UPDATE POST | September book haul + reading slump + future plans

old photo i took that i never shared anywhere :)

Hello,

I've been out for around two or three weeks now. I've been busy with uni. We had an event and I was one of the heads of the event. It turned out okay. Not what I was hoping for but I'm super glad it's done. Then, our thesis deadline was pushed one week earlier than usual so I had to work on it immediately after the event. It was super stressful. And a new problem rose during that time and until now, topic defense done and all, we did not talk about it. I still hope things work out though.

ANYWAY, setting all sad talks aside, let me get on with things.

{ SEPTEMBER BOOK HAUL }

Wuthering Heights (Random House UK, 2016) by Emily Bronte | Wuthering Heights (Penguin Books, 2012) by Emily Bronte | Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie | The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins | Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins | Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins | Seveneves by Neal Stephenson | A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab | The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman | The Last Star by Rick Yancey | Dark Matter by Blake Crouch| Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

This is a suuuuuuuper late book haul post. But better late than never, yes? These are my #MIBF2016 book haul. I mentioned them before but never had the chance to actually post them here :)

Why Do I Blog? -- Here goes my blogging journey!

book party!

I was thinking of how I'm going to go around my Birthday Post this year. And I came across this really great post by Emily @ Forever Literary a couple of days back. It's a post that actually made me think about my blogging journey -- how I started; why I continued; why do I even bother posting; and all the experiences I had.

For me, Emily's post is a call to look at one's experiences, enjoyment, and maybe passion in blogging and not his/her blog followers or blog statistics. Yes, of course they are important if you are hoping to grab advance copies of books. But do those statistics/number of followers define us as bloggers?

No.

BUT that's not what I'll talk about here. Emily has definitely done an AMAZING job in sharing her thoughts about the issue (or what she wants everyone to really look at about the matter). What I'll go around here is just some plain personal insights on my blogging journey. She made me think about all of these as I read her post. This is my Birthday Post anyway. So I think it's okay for this to be personal.

So here goes nothing!!

[WEEKLY MUSING] Querna Dose Release Event!

Hello,

Last, LAST, Saturday (April 16), my sister, Gelleesh, and I went to the release event party of C.C. Gaño's Querna Dose. It's my first release event. I was able to meet Celine Gaño and have my copy signed :) She's really nice and would like to treat her readers as friends. Let me give a rundown of my experience:

[WEEKLY MUSING] Victoria Aveyard in PH!!

signed copy!!

Hello,

We all have our first times on things. Last Sunday was my first time to attend a book signing here in the Philippines. Here's a quick thought: it's as crazy as I see them in photos. Let me give a rundown of my uneventful experience last Sunday.

[WEEKLY MUSING] when I'm not reading...

live in the moment

Hello,

It's quite apparent that I've been (once again) busy - with thesis, projects, unexpected obligations as university organization officer and such. This past week has been a whirlwind of crazy events and I'm so glad that even though it's finally our pre-finals week, I'll get that lay-low moment from everything.

After the crazy events in Friday that really stressed the hell out of me and my friends, I decided to de-stress by doing things I love. While it did include reading, I'd love to talk about in this post, the things I love to do aside from reading.

[WEEKLY MUSING] 10 of my Book Cruhes and/or Fave (male) Characters

tell me i'm not dreaming alone (against the current)

Hello,

It's Valentine's Day and I spent the lovely day with my family. I've read a couple of pages of Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger. And now, I'll be working on my univ. homework. Ugh.

Anyway, since I didn't do anything that screams Valentine's Day today, I decided to create a list of my book crushes (or book boyfriends!!) and or fave male characters in books. Just because why not?

Peter Kavinsky (To All the Boys I've Loved Before Duology) | Dorian Havilliard (Throne of Glass Series) | Frank Porter (Since You've Been Gone) | Ben Parish aka Zombie (The 5th Wave Series)

These are my top book crushes. I don't usually swoon over characters but when I do, I just end up fangirling so hard over them (you can go ask my younger sister for it).

[WEEKLY MUSING] 6 Tips on Finding Out Mystery Suspects

...because Queen of Mystery

Hello,

If you've been following my blog for a few months now, you'd probably know that I'm a mystery and crime fiction reader (at least I hope you noticed that). My addiction with crime fiction and mystery thrillers, in general, started when I came across Robert Galbraith's The Cuckoo's Calling. It was a crazy attempt since crime fiction was so out of  my comfort zone then.

Anyway, after reading a decent amount of YA mysteries, mystery-thrillers, crime fictions, and cozy mysteries, I came up with this crazy list.

[WEEKLY MUSING] The 5th Wave Movie

i hate taking photos at night -___-

Hello,

Last Sunday we went out and watched The 5th Wave. I didn't like it.

I like the book but I have to admit that I wasn't that of a big fan. I like the storytelling. I like the thrill. I like Zombie. I like Ringer. I like Nugget. I like the entire Squad 53. I like Cassie. I don't like Evan. I don't like Cassie's relationship with Evan.

BEN PARISH IS DEAD.
I don't miss him. Ben was a wuss, a crybaby, a thumb-sucker.
Not Zombie.
Zombie is everything Ben wasn't. Zombie is hardcore. Zombie is badass. Zombie is stone-cold. -p213

This few words from the book honestly got stuck to me. You know, because is Zombie is my fave.

This post is mostly me raging about the things I DID NOT LIKE about the movie. Don't hate.

[WEEKLY MUSING] 2016 Reading Challenge

Hello,

This year, I decided not join any Reading Challenge just so I don't have to track anything or such. I guess that's just me being lazy and not trying to actually commit myself to anything. Instead of joining individual challenges, I decided to just place everything in here. At the very least, I'm in control of what I want to achieve and not just read a certain something (unless I join every reading challenge possible).

I want a little bit of everything which is why I decided to just create my personal reading challenge instead of tediously joining every challenge available and updating everything once or every other month. I started my Book Journal this year so that will help me track everything I'll be reading this year along as well as  this challenge.

[WEEKLY MUSING] Fave 2015 Reads

some of my fave reads

Hello,

I'm obviously late for the party. Everyone else have posted their fave lists. But better late than then never, yeah?

2015 was a great and crazy year (kind of feels that I describe everything the same way.. ugh). I'm so glad to have tried and several new authors and series yet disappointedly finished only a couple or so. Turns out, it's 2015 when I started reading the Lunar Chronicles and Throne of Glass which I both fell in love with. I started a few series such as The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer which I'd love to continue but still can't seem to do so for various reasons.

[WEEKLY MUSING] 2016 Releases I Can't Wait to Read

Hello,

I usually post my weekly musings on Sundays but I didn't open my laptop (or maybe barely open it) since my Christmas vacation started. I've been so busy with wrapping my and my mom's gifts and buying them - definitely tiring but certainly one of my fave things about Christmas.

In my last weekly musing post, I shared books I'd like to read before the year ends. I'm currently reading Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas and I'm really loving it. I do see why everyone likes it more than the first book - the development that's going on around Celaena, Chaol, and Dorian is crazy. While I think my ship just sunk, I think that I'll still enjoy this series.

Anyway, here are books I'd really LOVE to get my hands on and immediately read once they are released this 2016:

Morning Star (Red Rising #3) by Pierce Brown. Golden Son ended in a cliffhanger - I mean just how did Darrow and Mustang ended there? And Fitchner!! And bloodydamn everything else!! ugh. I really just have a major NEED to read this book already!
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. Ruta Sepetys is an auto-buy author for me. When I found out that she'll have a new novel more so that it's a WWII novel, I knew I should read it. Between Shades of Gray was a heartbreaking but lovely read. With that in mind, I'm sure this one will be as good or hopefully even better.
Stone Field by Christy Lenzi. Saw this on a WoW post a few months back and found out that it's a Wuthering Heights Retelling which is one of the few non-Agatha Christie classics I've read and liked.
The Last Star (the 5th Wave #3) by Rick Yancey. The Infinite Sea was full of revelations that I'm still quite confused about. This final book will obviously clear everything and hopefully will have a satisfying ending.
Stars Above (the Lunar Chronicles Novella Collection) by Marissa Meyer. I still haven't read Winter. I know, I suck. My local bookstores suck. Anyway, while my three of my paperback books have three of the novellas that will be featured here, I still haven't read them (I feel so weird for not reading them).

[WEEKLY MUSING] Books I'd Like to Read Before 2016

some books I intend to read before the year ends

Hello,

2015 was a really great reading year for me. As of today, goodreads told me I've read 82 books out of my goal of 70. Before the year ends, I'd really love to read a few more books and maybe go around 100 read books for year.

Today, I decided to list down books I'd love to read before the year ends. I have more or less (actually less) three weeks to go before 2016. Impossible? Some part of me thinks it is but who knows? Christmas vacation is coming up so I think that I'll have a decent amount of time to actually read.

[WEEKLY MUSING] What makes a slow reader read slow?

My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga - one of the books I recently finish

Hello,

The other day, I was talking but maybe more like complaining to my sister why I'm such a slow read and she, a fast one. I'm such a slow reader. It makes a couple of days to finish a book. Two days at least for a 300 to 400-paged book - that is, if I'm not doing anything important. If I have classes or I'm really busy with something, it takes me a week a least to finish one.

Yes, I know.. I'm such a shame. But lately, I decided not to really think about that. I mean, sure I'm a slow reader but that's just the way I am. So after talking to my sister, I ponder for a bit and was able to come up with reasons why I'm such a slow reader.

[WEEKLY MUSING] Setting My TBR List

some books from my vacation tbr list

Hello,

SO, I'm having a month long vacation from university. Would have been 3weeks long but great thanks to the APEC Integration Meeting that's happening on November, 2nd semester starts a week delayed.

Anyway, I was talking to my young sister and I decided, together with her, that I tackle my huge TBR list! In my usual productive reading month, I read around 10 books. This time around I'd like to go around more than that. I hope to read around 20 books (which is really going overboard) but I set my challenge to 15 books :) at least 15 BOOKS IN 4WEEKS!! Not my usual number of reads but I really hope that I can do this..

[WEEKLY MUSING] #MIBF2015 Experience

Hello,

I'm sorry for the lack of content. I've been generally busy and always too tired almost every single day. But I've been reading. In fact, I recently finished Since You've Been Gone which I really, REALLY LOVED! Reviews will start coming up again starting this week. For now, let's talk about the 36th Manila International Book Fair!! :D

[WEEKLY MUSING] Binge reading a series. Yes? No? Sometimes?

the series that you should be reading right now.

Hello,

A couple of months ago before deciding to pick up The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, I was wondering whether I should or should not read it. I was wondering whether I should or should not wait for the final book. I was wondering whether I should read The Infinite Sea right after reading The 5th Wave or not since I already have it.

[WEEKLY MUSING] Finding the time to read.

current read: The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey; next read: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

... because sometimes we're just too busy with real life things.

Hello, 

While I battle with my reading slump, I'll give you guys an update. I'm breezing through my current reads lately. While I am not really loving The Infinite Sea as much as I enjoyed The 5th Wave, I'm still always so motivated to pick the book up every time I can. Damage Done is intriguing and quite suspenseful but the relationship between Julia and Michael just isn't smoothly developed for me.

[WEEKLY MUSING] Reading Slumps: When I'm Stuck and Can't Read...

some science fiction books I recommend :)

Hello,

So, in my book haul post, I mentioned that I've been busy. Very busy that I barely read. Worse thing is that I don't get motivated to read at all. I don't feel like reading a thing. July was a really bad reading month for me. 

[WEEKLY MUSING] Book Buying Bans and I will NEVER be friends

Hello,

Last week, it was raining so hard. Three school days were suspended due to heavy rains. It was really crazy. It brings me back to crazy experiences with strong rains and high floods years ago. As much as I'd like to enjoy this mini(and untimely)-vacation, I'm honestly disappointed because that means I won't have allowance which means that's three days less of savings. Ugh!

book buying ban promises are meant to be broken.
ANYWAY, when May started, I told myself that I won't buy any books. At all. But then, I always end up dropping by the bookstore near my school. For some reasons, bookstores are so attractive and it doesn't bother me even though I go there every single day (or maybe every other day because that's just overdoing it, or not?). The point is, I drop by several times. I even ended up almost memorizing the books they have. 

BUT one unfortunate day, my family and I went to the mall with this bookstore "with all the good stuff." And yeah, you know what happens next....

[WEEKLY MUSING] my undeniable relationship with mysteries

Hello, 

Last week, I posted that we're having a long weekend vacation. We went to a beach over at Zambales - Anawangin Cove. The place was great and very relaxing to look at. It was my one and only actual vacation this summer break and I think that it was totally worth it :)

book genres I bother with.
This past week, I actually had that moment of wondering about which books genres I really care about. I do know that I'm not fond of high fantasy since I didn't really enjoyed Shadow and Bone as well as The Young Elites. Please don't hate me. I do think that both books were really great. I was just not fangirling over those series. Well okay... I didn't really care about Shadow and Bone. Magics and shiz like that just don't attract me. But I'm still willing to try the genre :)
ANYWAY, as I ponder over the books I actually LOVE, I realized that aside from my typical YA reads: generally scifi-dystopian and contemporary-romance, I'm really inclined to reading mystery novels - could be YA mysteries, adult mystery-thriller, crime fiction (especially this!), police procedural/detective novels, and cozy mystery. Then I asked myself, WHY?