Please...

I love you Mr. Thomas Hardy! Will you wait for me?

I Rather Be With Mr. Green

versus

 

I'd choose the latter. 

Love and Other Books

Yes, I will never stop loving you.

Loving David

“What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though.”


This is what J.D. Salinger is talking about. Now, I know the feeling.

Book Lover

Some of my book collections!

Let The Children Do The Storytelling

Hey there,

I always miss this blog and I always miss the days when I still have the time to read. Anyway, it's obvious that I stole a moment right now, despite the fact that I'm both sleepy and tired, to write. And I can't just miss writing for this blog. The idea of my topic for this entry just came out of the blue and here I go: I'm sharing my top five picks for The Great Stories that are highly recommended for Grown-Ups.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

"You - you alone will have the stars as no one else has them...In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night...You - only you - will have stars that can laugh.”

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

 

“It is not possible to know how far the influence of any amiable, honest-hearted duty-doing man flies out into the world, but it is very possible to know how it has touched one's self in going by.”  

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

“I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. I know it's crazy.”
 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

“It's not time to worry yet” 

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

“Thank heaven I don't inherit God from anybody! I am free to make mine up as I wish Him. He's kind and sympathetic and imaginative and forgiving and understanding - and He has a sense of humor.” 

Recalling the lessons that I learned from these books makes me want to go back to that fateful day when I get to meet the characters and learned a lot from them.  Indeed, the greatest storytellers ever created were children once- innocent, hopeful, free . And they have the power to bring out from you every possible emotion you thought you've already lost and give you the chance, once again, to feel life as it should be- simple, easy, and carefree. 

Love,

Judy  

Just a Note

"I think I'll be a clown when I get grown," said Dill.

Jem and I stopped in our track.

"Yes sir, a clown,' he said. "There ain't one thing in this world I can do about folks except laugh, so i'm gonna join the circus and laugh my head off."

"You got it backwards, Dill,' said Jem. 'Clowns are sad, it's folks that laugh at them."

"Well, I'm gonna be a new kind of clown. I'm gonna stand in the middle of the ring and laugh at the folks. Just looka yonder.' he pointed. 'Every one of 'em oughta be ridin' broomsticks. Aunt Rachel already does."

-Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird 

Photo Credit: Google

This Book Is Love

Just saying Hi to Boo!

The Last Book I've Read

It's Eragon. And it's my boyfriend's copy.

Dear Mr. Caulfield

Dear Mr. Caulfield,

I'm happy to share the news that I already got a copy of the book that you've been talking about. I'm telling you, I've been looking for the copy at every bookstore that I went to only to realize that I'd only find one here in Booksale-Kalibo. I didn't had a plan to purchase a book on that fateful day, only to smell books, I'd say but then, while searching for titles, I found it lying along as if telling me "Here I am. Get me now." And so I did. And guess what? I saved bucks buying it. It's worth only 35pesos. I'm so happy Mr. Caulfield. Here's "The Return of the Native" by Thomas Hardy.

Yours forever,

Judy

On Graduation Gifts and Books

It's graduation month again and this year, the family has three graduates; one is my VetMed sister, Doreen, the other two include my seminarian cousin, Jocon, and my other cousin, Dave, who has just graduated last Tuesday. Of course, I'm thinking of something to give them as my graduation gift (even if I'm almost there in the BROKENNESS stage).

I can't think of anything else but a book, I'm telling you. I know, I know. They're not very fond of reading. My sister honestly admits it. And I believe the two cousins are, too. But I want them to read anyway so I decided to award them with BOOKS after their toilsome years READING schoolbooks. I want them to realize (hopefully they will) the wonders and awesomeness there is on books- outside their regular readings, of course. And most of all, I want them to read not because they feel they ought to (else, they stop getting passing grades) but because their hearts want them to. Oh well, I'll give you a glimpse of my present to my cousin, Jocon. Here it is:

It's called Einstein's Enigma. Haven't read the book myself yet but I'm quite sure it's going to be an interesting read. I based it on the reviews. :-P

By the way, here's US during his graduation.

I'm second from the right.

 Ok, before this blog gets (TOO) personal.

Wednesday and Randomness

The bf and I were talking about The Lorax (the movie) last night and I butted in that Despicable Me is also based on a Dr. Seuss book which got him confused because all he thought was that it's not. I said I saw it being advertised on HBO the other night and my peripheral auditory and ocular sense said that both movies are stories by one and the same person. The boyfriend is not that convinced since he has more ideas (than me) about the books of Dr. Seuss so he said he'll research it. I (tried to) stand with what I believed was true during the course of our conversation. Nevertheless, the confusion deprived me of sleep last night so I also made my own research the moment I woke up. Here's what I got and I think I was wrong. It's just that both movies are by the same creators so that must be what the advertisement was trying to say. The boyfriend won!

* * * *

Anyway, I'm glad to say that I am back. Back to my old books. My old Accounting books. While the latest editions are still being displayed on a bookshelf, waiting for my touch and my brains ^_^, I will have to use the old ones for the meantime. The thought of the next seven "not-very-normal" months is kind of scary but all I pray for is a safe journey and a happy ending. May God bless me on this endeavor! See you, CPA! Amen.
 

P.S. I'll post my new accounting books when I get to buy them. Maybe next week.

* * * * 

Me: Please lend me your new books. I'd love Eragon! Bring it as your pasalubong for me!

BF: You're already done reading your latest books?

Me: Sort of. I'm done with all the interesting ones.

BF: Even the last Jessica Zafra?

Me: The 8th Twisted? Yah. I still have books waiting to be (re)opened here,know that? They're kind of boring, though? Want to know?

BF: Oh?

Me: My accounting books.

(superhugs Accounting books! We're friends!)

* * * *

The bestest roommate in the world, Kimchu (I've missed the girl) copied it for me.

The pic reminds me of new and happy things. I forgot which particular verse in the Bible is it but it (somehow) goes like "God's love is new every morning!" Yeah, so have a happy and refreshed Wednesday!

Hugs,

Pepay

Christmas 2011 Books

These are some of my December, 2011 purchases. I bought all of this in a single day in two bookstores.

These books tell stories on how they got into my hands.

Here goes my stories. 

1.) Hypnotizing Maria

I found the book displayed at the left wing entrance of Robinson's Iloilo. I thought they were from Booksale instead of NBS because all the books displayed there are Php100.00 and below. I saw the blue cover in the book crowd and realized it's Bach's, the author of one of my fave short stories, Jonathan Livingston Seagull. I checked and rechecked the price because I couldn't believe my eyes. I didn't think twice. I grabbed the book. I went to NBS-SM Iloilo right after. I checked the price. It is worth Php699.00. I almost jumped for joy!; 

2.) Artemis Fowl-Opal Deception

I bought it together with Hypnotizing Maria. It's one of the series and I remember reading the first book way back in college. I enjoyed it so I decided to buy another one.; 

3.) Nick Joaquin's May Day Eve and Other Stories

I bought it at NBS SM Iloilo. I'm a Nick Joaquin fan and this is my second collection of him. the first one was the Summer Solstice and other Stories.; 

4.) Song of Fire and Ice's Game of Thrones (First Book)

I've just finished reading The Lord of the Rings a week ago and believed it to be genius and that Tolkien is worth all my bows and respect. I tried to look for another  one,so my earnest desire to geniuses won't stagnate and so when I scanned the Game of Thrones, I never doubted that it won't fail my expectations. It's a really good timing that the boyfriend was also watching the TV series and I decided to give it to him for a Christmas present. I'll buy myself another copy. :))    

Little Books, Big Stories (Happy Reading!:o)

That's me and my new, little book, Of Mice and Men. I was supposed to buy The Grapes of Wrath by the same author but I was not able to find one in NBS-SM Iloilo so I decided to pick this one instead.

Here's another choice. I wanted to discover Gaiman and his so-called magic so I grabbed this paperback. And that's Grisham from behind. The cooling pad is absent so I got to use Grisham as a substitute for the meantime. :))

Diary Talks

I am a diary enthusiast since Grade V. I used to write my entries religiously until life became not so normal at all and my time allocation for pouring my heart out to my diary became limited and at times, wild. Added to that is the advent of blog sites and my discovery of typing, instead of writing what I wanna say. Anyway, I still maintain one diary right now and though my entries aren't as often anymore, I still love reading and re-reading my own handwriting whenever I have time. I have a box of diaries and journals full of little pieces of ME and one of my most fave is the 2009 Starbucks Planner given to me as a Christmas present by my boss when I was still working in Manila. Here she is. 

She is a she and I call her Lady. I purposely put the wristwatch when I took the picture for me to be reminded that every entry that I'm going to write is counted as "REALLY BEING ALIVE". Time is of the essence, that's what this picture wants to convey.

My daily entries. (in red ink)

Royal Book Shelves

 

The sight that made my weekend vacation in Kalibo a WOW!

Ain't it a beauty?

When you enter Royal Supermart here in Kalibo, these are the first things that you could lay your eyes on. There are a couple of bookshelves located in the center lane wherein entrants- whether or not the purpose is to buy books- could readily see a variety of titles, colors, and authors that they could grab whenever they wanted to. I was just amazed that when I checked it out today, their stocks are this "many". I said so because the last time I went here, there are only limited choices and the arrangement is not this artsy. The bookshelves in Royal are one of the very few places here in Aklan wherein one could purchase, or at least have a good glimpse at books.

The Small Time Book Investor

Me: I don't borrow money to buy books. I buy only when I have money.

BF: You cannot consider yourself a book luster, then.

Me:Why not? Whenever I have money, the first things I buy are books. Nothing else. I borrow money only when I no longer have something to buy for what I eat.

An old pic with my purchases.