Page 128 of 143

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: November 14th, 2014, 8:45 am
by joesel
laila_6045 wrote:@joesel....i lab you already...coz Legend is one of my all time fave series...and so good luck with CHAMPION FEELS....COZ THERE WILL BE FEELSSSSS!!!! AND I'M SO EXCITED FOR NEXT WEEKEND COZ I WILL FINALLY MEET MY IDOL MARIE LU FOR REAL HUHUHU!


ahhhh really ?! bakit kasi hanggang Cebu lang sila?? :) but happy for you Miss Laila! :D
EEEEEEEHHHHHHH! you're making me so excited over Champion na! :)

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: November 16th, 2014, 12:39 pm
by arjaye
ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Stephanie Perkins
5/5

This is a true confirmation that Ms. Stephanie Perkins knows HOW TO WRITE and end tales of love and romance gracefully, beautifully, completely.

It all started with Anna and the French Kiss. In Paris.
Then followed up by Lola and the Boy Next Door. In New York.
Wrapping their amorous, dream-like relationships was ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER. In Paris and New York. Barcelona, too.

These three stories were not a continuation of each other's but crafted to be intertwined, connected with each other. Each tales has their own heroes and heroines. Each has its distinct charisma, its own magic. Their romantic world, together with the feels and emotions that they brought on each person while reading, will be forever etched in their hearts. And as ive realized, as idealistic and perfect these were, these kinds of teeny-bopper affairs make one's heart young and hopeful and enthusiastic all about love.

In this three, Isla and the happily ever after, i liked and loved the most. Because of Isla and Josh. Because of the happily ever after, who wouldnt want that?! :) Besides being the cake-topper, they were the pair amongst the three i can most relate to. Insecurities were rampant among teenagers and Isla wasnt one to escape from it. Actually, it enveloped her to the point of damaging her future love. Josh, on the other hand, was just this boy inlove with love. If its the loneliness he escaped from, a distraction such as Isla is the exact thing that he needed? That was a question.

The story is not quite complicated. In fact, it became more dear and clear to me knowing that the plot, places and things were that familiar, some perks of being a paid traveller. :) Ive been to Paris, Eiffel and Louvre and Notredame and Point zero and all. Ive been to New York, the city that never sleeps. Ive been to Barcelona, Spain. With Gaudi and Parc Guell and Sagrada de Familia and Casa Batllo. Ive been with Isla and Josh when they all experienced this, well, even the kissing and making outs and a lot of kissing, again. But the most part that tugged my heart was the love of Josh for Isla that never faltered. Even when they were apart. It was just disarming. He was not perfect but that imperfection made up for all those sweet nothings. The gestures may not be as grand as St. Clair to Anna, or as smart as Cricket to Lola but it was artistic and effortful as Josh tried to win over Isla's heart, once again.

It was very apt that Ms. Perkins started and ended this duo in a place called Kismet. Fate really has a way of interconnecting lives and places, in order to fulfill its destinies. And to see them all gathered in one place was such a delightful sight. Plus that grand announcement few chapters away from the end, just pure magic, pure love.

This three reads made me young at heart again. And i LOVED it.

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: November 18th, 2014, 4:20 pm
by arjaye
DARK PLACES by Gillian Flynn
4/5

When i put down the book, all i can feel of was sadness. All over. For Libby. Patty. Michelle. Debby. Mostly, for Ben. For the Day family, except Runner which i can offer no sympathy. He was the worst dad ever, until the end.

Being the only survivor of the Day's Massacre in their Kansas Farm, Libby Day, wanted to accept the truth, if her brother, Ben Day, really earned his time, locked up in prison for the killings of her family.

Looking at them, some 24 years after, they were all products of that fateful night, when the murders happened. Ripples. Whatever one decided to do that time, affected the others. Worse, bits and pieces added up that made the whole situation aggravated, catapulted to one gigantic fiasco. Whatever they were thinking to solve each and every problem they had, be it to just run away, or to kill or be killed, cover the truths, shrug about it all the way, it did not help. Time, in any way, and when pressed to do something made one act and persevere to find the real deal. Libby, at her thirties, finally decided to uncover the mystery lying on her family's death bed.

I liked the story. I liked it how it was formed or written or narrated. All angles tackled, all voices heard. Each chapter, each character. Each chapter, then and now. That fateful night, i saw glimpse, bits and pieces, major happenings. I knew what each characters had felt, before, during and after. I felt where they were coming from. I don't agree with most of their decisions, but thats where the strength of a good tale came from. I figured how screwed up the characters, or what made them to be that way.

This was a tragically good read. In the end, i was happy to think that life really does move on, and life offers second chances, and third and fourth, fifth and so on and forth. It may be the end for some, but for others, it will be never too late. Oh, all's well that ends well.

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: November 18th, 2014, 10:46 pm
by laila_6045
The Retribution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #3) by Michelle Hodkin
Genre : YA sci-fi, psychological thriller, mystery, romance
Rating : 4.9/5 ...lol! 1% is for that one person i hate...

After two years of waiting for this finale is has come down to this one...and it was gloriously gory, gruesome and bloody scary...i mean MARA went scary here...there was retribution indeed and it was terrifying and.. and gross man..there are scenes here that made me go WTF? man how is she still breathing and sh*t?! the conclusions has come full circle and all dots connected but i still want to come after that other big bad guy...grrrr! but over all i am happeeee that i'm finally done with this series :) IT RUINED ME :D

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: November 19th, 2014, 11:41 am
by Super_Mark
The story revolves around two friends, Cass and Max-Earnest, or collaborators as they would prefer to be called and their adventure in keeping an aged old Secret and saving the lives of the people around them bound to be doomed.

The author describes 11 year old Cassandra, or Cass, as a survivalist. She always carry a backpack with her containing all what she think is needed when a calamity or emergency strikes. Sh always has this predictions that she always tell to people with eagerness but eventually doesn't happen which always make her be in trouble with her school principal. The author has this clever description of her, as the "girl who cried wolf." (I know you know that story). Cass lives with her mother (her father died when she was young) but most of the time she likes to stay at the antique shop of her two grandfathers, not biological, who considered Cass as their own grandchild already.

Max-Earnest(A quirky name isn't it? Read the book to know how his parents got his name :D) is a boy who likes to talk alot. He's unstoppable unless you interject him. He also likes to tell jokes that are not that funny (however, it's a work in progress as per the book). He lives with his parents who are separated but still lives together (you have to read the book as their setup is really funny :D). He has no friends until he meet Cass whom he shared the same curiosity with things.

Aside from Cass and Max-Earnest the book also has other interesting characters that made the story even more exciting to read. Max-Earnest's family for instance and the characters at the school where the two attends are some of the characters that will have you laughing out loud.

The climax of the story started when a package arrived at Cass' grandfather's antique shop brought by her grandfather's friend who is an estate agent who had the box at one of the houses she likes to sell. The box contained the Symphony of Smells, a box containing different vials of different smells, and a notebooks which belongs to a magician, named Pietro. In that notebook, they learned about the history of his magic with the power of the senses and how dangerous it could get if given to the wrong hands. Then they learned about synesthesia, a neurological condition in which one sense is simultaneously perceived as if by one or more additioanl sense. For instance, when you see the color green you hear a bell ringing or the smell a vanilla cupcake being baked.

They then encountered the villains of the story Ms Mauvais and Dr L who began pursuing them to get the Symphony of Smells and the notebook. As the story progressed, readers will know how far the villains could go to have what they want which is eternal youth and how far our heroes will go to save their friend who was kidnapped by the villains as part of their evil plans.

Friendship. That's what's the foundation of this book. The novel is primarily about the unlikely friendship of the two protagonist and how on their journey they came to understand each other. They went on a journey with a strong bond, quite hesitant at first because they don't quite know each other. But as the story progressed they came to understand each that there came a time when the other doesn't even need to talk already to understand for them to understand each other. At the end of the story, you'll appreciate the frindship that they have and would want to read more to know about their next adventures.

What I enjoyed from the story is how it was narrated. I find it very original since it was my first time to read that kind of book with that kind of narration. It's like the narrator is directly speaking to the readers and how funny he sometimes get because he wants to have the book to be a secret and the details be a secret but he then eventually gives in and gives you hints. How clever!

The premise of the story is not knew as it tackles heroes fighting and knowing about old magic and alchemy but I like how the author attacked that topic. It was made in a very simple way that is easily understood. As new words were introduced the author made sure that the readers can still follow by giving explanations.

I also like how the book became so interactive in a way that the author let's you be part of the book making the adventure become surreal. It has codes that needs to be deciphered and brains teasers among others. The ending is a cliffhanger in way but it was done in a very creative way that I myself was satisfied.

If you're into puzzles, mystery, adventure and wants a good laugh I recommend this book. And definitely I'll read the next in the series.:)

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: November 21st, 2014, 9:25 am
by Super_Mark
The series is about Alexandra Trese an investigator who works with the police in solving crimes involving supernatural origins. She is assisted by her boys, the Kambal, in this job. The stories in each volume incorporates Philippine pop culture and Philippines folklore.

The first volume is compose of 4 stories. The first is about a white lady in Balete drive that was killed, the second being a Tikbalang using his prowess to reign supreme is the drag racing world, the third is about a fire kinda man thing, witches and santelmos and the fourth one, which my favorite among the four and is a tribute to Mars Ravelo, is about a brother of a Filipina superhero who takes justice on his hands. I don't know if I'm being rude if I say that I laughed at the last story. I never expected that twist and I like how the author did that. :D

After finishing the book, I realized that the author is clever enough not to divulge all the back stories of the characters as you would want to get the next series to know the answers to your questions. And it worked.

The idea is unique and I like how the stories were so simple and to the point and not that dragging (I just wish that it could be longer maybe like an additional 2-3 pages each story).

The illustrations were also perfectly made. The writer and the illustrator really are a good tandem. I like that it is just plain black and white. :)

It is also good to note that the take of the book deviated from the usual Western style or Japanese Manga type of thing. Many of my friends have been recommending this to me because as per them this is a breath of fresh air form the usual comics that they read. I believe this is because this is something closer to their heart as the setting and theme is Filipino related.

I am happy that this book is the book that introduced me to comic book reading. I fell in love with it. I never imagined that I would enjoy reading comics books. This is something that needs to be circulated around the world, introducing the Filipinos as serious comic book writers and artists.

Amazing amazing. Now reading the second volume.

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: November 26th, 2014, 9:49 pm
by MissRed
November reads:

The Demigod Diaries by Rick Riordan - 4/5, thoroughly enjoyed!

Vampire Academy Series
Vampire Academy - 3/5
Frostbite - 3/5
Shadow Kiss - 4/5
Blood Promise - 4/5
Spirit Bound - 4.5/5
Last Sacrifice - 4/5
Overall, the series was enjoyable and interesting; worth reading.

And one audio book
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - I have read this book and loved it. Listening to the audio book was just as amazing and Stephen Fry is wonderful!

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: November 26th, 2014, 9:55 pm
by MissRed
Super_Mark wrote:The series is about Alexandra Trese an investigator who works with the police in solving crimes involving supernatural origins. She is assisted by her boys, the Kambal, in this job. The stories in each volume incorporates Philippine pop culture and Philippines folklore.

Amazing amazing. Now reading the second volume.


Hi Mark, I enjoyed Trese, too. I am done with vols 1 and 2. I still have to get hold of the remaining vols.

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: December 1st, 2014, 6:32 pm
by crissemari
I just read Gerry Alanguilan's Elmer. It was a fun read despite its mature content. The family drama and racism angles made me think of Animal Farm + Soprano, but for chickens.

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: December 1st, 2014, 10:22 pm
by laila_6045
Maybe Not (Maybe #1.5) by Colleen Hoover
Genre : Adult contemporary romance
Rate : 5/5

I never doubted CoHo :) i effin' love this novella ... Warren the asshole with a huge heart that melted the icy b*tch Bridgette <3 the prank wars and the *removed* marathon were effin' hilarious...it is time for you to get to know the real deal of what went down with this two from Maybe Someday...the roommates!