Required Reading 2013: December

Next to November, my birth month, December comes in a close second as my favorite month of the year. December comes as an obvious choice because it's Christmas, but I love it now also because it's my daughter's birth month. Truly, it's the most wonderful time of the year! Don't you just love how everything is so bright and colorful with all the Christmas decorations, and despite the horrible metro traffic and mall crowds, the air is filled with that delicious and excited hum that's associated with  Christmas? :D

image source

I'm sorry, I know I rambled there. But I'm pretty sure you get the idea, so on to this month's required reading list! :)

But first, a quick look at my reading accomplishments last month:

• The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster - The book club's book for the month. My first Auster. Layers and layers of fiction. 5/5

• Drown by Junot Diaz - Yunior's story comes full circle, and I have finally completed all of Junot's works! Yay! 5/5.

• Don't Forget the Soap (And Other Reminders From My Fabulous Filipina Mother) by Marie Claire Lim Moore - Joined a blog tour for this. Loads of useful parenting tips. 5/5.

How awesome is it that all the books I read on my favorite month are five-starrers? That's just like icing on the (birthday) cake. I'm still reading The History of Love by Nicole Krauss and almost at the halfway mark. Hopefully I'll be able to finish it soon, as well.

For the last and final month of the year, here is what I have decided to read:

• Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel - This was actually my gift for myself last Christmas, and began the year reading it. Unfortunately, I was unable to get into it, and I dropped it entirely after I felt that, perhaps, I just wasn't in the mood for it at the time. I put it on hold for the rest of the year and it only seems apt to end the year with it, as well. Here's hoping I could get into the groove with you, Thomas Cromwell. ;)

The book club is reading Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone as the book of the month, and we're having a Potter Christmas as well. But since I have already read all the Harry Potter books and am not a huge fan of rereads, that one did not make it on my December list. But I'm excited for the discussion soon! ;)

Have a bookish Christmas, friends! :)

"Ngumiti si Andoy" Blog Tour: Excerpt Reveal

Today, November 30, is the date of birth of the man Filipinos call the "Father of the Philippine Revolution" or, in Filipino, "Ama ng Himagsikan." What better to way to commemorate this hero's birth than participating in the blog tour promoting a local children's book about the Supremo himself, Andres Bonifacio? :)

Pangunahing Detalye
Kuwento ni Xi Zuq
Guhit ni Dominic Agsaway
Inilimbag ng Adarna House (2013)

Tungkol sa Aklat
Ngumiti si Andoy. Ito ang simula ng kuwento ni Andrew na nagsimula sa kanilang Heroes Park. Gusto lamang niya na iguhit ang estatwa ni Andres Bonifacio nang matuklasan niya ang ilang lihim sa buhay ng bayani.

Sa pagdiriwang ng ika-150 kaarawan ni Andres Bonifacio, inihahandog ng Adarna House ang Ngumiti si Andoy, isang aklat tungkol sa buhay ng bayani. Batay ang kuwento at guhit ng aklat sa mga nagwagi sa 2013 Philippine Board on Books for Young People-Salanga at Alcala Prize [pbby.org.ph]. Hanapin ang Ngumiti si Andoy sa Adarna House showroom at sa pinakamalapit ng book store sa inyo.

Para sa higit pang kaalaman tungkol sa aklat, bisitahin ang pahina nito sa Goodreads. 

Excerpts

Tungkol sa Manunulat

Si Xi Zuq ay isang guro, manunulat at mambabasa mula sa Lungsod ng Heneral Santos. Kasapi siya ng Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (KUTING) at Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA). Bisitahin siya sa www.xizuqsnook.com.




Tungkol sa Gumuhit

Si Dominic Agsaway ay isang ilustrador ng komiks at librong pambata. Siya ay miyembro ng Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan. Nagtapos siya sa Unibersidad de Santo Tomas (UST) at madalas rin tumambay sa parke habang naghihintay ng sundo. Maaari ninyo siyang ma-email sa agsaway@gmail.com.

Don't Forget the Soap: A Blog Tour Review

Becoming a mother is one of the things that has made me a fulfilled and complete person, and everyday, I am thankful that my husband and I have been blessed with a darling little girl almost three years ago. Since then (well, maybe even before then, I just didn’t realize it until later), I promised myself that I would try my very best to be a good mother and role model to my daughter, to raise her the best way I know how, always keeping in mind the values instilled in me by my own parents. As a mother, my fervent wish is for my child to grow up to become a well-rounded, disciplined and successful person, and for her to also become a good mother to her own children someday.

That is why Don’t Forget the Soap (And Other Reminders from My Fabulous Filipina Mother) was such a hit with me.

To say that I enjoyed reading this collection of stories from the real-life experiences of the author, Marie Claire Lim Moore (whom I admire, by the way - who wouldn't?) and her immigrant Filipino family would be an understatement. This book is overflowing with lessons on family, love and life that it could just as well be a mother's personal parenting bible that she can occasionally consult for advice or even just inspiration. Unlike your run-of-the-mill self-help or advice books, though, the lessons dished out in Don't Forget the Soap are told by way of funny anecdotes and humorous stories, making them sound more effective, real, and less preachy.

I loved the dynamics of the relationships that existed in the author's family: I loved how the author's parents (and especially her mother) inculcated discipline in their children without resorting to corporal punishment (my husband and I are totally sold on the "good cop, bad cop" style of dealing with kids), I was envious of how close the author and her younger brother are (my own sibling and I didn't exactly go the same route), and I admired how the values and ideals that their parents have imbued in them when they were young have been instrumental in the shaping of their future. It is clear that the Lim kids – the author and her brother – would not be where they are today if they did not heed their parents' advice and considered them every step of the way. The rules and limitations that their parents have set upon them, how they were strict to a certain degree or lenient, if need be, were clearly effective. In this respect, I know that I could take a leaf or two out of their own family book – for that is what Don't Forget the Soap is all about, really – and file it away for future reference. My own family can surely benefit from the reminders in this book.

It was also fun to read about stuff that I recognize from my own adolescent years, because I am also a child of the late 70's and 80's, and because my own family has been on the receiving end of those balikbayan boxes that our relatives used to ship from abroad: boxes of imported corned beef and other canned food (yes, those with the "keys" on the side), packages of soap, shampoo and various toiletries, used clothing and even toys, and a whole bunch of other stuff crammed into whatever space was available. In the early 90's, when I was a bumbling and awkward teenager, Beverly Hills 90210 had its popular run (until now, my favorite is still Jennie Garth, aka Kelly), and I could only remember watching foreign or "canned" TV shows because my parents strictly banned local sitcoms in our household, declaring that we wouldn't learn anything of value from watching them. No one in our family met the Aquinos, but I know them because my parents are staunch loyalistas. So in the end, reading Don't Forget the Soap wasn't only about picking up parenting or homemaking tips, but it was also a trip of sorts down memory lane. And it was a lot of fun.

And because the author has declared in the first part of the book that she makes lists, I'll make my own list of the top five things that I like most about this book:

(1) "Who's going to tell you... [insert name of friend here]??" Or the important distinction between parents and friends. 

(2) "You can make mistakes and you can disappoint us but whatever happens, don't let your parents be the last to know." I was guilty of this when I was younger and it is only now I realized how important this advice is. It'll be a different ballgame with my daughter.  

(3) "Good cop, bad cop" parenting style.  

(4) "If your emotional abilities aren't in hand, if you don't have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can't have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far." Or how sympathy and understanding can be even more important than IQ. 

(5) Every single item that falls under the "Practical Tips" chapter. Martha Stewart, move over. :D

Highly recommended for parents and for those who are planning to start their own families soon. Oh, and don't forget the soap!

Book Details: E-book from the author (Thank you!) 
Rating: ★★★★★

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Bookmarks Galore [13]: US bookmarks

Two of my friends recently went abroad - one to Guam, the other to the US mainland - and had these lovely, lovely presents for me: bookmarks! :D

Wooden surfboard bookmark from Guam. Thank you cousin Tina! :D

Good ole Abe and one of his more famous quotes. From my officemate Millie.

These bookmarks came with other goodies as well. I just have the most awesome friends! ;)

Filipino Friday 2013 (5): What Do Readers Want?

Today is supposed to be the last Friday before the 3rd Filipino ReaderCon set for tomorrow, but because of inclement weather courtesy of super-typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda, the Head of the Core Committee, acting promptly, has rescheduled it to December 7, still at the same venue. Personally, I felt a little sad because (1) we excitedly rushed through the preparations at my book club; (2) I was truly looking forward to do some volunteer work and (3) I was so excited to meet my favorite authors and just be part of a fun, bookish event. But I know that the decision to postpone had to be made quickly and decisively. After all, safety is a primordial consideration. Anyway, this postponement just gives everyone involved more time to prepare, if they’re not prepared already, and more time to look forward to the big event! :)

Since it's a Friday today, let's not forget that there's a Filipino Friday up for this week!

What do readers want?
What’s your favorite genre/reading material?
Who is your favorite author (local or foreign)?
What kinds of books would you like to see more of from local authors or publishers?
What is your favorite book from a Filipino author?

What’s your favorite genre/reading material? Being an eclectic reader, I read all kinds of genres – that is, I will read basically any book or reading material from any genre – but I tend to gravitate towards general fiction. It is in this genre that I have read the most books.

Who is your favorite author (local or foreign)? For the local authors, my favorite is Eliza Victoria. For the foreign ones, I can’t just name one! They all have to be mentioned: Kazuo Ishiguro, David Mitchell, Jeffrey Eugenides, Neil Gaiman, Yann Martel, Khaled Hosseini, among others.

What kinds of books would you like to see more of from local authors or publishers? The kind of books that the authors I have mentioned above write. More general fiction stuff.

What is your favorite book from a Filipino author? So far, there are two, but both are short story anthologies: A Bottle of Storm Clouds: Stories by Eliza Victoria, and Alternative Alamat, edited by Paolo Chikiamco.

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Head on over to the Filipino ReaderCon website for other Filipino Friday participants this week, and for more activities in anticipation of the rescheduled event on December 7! :)

The Sandman, Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes

by Neil Gaiman (Writer); Sam Kieth (Illustrator), Mike Dringenberg (Illustrator), Malcolm Jones III (Illustrator), Karen Berger (Introduction)

One of my husband's favorite authors is Neil Gaiman; in fact, he was the one who introduced me to his works. He's read American Gods, Anansi Boys, Stardust, and The Graveyard Book, to name a few. But he has yet to read the Sandman graphic novels back then – this was just a year or so before we got married. So on one special occasion (what it was, exactly, escapes me now) I decided to gift him with the complete Sandman graphic novels set – all ten of them. It took me some time to collect all, but I did, thanks to the awesome staff at the old Powerbooks branch at the nearby mall. The novels have been with us for years now, proudly displayed on our shelf, but I mustered the courage (yes, courage) to pick up the first volume only recently.

I was blown away.

Dream, aka Morpheus, is the protagonist. The story begins when Dream is inadvertently released from years of imprisonment by Roderick Burgess, a sorcerer/magician who sought to capture Death but ensnared her younger brother Dream instead (yes, her). Upon his escape, Dream realizes that during his captivity, he has lost the three totems or "tools" containing his power: a pouch of sand, a helm and a ruby. Thus he begins the quest to recover his treasures, traveling all the way across cities and down to Hell to reclaim them.

My basic and recurring problem with graphic novels has always been this: I tend to lose myself in the illustrations – literally. I would more often than not find myself unable to follow the chronology of the text, depending on how and where they are situated on the page. I’m usually at a quandary over whether I should gloss over the illustrations first and try to grasp the scene from them, or read the text first so that I could at least assess where the drawings will point me. There are times I would not comprehend the meaning of a certain drawing, what it seeks to convey. In this particular work, there was an illustration where I didn’t get that I was supposed to be seeing something from Dream’s point of view – that I shouldn’t be looking at an object from a third person’s detached viewpoint, but rather, from the narrator’s himself – Dream’s. When I saw that panel, I had to consult my husband about it, and it was only when he explained that I fully understood. Okay.