books i've read in 2015

In the beginning of 2015, one of the goals I've set is to finish a book each month. I like reading for the obvious reasons, but it hasn't been a habit of mine. In the past years, months can pass by without me picking up a book. This year, though I did not exactly achieve my goal of one book per month, at least I was only a couple of books shy. I didn't make an actual list of the books that I've finished while I finish them, so I'm not sure of the number in my final list. As far as I have remembered, I finished ten, and here they are:

1. Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham
2. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
3. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
4. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
5. It was the Best of Sentences, It was the Worst of Sentences by June Casagrande
6. Landline by Rainbow Rowell
7. Tell No One by Harlan Coben
8. Who Loves You Best by Tess Stimson
9. Mockingjay  by Suzanne Collins
10. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Ten would seem like a joke for a real bookworm, but I'm happy with this number because I'm a slow reader and the only time I can dive my head into a book is while on the road. I can't seem to focus on a story if I'm at home, which is weird because I assume one should be more inclined to read at home because of comfort, but not me.

I've finally made a Goodreads account, too. Just because. 

For next year, I think I'm going to do the same and allot one book per month just to get the routine going. Then hopefully, I'll be able to fulfill the list of books I want to read that I've written on my List App. I already have a copy of Anne Frank's Diary (given as a fulfillment of my wish for our team's exchange gift for Christmas, yay!) waiting for me to start on the new year.

Anybody else who wrapped up their own booklist for 2015? Please do share! I want to know your book recommendations :)

CAFFE BENE

At last, I have found my favorite coffee shop chain and branch! Caffe Bene (Korean-based) inside the SMX Convention Center.

I was coming out of the building when I passed by it and was immediately caught by the wooden interior (again, I know) PLUS the sight of only three to five customers at that time. Thought it was the perfect place to just read a book and pass time with a cup of coffee, without having to hear other people's conversation at the next table, so I wrote a mental note to visit it one time. I know they are are not libraries, but nothing annoys me quickly than a bunch of loud people at coffee shops (just the thought of it annoys me now).

So on one free afternoon, I brought a book, went and had a great, quiet time by myself. There was more people than the initial, but nothing that would distract me compared to if I was on Starbucks or CBTL. Couldn't be more impressed when I ordered a cup of cappuccino and thought that it was the best I have tasted so far. It was a perfect match to my book at that time :)

P.S. I love Rainbow Rowell's Attachments! Beth and Jennifer's email exchange are so funny :D Can't remember the last time smiled and laughed with a book. I was instantly captured by Rainbow Rowell that I just purchased Eleanor and Park yesterday, and I cannot wait to dive on her story again :)

AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED

Khaled Hosseini's latest book took a different path for me compared to his previous releases that I've read, The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns -- which both ripped my heart apart. The setting moved a lot, almost every chapter, which inevitably made it hard for me to focus and invest only into one character. Of course it didn't take away the fact that it is still a good story, and that Mr. Hosseini is still one of the best story-tellers that I've come to know. His choice of words are simple and relatable, yet so perfect and skilled in fleshing out the emotions present in the story, one thing that is truly admirable.

It's a funny thing, but most people mostly have it backward. They think they live by what they want. But really, what guides them is what they're afraid of. What they don't want.

THE ETERNAL LIST

I am not particularly a list person. I think it's a thing only meant for the neat and orderly; two adjectives that I will never categorize myself in haha, so here goes a photo-list of the things I badly want to do now (and almost always, apparently).

1. Shoot

I always mentally plan to go out/somewhere every week just to shoot. But I never do. I have not gotten my rolls of film developed for almost two months now because a roll would seem to take me forever to finish. 

2. Read

Office work do not count. I want to have a satisfying leisure read, be buried into somebody else's piece of imagination and get my head out inspired and renewed.



3. Write

Obviously, if you don't read, you can't write. I am having such a HARD time to write these days, and more noticeably for the last year (something who writes in her day job should not say). I was never a good writer, but if I wanted to, I knew I could come up with something readable. Not now. It feels like something was switched off. I can't recognize the same familiarity anymore. It is painful every time I try. And with this, I came up with the theory: My sense of expression has been sliced off from writing and diverted to film photography.

(Ironically, this item has the most number of words in the entire list).

4. Go to a coffee shop

Preferably with a friend (more preferably with the bestfriend), and/or while doing #3. The cozier, the better. Let's pretend coffee won't cause my teeth to fall off.



5. Travel

I want to get out of here! Here being any of the following:

• this town
• this country
• this lifetime :p

At this point, it doesn't matter if it is on a beach or a crowded city. Somewhere I can do items 1 to 4 altogether (but not simultaneously hehe).

BOOK COMFORT

Felt a bit dragged from what seemed to be endless pages of documents from work last Monday. Ironically, I still hungered for some leisure reading as an ice breaker since it’s only the start of the week.

There’s really an inexplicable freedom within the confines of these shelves! Ah, there goes the irony again. Spent at least an hour going around, stopping, touching books and flipping through them. It was quite a battle before I ended up in the counter, but I’m thoroughly enjoying what I have picked up since then: Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol :)

You bury yourself in a book and the world stretches before you.

SEASONS CHANGE

Radio used to be my company during mornings, and by radio I mean The Morning Rush with Chico and Delle. However, since Gino joined the duo and changed the dynamics to The Kikay Barkada, it’s just not the same anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for their success now, I still love Chico and Delle, but I really just can’t stomach Gino anymore. I hate it how I have to sacrifice not listening to the original duo — laugh with them like I used to and listen to their interesting conversations, just because there’s this one guy that makes me cringe every time he opens his mouth.

Whatever Gino’s bringing to the table is just not my cup of tea. Chico and Delle will always have my adoration and respect though. Sure, I might tune in once in a while but probably not as a daily routine like it was anymore. I wish I enjoy Gino, but no.

So now, to make the most out of the two-hour trip to the office every morning, I’ve started to bring a book with me. I feel lucky that I don’t get dizzy or nauseous whenever I read a book or watch a movie in a moving vehicle now, considering that I used to barf on air-conditioned cars/buses when I was a kid. I used to read e-books too on my phone but then it was snatched from me while on a bus just about a month ago, so there.

I’m currently hanging out with Toru and Naoko of Norwegian Wood, by Haruki Murakami. I’ve bought this book months ago and got to read a few pages but I got bored too early on the reading. I don’t know what was up with me that time because I’m enjoying reading it now.

Seasons change, I guess :)

MADE SEVERAL FRIENDS THIS WEEK

I am quite surprised myself that I have been on a book roll these past few days. Matter of fact, this is the first time that I have read books consecutively. I think it’s because of the convenience these ebooks bring, that I could easily take my phone out and dive in to these stories:

Proof of Heaven by Dr. Eben Alexander III

A neurosurgeon falls into a coma after his brain was “soaked in pus” due to meningitis and tells the story of his journey to “afterlife”. This is a little bit tricky since most people think near-death experience is only a product of our imagination or whatsoever. Personally, I don’t think the man’s only making up a story for bucks. I saw one of his interviews (with Oprah), and he pretty much told snippets of his story just like how he did it in the book. I’m giving credit to his consistency. Who knows, right?

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

First book I’ve read where one of the lead characters is gay. Honestly, I’m a little ashamed of myself with the plot of this book. But it’s only then I have also realized how the two authors blended so well. It’s not until in Chapter 8 where I realize that there are two Will’s in the story. I don’t know if that info was a spoiler or what, but I felt stupid for a while after realizing what I should have known in the first place. Why some chapters started with upper case letters and the others did not. If you’ve read it, you know what I mean already.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

I have to say I have enjoyed this book in a different level. The book is narrated by Christopher Boone, a 15-year old boy with behavioral problems determined to find out who killed Wellington, his neighbor’s dog struck down by a garden fork. Somehow, I felt Mark Haddon was sneaking in to my mind, making me think like Christopher, fooling my mind that I am Christopher, and that I’m not just reading someone’s imagination. Great narration!

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

I’m really not fond of romance-themed books (I usually find them at a certain level of cheesiness) but there’s something in the way Layken and Will were written that I didn’t mind having to go through their love story. Young adult-ish, but not really. This is the first part in the two-book series, which leads me to:

Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

A continuation of Layken and Will’s love story, introducing their much mature sides as they went on to life’s unexpected happenings. I tell you this book has put me on the edge of anticipation just to give me a bluff! Hahaha. And it’s the good kind. ‘Butterflying’ good :)

I’ve enjoyed a lot of the last two books that I am going to start Colleen Hoover’s latest book Hopeless :) Been hearing raves about it. I’m also hoping I don’t lose interest in reading any time soon. I love the feeling of having accomplished going over these stories.

Let’s see if get to do this book summary again ;)

STORIES AND LIVES MID-AIR

Only seven of these books are finished. What a shame.