Chick Lit Galore. I had the sudden urge to read light romances/women’s fiction for the past three months so I ended up hoarding Mina V. Esguerra’s books.
The first two books are published by Summit and I bought them in NBS. I had difficulty looking for My Imaginary Ex since they’re not reprinting the book anymore. The last two are e-books from amazon. As of now, the only Esguerra novella I don’t have is the Interim: Goddess of Love. 😀
One Day by David Nichols I got this as a gift from Ingrid when we had the 2nd TFG Face to Face book discussion.
Delirium by Lauren Oliver Another HB Brand New discounted purchase.
ARCs of YA novels from Netgalley. Torn by Stephanie Guerra Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz
And here’s my best buy for the month: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand! Finally, it was released in the Philippines and since NBS is running a 20% off sale on all imported books, I got the hardbound copy for only Php 476! I’m so happeee.
What do you got for this month? What do you think should I read first?
+++ +++ Feature: IMM is a meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren and was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.
I bought the second book of this series last 2011 MIBF even though I don’t have a copy of the first book yet. When I saw a copy of Evernight in NBS for Php 100 a few months back, I didn’t think twice and bought it. I said to myself that it’s just a hundred bucks anyway, it’s not even enough to buy me a cup of coffee. I think it’s a smart buy to think the copy is brand new… or so I thought.
She’s been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn’t fit in.
Then she meets Lucas. He’s not the “Evernight type” either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him.
“I couldn’t stand it if they took it out on you,” he tells Bianca, “and eventually they would.”
But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can’t be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she’s ever believed.
I read this novel after watching the movie Underwold: Awakening. I don’t know what got into me but I felt the movie was not enough and so I wanted to read a vampire themed novel to quench my growing thirst for blood vampires. I would have picked up an adult vampire novel but I still have a hangover with the Black Dagger BrotherhoodSeries and theImmortals After DarkSeries plus I wanted to read something new—thus I ended up with Evernight.
This is another Twilight rip off with a mix of Vampire Knight. If you were fond of reading Japanese Manga or watching Japanese Anime, you would immediately notice it’s resemblance with Vampire Knight. If not, you would think that the plot is different from most YA Paranormal Vampire novels out there.
I enjoyed reading the first half of this novel. I know it’s a vampire book therefore, I’m expecting that half of the students in the school are vampires. I kindda liked the eerie-gothic feel of the school and the guessing of who the vampires are. Well, it’s pretty obvious since most of the vamps in YA books are almost perfect. You can easily point them out and you’ll just wait for the confirmation as the story progress. What I didn’t expect in the twist is the sudden change of where the story is going. The whole time I thought Lucas is the vampire. It turns out that he’s a vampire hunter and Bianca is the vampire not just today or a hundred years ago but since birth.
I was dumbfounded. All of a sudden, everyone in Evernight is a vampire (except for a few mundane students)—and it was no secret to Bianca. She knows it even before she came to Evernight. What the hell? She even has this running away drama at the start of the novel. She feels left out and she can’t get along with her fellow vampire schoolmates. Am I missing a joke somewhere? It’s as if I’m reading a totally different book.
After the hype that went on with YA Vamp-lit genre since Meyer’s mushy Edward-Bella tandem, I feel like all YA vamp books are patterned to give the readers a headache. I read and liked the series that started this madness but I won’t make a mistake of rereading it—a “book hurling” moment is something I don’t look forward to.
I would have rated this a little higher (like 2.75?) if the plot isn’t the same with Vampire Knight. I was even thinking of just giving it 2 Kiss Marks but I have to admit I was entertained regardless of the things I didn’t like in this book. Here’s a 2.5 Kiss Marks rating.
Bad: Read or watched but I’m not impressed.
I saw a hardbound copy of Hourglass, the third installment of this series, in NBS the other day for just Php 100. This time I hesitated—I’d rather buy a cup coffee and enjoy it than suffer another bout of disappointment.
I would still read Stargazer though. But only for the reason that it’s part of my Off The Shelf Challenge and that’s it—I won’t finish this series anymore.
I know that’s your first reaction just by reading the title of this review. I can’t blame you even my boyfriend weirdly looked at me when I picked this up the other day. Well, I admitSarah Geronimo is my guilty pleasure.
Won’t Last a Day Without You is one of those Romantic Comedy films that will make you shudder not because of heartfelt romance but of uber the top romantic clichés. That is one of the reasons why I don’t watch films like this in cinemas. I think paying Php 170-180 for a movie ticket isn’t worth it. I can always rent Filipino films inVideo City anyway. So why waste money if you can watch this at home (as many times as you want) for just Php 16?
Won’t Last A Day Without You
Star Cinema and Viva Films, 110 Minutes
Released on November 30, 2011
Romance, Comedy
Watched in April 2012
Awarded radio personality George Harrison Apostol, known as DJ Heidee to her listeners (Sarah Geronimo), provides love advice to people who are having problems in their relationships.
One night, DJ Heidee receives a call from a girl named Melissa (Megan Young) who is asking advice on how to break up with her boyfriend Andrew (Gerald Anderson). Unfortunately, Andrew is listening to the same program and hears Heidee telling Melissa how they should break up. Andrew blames Heidee for what happened and even threatens to sue her for giving that particular advice.
In order to prevent a legal battle, and to ease her conscience, Heidee decides to help Andrew win Melissa back. In the process of getting the two together, Andrew and Heidee begin to feel an attraction toward each other. Will they be able to overcome their past and become lovers instead?
Director: Raz dela Torre Writers: Melissa Mae Chua & Raz dela Torre
Stars: Sarah Geronimo, Gerald Anderson & Joey De Leon
+++
This is the second time I watched a Sarah Geronimo and Gerald Anderson film. (I can hear you saying “Yuck” again.) And I have to give them credit for making this way better than their first movie team up. The plot made this film different. It’s a little plausible and it’s cheesy (or aka-o.a-yan) scenes is a bit bearable (except for the ending).
The story has more characters this time and is more involved in the plot. The cast they have in this film are more fun to watch than those inI’ve Fallen for You. My personal favorites wereJohn “Sweet” Lapus andJoey De Leon. Joey is so cool playing the role of George’s rock star playboy dad. He had the rock star look perfected: black thick eyeliner, black shirts, spike hair and accessories. And he allows his kids to call him Pablo! Sweet isn’t too gay in this film. He’s still funny. And I like him as DJ Ram. He’s sweet without being pa-sweet.
I like Sarah’s role in this film.Natuwa ako kay DJ Heidee. I love the first part of the film where they’re showing clips of DJ Heidee giving brutal advices to her lovesick listeners. A few lines I like are:
Caller #1: Paano ako mapapansin ng crush ko? DJ Heidee: Eh di mag-planking ka.
Caller #2: Kinakaliwa ako ng boyfriend ko. DJ Heidee: Kumanan ka. Iwan mo.
Caller #3: Iniwan ako ng girlfriend ko. DJ Heidee: Nasaan ka? Ipapasundo kita.
But I love this best:
Tigilan na yan! Bawal mai-inlove. Nakamamatay!
It reminds me of this signage I see in EDSA every day.
As much as I love her role, I still don’t find her acting effective. This is her 5th film now (if I’m not mistaken) I was hoping to see a mature, improved acting. There’s a fine line between too less and too much and Sarah crossed that line. If Sweet (John Lapus) isn’t pasweet, Sarah is uber pasweet.
My reaction to Gerald’s acting was unexpected.Nakakaumay. His other films show casted his acting abilities but in this film I find it usual. There’s nothing new. No improvement. He’s stuck. I don’t know if I watched too many of his films (3rd film to date) or hisBugoy role in television is forever seeded in my head I can’t see the difference.
I would have given this film3 Kiss Marksgiven the good plot but the ending ruined everything.Masyadong OA to the point na nakaka-bwiset na. That is why my rating ended up with2.5 Kiss Marks.
Bad: Read or watched but I’m not impressed.
2 Drama Awards for the acting.May effort naman eh.
I was so excited when I saw Missie’s meme and Lucas was the first fictional guy that came into my mind the moment I decided to join this.
I’m having the (what I call) “Lucas Madness” for over a month now. I’d been in love with this guy ever since I read Fairy Tale Fail by Mina V. Esguerra. And because Lucas is on my top list of swoon worthy guys, he is my first MBB!
Lucas Herasco
••● 29 years old
••● Assistant Manager at the Wealth Management Team in a company somewhere in Makati
••● a.k.a Rock Star
••● Has a tattoo on his arm
+++ Lucas got that code name because he had the appearance of a guy forced into crisp shirts and ties to earn a living, but was really, like, a rock star when he clocked out. He always looked clean, and he smelled great, but his hair was a bit of a calculated mess. Esguerra, Mina V.Fairy Tale Fail. Amazon: Mina V. Esguerra, 2010: 7
If he is my office mate, he would definitely be the number one office crush of all gays and women working in our building. I looove rock star cleanlooking guys! I’m sure it feels great hugging and kissing a guy like him. *dreamy eyes*
I officially developed a crush on him when he said this to Ellie:
But if you feel like you need an excuse to take advantage of me, just say so, I’m sure we can think of something. +++ +++ +++
He’s such a tease! But I imagined him being cute and cocky when he said that.
And I’m probably going to, you know, start calling. Driving you home. Taking you to movies you hate.
And then I fell in love. Lucas is a sweet and caring guy every girl would wish to have.
+++ +++ +++
I probably will go to church with you at least once, and it will be in your college church, to erase the memory of what that douche did there.
I don’t know long how long I’m gonna have this “Lucas Madness” but I’m enjoying every minute of it. Kinikilig ako.Fairy Tale Fail is one of my best reads for the first quarter of the year. You can get a copy of this book from amazon.
My Lucas Herasco is being played by Jason Pennings, a half-British, half-Filipino model.
Excerpts from: Fairy Tale Fail by Mina V. Esguerra
(Grab a copy of the book Here) Esguerra, Mina V. Fairy Tale Fail. Amazon: Mina V. Esguerra, 2010 Quote 1 pg. 63, Quote 2 pg. 97, Quote 3 pg. 98
Meme: My Book Boyfriend (1)
MBB is a meme hosted by Missie of The Unread Reader. It’s a post where fan girl readers (like me) swoon over boys in books.
My Imaginary Ex by Mina V. Esguerra
Evernight by Claudia Gray
Won’t Last A Day Without You
Off the Wall 