic climax that leaves a town with (SPOILERS) a record breaking death toll (even higher than Carrie).

But unknown to most people even before 'The Dome' (an invisible force field) descends on Chester's Mill cutting it off from the rest of the world, there is already much evil and corruption brewing in their supposedly sleepy town. 

Now a reluctant hero in the form of former Iraq soldier turned-short order cook Barbie (yes, his name is Barbie) along with his rag-tag team of some of the town's constituents take on a force none of them could ever fathom. 

While reading 'Under The Dome' I found myself remembering another of Stephen King's books - 'Needful Things' I thought of the latter because of the huge cast of characters that Stephen King has but he is able to orchestrate through them like a seasoned maestro, he knows each section, each character and he is able to have them play all together and come up with the perfect harmony and music.  

Stephen King is such a master story teller that he can even tell a chapter through a dog's perspective but it would still read like a masterpiece. He jumps from character to character and is able to narrate a beautiful story without having to sound like a diary. 

I really admire how unforgiving and gutsy Stephen King is when it comes to the demise and fates of his characters. I think he and George R.R. Martin are now infamous with how they kill off their characters - there is no rest for the wicked and let's just say that the death toll in Under The Dome is unrivaled, the shock factor is always there and will have you gasping and shaking your head at every turn of a page.   

One thing that did bother me about Under The Dome (SPOILERS) would be the actual origin of The Dome - leather heads and aliens are really not my cup of tea, they sort of remind me of Ancient Aliens on History. Aside form this the book is a big page turner and I also love the lessons that come with it - yes it's not all about conspiracy, corruption, blood and gore there are actually subtle lessons within the text of the novel such as environmental, religious and the human dynamics of kindness and cruelty.  

 I loved reading Under the Dome so much going through the 1,074 page novel was a breeze. 

Even if I'm already finished with the book I'm still exited - why? Because there is a TV Series out right now based on the book! :) 

Stephen King is a producer of the series and it has already been renewed for a next season. It premiered last June on CBS. 

Upcoming Movies: The Mortal Instruments: The City of Bones

For this upcoming movies blog post I did a special assignment first before blogging about the upcoming movie (showing in theaters on August 21) The Mortal Instruments: The City of Bones and that was to read the book. 

For Novels turned to Movies, my general rule is to read the book first and this is what I did in this case. 

This blog post would be a mixture of a book review, upcoming movie blog post and event post. Well first off, I did enjoy the book - it was an easy read. I found the book to be a mixture of Harry Potter, a bit of Twilight and a bit of Angels and Demons (not the book, just you know Angels and Demons) 

The story escalates quickly in the life of seemingly mundane (pun intended) Clary who sees things - strange things - and she's the only one who can see them. 

A world within our own world is a theme that The Mortal Instruments play with throughout the novel. A world of demons, vampires, werewolves, fairies and probably every other magical creature out there and the Shadowhunters of course.  

Based on the first book from Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments series, The City of Bones takes an unlikely heroine into a journey to discover her true nature as a Shadowhunter and uncovers some old family secrets. 

Considered as one of the Novel turned Movies that will bring about big buzz among fans throughout the world. The Mortal Instruments: The City of Bones will be hitting cinemas on August 21 and is distributed by Movie Punch- Pioneer Films. 

You can check out the trailer of the movie below: 

I'm excited for the movie - I love Lilly Collins - ever since I saw her in The Blind Side - Yup! Phil Collins' daughter (Yes! She is Phil Collins' daughter - ugh! I hate it - my age is showing) was in the award winning movie with Sandra Bullock. Although I am not a fan of her not red hair in The City of Bones. For me its not red enough but that's just my opinion. 

I'm also excited to see Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones) play Clary's mom - Jocelyn Fray. 

Aside from these actresses, I think the movie did a pretty good casting for the rest of the characters from Simon, to Alec and Izzy and Magnus Bane. Not so much a fan of the casting choice for Jace - but that's just me - no hating please :P Who knows I might get used to him. 

The book had a pretty fast twist and turn on the plot of the story so I'm really looking forward to a fast paced and exciting delivery on the screen also! Plus the CGI work on the demons, werewolves seem very impressive - based on the trailer.  

The Mortal Instruments fan base in the Philippines had a string of activities last Saturday to celebrate the upcoming release of the movie, this August 21, distributed by Pioneer Films and Movie Punch. 

Now, we were supposed to also cover the event but Friday shift was brutal and as you all know we work the night shift so it was really hard for us to go and Paul had work on Saturday soo- apologies we couldn't make it to the event Yes - work can suck a lot of times (which was probably why I was depressed enough to write about this blog post) but here I am still blogging about it since I really admire and believe in the Pinoy Shadowhunters who attended the event which was held in Powerbooks in Glorietta. 

It was a 2 in 1 event - The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Soundtrack Pre-launch which was held in Astrovision - (you can get copies of the official soudntrack of the movie from Astrovision and I have a blog post and a preview of some songs in the Soundtrack here) and Two Words Collide: Shadowhunter and Mundane gathering. 

Movie Posters to Giveaway!!!