Thursday, February 21, 2013

Hocus Pocus


I found this goldmine in a Booksale outlet somewhere in Quezon City. I hope this gets my reading groove going again. (2/21/13)

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

fixing shit.

Ive read a couple of books since my last blog post. I just forgot most of them, and even the titles. Something's gone wrong. Have to fix my shit.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Goodnight Steve McQueen



“If you liked High Fidelity, you’ll love Goodnight Steve McQueen.” – Sunday Times magazine (London)

This quote pasted on the book cover caught my attention not to mention Steve McQueen’s name on the title that might serve as a guarantee of an off-beat, cool story. I first saw this book two years back but was priced unreasonably high that I let it go. But now, I got it for a song.

"Goodnight Steve McQueen" by Louise Wener, a singer of a band and not just a pretty face, is not actually a story of THE Steve McQueen but a certain Danny McQueen borne out of his mother’s obsession with everything Steve that she even married a McQueen. Danny is a 29 year old band member who works in a video rental shop to make ends meet while waiting for that rock stardom.

The story transpired when his corporate girlfriend Alison gave him an ultimatum to shape up or ship out of the band if nothing substantial happens in the next six months. It was during these times when his rollercoaster journey of fate, luck (good and bad), and hard work to achieve his realization came into being. With his band mates and a cohort of interesting characters, Danny McQueen dove into that quest of finding his true self. The challenges and situations that affected his decisions are quirky bringing the story into its crazy end.

A book about music, band, and the pursuit of true love never fail to interest me. At the end of the day, it is all about love and pursuing what is really important to oneself. Goodnight Steve McQueen is a good book with lots of good odds and ends that will make the reader smile and feel good in the end.

All you need is love, so the Beatles says, and that I have to agree.

Flavor of the Week



Lovely. Flavor of the Week is just lovely. It brought back memories of first crush, first love, childish jealousy, and love’s redemption. I hit the jackpot when I got hold of this book by Tucker Shaw about a nice guy named Cyril who was described as chubby, if not downright fat. Girls in school loves him, as a friend, and that is bad news for would be playas. Not that nice guy Cyril dreams of being a playa but his greatest love, Rosie, feels that way towards him, a great pal.

There is however one thing that separates Cyril from the rest of the field. He is a very good cook who dreams of entering a prestigious culinary academy. But by some dumb predisposition, his character wants to keep his talent a secret. His bestfriend Nick used Cyril’s cooking prowess to the hilt to get Rosie with Cyril’s consent just because he feels he does not stand a chance with good pal Rosie, who I imagine looks like Lisa Loeb as described by the writer. And while Cyril knew that Rosie is crazy over boys who can cook, his shyness prevailed.

So Nick claimed the cooking shit that impressed Rosie and as a coup de grace, asked Cyril to prepare something really special for Rosie’s birthday, which Nick prayed to God, would be the time he gets to score with Rosie big time. But at the end of the day, God had plans for good old Cyril and Rosie. Not that Cyril went on and got a chance to score with Rosie or French kissed her or caressed her boobs like preparing bread dough. He won her heart then passed the entrance test of a famous culinary arts school. The story is so sweet like leche plan with plenty of syrupy sugar under the aluminum gallinera.

I am so hi-hi-hi (kilig) with the book because it is very easy to read and it is a love story. The inclusion of recipes and putting food and cooking as an integral part to the whole story added flavor to the romance. In the end, it is still the simple comfort food that defined what the girl is looking for. Like love, you must be comfortable with your partner, isn’t it? Hi-hi-hi.

I believe it is a YA book. YA is Young Adult, I think. A jargon used by book addicts. It is not Yarian Agad (YA) normally seen in triple x films. Hi hi hi.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Neverwhere

Browsing and organizing my pile of books, I came across a scratch paper with scribble of notes that I think was intended for my blog. Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman - Read it late 2008 after immersing in Graveyard Notebook. - A parallel world of people in the same place at different times. - Reflective of people living in the margins or out of the margins of society. “Silang mga etsa-pwera” (term culled from a Jun Cruz Reyes book) - Street children, beggars, street vendors, prostitutes Then some words were written beneath the scribbles Autodidact – self taught. Vacuous – lack content. Fatuous - silly; dementia; imbecule; foolish

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Eto ang Tula


May ilang buwan na rin ang nakalipas mula nuong maimbitahan ako ng isa sa mga manunulat ng librong IPUIPO SA PIGING na dumalo sa paglulunsad nito sa 70 Bistros. Hapit sa oras at ilang kadahilanan kung kayat hindi nakadalo ngunit nangakong bibili ng kopya nito. Subalit dahil sa may kataasan ang halaga, hindi na rin nakuhang makabili at mabigat man sa dibdib, ay nawalan na ng pag-asang magkaroon ng kopya nito. Subalit sa kabutihang palad, nagtagpo muli ang aming landas at nabigyan ako ng kopya ng libro ng walang bayad, dahil sa ako ay tapat ngang kaibigan at katsokaran nuon pang nasa kolehiyo kami.

Agad ko itong binasa at sa pambungad palang ay ramdam na kaagad ang pwestuhan, ang tindig ng antolohiyang ito. Kontra-gahum sa naghaharing sistema sa larangan ng literatura at hindi ito takot bumangga at magsalita, maglantad at labanan, ang mga bangkaroteng sistema na namamayani sa ating lipunan. "Isang biro na lang kung ituring ng mayorya ng mga Filipino ang anumang postura na seryosong paggamit ng wika" eka nga ng pabliser ng libro na si Fermin S. Salvador at tagos nga sa libro ang kaseryosohan na ipahatid ang mensahe na pag-igihan at palaganapin ang paggamit ng wikang Filipino. Pero hindi lang natatapos sa paggamit ng wikang Filipino ang pagpapakita ng pagiging makabayan ng libro kundi sa mga akda mismo na naninindigan at nagtataguyod sa mga nararamdaman ng sambayanang Pilipino at mga aspirasyon nitong lumaya mula sa mga ganid at mapang-aping mga uri at istruktura sa larangan ng ekonomya, pulitika, at kultura.

Kakaunti palang ang nabasa ko subalit tumimo kaagad sa akin ang mga gawa ni Diana Galaura Cabote. Isang guro ng Literatura sa kolehiyo at aktibong organisador ng isang militanteng samahan ng mga Guro.

Sa kanyang tulang "Kay Nanay Nang Pinilit Akong Magpakasal," mistulang nasa tabi ka ng nagkukuwento ng eksena sa pagitan ng isang ina at kanyang anak sa harap ng kusina habang nagluluto. Banayad at puno ng kalinga ang tono ng bawat isa para sa isa't isa sa harap ng isang usaping mistulang hindi kayang resolbahin.

Nakahabi ang emosyon sa bawat galaw, kilos, at arte ng mga tao sa tula habang nagluluto (at naririnig ko pa ang pagkalansing ng mga kawaling wari'y nagkakabanggaan ng hindi sinasadya, o marahil, ay sadya). Ang tunog sa paggisa ng sangkap sa kumukulong mantika kasabay ng mainit na pagsigaw ng nanay sa anak dahil sa katigasan ng ulo nito, sa kanyang palagay. Ang sabay na paghiwa ng mga sahog habang sabay na dinaramdam ang sakit dulot ng tunggalian ng mga ninanais. Ang pag-iyak ng ina habang hinihiwa ang sibuyas na puti, kasimputi marahil ng inaasam niyang trahe de boda na sana'y isusuot ng anak sa kanyang kasal na hindi mangyayari.

Matikas ang dalawang babae na naguumpugan subalit nagkakaisa rin sa tibay ng paninindigan na suungin at tindigan ang anumang pagsubok at hamon na kinakaharap nila sa buhay.

May nakapagsabi na hindi kasanayan ng Pilipino na magbasa ng tula at isa na marahil ako duon subalit itong tula na ito ay nakapagbigay gana para muling bigyan pansin, aralin, basahin, at yakapin ang mga tulang Filipino ng mga Pilipino para sa mga Pilipino.

Kay Nanay Nang Pinilit Akong Magpakasal
Diana Galaura Cabote


Tila kusang huminto ang lahat ng tao, bagay
sa kusina nang sinimulan mo ang pag-alis
Sa bayong ng mga napamili mo sa palengke.
Nang inungkat mo ang hindi ko pagpapakasal
Sa lalaking kinakasama.

Ang katulong ay nataranta
Nang minadali mo ang mga sangkap
Ng lutuing ulam para sa tanghalian.
Nang sinabi mong wala nang magkakagusto
Sa babaeng katulad ko -
Ina sa pagkadalaga

Napaiyak ka nang sinimulan mong hiwain
Ang sibuyas na puti
Tulad ng inaasam mong trahe de boda.
Sabay banggit ko na wala sa kasal
Ang seguridad ng isang babae.

Pareho nating hiniwa ang mga bituka.
Lamang-loob ng baboy nang maliit ngunit
Hindi pino, dinurog ko sa aking lamay
At umasang kaya pang gawing likido
Ang pinilit na hinulmang dugo.

Tanong mo, bakit kinaya ko kayong
Palakihin nang wala ang tatay ninyo?
Sagot ko, kaya nga hindi pa rin
Ako magpapakasal sa kinakasama ko

Sabay sa iyong paggisa sa kumukulo nang mantika.

Sigaw mo, matigas talaga ang aking ulo
At ang katulong ay tumakbo
Palabas sa kusina,
Naiwan tayong dalawa.

Inamoy ko ang iyong niluluto,
Sabay sa huling sipon kong naiwan
Mula sa mahabang pag-iyak.

Hinanda ko ang lamesa
Para sa isang masarap na tanghalian
Sa paborito mong lutuin
Na dinuguang ulam.
Ibinebenta ang Ipuipo sa Piging sa Bookay-Ukay Bookstore.

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