SIMPLY ME

2011-05-28T03:34:00.000-07:00

Beastly by Alex Flinn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

here's my take on beastly:

What do you guys think of the book? I say that at first, the book was boring especially those internet chats. I really want to put the book down and not finish it but I told myself to go over it and I did it. In the end, I was able to love the story.

What's your fave scene? I would say that my fave scene was when Lindy saw the garden of Adrian.

Fave Character? I would say that it's Magda. Who would think that Magda was the witch. Before knowing, I already like her because she was good t o Adrian though Adrian was a jerk to her.

Least Fave Character? Dad ni Lindy

How would you rate it? 3 out of 5.

What can you say about the author's writing style? He's good. I like how the author described the garden and the effort that Adrian gave in making over Lindy's room.

Would you recommend it? Sure.

Anong na inisan mo dito? Ay naku, yung tatay ni Lindy na basta na lang niya ibibigay yung daughter niya for his freedom and his vice.

What can you do w/o sa book? None.

What do you wanna add sa book? None.

If you watch the movie, did you like it? Or not? Ano ang hindi nyo gusto? Still planning to watch and hoping that I will enjoy it.

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2011-04-22T16:28:00.000-07:00

Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

was a bit dragging until the middle part of the book. i liked the story though but i just hate when the author is trying to introduce the past of the main protagonist. But I loved it that she can kick some ass!

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2011-04-17T07:38:00.001-07:00

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good book with so much excitement and action that was vividly described by the author. It's well written and you'll not get bored. I also loved how the story goes, its plot, a mortal angel against reapers. I would loved to watch it the theaters if this will be made into one.

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2011-04-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The heroine of A Discovery of Witches is an American called Diana Bishop, over in Oxford to research alchemical manuscripts in the Bodleian library. She calls up a book from the collection of Elias Ashmole; the illustrations are peculiar. Three pages are missing. Words shimmer across the page. Ashmole 782, Diana realises, is a palimpsest, loaded with occult messages protected by magic spells; she touches it, and the book "lets out a small sigh". Could this be because Diana herself is a witch, albeit trying to live in denial of her heritage.

Diana realized that she is being watched. The library is crawling with readers who look human but are in fact vampires, daemons, and witches. The scrutiny of one in particular is bothersome. He's "tall", with "broad shoulders" and "eyes as black as night". His name is Matthew Clairmont, he's a biochemist and a neuroscientist, a Fellow of the Royal Society, and a Fellow of All Souls. The mysterious book, Matthew thinks, contains a powerful secret, something to do with witches and vampires and junk DNA. In here, the mingling/interaction between the 3 species are frowned upon. Marriages between them are prohibited.

I liked the way the book is written. This is the first time I read a book by Deborah Harkness. It was well researched on English aristocracies and Salem witches. I enjoyed it and will recommend to friends though it was a long one.

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American Vampire by Jennifer Armintrout

2011-04-12T15:27:00.000-07:00

American Vampire by Jennifer Armintrout

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Graf is a vampire who is on his way to Washington D.C. to celebrate with her maker, Sophia, the Fourth of July. But while enroute to D.C., he got lost because of his broken GPS. He ended up Penance, Ohio and finding Jessa hiding from the monster they call "It". After saving her, he realized that he'd better find shelter soon or he will be trapped outside at sunup. Graf realized he had made a wrong turn, to say the least, when Jessa explains that no one has been able to enter or leave Penance for the last 5 years.

This is the first time that I read a book written by Jennifer Armintrout. I can't say that it's good nor it's bad. Though, it was a little bit enjoyable in the later part of the story. It will keep you guessing on who's behind their dilemma.

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Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

2011-03-25T14:07:00.000-07:00

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I will add a half star. That's how i loved it. There were some unanswered questions in the story like what happened to the purpose of her mom, what's Clara's really purpose and what's with Christian...there are many questions left hanging. Bet, this will be answered in the coming books. Hoping that we will not wait long....

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The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

2011-03-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

i can't say if i like the way the author wrote this book or maybe the way it's written was essential for the readers to understand the story. anyway, the end was a little bit...WHAT! I think it was ended abruptly.

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Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee

2011-03-18T20:02:00.000-07:00

Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Finished this book in a flash! It was well written. This is a YA book that does delve on love story. It dwells more about friendship, relationship between her mom and transformation to be more confident to oneself. Great book!

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Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

2011-03-18T19:38:00.000-07:00

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really really loved this one. It was well written. I was smiling the whole time I was reading this book. It made me miss the high school lovelife drama. Great author!

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Timeless by Alexandra Monir

2011-03-15T06:41:00.000-07:00

Timeless by Alexandra Monir

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For me this book is really amazing! It made me cry and now am clamoring more! more! Too bad the sequel will be published in 2012. That's too long to wait! I liked how the author wrote this book. I liked her writing style. This book is highly recommended!

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The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

2011-03-14T17:56:00.000-07:00

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

the story was so-so for me...

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2011-03-13T13:10:00.001-07:00

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The book was not really interesting for me. Though, I like reading books with some mysteries/puzzles as to who is the killer. In this book, it's not as interesting as it is or maybe because, I'm not apt with the writing style of the author. Since there will be a second book for this. I'll try to read it and we'll see if it's the story or the writing style of the author.

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Hexbound by Chloe Neill

2011-03-09T02:17:00.000-08:00

Hexbound by Chloe Neill

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really, really, really liked it...It was fast paced compared to book 1 (Firespell)...Looking forward to book 3!

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Firespell by Chloe Neill

2011-03-09T02:11:00.000-08:00

Firespell by Chloe Neill

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a YA book on magic world. Words such as Adept and Reapers were used for magic users.

Magic in this book is only a temporary gift. They will have it from puberty to age 25. After that time, the magic begins to degrade you, to devour your soul like some kind of rangy tentacle monster.

Reapers: They are magic users who refused to give up his magic when the time comes. And in order to keep their suddenly hungry power from devouring them from inside out, they have to feed from the souls of Adepts or humans.

Adepts are magic users who eventually returns the magic back to the universe before it turns them into soul suckers.

Lily Parker is the name of the main protagonists in this book. She's from Segamore, New York and was sent to St. Sophia's School for Girls in Chicago when her parents went to Germany for a 2-year research sabbatical program.

It's in this that she were introduced into a magical world...

I would say that the book was dragging until the middle part. I'd been wondering if she's part of this magical world or she's simply a human being dragged into this magical world.

In spite of this, this was a nice read...

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Reading Now

2011-03-04T16:41:00.000-08:00

I am currently reading the Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins since the book 2 of this has been released.

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

2011-03-04T16:33:00.000-08:00

This book is a YA book fiction. It's about a demon named Lucifer Cain falling with a human named Frannie Cavanaugh but she's not your ordinary teen in your neighborhood. She has a power of Sway that she's not aware of.

It's the job of Luc to tag her for Hell but there's an angel Gabriel who wants to tag her for Heaven.

As the story goes, Frannie falls in love with Luc and because of her power of Sway, Luc became human eventually.

In this book, love conquers all even the demon. LOL...

This is a good read and looking forward for the next book.

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

nice read. this book proves only that love conquers all...looking forward to its book 2...hope there will be more highlights on gabriel's story

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Reading Right Now

2011-02-28T16:16:00.000-08:00

I am reading right now...The Personal Demons by Lisa Desroches. I have been reading this for 3 days already.

I Am Number 4

2011-02-28T16:04:00.001-08:00

I thought this book was a sci-fi fiction and I hate them but this is an exception though it talked about aliens and what not, it's readable and not so much scientific jargon. Once I started reading it, I can't put it down. That's how good it is.

I do recommend this.

Since the movie is being shown here in the Philippines, I watched it with the kids and I loved it also though there were some changes in film such as when and where Henri died. In the book, he died in the school while they were being chased by Mogadorians but in the film, he was killed by Mogadorians while chasing some lead from the publisher of "They Walked Among Us."

The dog in the movie is adorable. Love him. If you watched the film not reading the book, you'll not notice any differences and you'll love it nevertheless.

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain (Book 2 Dark Divine)

2011-02-27T16:08:00.000-08:00

The Lost Saint continues with the story of Daniel and Grace.

Grace having infected in Book 1 is trying to use this into a blessing. She's using the power of the wolf to help other people but unknown to her even though she is using this for good deed, she's still feeding the wolf with her anger and frustration, helping the wolf to grow in her and putting her relationship with Daniel in danger.

Grace received a phone call from Jude and decided that she will be the Hound of Heaven for Jude. She will do what she did with Daniel.

She was desperately looking for Jude when she met Talbot. It was a trap unknown to her. Talbot is from the coven that is holding Jude. Talbot started to feed her lies to grow the wolf in her.

In the end, they were able to sour their difference but there's a twist...Daniel transformed into a white werewolf. Was he already cured of the curse? The reason for this would be the essence of the third book, am I right Bree?

It was also revealed the reasons why is it that the father of Daniel wants to kill him. The reason was Daniel is the true alpha not his father.

This was a nice read. I will be waiting for the next book.

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

2011-02-27T14:26:00.000-08:00

I know already read this last year but since the second book entitled "The Lost Saint" has been released, I have to read this again so I'll be able to remember the details of The Dark Divine (am admitting that I have memory gap lolz).

The main characters of this book were Grace Divine and Daniel Kalbi. Grace Divine is a daughter of a pastor. She has the burden of being a daughter of a pastor and being in love with Daniel but Jude her brother, hates him. For what reason? We'll get to that later on...

Daniel Kalbi is the werewolf in this story. His family comes from a tribe of warriors. They're strong defenders of their land. They were also stalwart in their belief in God and followed his teachings. So, God decided to reward them with special abilities, infused them with the essence of the most powerful animal in their highland forests, giving them enhanced speed, agility, strength, cunning and tracking. They were marked with white-blond hair like angels. They are called Urbat or the Hounds of Heaven. His ancestors fought the forces of hell for many years. The Hounds had been blessed with an animal essence that made them strong and agile, but they were still human, with human emotions. What they didn't realize is that the animal, the wolf that lured inside of them, fed on those emotions, the negative ones particularly: pride, jealousy, lust, fear, and hate. The devil nurtured those feelings. As the Hounds grew more prideful - believing they were superior to all other humans - the wolf inside grew. It influenced their thoughts, their actions, devoured pieces of their souls. Their blessings became their curse. They turned their backs on God and despised mortals. Then the wolf started to lust for the blood of the ones the Hounds had once sworn to protect.

However, there is a cure for this curse. The only cure to free the soul is to be killed, in an act of true love, by the one who loves them most.

It will be the burden of Grace Divine to carry out this. Will she be able to it?

This book was really a good read. The reason why Jude hates Daniel because Daniel bit Jude three years ago and Jude thought Daniel left him to die but it was not.

Grace was able to carry out her mission even though she was bitten by Jude and thinking that she will become one if she killed Daniel, thinking that killing Daniel is a predatory act that will turn her into one. But it was not, it was an act of love, sacrificing herself to free the soul of Daniel from the clutches of the curse and giving Daniel's life back.

Jude ran away from home...

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

2011-02-05T13:41:00.000-08:00

I finished reading the e-book copy after 3 days. I thought that I'll not be able to finish this because the story has so much deep, it was so heavy...Maybe, because both protagonists in the story were presented with certain deep in their characters.

This is the story of two siblings who fell in love with each other. Do I see raised eyebrow?

LOCHAN, the brother, is 17 years old going on 18. He is a socially inept type of person. He has difficulty talking to people outside of family. In school, he's smart with straight A's but does not want to participate in class discussion. He does not want to connect with anyone to the point he is having social anxiety.

MAYA, the sister, is 16 years old going on 17. Her age difference with Lochan is 13 months. She is outgoing person, the typical teenaged girl of our society.

Both characters were introduced with so much deep in their thoughts and wants.

Their father left them for another family while their mother is alcohol junkie who rarely sees them and works as a waitress in a restaurant.

They started to recognize that what they feel for each other is greater than that of a brother and sister relationship when they had confrontation about Maya having a date with Nico, their schoolmate. Maya kissed Lochan after their argument regarding her date with Nico...WHAT???

Lochan only realized that it's only with Maya can he really be with himself. They share the same burden together and she was always on his side, by his side. He does not want to need her, to depend on her, but he does, he really does.

With Maya, Lochan was always so much more than just a brother to her. He is her soul mate, her fresh air, the reason she looks forward to getting up every morning.

However, they realized that they have to stop what they're feeling because of their younger sibling, Kit, Tiffin, and Wila. They're afraid that they will be taken away from them. They don't like the idea of them being separated from them but they cannot withstand of them being not together. They planned that when Tiffin and Wila are old enough to tend for theirselves, they will leave and live together.

They have always been equals. They've been best friends since they were toddlers. They've shared a bond closer than friendship all their lives. Together they've brought up Tiffin and Wila. They've cried together and comforted each other. They've seen each other at their most vulnerable. They've shared a burden inexplicable to outside world. They've been there for each other - as friends, as partners. They've always loved each other and now they want to be able to look each other in a physical way as well. So, it happens (the sex thing) and they were caught by their mother thinking that Lochan is raping Maya so he was brought to jail.

Maya declared that it was consensual and incest sex being not allowed by law, she will be brought to jail also. Lochan does not want it to happen because no one will take care of their younger brothers and sister. So, he did something to free them both, him and her from prison. He killed himself.

Maya does not want to live also and plans to kill herself after saying goodbye to Lochan but she realized that Lochan sacrificed himself so that Maya and his younger siblings will not be separated from each other.

What a great love! but for the wrong person thus forbidden.

Do you believe that "there are no laws. no boundaries on feelings?"

February Reading

2011-02-02T15:52:00.000-08:00

From now on, I'm planning to blog whatever I'm reading....Right now, I'm reading the Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma...."How something so wrong feel so right." I'm reading it from my nook.

Based from my GT friends, it's a taboo story but will make you cry. I will let you know my thoughts about this after I finished this book.

January Haul

2011-02-02T14:42:00.000-08:00

I don't know what's with me that I love things that are techie. For example, I'm not satisfied with just a simple cellphone. I had to have what is the latest in the market but not iPad (can't afford). Last year, my Samsung Omnia was stolen and I swear that I will not anymore buy a cellphone that's a lil bit expensive. I should be contented with a text-call purpose kind of cellphone, however I bought what's hot like the LG Optima. Ooops, so much for that...

For my January haul: I got a free Samsung cellphone from Smart Bro Retention Program and a hair straightener.

By January 2011, I have reached my 24th month of being a good customer of Smart Bro. For the past 24 months, Smart Bro was able to provide a good service to me generally though there were downtimes. So, I decided to renew my contract and to avail of their retention reward program. I renewed my contract with them for another 24 months and as a reward I was given a chance to choose my reward. The choices were:

a. Plan Upgrade: Instead of paying 999 monthly, I will be given a 20% discount, so instead of paying 999, I just have to pay 799.20 monthly.
b. Free Cellphone: For now, they are giving away Samsung Champ (not bad).
c. A hard drive, and
d. Plug it internet.

I preferred to choose the free handset and I was happy about it. The touchscreen of the handset is very responsive unlike my LG unit and love the color white of the handset.

My second haul for January was hair straightener. This was a must because I had my hair cut short as in short. Never had this hair short for so many years, I think the last time I had this short hair was 8 years ago. I bought the hair straightener from SM and it costs me P1,449.50. So far, it's good and does not consume energy much because its specs was 33W only.

2010: A Review

2011-01-07T14:23:00.002-08:00

It's now 2011 and I want to thank the Lord for a good year it was tho, there were downs but ups were dominant. This would be more on what I got before the year ends, preferably, the gadgets I was able to own.

First, I'm a proud owner of a Nook Wifi. It's an ebook reader device by Barnes and Noble. Nook provides a black-and-white E Ink display for viewing digital content with most navigation and additional content provided through a color touchscreen. Now, there's a Nook Color which provides a larger, color LCD display. For more info: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/index.asp. I was able to buy this because of my part-time job. Proud!

Second, cellphone LG GT 505 or LG Ultima. It's a touch screen phone from LG. It costs less than my stolen Samsung Omnia.

Third, since I sent our laptop to my husband, I have to procure another one for the use of kids. I'm using solely our desktop computer because of work. I was able to buy Acer netbook for 15k thru my brother since he's coming home from Saudi and electronic devices are cheaper there compared here.

Last but not the least, my Samsung camera. I also bought it from Saudi since it's way way cheaper there. I was able to buy one from sales from my accessories. Proud!

camera

2010-06-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

before my samsung omnia was stolen last may, i was using it to take photos for my creations. now that it is gone, i tried using a digital camera with 8 mp but i am disappointed with it or it's just that i don't know how to manipulate it. before with my cellphone camera i can opt not to use the flash since i have an ample lighting though indoor, the outcome is great. but with the digicam, i am having difficulty with the flash. i have been trying to disable the flash of the unit but i cannot do so because i can't find it on its menu. the digicam has autoflash. the outcome is a disappointment for me because the flash is reflecting on my creations or the outcome is too bright. now, i' missing my samsung omnia...or do i have to spend more time on the digicam so i will know how to manipulate it and have the result i want.

i tried researching the internet on how to disable the autoflash but i cannot find it...so, anyone who knows something about this please let me know and i will really appreciate it.