January 17th, 2007
F. Sionil Jose is one of the great Filipino writers and has created The 5 Novel Series entitled Rosales Saga. The Rosales is basically Historical Fiction of the Samson family starting from the start of the 20th century and spans until the 1970’s. My love for covers and white has resurfaced again and I have posted below the iconic covers of Jose’s Rosales Saga. I actually haven’t read all of them but Sionil’s work is the typical Filipino uber-drama that involves alot of angst. If you are visiting ROD Con 2007(see post above), I think he will be there.
Aren’t the icons lovely?
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January 16th, 2007
You can chastise me but I don’t buy books on their synopsis but by looking at their covers. Yes, I usually judge books by their covers. Fortunately, my insticts have been right so far… Below are some books covers I adore and would love post on my wall.
1984 by George Orwell (Simply Great!)
Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes (I do have a poster of this at home)
Dracula by Bram Stroker (I love the Red eyes)
As you can see, I am a sucker for white. I would have probably not bought these books if the cover was different. I will check out my library and find other eye candy books that I can post. Did you buy a book based on a cover? Let me know!
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January 15th, 2007
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Did you know that the temperature to burn books into dust is 451 Degrees Fahrenheit? This is the theme of Ray Bradbury’s masterpiece that involves a dystopia(reverse of utopia) where books are burnt because the government sees them as a tool to disunite society. As you can see, it is a really engaging plot to begin with and I actually bought the book from an online recommendation a few years ago. However, what I want to write about is its conclusion, Bradbury gives readers hope by creating a small society that memorizes books to preserves its ideas before it is burnt. My brain was really tickled by the concept and started thinking about books I would remember for the sake of humanity. My top three would Don Quixote by Cervantes, Roald Dahl’s short stories, and C.S Lewis’s The Last Battle. I have more in mind but I am eager to see what are the books you the reader would save in your memory for the sake of the future.
If you want to know more about Fahrenheit 451, click the link below:
http://www.raybradbury.com/books/fahrenheit451.html
Posted in Genre Fiction, Great Books/Classics, Lit Bits | 2 Comments »
January 12th, 2007
Pour Your Heart into It : How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time by Howard Schultz, Chairman and CEO of Starbucks
Success is sweetest when it’s shared and this is what “Pour Your Heart Into It” thrives to achieve by offering digestable nuggets of wisdom amidst the engaging history of Starbucks. CEO Schultz passionately recounts the early days of this quaint coffee bean shop and sincerely tells all the growing pains that come along with it such as innovating without selling out to the heart of his brand. The book is a really light read and I loved it because I couldn’t help but cheer Howard on as he faces the problems of expanding, begging investors to believe in better healthcare for employees and having time for his family. You can’t help but applaud Schultz for his virtues towards keeping excellent standards for his customers and his good heart of wanting to bring the best out of his people.
Another great thing about the book is the fact it helps you have greater appreciation for Starbucks. After reading it, I sat in Starbucks and observed that everything said in the book was true. As written, the shop I was in had local community projects, friendly baristas, moody music, localized merchandise, and educational brochures about drinking real coffee. The amazing fact is that this was still happening in the Philippines despite being millions miles away from its founder. My little trip to Starbucks really proved the power of what great entrepreneurs and great people can do. I was doubly delighted because it also shows that good guys do not finish last.
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December 24th, 2006
The greatest story evertold is the Nativity or the Birth of Jesus Christ. Where can you find a story with a prequel since the dawn of humanity and an upcoming sequel at the end of time? Plus, the Nativity has spawned thousands of other stories found in the lives of saints. The story is itself is pure genious. This story has angels, a pure virgin giving birth, a God-man, a glorious star, an evil king, three wise men, shepherds, and sheep to boot!. With a cast this great, you can help but sense that this drama will be great to listen to and recollect upon. Aside from that, it is has been retold billions of times more than the Charlie Brown Christmas Special and It’s a Wonderful Life combined.
Yet, what makes this story great for me is because of the fact that is it is true. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone!
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December 24th, 2006
I know that the spirit of Christmas is all about giving to others. However, I feel that we have forgotten that this is season is all about receiving good things (gifts) as well. Below are two books I wish to find under my Christmas tree. Generous souls are free to ship these books to me.
Who doesn’t love Georgie? He is the father of pop cinema. His influence has made being a geek/nerd actually cool to point that we often refer to his movies in our everyday language. My love for Lucas grew after I watched American Grafitti in which he I believe created the perfect equation for teen flicks which is a great soundtrack weaved into enjoyable teen angst. I am all for salvating over this book because I am into listening DVD movie commentaries and this books looks crammed in film geekiness. Aside from that, I browsed into it at the bookstore and this book is filled with great wide shot pictures of our favorite films. I think all movie buffs are agree with me on this post
All I can say is that wouldn’t it be nice to reminice with old friends (yoda, indiana, and the kids of the 50’s) this christmas?
I honestly got into reading Pope John Paul II because of his book “Rise, Let Us Be on Our Way” which is an autobiography on his years a bishop until his papacy. I picked it up because it was 50% off and wanted learn more about my faith since I was reading up on everything but that. I was expecting it to be really religious and heavy but it wasn’t at all. It was actually very digestable and palatable to me since JPII writes lightly about his fond memories at Krakow while imparting messages at same time. He does it so smoothly that you actually since where he got some of his ideas for papacy. Also, his writing style highlights what JPII truly is which is beauty in simplicity.
So after being inspired by “Rise, Let Us Be on Our Ways”, I was eager to find the first part of his autobiography called “Gift and Mystery”. Unfortunately, it is sold out in the Philippine. Thus, I am waiting for some Christmas miracle for it to appear under my tree.
After reading my wishlist, feel free post yours….
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December 20th, 2006
Mea Culpa! I am really super duper gazillion times sorry for deleting the posts of the other authors. My punk side took over and it wanted the blog to be mine and mine only!Ha Ha Ha! After I went on a delete frenzy, my conscience returned and I realized what a big boo-boo I did. I hope that my great literally-blogging ancestors have the heart to forgive me . I truly appreciate the road you have paved for this site and I hope to return the favour by continuing the tradition of posting buzz worthy posts. See yah around…
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December 19th, 2006
![Freakonomics [Revised and Expanded]: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything](http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/0061234001.01._SCMZZZZZZZ_V38447206_.jpg)
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (Roughcut) by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
More Information: www.freakanomics.com
With my head always stuck in the clouds, I have always been a fan of fiction. It was brought about my fear of treading into the territory of real world books and especially the realm of numbers. In addition, it didn’t help that my college text book branded with the disability of innumeracy or being mathematically challenged because I was a marketing communication student. However, one day I lost my way in the bookstore and found my self in the non-fiction section and got suckered in by media savy title “Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything”. The title grabbed me right away and I heeded the call of my inner geek rebel. I started browsing the book and was instantly hooked by the premise that numbers can answer social problems such as cheating in high school to trivial ones like “Does my name affect how my life will lead?”.
After finishing the book, it may sound impossible but those funny shapes called numbers did provide answers through sound theories that were rather entertaining to think about. Moreover, it was told in a literary manner that was easy for me to digest. The authors also impressed me by their humility because they presented their ideas and squashed by the end of the book. Thus, leaving us readers open to either explore our theories or get his ideas and debate them amongst friends. If you are looking for beginner’s book to non-fiction book or a conversation piece, Freakanomics is the best way to dive in and make a splash.
Posted in Book Reviews, Contemporary Literature, Nonfiction | No Comments »
December 18th, 2006
Greetings Readers!
I am Vincent from the humble islands called the Philippines. I will be taking over Literally Blogging from now on, so take it or leave it :) My vision for Literally Blogging is to write short reviews on non-fiction and fiction books, pay homage to certain authors, interview writers, have posts on famous quotations and genres, and try to make you guys learn something in the end while goofing off. I hope I meet your standards of what a Literature blog should be and could be. I am guessing this can be done as long I receive a lot of feedback from you the readers. Don’t worry, I am always open to constructive criticism and new ideas.
Regarding moi, you will get to know me better as I post and add my own flare into this blog.
ciao
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May 15th, 2006
Okay, a question for readers and writers, and writers who are readers, and most of all readers who want to be writers:
What book or books do you wish you had written? If you could travel back in time and steal the manuscript out of someone’s outgoing mail and send to an agent with your name on it, what would it be?
I’ll start this off with two books that I love on their own merits but also secretly resent the authors a little for being the ones who wrote them.
The first is Watership Down, by Richard Adams. It was the first “real” book I ever read, back in the fourth grade, and it has lost none of its descriptive richness, deep melancholy or startlingly brutal realism. I can also say without hesitation that there’s nothing else out there like it. It works as allegory and as straight narrative, as a metaphor for the human struggle to thrive and survive and also as an adventure story.
The second is sort of a cop-out, since it’s just about everyone’s favorite book. But John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany has an almost universal appeal for its fascinating characters that manage to break out of the author’s sometimes maddening fondness for quirky eccentrics and become both real and dear to us. These characters are bound by Fate with a big “f”, in ways that become clear in literally the final handful of pages, and no matter how many times you read it, you will always feel both devastated and renewed atthe end. I swear to you, all I have to do is think of the first line of the novel, or even worse, the last line, and I get this big lump in my throat.
I don’t think either author ever topped these books in their own output. Adams wrote some interesting stuff, including Shardik, which explored the power of religion and, yes, Fate with a big “f”, but nothing with the appeal of his first book. Irving came close with Cider House Rules before absolutely losing his mind. Good lord, did you read Son of the Circus, or A Widow for One Year? Perhaps I can still do us all a favor and start stealing his future manuscripts.
Posted in Lit Bits, Memories & Reading | 6 Comments »
