Follow Friday / Book Blogger Hop (1)

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After writing my blog award post last time, I realized that I don’t know too many book bloggers. Well, I know a lot of local book bloggers (yay Pinoys!), but for others? I hardly know any. I have a lot of book bloggers on my RSS reader, but none of them are really “friends”, or at least, people I get to interact with, if you know what I mean.

So let’s try this, shall we? :)

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and it aims to help book bloggers make friends with other bloggers all over the world. :)

This week’s question for Follow Friday is: What’s my amazing fantastic gorgeous book?

Oh this is kind of hard. Right now the first thing that came to mind is Justina Chen Headley’s North Of Beautiful. It has a gorgeous cover, and an equally beautiful story, too. :) It’s one of my best reads for 2010. :)

Book Blogger Hop

Over at Crazy for Books, Friday means it’s Book Blogger Hop! Like Follow Friday, Book Blogger Hop is a great way to get to know other bloggers, connect and make friends! The question for this week at Book Blogger Hop is: How many books do you have on your ‘to be read shelf’?

The last count? I had 40 actual books on my shelf that I haven’t read yet. I have three additional from today’s Sale haul, and I’m getting more books tomorrow with my friends as we bookstore hop. That’s not counting the ebooks I have in my iPod, which I feel will grow more once my mom arrives with my new toy. It’s a little overwhelming, honestly, but I know some people who have about 100+ books on their TBR. Now that’s a lot. I don’t know how I will find time to read the ones I haven’t read yet and I don’t think I can go on a book buying ban anytime soon because there are so many books coming, and it’s just hard to resist. :P

Which reminds me: I wish our house renovation gets done soon so I can start planning and saving for my new shelf. That should stop me from buying books for a while. I hope. :P

This weekend should be good. I am kind of apprehensive at what I may buy this weekend at our bookstore hopping (must. control!), but I’m also kind of excited. :) Let’s see. Happy Friday everyone! :)

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Teaser Tuesday: Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

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It’s been a while since I last did Teaser Tuesday, so let’s do it again. :)

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

  • Grab your current read.
  • Let the book fall open to a random page.
  • Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
  • You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

This week I’m taking a break from all fantasy/dystopia reads and settling for something in the ordinary, something that I can sort of relate to. I can’t relate to it 100%, but you get what I mean. This week’s read is Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway.

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

California high school student Audrey Cuttler dumps self-involved Evan, the lead singer of a little band called The Do-Gooders. Evan writes, “Audrey, Wait!,” a break-up song that’s so good it rockets up the billboard charts. And Audrey is suddenly famous!

Now rabid fans are invading her school. People is running articles about her arm-warmers. The lead singer of the Lolitas wants her as his muse. (And the Internet is documenting her every move!) Audrey can’t hang out with her best friend or get with her new crush without being mobbed by fans and paparazzi.

Take a wild ride with Audrey as she makes headlines, has outrageous amounts of fun, confronts her ex on MTV, and gets the chance to show the world who she really is.

It’s a hilarious read so far, and I love every character, especially crazy best friend Victoria! I’m only 1/3 done and I’m having so much fun, and I wonder what else can happen. :D

Here’s the teaser, one of the funniest parts I’ve read in the book so far. It’s kind of long, but I can’t not share it.

Victoria paused and I can tell she was trying not to smile. “Did you just say ‘frolic’?”

“Is it not a word?”

“Who the hell says ‘frolic’?”

I spun the lock on my locker and waited for it to stick like it always did on 33. “I say frolic,” I told her. “And more people should.”

“They should say frolic or actually frolic?”

“Both.” (p. 47-48)

Such an inane-sounding conversation, but it’s these parts that make this novel feel real. Don’t you think?

Share your teasers in the comments area — I wanna see what you’re reading. :)

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In My Mailbox (4)

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I meant to write an In My Mailbox post last week, but I was too tired from my second 10-km race that I just fell into bed the moment I got home. So this week’s In My Mailbox will cover a two-week period, because I actually have a lot to post about since the last.

You know what that meant, right? I know I said I won’t buy books anymore…but I. Can’t. Resist. Somebody stop me.

In My Mailbox is a weekly book meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren, where bloggers post about what books received that week, be it via  mailbox, library or store. I’ve separated the photos on the stash per week, and excuse the slightly crappy quality of the images — used my camera phone and it doesn’t have that good lighting, as compared to if I use proper ones, like Kichler lighting. I’ll make it up next week. :)

So, here’s last week’s stash:

  1. The God Box by Alex Sanchez
    (Powerbooks, P339, less 20%) I’ve been seeing Alex Sanchez’s books for a while now, but I have never picked any up because I think most of his works fall under LGBT. It’s just not really my thing. I got this one because this is a book that dealt with LGBT and religion. This is a very sensitive topic, one that I don’t think I always fully understand, so I thought this book should be an informative one, at least as far as my faith would be concerned.
  2. The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
    (Fully Booked, P399, less 10%) I remember seeing another version of this book at National Bookstore, but I passed it up. Then I saw a lot of good reviews and I couldn’t find the copy! It wasn’t until I was browsing in Fully Booked Eastwood when I saw it again, but I opted to get the other books first before this. I knew I would absolutely regret it if I don’t get it, so I finally caved in. I wanted to get it at the same time I got The Book Thief, but then I remembered I have a discount at Fully Booked, so I just got it there. Yay.
  3. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
    (Powerbooks, P339, less 20%) I think I heard about this first during the Goodreads meet up, but I didn’t know what it was until I saw the book. Should I even ask why I got it? It was highly recommended. Thank God for the sale.
  4. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
    (National Bookstore, P315, less 20%) So I wasn’t really planning on getting anything that Sunday, but when I got to National Bookstore, I remembered that it was also sale time! When I saw a paperback copy of this book, I just grabbed it. I’ve read so many good reviews about this that I was curious, and the hardbound is just a bit too expensive to splurge on. The best part is, I used my Laking National card (a loyalty points card in one of the bookstores in the Philippines) and used my accumulated points to get the book. In short, I sort of got this book for free. :)

And here’s this week’s stash!

  1. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
    (National Bookstore, P99) I already have a copy of this book, but when I saw the hardcover of this book for less than a hundred, I knew I had to get it. I don’t think I’ll be keeping it, though — I think I’ll put it up for giveaway on our next meet up. :)
  2. Press release pack for Table for Two by Marla Miniano from Summit Media
    I think it was Tuesday when I suddenly got called to the reception area at work. Turns out I have something from Summit Media, the press release pack for their newest novel, Table for Two. If I had known I’d be getting a free copy of this book, I would not have bought it! But then it’s okay. This means I can give away my extra copy, too. :)I have a feeling why I got a press package, though. Maybe it’s connected to some belated presents? I think so. Thanks, Ro! :)
  3. Catch a Falling Star by Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo
    (National Bookstore, P150) I wanted to get this other anthology, Stories When We Were Little (Women), I think, by the same author, but it was a bit too expensive for my budget. I wanted to get something local, and this was the cheapest one I found. I’ve heard so much about this author thanks to Sam. :)
  4. The Dead Of Night by John Marsden
    (National Bookstore, P339, less 75%) This isn’t really my kind of book. But I read Aaron‘s review for the first book, and thought I’d give it a try. But this isn’t the first book, so why did I get it? Aside from it being sale (got it for P84! How could I pass that up?), the Mighty Evil Overlord told me he would give me a copy of the first book as a gift. Getting ready for the series, I guess? :)

And that was the past two weeks for me in terms of books. Next week will be a bigger week because of the following: (1) a new toy is coming; and (2) Grace and Jana and I are planning to do a bookstore hopping day on Saturday, since it’s book sale season and it’s payday this week. Watch out for that. :)

What’s in your mailbox this week? I’d love to see your stash — leave a comment with the link so I can drop by. :)

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In My Mailbox (3)

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And…it’s another week is with good stash! Strangely enough, my wallet isn’t screaming bloody murder at me for buying so many books this week — maybe it’s because I got some extra funds from my freelance work. It’s not enough to get myself custom laptops, but it’s enough to get new books! :) That, and I got myself a Fully Booked discount card, so yay!

In My Mailbox is a weekly book meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren, where bloggers post about what books received that week, be it via  mailbox, library or store. Here’s what I got this week:

The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness

Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd has carried a desperately wounded Viola right into the hands of their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss. Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor’s new order. But what secrets are hiding just outside of town? And where is Viola? Is she even still alive? And who are the mysterious Answer? And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode…”The Ask and the Answer” is a tense, shocking and deeply moving novel of resistance under the most extreme pressure.

I wasn’t planning to buy any book this week, but Fully Booked sent me a message and told me my book is there…so I couldn’t just not get it. I also got my discount card that day, so I got another 5% off from the book. Awesomeness.

Audrey, Wait! by Robin BenwayAudrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

California high school student Audrey Cuttler dumps self-involved Evan, the lead singer of a little band called The Do-Gooders. Evan writes, “Audrey, Wait!,” a break-up song that’s so good it rockets up the billboard charts. And Audrey is suddenly famous!

Now rabid fans are invading her school. People is running articles about her arm-warmers. The lead singer of the Lolitas wants her as his muse. (And the Internet is documenting her every move!) Audrey can’t hang out with her best friend or get with her new crush without being mobbed by fans and paparazzi.

Take a wild ride with Audrey as she makes headlines, has outrageous amounts of fun, confronts her ex on MTV, and gets the chance to show the world who she really is.

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

These are the secrets I have kept. This is the trust I never betrayed.But he is dead now and has been for more than forty years, the one who gave me his trust, the one for whom I kept these secrets.

The one who saved me…and the one who cursed me.

So begins the journal of Will Henry, orphaned assistant to Dr. Pellinore Warthrop, a man with a most unusual specialty: monstrumology, the study of monsters. In his time with the doctor, Will has met many a mysterious late-night visitor, and seen things he never imagined were real. But when a grave robber comes calling in the middle of the night with a gruesome find, he brings with him their most deadly case yet.

Critically acclaimed author Rick Yancey has written a gothic tour de force that explores the darkest heart of man and monster and asks the question: When does a man become the very thing he hunts?

The day after I got my freelance pay, I had this weird urge to go to the bookstore. Okay, it’s not weird, but there’s the urge. I really just intended to browse, but then I saw Audrey, Wait! and I know there were good reviews for that, then I saw The Monstrumologist and remembered it was posted on the Fully Booked newsletter. Looked promising. I had to debate between that and The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan, but the cheaper book won.

Tall Story by Candy Gourlay

Andi is short. And she has lots of wishes. She wishes she could play on the school basketball team, she wishes for her own bedroom, but most of all she wishes that her long lost half brother, Bernardo, could come and live in London, where he belongs. Then Andi’s biggest wish comes true and she’s minutes away from becoming someone’s little sister. As she waits anxiously for Bernardo to arrive from the Philippines, she hopes he’ll turn out to be tall and just as mad as she is about basketball. When he finally arrives, he’s tall all right. But he’s not just tall …he’s a GIANT. In a novel packed with humour and quirkiness, Gourlay explores a touching sibling relationship and the clash of two very different cultures.

I found out about this one from Chachic and Tarie, and I was interested but I planned on waiting for it, but my editor asked me to review it. I got a copy of the book in Powerbooks Trinoma, after the Goodreads Filipino group meetup (will post about that later! :) ). I finished this one today and…well, expect a review, soon. :D

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

And my last purchase for the week. Highly recommended by…well, everyone, actually, so I thought it’s about time I got myself a copy. Plus I liked the sample, and the idea that the book is narrated by Death. I also have a feeling I’m going to cry in this novel — maybe it’s because of the WWII references? This is my second WWII novel (first one being The Last Time I Saw Mother by Arlene Chai, but I’m not sure if that counts).

And that’s it for this week. I think I’m going to curb my book buying after this…okay, maybe after I finally get that copy of  The Demon’s Lexicon in Fully Booked Eastwood. After that, I promise to stop! :)

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101 posts and counting

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I meant to write something that isn’t a review or a meme for my 100th post, but alas, I missed it. My 100th post is my second In My Mailbox post, and it’s not as monumental as…as…well, whatever I should have written. I would blame being sick for this lapse of coherent thought. Yes, I’d blame that.

So to my 101st post…what monumental thing should I write? Ah. I know.

Why do I have this blog?

See, it’s almost like asking myself, Why do I blog? But instead, I ask myself, why do I keep a book blog? Isn’t one blog enough? How can I possibly manage my time juggling one, two, three, four, five blogs? Why can’t I just stick all these book posts into my personal blogs?

To be honest, I never meant to create a book blog. I never really meant to get into niche blogging because I don’t have enough content and patience with keeping a niche blogs. How many blogs have I started that abandoned soon after? I started one for NaNoWriMo, another one for Script Frenzy, and there were other blogs that I can’t even remember anymore. I don’t think I’m too serious of a writer to have a serious writing blog, hence the now-stagnant fiction blog. I figure that the only niche blog I could manage is something related to books, because reading is something I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon.

It took me this year to start a book blog because I felt that my personal blog wasn’t a personal blog anymore. Books are a part of me (just ask my friends), so it could count as personal stuff, and I thought that was fine, up until a friend pointed out that I’m posting so many reviews but little about myself. Apparently, someone is still interested in reading that! So the book reviews petered out, until I stopped altogether, unless I just feel especially ecstatic about a book (or because I have some post links that I need to write — yes I earn money while blogging).

Come 2010, I wanted a different challenge. It’s hard to keep track of my reading challenges with just lists, and I admit that it’s getting harder and harder to write posts in my personal blog. I didn’t want to kill it entirely (since I do earn from it) but I didn’t know what to put. Call me a masochist, but I decided to pull the book posts out and put it in another place entirely so I can be pressured to think of posts for my personal blog.

With that, One More Page was born.

I know it’s not really the most noble reason to start a book blog. It’s more for me, really, to get me write more this year. In a way, it’s also for me to figure out why I have a personal blog and to keep it from being impersonal by just writing about books. While I try to maintain a personal touch with my book reviews and posts here, it’s not the same as the way I write about my faith or my day or some growing up realizations in my personal blog.

I’ve been blogging here for seven months, and truth be told, sometimes I still don’t have any idea what I am doing here. Strange, since I’ve been reviewing books for a while now. I admit I’m having a lot of blogger envy lately — not because of the ARCs or freebies that other book bloggers have, but with the community they all seem to be a part of. Seven months in, and I still feel a bit like a newbie, an outsider. I feel like I don’t read enough books, I feel like I don’t get enough activity here. I know these aren’t a measure of how good a book blogger I am (is there a way to measure it, really?), but sometimes I can’t help but feel quite…well, lonely.

I guess it’s also my fault because I’m mostly a lurker with other blogs. I leave comments, yes, but it’s not really the conversational type. I try to join the memes (can I just say how much I hate the word meme? Is there a better word to use? Ugh) out there, but I have yet to make a real connection, at least, book-blog wise. Against the other blogs out there, I just feel so mediocre. But then, I feel mediocre over other things, too, even if people tell me I’m good at it, so maybe that is just me.

I still like blogging, and I will never lose my love for books. And I don’t want to stop doing this, just yet, because I feel like I still have something to give, even if there are hundreds, even thousands of book bloggers out there.

I didn’t mean to be so down on this post, so I’m going to try to end it in a positive note: some affirmations for myself as someone who’s passionate over books (and writing). Here goes:

Affirmations:

  • I have something to say. Even if there are already 100+ reviews on a book that I will also be reviewing.
  • Sometime, Somewhere, someone will be inspired with what I wrote here and will go out and get the book I wrote about.
  • There’s no reason to have blogger envy. I am a part of a community of people who love books, and it’s an honor to be one of them. I just need to reach out.

Maybe when I get to my 1 year anniversary here, I’ll have a more coherent post on why I have this blog…but I guess for now, I’m just going to do what I do, find ways to improve myself with this, and hope that I make a difference somehow (I know, deep for something like a book blog, but still).

So here’s to post # 101.

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