Pounds Gained, Pounds Lost

The latest ebook to pass through my hands was 344 Pounds: How I Lost 125 Pounds by Counting Calories, by Shawn Weeks. It struck close to home, this book.

For the better part of the last decade I had a (losing) seesaw battle with the bulge. Gaining several pounds here, losing some a few months later, only for the weight to come back on with additional poundage in tow. Although I would consider it a wee bit depressing at times, I didn't really make a huge effort to stick to the changes I embarked on in a consistent fashion, namely dieting and exercising. Maybe because it seemed to smack too much of... sacrifice.

At the time I wasn't willing enough to "suffer" to lose weight, so I went back to my sedentary lifestyle, munched on my junk foods of choice, and pretended that everything was A-ok.

Then came the rude (and quite painful) awakening.

After enduring stomachaches that couldn't be alleviated by pain meds, I found out I had numerous gallstones and had to have my gallbladder removed. After the successful operation, I was actually given an all-clear to eat what I wanted, but "in moderation."

In moderation. Those two words seemed to be the key. It didn't mean I had to deprive myself of what I enjoyed eating, but I had to do so in reasonable, moderate quantities. And I definitely wasn't doing that in the past.

A previous blog post tackles this theme as well. At the time I wrote it in June 2011, I had lost 10 kg already. By the end of 2011, I had shed 25 kg, through a combination of brisk walking and running, as well as mindful eating (for the most part, at least).

People I know would actually be skeptical when I negated their assumption that I was taking something (pills, supplements and whatnot) in addition to my routine. I guess it's because as a society, we have been programmed to believe that we need pricey solutions to our problems, when in fact the fuse to light that spark to action actually lies within us.

The book's author chronicles his own journey from 344 pounds to losing 125 of them, without giving up his favorite snacks. The key was increased physical activity, and counting calories; in other dieting parlance, "portion control." Which is actually rooted in science anyway. Put in more than what your body needs, and you gain weight. Use up more energy than what you put in, and see the pounds fade away.

Throughout 2012, I managed to keep the weight off, give or take a few pounds during holidays, which I would try to lose once more after all the festivities had died down. This is also something that the author touched on: it's ok to fall off the proverbial wagon occasionally. That's cool, don't knock yourself over the head too much. As long as you come back the next day to make up for it.

It has not always been easy, but thinking of growing old as a healthy person is more than enough to keep the motivation alive.

Now that the holiday season has just concluded, it is time to walk those pounds away once more.

Kicking Off Another Year in Books

Six days into 2013. Seven books. And that's already interspersed with forays into Divisoria and Tagaytay. Not bad at all.

The Kindle has turned out to be one gadget that has worked waaay overtime for me. Out of the seven, six are electronic versions. The sheer convenience of carrying hundreds, even thousands, of books with you really ups the ante in favor of the Kindle.

That still doesn't diminish the allure of the printed book though -- at least for me. It's just made my physical book purchases more... streamlined, I guess, in that I only buy from the bookstores those volumes I would like as part of my bookshelves. There's no hard-and-fast rhyme nor reason, but in general, hardback reference tomes, recipe books, Filipiniana, and those volumes not readily available in electronic form -- these are the ones I physically go for nowadays.

Well, it reduces the impulse buys and the might-be-a-good-buy-but-not-sure-if-will-actually-be-a-good-read books.

On to what I've read so far this year:

1. The Christmas Cookie Club, by Ann Pearlman. I was searching for a light read, one that didn't require a lot of cerebral, philosophical musings. I wanted a feel-good book. I found it in this one. It was quite refreshing, showcasing vignettes in the lives of a dozen women who gather around Christmastime each year for their annual cookie fest, where each bakes thirteen dozen cookies to give to one another, plus an extra dozen for a charity of their choice. In this case, a hospice. Perfect for the holiday season, as it celebrates the warmth of female friendships. Oh, and the cookie recipes are a big bonus too!
2. The End of Your Life Book Club, by Will Schwalbe. It was the title that beckoned to me, at first glance. After reading a synopsis, my interest was piqued. This is a real-life account of one man's relationship with his mother who was suffering from terminal pancreatic cancer. A lot of their times together was spent dissecting books one or both had read, leading them to understand better what went on in each other's minds, and inadvertently forming a book club of two. As one who has lost a mother to breast cancer, this struck a bit close to home, albeit my mother and I didn't really have the book-based interactions that were the focus of the book.
3. I Wear the Shorts in this Family, by Charles Dowdy. The title hinted at a humorous view on family life. It was quite hilarious, really, with anecdotes that makes one think "Hmm, that one's verrrry familiar." It's like holding a mirror to one's family, seeing the quirks and sometimes-embarrassing eccentricities, and ultimately just accepting and enjoying it all.
4. Evergreen: A Christmas Tale, by Richard Taylor. Still in keeping with the just-finished holiday season, this was another take on the meaning of Christmas, of how to appreciate our blessings in the midst of difficulties. Told from the viewpoint of a man who recalled his grandfather's story of the very first Christmas tree. Short, but sweet.
5. Goodbye, Pert Breasts: The Diary of a Newborn Dad, by Ben Wakeling. Another funny title that caught my eye. However, this wasn't really an all-out laugh-fest as much as a roadmap for soon-to-be dads, like a "What to Expect When Your Wife is Expecting". Couched in humorous language, it actually is chock-full of facts, esp. for those living in the UK.
6. Why Me? by Sarah Burleton.  This was definitely not a feel-good book. It details the life of one girl at the hands of her violent mother and stepfather. While the author eventually was able to escape from her dangerous environment, the scars have remained. As a parent, it makes me ache to read the extent of her experiences with her physically abusive and emotionally distant mother who even encourages her husband (the stepdad) to take part in the punishments meted out to her. A sad story, but it eventually also celebrates the resilience of the human spirit.
7. The Children that Time Forgot, by Peter Harrison and Mary Harrison. A book about children, mostly under the age of ten, who surprise family and friends with facts about having lived before, citing specific times, places people. The authors have chronicled these accounts of reincarnation and have reportedly verified the stories of people not really being gone, but just going through a cycle of birth and death. I have to admit that after going through about a third of the book I then just skimmed through the remaining chapters. Maybe it was one too many stories of rebirth, or maybe I was just not in the mood for this at the moment.

Now excuse me while I try to make a dent at my to-read pile for the year. :)

Chortles from the Morning Rush

I couldn't help chortling by myself while leafing through the latest Morning Rush book by Chico, Delamar and Gino. Although not a regular listener of their radio show on RX 93.1, I found the first compilation of the Top 10 Morning Rush quite a hoot!

While browsing through the stacks in one of my favorite bookstores, I chanced upon book 2. Knowing the laugh trip that is sure to ensue, I grabbed one immediately and headed for the cashier.

It didn't disappoint.

From the "Messages for Haters" list:

"This Christmas, I'm going to put a mistletoe in my back pocket so all the haters can kiss my ass!"

Haha, a bitchy comment indeefd, but quite witty, if I may say so.

From the "Things You'd Tell Your Parents if They Were Your Kids" list:

"Kapag naglagay ka ng pera sa money basket 'pag offertory, huwag ka nang kumuha ng sukli, kasi mukha kang nagnanakaw ng pera."

I really burst out laughing at this one, never mind that I was alone at the time. Although I've never seen anybody actually do this, it just seems so easy to picture someone doing this -- quintessentially Filipino in its practicality and frugality. Why drop a thousand-peso bill if a hundred peso is all you were planning to give, right?

A lot of the lists are given to double entendres and are meant for more mature audiences, but here and there are little nuggets of caustic, tongue-in-cheek wisdom(?) that makes one pause to think "Oo nga naman, may point sya dun. In fairness."

Will be waiting eagerly for book three.

 

No Agenda

I am still in the midst of my House marathon. And I've finished the anthology of travel stories I was reading, which I've now followed up with The Untold Story by Monica Ali -- an alternative take on what happened to Princess Diana after 1997.

An interesting premise, actually, albeit one that has "conspiracy theory" written all over it: what if the disappearance was not a real death, but merely a death of one's current life, to be able to resurface and begin anew? It's a "what could've been" that is disturbing and yet exhilarating at the same time. How could a mother choose to leave her children behind? And yet, given the strictures of her stifling life, how could she not grab this chance at freedom?

In the almost 2 weeks that we've been off work, this has been the first, engagement- and chore-free day I've had, with nothing more on my agenda than to eat, sleep, watch, read, and of course, play with the 2 little ones and Hubby. Not bad, huh?

Angel has now gotten her groove in riding her bike sans training wheels, all in the space of 2 days. When she really puts her mind to it, she does learn with amazing speed. And since little Sarah idolizes her older sister so much, she tries to keep up by biking as well.

 

Wish I could say the same with her willingness to learn her multiplication tables though. Oh well...

We -- Angel and I -- have also finished putting some Coca-Cola into our star-shaped ice cube tray (covered in Cling-wrap) to have "Coke-sicles". We're putting the cubes to freeze for about an hour or so, then put in some toothpicks and freeze some more till they're rock-solid.

Next on our agenda: to play Rush Hour -- we found this game at Hobbes & Landes in Greenbelt 5, which promises to chelenge one's strategic thinking skills in trying to manipulate vehicles on a grid, with the object of having one's car escape from the gridlock of rush hour traffic. Let's see if this helps Angel practice thinking several steps ahead...

Right now, lazing around is just pure bliss. And that deserves thanks.

Two Weeks with the Kindle and Counting...

I've had my Kindle for slightly more than two weeks now, and it has left my side only a few times. Well, during waking hours at least. Thanks to the brains behind this wonderful device that has made it very handy for people to read.

I simply love it, love it, LOVE IT!

Although I do not see myself completely forsaking the traditionally printed books, I am really having fun reading on this nifty little gadget of mine. Since I started using it, I've managed to polish off nine books already (on top of the engaging, albeit unauthorized, paperback version of Oprah: A Biography by Kitty Kelley, that I managed to finish in between):

• Three Weeks with My Brother by Nicholas and Micah Sparks -- part travelogue, part memoir, I found reading this quite restful. Maybe because I appreciated their descriptions of their travels to Guatemala, Peru, Easter Island, Cook Islands, Australia, Cambodia, India, Ethiopia, Malta and Norway.  And I could relate to the obvious close ties that the authors had with their family.
• Dark Secrets of the Vatican by H. Paul Jeffers -- there have always been conspiracy theories surrounding the Vatican and its inhabitants, from shady goings-on to naughty priests, to power plays and espionage, to Opus Dei and even the Nazis. It was actually quite entertaining.
• The Mango Season by Amulya Malladi -- this gave me an insight (however small it may be) into Indian society and the pressures put on younger people in how they choose their mates. In this day and age, we tend to take for granted that not all people have the freedom to choose who they marry. I am thankful for this freedom of ours.
• My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares -- this is the haunting story about a man taking up the threads of a line of lives through the centuries, always with his memories of his past lives intact, always coming back to loving a certain person, who unfortunately does not have the same strong recollections of him. How they meet and part through the centuries becomes the central theme of this poignant book.
• High on Arrival by Mackenzie Philips & Hilary Liftin -- a controversial book by a former child star and singer, who chronicled her unchecked upbringing, her rise to fame and fortune and her descent into the dregs of a life tainted by drink, drugs, and unhealthy relationships including one with her own, rock-icon, father. One wonders how parents could actually be so self-absorbed as to not care how these things affect their kids.
• Is It Just Me? Or Is It Nuts Out There? by Whoopi Goldberg -- a tongue-in-cheek book which lays out Whoopi's pet peeves in current society, running the gamut from being crackberries, to talking on the phone in public so loudly that everyone knows their story, to elevator etiquette. And yes, I do think that it is actually nuts out there.
• Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, books 1, 2 and 3 -- these are very, very easy to read. I used to snub them, but I wanted to try book 1 out at least. I finished it in about 2 hours. The next 2 books followed in short order. The series follows the lives of the unlucky Baudelaire orphans Violet, Klaus and Sunny, and their misadventures as they try to escape the clutches of the sinister Count Olaf. I still have 10 books to go in the series though.

It's so easy on the eyes as, thankfully it is not backlit, and quite light to carry. When I had to stay at home for a day last week due to severe colds and a wracking cough, I had my Kindle with me to keep me company when the kids were occupied somewhere else.

And now I seem to have started a mini-Kindle rage in the office. After seeing my Kindle encased in its gorgeous purple casing, and me singing its praises of course, four of my colleagues decided to go and order their own units. They're now waiting breathlessly.

You really gotta love the Kindle!

My Kindle Has Arrived!

My Kindle 3 has arrived!

Yes, I finally buckled down and decided on a Kindle 3, after countless hours swinging between the Kindle vs. Nook pendulum. After placing the order on Amazon for the graphite, latest-generation 3G + WiFi Kindle I was on tenterhooks waiting for its arrival, tracking the package status via DHL. And it did arrive relatively quickly -- after only 4 days of waiting (seemed longer than that to me though) it was delivered to our house.

The Kindle can be charged in either of two ways: via a USB cable attached to a computer, or via the same USB cable attached to a power adapter. I've tried charging it via the computer; I'll try the power adapter option next, when the battery drains out.

Since I didn't want the Kindle to be scratched or dented (I'll probably hyperventilate when that happens), I chose a casing to protect it. It's in purple, of course -- what other color would I have chosen, hmm?

Once I had it in my hands I wasted no time in transferring my e-books and starting to read through one. When I showed it to my father, he was amazed that such a slim unit could hold upwards of 3000 books. Times have indeed changed, thanks to the exponential, year-on-year advances in technology.

The screen is so easy on the eyes, and looks like ink on paper. No glare, no squinting. Of course I can't read with it in the dark as it is not backlit, but the trusty bedside lamp is there to help.

I'm also amused by the screensavers -- the sketches of some of the world's literary giants (including Virginia Woolf, John Steinbeck, Alexandre Dumas, among others), as well as what appear to be random black-and-white images. Some Kindle users hate these images, preferring to have the flexibility to customise their own screensavers. That would be great indeed, but as far as I'm concerned, the literary stalwarts work just fine for now.

Here are the unboxing photos:

I'm extremely happy with my Kindle. It's such a handy gadget to have, esp. when travelling or on the road, one that lets me indulge in my love of reading without me having to lug around those extra volumes.

Will it totally replace my old-fashioned, printed books? Probably not, esp. for those books I would want a real, physical copy of. I'm just thankful for both options.

I've just found a new format that supports a more mobile lifestyle, but nothing still beats the feel of holding a printed book, the smell of paper, the crackling of the pages.

Now excuse me while I go read.

Kindle or Nook?

Kindle or Nook?

Ah, a very serious question for me indeed. One that has consumed the better part of my Internet surfing hours this weekend.

Bookworm, bibliophile, bookaholic. Yep, that's me. I had seen a Kindle in the past, and read about the Nook as well, but I always maintained that it would be next-to-impossible to replace the feel of an actual book in one's hands, its solid weight comfortingly real. E-books held their own attraction, but nothing could pull me away from the good old-fashioned book.

Then I started to pore over the specs of these e-readers. I was hooked, the quasi-techie that I am. Each has its own pluses and minuses: Amazon's Kindle has its much-vaunted Pearl E-ink technology, with a display very closely approximating the printed page, and this goes very easy on the eyes, literally. Reviews state that downloading books is a cinch, even in the Philippines, there is free 3G access, and that battery life lasts for 3-4 weeks. Of course, all of these are over and above the fact that the Kindle is Amazon's #1 bestseller at the moment, with the most number of 5-star reviews. As it aims to replicate the physical-book reading experience, the display comes only in black (and shades of gray) and white. There is no expandable memory, although 4 GB is certainly nothing to sneer at.

The Nook Color is a beauty, no question about that. With full-color display and an expandable memory (up to 32 GB), this would've been a hands-down choice for me. These features come at a slight premium over the Kindle's price though. The big downside for Barnes & Noble's product though is that B&N do not ship internationally to the Philippines, and that downloading Nook-Books requires a credit card with a US address, something that I definitely do not have. I'm still trolling the Web for work-arounds.

And so I sat browsing the Amazon and B&N catalogs for the e-readers, covers, and available books.

Ah, my self-imposed snobbery on e-readers appears to be crumbling now.

Weekend Reading List

For the past two weeks I have been trying to finish the two books I started reading. Uhmm, yes, I do read books in parallel, sometimes even three or four at a time, from various genres. I then read whatever suits my mood. For one reason or another, I always put these two books aside and start (and eventually finish) other volumes.

Maybe these books don't really tickle my fancy that much, or they're a bit on the heavy reading side, but I'm just too proud to quit. And so I plod along page by page. These books? Negotiation Genius by Deepak Malhotra and Max Bazerman, and Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan.

Negotiation Genius is actually interesting, in that it offers very practical examples and applications of the concepts of negotiating. After my stint as a member of the management panel for the CBA talks in our company, I can relate to what Messrs. Malhotra and Bazerman wrote about. Concepts such as logrolling and packaging demands together, co-creation of value and BATNA -- they are all very useful, and presented in a very readable format. I wish we could've read this beforehand.

Somehow though, another book always manages to catch my eye, so I put this one aside, finish the other one, then come back to this once more. I will finish this in time though. That's my promise.

The other one, Say You're One of Them, is a collection of stories by Uwem Akpan, a Nigerian author. I had seen this book before in stores, but I always ignored it. Then I picked it up and read the blurb, browsed through it and decided that it looked interesting after all. The stories are about life in Africa, in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia -- and not just about the picturesque and idealized views of living outside the big cities. It shows the harsh and sordid realities that people do live through, such as human trafficking, prostitution, and religious conflict.

It's serious reading, and much as I want to, I just can't seem to absorb it all in one go. That's why I need to take breaks in between and pick up a book with a lighter tone. But I will go back and finish this as well. It's good writing, honest and unadorned.

On the other hand, in one sitting last night I finished Twisted 9 by Jessica Zafra. Granted, it's a thin voume, but it's eminently readable, with that sardonic tone I admire so much in her writing. From movies to pets to her passion for tennis, she writes n a way that makes one think and chortle at the same time. A very talented writer, I have almost all of Ms. Zafra's books, and a lot of books by other Filipino authors such as F. Sionil Jose, Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, and Ambeth Ocampo.

I think it's a pity that books by Filipino authors or those with a Filipinianan slant are not given as much air-time or ad-space as others, and are almost always excluded from special promos. But then again, maybe it's because they are already priced way lower than other books sourced from abroad. That's not to say they are of lesser quality though. Definitely not.

And while we're on the vein of easy reading, I started on the much-awaited sequel to Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert: Committed. It picks up from where Eat, Pray, Love left off: when Elizabeth met and fell in love with Felipe. Because they both came from first marriages that ended in divorce, they vowed to NOT get married ever, and which apparently made their relationship last. The complexities start when Felipe is banned from entering the US, except if they get married. The search for the meaning of marriage becomes the overarching theme of this book. I'm about a foruth of my way through, and I think I'll be able to finish it off this weekend.

While experimenting with the focusing mechanism on my camera, I was able to get this nicely blurred effect of the four books I've just written about, a photo of which is at the start of this post.

Quite interesting!

Tangled, With Books

The title of this post could very well describe our older daughter's state: long, wavy, tangled hair, and with at least one book in her arms. But no, it's not about her, at least not solely.

Yesterday we decided to have another family jaunt to the mall, this time to Festival Mall in Muntinlupa, which is an hour-and-a-half's drive from our place. With a bit of trepidation we loaded up the little ones, along with a number of towels for the eventuality of motion sickness setting in. My sister and her husband went along as well, so at least the adults-to-kids ratio was tipped in our favor.

When we arrived it was another time to celebrate: the toddler was spew-free once more! No mopping up, no changing of clothes, no sour smell in the confines of the vehicle, hurray! She's really growing up.

It was relatively early, just a little past 11. As we went looking for a parking slot in the covered portion, we first hesitated to go down the next level, as the 1.80-meter height marker rod appeared to be on a level with our vehicle's roof already! We backed off and tried to look for a slot at the ground level, to no avail. So again we approached the ramp downwards, and I went down to check whether the rod would scrape our roof. There was about a handspan's worth of margin still, so off we went, relieved.

Our older daughter was raring to catch Tangled, a rehashed Rapunzel tale that was not in the 2D cartoon format we were all exposed to as kids. I was actually looking forward to it as well. We had a light lunch while inside the movie-house, munching on burgers and fries, as there was no time for a sit-down lunch in one of the restos if we wanted to be in time for the 11:45 am showing. What got us a bit worried was that the toddler was with us as well, and this would be her first time inside a movie-house. We were expecting quite a fair bit of fidgeting and crying inside, so we braced ourselves for the impact.

It never came.

The toddler was very well-behaved, happily munching on popcorn and fries, and seemed to be attentively following what was going on in the big screen. At one point the seat was snapping shut because she was too small, so I just draped her over the seat as well as I could. Then she snuggled up in my lap and afterwards on my husband's. Our older daughter on the other hand was very happy to have seen the movie without interruptions, and told us that she loved it. She was rapt, entranced with the fairy tale.

We were able to watch Tangled with no hair-pulling on our part.

Afterwards we went to some toy shops where the kids browsed and window-shopped. No, they do not whine or throw tantrums when we go out of a shop without toys in our hands. That has always been a source of pride for us. Just let them roam a bit, touch and explore on their own, and they're fine.

Bookshops however are more challenging.

After the toy shop forays we went to Powerbooks, which is not only MY happy place, but our older daughter's as well. And to think that this branch is tiny compared to the other branches in Manila! I think that in time the toddler will get to see the merits of bookshops too. While hubby herded the little one up, down and around the shop (it had a mezzanine), the two of us, my older daughter and I, happily gazed at the aisles of books. Of course we soon had a tidy little pile!

After paying for my purchases, the lady behind the counter asked me what tote bag color I wanted for my book haul. Of course I chose purple! I have to take my hats off to the city of Muntinlupa for having the gumption to enact the banning of plastic bags and styrofoam containers in stores. That's walking the talk on being environmentally friendly!

I promised myself that I would always have a tote bag in my purse whenever I go to malls, whether it be in Muntinlupa or otherwise.

Hmmm... but maybe I should put one of my other recyclable totes in my bag instead of the purple one -- it's just so pretty!

Dragoneye

Together with The Chronicles of Imaginarium Geographica (which I wrote about in a previous post), I left Powerbooks with another dragon-themed book -- Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman.

Yes, the bookshop's staff were good.

The book deals with a world governed by energy dragons ascending to power on a cycle fixed by the animal signs of the Chinese calendar, with each ascendant dragon represented in the temporal plane by an envoy, his Dragoneye, and an apprentice. Counting his time as an apprentice, each Dragoneye will actually forge and nurture a bond with his dragon for twenty-four years, years in which some of his Hua, or life-force, is drained in the process of communing with the dragon.

Becoming an apprentice takes years of grueling preparation, in swordfighting and dragon lore, in harnessing power and communing with dragons. As a Dragoneye and an apprentice, a person can gain the power to command the energies of the earth, redirecting the energies of winds and rain to benefit mankind. At least in theory. Becoming an apprentice also brings with it enormous influence in the Council, and material wealth to boot.

The protagonist is Eon, a twelve year old boy who has been training for four years to become an apprentice. His turn comes when he is given the chance to try to be the Rat Dragon apprentice. He is not seen as a serious contender though, as he has a pronounced limp, and is not able to move as nimbly as the others. What he has going is his innate ability to see and feel the energy dragons without any huge effort.

He has a dark secret as well, which could potentially spell death for him and his mentor, Heuris Brannon. Eon is actually Eona, a sixteen year old girl, rescued from the salt mines.

The story also tackles the re-appearance of the Mirror Dragon (the Dragon Dragon), who has been missing for five hundred years. Who gets to be Apprentice, who eventually becomes ensconced in the corridors of power, and the secret of the Mirror Dragon are all entwined in this beautifully crafted tale.

I hope to see the sequel, Eona, in the bookshops soon!

Where Myth and Fable Become Reality

I like reading about dragons. Mythical ones, at least.

In one of my visits to Powerbooks at the ATC, one of their staff was so engaging in trying to interest me in their new arrivals. I'm not sure if they had recognized me due to my numerous forays into their shop (proof of which is my PowerPlus card), but I really appreciate how they make an effort to connect with their customers.

I was happily browsing and immersing myself in the sight and smell of books, when this cheerful lady approached me and asked me if I had read this and that books, which I had. Then she directed my attention to their newly arrived series, The Chronicles of Imaginarium Geographica by James A. Owen. I politely had a glance, then told the lady that I wold browse a bit more.

Something made me take a second look though, and I was intrigued by the plot: an atlas of all the mythical and imaginary lands, that needed to be protected from those who sought to use it for less-than-noble purposes. I ended up getting the first three books of the series.

Three Caretakers are always chosen to protect the Imaginarium Geographica, which shows the locations of the fabled lands in the Archipelago of Dreams. In the first book, Here, There Be Dragons, the three future Caretakers (John, Charles, and Jack) are brought together by the unfortunate death of John's mentor. They are then swept into a world of Dragonships and hitherto-believed-to-be mythical characters. In the whirlwind of trying to keep the atlas safe, they encounter numerous allies and foes, as well as the Cartographer of Lost Places, who made the Imaginarium Geographica. The book ends up with a summoning of the dragons by the rightful heir and descendant of King Arthur. The Caretakers then go back to take up the mantles of their everyday lives, and their true identities are revealed to the reader -- a surprising revelation that I will not reveal here.

The Search for the Red Dragon continue nine years after the events of the first book. Peter Pan is drawn into the plot, which involves the loss of Dragonships and children of the Archipelago. The three Caretakers are again compelled to go back into the Archipelago to help out. They venture into the Underneath, beneath the waters of the Archipelago. The myths of Daedalus and Jason, the story of Peter Pan's Lost Boys, and Dante's Inferno all collide into one entertaining tale.

After five more years, the Caretakers are once again drawn into affairs of the Archipelago in The Indigo King. They have taken on an apprentice Caretaker, Hugo, who takes a key role in the events that unfold in this isntallment. An alternative timeline in which the Archipelago becomes a dark and dangerous place provides the impetus for the friends to agree to travel through time and attempt to make things right. A journey to Avalon, an introduction to the Lance of Longinus, and Arthur's resurrection -- these elements keep the reader wanting for more.

I'm so looking forward to books four and five -- The Shadow Dragons and The Dragon's Apprentice. Hope to see them soon!

Devouring The Hunger Games

I must confess that when all the hype about Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games came to a head last year, I was totally clueless. Which was quite out of character for me, not knowing what was new or what was "in" in matters concerning the printed page.

Because I frequent the major bookstores (NBS, Powerbooks, Fully Booked) and have the discount cards to prove it, I usually am quite up-to-date when it comes to bestsellers. Popularity is not my only criteria though; I have been known to pick up the random obscure title.

I'm quite proud of having bought a number of books a couple of years back that have now been made into movies, which have consequently catapulted them to the top of the charts. There's a certain smugness in me that I did not ride the popularity bandwagon, and recognized their worth long before it was fashionable to do so. As long as a volume catches my fancy, it does not matter whether it is currently in the bestseller lists or not. They are all equal in my eyes.

I tended to steer clear of young adult books because they were, well, for young ones. And I believed that they would be tackling themes that would be too shallow or juvenile for my taste. Jumping on the bandwagon of the flavors-of-the-month was not my cup of tea.

But then I tried some (the Artemis fowl series, for starters), just to prove a point. And then I got hooked.

I had been seeing The Hunger Games in bookstores for some time already, but I consistently ignored them. Snobbishness? Maybe. Or it could be that I was just not that attracted to the synopsis. The book designs weren't appealing to me as well.

Maybe all the positive feedback finally broke through my self-imposed barriers. This was one time when I jumped on the bandwagon. And I'm glad I did. I zoomed through the first volume, and was engrossed in the lives of Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne as they tried to survive in a world controlled by the Capitol.

Since I had a paperback edition of the first part, I waited for the paperback editions for the second and third parts as well. You know, so that they would all look nice when stacked up on the shelf. Yes, I have these idiosyncracies when it comes to books.

Thankfully Powerbooks came up with volumes two and three in paperback not too long ago. I wasted no time and grabbed them as well. I eagerly devoured the pages and was able to finish the two books in two days. Yay!

The Hunger Games introduced us to the world of Panem, with its twelve districts that currently provided two tributes each annually to the brutal survival games, all orchestrated by people from the Capitol. Strategy, skill and survival instinct differentiated who won from the other, unfortunate ones.

The concept of districts being compelled to provide "tributes" in the annual Hunger Games, and having them fight with one another to have a single victor emerge was a bit too bloodthirsty for me at first. The alternative reality presented in the book seemed to be a bit far-fetched. But when I started reading, I realized that it was much more than that.

Catching Fire brought to the fore the theme of rising up in arms against oppression, with Katniss unwittingly becoming the symbol of hope for the revolution. The Quarter Quell, which occurs every 25 years for the Games, brings new, unexpected complications to the rules. The latest pool of tributes will come from the roster of previous winners. New characters are introduced, with alliances formed on the field of battle. The story does not lack action and energy, and book closes off with a cliffhanger, which of course is designed to leave readers yearning for the third installment.

The long-awaited Mockingjay brings us all back to Panem, and follows the progression of the rebellion against the Capitol, spearheaded now by District 13, which had long been thought of to have been completely destroyed. The tributes' roles in the war are emphasized. The triangle of Katniss, Gale, and Peeta continue, with the proverbial wrench thrown in to further keep the reader on his toes. The ensuing showdown between Katniss and President Snow provides a further twist in the tale.

The story closes off with Katniss speaking from a vantage point twenty years into the future.
On top of the readability factor, I could blather on about friendship, oppression, sacrifice and survival. About familial love, desperation, betrayal and honor. The trilogy has all of these, and more. The reader will just have to discover it for himself.

I can honestly say though that the series is undeniably one of the most interesting reads I have had in a long time.

Loading Up on Books (Again!)

I'm an inveterate bookworm.  I've yet to pass by a bookstore that did not merit a second glance.  Or two. Or an hour inside it. Especially during Sale season.

The allure of new books, with their uncracked spines and freshly printed smell, never ceases to entice me.  I think this has rubbed off big time on my older daughter as well, and, to some extent, on my husband too.  We now each have our own favorite genres and wish lists to fulfill.

And so the Manila International Book Fair last September was an opportunity that we did not intend to pass up.  We got into the car (hubby, older daughter and I) and drove to the SMX Convention Center; we got there a few minutes before the opening time, but there were already masses of people thronging the entrance.  Kindred souls.

When we got inside the hall, for a moment I stopped in my tracks and considered the very important questions: "Where do I start? How to make this as efficient as possible?"  We eventually settled on an aisle-by-aisle approach, instead of meandering aimlessly along.  I figured this way we could cover more ground.

Books, books, and more books!  We eventually had to stop for lunch as our stomachs were protesting at our neglect, and our feet were aching for a break.  After an hour and a half, we were back in the game once more.

I used to think that young adult books were only for, well... young adults and tweens (except maybe for the Harry Potter series, which had such a huge following).  Then I got introduced to fantastic series such as Artemis Fowl, Percy Jackson, the Mysterious Benedict Society, Fablehaven.  I got hooked.

I got the first volume of How to Train Your Dragon, as well as that of Septimus Heap.  I first wanted to check whether I would be interested enough to continue on to the end of the series.  I was.  I am.

These books caught my fancy too: Fun FAQs is really a collection of fun facts, and the trivia addict that I am, I just snapped it up.  My daughter now enjoys flicking through its pages, and asks me questions about random facts that she picked up.

Songs of Ourselves is a very readable collection of writings by Filipino women authors -- poems, short stories, essays. It heartens me to think that the issues surrounding women today were also grappled with by women a few decades far removed, and in such eloquent pieces at that -- love, raising a family, acceptance, friendship, betrayal. 

With my budding interest in photography, I looked for and saw a number of Canon photography guides at big discounts in the National Book Store section (which was a huge one). I spent a couple of minutes internally debating which one to get.  The one in the picture below (Magic Lantern Guide) won out.  I'm having fun tinkering with my camera and applying what I've gleaned from this.

There was also a section devoted to Reader's Digest publications and books.  I've always been a fan of their printed products.  This, and the fact that they had a buy-one-get-one-free promotion, sealed the deal.  Tomes on general knowledge are actually good buys, as the facts contained within them would normally not change over the years.  A volume on how nature can sometimes turn out to be a very frightening force was particularly interesting, and so was the one on the hidden stories behind popular history.  We threw in a book on supernatural and uncanny stories as well for curiosity's sake.

Of course the little girl had her own selections as well, and was quite adamant that we stop and browse through the children's sections.  Being an avid reader of the Geronimo Stilton series, she was excited at finding this title among the stacks.  Small volumes on the Earth and weather, as well as a Dora activity book and a storybook on fairies were also carefully considered and put in her pile.

We found a number of books featuring Fiipino folk tales and legends at the Bookmark stall, and at such mark-downs that they were practically steals. Lola Basyang stories are timeless, and we wanted her to appreciate these stories that generations of Filipino children have grown up with.  The little girl had a number of folk tales already, and these two other volumes below rounded up the series.

A couple of other storybooks caught our eyes too,  which we felt would provide not only a source of entertainment, but good moral values as well.  They were being sold at friendly prices too -- imagine a hardback storybook for 50 pesos!

A Pokemon game book was also part of her loot.  A 3-volume set of a dictionary, thesaurus, and spelling/grammar guide was going to be of use to her in school.  Even in first grade they now use a dictionary!

These puzzle books would make entertaining presents to kids, and our daughter asked us if we could give them out as presents to her friends this Christmas.

Of course we did not neglect our toddler, who was left at home during this trip.  A number of board books and colorful lift-the-flap volumes were sure to provide her with countless hours of entertainment.  Add to that the books in Ate's shelves, and together they can flip through the pages to their hearts' delight.

We left the hall with arms filled with books, with feet sore but contented smiles wreathing our faces.

We're delighted to be able to give our children the gift of the printed page.

And I'm grateful that our parents have instilled in us a love for the same.

Learning from the Negotiation Masters

I've always believed that children are natural masters at negotiation and manipulation.  The statement "She had Daddy wrapped around her little finger" packs more truth than we realize.  How many times has the little one asked for another toy or book that you did not plan on buying, but after disarming you with her cuteness and other tactics, you end up capitulating anyway?

I wonder if it's a skill that is genetically hardwired into each one of us, that is then subsequently lost as one grows up due to social unacceptability of some of these behaviours.  You know, Nature vs. Nurture.

A book I read echoed this idea.  The title first caught my fancy -- How to Negotiate LIke a Child: Unleash the Little Monster Within.  It's a tongue-in-cheek take on some negotiating techniques that at first glance one would not associate with adults, but are surprisingly effective when wielded by kids.  Upon closer reflection however, it appears that we may actually be using variations of these at one time or another!

Some of the things I found striking:

• Throw a tantrum and cry.  We've all seen the toddler who screamed his head off at the toy shop when told that Daddy and Mommy would not buy him another Thomas the Tank Engine train, or the little girl who lay sprawled on the living room floor bawling because she was not allowed to watch another Sesame Street video?  After the accusatory looks in the shop and the neighbour's complaints, who do you think won?  The power of a well-placed tantrum in the workplace could swing things one's way, but it has to be planned for and timed very, very well.  One can also exploit the very human tendency to side with the underdog.  Sometimes, he who screams loudest, gets heard -- but if overused, one becomes just another troublemaker or crybaby.
• Pretend you don't hear or understand what the other is saying.  Grown-ups are primed to respond to verbal or even electronic cues, and oftentimes one is put on the spot trying to come up with a coherent answer to something one is not knowledgeable of nor ready for.  Children have no such compunction; they do not respond if they do not feel like it -- a delaying tactic that gives one the time to regroup and gather one's thoughts.
• Play your best game and change the rules.  How to tackle a situation where one is at a disadavantage?  Countless kids do this instinctively -- they just change the rules of the game to something they have greater chances of winning!  Quite logical, if you think about it.  As long as it is within the bounds of ethics and propriety, why not try to move the negotiating lines towards your benefit?
• Ask the person who is most likely to say "Yes".  A little boy wants to have his fourth chocolate cookie after dinner.  He knows that Mom will not allow him another sugar-filled treat.  But there is another person in the house who has the power to grant him his wish, one who the little boy knows will be more inclined to acquiesce.  "Dad, may I please have another cookie?"  In the end, the little boy grabs the cookie triumphantly, simply because he asked the right person with the right level of authority. 
• Play one side against the other.  "No, you are not allowed to watch another cartoon video." "But Mom said I could." "Really? Ok, then."  Knowing when to play one side against the other is a talent that is most useful, if one can find the appropriate champion.  If done properly, the desired outcome can be achieved with minimum effort. 
• Keep coming back to the same question.  In negotiations or management discussions, does a "No" the first time automatically translate to another "No" an hour, a day, a week hence?  Not necessarily!  Children are quite persistent in asking for what they want.  They can wear parents down with their relentless questions, hour after hour after hour.  In the end, the prize becomes theirs for the taking.
• Don't fear failure.  As one matures, the fear of failure seems to grow proportionally as well.  But kids don't care if they fail this time; they just try again.  And again.  And again.  No guts, no glory, right?

I quite enjoyed reading the book, which was a refreshing change from the more serious management books out there.

Maybe I can also learn to unleash the little monster within.

My To-Read Pile

What does your bedside table have? I'm guessing, a lamp, paper, pen, maybe a phone, a couple of books. I have pretty much the same things, although I had to make do with putting some of them in the drawer.

You see, I have a pile of unread and half-read books beside me. And the pile is still growing. I don't know when the pile will stop growing. I don't know if I want it to stop growing.

Yes, I admit it. I am a bookaholic. Always have been, always will be.

And that's why whenever I see new releases from my favorite authors (Paulo Coelho, Dan Brown, James Rollins, Daniel Silva, Matthew Reilly, Steve Berry, Jessica Zafra, John Maxwell, among others), or titles from genres I am partial to (travel and food writing, Da Vinci-code type novels, Arthurian legends, biographies, even some business books) I immediately head for the nearest bookstore. And yes, I do have membership cards for Fully Booked, Powerbooks, and National Bookstore.

And so the books keep on piling up, even as I try to make a dent at 2-3 books per week.

But I'm happy about it. As far as I'm concerned, the more books the better -- I've even catalogued the lot! I even have quite a number still in my parents' house. Our shelves are packed 2- and 3-deep now, but hey, I'm not complaining.

I think my habit has now rubbed off on my husband as well, since his side of the bed isn't too different from mine!

Our older daughter also has her own book stash, and her favorite mall destinations are now toy shops and, yup, you guessed it, bookstores.

Hmmm... I might just yet be able to build myself a proper library someday -- with mahogany or teak floor-to-ceiling shelves, leather-bound first editions, humidity control...

Hey, if you can dream, why not dream big, right?

On Reading Jodi Picoult

With all the hype on one of Jodi Picoult's books being made into a movie, I thought it quite coincidental that this was also the first of her (many) books that I've read. The book is, of course, "My Sister's Keeper," which I first saw in a bookstore 3 years ago.

I was quite intrigued by the ethical and moral dilemmas posed by the book's premise of a girl being conceived via IVF and genetically engineered to be a match for her older sister, who had been diagnosed with leukemia. The girl, who just wants to be a "normal" kid, undergoes numerous medical procedures for her sister's sake, even donating blood and bone marrow. At 13, she is expected to donate one of her organs for her sister. She then sues for medical emancipation, or the right to decide how her own body is used. This causes an unimaginable rift within her family.

I decided to buy the book and give it a shot, even if I thought at the time that it was a tad too drama-filled for my taste.

I was hooked. True, it did have its share of poignant moments that could rival any of Pinoy TV's telenovelas. The ending was something I did not expect (there is now also a hue-and-cry about the film version's deviating from the original ending in the book -- I wonder how the movie would treat it). But it did also raise a number of difficult questions, those that would make you ask yourself if you would do the "right" thing (or whether you actually knew what "right" actually was), ones that did not have cut-and-dried answers, questions that you wish you would never have to face in your own life.

After this book I knew I would have to have her other books as well. And so the bookworm (or bibliophile?) in me scoured the bookshops for her works. All her books feature the same mix of ethical and legal issues and family drama. Heavy reading at times, but worth it in the end. I now have all of her books, except for her latest, "Handle with Care", which has yet to hit the shelves here in my part of the woods -- hopefully it makes an appearance here soon!

What can I say? I'm unabashedly a fan.