While the title (and the content) of this book may sound scandalous, at heart, this is a guidebook to becoming a woman. As a quote from the book goes,While the title (and the content) of this book may sound scandalous, at heart, this is a guidebook to becoming a woman. As a quote from the book goes, "One is born female, but being a woman is a personal accomplishment."
Advice to a Young Wife From an Old Mistress is a nonfiction book that draws from the experiences of a mistress to a married man. However, this book is not a titillating tale of lust and adventure; this is a thoughtful treatise on how a mistress lives in a restricting society, and the pain, allure, beauty and wisdom of being one despite that.
Interestingly, it does not condone the nature of adultery. As the book goes, "Being a mistress is on the whole rather inconvenient, bad for society, bad for one's creature aspects- children, a home, security, old age..." But also, it does not shy away from what it is and why people - men, in particular, at least for this book - engage in it. "... this inconvenience is part of its attraction."
The book has 5 chapters, and each discusses an interesting facet of a mistress's life. Yes, it includes love and sex, but it also goes deeper than that - talk of personality, of creativity, of reality. All of these are great notes for not only the young wives that this book was meant for, but also for women everywhere, especially those who feel lost in themselves and incomplete of being.
Overall, this was an eye-opening read for me, and reminded me of my own personal goals and perspectives when it comes to myself and my relationships. "You make yourself happy," as Matthew, the mistress's lover, pointed out. He then added, "I am simply part of it." The book drops little gems like that, all probably with one primary focus that a favorite blogger of mine summarized in a few words: be the empress of your own happiness, first and foremost.
I personally enjoyed savoring the thoughts of this old mistress, and I can see myself reading and rereading a couple of passages of this book every so often. It's thought-inducing material, and good reading for wives, mistresses, single ladies, and all women alike.
"When one is young, and a new wife, it is easy to forget that the first and last requirement is to be woman."...more
With Mythspace, I can imagine reaching for the stars, while digging into my own Filipino roots.
Mythspace is not your typical Filipino graphic anthologWith Mythspace, I can imagine reaching for the stars, while digging into my own Filipino roots.
Mythspace is not your typical Filipino graphic anthology. It presents 6 stories of a similarly connected vein, 6 stories that share the same kind of odd universe. This is a universe where kapres own starships, where manananggal can be among the most respected thieves, and where the dwende, tikbalang, and bakunawa have their own high places in the galaxy. Oh, and it mostly takes place in outer space, so there's that, too.
It sounds crazy, but the story-craters of this volume have delivered quite an experience. Not only did I look at alien tech and different planets through their eyes, but I was also brought back to the stories of old that my own generation has now forgotten. They were able to mesh well old mythological creatures with their possible intergalactic personas, highlighting their old strengths while giving them powers that suit their personalities.
Moreover, the stories themselves are rich with detail and thoughtfulness. These are stories not just of glorified heroes and weird plots, but also of poverty, of longing, of strength, and of character. Their mythological/sci-fi backdrop is merely a vehicle for them to portray complex stories that can be funny, sad, or even surprisingly real, but they all do have heart.
So read Mythspace to find out about daring adventures and curious tales. They may touch you, interest you, and surprise you in the most unexpected ways. After all, this is space opera, Pinoy style....more
This audio collection is very nostalgic for me. I remember the times when my mother would play these for me (in glorious cassette form, no less!), andThis audio collection is very nostalgic for me. I remember the times when my mother would play these for me (in glorious cassette form, no less!), and I would listen to these memorable stories, told with only the most soothing of voices, until I fell asleep. When I got older, my mother had the cassettes recorded and burnt into CDs, and I, in turn, got the MP3s and listen to them on my portable media player from time to time.
The stories come from far and wide, featuring the mighty Genghis Khan to the poor little match girl to the tenacious Susan B. Anthony. Narrated by none other than William Bennett himself, along with other amazing voice talents, this collection shares in stories the virtues that most men find admirable: Responsibility, Honesty, Compassion, Courage, Faith, Friendship, Persistence.
The stories are simple ones, and yet they ring true for every person of every age. There are those that are sad, those that are dark, those that are fantastical, and, of course, those that are incredibly moral. While not all of the virtues might not be valued by everyone, I believe that there is always a story here that would nudge the spirit and tear at the soul. I like particularly the little intros that Bennett adds to each, because they aren't too overbearing, and yet very personal.
This is also where I find solace when I feel that the world is so hopeless. The familiarity and solidness of the characters in these different worlds brings me comfort, knowing that there are people who lived like that in the world, and that these people are those who I can strive to be.
To end, I will leave one of the poems featured here, one that I adore and think back in every so often.
±õ´Úâ€� by Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!�
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds� worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!...more
Continuing on from Adventure Time Vol. 1, Volume 2 presents us with another standalone story/collection of issues about our favorite hero pals in the Continuing on from Adventure Time Vol. 1, Volume 2 presents us with another standalone story/collection of issues about our favorite hero pals in the Land of Ooo!
The time-bending adventures are great, and the puns are really off the bat. (Mr. North, you have outdone yourself. I applaud you.) I hollered and happily frolicked with our favorite fistbumping pals as they were sent careening through adventures and space-time!
Great book, plenty of laughs, and lots of ADVENTURE TIME!...more
(The edition is hardbound, has a lot of covers within its pages, and includes an additional nifty little comic about how the creators made this great (The edition is hardbound, has a lot of covers within its pages, and includes an additional nifty little comic about how the creators made this great book.)
This super-ace edition of the awesome adventures of our favorite pals (*singsong voice* Jake The Dog and Finn the Human) is a great foray into the wonderful world of Ooo. We see the gang (from BMO to PB to LSP to Ice King to Marceline the Vampire Queen) go off against the EVIL Lich in an attempt to, well, what else, save the world!
The story's written superbly, and the art is just how we know it from the TV show. The gags, tricks and punny funs (punintended) are all very Adventure Time from start to finish. Fistbumps all around too!
(Pro-tip: Don't pass the green text at the bottom of the page ;) )
Great riotous read from start to finish. WHAT TIME IS IT?? ADVENTURE TIME!...more
This is actually among the most brilliant books I have ever read. It's a pity, then, that I do not believe that I can really recommend it to almost anThis is actually among the most brilliant books I have ever read. It's a pity, then, that I do not believe that I can really recommend it to almost anyone.
Just to note: This book, of course, is said to be THE book that ultimately epitomizes Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism. If you'd like to read how exactly she pictured society in a rather implausible 1,000-page novel, then go ahead and indulge. However, if you just want to know what exactly her principles were about, save yourself the trouble, and just check out .
And now, my review.
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This is the story of how Atlas looked over the world, saw what was happening, and just decided to shrug it off. Well, in a figurative sense.
The plot itself is quite convoluted. It deals with a question, as well as the story of a woman desperate to run her railroad. It shows the pristine character of ugly faces, as well as the deceiving lies behind the most influential of speakers. It has a great landscape to carve its story, coming from countries other than the US, and finally honing into THE financial district of the great nation itself. It discusses the primal tones of sexual relationships, and what "love" actually is. It is mysterious and complex, rich and dynamic.
There are sparkling characters, and three-hour long speeches. There are plenty of parties and ribbon-cutting ceremonies, plenty of house calls and lunches with companions. There is dinner at the cafeteria, work at the underground, and scientists working for a new tomorrow. There are playboys, pirates, politicians, philanthropists, and powerful people. There are rail tracks, copper mines, man-made steel, shiny vehicles, and delicious food. There are airplane-flying women, incredible just judges, and the smartest of the smartest.
There is also John Galt. (view spoiler)[I can fawn over and over again for John Galt. I love Francisco D'Anconia, but John Galt just takes the cake. However, who is John Galt? (hide spoiler)]
However, it is a great mess. While the plot itself moves in a somewhat linear fashion (with plenty of twists and turns to keep the mind alert and the head guessing), the content itself can be quite an amazing turn-off. One time, I knew that I could easily skip almost 10 pages, knowing that these pages would have done little to pull the story forward. While the storytelling is interesting, the infomercials that Ayn Rand flashes about her philosophy can get annoying. Too much commercial, not enough show.
Add to this the seemingly plausible implausibility of the entire thing. It's too crazy, that, in reality, it might just work... (Hint: Not.) The story is too ugly, too big, too political to wrap your head around with. It's too complicated, although the grimy layer of reality is just all over the place. It is the truth that everyone wishes to deny, it is an undeniable ugliness that we wish were not true.
If you are deep in your (mis)conceptions of society, and view the society as just how it is, this book will be incomprehensible and unfathomable to you.
If you are too smart, too theoretical, you will probably laugh or argue.
If you are realistic, you will see reality here, with an unreal touch.
As for me, I take it with a grain of salt, and consider the possibility.
Nevertheless, though, I think that a lot of people would probably take it the way Officer Barbrady had:
... And for all it's worth, I really don't blame them....more
Lovely, evil set of principles for someone who wants to get into power. (Inevitably evil, because it appears that you have to use deception and tricksLovely, evil set of principles for someone who wants to get into power. (Inevitably evil, because it appears that you have to use deception and tricks to get to that state - and maintain it.)
(Get the full version; the concise one just isn't enough.)...more
Have you come for a Coco Loco Moco? You haven't? Oh, you are here for The Parrot that Talks in Chocolate then? Yes? Ah, my friend, you have comeAloha!
Have you come for a Coco Loco Moco? You haven't? Oh, you are here for The Parrot that Talks in Chocolate then? Yes? Ah, my friend, you have come just in time. Tiwaka has just left the last one to question him dumbfounded, with infinite wisdom pouring into his mortal mind.
No questions for the bird, you say, just here to watch? *smiles, while polishing a glass with a rag* Well, here's a question for you. Are you really thirsty?
... And so goes on the night, with our unnamed yet popular (and mysterious) surfer-bartender, as he takes care of one customer after the other. (Customers who, no matter what, always order a second Coco Loco Moco after having their first.)
As you sit in the bar-stool, amazed at the intelligent bird while watching-but-not-watching the sexy pareo-wearing beauties, you begin to breathe in a tinge in the air. Is it the smell of the barbecued grass-fed organic beef (that's so good vegetarians had to reaffirm their faith in its presence)? Is it the scent of the chocolate cashews, beckoning you to hand it over to the all-knowing parrot? Is it even the faint musk of to-be lovers, meeting for the first time in this secluded bar and leaving for the very rustic cabanas in the area?
No, my friend. I believe its the Tiki magic working its way on you.
This book of connected-yet-separate anecdotes features to us the life of one who grew up on The Island. An island where an active volcano lets out its Vog every so often to agitate the spirits of its residents. An island where pineapple pickers long for the blue, blue sky. An island where choice surfing spots abound, stretched out as so as if each was designed to be shared by only two people.
An island among the islands of Hawaii.
It can't be anything but Tiki magic that sprinkles the words here, words of a simple man living a simple life in a curious island. It dusts his daily living with different incidents he doesn't bother to think about - only to feel about and let happen. While he talks about his memories of his old beloved Ococ, the feel of his dried hair while surfing the wave, and the unattainable apple of his eye, he talks too of ghosts, of connected spirits, and of the Great Cosmic Gift Giver. And he lets them hover in the air, not bothering to explain anything.
(Let's not forget the interesting parrot as well, whose current tap of the toes - now at 1, 3, 6 - signify the 136th song on the portable media player. Lo and behold, it's the perfect song to signify the current mood. And he does it every single time.)
No, don't come in if you're looking for an unscrupulous joint selling nothing more than ice tea and moonshine. Turn and leave if you expect therapy, and not escapism. Don't try to find this place if you don't have faith. This is a Tiki bar, through and through. (It even has the parchment paper certificate guaranteeing that it has passed the standards for authenticity of the 1958 TIKI Convention!)
While this book seems like a bunch of well-written (and slow-paced) stories, it holds much more than that. It has the promise of green turtles that snort as they save your life, it has the promise of dreamy vacation landscapes with unique and captivating locals, it has the promise of sun-kissed love.
Don't rush, feel the wind against your hair, and relax. You've got some minutes of escape at your fingertips. Enjoy, and aloha.
(This is almost! a 5-star read for me. While I can't quite rate it with 5 stars, it's awesome! I lost myself almost completely to this world. Note that this is my first foray into Hawaii- / Tiki-related books :) Great read!)...more
Ang galing, kasi sinundan niya talaga ang mga pangyayari sa naunang libro (Ang Kagilagilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah). Ang galing, kAng galing, kasi sinundan niya talaga ang mga pangyayari sa naunang libro (Ang Kagilagilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah). Ang galing, kasi hindi nawala ang mga katauhan nang mga karakter, at hindi rin kinalimutan ang mga nangyari sa kanila "kamakailan" lang. (Kailangan mo yata talagang basahin ang naunang libro para maintindihan ang kwento rito.) Ang galing, kasi nandoon pa rin ang pakiramdam na hindi mo alam kung ano ang makakasalubong mo sa susunod na pahina.
Seksing-seksi, nakakatawa, maintriga, mapulitika, at gay na gay pa rin ang dating!
Ansarap basahin! Sana lumabas agad ang susunod na kabanata ><
PS: Echos lang na P500 'yan. Nabili ko ang librong ito nang wala pang P200....more
(I loved this book as a child. I lost my copy way back when, and I am only too happy to read this once again.)
Oh my goodness. I just LOVE Anne. Anne, (I loved this book as a child. I lost my copy way back when, and I am only too happy to read this once again.)
Oh my goodness. I just LOVE Anne. Anne, so full of spirit and imagination and determination and ambition, but also with her faults and loves and heartaches and bitterness. Her very positive look towards life is just something so inspiring, and the opulent descriptions of Anne's home and toiling is just so beautiful I cry in passion and longing, knowing I've missed something I may possibly never experience in my lifetime.
In this book, we see a pretty episodic view of Anne's lifetime in Green Gables, from her childish 11-year-old misadventures to her mature 16-year-old decision-making. It was just so beautiful and wonderful to watch her grow up into this brilliant woman who would probably just light the room with a smile. Oh, and each of the characters have their distinct personalities, and we see how a person like Anne, no matter how inspiring she is, can't have everyone like her, nor could she love just anybody.
I can't help but be so partial to this character, who I have long held in reverence. I love Anne, and I thank my stars I get to go through Lover's Lane and the Lake of Shining Waters with this wonderful, wonderful character of a girl. :)...more
The stories in this book are (mostly) dark. They seem to haunt me everywhere-- from the soft breeze, the dark corner, and the unseen footstep of the uThe stories in this book are (mostly) dark. They seem to haunt me everywhere-- from the soft breeze, the dark corner, and the unseen footstep of the unknown. The works in this book are truly wonderful tales, grim as most of them may be.
While I'm not surprised of the talent showcased in this book, I was pretty intrigued to read about Neil Gaiman's thoughts and ideas about the local (read: Philippine) comic scene. I enjoyed his insights, and made me long for more-more-more Filipino literature.
This is a unique, though ambitious, compilation. It's brutal, (un)real, and softly magical. An inspiring and enjoyable read....more
Kahit walang nag-sasalita rito, damang-dama mo 'to, pramis! Tila ipapasakay sa roller coaster ang mga emosyon mo-- iiyak ka, tatawa ka, magagalit ka, Kahit walang nag-sasalita rito, damang-dama mo 'to, pramis! Tila ipapasakay sa roller coaster ang mga emosyon mo-- iiyak ka, tatawa ka, magagalit ka, gugulong-gulong at mag-oover-da-bakod pa!
Pero hindi lang ito mga kwento ng lungkot at saya; may mga isyu rin gaya ng pag-ibig, pag-hahanap ng sarili, at pagiging kuntento. Minsa'y may elemento rin ito ng pantasya at alamat, pero halos lahat nito'y nag-mistulang napakatotoo sa'kin.
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